ON THE BEAUTY OF SMALL

As a child I loved dollshouses and still have several of the miniatures that were part of mine in a display case, including a readable dollshouse bible (although you either need very good eyesight or a magnifying glass).

Recently I came across the phenomenon of you tube videos of people cooking dolls house size, but real food (search for ‘tiny kitchen’ if you don’t believe me!) and watching a couple of these made me smile.

It also reminded me of the beauty of ‘small’ in a world where ‘small’ can seem the opposite of what we’re supposed to be achieving:  I find myself exhorted to think big, see the bigger picture, do more.

Yet it is in the small that I find delight and joy.  Often in the conversation with a smaller group or one to one; in the kindness of a child in one village who says in the playground – “I liked your message.”

Of the kindness of a family at another village, who gave me some tea lights to use:  in case you need them in church again to help other people”; for being able to use those candles and share this kindness with a christening family in yet another village so that everyone who wanted could take a small candle away to light as a prayer.

As the children’s song goes: “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine … you in your small corner and I in mine.”

There is a beauty in small things, and often in small people, that might remind us, when we can’t manage anything bigger, of the value of the small kindness, the small gesture and how important and beautiful the small can be.

Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand, so are a few years among the days of eternity.
That is why the Lord is patient with them and pours out his mercy upon them*

*Sirach 18:10-11

The Reverend Rachma Abbott Priest in Charge, Woodhill Benefice & Lyneham with Bradenstoke.

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

 

CHURCH WORK MORNINGS 2019

There were 16 volunteers on 13 April and the weather was ideal to carry out all the planned tasks.  We will endeavour to keep the current appearance maintained over the summer months and thank you to everyone who worked so hard in April.  Our thanks also to Nigel for the first cut of the grass this year.  Next work morning 11 May.

 

COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING

Lovely to see so many people last month. Dates for May are:

Wednesday 8^th May, Wednesday 22^nd May

Coffee/tea and cakes - usual time 10am – 12 noon. Come and enjoy!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

6^th May             Bushton Manor Plant Sale

8^th May             Community Coffee Morning

11^th May           Graveyard Work Morning

13^th May           BT PC Meeting

15^th May           WI

18^th May           Church Coffee Morning and Plant Sale

19^th May           BT White Horse Liming

22^nd May           Community Coffee Morning

25^th May           Gentlemen’s Breakfast

25^th May           Hilmarton Moviola

5^th June             RWB Market Stall

8^th June             Graveyard Work Morning

10^th June           BT PCC Meeting

12^th June           Community Coffee Morning

17^th June           BT Annual Parish Meeting

26^th June           Community Coffee Morning

 

FAREWELL TO MRS DAVINA MORRISON.

“Div” was born in 1966 and was a niece to Joan Thomson.  She was a very active lady and one of her enjoyments was cooking.  She was married in Broad Town Church in 1999 and is survived by a husband and 2 sons.

 

THANK YOU TO JUDY & COLIN RENDELL

Thanks to Judy & Colin Rendell for donating a wonderful raffle prize in the 2017 Christmas Draw that allowed us to spend 4 blissful days in their cottage on the stunning Pembrokeshire coast.  The cottage, views and weather were a wonderful treat!  Kate John & soghra bi

 

CHURCH COFFEE MORNING

The next opening of the café will be on 18^th May with the usual refreshments, raffle and sales table.  We will also have Jonathon Bastin with his lovely pictures.

At the same time the plant stall will be up in Judy Rendell’s garden.  She will have a good mix of plants and her garden is only a few steps from the Church.

