presenting our new committee

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The Association was on the verge of closing, but there was a strong feeling at the well attended Oxford Leon Association AGM on 23 February that something of value would be lost, both for Oxford and León, if the Association ceased operating, and fortunately volunteers came forward! The Leon Association supports the twin between Oxford and León in the Central American republic of Nicaragua. 

“I am thrilled that the Leon Association, the first Oxford link with a city in the Global South, will continue”, says outgoing chair and former Oxford Lord Mayor, John Tanner. The Association raises funds to support clean water projects in remote communities and education projects in poor areas of León and cultural exchanges. 

The new officers are: Patrick Gray OBE (chair, shown below, left), Cllr Mike Rowley (secretary, right) and Jenny Houston (treasurer). Patrick Gray was a long-time director of the Midlands Co-operative Society and is a former City councillor. Mike Rowley is Oxford’s Deputy Lord Mayor and visited Leon in 2013.           

 

Christian Bonilla (Vice-Chair), Deirdre d’Arcy (membership) and Michael Gross (publicity) stay in their previous roles.

Oxford’s twin with far-away Leon was set up nearly 40 years ago to support health, education and the relief of poverty in Leon. Members have visited to see how projects we support are managing and we have also brought over teachers and musicians from León and visit schools to talk about life in León.  We welcome new members to keep the link going!  Long may the link continue!

we have a new committee!

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After worrying that we may be short of people and ideas to continue running the association, we had a very well-attended and constructive AGM and managed to elect a new chair, secretary and treasurer.

The new officers are: Patrick Gray OBE (Chair), Cllr Mike Rowley (Secretary) and Jenny Houston (Treasurer). Patrick Gray was a long-time director of the Midlands Co-operative Society and is a former City councillor. Mike Rowley is Oxford’s Deputy Lord Mayor and visited Leon in 2013.

Christian Bonilla (Vice-Chair), Deirdre d’Arcy (membership) and Michael Gross (publicity) stay in their previous roles.

The Oxford Clarion reports:

Oxford’s twin town arrangement with Leon, Nicaragua, will continue after the Leon Association was revived at a Town Hall meeting. The cities were twinned 40 years ago to show support for the Sandinista government, but dwindling volunteer involvement had raised fears for its continuation. “I am thrilled that the first Oxford link with a city in the Global South will continue,” said outgoing chair and former Lord Mayor John Tanner. “Politics has turned sour in Nicaragua and it is impossible to have official links. But the association still supports clean water and education projects.” This week’s City Council budget allocated an extra £20,000 to support volunteers in town twinning groups, with amendments which proposed to spend the money on other Oxford community projects defeated.

The news was also reported in the Oxford Mail.

AGM coming up on Tuesday 24 February

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the next meeting of OLAT will be our AGM on Tuesday 24 February at 7 pm at Oxford Town Hall and on Zoom.

This will be an important meeting when we will need to decide if OLAT can continue operating.

  • There are only a few of us at meetings and we have not been able to recruit new blood.
  • There has not been a delegation to León since January 2017, when Janey and myself went – although we brought over the musicians Paco and Franklin in 2018, Gioconda in 2019 and the young classical musicians Cesar and Jose in 2024.
  • Our contacts in León have dwindled to Gioconda and Jane Longley.
  • We do not have contact with the Town Hall in León.  The Nicaraguan Ambassador in London – Guisell Morales – used to be supportive of our link, but the Nicaraguan Embassy has closed.  There is no other structure of support for OLAT either in UK or Nicaragua.

It will be very sad to lose our link with León, after almost 40 years of solidarity, support, cultural exchange with a vibrant culture, a very productive and beneficial link to both Oxford and León over the years, we have learned a lot from each other.

A lion (Spanish: león) outside the cathedral of León. Photo: Por Elemaki – Trabajo propio, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2821528

misa campesina coming up

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Singers and musicians wanted!

The Oxford León Association are delighted that once again Blackfriars have agreed to host the beautiful Misa Campesina – the Nicaraguan Folk Mass – which will be celebrated on Sunday 5 October, at the 9.30 am Mass at Blackfriars, 64 St Giles Oxford OX1 3LY.  Rehearsals for musicians and singers in the choir on Saturday 27 September and Saturday 4 October, 10 – 12 at Blackfriars.

This year is the 50th Anniversary of the composition of the Misa by Carlos Mejia Godoy and others in 1975.  It emerged from the socio-political context of pre-revolution Nicaragua, blending folk music with liberation theology to create a liturgy that resonated deeply with the struggles and hopes of the Nicaraguan people.  As it marks its 50th anniversary in 2025, its legacy continues to inspire movements for justice and faith-based activism globally.  

