MAY 2018Great Hinton

Round About Your ParishSteeple AshtonMay St Mary’s Steeple Ashton St Leonard’s Keevil

Sunday 6th

CHURCH SERVICES

11am - Parish Communion (BCP) (Revd Longdon)

Ascension Day Service at North Bradley 7pm

Thurs 10th

Steeple Ashton Village ShopOpening hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5.30pmSaturday 8.30am to 4.30pm; Sunday 9.ooam to 12noon

Shop telephone: 01380 871 211

9.15 amEaster Family Communion

8am - Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30am - Family Service

9.15 amMorning Prayer

10.30am SACT Pentecost Service

on the Village Green (If poor weather in St Mary’s

church)

Sunday 20th

AscensionDay

Sunday 13th

9.15 amAll Age Service

Easter 7

Pentecost

Easter6

TrinitySunday

8am - Holy Communion (BCP)

11am - Morning Prayer (CW)

(Richard Havergal)

3rd June1st Sunday

afterTrinity

11am - Parish Communion (BCP)

9.15amPentecost

Holy Communion(Coffee will be served

after the service)

3.30pmCafe Church

(in the Village Hall)

6.30pm(HC) (BCP)

Sunday 27th

Photo presented to Steeple Ashton by the Royal Wilts Yeomanry, 1944This photo hung in our old village hall for many years. The Yeomanry’s

Sherman III tanks bore the names of Wiltshire towns, villages and pubs to aid identification and boost morale. As part of the 9th Armoured Brigade, following the battle of El Alamein in November 1942, the Royal Wiltshire

Yeomanry served first in Cairo and then in Syria – where, in 1943, this photo was probably taken. By May 1944, the regiment was in Italy.

Items for the June newsletter should be received by Tuesday 22nd May 2018. They should be sent to Mrs Helen Montague-Smith, 1A Butts Lane, Steeple Ashton or by email to helenmontaguesmith8@gmail.com. All published items solely express the views of the author and are the copyright of the author and Round About Your Parish unless otherwise stated.The Editor would like to remind you that it is up to you, the readers, to supply all news and copy for the newsletter. The sender’s name and address need to be received before printing. Telephone 01380 871285. Inquiries for advertisements in the newsletter should be made to Sarah Dennehy on 01380 870731, email: adverts4steepleashton@gmail.com. There may be a waiting list. Please send your ads by email if possible. Please note, we do not deliver flyers for advertisers. Flyers for Village activities and events can be delivered with the newsletter. If you wish to have a flyer for a village event delivered with this newsletter, please contact Anne Howard on 870505 during the third week of the month to see if it is convenient. All flyers have to be counted out for the delivery packs and as there are 25 deliverers this can take some time. No more than two per newslet-ter would be helpful. Editor

Newsletter Deadlines for 2018May 22nd; June 19th; July 24th

Bryan writes… I would like to thank those readers who kindly pointed out an error in my article on p30 of the March issue of this newsletter. The WW II fighter air-craft I identified mistakenly as a Spitfire, was in fact a Hawker Hurricane.

Memories of Coronation Day Can remember being woken in the early hours by my parents to travel into Central London by 19 bus from our home in South London to get to Hyde Park Corner to see the Queens Coronation procession . We arrived about 7am to get a good view,although many had slept on the pavement overnight, and everywhere was packed even at this unearthly hour. However there was a great spirit amongst the crowds , many coming from various commonwealth countries. However unfortu-nately the procession was not timed to pass by until late afternoon , which to boy was an au full long time. The rain during the day was endless and felt like a winters day, and everyone was soaked. However the wait was worth it and the gold coach was spectacular , also remember seeing Queen Salote of Tonga who insisted in riding in an open carriage getting soaked , just like the crowds on the route which made her very popular.

Alan Dudman

Brahms Requiem Workshop and ConcertDo you fancy a day with Edington Arts working on a masterpiece of Euro-pean choral writing? Or listening to the concert run-through which will follow it? On Saturday 19th May Ashley Grote, Master of Music at Norwich Cathe-dral and former Director of the Edington Music Festival, will be leading the day working on Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, a fitting commemoration of those who died in the 1914-18 War. On a lighter note, we shall be adding Parry’s ‘I was Glad’, often sung at Royal Weddings, in honour of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meaghan Markle – so we shall also be offering complimentary wedding cake and a glass of fizz in the interval between the workshop and concert run-through which will follow. Fine soloists, top quality accompaniment (Brahms’ own four-handed piano arrangement of his orchestral score) played by Richard Pinel and Libby Bur-gess, and a generous, intensely musical and experienced leader in Ashley Grote will make for a wonderful day’s music making, suitable for anyone with some experience of choral singing. Tickets for the concert, which is open to anyone and everyone, are £5 per head, (18 and under free) and can be bought in advance from sue@eding-tonarts.org, or by ringing Chrissy on 01380 831256, or on the door from 4.30pm on Saturday 19th May; places for the workshop at £20 plus £2 for hire of music can be booked through Anne Curtis on anne@edingtonarts.org or by ringing her on 01380 831425. Full workshop information and an application form are also on the website at www.edingtonarts.org/whats-on The deadline for workshop applications is May 17th.

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STEEPLE ASHTON PARISH COUNCIL March 2018 SHARING OUR FAITHThe Group meets in the Parish Centre, Trowbridge on Wednesdays from 8-9pm.This is open to anyone wishing to learn more about the Catholic Church.

(For information on any of the above please contact: Francis Geraghty 01380 871083 email: f.geraghty303@btinternet.com)

THE NEW 300 CLUB 2018Subscriptions: £50 annually - £13 quarterly - £4.33 monthly. New members are most welcome to join at any time. Prizes are: £200-£70-£50-£10. For information and application form contact Francis Geraghty (see below).

