ON FIREWORKS AND FRIENDLINESS NOVEMBER 2017

Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot….  I remember when I was living in London in the 1980s you would still find, before the end of October a few children with an old pushchair and some stuffed clothes going: ‘Penny for the guy’.  During my own son’s childhood changes in the neighbourhood meant that while there were still lovely fireworks in the local parks the connection was more with Diwali, than with Guy Fawkes.  I liked fireworks, as long as they weren’t too close and preferred the friendlier connection with Hindu neighbours to the ‘celebration’ of division between Christians that the Gunpowder Plot fireworks had seemed to provide.  Recently I attended a lovely assembly at Broad Town School where the youngest children told us all the story of the Good Samaritan with a mixture of video and storytelling.  In this story Jesus told the priests are the bad guys, who claim to love God and their neighbour, but won’t cross the road to help an injured stranger. The lesson Class 1 drew from the story was ‘be kind to people, even if you don’t like them’.  Fireworks as a celebration of friendliness, even to those you don’t like – that’s why I’ll be remembering the 5^th of November from now on.

The Reverend Rachma Abbott Priest in Charge, Woodhill Benefice.

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

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

8^th Nov                          Community Coffee Morning

12^th Nov                        Remembrance Service

13^th Nov                        Parish Council meeting

15^th Nov                        WI

18^th Nov                        Hilmarton Moviola

22^nd Nov                        Community Coffee Morning

24^th Nov                        Four Ways Pub AGM

25^th Nov                        Gentlemen’s Full English Breakfast Club

2^nd Dec                         Church Coffee Morning

13^th Dec                        Community Coffee Morning

14^th Dec                        Village Carol Service

15^th Dec                        Carol Singing

ROOF PROJECT

The work has started and good progress has been made so far.  We expect to continue using the Church while the work is being carried out.

 

CHURCHYARD WORK MORNINGS

Thank you to everyone who turned up on 28 October and at other times throughout the year to help keep the churchyard tidy. We will carry on the good work in 2018 and dates will be shown in the BT News.

FUNDRAISING FOR  “BRIGHTER FUTURES”

It is planned to have a fundraising week for the “Brighter Futures” Radiotherapy Unit Appeal at GWH on 13^th, 14^th and 15^th December.

Wednesday  13^th December – Community Coffee Morning – Village Hall – 10 am  to 12 mid-day.
Thursday  14^th  December – Carol Service – B T Church – 6.30pm – Mulled Wine & Mince Pies
Friday 15^th  December – Village Carol Singing – Meet at Village Hall at 6.30pm
                                          (Full details and route in December B T News)
For further information on all the above – contact Margaret/Ray Manley   Tel: 731564

 

BROAD TOWN WI

Last month Purton Peartree Pealers treated us to a demonstration of hand bell ringing with a short talk on the background of ringing.  The sound produced was lovely and it was interesting to learn about the basics of producing a lovely sound.  We enjoyed having a go and with intense concentration and much help we managed to produce a recognisable tune.

This month (November 15th) we will be in the Village Hall for a talk by Embroiderer and Textile Artist Kath Danswan who will talk about the creations she made for her City and Guilds exam and show us some of her work.

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. If you would like to come along please call Annette on 01793 739021. We are also on the Broad Town Village website and on Facebook.

 

COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING

A big thank you to everyone who supported the MacMillan Coffee morning at the end of September.  It was lovely to see so many people and we raised £130.

Betty Bastin won the Guess the height of the cake tower – the actual height was 94cm.  There were 263 marshmallows in the jar and Margaret Manley made the closest guess.

Dates for November Wednesday 8^th November, Wednesday 22^nd November

Date for December Wednesday 13^th December: money raised at this Christmas coffee morning will (together with carol singing and half the Carol Service collection) go to The Brighter Futures appeal which is raising money for a radiotherapy unit in Swindon.  This will save cancer patients having to travel all the way to Oxford for treatment.

 

 

PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE

The October Parish Council meeting focused on progressing the grants awarded in September from the Community Fund.  All of these initiatives add significant value to our Village and the Council is delighted to be able to offer this support.  The provision of a defibrillator in Broad Town moved a step closer when a cheque drawn from the Community Fund was presented to representatives of the WI for part funding of the project; in addition, the Parish Council agreed to fund future maintenance payments for the device.  The remaining funding for the project will come from the Area Board and the WI.  Very many thanks to Annette Moore, Kate Orton, and the WI.  The equipment will be acquired via the Community Heartbeat Trust (CHT) and when installed a training session will be held to ensure its correct usage.  We all look forward to a successful delivery of this valuable project.

