ON CITIZENS AND TRAITORS

My mind is full of politics: resignations by MPs from political parties; climate change strikes by school children; neighbourhood plans in parishes; the threatened withdrawal British citizenship from Shamima Begum; negotiations between the UK and the EU and of course, local litter picking groups.

Politics is stuff that the church (and vicars!) are often encouraged to stay away from, especially when the issues are contentious or a source of conflict within communities and families.  Yet the choices we make about what we think or say or do with our lives grow out of our ideas and values.  To quote Pope Francis:

Every economic, social, political or religious project involves the inclusion or exclusion of the wounded lying on the side of the road. Each day, each of us faces the choice of being a Good Samaritan or an indifferent bystander. (Homily on the Good Samaritan, May 2003)

The Christian faith I hold dear and seek to follow is the foundation for much of my thinking about politics.  I am aware that others who hold that faith equally dear and seek to follow as closely may arrive at very different outcomes.  Now this may sound surprising, but, even when I don’t agree with peoples political views, I am (mostly!) glad that people care enough to try and improve the world.

It is a good thing to live in a time and place where people can work and act for change and where people can change their mind about how this might best be done.

It is a sad thing to live in a time and place where instead of talking through our disagreements or thinking people can mature and learn to do better; we call our fellow citizens ‘traitors’.

I remember that Jesus loved a friend who denied him in the time of his crucifixion and that this love helped Peter change and grow into a founding leader of the early church.  Even more I remember my own failures and bad choices as a teenager, the ways I was led into foolishness and the relief that others helped me turn back on that path and find a better way to follow.

And I also remember these words by a politician, one who was a traitor to the United Kingdom: I never considered a difference in opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy   as cause for withdrawing from a friend. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826, 3^rd President of the USA 1801-09)

Whatever our politics, surely we can seek a shared commitment to this sort of friendship.

The Reverend Rachma Abbott Priest in Charge, Woodhill Benefice.

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

 

CHURCH ELECTORAL ROLL & AGM REMINDER

Please note that completed application forms for inclusion on the 2019 Church Electoral Roll must be returned to a member of the PCC by the 9^th March.

Just a reminder that the Church AGM is on the 24^th March after a short morning service.  All parishioners are eligible to be there.

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

2^nd March          Church Coffee Morning

4^th March           Deadline for BT PC Community Fund Applications

4^th March           BT Village Hall AGM

9^th March           Deadline for return of Church Electoral Roll Forms

11^th March         BT PC Meeting

12^th March         Lindy Hop Dancing at BT Village Hall

13^th March         Community Coffee Morning

14^th March         “Fitsteps” Dance-Fitness Class

23^rd March         Hilmarton Moviola

24^th March         Church AGM

26^th March         Lindy Hop Dancing at BT Village Hall

27^th March         Community Coffee Morning

30^th March         Gentlemen’s Breakfast Club

31^st March         Final date for Spackman Charity Applications.

6^th May             Bushton Manor Plant Fair and Open Garden

18^th May           Church Coffee Morning and Plant Stall

 

CHURCH COFFEE MORNING

The next one is on the 2^nd March at our usual times of 10am till Noon.  We will be cooking pancakes as it is Shrove Tuesday the next week.  Jonathan Bastin will have a stall with his photographs and Fiona will have craft activities for the children; as well as the usual refreshments, sales table and raffle.

 

COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING

Dates for March: 

March 13^th – all money raised will be sent to The Alzheimer Society.  Do please come and support this society as it supports those living with dementia and their families as well as funding much needed research.

March 27^th – usual coffee and cakes

 

BROAD TOWN VILLAGE HALL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Will be held at the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Monday 4^th March.  The agenda will be:  Minutes & Matters Arising, Chairman's Report, Treasurer's Report, Election of Committee and Any Other Business.  All are welcome.  The Hall has been refurbished and looks lovely - come and see for yourself.

 

 

THOMAS SPACKMAN CHARITY 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 March 2019.

The next opportunity to apply will be September 2019.