St Bernadette’s - WestburySunday Mass: 9amHoly Day of Obligation: Vigil Mass 6pmWeekday Mass: Thursday 10amConfessions: Thursday 9.15-9.30am and on request. SICK AND/OR HOUSEBOUND

Any catholic who is sick or house-bound should let Fr. Tom Finnegan (01225 752152) know as he would be pleased to arrange a visit and bring Holy Communion, if desired.

ANNUAL CLIFTON DIOCESE SUMMER CAMPSBookings are now being taken for the camps which take place 13th – 17th August for ages 7-11years and 20th-24th August for ages 12-16years. The camps have moved to a new venue at the Viney Hill Adven-ture Centre in the Forest of Dean. A week full of fun & friendship under-pinned by a sharing and living of our Christian Faith. To book visit www.livingyourfaith.co.uk

CONFIRMATION 2018Bishop Declan will celebrate the Mass of Confirmation on Wednesday 27th June at 7pm. Children in Yr 8 or above who wish to be confirmed should complete the application form in the church porch and return it to the Parish Priest (Fr Tom).

MASS TIMES at NEARBY CATHOLIC CHURCHESSt Joseph’s, West Lavington (01380 723572) Mass on Sunday at 9.00amImmaculate Conception, Devizes (01380 723572) Mass on Saturday 6.00pm and Sunday 10.30am and 5.00pmSt Anthony Melksham (01225 702128) Mass on Saturday 5.30pm and Sunday 9.30amSt George’s Warminster (01985 212329) Mass on Saturday evening 6.00pm and Sunday 8.00am & 10.00amBradford-On-Avon (01225 862739) Mass Saturday 6.00pm. Sunday 10.30am.(For information on any of the above con-tact: Francis Geraghty 01380 871083 email: f.geraghty303@btinternet.com)

RUH BATHAnyone who has a friend or relative in hospital, please contact Mandy Baker (a member of the hospital Chaplaincy team) text/phone 0775 895814 or email mandybaker@live.co.uk

Village Spring Clean: We would like to say a huge thank you to all 44 people and the one dog that came along to help us tidy up the village! Other people to thank are Sharon Harding, the Brownies, Guides and Rainbows for their cakes, the merry band of people who set up and took down the gazebo, Sam Gompels for donations of black bin bags, gloves and hand sanitiser; and Mark Arnold and Jeremy Cottle for collecting all the bags. Another suc-cessful day we should all be proud of.

Annual Parish Meeting – a report from our Chairman, Fran Buffery-King: “On Monday 9th April we held the Annual Parish Meeting in the vil-lage hall. It was good to see a turnout of 20+ villagers and representatives

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Methodist Church Diary

Weekly Timings Check newsletter for changesSt John the Baptist - TrowbridgeSunday Masses: Sat:(Vigil) 6pm; Sun:10.30am & 6pmHoly Day of Obligation: See NewsletterWeekday Masses: Mon: 9am; Tue: 6pm; Wed: 12.00 noon Fri: 6pm; Sat: 9.00amRosary: Weekdays before Mass. Confessions: Sat: 9.30-10.15am; 5.15-5.30pm and on request. St Bernadette’s - WestburySunday Mass: 9amHoly Day of Obligation: Vigil Mass 6pmWeekday Mass: Thursday 10amConfessions: Thursday 9.15-9.30am and on request.

CATHOLIC NEWS ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST TROWBRIDGE & ST BERNADETTE’S WESTBURY (incl VILLAGES).PARISH PRIEST FR TOM FINNEGANTELEPHONE 01225 752152

All services are at 9.15 am unless otherwise stated. Please come along and join us. You can be assured of a warm welcome, and a time to chat, plus a cup of tea or coffee after the service. If there is anyone for whom you would like prayers to be said, please leave details in the post box at the front door, and they will be included in the Intercessory Prayers on Sunday.MayTuesday 1st 7.30 pm HousegroupThursday 3rd 2.30 pm CAMEOSunday 6th 9.15 am Revd. David Coppard – Holy CommunionWednesday 9th 10.30 am Reflections & FellowshipThursday 10th 2.30 pm CAMEOSunday 13th 9.15 am Revd. Tom MacMeekinTuesday 15th 7.30 pm HousegroupThursday 17th 2.30 pm CAMEOSunday 20th 10.30 am Pentecost – United on the GreenWednesday 23rd 10.30 am Reflections & FellowshipThursday 24th 2.30 pm CAMEOSunday 27th 9.15 am Revd. Peter WhattonTuesday 29th 7.30 pm HousegroupThursday 31st 2.30 pm CAMEO

