ON SEASONALITY

‘For everything there is a season,’* yet February is not normally a seasonal highlight for me.  Rather than relishing its February-ness, I’m often looking to the future, watching for the lengthening of days and the moment for the sowing of seeds, dreaming of coming seasons in the garden.  At some point February becomes the season of marmalade making from Seville oranges – a promise of warmth and sweetness both behind and ahead as the hot citrusy smell rises (and hopefully sets!)

Seasonality seems fashionable in some ways – and yet outmoded in others – rhubarb has somehow become a special delight in season, but most of us have lives and work that continues with little respect for the rhythm of dark and light, cold and warmth, sluggishness and speed around and within.

Maybe we may need to encourage ourselves to accept the seasonality of our inner and outer lives.  Seasons of hard work, of leisure; of public activity and private pleasures; of giving and of receiving.  For whether we are in a season of fruitfulness or scarcity we may discover that seasons of absence and apparent failure may like the fallow seasons of the land be seasons when the earth seems bare but is in fact renewing itself deep down to provide future fruitfulness.  There is wisdom found both in newness and in maturity and in the accepting of the need for everything to have its season.  In hopes that 2018 will prove to be a time for laughter, embracing, dancing and peace.

*from the wisdom literature of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The Reverend Rachma Abbott Priest in Charge, Woodhill Benefice.

The Vicarage Clyffe Pypard, SWINDON SN4 7PY.  01793 731134

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

8^th Feb              Last Day of School Term

10^th Feb            Pancake Coffee Morning in Church

12^th Feb            Parish Council Meeting

14^th Feb            Community Coffee Morning

19^th Feb            Back to School

21^st Feb            WI

24^th Feb            Gentlemen’s Breakfast Club

24^th Feb            Dodecantus Concert at Tockenham

24^th Feb            Hilmarton Moviola

28^th Feb            Community Coffee Morning

11^th Mar Mothering Sunday

14^th Mar Community Coffee Morning

28^th Mar Community Coffee Morning

29^th Mar Last Day of School Term

30^th Mar Children’s Workshop

14^th Apr             Safari Supper

16^th Apr             Back to School

27^th May            Vintage Vehicles at Cotmarsh

 

PANCAKE COFFEE MORNING

The café will be open as usual for Pancakes on the Saturday before Shrove Tuesday.  There will be the usual refreshments, sales table and small raffle.

Do join us from 10.00am till Noon for the pancakes as well as great conversation and camaraderie. 

 

BROAD TOWN SCHOOL – SCHOOL GOVERNOR VACANCY

Broad Town C of E Primary School has a vacancy for a governor and is actively seeking applications for the post from the local community.  Governors have a real responsibility for and influence on the strategic management of the school and the education of our children, so it is a great opportunity for community involvement. Having evaluated the range of skills within the current governing body volunteers with knowledge of HR management, Finance or PR would be particularly welcome.  Experience of the education sector is not necessary but you will need enthusiasm, a willingness to take responsibility and have time to commit attending meetings and visiting the school.  If you are interested, please contact John Oldfield (Chair of Governors) on JOldfield@broadtown.wilts.sch.uk

 

FUNDRAISING FOR “BRIGHTER FUTURES”

We have received a letter from the Fundraising Manager, thanking the Broad Town Community for our donation of £612 in December.  The B T Community Coffee Morning raised £180., B T Church Carol Service raised £95., Carol Singing around the village raised £285 and a further £52 was collected at the B T School Carol Service. Thank you to everyone who supported our fundraising week and look out for more fundraising events in future for this very worthwhile appeal.

 

BROAD TOWN WI

We are a friendly group and are always happy to welcome new members. If you are unsure if the WI is right for you why not give it a go? Our meetings are generally held in the Village Hall on the third Wednesday of each month at 7.30. We are on the Broad Town Village website and on Facebook where you can find details of upcoming speakers and events. If you would like more information, please call Annette on 01793 739021. On the 21^st February, at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, the WI welcomes Malcolm Holland for a talk entitled ‘From Wootton Bassett clean through Normandy’ how Royal Wootton Basset assisted the US Army in WWII.  This is an OPEN EVENING and everyone is welcome so come along and find out more.  Tea and cakes provided – donations welcomed. 

 

 

SAFARI SUPPER SATURDAY 14TH APRIL

You are invited to a fundraising Safari Supper on the evening of Saturday 14th April

For those who have never been to one before it takes the form of a dinner party with each course taking place at a different house within the Village and different dinner guests hopefully at each venue.  For the very modest price of £20 per head you will enjoy pre-dinner drinks & canapes, 3 course dinners with wine, followed by after dinner drinks & chocolates.   There will be a central meeting point to start the evening off when all guests will be given a list of your own unique dining venues; The complete group will then meet up again at the end of the evening to enjoy swapping stories & anecdotes from the evening!  In previous years this has proved to be a very popular and enjoyable evening so do make your reservation early as seats will be limited!

All proceeds to be split between BT Church & GWH Brighter Futures Appeal.

