Oxford News
Flute which starred in The Beatles and James Bond films for sale
The flute accompanied The Beatles on their 1967 track The Fool on The Hill and played the Nutcracker Suite for the classic 1970s Cadbury’s ‘fruit and nutcase’ television commercials is to be sold at auction in June.
Owned by leading British flautist Jack Ellory, until his death in 2009, the flute was custom made for him.
The flute appears on soundtracks for many of the Sean Connery-period James Bond films, Pink Panther films, episodes of 1960s The Avengers and the film musical Oliver!
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In 1967, George Martin asked leading British flautist Mr Ellory to play flute for the Paul McCartney-penned The Fool on the Hill, a track The Beatles recorded for their Magical Mystery Tour project, which topped the UK chart.
The flute was also used in numerous advertisements of the period including the Cadbury’s ‘fruit and nutcase’ campaign, which featured the flute playing an excerpt from the Nutcracker Suite while humourist Frank Muir sang.
In 2000, the advert was ranked 36 in Channel 4’s official poll of the 100 Greatest Adverts.
Mr Ellory worked extensive in the film industry.
He taught the late British actress Dame Maggie Smith how to pretend to play the flute for a scene in the 1968 film Hot Millions.
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Brian Ellory, Jack’s son, said: “I inherited my father’s flute in 2009. It was in a bit of a state, held together by elastic bands, so I had it completely overhauled.”
Explaining why he is selling the flute, he said: “I wanted to learn to play it but soon found I had no talent. I’m the last member of our family to know the story of the flute and my father’s career so it’s best I sell it rather than my children when I’m gone.
“I hope it goes to someone who can make music with it and who appreciates its incredible history.”
Jamie South, auctioneer from Gardiner Houlgate, said: “This is a remarkable instrument once owned by a remarkable musician. Jack Ellory’s career ranged right across the mid-20th century music world – from playing in orchestras conducted by Toscanini and Sir Thomas Beecham to recording some of the greatest musical moments in popular culture, including Sinatra and Bing Crosby.”
The flute will be sold by specialist music auctioneers Gardiner Houlgate in Wiltshire on Friday, June 12.
Jack Ellory’s flute will be available for public viewing from Monday, June 8 to Thursday, June 11.
The flute can also be viewed at any time by contacting Gardiner Houlgate.
The crash was on the B4015 Clifton Hampden Road, which was closed between the A4074 and Chiselhampton Village.
Thames Valley Police has confirmed the road will be closed for several hours and motorists are being told to avoid the area.
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Police said: “The B4015 Clifton Hampden Road, Oxfordshire is currently closed following a serious collision. The B4015 is closed between the A4074 and Chiselhampton Village whilst officers investigate a serious collision.
“This closure is anticipated to be in place for a number of hours – please avoid the area and find an alternative route.
“If you were on the B4015 around 07:50 this morning, Sunday 9th August, and witnessed the collision, or a Harley Davidson Motorcycle in the moments leading up to the collision, please contact Thames Valley Police quoting reference 43260411339.”
The road re-opened at around 11.25am.
A record crowd of 27,500 people descended on Hill Farm, Steventon, near Didcot, for four days of live music and dancing from an impressive bill of big name stars and up-and-coming acts.
Organisers have now finished tidying up the site, which for rest of the year is a peaceful mixed arable and dairy farm.
While always a sell-out event, this year’s festival attracted a record crowd – with families of young children making up much of the increased numbers. They joined a friendly crowd made up of everyone from enthusiastically partying teenagers to veteran artists and festival-goers and volunteers serving up treats to revellers to raise money for local charities and good causes.
They enjoyed an array of rock, pop, country and dance acts including indie-rock bands The Maccabees, Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats, The Vaccines and The Cribs.
Also playing the hallowed Truck Stage were Bobby Gillespie’s dance-rock band Primal Scream, fans’ favourite Kaiser Chiefs and The K’s. Among the best-known bands were iconic rabble-rousing rockers The Libertines who delighted the Sunday night crowd with a punchy, poetic set of familiar tunes – bandmates Carl Barât and Peter Doherty bonding over their songs having healed their much-publicised supposed rift.
The best-loved section of the festival for lovers of the Oxford music scene was the so-called Veterans and Virgins stage, which featured bands and artists who had played previous Truck Festivals along with new talent making their debut.
The stage is curated by brothers Robin and Joe Bennett of the band The Dreaming Spires, who set up the festival in 1998 as a birthday celebration for Robin – now a Green councillor on South Oxfordshire District Council.
While the brothers no longer run the whole festival, they continue to attract international and local artists to their popular stage as well as performing.
Robin, who launched his own solo act at the festival on the Sunday, said: “It has been a really good one this year. The sun has helped and everyone seems happy. We have had some great music.”
Robin was joined by charismatic Guatemalan/ Los Angeles rocker ‘Y’ on drums, guitar and vocals. He said: “It was the best one yet. It’s a great festival. You find new friends and always meet old friends – it’s like that first sip of wine. It’s Truck-tacular!”
Festival organisers said: “It’s hard to think of a Truck Festival weekend that has left us so delighted and full of joy than this one. From the moment gates opened on the Thursday, that atmosphere which makes Truck so special has shone bright and has made this year one that’s going to sit as the biggest and best Truck in festival history.
“Looking out across the festival site under stunning summer skies, we couldn’t help but feel emotional and grateful for the love and support that Truckers have showed us this year.”
A highlight was a surprise appearance by Supergrass star Gaz Coombes, from Wheatley, who joined the Oxford Symphony Orchestra as a special guest.
Fellow artist Nick Fowler, who lives near Wantage, also joined the orchestra – as well as making a number of other appearances on guitar throughout the weekend.
He said: “I have been going to Truck since 2003 and this was the best one yet. Having Gaz Coombes join the Oxford Symphony Orchestra was unbelievable – and the audience reaction was amazing. What a moment!”
Hill Farm’s Richard Binning was among those helping to feed punters at the Feel Good Food Hall, in which volunteers from charities and local good causes served everything from corn on the cob and steak sandwiches to Thai curry and macaroni cheese – with proceeds going to their respective organisations.
Richard follows in the footsteps of his farmer father, Alan, who, for many years, manned the grill with Didcot Rotary Club members, serving bacon butties, burgers and chips.
Richard joined volunteers dishing up steak sandwiches. He said: “This has been a great year. The weather makes a difference and the atmosphere has been fantastic.
“Having volunteers raising funds for good causes is what makes Truck Festival so unique. There is nothing else like it.”
David Wilson Homes’ The Pavilions, located on Bowlers Close, is now over 95 per cent sold, with just seven homes remaining.
The development offers three and four-bedroom properties designed to suit first-time buyers and growing families.
Helen Lewis, managing director at David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: “We are delighted to announce that we are over 95 per cent sold at The Pavilions and it’s the final opportunity to secure a new home in the community.”
Launched in September 2021, The Pavilions will provide a total of 148 new homes.
The project also includes more than 23 acres of green space, 49 bird and bat boxes, 325 new trees, a wetland meadow, and community allotments.
Ms Lewis added: “We’ve enjoyed great success at the development and it’s been fantastic to see the community take shape.
“We encourage anyone interested in securing a place at The Pavilions to visit our marketing suite to learn more about the properties available.”
More than £750,000 was pledged to support the local area through S106 agreements, including £300,000 for schools and early year education, £186,869 for onsite outdoor sports facilities, and a £34,230 bus infrastructure contribution.
The developer has supported the wider Banbury community through event sponsorships and donations to organisations such as Banbury Men’s Shed and The Let’s Play Project.
All remaining homes are ready to move into, with prices starting from £390,000.
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