ON GIVING UP

I write this for March, month of mad hares, lions, and lambs*, aware that the Lent season of ‘giving up’ will be thoroughly underway.  Giving up stuff for a month seems to be how the calendar is now advertised.  There was Dry January, although some were doing Vegan January, Sugar-free February (with an encouragement to raise money for Cancer Research) and later in the year there will be Stoptober.

Giving Up, it seems is good for us.  The promise of being thinner, fitter, less prone to disease, seems to be linked on what we take in to our mouths.  In addition, it gives those who market consumable goods something to encourage us to spend more on, even when we’re choosing less.  Raw, clean, organic, pure, diet there are so many words which get attached to what we eat as if somehow our goodness might be nourished by eating the right brand in the right way.  It used to be said that ‘cleanliness was next to godliness’; if I was rewriting that proverb for a more secular era I’d suggest that we act as if ‘thinness was next to divinity’.

The ways our food is grown or slaughtered, traded or wasted may say something about the morality and ethics by which we live.  But it may also say something about our desire to fit in with our communities of friends and colleagues, with fashions and trends – even if we think we are too old and wise to fall into that.

Yet I’m reminded of older words that say it isn’t what goes into our mouths that makes us clean or good, but what is inside us that comes out of our mouths that matters.

In the worlds of social media which we, or our children or grandchildren, our friends and neighbours inhabit the challenge of a label attached to a month or a day can seem hard to escape.  Words can be used to persuade or to encourage, to cajole or bully, to hurt or offend, and this may not be different from the gossip or letter-writing of a pre-digital age apart from the difficulty of escaping from people’s views and opinions of you in a world in which the smartphone, the ipad, and the tablet mean we can always feel on trend whether or not we know fully or speak the truth.

I can’t yet know as I write this if March will come in with spring warmth or fiercer weather or tell if it will go out with a soft breeze or wild winds.  But for my Lenten fast I want to try and see if I can give up words that are too hasty or hurtful, the gossip disguised as knowledge sharing and the words that come out of my mouth with malice rather than mercy.

*If March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion, if March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb.

The Reverend Rachma Abbott Priest in Charge, Woodhill Benefice.

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

 

THANK YOU

For your support at the Church Coffee Morning on such a horrible day.  We raised £220.00 to go into the coffers for Church funds.

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

6^th Mar                   BT Village Hall AGM

8^th Mar                   Parish Council Good Energy Community Fund Final Application

9^th Mar                   TT Day at School - No Children

10^th Mar                 Defibrillator Awareness Seminar

12^th Mar                 BT PC Meeting

14^th Mar                 Community Coffee Morning

17^th Mar                 Churchyard Work Morning

21^st Mar                 WI

28^th Mar                 Community Coffee Morning

29^th Mar                 End of School Term

31^st Mar                 Spackman Charity Final Application

8^th Apr                   BT White Horse Tidy and re-Lime

16^th Apr                 Back to School

25^th Apr                 White Horse Cycle Challenge

7^th May                  Bank Holiday

25^th May                End of Term

6^th Jun                   Market Stall

15^th Jun                 Chippenham Male Voice Choir

 

THOMAS SPACKMAN CHARITY GRANT

Do you know a young person in the Clyffe Pypard or Broad Town area who would benefit from a grant from The Thomas Spackman Charity?  This could be to fund some further education or training or to help develop a particular talent; it could be to help fund tuition in a musical instrument or even to develop a sporting skill.  Whilst the Charity’s main focus is education or work-related training, we are also able to assist individuals or families during times of severe temporary financial hardship.

Applying is very easy.  If you wish to find out more about the application process, please contact Peter Shaw on 01793 731015 or 07938 561616 or email spackmancharity@gmail.com

All formal applications need to be in by the end of March 2018.  The next opportunity to apply will be September 2018.

 

WORK MORNING IN CHURCHYARD

On the17^th March we are hoping for a nice dry day so that we can keep up the good work of tidying the churchyard.  A good report was made of the state of the churchyard at the 5-yearly inspection.