 

VILLAGE HALL REFURBISHMENT

The planned improvements have now been completed and in April we took the opportunity at a Social Club evening and Community Coffee morning to say thank you to the following:- Community First (Wiltshire) who arranged a grant with The Hills Group Ltd for £8,000, The Area Board for a grant of £3,000, Broad Town Parish Council for a grant of £5,000 from the Good Energy Fund and Crapper and Sons Ltd for a grant of £2,500, also arranged by Community First.  Thanks also to Chris Moore and Mick Brundell (Moore Property Services) for their advice and carrying out the work to a very high standard.  For Hall bookings and enquiries please contact Nigel, Tel: 731281

 

PLANT FAIR AND OPEN GARDEN, BUSHTON MANOR, SN4 7PX

Bank Holiday Monday May 6^th 2019 11am -3pm.  Last year saw the second year running that we had over 1000 visitors to the Manor House Gardens. Once again there will be some 30 stalls with plants from specialist growers as well as those grown in local gardens.  Other stalls will include, garden related products, various crafts, cakes, second hand tools and unwanted but useable garden items.

And for those who like to try their luck a tombola and a raffle.  You can make your purchases, leave them in the plant crèche and then enjoy wandering around the gardens of the 18^th century Manor House before having home - made refreshments or a bacon butty from the BBQ.

There will be outside games to keep young people occupied and dogs are allowed providing they are kept on leads.  Money raised will go towards the upkeep of St Peter’s Church the Grade 1 listed building in Clyffe Pypard.  Entrance £2. Children and car parking free.

Further details  www.clyffepypard-bushton.com  or  0796 223 6678

 

BROAD TOWN WHITE HORSE - LIMING - SUNDAY 19 MAY

It is planned to carry out maintenance and liming of the White Horse on the morning of Sunday 19^th May and the aim will be to tidy up the area and then apply lime to keep the Horse looking at its best.  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.

Would interested people please contact me via e-mail andrewlaw456@gmail.com or by phone 01793 731472.  Confirmation and details will be sent out nearer the date.

 

WINE GLASSES

Broad Town Church have 96 wine glasses available to borrow (for a donation for Church Funds). Enquiries to Margaret Manley Tel: 731564

MARKET STALL

Judy Rendell will be running another market stall in Royal Wootton Bassett on June 5^th 2019 to raise money for the Church.

We need donations of Cakes, Bric a Brac, Toys and Games, Good Quality Clothes or anything that we can sell.

Please contact Judy on 01793 731341

 

COMMUNITY HEARTBEAT TRUST DEFIBRILLATOR

This is a reminder that we have a defibrillator in the Village.  It is sited outside the Village Hall and is available for anyone to use in the unfortunate situation of someone they are with having heart failure.  It is simple to use and talks you through what you must do.  It is a requirement though, that you RING 999 FIRST to get help on the way as soon as possible.  The ambulance service will also tell you what to do and support you while you wait for the ambulance.  If you are within 200m of the Hall they will automatically tell you about the defibrillator and tell you the access code.  If you are further away but have someone who could fetch it for you quickly, you will need to ask them for the access code.

 

BROAD TOWN WI

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.

 

WILTSHIRE MOVIOLA

Hilmarton Parish Church Hall, Saturday May 25^th Mary Poppins Returns (PG)

7pm FOR 7.30pm, 75 comfy seats, refreshments and a wine sale licence, tickets £6 from Breda Cottage, 34 Church Road, Hilmarton 760312 (opposite chapel) or

Email hilmartonmoviola@hotmail.co.uk

Hilmarton Moviola also has a Facebook page.

For more info call Geoff Procter on 01249 760312

 

FITSTEPS

Following a well attended taster session, it is planned to start a regular weekly session on either a Monday or Tuesday lunchtime.

Contact Margaret, Tel: 731564 for more details - Get fit the “STRICTLY” way.

 

PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE

Projects update

As you will be aware from our previous monthly updates, we are progressing with two main projects in the village at the moment – the installation of a Speed Indicator Device on Broad Town Road to encourage vehicles to check their speed and obey the 30 miles per hour speed limit, and the replacement of the Football goalposts on Redhills playing field.  Both projects are now at the point of implementation.  The goalposts will be installed shortly and we are awaiting a date from Wiltshire Council to fit out 5 existing posts on the main road to accommodate the SID.