Also at the meeting another cheque drawn from the Community Fund was handed to a representative of the Coffee Morning group to cover the cost of the hire of the Village Hall for the next twelve months.

The Parish Council is also keen to support the application for funding from the Community Fund for the White Horse Preservation Group.  It was agreed that the fund could meet half the funds requested and that the group should make an application to the Science Museum Group Wroughton Solar Park Community Fund for the remainder.  This additional source of funding for small grants for community organisations is from the Science Museum Group Wroughton Solar Park who have included Broad Town in the list of Villages eligible to apply.

The Footpaths Working Group is to have its inaugural meeting when its terms of reference will be drafted and presented to the Parish Council at its next meeting for approval.

It was agreed by the Parish Council that new playground equipment will be ordered and installed, funded by the balance of previously allocated Section 106 funding.  Many thanks to Annette Moore for her continued work on this project.

The draft minutes of the last meeting are shown on the Parish Council website http://www.broad-town.co.uk

The next scheduled Parish Council meeting is on Monday 13^th November 2017 in the village hall at 6.30pm; refreshments will be available. Everyone is welcome.

 

GENTLEMAN’S FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST CLUB

The Gentleman’s Full English Breakfast Club will meet next on Saturday 25^th November 2017 at its new venue, the REME Museum Crown’s café at MOD Lyneham. The talk this time must, at this point, remain a mystery but I am sure Dave will pull something out of the bag by then. 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 attend.

 

FOUR WAYS: YOUR COMMUNITY PUB in Broad Town Village Hall

Get involved: come along to the AGM – 8pm Friday 24th November 2016. REGULAR FRIDAY EVENING BAR STAFF URGENTLY REQUIRED: NOVEMBER 2017 onwards.  The Village Hall bar is a popular feature, but sadly its future is by no means certain unless more volunteers are prepared to assist the social club in keeping it open.  Commitment level: could you help just one evening every five or six weeks, usually about 3.5 hours per session?  What’s in it for you?  Play an active part in preserving your Village’s character, meet new friends and neighbours, enjoy the odd free drink… PLUS! Nationally recognised BIIAB Level 2 certification worth over £200 available to committed bar staff on completion of 7+ evening sessions.  Come down any Friday, have a chat with Trevor on 01793 731699 fourwaysbroadtown@gmail.com • ‘facebook.com/FourWaysBroadTown

Our fully licensed bar is also available for your Village Hall event (at least two weeks notice required).  We are proud to be supporting Broad Town School’s Beetle Drive on Friday 17^th November in addition to our regular openings.

EVERY FRIDAY: BAR 8.15pm-late: open to all • Table tennis, pool table, dartboard and table football – all FREE TO PLAY.  Classic 60s-90s music videos or sports including rugby, racing, tennis & cricket on our two-metre cinema screen.  Draught beers, ales, hot drinks, snacks and sweeties all at sub-Wetherspoons prices.

BINGO EVERY SUNDAY – open 7.15pm; eyes down 8pm; last ball 9.45pm. Stakes less than £2, prizes of over £60 regularly up for grabs. Beginners welcome!

 

BROAD TOWN WEB RESOURCES

Village website: www.broad-town.co.uk/ – copies of this newsletter available in case you’ve lost the one that pops through your letterbox!

Village Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Broadtown/

Broad Town Archaeology: www.facebook.com/broadtownarchaeology/

Broad Town History: www.facebook.com/groups/329039630480490/ (history & pics)

Any more we’ve missed?  Let Broad Town News know!

 

SAFE & WELL VISITS: A FREE SERVICE

A Safe and Well visit is a totally free service offered by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue.  We’d like to visit you in your home, at a convenient time to see what we can do together around improving your wellbeing.  We fit free smoke alarms where required and offer advice to make you and your family safer and healthier in your home.  The appointment normally lasts about one hour and covers topics such as: • Using electricity safely • Cooking safely • Making an escape plan • What to do if there is a fire • Keeping children safe • Good practice – night time routine and other points relevant to you • Identifying and discussing any further support you may need if necessary.  To request a free Safe and Well visit, please call 08000382323 or visit www.dwfire.org.uk/safety/safe-and-well-visits.