The Mass, which is sung in Spanish, has been sung annually (except for covid times) in Oxford since 1986, it has “passionate lyrics and complex rhythms reflecting the richness of the Nicaraguan folk tradition”.  It is a very enjoyable and happy experience! 

We are looking for Musicians and Singers to perform the Misa – whether you are an experienced singer/musician who has taken part many times before or whether you would be taking part for the first time – we need you! 

The choir rehearsing for the misa in 2017. Photo: Michael Gross.

PS in other news, the next meeting of the Oxford León Association will be on Tuesday 16 September, 7 pm at the Town Hall, all welcome!

sponsored swim on July 2

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Our Fund-Raising Swim for León is less than 6 weeks away – on Wednesday 2 July 2025, 4 pm – 7 pm at our usual lovely pool – Hinksey Heated Outdoor Pool, Abingdon Road, Oxford OX1 4RP.  We are very grateful to Serco and the staff at Hinksey Pool for their hospitality. 

We are raising funds for NECAT: “The Nicaragua Education Culture and Arts Trust, a UK registered charity, raises funds for sponsorship of after-school clubs and other educational projects and for the relief of poverty in impoverished communities in Leon, Nicaragua.”  We are also raising funds to provide clean water to families in a rural area near León, whose water is contaminated by arsenic, naturally occurring in the volcanic rock in the area.  

This is our most important fund-raising event of the year!  Do come and join us and raise much needed funds for León!  We really need you!  León needs our support more than ever in these challenging times, and we want to keep this link with a city in the global south going!  We can learn from each other and enjoy the Latin American culture!. 

To register, simply email: jen_houston@hotmail.com. 

 You can ask for donations to go to our JustGiving site, and/or attach your own page to our JustGiving site:  www.justgiving.com/OxfordLeonAssociation

You can swim between 4 pm and 7 pm.  Thanks to the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Louise Upton, who will “officially” open the Swim at 5 pm.

Please note that if the above time and date are not convenient you can still take part in your own time and location between 2 and 16 July, or just make a donation.

Half of the money raised will go to NECAT – Nicaragua Education Culture Arts Trust and half to build a rainwater harvesting tank for a rural community near León, so that they can have access to clean water.

We are on Facebook: www.facebook.com/OxfordLeonLink. 

Whether you have taken part in lots of Sponsored Swims and will be trying to equal your personal best, or whether it will be your first time taking part, whatever you raise small or large will make a big difference to poor children in León and help to keep the NECAT centre going!  It will be a fun and enjoyable occasion!  Refreshments will be provided for swimmers and helpers.  Let’s hope that the sun shines!

Here is a sponsorship form for you to print off, if this is more convenient for you:

OLAT Swim sponsor form 2025Descarga

OLAT meeting Tuesday 22.4.2025

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The next meeting of OLAT will be next Tuesday 22 April, 7 pm at the Town Hall and on Zoom.

We will be looking at what to support with our funds, what is happening with NECAT and clean water for the hillside communities.

Planning the Sponsored Swim which will be on Wednesday 2 July, 4 pm to 7 pm at the beautiful Hinksey Pool – we have flyers to display, see attached, and discuss how to publicise the swim.  Do make a note in your diary!  Swimmers and helpers needed on the day!

The Misa Campesina will be on Sunday 7 September or Sunday 5 October – we will confirm the date after Easter.  

Ox_Leon_Sponsored_Swim_Flyer2025Descarga

meeting tomorrow

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we have been a bit quiet since the misa campesina, as we had no major event to shout about, but we’re still meeting every once in a while to discuss meaningful things to do to help the people of Leon in Nicaragua. The next meeting will actually be tomorrow, Tue 25th, at the town hall, starting 7pm.

Oh, and it also happens to be the AGM. So do come numerously.

Misa Campesina coming up in 4 weeks time

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As part of our partnership with Leon, the Misa Campesina has been sung in Oxford once a year since the 1980s, only paused for the Covid years.

This year, we’re a bit later than usual, but the date is coming up soon, it will be the Sunday 1st of September, 9:30 am at Blackfriars. As usual, all singers and musicians are encouraged to join the choir and the band respectively. There will be two rehearsals on the Saturdays before, ie 24.8. and 31.8, 10-12 at Blackfriars. More details closer to the dates, but save the dates!