If you would like to be added to the guest list, then please drop me an Email or give me a call.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Rosie Law rosiehlaw@gmail.com Tel: 731472

 

LITTER PICK UP

Spring is on its way and now is a good time to step outside your garden and clean up our paths and verges before the weeds and grass grow too high.  The parish holds a collection of litter pick up devices as well as gloves.  Please contact Rosie Law if you would like to borrow any equipment.  Tel:731472

 

COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING

Welcome to Community Coffee morning 2018.

We were so grateful for your support at the Christmas Coffee Morning in aid of the Brighter Futures Appeal and were delighted to contribute £180 towards the fund raised by the various activities in Broad Town.

Dates for February are the usual 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday of the month:

Wednesday 14^th February – money raised will be donated to Julia’s House Hospice in Devizes.  As it is half term there will also be activities for children

Wednesday 28^th February

Julia’s House is the first hospice for children to open in Wiltshire and it provides respite care for life limited children and specialist end of life care for both the child and their families.

Come and try our tea/coffee/chocolate/ cakes and meet up with friends!

 

PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE

As we enter a new year, the Parish Council would like to thank everyone for their tremendous support, and for their valuable input in helping us identify what people would like to see delivered for our Village.  At the Parish Council meeting in January, a long discussion took place about the budget to be set for the forthcoming year 2018/2019. Improvements to the Redhills playing field, the procurement and installation of Speed Indicating devices, improvements to the footpaths, maintaining the Community Heartbeat Trust defibrillator are all projects which will require financing or part financing from the precept.  It was decided to set a precept of £8,490.00 which will result in an increase of £3.16 on a Band D property from £28.72 a year to £31.88

At the last Parish Council meeting it was agreed that the Broad Town White Horse Preservation Society be given a grant from the Good Energy Community fund of £1,263.00 to pay for materials etc. for the upkeep of the White Horse. At the Area Board meeting a grant of £250.00 was given for the replacement of the interpretation board at the White Horse.  This work will be carried out by Wiltshire Council along with other improvements to the White Horse trail. Thanks to Unitary Councillor Alison Bucknell and Councillor Paul Oatway in sponsoring this project.

The footpath group reported that work was continuing surveying the footpaths in and around the village.  Generally, most of the paths are clear but some are obstructed by fallen trees and other vegetation and several are almost completely blocked.  Once survey works are complete a plan will be put in place for the commencement of remedial works.  It is hoped that volunteers will come forward and join the working parties and be rewarded with healthy exercise, great company and the very best tea and homemade cakes in the village.

Redhills Play Area. The new play equipment has now been installed; many thanks to Annette Moore for arranging this.

Attention is now focusing on the remainder of the site: -

The goal nets were removed for replacement, however during their removal the goal posts were found to be completely rusted through in places and dangerous, so they were removed to the edge of the field for subsequent removal from site. The Parish Council will now look at costs to replace the posts as well as the netting.

Improvements & repairs to be made to the wire fencing.  With regards to the fence a section of it needs to be replaced and other sections repaired.  CAN YOU HELP? - If you are a local builder/ tradesman or anyone who can help with assistance in supplying and fixing the new section of fence your help would be very gratefully accepted not only by the Parish Council but all in the Village who use the Redhills facility.  Please contact the Parish Clerk at broadtownparishclerk@gmail.com.

Improvements to the signage.

Improvements to the grass cutting with potentially more cuts and also grass collection

Longer term it is hoped that an additional fence can be placed around the play equipment and the seating reinstated.

The Community Heartbeat Trust defibrillator has been delivered and is awaiting installation; when installed training sessions will be available on how to use it.

Good Energy Community Fund. If you are a local community organisation seeking funds for a project, please send your application into the Parish Clerk for consideration at the next Parish Council meeting. (see the Parish Council website for details on how the fund works: -http://www.broadtown.co.uk/ParishCouncil/ParishCouncilDocuments/tabid/323/ID/2391/Good-Energy-Community-Benefit-Fund.aspx

The date of the next Parish Council meeting is 12^thFebruary at 18.30 at the Village Hall.  Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be provided.

 

SAFARI SUPPER SATURDAY 14TH APRIL

You are invited to a fundraising Safari Supper on the evening of Saturday 14th April

For those who have never been to one before it takes the form of a dinner party with each course taking place at a different house within the village and different dinner guests hopefully at each venue.  For the very modest price of £20 per head you will enjoy predinner drinks & canapes, 3 course dinners with wine, followed by after dinner drinks & chocolates.  There will be a central meeting point to start the evening off when all guests will be given a list of your own unique dining venues; The complete group will then meet up again at the end of the evening to enjoy swapping stories & anecdotes from the evening!  In previous years this has proved to be a very popular and enjoyable evening so do make your reservation early as seats will be limited!

All proceeds to be split between BT Church & GWH Brighter Futures Appeal.

If you would like to be added to the guest list, then please drop me an Email or give me a call.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Rosie Law rosiehlaw@gmail.com Tel: 731472

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS GROUP

A small group of residents are looking at the feasibility of setting up a Community Events Group that could organise two or three Broad Town events each year. The first event to be arranged could possibly be a celebration of the forthcoming Royal Wedding in May.