of other organisations. As Chairman, I gave an update on what projects we have undertaken, and plan to get started in the forthcoming year. Repre-sentatives from other village groups gave their updates, and it is a great opportunity to hear what is going on within the whole village. Many thanks to you all for attending. A copy of my presentation is available on the web-site or can be sent via email if you contact Leon Karas, the Parish Clerk.I’d like to thank my fellow councillors for all their input and hard work this last year. It is the 1st year of being a councillor for some, and it has been a busy time. It’s a good team we have, and another busy year ahead. I’d also like to thank Leon for his hard work as Clerk. We are only as good as our Clerk’s dedication to the job - and he does more than just the job. Now I can’t provide wine and nibbles for all our meetings, yet it would be good to see more of you at our six-weekly main meetings. We usually have a laugh as well as deal with the agenda items.............so come along.” Acreshort Community Park: We are pleased to say that we have suc-cessfully secured another £4k of funding from the Melksham Area Commu-nity Board. While we are still trying to raise further funds, this has given us enough of a boost to be able to place an order for the new play and fitness equipment, which is brilliant! We are now starting to plan the Grand Open-ing on Saturday 22nd September (2 – 6pm), which will also be used as a day to celebrate ALL our community and the groups within it. The day will include music, refreshments, skittles, treasure trail and stands for all our community groups to show us what they do – some of you may be surprised at the diverse range of activities on offer in our village. Bring a picnic and join in the celebration!We are offering stand space to any community groups that would like to take advantage of the chance to show the village what you do. If you are interested, please contact Pippa Birch on 871578 or at pippabirch@steeple-ashton.co.uk ALSO: If you would like to nominate someone to open Acreshort Commu-nity Park officially by snipping the ribbon, keep an eye out for a nominations box in the Village Shop – the person will be drawn on the day, so make sure your nominee attends the event! Parish Council Meeting Minutes: The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 9th April have been posted on the website and on the village noticeboard next to the Longs Arms. It was another packed meet-ing with positive outcomes on issues reported and plans for enhancing the parish. Railings outside the Village Shop: You may have noticed the work hap-pening outside the shop to replace the railings. Wiltshire Stonemasons have

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Methodist Church Diary and Events

Alison Evans

17th Century Nun’s PrayerLord Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody: helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest Lord that I want a few friends at the end.Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others pains, but help me to endure them with patience.I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a less-ing cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.Keep me reasonably sweet; I do no want to be a Saint – some of them are so hard to live with – but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And, give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so. Amen

SACT

Celebrate the Church’s Birthday!

Pentecost Servicewill be held on

Sunday 20th May at 10.30amon the Green

If wet, it will be held inSt Mary’s Church

We look forward to seeing you there

done a beautiful job of the stonework so far. Please take care when visiting or walking past the shop until the work is finished.Planning: Planning applications are considered at Parish Council Meet-ings and Planning Issues Only Parish Council Meetings. There is an Open Forum for members of the public to comment on planning matters prior to their consideration. All minutes are posted on the website and the village notice board. Parish Council Meetings:May 14th Main Parish Council Meeting (AGM)June 4th Planning Issues Only Parish Council Meeting June 25th Main Parish Council Meeting

