BROAD TOWN NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER 2020
November 2020 Introductions and Remembering – Revd. Karen Rizzello
Dear Reader,
Can I begin this newsletter by introducing myself? My name is Reverend Karen Rizzello and I am the new Associate Priest for the Lyneham and Woodhill benefice. I am also lucky enough to be living at the vicarage in Lyneham which gives me a wonderful opportunity to meet you as neighbours.
I served my curacy in the Whitton Benefice, which is in the neighbouring Marlborough Deanery, and I was trained for ministry at Sarum College in Salisbury. Whitton is a rural Benefice with 6 churches including the villages of Aldbourne, Axford, Baydon, Chilton Foliat, Froxfield and Ramsbury.
Although I moved into the Lyneham vicarage at the end of July I haven’t been out very much. I have been recovering from some planned surgery to the hip which unfortunately was affected by medical complications from other issues making me vulnerable during the Covid19 epidemic and keeping me out of circulation for a lot longer than expected.
As I am writing this letter in early October I am expecting to have returned to public ministry by mid-October. I will be gradually increasing my hours to my usual part-time commitment of Sunday and two other days each week.
In these times of Covid19 it is hard to predict how November will be for all of us. The government is telling us we are entering a second spike and so we can expect that our All Souls and Remembrance services will be different to those of previous years. But be reassured, we will remember and mark these important dates in some way.
Broad Town Parish Council – October Meeting headlines
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks: A representative from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has been in touch with the Parish Council to explain how they can help communities become more resilient in the event of a prolonged power cut.
They talked through their Priority Services Register that residents who may need extra support during a power cut can sign up to. Those eligible to join the Priority services are:
- Those dependent on electricity for medical home care e.g. Kidney dialysis machine/ventilator
- Those who have a chronic illness or short-term medical condition e.g. recovering from a major operation
- Those who are disabled
- Those who have special communication needs e.g. blind, partially sighted, deaf or hard of hearing
- Those who have children under five years old
- Those who are over 60 years old
To register with the priority service, you can call FREE on 0800 294 3259 from a landline or mobile. Or 0800 316 5457 from a textphone. Or use the website https://www.ssen.co.uk/Home/. If you would like a Priority Services leaflet, please contact the Parish Clerk via email at btpcclerk@outlook.com
Redhills Play Area: The Council were pleased to note that the annual independent inspection of our play equipment found all of the equipment meets the relevant standards, with the inspection images showing the grounds maintenance at Redhills in good condition. No areas of high risk were reported and the remedial actions required can be completed as part of general maintenance. The inspection report has been posted on the Parish Council website. A replacement activity board is due to be installed this week.
New website: Just a reminder that the Parish Council now has a new website to comply with the requirements of the Transparency Code and of the Website Accessibility Regulations. The address is: https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/ . Many thanks to all involved in making this happen.
Other: A card from HM Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire has been received thanking Broad Town residents for their efforts and generosity in supporting the community during Covid-19.
Next Meeting Monday 9th November 2020 at 6.30pm via Zoom. All are welcome and joining details and the agenda will be posted on our website and on the notice boards in due course.
PRAYERS FOR THE DEPARTED
There will be an on line recorded Service to commemorate the lives of those who have died (All Souls Day) on the Benefice website – www.beneficeoflynehamandwoodhill - Sunday 1st November. Broad Town Church will be open from 10.30 to 11.30am; and from 2.30 to 3.30pm for anyone to come in, sit quiet and remember loved ones. There will be candles available to light in Church and take home when you leave.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
There will be a Service in Broad Town Church on Sunday 8th November at 10.00 am. If you would like to attend, please contact Ray Manley (731564) as there is a limit of 20 people allowed inside the Church. The service will finish in good time for people to return home to join in the two minute silence at 11am (see below)
PATRONAL FESTIVAL
There will be a service in Broad Town Church on 22nd November to celebrate the Festival of Christ the King. The arrangement at the moment is that Nick - the Padre from Lyneham base - will take the service
FOODBANK
31st October / 1 November at the Village Hall, 9am – 5pm both days. Please give as generously as you can: Tins, Packets, Sweets, Biscuits, Tins of Soup / Cup-a-soup, Cereals, T. Bags, Coffee, Long-life Milk, Juice and Toiletries.
FACE COVERINGS
Christmas material face coverings (4 colours) to pre-order - phone 731564 -
Donations to Prospect Hospice
VILLAGE CHRISTMAS – 2020
is going to be very different, so let’s make it as memorable as we can.
Proposed ideas: Christmas Tree in Churchyard - Lights and home made decorations in the hedge at front of Church
Scarecrow Nativity Stable (by Church noticeboard) made by villagers and village organisations:
Margaret and Jim, Pre-School, W.I., Community Coffee Morning, School Open the Book team and
Toni & Darren.
Christmas Music and Carols playing during weekends of 12/13 & 19/20 December
Children and Adults are invited to decorate a Star, Angel, or Rainbow or place their own Christmas message on the tree or hedge. There will be a box of Stars and Angels outside the Village Hall at the next Foodbank collection – please help yourself.
Villagers to ‘light up’ their front gardens.
**** Volunteer/s needed to build and erect a stable/shelter *****
****We still need 1 more ‘King’ scarecrow**** Contact Ray 731564
SWINDON & DISTRICT SCOUT POST
Due to the current Covid 19 restrictions, there will be NO Swindon & District Scout Post this year
1st Wootton Bassett Scout Group are at present investigating whether they can run a similar scheme for Royal Wootton Bassett and the local area which they delivered to in previous years. Please be on the look out for posters and other media for more information. They hope to run this scheme for the benefit of the local community.
Broadtown Remembers - Sunday 8th November, 10.45 am
Friends, a few of us have been thinking that Remembrance Sunday (8th November) might offer us the chance to get together, socially distanced of course, to show our appreciation for all those (past and present) who have served us on the battlefields or in the fight against Coronavirus. We have missed the Thursday night applause for Keyworkers and the opportunity to see everyone out together, so why don't we do it again on Sunday 8th November as follows?
- Assemble at the end of your driveway/garden/street/doorstep from 10.45am
- Bring your own coffee and wave and shout to friends and neighbours
- Bring a phone or radio to follow the build up to the National Act of Remembrance
- Listen for the local signal to start and end the two minute silence
- Then, erupt into applause and make lots of noise in appreciation of those who serve
- If the weather is bad you can always park your car at the end of your driveway and follow events from there
- "Lest We Forget" banners and the traditional red, white & blue bunting would all add to the occasion and help show our services that they are appreciated
- Hope you can join us!