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UPPER HEYFORD Early days...... In the mid- to late-1970s a Young People’s Group was started in Upper Heyford by Howard (USAF) and Yvonne (Wantage). It was held every Sunday afternoon at the air base, but foundered because of the lack of young members. The ‘older’ members were very supportive, but that rather defeated the object of the group! Around that time, Father Martin of Chalk Talk fame came from time to time to talk to those following the Drug and Alcohol Programme at the Base, and SMIG members were invited to hear him: a really inspiring experience. Prior to the Bicester Saturday meeting, there was occasionally a Saturday meeting held at the USAF Base at Upper Heyford, but it depended on whether Don, an AA member, and his wife, an Al-Anon member, were free and could get a room for the evening. This was not very satisfactory as no one knew for certain whether or not a meeting was taking place. Ann W. (March 1999) UPPER HEYFORD Monday (7.30 pm) Village Hall, Somerton Road, Upper Heyford, Oxon. Formed January 7, 1985 Towards the end of 1984 a small group of Americans from Upper Heyford USAF Base proposed starting an AA meeting on base and brought their ideas to SMIG. A well-attended inaugural meeting was held on January 7, 1985 in “Room 883”. It was decided to make it a Discussion Group based on As Bill Sees It. The group went from strength to strength with a more or less equal balance of regular members from ‘on’ and ‘off’ Base. Quite soon it introduced the custom of celebrating AA birthdays with the ‘chip’ system, a practice which continues to this day. In those early years, special attention was given to making AA available throughout Christmas Day; there was also always a New Year’s Eve party. It was a great tribute to the Fellowship that during the Libyan Crisis of 1986, when no other outsiders could set foot on the Base, AA members still had access to Room 883 for their meetings (and were provided with a military escort for the purpose!) A far more serious ‘international incident’ occurred in late 1987 when Room 883 was designated a classroom and therefore a no-smoking area! It was as a result of this that, by December 1987, the Upper Heyford group had moved to its present venue in the Village Hall. A Sunday lunch-time Big Book meeting was launched in late 1986 but discontinued about two years later. Happily the Monday Group survived the closing of the Base and is thriving today as a ‘chair’ meeting. Sylvie N. (January 1999) UPPER HEYFORD Wednesday (7.30 pm) Village Hall, Somerton Road, Upper Heyford In the early summer of 1977 a Newcomers’ Meeting was established as an off-shoot of the Monday group but in due course became a general meeting, though always with a special welcome for newcomers. Later, Group Conscience decided against a ‘chair’ meeting, as this was the format on Mondays, and in favour of discussion (with occasional chair). This has been variously based on ‘Ask It Basket’, Big Book, and currently As Bill Sees It. In winter, meetings may be held by candlelight. Like Monday, the meeting runs a birthday chip programme. It has its own Secretary, but shares literature and refreshments with, and has the same Treasurer and GSR as, the Monday meeting. Alison H. (May 2001) | |||
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