Parish Council Office: (2 St Mary’s School, High Street)This office is open to the public twice a week (Monday 2.30pm – 3.30pm; Tuesday 10am – 11am) or by appointment. Leon Karas, Clerk to the Parish Council, can be contacted on 871461 or 870708 or email clerk@steeple-ashton.co.uk. All Councillors have @steeple-ashton.co.uk email addresses which are also posted on the website.Mobile Library Visits - Longs Arms, Steeple AshtonWednesdays 11:00 – 12:0023 May, 20 June, 18 July, 15 August, 12 September, 10 October Find us on Social Media!Our Facebook community is still growing – we now have165 members of the discussion group and 22,700 people viewed our Message from FS Keith Thomson re Night Gunfire at Keevil Airfield! Through the Parish Council page and Steeple Ashton Village Discussion Group, we have covered many topics of interest to our residents. A particular success as a result of discus-sions this month was getting a birthday card to the right address. Adverts have included local services, the Friends of Steeple Ashton’s AGM (4th May), the need for an administrator for the Schools Building Management Com-mittee and requests for good driving instructors, window cleaners and pet sitters. The shop has also shared progress of the railings at the front and pic-tures of some of the things they are selling, including some very plump and delicious doughnuts! Please be assured that this page is monitored regu-larly, and we take all requests seriously, actioning where appropriate.We would love you to get involved – search for ‘Steeple Ashton’ on Face-book. If you are a village group and need help with your social media or village event promotions, please get in touch with Pippa at pippabirch@steeple-ashton.co.uk or 871578.

~~~ www.steeple-ashton.co.uk ~~~

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Jonathon Seed writes:

This month we have seen out attention drawn to issues which detract from our beautiful County of Wiltshire and ones which have greater or lesser impacts on local communities. Salisbury has seen international attention focussed on the appalling attempted murder of two local Russian residents. The devastating effect of the use of nerve agent in the local community quickly became clear. It also became apparent just how proud we can all be of our County emergency services and local communities in such a situation. The bravery of the first policeman on the scene is now the stuff of legend but let us also not forget the leadership shown by our acting Chief Constable in dealing with this matter in his first day in office. It is interesting that fifteen other police forces have been deployed to help our local police in Salisbury and all have commented on the support (and cups of tea) provided by understanding locals. Add to that the exemplary response of the other emergency services and rallying round of a hard-pressed community and you have the stuff of which Britain is made. The local community was hard pressed and no more so than local retail busi-nesses that faced ruin due to lack of visitors to the City. Much credit is due to those who quickly recognised the issues facing the City and the leadership shown by local and national politicians in the crisis. This has ranged from daily reassurance to pressing hard for a package of financial recovery meas-ures for the City. We all can do our bit to help further the mantra that “Salis-bury is Open for Business” by visiting the City, doing a bit of shopping – and enjoying the Free Parking in off street car parks being provided by Wiltshire Council in order to help Salisbury onwards and upwards. Litter seems to be another issue which is affecting local communities. The important point about litter is that it costs all of us Council Tax payers mil-lions of pounds a year to deal with - and all because thoughtless yobs cannot be bothered to take their litter with them and put it in a bin. Without vol-unteers and local communities helping to litter pick the cost would be even higher and every pound spent on litter is a pound not being spent on local services (including pothole repairs). Last month many of us joined in the rearranged Great British Spring Clean which was postponed following the dreadful wintry weather in early March. More than 70 litter picks took place across the County and 15 of those were in our area where in spite of the renewed snow, wind and rain, locals have managed to collect over 250 bags of litter. It was warming to see all sorts of people turn up to tidy their local areas and everyone really did feel that they were doing their bit for their local community. This community spirit is something that is clearly strong in our County and something that we can all be proud of - and should leave us all thinking not of what our community can do for us but of what we can do for our community.

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St Mary’s Church, Steeple Ashton

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Keevil CofE Academy Scarecrow Trail Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May 2018During the weekend of the 19th and 20th May, Friends of Keevil School will be hosting its 10th annual Scarecrow Trail, and once again will see 40 fabu-lous scarecrows around the village of Keevil. This year’s theme is ‘A Royal Celebration’ which will see an array of royal scarecrows decorate the village. There are great prizes to be won; most correct answers wins £100 cash and best scarecrow wins £50. A children’s ‘Lego’ themed trail will be available too with fabulous prizes so there’s something for everyone.To take part costs just £3 per entry sheet for the main trail, and £1.50 for the children’s trail.It’s a great, fun, family event. This year will see a bar, BBQ, tea and cakes, locally sourced ice-cream and other food stalls on sale in the school grounds, plus refreshments in the village hall. We’ll also have a tombola, raffle, stalls and games on offer throughout the weekend. The trail is open from 10am – 4pm over the weekend.The event is run entirely by volunteers and all the money raised goes back into Keevil CofE Academy to enhance the children’s learning and experi-ences. Each year we donate 10% of our profits to local charities. Last year this was divided between the Keevil Community Shed team, St Leonard’s Church in Keevil and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.For all our latest news, follow us on Facebook (Keevil Scarecrow Trail).The Friends of Keevil School Scarecrow Committee

Steeple Ashton Village Shop

