APRIL 2020 BROAD TOWN NEWS Published by Christ Church
Sponsors this month are the Parish Council
DISCLAIMER
Broad Town Newsletter (BTN) takes all reasonable care to ensure that pages published are accurate. Articles and letters submitted may be the personal opinion of the author and, as such, are not endorsed by BTN. BTN takes no responsibility for the consequences of error or for any loss or damage suffered by users of any of the information published on any of these pages, and such information does not form any basis of a contract with readers or users of it.
JUNE 2020 EDITION
Will organisations or anyone wishing to have news, etc. included in the June edition please note that items must be submitted to
Margaret Green, 5 Eastwood Avenue, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wilts. SN4 8BX. cliveggreen@waitrose.com Tel. No 854200
BY 6pm on FRIDAY MAY 22nd IT IS REGRETTED THAT SUBMISSIONS AFTER THAT TIME WILL NOT BE INCLUDED
Dear Friends
I'm hoping that by Passion Sunday 29 March we will in some way or other have a 'virtual' service that you can share in.
It will be recorded, rather than live streamed so that the quality is only as ropey as your parish priest normally is, rather than as ropey as rural broadband.
It is hoped that the service will be recorded in different churches each week, starting with Clyffe Pypard for Passion Sunday (29th March).
Ways to share:
You can send a photo or a drawing of you and your family as a sign of your presence.
You can make a paper outline of your hand with names written on it of those that you would like to be remembered in the prayers of the church.
If you name of a friend or family member please ask them if they are happy for you to do that.
If you want me to remember someone who has died, please add RIP to their name. Thank you.
Thanks, Rachma
FUTURE EDITIONS
There is no plan for a May newsletter so probably the next issue will be at the end of May - the June newsletter.
If there is pressure to publish next month or the general climate eases then there will be a May newsletter.
ON PLANS AND THE PRESENT MOMENT
I and probably you too, had plans, lots of them. I like plans. I had plans for services and work; plans for seeing loved friends and family; plans for holidays; plans for the future. In the present moment all my plans, and maybe yours too, are being changed by a particular coronavirus. I’m not sure when I next catch a cold I will say as easily as I used to do: ‘it’s just a virus’.
The situation seems to be changing so fast I can’t work out how to plan anything in response and I’m left with feelings of frustration and sadness and fear and panic. It could be easy to be overwhelmed by these feelings in a situation where all my plans are in disarray. And of course, others had plans of much greater importance: a family wedding or hard-working plans towards a place at university or a career advance.
There won’t be public worship or school or visits to friends and family. There may be times of real loss and suffering and sorrow.
So I stopped (and shouted at a loved one, and cried a few tears of self-pity) and then went out into the garden and I saw a tulip starting to unfurl and some nearly-tadpole commas in the pond. When I came back indoors there were some messages of kindness and offers of help both personally to me and simply offered to support neighbours and strangers.
So I may not be able to share this with the physical touch and warmth that I have earlier taken for granted, perhaps I will only be able to share at the social distance of a smile heard, but not seen on the phone.
My plans may come to nothing yet there will still be kindness and gratitude and the practices of sitting and reflecting that I call prayer. I also know that in the garden, just as all those years ago, there will be new life in flowering plants and frogs and Jesus greeting Mary Magdalene through her tears with the assurance of the resurrection.
Whatever has gone awry in my plans, and perhaps in yours, may we all find new life and kindness and gratitude that we did not plan for.
I don’t know yet what being your vicar and being your church will look like in the days and weeks ahead but we will work towards the churches being open for prayer and pondering and expressing our love and service to you in whatever ways we can.
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
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
6th April Parish Council Meeting
27th April Annual Parish Meeting
Both of these dates are liable to change.
SUSPENSIONS
All Church services - the Church will be available for private prayer; please contact Ray Manley first.
Village Hall - the hall may be available but check with Nigel Crocker first.
Church Annual Meeting
Social Club
Community Coffee Mornings
Whist Drive - please contact organisers first
Graveyard Tidy-up - If you were thinking to help, please contact Ray Manley.
