Ockley Village - the original web site
    Menu
    • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Home
      • External link opens in new tab or window Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon History
        • External link opens in new tab or window Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Ockley Dramatic Society
          • External link opens in new tab or window Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Village Hall
            • External link opens in new tab or window Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Ockley Free School
              • External link opens in new tab or window Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Ockley Society
                • External link opens in new tab or window Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Church
                  • External link opens in new tab or window Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Doctors' Surgery
                    • External link opens in new tab or window Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Public Houses

                      please view the six tabs below for details about the Ockley Society:

                      Bonfire and fireworks night
                      The Ockley Society builds, manages and produces a fantastic display usually on the first  Saturday of November of each year. 

                      The 2020 event is cancelled due to the various 'corona-virus' restrictions that are in place.


                      • 5pm: gate opens (the field behind the pond, off  The Green), social  time and food service:
                      • BBQ or hot soup, tea and coffee.
                      • Great family night out.
                      • Raffle drawn at end.
                      • Torch light parade.
                      • Event finishes: 7.30pm (approx)

                      The evening is completed by ready supply of hot food and beverages, all served in the marquee and Grand Christmas Hamper Raffle.

                      Some forty villagers are involved in setting up this event, whether building the bonfire, displaying the fireworks, providing the food, lights, sound and commentary, safety marshaling or gate control. Several hundred visit our display each year.


                      Ticket Prices:

                      • In Advance £5, On the Night, £6 (under 14's free)
                        Available from, Village Greens/Ockley Service Station

                      Our annual bonfire and fireworks night in Ockley makes a lovely night out for everyone. Meet up in the marquee where a variety of hot food  and drinks are on sale, as well as the Christmas Hamper raffle tickets  and  illuminated bracelets. Watch the Torch Parade (or volunteer to  carry a torch - and then light the fire! - it’s on a first come, first served,  volunteer on the night basis)  as they cross the field to light the bonfire.  Watch the firework  display,  including our own ‘seasonal set pieces’.

                      Please come and join  us for  this very special evening of fun and  fireworks.

                      Cricket Sevens
                      Our ‘Coarse Cricket Sevens’ competition is held annually, usually on the third Sunday of September. In 2020 this will take place on Sunday 6th September.

                      We bring together six teams of seven for a day of fun cricket. The village green is decked out with a marquee, refreshments are available throughout the day, excellent lunches are provided and the adjacent pavilion opens it’s bar.

                      The rules are fairly straight forward and include:

                      Teams of seven, only one of whom can be a ‘proper’ cricketer (playing for the 1st or 2nd XI). The team must include at least one women member.
                      The match consists of one innings of six overs.
                      Each member of the fielding team (except the wicket keeper) bowls one over.
                      Each member of the batting team remains at the crease until declared ‘out’ or else reaches 22 runs, whereupon they retire.

                      Teams are made up from each of the following areas:

                      North Ockley, The Green, Friday Street, Mid Stane Street, South Stane Street, Weare Street, Leith Vale/Mole Street and Elmers Road. Details are announced in early summer of each year.



                      Quiz Evenings
                      Ockley Society’s Annual Challenge Quiz evening takes place in the spring of each year with another quiz in the autumn.


                      Around 18 teams (of six) compete in this fun event  The next event HOPEFULLY takes place in  March 2021.  It will commence at 7.30p.m. sharp at the Village Hall. Doors open at 7.00pm.

                      Cost per team is £60 (maximum of six players) including a Fish 'n' Chip supper and savoury nibbles on the table. There is a licensed bar but please do not bring your own alcohol to the event.

                      To book your place, call Alan Hardy on 07860 473239 or email him at amh@amhi.co.uk


                      The Society also hosts a quiz evening in October of each year, cost as above but to include a home cooked meal supper.

                      The Ockley Society Quiz has now been running for more than twenty years. There is now a new format to the evening , delivered by new hosts Alan Hardy and Clive Bordoli




                      Carols on the Green


                      You know when Christmas is getting near when the Christmas Tree appears on the Green.


                      UNFORTUNATELY, THE VARIOUS 'CORONA-VIRUS' RESTRICTIONS CURRENTLY IN PLACE MEANS IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO PROCEED THIS YEAR


                      The lighting ceremony usually occurs on the second Saturday of December and is preceded by communal carol singing. Mulled Wine and warmed Minced Pies and provided by the Ockley Society.

                      The 2020 event takes place on Saturday 12th December, at 5p.m. and lasts for about 75 minutes.

                      No charge for this, we just hope you will come along and enjoy the occasion.

                      A collection bucket is passed around, funds this year will go towards a topical fund, to be announced on the night.


                      Ocklympics


                      The ‘Ocklympics’ a testing demonstration of our willingness to get wet, take part and have fun happens on an occasional basis, around once every four years. Teams are from different parts of the village and take part in a variety of games. The next  event will be IN SUMMER 2021.


                      About Us and History


                      The Ockley Society’s Aim:


                      '... developing, supporting and encouraging village community life and spirit ...’

                      The Ockley Society is a group of enthusiastic, local villagers, whose aim is to develop, support and encourage a healthy village community spirit.

                      Please see the Ockley Society Facebook page for more details. We are always keen in hearing from anyone who has the time or resources to contribute to any of our events each year.

                      Please follow us to keep updated on planned events which include:

                      External link opens in new tab or windowThe Quiz Evening,

                      External link opens in new tab or windowThe Cricket Sevens

                      External link opens in new tab or windowBonfire and Fireworks

                      External link opens in new tab or windowChristmas Tree Lighting/ Carols on the Green
                      ... and occasionally, ourExternal link opens in new tab or window ‘Ocklympics’ External link opens in new tab or window

                      Click to edit text. Focus on how you can benefit your customers.


                      History


                      The original Ockley Society was formed in 1967 with the specific purpose of opposing the proposed widening of the A29. As a ‘non statutory body’ it could be less inhibited in its tactics than a statutory body like the Parish Council..

                      Fortunately, the road widening scheme never happened but the Ockley Society continued to lobby on behalf of the well being of the village and comment on local structure and plans..

                      Eventually, the society became dormant in 1979 when the last Annual General Meeting was held, although it was nominally still in existence.

                      In 1984, a sub committee of the Parish Council planned and built the footpath on the village green from School Lane to the Surgery. Funds were raised by interest free loans and the work was carried out by enthusiastic volunteers supporting the committee.

                      There was a great spirit about the whole thing. Many village groups raised money in imaginative ways but there was still a healthy balance to re pay. The footpath committee and village hall committee planned a major day of fundraising. The effort was focused under the nominal label of the Ockley Society .

                      The committee devised and organised some inter-village games dubbed the Ocklympics and barbecue and dance in the evening.

                      ‘The day was an immensely enjoyable effort by a lot of people, especially for the vibrant community atmosphere generated. So much so that it was felt that this spirit must not be lost and the Ockley Society was reborn at an AGM in March 1986 with the aim of ‘developing, supporting and encouraging village community life and spirit’.


                      Calendar Dates 
                      Ockley Society's events for 2020 are as follows:

                      Spring Quiz                        Saturday  7th March

                      Ocklympics                        Sunday 7th June

                      Cricket 7s                           Sunday 6th September

                      Autumn Quiz                     Saturday 10th October

                      Bonfire and fireworks   Saturday 7th November

                      Carols on the Green      Saturday 12th December



                        close lightbox