FROM ONE EXTREME TO ANOTHER – Last month was all about the snow and now we are experiencing what amounts to a heat wave with temperatures reaching 23C and even 24C in some places here in the sunny South! What a change – but is this Spring or early Summer? And will it last? That is the question …DOUGHNUTS – These are delivered every Wednesday and Saturday morning and are proving so popular that no matter how many we order they just fly off the shelf. At just 95p for the jam ones and £1 for the iced ones they are deliciously good value. If you worry that you might miss them, why not pre-order the day before? This system worked very well for the hot cross buns at Easter and gluten-free bread can be ordered in the same way. Call us on 871211 to place an order. REMINDER REGARDING THE SHOP AGM – We hope that share-holders will come to the AGM on Friday the 12th May in the Village Hall. Doors open at 6.30 for drinks and nibbles with the meeting starting at 7pm. The minutes of last year’s AGM are now on the noticeboard in the shop. All shareholders are welcome and if you wish to become one applications forms are available in the shop - £10 per share. The present Committee is willing to stand again but nomination forms are available if you should wish to nominate someone – nominations must be received by Friday 4th May.TASTING TRACKLEMENTS – There are some new chutneys for you to try – we will keep them in the fridge but please feel free to sample – spoons and crackers at the ready in the Coffee Shop. New recipes include Apple and Cider Brandy Chutney, Thai Spice Jelly, Original Onion Marmalade, Seville Orange Breakfast Marmalade, and lastly, my favourite, Fiery Banana Chutney.MAY BANK HOLIDAYS – Monday 7th May is a holiday as is Monday 28th May – the shop will be open from 9.00 until 12.00 on both these days. Caren Felton

STEEPLE ASHTON VILLAGE SHOPANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The AGM will be on Friday the 11th May in the Village Hall. Doors open at 6.30 for drinks and nibbles,with the meeting

starting at 7pm. All shareholders are welcome – if you are not alreadya shareholder, please do consider becoming one. Minutes of last year’s AGM will be in the shop.

From the ChurchwardensNew Vicar Update - We were pleased to learn from the Rural Dean (as this edition of the mag-azine was being produced) that Revd Oliver Learmont will be instituted as our next vicar on Monday 2nd July.RogerMeade 870988 Michael Moore 870280

Important News....

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Fiona Bruce-Smith

for your diaries...The Church Fete will be held

at The Lodge at 3pmon Saturday 23rd June

Safari Supper Fund raising for Dorothy House

and the Conservatives

Friday 15th June This event is an excellent way of

welcoming and meeting newcom-ers to the village. We will start, as usual, at Four Cottages, in Dark

Lane South and then go from house to house for the meal. All are welcome. If you are willing to host a course for 8 people, please let me

know - Sue Geddes - 871412 or Johanna Dix-Perkins on 870584.

Tickets will be availablein the village shop.

Friends of Steeple Ashton Oil Scheme

Changed DateFor the months of April and May only orders for oil need to be placed by the 15th of the month for delivery as usual on the last Thursday. Please email coling-wyrddrugog@gmail.com or ring 01380870119Colin Green

John Aeberhard

The Friends of Steeple AshtonANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGFriday 4th May 2018 7pm - 8pm

At 8pm: A talk by Ben RawlingsThe Use of Raptors in Pest Control

Ben will be bringing along Juno the Barn Owl andHank the Harris Hawk

Cheese and Wine to follow£5 - all welcome

THE FALLEN, 100 YEARS LATER…There are now 29 poppied crosses in an alcove in St Mary’s church commemorating the 100th anniversaries of the deaths of local servicemen in the Great War, each one placed there at the end of a personal memorial service on the actual dates when they were killed all those years ago.

The latest additions were of brothers Lancelot Henry, 28, and Leonard Lionel Griffen, 22, who grew up in Dark Lane North and were killed just two days apart in April 2018. Lancelot fought with the 1st Wiltshire Regiment and fell fighting the Turks in Palestine and his brother, Leonard, a machine gunner with the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment, awarded the Military Medal for gallantry, died in a battle known as Crucifix Corner on the Western front in France.

The memorial service for each soldier begins with the tolling of a bell, one strike for each year of his life, followed by the ringing of another bell one hundred times to mark the hundredth anniversary of his death. This is fol-lowed by a short memorial service, starting with a recital of what is known of their lives and including the poem, The Fallen, (“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old…”) and the haunting tones of the Last Post. After this a candle is lit to burn in the church and a cross placed with the others in our picture.

These services started in November 2014 and will run into 2019. The next Great War casualty from the village to be remembered in this way will be Alfred George Bull on 6 August. All villagers are invited to join the service which will start at 6pm.

Mike and Fiona Bruce-Smith would like to thank the village for all the kind thoughts, messages & cards they have received over the death of their son Alistair Love. On Friday 2nd March, the village felt the full force of the ‘Beast from the East’ and we would especially like to thank all who cleared paths and roadways at the Church, to enable his funeral to take place. It’s times like this that one really appreciate living in such a close community. Thank you all so much

Thank You

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Steeple Ashton WI - April meeting

Alison Evans

At the first meeting of the WI year, the members enjoyed a talk by Ian Maguire on the conservation of the wild owl. Ian is a professional speaker who works widely with schools and zoos. He spoke about the five wild owls that can be seen in the UK, illustrating his talk with impressive photos of the owls. He showed the different types of bird boxes owls will use and of their siting now that the owls’ habitats are being taken from them and of the need to allow areas of long unkempt grass to flourish so that wood mice and other delicious owl food can survive. The competition –an egg decorated as an owl – was won by Rosemary Brett-Green and the raffle was won by Marian Little. The next meeting, on May 9th is the annual “Resolutions Meeting”. The WI has long been a campaigning organisation (Keep Britain Tidy was a WI initiative) This year, the resolution to be debated deals with mental health issues. Each WI will decide what National action should be taken.New members are always guaranteed a warm welcome so come along and give it a try.

FORGET-ME-NOTS-CLUB

Glynnis Oakley (Sec) 01225/775681

Red Cross Collection Week Sunday 6th - Saturday 12th May.If there is any one who would like to help with the collection let Sue Cottle know. It’s a great way to meet and get to know people especially if you are new in the village. Cream tea for the people of the Kadugli district of Sudan. Sunday 19th August. Details later. Sue Cottle

The Beetle Drive held on 21st March made for a happy, and somewhat noisy, afternoon, as members enthusiastically rat-tled their dice and raced to be first to complete their beetle. The Easter Tea and Bingo on 4th April was enjoyed by all, with a raffle prize for everyone, and a delicious buffet tea generously provided by members. The AGM will be held on 2nd May, and the Chairman and Committee very much hope that all members will make a special effort to attend, as we look back on the past year of meetings and events, and look forward to hearing what new speakers, outings and special events are in store in the new Programme. Visitors and new members will be most welcome! Come along to the Vil-lage Hall at 2.30pm on the first or third Wed of each month, and see for yourself what a friendly, relaxed and informal group we are! Don’t miss out!!