 

MARKET STALL

Judy Rendell will be running another market stall in Royal Wootton Bassett on June 5^th 2019 to raise money for the Church.

We need donations of Cakes, Bric a Brac, Toys and Games, Good Quality Clothes or anything that we can sell.

Please contact Judy on 01793 731341

 

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 have to 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.

 

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.

 

 

 

PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE

New Parish Clerk

The Parish Council is delighted to announce that Emna Diamant is our new Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer.  Emna has a background in local administration working for NHS Trusts and for community libraries.  She is passionate about the role of Parish Clerk and keen to support our activities.

Contacting us

We wanted to remind everyone that our contact details are on the Broad Town Parish Council website and the Village Noticeboards.  For most enquiries, the best person to contact is Emna, our Parish Clerk on BTPCCLERK@outlook.com or 07990 040675.

If you want to contact a specific Councillor, then please use the following email addresses or phone numbers

Jackie Jordan – jjordanbtpc@gmail.com, 01793 731816

Sandra Hartley – hartleybroadtown@hotmail.com, 01793 731523

Brian Joyce – bjoycebtpc@gmail.com, 07764 623489

Malcolm Holland – mahollbtpc@gmail.com, 01793 731567

Rupert Pearce – rpearcebtpc@gmail.com, 01793 731605

Colin Rendell – judithmrendell@outlook.com, 01793 731341

We are looking to make some improvements to the Website during this year and hope that this will become a much more popular way of sharing what is going on in our Village.

Community Fund

The Parish Council will be reviewing new grant applications at our March meeting so if you are a local community organisation seeking funds for a project please send your application into the Parish Clerk by 4^th March see the Parish Council website for details on how the fund works.

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Speed Indicator Devices

We are making good progress towards implementing a movable speed indicator device along Broad Town road to encourage drivers to follow the speed limit. The final hurdle is funding and we are hoping that we can secure support from both the Community Area Transport Group and from the Community Fund. We will keep you updated as to the timing of implementation.

The date of the next Parish Council meeting is 11^th March at 18.30pm at the Village Hall. Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be provided.

 

GENTLEMAN’S FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST CLUB

The Gentleman’s Full English Breakfast Club will meet on Saturday 30^th March 2019 at the REME Museum Crown’s café at MOD Lyneham.  The speaker this month is Alison Bucknell talking about dementia.  9am for 9:30am start as usual.  The cost is now £8pp. + a bottle raffle.

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

FITSTEPS

A fun dance-fitness class. Taster Session on Thursday 14^th March 1.30 to 2.15pm Broad Town Village Hall.  £5.  Get fit the ‘Strictly’ Way. Further details – Contact Margaret 731564

 

WILTSHIRE MOVIOLA

Hilmarton Parish Church Hall, Saturday 23^rd March

Bohemian Rhapsody (12A)

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

Swingout Swindon (Cliff and Erica), have been running swing dance classes in Swindon for over 4 years.  For the last 2 years we have been teaching fortnightly in East Challow, Wantage.

Recently we have been looking to fill the Tuesday gap and by popular demand we have decided to offer Broad Town and surrounding areas the chance to learn to dance.

Our Lindy Hop classes are filled with smiles and laughter, along with some great moves to get you on that dance floor.  Although you require a partner to dance with, don’t worry, if you don’t have one to bring there will be plenty there, as we rotate everyone around throughout the lesson.

Don’t forget your footwear! Make sure you have comfy and supportive shoes but not too grippy on the soles.

Fortnightly Classes at Broad Town Village Hall

NEXT CLASSES Tuesday March 12^th and March 26th

Classes: Beginners Lindy Hop

Tuesdays 7.15 pm to 8.30pm, 8.30pm to 8.45pm practice session Price £7 per person per class

For anyone wanting to learn the basic 6-beat and 8-beat Lindy Hop Rhythm and some 8-beat Charleston moves.

Suitable for anyone wanting to learn partner dancing.

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

 

 

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.

 

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.