ON STORYTELLING
My mind is full of pictures from various stories at the moment. The Christmas story lies ahead as I write this and I’m looking forward to the ways that story will be told in carols and nativity plays, in churches and schools; through Advent Calendars and through the traditions that different people and families have.
Christmas is a time that is about fun – eating and drinking, presents and Santa and stockings, and the gathering of family and loved ones;
Seasonal films or the Queen’s speech and holly and reindeer.
But of course, we can tell stories, including the Christmas one in very different ways.
Christmas is a time that is about stress - feeling too full or having ‘one too many’ too many times, unwanted gifts and debt, loneliness because there’s no one under the mistletoe to kiss this year. Family and loved ones quarrelling over the mince pies about what to watch on TV.
I think the stories we tell ourselves and each other matter – not just when we’re happy or the world looks a good place to be alive, but perhaps even more when we’re sad or the world seems too full of stories of terror and hatred. I’m grateful for people who in those times can still tell stories of courage to overcome fear and love that is greater than hate – they help me keep going with the stories that sustain my trust in Love and Joy.
And you can tell the traditional Christmas story in different ways: It’s about a single mum giving birth, some agricultural labourers hallucinating, and some fools who are looking for a prince in a derelict outbuilding. It’s about Mary, and Joseph choosing to love and support her although the baby isn’t his; about shepherds terrified by seeing angels and some wise astronomers whose study of the stars leads to a pilgrimage of years and distance
But whatever way you tell it the heart of the story is always the baby – a vulnerable new-born, Jesus. His story too can be told in different ways and his life and message of loving your neighbour transforms and challenges the world to this day.
However, you tell the Jesus story I hope that we can all still find as much courage as the shepherds who encounter messengers that frighten them but still go and find the baby.
I hope we can have the kind of companionship that Mary and Joseph discover that helps us share the care of the vulnerable and needy.
And may there be more fun than stress in all your Christmases so that New Year resolutions for 2016 enrich and bring joy to our lives and all who are part of the stories of the communities in which we live.
The Reverend Rachma Abbott Priest in Charge, Woodhill Benefice.
The Vicarage Clyffe Pypard, SWINDON SN4 7PY. 01793 731134
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
5th Dec Christmas coffee morning
9th Dec WI meal
11th Dec BT School Christmas Fayre @ 3.15pm
12th Dec BT Preschool Nativity @ 9.30am
14th Dec Parish Council Meeting @ 6.30pm
14th Dec Last collection for Scout post
16th Dec BT CLPG meeting
17th Dec Christ Church Carol Service @ 6pm
18th Dec School Carol Service/last day of term 1.30pm
4th Jan 2016 BT School first day of term
16th Jan Hilmarton Moviola
30th Jan Gentlemen’s breakfast club
5th Feb Big Gig committee meeting
April Swing Band concert
CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING
The Coffee morning will be held in the Church from 10.00am till Noon. At 11.45am we will make the draw for the raffle – 1st prize £100; 2nd prize £75 and 3rd prize £50. There are other exciting prizes. Stalls include refreshments, cakes, sales table, tombola and cards. Mr Male will be there with his beautiful photographs of wildlife.
There will also be an exhibition of Nativity scenes placed around the Church which have been lent by various people.
SWINDON & DISTRICT SCOUT POST CHRISTMAS POST 2015
This facility is again being provided this year as in previous years. The cost of the special stamp is still 30p. 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. The last date for posting mail into the Scout Post is TUESDAY 15th 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.
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, Wroughton, Royal Wootton Bassett, Purton, Lydiard Millicent, 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
BIG GIG AGM
The Big Gig Annual General Meeting took place in the Village Hall on Friday 13th November. Reports regarding the successful event in 2015 were provided by the Chairman and Treasurer and in anticipation of a repeat in 2016, a new Committee was elected under the chairmanship of Ian Cooke.
A number of Committee Members chose to stand down after the 2015 event and a vote of thanks was made to all of them. To ensure that we have an effective Committee it is now desirable to recruit a minimum of 2 new Committee members and anyone with an interest in being involved in this community event should contact Ian (rossi46uk@hotmail.com). The duties are not onerous, no specific skills are required and the enjoyment is huge. One particular area where support would be of great benefit is in marketing; anyone involved in or studying this subject and who wishes to gain practical experience is most welcome to join the team in a formal or informal role.
The next meeting of the Big Gig Committee will take place in the Village Hall on Friday 5th February at 8.30pm and on this date the nature of the forthcoming event will be discussed and agreed. Come along, have your say and feel free to get involved.