“Picture a Church”An enormous “THANK YOU” to all the people who so generously lent their works- of- art and photos for the exhi-bition on April 7th. It was so interest-ing to see them all in juxtaposition, seeing through the older picture the changes in the church over the years – both inside and out. The range of art work showed the great talent of so many local artists.There was a steady trickle of visitors through the day, some from some dis-tance away and a happy chatter as vil-lagers remembered this and that, or enjoyed a coffee.

CONSUMPTIVE CHICA talk by

CAROLYN DAYFriday 8th June7pm for 7:30pm

St Mary’s Church BA14 6EWTickets £5, (from shop, 870119

or at the door)

Rosie Brett Green

Great Hinton Fete Saturday 7th July

2.30pm

Raffle Bottle stall

Plants Cakes

White Elephant Teas and ice creams

Games Dog Show

Entertainment

Further details next month

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RED CROSS COLLECTION WEEKSunday 6th May until the 12th MAY The Red Cross door to door collections around the villages are really important part of their fundraising campaigns. I know that many of you give regularly to many Charities through your bank, but the door to door collections through out the Country help enormously. We have had heard so much press about several of our leading Chari-ties, unfortunately there is always someone who will be dishonest and more unfortunately it is those in senior positions quite often. Overall we must think of the millions of pounds raised by many different Aid Agencies that do get to the those most needy here and abroad. The Red Cross has been in most recent weeks helping out people with Hot drinks, food and blan-kets that have been stranded in the snow Blizzards either at home or on the roads. Red Cross has worked tirerlesly the Grenville Tower Block, the Manchester Bombing and London Bridge. Red Cross have helped in Nepal during terrible flooding in Nepal early 17 in the Carribean after Hurrican Irma. They have helped in Syria, 7 years of war, there are 6 million displaced people in Syria. So please find a few pennies or what ever you can afford when a cheerful face of a Volunteer appears at your door.

A THANK YOU TO MRS. JO CAMPBELLThe flowers arrangers of St. Marys Church would like to thank Jo for all her tireless work she has put in for the past almost 16 years organising the Flower Rota for the Church Year, also ordering and collecting the flowers for all the ladies to do their Christmas arrangements. Thank you Robbie also for helping deliver the flowers. Jo has also been Chair Lady for many committee meetings with Flower Ladies organising Cheese and Wine Parties and Lunches for various Charities, Help the Heros, Water Aid, Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Combat Stress, a Sign for the Church Yard etc also raising enough money to pay for the Christmas Flowers and the Oasis. Jo is stepping down after Christmas and Petra Brown has kindly agreed to organise the Church Flowers with Sue Edwards as her assistant. Many thanks, Jo, for all your help during the past few years. The Flower Ladies

Sue Cottle

Ines wishes to thank the village for all of her Get Well cards and various gifts, after her mishap on the 25th March, she is making good progress but it will be a long job to get back to 100%. Malcolm Crucefix

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St Mary’s Church Flower Ladies

Wedding Flower FestivalJuly 13th; 14th; 15th

Do you have a vintageWedding Dress? Have you still got your wedding

dress? - or your daughter’s dress?Could you lend it for this display in the Church?

Contact Petra Brown 870696nigel987@btinternet.com

We are aiming to decorate the church and recreate the

wedding bouquets from your photographs

ATTENTION ALL YOUNG PEOPLE.If you are under 16 years of age, please read on!

Keevil Fun Committee and St Leonard’s Church Fete Committee are organisingA FAMILY FUN DAY taking place on SATURDAY 7th JULY.

We would like you all to enter ourCRAFT AND PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

This has been advertised in Keevil School, but is open to allyoung people in the surrounding Villages.

The competition is in two sections:1) The PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION has 3 age ranges:

5-8 year olds, 9-12 year olds and 13-16 year olds.The groups are:-

a) My favourite Dinner.b) A special corner of my garden, or near my house.

The photos can be printed up to 10” by 8”. All entries must be clearly marked with name, age and a contact number.

2) The CRAFT COMPETITION also has 3 age ranges as above.The groups are:-

a) Create a garden using dried food, e.g. pasta, seeds, etc. to be displayed on a paper plate, or in a shoe box.

b) Paint a mask that you would wear to a party.Again, all entries to be clearly labelled with name, age and a contact number.

You can have up to 4 entries per person in total.I am willing to accept all entries at the address below

from June 11th - June 29th. The entries will be judged by Keevil residents who specialise in photography or art.

Wiltshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and DyersThe Wiltshire Guild of Spinner, Weaver and Dyers, part of the National Association and one of over 100 Guilds throughout the UK is based in Stee-ple Ashton.Our regular activities are spinning, weaving, felting and any number of other crafts, including patchwork, a sewing bee, beading and braiding.We have regular exhibitions to showcase our work. This year we have a summer sale at our Steeple Ashton premises behind the village shop, at The Textile Studios, 3 St Mary’s School Building, High Street, BA14 6EU on Friday 1st June, Saturday 2nd June and Sunday 3rd June. We will be open from 11am to 5pm each day and refreshments will be available.Our premises are fully accessible with wheelchair ramps to the weaving stu-dios and a stairlift in the main building.For further information about the Guild look at our website www.westwilts-communityweb.com/site/Wiltshire -guild

The “Friends” began the oil scheme as a way of reducing lorry traffic to the vil-lage as well as endeavouring to find a saving in oil prices through the joint bulk order.To be part of this scheme you must be a member of the society (the member-ship fee has now risen to a staggering cost of £2 per member).An additional cost of £2 per household is required to join the scheme. Orders should be of 500lt or more, and they are very good at topping up tanks.It goes without saying that membership to the “Friends” is amazingly worth-while; the oil scheme is an additional benefit for everyone.The aim is to arrange delivery of our bulk order on the last Thursday of the month. Orders need to be in by the third Friday (earlier at Christmas) you can do this by ‘phone, email, note or word of mouth.Colin Green 870119 colingwyrddrugog@gmail.com

26 11

Alison Wilson

STEEPLE ASHTON FILMS (12A)

PADDINGTON 2 (PG)SATURDAY 12 MAY 2018 – 7.30 PM(DOORS OPEN AT 7 PM FOR REFRESHMENTS)AT THE VILLAGE HALL, STEEPLE ASHTON