 

 

 

COMMUNITY HEARTBEAT TRUST DEFIBRILLATOR SEMINAR

As many of you may already have seen, we now have a defibrillator installed on the outside of the Village Hall.  Hopefully by the time you read this it will be fully operational.  It is very simple to use and talks you through all the things you have to do to use it.  HOWEVER, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU ALWAYS PHONE 999 BEFORE FETCHING IT.  This will ensure that an ambulance is on its way as soon as possible, the ambulance service will also give you the access code for the box it is kept in.  In addition, they will tell you other things you should do to help the patient survive. 

As part of the package we have purchased from the Community Heartbeat Trust, we have the opportunity to hold an awareness session.  We have taken advantage of this and it will be held at 10.00 am on March 10th in the Village Hall (It takes 2 hours).  They will be demonstrating the use of defibrillators and explaining how the equipment works and the benefits to the community in saving precious minutes in the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest.  There will also be some basic first aid training eg how to perform CPR and how to put a patient in the rescue position.  Everyone is welcome to come along; there is no need to book.

Broad Town WI decided last year they would like to raise money to install a defibrillator in the Village in memory of Rosie McLaren who had recently passed away.  She had always been very involved in Village life, helping anyone who was sick, bereaved or lonely.  She was also a very supportive member of the Church and WI among other things.  We thought it would be a fitting tribute.

Finally, we would like to thank Broad Town Parish Council, and the Area Board for their help and support when we were raising funds.  A special thank you to the Parish Council for also agreeing to take on the ongoing costs.

We hope you can join us. Broad Town WI

 

BROAD TOWN VILLAGE HALL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

This will be held at the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Tuesday 6th March 2018.  This is your Village Hall, run by a committee of volunteers.  The agenda will include a report from the Chairman and the Treasurer and this is your opportunity to see what has been done in the last year.  The hall has been redecorated and is looking lovely.

 

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 7.30pm.  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.  

 

 

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 dinner 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

 

ROYAL WEDDING COMMUNITY EVENT

The “Sparkle for Markle” Group is hoping to hold a fabulously Royal Wedding Day Celebration on the 19^th May.  We’d like to see Broad Town sparkle after a morning litter pick, followed by a Royal Family Picnic and to round off the celebrations an evening disco.  The Royal Wedding Day Celebration is subject to funding and we will keep you updated on progress.

If you are interested in arranging or helping with the Celebration, please contact Lorraine on e-mail lorraine@mrsbillis.co.uk for more details.

 

COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING

Many thanks to everyone who supported the coffee morning in aid of Julia’s House Hospice for children.  We were delighted to raise £85.

Dates for March:  Wednesday 14^th March, Wednesday 28^th March – which is Easter week and will have an Easter theme.

It would be really helpful if we could add two more people to our ‘Cake baking rota’ so that each baker provides a cake once every 3 months.  If you enjoy baking and feel you can help us (even if you are not able to come to the coffee mornings) we would be very pleased to hear from you! Contact Margaret 731564 or Carolyn 852754

 

 

 

 

PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE

At the last Parish Council meeting we were pleased to present a cheque for the sum of £1,293.00 from the Good Energy Community Fund to Andrew Law of Broad Town White Horse Preservation Society for enhancement and preservation of the Broad Town White Horse. Once works are finished in April the use of sunglasses is recommended for anyone viewing the horse!

We continue to focus on improving the equipment at our Playground. A project is being developed to replace the football goals and nets for use in the summer following the assessment of the existing posts and nets which have become severely corroded. It is hoped that the old posts can be removed from the site shortly and new steel posts and nets procured. New bases for the posts will be required and this will involve some civil works. Some additional minor repairs have been identified and these have been put in hand.

The Parish Council has been approached by Bidwells, acting on behalf of Brasenose College, to meet with them to discuss a strategy for the land they own in Broad Town. The date of the meeting is yet to be confirmed.

It was agreed at the last CATG meeting that two areas of footpath alongside Broad Town Road and used by parents and children on their way to school would be repaired by Wiltshire Council. It is hoped this work will be carried out shortly.

At the next Parish Council meeting applications for grants from the Good Energy Community Fund will be considered. Application forms and guidance notes are available to download from our web site (www.broad-town.co.uk). Forms and guidance notes are also available from any Parish Councillor or our clerk Linda Roberts. Please submit your applications for grants by 8^th March so we can consider them properly.