Wiltshire Online broadband programme

Councillors have met with the Company, Gigaclear, who have been commissioned by Wiltshire Council to install the infrastructure to support access to a new ultrafast full fibre network in the county.  It appears that work in Broad Town has been delayed by around 4-8 weeks and at this point Gigaclear could not share any firm plans with us about where and when work would take place.  We will be keeping in close contact with them to ensure we can communicate the key information to you.  Any documents we receive from them we will be posting on the Village website so if you are particularly interested in this initiative please look out there.

Advanced notice of road closure

There will be a temporary road closure from 3-7 June in Thornhill to allow for Thames Water to carry out a new water connection. The closure will be at Swallow Barn for a distance of approximately 40 metres in a northernly direction. A diversion will be clearly signposted via the Barton. Access will be maintained for residents where possible.

Dates for your diary

The next Parish Council meeting is 13^th May at 18.30pm in the Village Hall. Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be provided.

Our Annual Parish Meeting will take place on Monday 17^th June at 18.30pm in the Village Hall.  This is not a council meeting but is an opportunity for all village groups and associations to share with the village the activity they have undertaken in the past year and their plans for the future.  Everyone is welcome.  The Parish Clerk will be contacting village groups in the coming weeks to discuss the agenda.

 

GENTLEMAN’S FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST CLUB

The Gentleman’s Full English Breakfast Club will meet on Saturday 25^th May 2019 at the REME Museum Crown’s café at MOD Lyneham.  No details of the speaker or the subject are currently available for this occasion.  9am for 9:30am start as usual. The cost is now £8pp. + a bottle raffle.  Contact David May, davemay104@yahoo.co.uk for further information or if you would like to attend.

 

 

HELLO

Are you vulnerable?  I am!

Really? I hear the cry!  From time to time we are all vulnerable for a variety of reasons. Driving alone at night is one which makes me aware that I am vulnerable – the workings of engines and cars remains a mystery to me – and long may that continue!!!!  No matter what age, living alone creates a number of risks and potential problems should things go wrong.  We all develop strategies to reduce the risk, it may be wearing a personal alarm, carrying a mobile phone everywhere, whatever it is, we cope.

How about using the warmer weather to see what can be done in the local area?  Do you “know your neighbour”?  Would you notice if the bins weren’t put out?  When did you last see them?  What is their name?  Its about knowing someone to say hello to and being approachable if help is needed in an emergency.  It only takes a minute to say hello, who knows how much that could improve their feelings of vulnerability?

Also 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

 

LINDY HOP DANCING

Swingout Swindon (Cliff and Erica), have been running swing dance classes in Swindon for over 4 years.  For the last 2 years we have been teaching fortnightly in East Challow, Wantage.

Recently we have been looking to fill the Tuesday gap and by popular demand we have decided to offer Broad Town and surrounding areas the chance to learn to dance.

Our Lindy Hop classes are filled with smiles and laughter, along with some great moves to get you on that dance floor.  Although you require a partner to dance with, don’t worry, if you don’t have one to bring there will be plenty there, as we rotate everyone around throughout the lesson.

Don’t forget your footwear! Make sure you have comfy and supportive shoes but not too grippy on the soles.

Fortnightly Classes at Broad Town Village Hall

Classes: Beginners Lindy Hop

Tuesdays 7.15 pm to 8.30pm, 8.30pm to 8.45pm practice session Price £7 per person per class

For anyone wanting to learn the basic 6-beat and 8-beat Lindy Hop Rhythm and some 8-beat Charleston moves.

Suitable for anyone wanting to learn partner dancing.

 

 

LOCAL HEATING ENGINEER & PLUMBER IN BROAD TOWN

Ben Davis, BTD Plumbing and Heating, Hurstbridge House, Pye Lane, Broad Town, Wiltshire, SN4 7RR

Tel No 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.

 

BROAD TOWN PAINTER & DECORATOR

Hi Just thought I’d remind all of you that I’m in the Village.  It’s Glen Morley the Painter and Decorator.  I undertake interior and exterior work, to a very high standard. Everything is completed to the level I would have in my own home.  Please feel free to call me at any time for a free consultation and VAT free estimate.  My numbers are: Landline: 01793 739227 Mobile: 07545 573002.  Please leave a message if I’m unable to answer.