ON REMEMBRANCE

‘Soldiers’ graves are the greatest preachers of peace’ so wrote Albert Schweitzer

(14 January 1875 – 4 September 1965 – awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952). 

However, I can’t help thinking that if Schweitzer was correct, by now we should no longer be asking young men and women to die in war for our nation states. This feels especially so in a season when Remembrance is marking 100 year anniversaries connected to the Great War.  The war that was supposed to end all wars but which now we mostly describe as ‘The First’ World War – a way of describing it which both acknowledges and expects that we will be fighting wars with other numbers. 

Indeed, in many ways it seems to me that our nation is currently ‘at war’ even if this we do not endure the experiences of Blitz or conscription or imprisonment for pacifism that have exemplified the last two world wars.

I visited two war memorials on holiday in the summer. One was the German cemetery near Maleme where the Battle of Crete was fought. It was both beautiful and horrifying – beautifully laid out with succulents in flower amidst olive trees and with a wonderful view of the sea; horrifyingly full of both the named and the unknown war dead.  These were mostly young and mostly killed within a very short space of time. This cemetery holds within it the graves of Nazis, of the war criminal General Bruno Bauer executed after the war and those forced to serve who were German but opposed to Nazism.  It also holds a stone marking a ceremony in 2001 when survivors from both German, Greek and Allied nations marked post war reconciliation.

The other memorial was that to the young cadets from mainland Greece who on the surrender to the Nazis refused to obey the order to surrender and escaped, with some equipment and guns to Crete and fought within the resistance there.   I pondered their bravery, the challenge of deciding when it is right to obey authority and when the moral choice is disobedience – a particularly fine discernment for those pledged to military loyalty and faithfulness and their youth and the sacrifice of life – both theirs and of the many villages that gave them safe haven.

Crete and Greece were occupied by the Nazis.  Here in England (if not across the whole of the British Isles) we were more fortunate. Yet sometimes it seems to me that we rest too comfortably in a sense of our moral authority because in that last world war we were both winners and on the side of right.  So pondering the forgiveness shown by the work to create the German cemetery and the ceremony held there in 2001, I wonder. Could we forgive those who have been our enemies? Can we imagine a future in which one might hold hands in reconciliation with those who fight and perpetrate evils under the banner of ‘so-called Islamic State’ when peace has come? It took Crete and the communities of Maleme 70 years. 

Remembrance challenges us to reflect on war and on peace; on enemies and on our friends. 

Rachma

 

The Reverend Rachma Abbott, Priest in Charge, Woodhill Benefice.

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

 

German Cemetery near Maleme, Crete

 

 

 

Greek Cadets Memorial, Crete

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

 

Nov 2^nd                           Back to BT School for Term 2

Nov 6^th              Hilmarton Bingo at 6:45pm

Nov 8^th              Act of Remembrance 10:50am

Nov 10^th            BT CPLG Meeting

Nov 13^th                        Big Gig AGM

Nov 19^th            Cameo Lunch Hilmarton Church Hall 12noon

Nov 18^th            WI Meeting

Nov 20^th/21^st      Christmas Bazaar Bushton

Nov 21^st            Hilmarton Moviola

Nov 28^th                        Gentlemen’s Breakfast Club                  

Dec 5^th                            Christmas Coffee Morning (Note. Change of date from last month)

Dec 11^th            BT School Christmas Fayre 3:15pm

Dec 12^th            BT Preschool Nativity 9:30am

Dec 17^th            Christchurch Carol Service 6:00pm

Dec 18^th            BT School Carol Service 1:15pm & end of term

 

CHURCH FABRIC REPORT

 

Last week or this you may have seen activity at the Church.  This is the inspection of the roof. When we get the report we will know how bad the rafters are.

As well we know that we have some joists which are rotten and will need changing.

As we are not going ahead with the extension we will now have to re-plaster the inside of the west wall of the Church.

All of this will cost us money. We know that there are grants out there and a small committee will be looking for them when we know better what all this will cost.  We also know that we will have to match the grant in some way. And we are still looking for ways to get a toilet at Church.

 

CHRIST CHURCH CHRISTMAS RAFFLE

 

Tickets are now available for the raffle. First prize is £100; second prize is £75 and third prize is £50. There will also be many other prizes. If you wish to purchase tickets they are available from Margaret on 854200 – you may need to leave a message and they will be delivered to you – or you will be able to buy them at the……

 

CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING December 5^th

 

As usual this will be in the Church.  There will be refreshments, cakes, Christmas sales table, tombola for adults and children, cards and other stalls.  We look forward to seeing you all there for a morning of convivial chat and good food.