Winner of numerous awards and receiving virtually all 5* viewer reviews, a film full of charm and just as good as the first! This is one of the many reviews, and says it all! “I was an unexpected fan of the first Paddington movie. I did not watch it in the cinema but purchased the DVD expecting not to enjoy it, but I was definitely proven wrong! When I heard that a sequel was coming, I was extremely excited and hoped it would retain the enchanting magic of the first, and it definitely did, with whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry on top! This movie invoked the child within me and was just a perfect viewing experience! The casting was genius, absolutely superb, featuring many well known British actors, in roles big and small. It was like a gathering of all the best of British, all having the best time together. Hugh Grant was pure bril-liance! (P.S. Watch the credits all the way through for Hugh camping it up to the max!) The imagination that went into this movie, and the skill that managed to put this across to the audience, was second to none! You will find yourself being absorbed into this world and will not want to leave. This movie is where fantasy and reality meet so perfectly. The theme of good versus evil reigned supreme throughout the movie, together with love conquers all and community spirit! I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. Watch it on your own, with your partner or with your family, with your neighbours, you won’t be disappointed! A perfect film in every manner, suitable for all the family, from a newborn, to young adults to 80 years and beyond!” Directed by Paul King, it has a huge cast of the best of British actors includ-ing, Ben Wishaw, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Michael Gambon, Imelda Staunton, Julie Walters, Ben Miller, Jim Broadbent and many more. You will be charmed and delighted by this film.

PS 2nd June for the next film, Darkest Hour

Tickets £6 available from Steeple Ashton Village Shop or can be reserved. Please ring Alison Wilson on 01380 871345.

12

FROM THE ARCHIVES

‘Steeple Ashton, Great Hinton & Semington Newsletter’

In May 1975...

25

The £8 total for Save the Children was indeed a laudable amount – it would today be around £47. And that disappointing turnout didn’t affect Derrick’s altruistic instincts... “Young Derrick Brett” – the eldest son of Rosemary Brett Green – grew up to enter the teaching profession. He is now Headteacher at Okehampton College, West Devon. As Headteacher, he is heavily involved with the char-ity work Okehampton College carries out; they support three charities each year, which are agreed with the students: one local, one national and one international (WaterAid in 2018). In his 20s, after graduating Derrick worked in Indonesia researching a very rare and endangered mammal: the Sumatran rhinoceros. Until last year, he was a governor of Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education – a charity formed in 1826 – and he is a trustee of Okehampton Community Recrea-tion Association, which encourages a range of activities for all age groups, and Okehampton Skills and Sports Trust, a charity seeking to provide facili-ties for young people to start up small businesses.

1324

Steeple Ashton Village Hall Contact DetailsNew Daytime/Work Telephone Number: 01225 703144New Evening/Home Telephone Number: 01225 356196

New Email Address: sandra@topshair.co.ukPayments and booking forms can still be posted to:Moorfield Farm, 2 Church Street, Steeple Ashton

Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 6EWMany thanks, Sandra Stevens

Postal Collectionsin Great Hinton

Mon - Fri4.15pm

Postal Collections in Steeple Ashton

Longs ArmsNewleazeAshtonCommon

4.15pm12noon11.30am

Mon - Fri Saturday10am11am11am

Saturday8.30am

Diary DatesFriday 15th June, Safari SupperSaturday 23rd June, SAVillage FeteSaturday th July, Gt Hinton FeteSaturday 14th July, Film - The Post13/15 July, Wedding FlowersAugust 19th, Sudan Cream Tea22nd September - Acreshort Com-munity Park opening

William LightPainting & Decorating

Carpentry & General Home MaintenanceProfessional & Friendly Service

Tel: 07974 302025 Email: billlight@hotmail.com

Steeple Ashton Natural History Club, March 2018

David Berrett

Derrick also now holds the position of National Secondary Schools’ Repre-sentative on the policy committee of an annual event which has benefitted thousands of youngsters over the past 58 years – an organised challenge which has been close to his heart since his own teenage school days: the Ten Tors.

Derrick Brett – 1975 & today

The Life of Badgers. The interesting and informative short talk topic was presented by Gill Ver-schoyle. Badgers settled permanently in the UK about 10,000 years ago. There is only one species in the UK, the European Badger, although worldwide there are nine different species. They are a wild, social and nocturnal animal living underground in bur-rows called setts and have a life span of 7 or 8 years. They emerge at twilight to forage for food and due to their poor eyesight, leave scent trails to find their way around. The scent is also used to mark their territories which are typically 20 – 50 hectares in size. Setts are amongst the largest and most permanent structures made by any vertebrate and can accommodate up to 35 animals (typically a sett would hold 6-8 badgers though) and have up to 100 metres of tunnels and 40 entrances / exits. They contain chambers and tunnels on different levels with the main chamber being 5-10 metres from the entrance and 3 metres deep. New chambers are dug for each new generation of cubs born. The setts

14 23

are lived in for many years and kept clean as Badgers create their latrine outside in a specially dug hole either near the main entrance or at the edge of the territory as a marker. Badgers are omnivores eating insects, small mammals, berries and fruit but worms form the main part of their diet with a typical badger eating up to 200 in a night.Badgers do not hibernate but they do go into a state of torpor through the winter and live off their body fat when food is in short supply. At one year old badgers can breed, usually between February and May. After fertilisation, they undergo delayed implantation until late December/early January. This allows the birth to happen at the sows’ choosing (like kangaroos and stoats)- to coincide with favourable food availability and temperature. The gestation period is 6 – 8 weeks and typically two cubs are born, *weaned at 12 weeks and they feed for themselves at 5-6 months. More than 60% of cubs die within the first year due to disease or lack of food and being killed by cars. Unusually among mammals, badgers have a low dispersal rate with 36% staying in or near their home sett. Considering that badgers live in social groups they show little cooperative behaviour. For example, sows who have no cubs do not do a great deal to help the mothers raise theirs. Although they do have calls, 16 in all, they do not warn others of danger. Breeding females are top of the hierarchy followed by the other females and then the males although not all groups show this dominance. They do fight amongst themselves by biting each other and most badgers carry the scars on their rumps. This talk was followed by a video made 2008 following the life of a group of badgers in a sett in the Devon countryside narrated by David Attenbor-ough. A book by Timothy Roger was recommended. Minutes thanks to RF. Post scripts. *A few days after our meeting GV. walked near to a large sett near to her home one evening and was excited to hear all sorts of squeak-ings underground that she thought would be new cubs. This talk purposely did not get embroiled in the debate about badger cull-ing, partly because this was covered a few years ago in our debate and there has been no formal analysis of the Gloucestershire cull. Even so we learn that the cull will extend now into Wiltshire. A member noted that hedgehog numbers may have increased due to that cull. Other news items- Birders had noted more bullfinches; linnets on a bird feeder, pheasants in gardens and tree creepers. Next meeting will be June 21st.All news: Penny Aeberhard, 01380 870602, penny.aeberhard@btinternet.com or David Culverhouse, 01380 871621, 42anchor@gmail.com