Hilmarton Moviola
VE Day celebrations will now possibly be in October
Guild of Wiltshire Artists
Lindy Hop
CANCELLATIONS
May plant sale
May Church Coffee Morning
June Bassett Stall
Gentlemen’s Breakfast for April.
CHURCH FLOOR
Good News! Repairs to the floor have now been completed. We are currently carrying out an intensive clean to the building to have the Church ready for services when we are advised these can be resumed. If you would like to assist with the cleaning (max 2 people at a time) please contact Ray Manley to agree a day and time. In the meantime, if anyone would like access to the Church for private prayer or have a change of place to be self isolating, again, contact Ray.
The next project in the Church will be to carry out repairs to the walls and redecorate. Estimates, funds/grants and permissions will all need to be obtained and we will give regular updates on progress in the Broad Town News.
Group tidying up sessions in the churchyard have been temporarily suspended but individuals can continue to attend to graves as before.
Ray’s telephone number for all enquiries is 731564
WINE GLASSES
Broad Town Church have 96 wine glasses available to borrow (for a donation for Church Funds). Enquiries to Margaret Manley Tel: 731564
COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNINGS
Many thanks to everyone who was able to support the fundraising morning for MS and the neurortherapy Centre. We were delighted to donate a total of £150.
We look forward to opening the doors again as soon as is possible. In the meantime if you need anything or would just like a chat our telephone numbers are on the list.
Our best wishes from the Coffee Morning Team.
FOOTPATHS
After two good working mornings in February and March, much work has been done to clear overgrowth away from sections on the White Horse Trail (BTOW35). Firstly the section from the top of Horns Lane to the top of the escarpment was cleared and re-way-marked, then the March working day was utilised to improve access on the stretch from under the white horse to the top of the escarpment. Thanks to all involved, the Broad Town section of the WHT is starting to look much improved. We still have a couple more tasks to complete, with one section requiring significant work, but hopefully this summer should see completion of improvements to this particular route.
BROAD TOWN WHITE HORSE - LIMING
In view of the current situation the organizers have decided to postpone the liming of the White Horse until the Autumn. The situation will be reviewed in July with the aim of setting a date for maintenance in September. Thank you to all those who offered their assistance for the original date and they are asked to look out for updates in the summer.
BROAD TOWN VILLAGE 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF VICTORY IN EUROPE (VE)
It is with great regret, but unsurprising given the current situation, that the May VE Commemorative event will not go ahead in Broad Town as planned. However all is not lost and we have postponed it until later in the year, hopefully when the world has returned to a more stable situation. So put the weekend of 3rd/4th October in your diaries. More details to follow once all the arrangements have been switched over. So, something to look forward too even though it is much later in the year than first anticipated.
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
PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE
Good Energy Community Fund Grants
The Parish Council was pleased to be able to award the two grants recommended by the Advisory Group; one for the Broad Town Village Show for the VE Day Anniversary Celebrations and the other for the Footpaths Group for the installation of a Berkswell Kissing Gate on the footpath leading to Clyffe Pypard.
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.
CHRIS ROOKS || FUTURE BALANCE
I’m Chris Rooks and I work as a financial planner (non-investment) for future balance finance. I can help you with any of the following services:_
* _mortgage advice_
* _protection advice (life assurance / income protection)_
* _equity release / later life mortgages_
* _commercial lending_
* _business continuity & protection advice_
* _will writing & estate management_
* _power of attorney applications_
you can contact me on 01793 731141 or via e-mail on info@futurebalance.co.uk._
LOUISE – GIRL FRIDAY
I primarily focus on administration and have excellent typing
skills (88wpm), but am also available for various tasks including
housekeeping, gardening, pet care, odd jobs, even odder jobs, or
just as an extra pair of hands when required.
I’ve lived in Broad Town for sixteen years and have a DBS/CRB check
and public liability insurance. References are available from
several Broad Town residents.
Please give me a call if there is anything you need help with.
Mobile: 07748 752625, Land line: 01793 731858
Web site: louisegirlfriday.co.uk
Email: louise@louisegirlfriday.co.uk
Thank you all for your support.