The raffle will be drawn at the end of the morning

 

 

 

 

 

HARVEST SUPPER

 

A big thank you to everyone who supported this community event. It was a great evening and we made a profit of £427.88 which will go towards keeping Broad Town Church open. Special thanks to, Broad Town Hall Committee, Fourways Community Pub (Trevor & Brian), 'Supanova' and all those who donated raffle prizes.

 

 BROAD TOWN WI

 

This month's speaker was Lynda Warren from Purton.  She gave us an interesting talk about life in Purton and Royal Wootton Bassett during the Second World War.  She particularly talked about evacuation and rationing.   Her father and grandmother shared their house with an evacuee from London and she drew her anecdotes from their experiences.  She also gave examples of some very strange recipes suggested for making meals with the limited food available at the time.

 

On Saturday 17th, the WI also hosted a very successful Barn Dance in the Village Hall.  It was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who went.  Jane Rowe must be congratulated for all her wonderful organisational and culinary skills.  Thanks too to Jugged Hare who supplied the music, Trevor and Brian Hiller for manning the bar and of course other WI members who lent a hand.

 

Our next meeting is on November 18th in the Village Hall. It is just a general meeting that will give members the opportunity to share interesting books, films or outings they have recently experienced.  They will also be working on the scrapbook that members are compiling for the 100 years anniversary of the WI.  It is going to be a snap shot of the life of the WI in Broad Town in 2015.  One was produced 50 years ago by the Wootton Bassett WI and can be seen in the Museum in Royal Wootton Bassett.  We decided to copy their idea!

 

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 or Michelle on 01793 731357.  We are also on the Broad Town village website and on Facebook.

 

CLERKS CLIPPINGS

 

1. John Pullen, a very long serving member of the Parish Council, has resigned. At the last Council meeting the Chairman placed on record John’s contribution to our Village for many years. Wilts Council will set in train the procedure for a replacement councillor.

2. The CLPG draft report has been passed to the Parish Council to finalise and will be put forward for residents to consider. Details will published later.

3. The Community Fund, the annual donation from Good Energy for the electricity produced by the solar farm at Goldborough Farm, is now established. The proceeds are for projects to improve village facilities, and a form for applications for donations from the fund will shortly be available from the Clerk. But please be advised that the use for which the funds may be used are very strictly governed.

 

BROAD TOWN COMMUNITY LED PLANNING (CLP) GROUP

 

We are very conscious that we have mentioned the proposals and ideas for delivery of affordable housing that were put forward for possible inclusion in a village consultation – but that we haven’t yet had an opportunity to show everyone what they are.  There was some disappointment at our last meeting that they couldn’t be available, this was because they were still being sent right up to the last minute and there wasn’t time to print all of them out before the meeting.  It was important that all of the proposals and ideas were dealt with equally and once they were all received they were sent to those people who are on the CLPG mailing list.  Clearly a good deal of time was put into preparing the proposals and only right that people who aren’t on the mailing list should have a chance to see them.  We have also had some superb photos sent to us of views that people value and it would be great to show these to you too.  We would therefore like to invite you to our next meeting at 7.30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday 10^th November at the Village Hall when all the proposals and photos we have received can be viewed.  May we emphasise that this is not a consultation or a presentation and there will be no selection process at the meeting.  The Parish Council has decided that it wants the responsibility of consulting on adding development options into the draft neighbourhood plan and the proposals and the photos have been made available to the Councillors.  It is simply a chance to see everything that we have received over a tea or coffee and a mince pie before the Christmas festivities start, to consider next steps and to thank you for the interest that has been shown. 

Please contact us if you would like to go on to our mailing list on broadtownclpg@gmail.com.  More information is on our Community Forum on www.broad-town.co.uk

 

PROSPECT HOSPICE BOX COLLECTION

 

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the total of £391.96 collected in the village. If anyone is interested in having a collection box, please contact Margaret Manley on 731564.

 

BROAD TOWN BIG GIG AGM

 

The Broad Town Big Gig Annual General Meeting will take place in the Village Hall at 8.30pm, Friday 13th November. The meeting is open to everyone and being a Social Club evening, the bar will be open. The aim of the meeting will be to draw to a close the 2015 event and to look forward to 2016.

Included in the short agenda will be the election of the Committee for the forthcoming year. It is important that we recruit new committee members annually and so if you have an interest in music and want to do something for your village, give it a go. The task isn’t too arduous but the enjoyment and the value to the community are enormous.