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

 

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

 

 

MARKET STALL

On the 6^th June 2018 the Church will be running a stall at the Wednesday market in Royal Wootton Bassett.  If anyone has any items for sale, please could they phone Judy Rendell on 01793 731341.

 

FOUR WAYS: YOUR COMMUNITY PUB in Broad Town Village Hall

EVERY FRIDAY: BAR OPEN 8.15pm-late – ALL WELCOME! Table tennis, pool, dartboard and table football – FREE. Classic 60s-90s music vids or sports on our two-metre screen. Draught pints, wine, spirits, fruit juice, squash, fizzy drinks, Aero hot chocolate, Tetley tea, Nescafe cappuccino, coffee & decaf always available. Come on down!

BINGO EVERY SUNDAY – PLEASE NOTE NEW TIMES: open 7.15pm; eyes down 7.30pm; last ball 9.30pm approx. Support your local non-profit: unlike commercial Bingo, every pound is returned to our participants: stakes from £1.25, prizes can be over £50. More players = bigger winnings! Never played? It’s easy – we’ll show you how!

Planning your own event? The village hall 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

 

SO WHAT IS A HEALTH AND WELLBEING CHAMPION????

Good question, and I sometimes wonder!  The official definition is “Supporting individuals to live independent, happy, healthy and fulfilling lives by offering information on a variety of topics.  Working to improve outcomes for people by representing their needs at decision making levels”.

Tall order?  You bet!  But what does that actually mean in practice?  I often describe it as being a “walking yellow pages” whereby I hope to have useful phone numbers to hand for whatever question I am asked.  You note that I have PHONE NUMBERS rather than websites!  Many people use and love the internet with “google”, “ask” and all the other search engines.  For some people this is the best way to find out answers, but sometimes you need to know some more information before a search engine can help.  For others, the internet is something which exists, but NOT something to get involved with.  Some solutions simply aren’t on the internet anyhow, particularly the very local things that go on in our communities and this is where I can help.  From information on health, transport, finance and loneliness to supporting new groups, activities and projects.  Whatever your question, ask me and I will see if I can find the answers for you.  As ever, call 07557 922020 or (dare I suggest it?) email ellen.blacker@wiltshire.gov.uk.  I look forward to hearing from you!  Ellen

PS, although I love my job, I do only work part time so please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Ellen Blacker Health and Wellbeing Champion

BROAD TOWN WHITE HORSE

1. At the January Parish Council meeting, an application for a grant from The Good Energy Fund was approved and so funding is now in place for us to do our annual clean-up and liming.  As the fund exists to support community projects, this year’s effort will be a public affair involving the residents of Broad Town, unlike the slightly clandestine efforts of the last few years.
2. We have been up to check on the Horse and found it in a good state.  Weed killer was applied to the surface last summer and this seems to have been effective in disposing of weeds.  We are now entering the growing season and so at an appropriate time a systemic weed killer will be re-applied.
3. The White Horse Cycle Challenge takes place on 22^nd April and this is the date which drives our liming activities.  Liming will take place on the morning of Sunday 8^th April and the aim will be to tidy up the area and then apply a ton of lime to return the Horse to its former glory.  The event will be open to all those who wish to be involved with the only stipulation being that participation will be limited to those who are physically fit and in good health.  We will also need to maintain attendance at a level that is consistent with safe operations.
4. In line with the aim of making this a public event, Bob Clarke has very kindly agreed that at the conclusion of the liming on the Sunday, tea and cakes will be provided in his garden for all participants and supporters.
5. Would anyone who wishes to be involved in the liming (or eating cakes) on 8^th April please contact Andrew Law on 731472 or andrewlaw456@gmail.com

Fuller details will then be provided to all volunteers.

 

CHIPPENHAM MALE VOICE CHOIR

0n the 15^th June 2018 the Choir will be holding a concert in the Church on the Friday evening.  There will be light refreshments in the interval.

The cost of tickets is £5.00 for adults.  The choir has a very good reputation and sing a mixture of material.

 

GENTLEMAN’S FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST CLUB

The Gentleman’s Full English Breakfast Club will meet on 24^th March 2018 at its new venue, the REME Museum Crown’s café at MOD Lyneham.  Details of the talk then are not yet finalised but I am sure Dave will have further details in a couple of weeks.  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.

 

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 add 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