 

WILTSHIRE MOVIOLA

The next film on Saturday 18^th November is “The Time of Their Lives” (12A) at 7.30pm in Hilmarton Parish Church Hall. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets £6 Times:  Advance tickets:

Breda Cottage (34 Church Road, Hilmarton,) or email hilmartonmoviola@hotmail.co.uk  For more information and to reserve tickets call 01249 760312.  75 upholstered seats and a licensed wine bar

Also on HILMARTON MOVIOLA FACEBOOK and http://www.moviola.org/hilmarton/

or phoning 07833 683444 or 01793 850562.

 

SWINDON & DISTRICT SCOUT CHRISTMAS POST 2017

This facility, which by law, is only for the delivery of Christmas Cards, is again being provided this year as in previous years.  The cost of the special stamp is still 30p (now self-adhesive).  They can be purchased in Royal Wootton Bassett from Bevirs, Solicitors, High Street; Haines & Smith, Opticians, High Street; News Plus, Gainsborough Avenue; Radway’s the Cobblers, The Arcade, High Street & Rootz, Hairdressers, Woodshaw.  The last date for posting mail into the Scout Post is TUESDAY 12^th DEC at 4:00pm and all items must be posted in the special green post boxes which can be found at Sainsbury’s, Borough Fields, Haines & Smith, Radway’s, News Plus & Rootz. Please DO NOT USE Scout Post stamps on cards posted through Royal Mail post boxes.  They are not valid and the receiver will have to pay a surcharge. 

The area covered for delivery of Scout Post is: -

Swindon, Badbury, Bishopstone, Blunsdon, Burderop, Chiseldon, Draycott Foliat, Elcombe, Hannington, Highworth, Hinton Parva, Hodson, Inglesham, Langton Park, Liddington, Overton, Red Barn, South Leaze, South Marston, Stanton Fitzwarren, Stratton St Margaret, Thorney Park, Wanborough, West Leaze, Wichelstowe, Wroughton, Royal Wootton Bassett, Purton, Lydiard Millicent, Greatfield, Greenhill, Hook, Broad Town, Bushton, Clyffe Pypard, Tockenham, Cricklade, Latton, Ashton Keynes, Broad Hinton, Berwick Bassett, Uffcott, Winterbourne Bassett, Winterbourne Monkton, Shrivenham, Watchfield, Bourton, Idstone, Ashbury, Kingston Winslow.

In addition, stamps are available from Clive Green, 5 Eastwood Avenue, Royal Wootton Bassett. Tel No. 01793 854200 cliveggreen@waitrose.com

 

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

 

AMHERST CONTRACTORS

Amherst Contractors are a professional Local Authority Approved Contractor with a wealth of experience for over 20 years.

Local to Broad Town and we offer key services including:- Digger Services 1-20 ton, excavation and all ground works.  Ditches, Soak away, Drainage and Septic tank excavation / installation.  Complete pumping systems, pond construction and Landscaping.  Professional Tree Surgery all ground maintenance and erection of Fencing.  Gravel and compost supply, driveways and much more.

To enquire further and for a free no obligation quote call Francis on Mobile 07921 856089 or office; 01793 772268.

Email-amherstcontractors@hotmail.co.uk

 

OIL HEATING IN BROAD TOWN AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES

Hello, this is a brief introduction. My name is Ben Davis - my family and I moved to Broad Town just over two years ago.  We are really enjoying living in the Village.

I am a plumbing and heating engineer, registered with OFTEC (for oil) and Gas Safe (for gas).  Going forward, I would like to reduce the amount of time spent driving (and sitting in traffic) around North Wiltshire and increase my local customer base.

My services include: Boiler breakdown and repairs, annual boiler servicing, boiler and oil tank replacement, general heating faults and maintenance, and general plumbing. Please feel free to call me anytime for further information.

01793 317758 or 07920 042880

 

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

 

BABY SITTING

My name is Rachel Green, and I am an eighteen-year-old RWBA sixth form
student, from the Village. I would like to offer my services babysitting to
local families, as I am aspiring to become a teacher after university.  I
hope I am able to be of service to your family!  My contact number is 07736
394 882, and my email is rachellucy.green99@gmail.com. Please feel free to
contact me for more information or to discuss further.