ON THE BELLY OF THE WHALE

One of my favourite bible stories is the book of Jonah.  I knew bits of the story, long before I had read it in the bible from picture books of Jonah and the Whale, and so in my imagination I always imagined Jonah as looking a little bit like Geppetto in Disney’s Pinocchio.

In my late teens I read a very beautiful medieval poem, written in the late 14^th century, called Pacience (Patience) which uses the story of Jonah.  This meant that studying English Literature required me to read the bible story.  The story of grumpy, impatient Jonah who is miserable even when everything works out (if you don’t know the whole story you’ll have to read it to find out) made me giggle at its charm, and I have loved it ever since, especially when I’m a bit fed up, or feeling stuck in the Belly of the Whale.

Later still when I was baptised and began to try and become a Christian I read Jonah again and as well as still enjoying the comedy of the story I discovered commentaries from both Jewish and Christian writers that note the connections with experiences of mental ill-health or depression or a period of deep reflection or soul-searching that might be portrayed through the story.

In the belly of the whale it looks as if nothing is happening to Jonah and yet after his three days – Jonah is transformed, at least for a little while.  Times of deep reflection may be crucial to help us move forward or simply to understand and accept the way things are for us.

September will see lots of people moving onto new things and places – going away to college or university, starting at secondary school whether for the first time or for the beginning of a new school year.  I will be keeping the children who left Broad Town and Hilmarton primary schools in my prayers in this time of transition.

For everyone who faces change I hope most of all that things go well, but if there are moments when they don’t, when you find yourself stuck in the belly of the whale that you will find that in those more difficult times too, patience and reflection time (even if you don’t choose them) bring resilience, courage and fresh energy for the tasks of life.

The Reverend Rachma Abbott

Priest in Charge Lyneham with Bradenstoke and Priest in Charge Woodhill Benefice: (Broad Town, Clyffe Pypard, Hilmarton, Tockenham)
The Vicarage/ The Rectory

Clyffe Pypard, SWINDON, Wiltshire. SN4 7PY  01793 73113

 

FAREWELL

In August we said “Farewell” to Fiona Fraser who was born and lived at Goldborough Farm.  She attended Broad Town School and then Bentley Grammar School, Calne.  She was married in Christ Church, Broad Town but then went to live in Wootton Bassett.

She was into Folk Music and was a caller for a Barn Dance Group.  She is survived by a son and daughter.

 

 

THOMAS SPACKMAN EDUCATIONAL TRUST 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 Educational Trust?

The Charity’s main focus is education or work-related training and apprenticeships but it could also help to develop a particular talent; perhaps help fund tuition in a musical instrument or even to develop a sporting skill.

Applying is very easy. If you wish to find out more about the application process, please email spackmancharity@gmail.com or contact Karen Hawkins 01793 853895.

All formal applications need to be in by the end of September 2019.

The next opportunity to apply will be March 2020.

 

CHURCH WORK MORNINGS 2019

Thank you to everyone for their hard work in August, at the work morning on 10^th and at other times during the month.  Our final planned work morning for this year will be on 21^st September.

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

3^rd Sept            Weekly Swing Dance Classes commence

9^th Sept             BT PC Meeting

11^th Sept           Community Coffee Morning

14^th Sept           Church Coffee Morning

21^st Sept           Graveyard Working Morning

25^th Sept           Community Coffee Morning for Macmillan

28^th Sept           Hilmarton Moviola

28^th Sept           Gentlemen’s Breakfast Club

30^th Sept           Spackman Charity application closing date

30^th Sept           School Harvest Service

 

CHURCH COFFEE MORNING

This year the “Ride and Stride” fundraising activity is on September 14^th.  So that is the date of the next coffee morning in case anyone visits the Church.

We look forward to seeing people there for the usual refreshments, sales table and chatter.

 

RIDE AND STRIDE 2019

This will take place on Saturday 14^th September.  Half money raised goes to Broad Town Church or a church of your choice and the other half to the Wiltshire historic churches trust.  For further information and sponsor forms please contact Carolyn on 852754

PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE

Good Energy Community Fund – next round of grant applications

The new Advisory Group who will advise the Parish Council on grant giving has now been set up. Any community groups wishing to apply for a grant from our Good Energy Community Fund should contact the Parish Clerk for an application form and send it back by 23 September. Grants will be awarded at the October Parish Council meeting, on the 14 October.

Gigaclear Broad Town residents will have received a letter from Gigaclear about the upcoming works to install the network for full fibre broadband in the village.  We are still waiting for the specific details on the schedule of works and hope to be able to communicate this after we have met with Gigaclear on the 9^th September.

Winter Preparations.  Although it is still August, we have started to think about what we might need to ensure we are equipped to cope with the winter weather.  The Parish Council will ensure that the usual things such as full salt bins are taken care of. However we wondered whether there were people in the village interested in helping to develop and then execute a more robust Community Resilience Plan.  We will only be able to do this if we have volunteers to help make it happen so if you are interested please email the Parish Clerk.

The next Parish Council meeting is 9^th September at 6.30pm in the Village Hall.  Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be provided.

