ON SOLITUDE AND ISOLATION

I love to be on my own.  I enjoy time without conversation or human interaction, time walking or swimming alone with only the rhythm of my own movement, my own breathing, my own thoughts.  I’ve been known to say my idea of heaven would be a natural outdoor heated swimming pool just the width of a lane.

Such time, on retreat or snatched from the interruptions of daily life and work has become essential to sustainable living.  Solitude, privacy, self-determination.

I struggle when I’m lonely, when the absence of someone I love enables me to share the highlights and challenges of the day.  When long stretches of time when the only human contact I will have will be work or some other intervention like a visit to the GP remind me that I feel without love or friendship.  When there is no shoulder on which to rest my weary head.

Such time feels interminable, tiring, depleting and undermining of fuller living.  Isolation, abandonment, loneliness.

There are worlds of difference between Greta Garbo’s ‘I want to be alone’ and being seen or described as a loner.  And there can be solitude in crowds and loneliness amidst a multitude and contentment in solitary as well as partnered living.  I ponder the loneliness of those who at work or home have responsibilities and take decisions that are unshared.  I contemplate the joy of being unencumbered when making decisions about which way to go, what to eat, what task to complete.

There is a vast universe of different experience between feeling isolated and enjoying chosen solitude.  How do we find ways to seek solitude and reduce isolation, to develop the resilience of contentment alone and easing the pain of feeling unseen and alone?

The Reverend Rachma Abbott Priest in Charge, Woodhill Benefice.

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

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

24^th Feb                     Big Gig Meeting

3^rd March                    Women’s World Day of Prayer

8^th March                    Community Coffee Morning

15^th March                  WI

18^th March                  Hilmarton Moviola

22^nd March                  Community Coffee Morning

25^th March                  Gentlemen’s Breakfast Club

7^th April                      School Easter Service and end of term

24^th April                    Back to school

1^st May                       Bushton plant fair

20^th May                     Church Coffee Morning

7th June                     Stall in RWB

9^th Sept                      Church Coffee Morning

9^th Sept                      Big Gig

7^th Oct                        Harvest Supper

2^nd Dec                      Christmas bazaar

MOTHERING SUNDAY

Please join us for this special Family Service on March 26th at 10am.  Suitable for all ages with refreshments after the service.  Gift of flowers for all Mums/Ladies.

 

FUNDRAISING

The following events have been planned.  Please put these in your diary.

20 May - Church Coffee Morning/Plant Sale/ Book Stall;
7 June – Stall in Royal Wootton Bassett - Wednesday Market Stall;
9 September - Church Coffee Morning/Children’s games;
7 October - Harvest Supper in Village Hall;
2 December - Christmas Bazaar, in Church with Grand Draw
Details of further events will be shown in future editions of the BT News once they have been agreed.

 

CHURCHYARD MAINTENANCE

A tidy up of the Churchyard is planned for Saturday 18th March from 9.30am to 12.30pm.  Strimming, and hedge cutting are planned.  Refreshments will be provided.

For further information on any of the above, please contact Ray or Margaret Manley - Tel 731564.

 

COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING

Community Coffee Morning dates 8^th March and 22^nd March.

 

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

This year the WWDP is on March 3^rd 2017, at 2.30pm in Christ Church, Broad Town.

The theme this year is “Am I unfair to you?”

The service has been written by the ladies of the Philippines. The service is open to all and will be followed by refreshments.

 

 

 

 

 

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

At the Parish Council meeting on Monday February 13^th, all but one of the seven Councillors, and the professional Parish Council Clerk (who has been with Broad Town for just 6 months), resigned.  The Parish Council has a democratic mandate through the electoral process to expedite its role, unlike any other village organisation, and so this is a step which none of us took flippantly or lightly.  The problem has been a determined opposition from a tiny minority of residents who perceived a bias, within our work on the draft Neighbourhood Plan, towards forwarding and representing the opinion of the residents.  Our recent Housing survey results proved that there is a mild appetite for and support for some development in Broad Town, but a hardcore minority, whose opinion differs from this, have ensured through their behaviour that the Parish Council has been unable to function:

1. Through obstruction and delaying tactics, our draft Neighbourhood Plan has been impossible to progress.  Broad Town has been explicitly blamed by several departing Councils for breaking up the NEW-V group.
2. Every single aspect of the Housing Survey was challenged, questioned and attacked.
3. The Clerk received two absurdly detailed Freedom Of Information requests, so time-consuming to fulfil that we considered them to be deliberately designed to waste time and taxpayers’ money.  These requests made the Clerk’s role impossible to manage, especially within the small number of hours for which we are able to pay, and are partly responsible for the current vacancy.

The CLPG has a legitimate and valid role in this Neighbourhood Plan process, but its meetings have been hijacked by one or two individuals, who have instead used them as a vehicle for stirring up a lack of trust and outright suspicion towards everything the PC does.  This has included spreading rumours about both the Parish Council’s motivation in producing the Housing Survey, and circulating untruths about individual Councillors.

With Broad Town now without a Parish Council, Wiltshire Council will be informed, and procedures exist for appointing trustees to run the PC until new Councillors can be announced.  Please contact County Hall if you wish to find out more about these processes.