If you are interested in arranging or helping with an event in Broad Town or have some good ideas for events, please contact Lorraine on e-mail lorraine@mrsbillis.co.uk for more details.

 

VINTAGE VEHICLE AND ‘CLASSICS-IN-WAITING’

Sadly, 15 months ago, I lost my Mum to dementia; a disease that touches so many families.   Later this year I’ll be raising money for Alzheimer’s Society by hosting an informal car show.  The event will take place on Sunday 27^th May in Cotmarsh, and will be free to attend.  We will have a range of home-made refreshments, including hot dogs from our own free-range pigs.  We will ask all those attending to donate to Alzheimer’s Society.

VEHICLES NEEDED!

Do you have a vintage vehicle or Classic-in-waiting that people might find interesting to see close up?  (I think there might be some cherished vehicles tucked away in garages around Broad Town!)  If you’d like to come along with your car/tractor/bike, please give me a call or email and I can give you some more information about arrangements.

Andy Larkins.  andy@eleko.co.uk 07771 775171

 

 

FOUR WAYS: YOUR COMMUNITY PUB in Broad Town Village Hall

BINGO EVERY SUNDAY – PLEASE NOTE NEW TIMES: open 7pm; eyes down 7.30pm; last ball 9.30pm approx.!  Support your local non-profit: unlike commercial Bingo, every pound you flutter is returned to our players: stakes from £1.25, prizes can be over £50. More participants = bigger winnings! Never played? It’s easy for beginners – we’ll show you how!

EVERY FRIDAY BAR 8.15pm-late – EVERYONE WELCOME    Table tennis, pool, dartboard and table football – FREE TO PLAY. Classic 60s-90s music vids or sports on our two-metre cinema screen. Draught pints, wine, spirits, fruit juice, squash, fizzy drinks, Aero hot chocolate, Tetley tea, Nescafe cappuccino, coffee & decaf always available.  Friday 2^nd February – we are pleased to be opening the bar early for Broad Town School Association’s Family Quiz Night 5.30pm-8pm. Tickets must be purchased beforehand from BT Primary School. Planning your own event in the Village hall? Our fully licensed bar can be stocked and staffed daytime or evening according to your needs: at least four weeks’ notice, please!  Contact: Trevor on 01793 731699 email fourwaysbroadtown@gmail.com • ‘Like’ us on facebook.com/FourWaysBroadTown

Home Safety – Your New Year’s Resolution

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service are urging householders to sign up to www.registermyappliance.org.uk following national news stories about incidents caused by Whirlpool dryers in particular. When we buy new fridges, freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, ovens, microwaves, hobs, dishwashers, food-waste disposers; even small appliances such as kettles, toasters, hair straighteners, electric heaters or fans for our homes, we usually chuck the registration or guarantee cards on one side, thinking “I’ll fill that in later.”  Of course, we often never get around to it.  In a very small number of cases, manufacturers may identify problems with an appliance once the product has been in use for some time.  So as a consumer, it is important that you take the responsibility to let manufacturers know that you own the appliance 24and ensure that they can get in touch directly should they need to.  They then need to contact you to get the fault corrected as quickly as possible.  Normally a quick in-home fix by a qualified technician will banish any risk. Register your appliances today!

 

GENTLEMAN’S FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST CLUB

The Gentleman’s Full English Breakfast Club will meet on 24^th February 2018 at its new venue, the REME Museum Crown’s café at MOD Lyneham. The speaker this month will be Steve Bucknell talking about cremation & crematoria.  9am for 9:30am start as usual.  The cost? – still only £7pp. + a bottle raffle.

Contact David May, davemay104@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to be sent further details when available or to attend.

 

 

 

WILTSHIRE MOVIOLA

Hilmarton Parish Church Hall, Saturday 24^th February

Victoria and Abdul (PG)

7pm FOR 7.30pm, 75 comfy seats and a wine licence, tickets £6

 

DODECANTUS CHORAL CONCERT

St Giles Church Tockenham 24^th February.  Tickets £7.50 including Wine and Canapes from mandy.cook@talktalk.net 01793 853504 (evenings / voicemail) 07798801681 (text).

 

THE GUILD OF WILTSHIRE ARTISTS

Run workshops at the Village Hall on every first Friday and third Saturday of the month from 10am to 3pm.  All are welcome including painters who are beginners. The cost is still £5 per person per session which includes tea/coffee and biscuits but do bring a packed lunch.  Help will be given to those who request it.

Contact Jim Dowton 850029 or Roy Davey 731154

 

FREELANCE GROOM WANTED FOR HOLIDAY COVER IN BROAD TOWN

Can you recommend a freelance groom who can offer holiday cover and ad hoc help? Two horses who live out 24/7.  Daily visit(s) and duties approx. 1hr daily.  Must be hands-on, reliable and with good references. Please contact Peggy on 07766734400 or by email: peglurot@gmail.com