If you want to know anything more about what is involved, give Andrew Law a ring on 01793 731472 before the AGM.

 

 

BROAD TOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

 

At the recent quarterly Neighbourhood Tasking Group, a short report was given by each of the three beats within the Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) including the rural beat which covers Broad Town. Andy Singfield was able to let us know that there has been a decrease in Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) by 17% this year to date; however, priority for the next 3 months will remain ASB due to the impending Halloween and Fireworks Nights. He reported that there had been no major incidents in the preceding 3 months but the main concerns have been a couple of ‘dog bites’ incidents and therefore it is important that owners keep their dogs under control at all times

It was reported that PC Steve Porter is moving on to a new area after nearly nine years covering the RWB Rural Beat.  A replacement is being sought but until such time as an appointment is made, Andy Singfield supported by the NPT will continue to cover our area.

If anyone wishes further information on the Broad Town Neighbourhood Watch, would they please contact Andrew Law on 01793 731472.

 

BUMPS AND BEYOND

 

TO ALL NEW AND EXPECTANT MUMS.

The under 5s Playgroup “Bumps and Beyond” meet in the village hall every Tuesday (in term Time) 9.30 –11.30 am

This is a friendly playgroup, run by parents for parents. Why not come and give us a try, bring a friend, your first session is free. Contact Catherine 07775928859.

At our first get together at the beginning of last month we welcomed baby Edward,9 weeks old, who came last term as a bump!! BUSY BEES

 

From October 7th, Busy Bees Baby and Toddler Group will be changing from second and fourth Wednesdays to fortnightly meetings.

They will still be at Bushton Village Hall and run from 13.45 to 15.00pm. For any further information please contact Kim Gough on 07850 933344 or kim.gough@rocketmail.com.

 

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR BUSHTON

 

This will take place in the Village Hall (SN4 7PX) on 20^th and 21^st November.

On the Friday evening 7-9pm entrance £3 will include refreshments.

On Saturday 10am -1pm entrance £1 with tea/coffee /homemade cakes available for purchase.

Stalls will include a variety of gifts, homemade cakes, jams and chutneys, tombola, raffle, bric-a-brac and books.

Proceeds to St Peters Church, Clyffe Pypard.

 

 

 

HILMARTON MOVIOLA

 

MR HOLMES Saturday 21st November (PG) 104 mins

A Tour de force performance from Ian McKellen as the ageing Holmes. With his memory beginning to fade, he moves into a country house at the end of World War 2. He is befriended by the young son of his housekeeper and embarks on one last, almost forgotten unsolved case from half a century ago, which helps him solve a riddle that has always eluded him – relationships. An elegant and absorbing British film that will have wide appeal.

 

You can pre-order cinema meals from The Duke Hotel diagonally opposite the Cinema

usually for 6.00 pm but the Duke is now open all day Saturday.

 www.dukehilmarton.co.uk         01249 760634     info@dukehilmarton.co.uk

 

 

GENTLEMAN’S BREAKFAST CLUB

 

28^th November 2015

And as always, at the Mallard Public House, Lyneham.  

9.30 start, £7.00 p.p. + a raffle.

Our speaker this time is: Ayhan Dawood of Flying Bear talking about Drones

Contact David May davemay104@yahoo.co.uk  if you would like to attend.

 

 

Staying connected…

 

Do you have a computer or tablet but don’t feel confident to use it?  Or perhaps you would like to do more on the Internet. Although computers aren’t for everyone, there are many benefits to using them, especially if you find it difficult to get out and about. You can stay in touch with family and friends and share photos with them. You can use the Internet to research your interests and develop new ones. Computers can make life easier by shopping or paying bills online – it is estimated you can save up to £560 per year this way.

 

There are local services available to help you develop confidence in using computers. There are several clubs where you can go and get together with others while getting help from a tutor. There are also a number of schemes where someone can help you at home on a one-to-one basis – some of them free of charge.

 

As your local Good Neighbour Co-ordinator, I can help put you in touch with these services. For this or any other query about issues affecting older people, please contact me, Ellen Blacker, on 07557 110414

 

THE GUILD OF WILTSHIRE ARTISTS

 

Run workshops at the Village Hall on every third Saturday of the month from 10am to 4pm.  All are welcome including painters who are beginners.

Tea and Coffee provided but do bring a packed lunch.  Help will be given to those who request it.  Contact telephone numbers 731154, 731519.

 

HATHA YOGA

 

Weekly Hatha Yoga at Broad Town Village Hall.  For more details please contact Polly Fouracres by email - polly@4fouracres.com.