BROAD TOWN NEWS – OCTOBER 2025
Keeping everyone in touch with what is going on in and around our parish.
PARISH COUNCIL
Keep up to date at https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk
Dogs in the Playing Fields
We have received reports of someone walking their dog in the playing fields at Redhills. This is a children’s play area and dogs are not allowed for health reasons. Please respect the signs and keep your dog outside the fence.
Help Prevent Flooding Two years ago there was serious flooding in a number of places in the village. The Wiltshire Council parish steward visits monthly and ensures the drainage grips (from the roadway into the roadside ditch) are clear and tries to clear any obstructions where he is able, but we can all do our bit by ensuring that road drain gratings are clear of leaves and any pipes and ditches are free from obstruction. If you see any such problem and are unable to sort it yourself. Please let the Parish Clerk know at BTPCCLERK@outlook.com Similarly it’s time to ensure that all watercourses are free-flowing and cleared of any vegetation and obstruction. Watercourse owners, or ‘riparian’ owners, have a responsibility to maintain ordinary watercourses that run adjacent to, through or under their property. Riparian owners are responsible for reporting incidents such as flooding, and for letting water flow through the watercourse naturally by removing blockages that may cause flooding. The Environment Agency has published a guide for landowners which is available on the Parish Council website at https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Environment-Agency_Your_watercourse_rights_and_roles-2024.pdf
Next PC Meeting - Monday 13th October at 6.30pm in the village hall on 13th October. All are welcome and the agenda will be posted on our website and on the notice boards in due course.
WHAT OUR S.I.D. SAW LAST MONTH
The SID has been located at Broad Acres monitoring Southbound traffic (heading to Broad Hinton). The SID captures traffic travelling in ONE direction only so the below figures represent approx. half of the overall traffic in both directions. 36,400 vehicles passed the SID which equates to approx. 867 a day. 21% of vehicles were speeding.
BROAD TOWN CHRIST CHURCH SERVICES
12th October Morning Service at 10.30 in Church.
26th October Communion at 10.30 in Church.
SOCIAL CLUB
The social club is open every Friday from 8pm and members and their guests are all welcome. If you are not a member you can join for just £3 for the year - just ask Trevor behind the bar. Draught beers and lagers are for sale at just £3 a pint and there is a free pool table, so why not pop in and check us out.
Halloween Evening The social club is hosting a family Halloween themed fish and chip night with Food for Thought on Friday 31st October with prizes awarded for Best fancy dress for boy and girl and for Best carved pumpkin for under 12s.
Food for Thought will be selling their delicious Fish and Chips (and burgers, sausages, scampi etc) outside the Village Hall from 5 – 8pm on the last Friday in the month:
26th September – NO SERVICE AS Food for Thought car has been stolen
31st October (Halloween themed special)
On these Fridays the Social Club opens at 5pm through to 11pm for you to enjoy your takeaway in the Village Hall with a drink or two. Feel free to bring your own cutlery and crockery if you wish but please take it home with you afterwards to wash up! Menu on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FoodForThoughtSwindon. For vegan, GF and other dietary requirements please contact them directly to discuss. They have limited space to carry stock but will gladly try to meet all requests. If you would like to pre-order or have any queries, they can be contacted via text, WhatsApp or Messenger on 07515 288414.
BROAD TOWN CE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Open Day – Thursday 6th November – 9.30am and 11am.
We have places available in all year groups.
Broad Town Primary School is a small village school just 3 miles from Royal Wootton Bassett. It is set in a beautiful rural location. Broad Town has a friendly family atmosphere where the children are treated as individuals. We are Forest School accredited, and children are provided with a range of outdoor opportunities. Development of the whole child is central to our ethos. Contact the school office if you would like to arrange a visit – Telephone 01793 731395. Website: www.broadtown.wilts.sch.uk Head teacher: Bridget Long.
‘MADE IN BROAD TOWN’ CRAFTS & HOBBIES GROUP
Our September sessions included keyring making, gift bag and box making and a demonstration from Heather of how to wrap a bottle to produce a very smart art deco look.
Our October sessions will be on Wednesdays October 1st and 15th from 10 – 12 noon, with an extra evening session for glass painting on Thursday October 30th from 7- 9pm. All these sessions will be held in the village hall. New folk are assured of a warm welcome.