THE FOUR WAYS COMMUNITY PUB, BROAD TOWN VILLAGE HALL
FRIDAY NIGHTS Everyone welcome from 8 p.m. till late, children from 12 yrs must
be accompanied, younger children by arrangement. Social Club prices in the fully Licensed Bar.
Tea, coffee (+ decaf) and chocolate beverages, snacks and soft drinks available.
SUNDAY BINGO Fun for all ages…. Doors open 7.15pm eyes down 8pm.
Books and Stakes from £1.25. Big Bonus Card Game
Plus 2 triple chance flyer games. All monies taken, are paid out in prizes.
Become a member and after 4 consecutive weeks you can go for the Snowball prize.
The more people that join us, the bigger the prizes.
CHRISTMAS BINGO will take place on Sunday 20th December eyes down from 7.30pm. Followed by the Christmas Draw, with great prizes to be won.
Please be aware there will no Bingo on Sun 27th December or Sun 3rd January
Reconvening on Sun 10th of January.
The Four Ways community pub will be closed Friday 25th December and 1st January
Reconvening on the 8th January
The FOUR WAYS community pub and Sunday Bingo are run by The Broad Town Social Club Volunteers. Any questions or want to get involved? Contact Trevor on 01793731699. email fourwaysbroadtown@gmail.com *facebook.com/FourWaysBroadTown
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and all that you would wish yourselves in the New Year.
Ellen Blacker Tel: 07557 110414 or email me at rwbcrickladegnc@communityfirst.org.uk
BROAD TOWN WI
Our November meeting was a general meeting where members shared interesting experiences, films, books etc. There was no obligation to speak but most people did and often topics generated a lively discussion. Subjects varied from a visit to a family grave in the Dardanelles to social media and walking basketball!
Our next meeting on December 9th is a Christmas meal in the Village Hall.
Members need to have pre-booked through Carol Joyce. We have recently welcomed several new members, some new to the area. If anyone else is would like to visit us we are a friendly group and generally meet on the third Wednesday of the month in the Village Hall. If you would like more information, please contact Kate on 01793 731536 or Michelle on 01793 731357. We are also on the Broad Town Village website and on Facebook.
BROAD TOWN COMMUNITY LED PLANNING (CLP) GROUP
For the CLPG this has been a year of trying to ensure that a fair, transparent and open process is in place for the production of the draft Broad Town chapter of the Area Neighbourhood Plan, that its content is based on evidence, that people who live in Broad Town are kept informed of what is happening, and to stand up for a democratic resident-only vote on the draft chapter before it is submitted to Wiltshire Council to be incorporated into the Area Plan. The Parish Council has decided that it wants the responsibility of consulting on adding development options into the draft Broad Town chapter and we have put the above principles to the Councillors requesting that they are supported. If you would like to hear how we are getting on and to put your opinion forward our next meeting will be at 7.30pm to 9pm on Wednesday 16th December at the Village Hall, all residents are welcome.
There are many people we would like to thank for their input over the year; the editorial team of Broad Town News and the volunteers who collate and distribute the newsletter; those people who have made donations to cover expenses; contributors of photographs and the affordable homes options and of course everyone who has attended and contributed to our meetings. We wish everyone in Broad Town a Happy Christmas.
Please contact us if you would like to go on to our mailing list on broadtownclpg@gmail.com More information is on our Community Forum on www.broad-town.co.uk
A SIMPLE GUIDE TO THE BROAD TOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN PROCESS FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL
The Parish Council has recently taken over responsibility for finishing the Broad Town Neighbourhood Plan (NP) from the CLPG, who put a great deal of time and effort into progressing the draft Plan, but recently admitted that they cannot agree how to finish it. This needs to happen soon, as it must be with Wiltshire Council for approval and insertion into the NEW-V area-wide Plan as soon as possible. Furthermore, the CLPG did not take up an invitation to assist the Parish Council in finishing the Plan, and we have reserved the option of asking whomsoever we wish from the residents of Broad Town to assist us in doing this, for the good of our village.