Engagement with the CommunityOne of my lesser known retirement activities is maintaining a website for Trowbridge Talking News. Have you heard of them? Well, did you know that free help is at hand for anyone who feels isolated from their community due to being blind or partially sighted and so has dif-ficulty reading a newspaper? Those who meet these criteria are eligible to be part of the Talking News programme which arranges for a summary of the “Wiltshire Times” to be sent free of charge each week on a USB memory stick so that they can hear news about the community in the comfort of their own home. A player for the memory stick is also provided free of charge, all the listen-ers have to do is send the USB stick back in the pre-paid pouch provided. The backbone of the service are the Readers and Duplicators who operate the portable equipment in their own homes. The Readers choose news and interesting articles from the Wiltshire Times and dictate them onto a USB memory stick. Then the Duplicators carry out the more administrative task of arranging for copies of it to be despatched in pouches to the clients each week. All Readers and Duplicators give their time voluntarily and there is always a need for more volunteers to share the load equally, to provide cover for holidays or illness and ensure that the service continues 52 weeks of the year. Full training and mentoring is given to all new Readers and Duplica-tors. If you feel that you could give some of your time to help others by being either a Reader or a Duplicator on a regular basis, please contact the Secre-tary. Further details of the service provided can be found on the website trow-bridgetalkingnews.org.uk or contact the Secretary, Chris, as below:Chris Williams, Secretary TTN, 10 Clipsham Rise, Trowbridge, BA14 9DG( 07528 841930, ttnenquiries@gmail.com )

Photographs of the Easter Flowers by Kathryn Faulkner

1522

Alison Mobile HairdresserHave your hair done in the comfort

of your own home.competitive rates.

25 years experience in Womens,Mens and Childrens hairdressing.

Call Allison on 07974125840or 01225 519755

Consumptive ChicOn Friday June 8th at 7:30 St Mary’s Church is privileged to host Caro-lyn Day giving her talk “Consumptive Chic”. Carolyn is a medical historian, she teaches at Furman University USA. She is a published writer, her book “Consumptive chic” ( a really good read) deals with the effect consumption had on women’s fashion –and dropsy on Men’s.Carolyn is a vivacious young woman with an infectious enthusiasm for her subject as well as a delight in the tale of our own Anne Beach. Bryan and I spent an enjoyable day with her last summer when we were invited by Flavia at Keevil Manor to visit Anne Beach’s home and the room in which she was forced to stay. Carolyn was thrilled with the day and volunteered to come back this summer to give us a talk. She will have a busy few weeks in Britain, researching and lecturing so we are lucky to be included in her schedule. Her talk will be fun as well as informative. It certainly shouldn’t be missed. Rosemary Brett-Green

Eric LépineManaging DirectorTel: 07787 557599

Email: ericlepine@silkwise.co.ukWebsite: www.silkwisecatering.co.uk

Loose Covers and Curtains

Individually made to your own specificationsFree estimatesSue Hocking01225 8657060774 8780985sue.hocking@talktalk.net

Independent FuneralDirectors44b Castle StreetTrowbridge, WiltsBA14 8AYTel: 01225 775259email:info@elizabethsnell.co.uk

A new organisation in the West of England is being launched in May to provide direct and consistent services to blind and partially sighted people across Bristol, Bath, South Gloucester, Swindon and Wiltshire. Vision West of England will work closely with key partners including Visionary, other local sight loss charities, national organisations, statutory bodies and most importantly blind and partially sighted people on develop-ing services that respond sensitively and positively to the needs of visually impaired people and those at risk of losing their sight. The organisation is receiving support and advice from Thomas Pockling-ton Trust and Wiltshire Sight. There will be two hubs in Bristol and Wilt-shire where direct services will be based. Vision West of England will work with partners towards developing a single point of contact for blind and partially sighted people across this area within the South West region, ensuring that visually impaired people have a voice. It will also work closely with Visionary, the local sight loss mem-bership organisation, to align with their ongoing initiative to develop and provide good practice guidance for the delivery of services across the whole of the UK. Leanne Hubbard, currently CEO of Wiltshire Sight, will take up the post of Interim CEO of Vision West of England. The team can be contacted at info@visionwestofengland.org.uk or via 01380 723682

A new vision for Visually Impaired People

16 21

Village DiaryThe Newsletter prints a Diary of Events each month.

If you are organising activities in the village, you may wish to contact me to avoid a clash of events. Helen

Regular events in Steeple Ashton Village Hall, unless otherwise stated

Wednes-

Tuesday

Friday

Monday Ballroom Dance Classes; 7.00pm. Tel: 07917 573831Steeple Rocks; 7.30pm. Venue, call 01380 871890

Rainbows; 5 - 6pm. Amy Lester: 871785 0r email - lester201@btinternet.com. Brownies; 5.30 - 7pm. Term Time. Carolyn Collis: 01380 870379 Guides; 7 - 8.30pm.

8am Prayers in St Mary’s ChurchBaby and Toddler Group; 9.30am - 11.30am1st and 3rd Wednesdays; Forget-Me-Not Club, 2.30pm.2nd Wednesday; Women’s Institute, 7.30pm

YOGA; 10.30am - 12noonWalking group meets at the Longs Arms; 2.30pmFriday Club; 3.45pm - 5.30pm, Term Time. Contact 01380 870013.

Mobile Library; 11.00-12noon, Steeple Ashton, The Green

May

Wed

Sat

9th

Newsletter deadline

Concert, Bradford-on Avon, 7.30pm see p29

Dance! Dee Dee Wilde, 10.30am contact 01380 870 489

Spinners, Weavers, Dyers

23rd

Thursday

Friends AGM, VH, 7pm

12th

22nd

Concert, St James’ Church, 7.30pm see p28

Fri

4th Fri

11th12th

Forget-Me-Nots, AGM, 2.30pm, VH2nd Wed

6/12 week

Sat

Fri

8th

Sat

12th Sat

Shop AGM, VH, 6.30pm

Concert & Workshop, Edington Priory Church

June

Film, Paddington 2, VH, 7.30pm

Red Cross Collection

14th Mon

19th

Talk, Consumptive Chic

Tues

Sat3rd

Main Parish Council AGM, VH

1720

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18

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19

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