Wednesday October 1st (morning) – decoupage using photo frames and toilet rolls and boxes
Wednesday October 15th (morning) – watercolour session with artist Maggie (booking required as numbers are limited, please speak to us or send us an email, address below)
Thursday October 30th (evening) – a much-requested evening meeting during which Terri will be running another of her very popular glass painting sessions, no prior experience needed. There will be some items available for you to paint but if you would like to bring along your own item such as a glass storage jar, jam jar, empty wine bottle or vase etc, please ensure that the item is clean and dry and that any labels and/or glue residue has already been removed. Please also bear in mind that paint designs show up better on clear glass than they do on coloured glass.
The evening is free although a £2 contribution towards hall hire, refreshments and equipment costs would be very much appreciated if you feel able to contribute. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.
Wednesday November 5th (morning) – a visit to Great Cotmarsh Farm on the edge of the village, further details to follow in November’s newsletter.
Everyone is welcome to come along to our sessions for refreshments and a chat, you don’t need to have any crafting skills. We’re very friendly, and if you do feel creative there are always activities available for you to try. We ask for a £2 voluntary donation please, to help cover hall hire and refreshment costs. If you have any questions, please email us, we would love to hear from you. Email Linda or Helen: madeinbroadtown@gmail.com
OCTOBER COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNINGS
Community Coffee Mornings restarted again on the 10th of September after our summer break, and it was lovely to welcome everyone back to the village hall.
During our second September coffee morning on Wednesday September 24th, we raised money for Macmillan by taking part in their annual ‘Big Coffee Morning’.
The total raised will be in the next newsletter, but we would like to thank everyone who came along for their support, and for their generosity in their donations for refreshments and raffle ticket sales.
The October coffee mornings will be on Wednesdays October 8th and 22nd.Coffee mornings take place on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday mornings of every month (except August) from 10 – 12 noon in the village hall. Everyone from the village and surrounding areas is very welcome to come along to meet others, to chat and to enjoy delicious homemade cakes, sausage rolls, coffee, tea and hot chocolate. We look forward to seeing you!
Save the date – Village Christmas Coffee Morning & Craft Sale – bottles wanted please!!
Saturday November 29th from 10 – 12 noon in the village hall
A variety of refreshments and stalls including cakes, raffle, bottle tombola, Made in Broad Town crafts & preserves etc. This event is being jointly organised by Community Coffee Mornings & Made in Broad Town. All proceeds to charity.
Request: Please consider donating one or more bottles for the bottle tombola – any type would be welcome e.g. soft & alcoholic drinks, sauces, shower gels etc. Please bring your bottle(s) to the village hall on a Wednesday morning during the Community Coffee Mornings or Made in Broad Town sessions, or to the Social Club on a Friday evening.
Alternatively, please leave them with Annie & Nigel Crocker at ‘Barbary’, Broad Town. Thank you very much for your help!
BISHOPS LETTER FOR OCTOBER
During the wistful first week of September, just before our youngest departed for university, we took a week’s holiday in North Cornwall, to revisit a seaside haunt much enjoyed in their childhood. The high-baked summer heat finally giving way to that more familiar British blend of showery spells and sunny intervals, we eschewed the beaches in favour of the ruined splendour of Tintagel Castle, situated on an almost-island along the headland from our cottage.
Since 2019, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur has been connected to the coast by an elegant suspension bridge, the crossing of which offers giddily magnificent views. Perhaps helpfully, pedestrians can’t see the rocks beneath them but for a 40mm gap, halfway across. The bridge is constructed in two sections, each drilled into its own side of the yawning chasm. The inch or two between them is, I learned, both structural and symbolic - representing the space between past and present, myth and reality. A lovely touch, I thought.
As we cross the threshold into autumn, with its liturgical mood of gratitude and remembrance, let us rejoice that God bridges the ages in Jesus Christ: connecting us not only to the past events of our salvation but also the future hope of his heavenly kingdom. Whatever changes lie before us, he remains the way, the truth and the life.
Thank you and God bless.
PLEASE NOTE e-mail any queries or articles for publication to broadtownnews@gmail.com by the 22nd of the month except December.