 

BROAD TOWN FOOTPATH WORKING GROUP

The Broad Town Footpath Working Group has been set up as an official working group of the Parish Council, working with support from Wiltshire Council Rights of Way team.  The aim of the group over the coming months and years is to repair, improve and maintain as much of the parish’s network of footpaths and bridleways as is possible.  As the project gets up and running, volunteers will be invited to assist with tasks around the parish.  As an official working group we benefit from being covered by the PC’s insurance while out working.

We are now preparing tasks to be tackled during autumn/winter 2019 and we have set aside the following days to work on some of them.  No skills are required, training and tools can be provided where necessary.

28 September, 26 October and 23 November

Residents of the parish who are interested in joining us can contact Councillor Malcolm Holland in the first instance to register an interest, on 01793 731567 or email maholl200@aol.com

We have been working over the last couple of weeks on clearing undergrowth on footpath BTOW28, from behind Brewery Cottage alongside the Manor Farm field.  It would be good if it could start to be walked more, to keep the undergrowth down; there is nothing better than using the paths to keep them passable!

 

 

COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING

Welcome back to the Community Coffee Morning, held on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month in the village hall between 10am and 12 noon!

Hope you have enjoyed the Summer despite the unsettled weather.

Dates for September, Wednesday September 11^th, Wednesday September 25th when we will raise money for The Big MacMillan Coffee Morning

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the last coffee morning in July.  We were able to send £250 to the Swindon Parkinsons group.

 

HARVEST SUPPER

In Village Hall on Saturday 5^th October at 6.45pm for 7pm.  Tickets £10, Children under 16 - £5.

Three Course Meal, Bar, Entertainment and Raffle.
Tickets on sale now from Margaret & Ray Manley. Tel:  731564 - ONLY 16 LEFT
Proceeds to Christ Church, Broad Town. – Helping to keep your Church open.

 

HARVEST TEA AND SONGS OF PRAISE - 13^TH OCTOBER

We hope to have a good congregation for the village Harvest Tea and Songs of Praise. This will give us the chance of a rousing sing to welcome in the Harvest and send away the cobwebs before the winter.  So, see you all there (whether you can sing or not).  The tea is at 5pm and the Songs of Praise at 6pm.

 

FOUR WAYS: OUR COMMUNITY PUB IN BROAD TOWN VILLAGE HALL 

BAR EVERY FRIDAY 8pm-late – EVERYONE WELCOME: meet new friends, catch up with your neighbours!  Table tennis, pool, dartboard and table football – FREE TO PLAY. Classic 60s-90s music vids or sports on our two-metre cinema screen.  Draught pints of Wadworth 6X and Carlsberg, bottled cider, wine, spirits, fruit juice, squash, fizzy drinks, Aero hot chocolate, Tetley tea, Nescafe cappuccino, coffee & decaf always available.  Plus a range of chocolate bars, crisps, nuts etc.

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

Hosting your own event in the village hall? Our fully licensed bar can be stocked and staffed daytime/evening according to your needs: at least three weeks’ notice usually required, please! Contact: Trevor on 01793 731699 email fourwaysbroadtown@gmail.com

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/FourWaysBroadTown

 

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.

 

GENTLEMAN’S FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST CLUB

The gentleman’s breakfast club is back after their summer break and the first meeting will be Saturday 28 September to be held, as usual, at The Crowns Café, adjacent to the REME Museum at MOD Lyneham.  9am. for 9.30am. start.  The cost is £8.00 per person for a full English breakfast and our first Speaker of the season is Owen Collier who comes highly recommended.  Please book by Wednesday 23 September – email:  davemay104@yahoo.co.uk

 

WILTSHIRE MOVIOLA

Hilmarton Parish Church Hall, Saturday September 28^th Fisherman’s Friends (12)

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

 

LINDY HOP DANCING

WEEKLY SWING DANCE CLASSES AT BROAD TOWN VILLAGE HALL START TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3RD

Come along and learn to Swing Dance with Erica and Cliff:

Our Lindy Hop classes are filled with smiles and laughter, along with some great moves to get you on that dance floor.  Don’t worry if you can't bring a partner to dance with as Swing Dance is very sociable and we will rotate everyone around throughout the lesson.

Beginners Lindy Hop starts Tuesday September 3^rd

Price : £6 per person per class 7pm - 8pm plus 15 mins for practice
For anyone wanting to learn the basic 6-beat Lindy Hop Rhythm and some 8-beat Charleston moves.

Improvers Lindy Hop starts Tuesday September 3^rd

Price : £6 per person per class 8.15pm - 9.15pm plus 15 mins for practice
For anyone wanting to learn the basic 6-beat and 8-beat Lindy Hop Rhythm plus some 8-beat Charleston moves.
PLUS Learn the lindy turn, lindy circle and the classic swingout. Suitable for anyone wanting to improve their partner dancing.  Some dance class experience required.

www.swingoutswindon.co.uk

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL CLEANING

My name is Samantha Jones.  I run a cleaning business which covers Broad Town with weekly, fortnightly and one off cleans.

Please contact 07946100381 for further information.