The CLPG recently compiled a site-specific list of development proposals, and it was sent to the Parish Councillors with a specific request not to forward it to anyone else, as some of the proposals were not at that time in the public domain. Anyone wishing to see this document should contact the CLPG, as it is their document. The proposals are not in our draft Plan because they are all very specific sites and we have consistently been advised by the planners at Wiltshire Council that the Plan will better serve the residents of Broad Town if it is criteria-based. This means that its’ policies represent the residents’ wishes and apply to the whole Parish, not one specific field or garden; it should describe on a general parish-wide manner, the level of development which is wanted, needed or expected by the residents, with reasons and potential benefits. This is very different to site–based policies, such as Mr and Mrs. A want to build in their back garden, or Mrs. B wants to build some smaller more affordable houses on some land she owns, and so on. This is because the nature of the village suits a criteria-based Plan.
RWB has a more site-specific Plan, but it is required to accommodate several hundred houses for which there are very few suitable or appropriate sites, and these are generally known and obvious locations. Because Broad Town is by its nature less amenable to development, basing our Plan on criteria (e.g., the majority of residents want a pro- or anti-development clause in our Plan, and we have collected evidence of the residents’ opinions to back this up) is more constructive for us and more informative to the planners at County Hall, who will use the Plan to inform their decisions on any Broad Town planning application they receive during the currency of the NEW-V Neighbourhood Plan. Our Plan could have been site-specific, as some villages’ Plans are, but the CLPG did not acknowledge the existence of any appropriate sites for possible development, specifically including the Hannick proposal regarding land opposite the church, until so recently that it became too late to incorporate anything about them into the policies within the Plan.
As early as possible in the New Year, the Parish Council will hold a consultation in the Village Hall, to which all residents will be invited to give their opinion on the three development options we are currently writing. With this evidence collected, we will finish the Plan with the option chosen by the residents fully embedded. At this point, we would prefer a Broad Town only poll so that all residents would have the chance to approve the document and to authorise its incorporation into the NEW-V area-wide NP. However, we are wary of consultation fatigue and, in addition, have neither the time within the NEW-V Neighbourhood Plan process nor the money to facilitate such a poll. Once the whole Plan has been approved by Wiltshire Council, Broad Town residents will have a chance to vote on the acceptance of the NEW-V area-wide Plan, as this poll is prescribed by law. Once incorporated into the Wiltshire planning process, it will inform the planners (who are probably not familiar with our village) regarding any planning application within the parish of Broad Town.
We will publicise the draft Plan consultation event when its organization is finalized. Please turn up and make sure your opinion of the three development options is heard. The Parish Council will then finish the Plan and submit it to Wiltshire Council. We are a statutory Local Government body with a unique mandate from, and accountability to, you, the voters. We cannot represent, or take account of, your opinion on development if we are not aware of it. Parish Council meetings are at 6:30pm on the second Monday of each month if you have any questions about any aspect of the PC’s activities. We look forward to seeing all residents in the village hall in 2016, either for a PC meeting or for the NP consultation event.
CLERK’S CLIPPINGS
1. The Community Fund is now ready for access. The Parish Council intend to consider applications twice a year. The Clerk has application forms, and the rules pertaining to the fund.
2. At the last meeting I told the Parish Council that, due to increasing ill health and advancing years, I feel I can no longer give the Council the support they should expect from me. I will discuss with the Chairman a plan to reduce my responsibilities, but would wish to retire early in the New Year.
HILMARTON MOVIOLA
The team at Hilmarton Moviola would like to wish our moviegoers a very joyful Christmas and Happy
New Year. We have no film in December but here are the dates for Spring, all on Saturday 7.00 for 7.30.
SATURDAY 16TH JANUARY
SATURDAY 20TH FEBRUARY
SATURDAY 12TH MARCH
SATURDAY 16TH APRIL
If you would like your name added to the E-mail list please let us know on hilmartonmoviola@hotmail.co.uk
or call 01249 760312 and we will keep you informed of the forthcoming films.
You may have a pre movie supper at The Duke for a special price call 01249 760634
GENTLEMAN’S BREAKFAST CLUB
30th January 2016. As always, at the Mallard Public House, Lyneham.
9.30am start, £7.00 p.p. + a raffle.
Our speaker this time is: Richard Selby-Boothroyd talking about 'Battlefield searchlights'.
Contact David May davemay104@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to attend.
THE GUILD OF WILTSHIRE ARTISTS
Run workshops at the Village Hall on every third Saturday of the month from 10am to 4pm. All are welcome including painters who are beginners.
Tea and Coffee provided but do bring a packed lunch. Help will be given to those who request it. Contact telephone numbers 731154, 731519.
HATHA YOGA
Weekly Hatha Yoga at Broad Town Village Hall. For more details please contact Polly Fouracres by email - polly@4fouracres.com