We have received many messages of goodwill and support from those who have witnessed the bullying attacks to which we have been subjected for at least the past two years, and we wish to express our thanks and gratitude for this support.  Ultimately it became an impossible task to continue and we regret this.

Stuart Hinson Chairman of Broad Town Parish Council 2013 - 2017

At the Parish Council meeting on 13^th February 2017 the Parish Council clerk Mrs Deborah Bourne tendered her resignation, with effect from 21^st February 2017.

Parish Councillors Jason Bayliffe, Raymond Bourton, Stuart Hinson, Matt Nailon, Donna Ponting, and Veronica Stubbings also tendered their resignations.

The matter will now be referred to Wiltshire Council for guidance as to how a new Parish Council can be formed.  It may well be that with Parish Council elections due in May 2017 the matter is deferred till then.

Simon Billis   Parish Councillor

BROAD TOWN COMMUNITY LED PLANNING (CLP) GROUP

Without an operational Parish Council the future of the Neighbourhood Plan for Broad Town is uncertain, and will remain so until a replacement qualifying lead body is in place.

The CLPG would like to thank everyone who has participated by attending meetings, putting forward their comments and views, and all other contributions to the neighbourhood planning process.

If you would like to be kept updated on any future progress you can go on to our mailing list on broadtownclpg@gmail.com or see our webpage on www.broad-town.co.uk

 

BROAD TOWN BIG GIG 2017 – SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER

We had a great turnout for the first meeting for the 2017 Big Gig.  New committee members are in place and the planning of the event is making good progress.  Most of the acts have been selected and the stage and sound and lighting people booked.  News about the event can be seen on the news page of the website www.thebroadtownbiggig.co.uk.  Watch this space for further updates. Items are also posted on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheBroadTownBigGig.

The date of our next meeting is Friday 24 February in the Village Hall at 8.30pm if you feel like coming along to see what's happening – the more the merrier!

 

BROAD TOWN WI

In February, we had a first aid demonstration given by Kevin Dickens from the St John Ambulance.  He showed us how to deal with an unconscious patient, how to do CPR and how to use a defibrillator.  It was very informative and made us all realise that we should look into having a defibrillator in the Village.

Next time (March 15th) is our AGM, but we will also be having a talk from Sue Dunmore from Swindon Volunteering.

We are a friendly group and welcome new members.  Our meetings are generally held on the third Wednesday of the month in the Village Hall.  If you are interested in visiting us, please contact Kate on 01793 731536.  We are also on the Broad Town Village website and on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

 

BUMPS & BEYOND BABY & TODDLER PLAYGROUP

We are a small friendly group who meet every Tuesday at Broad Town Village Hall, from 9.30-11.30am (term time only).  We run different craft activities and song time each week for all ages.  There are snacks for the children, and coffee and cake for the grownups!  First session is free.

This term we would like to welcome our newly appointed joint chairpersons to our group, Annie & Esther.  They will join the rest of the committee, Amy, Lou and Becky. We are all busy making plans for our Easter egg hunt and annual summer outing which is always lots of fun.

We would like to say a big thank you to our lovely volunteers who help in the kitchen every week with snacks and refreshments for the children and adults.  And a thank you to the volunteers who help us set up each week.  Without you all we couldn’t run, so thank you again.

If you would like any further information about our group, please pop in and see us.  Alternatively visit our Facebook page: Bumps & Beyond Mother & Toddler Group.

 

HELLO

Just a quick word to remind you all that I am around for general help and support on a wide variety of issues including transport, mobility and safety around the home and reducing the feeling of loneliness.  Give me a call on 07557 922020 and leave a message.  I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Ellen Blacker

Health and Wellbeing Champion

 

WILTSHIRE MOVIOLA

The next film on Saturday 18^th March is A Street Cat Named Bob (12A) at 7.30pm in Hilmarton Parish Church Hall.  Doors open at 7pm.  Tickets £6 from 27 Poynder Place 01249 760215 email MarkRickaby2@gmail.com Or 34 Church Road Hilmarton.

For more information call 01249 760312, hilmartonmoviola@hotmail.co.uk

Book a pre-cinema meal at The Duke 01249 760634

 

GENTLEMAN’S FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST CLUB

25^th March 2017 at the Duke public house in Hilmarton.  Doors open at 9:00am for 9:30am start. £7pp. + a raffle.  The speaker for the March meeting is Andy Henley and the title of his talk will be “The Changing Face and Sound of Radio”

Contact David May, davemay104@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to attend.

 

 

BROAD TOWN PAINTER AND DECORATOR

Dear Broad Town Residents.  I have recently responded to some painting and decorating enquiries, from Broad Town residents.  Until they responded to a local advert, they didn’t know that Broad Town had a resident Painter and Decorator. Therefore, this short insert is to allow the Village to be aware of my services.  I only take on local work, and have very happy clients in Broad Town, who are more than happy to recommend the quality of my work.  I would be very happy, at any time, to look at any work you would like doing and provide you with an estimate.  Attached to this Newsletter is one of my business cards.

Best Wishes - Glen Morley, The Old Shop, 94a Broad Town.  Tel: 01793 739227 Mobile: 07545 573002

 

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