The Tale of the Oxford Shark

Bill Heine, Radio Oxford Broadcaster, Oxford Mail Journalist and Author entertained members and guests of Freeland WI with an account of how it took six years to gain planning permission to have a 25 foot fibreglass shark appearing to crash through the roof of his house in Headington. The original idea had been to make an ordinary looking house extraordinary. The sculptor John Buckley had designed and built the Sharks tail, the installation caused massive interest, some favourable and some unfavourable. A six year planning battle followed which after a public appeal Michael Hessletine, Minister of State at the time finally granted permission. It is interesting to see that in a silhouette of the Oxford skyline it is now possible to discern the Sharks tail in the outline. Our next meeting will be on May 11th at Freeland Garden Centre at 7.30pm when we will make either hanging baskets or tubs using either flowers or herbs. Please bring your own basket or container or they can be purchased on the night.