A little update from my initial starting post on this topic, on new years eve i took my 9 year old son to birmingham from cheltenham spa, using cross country services. We got the tickets from the station (i have a railcard so used that too), you then have to pass through the barriers. On board the train after about 10 mins we were checked including the railcard by the TM^‡(resolve). At new street, no checks were made.
On the return journey, no check at new street, but again on the train a full check. Incidently, a girl had boarded the train at NS with no ticket, the TM made it very clear to her that she should have purchased a ticket BEFORE getting on the train as he issued her a ticket.
I have travelled using XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) many times and have always been checked at some point, it just seems FGW^▸ (First Great Western) arent so bothered, one thing i have noticed with FGW is that the TM will go through the train collecting fares from unstaffed stations, but not check tickets of those already on board, which can give rise to the dishonest traveller trying their luck !!

Thank you for your welcome and concise reply. I do remember last year too, i was doing a trip to didcot with my son and was due to change at oxford, and i had to hunt down the train manager to pay just after we left charlbury. I personally didnt want to be in an embarrassing position of not having a ticket if checked on the oxford / didcot leg of the journey. I did find the manager...chatting away to the buffet car staff !!.  It may well be the case that due to the frequency of stops and the amount of people that board the trains that head towards London in the morning, they simply dont have time, i would guess that they are checked after oxford, but many do get off at oxford and there are barriers there.

I had to travel to worcester the other Saturday, xmas shopping, so decided to catch the 13.21 from Evesham. The booking office at Evesham is closed by then so as normal one would purchase a ticket from the train manager, 9as i have done many times in the past)
The train arrived on time, I and about 30 others also boarded it, we were slightly delayed departing as we had to wait the arrival of the london train, which the train manager did alert us to.  So we set off, on reaching Pershore, no sign of the train manager, about another 20 people got on the train, and away we went again.
We arrived at shrub hill, again no sign of the train manager, then the quick trip to forgate street.

I have NEVER not paid my way on any train, but is this not good practice for FGW^▸ (First Great Western), i would hate to think how much revenue was lost. There are signs everywhere regarding fare dodging, fair enough if there are other methods of getting a ticket ie, automatic machines, but Evesham and pershore and others along the route do not have those, so passengers rely on the train manager collecting fairs on such services.

Im guessing FGW were being in a festive mood, or the train manager just couldnt be bothered to do his job!!. I only had to make a one way trip, so maybe those returning did get a ticket for the trip back!!.

As a footnote, i have travelled to london a few times with no ticket checks being made, it does make you wonder about those that get away with persistant fare dodging, it seems so easy to do.

I forgot to mention, the train was a 3 car a Turbo and i was in the rear car !!