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Remember the Rainbow!! The word “myth” gets a bad press these days – we talk about “urban myths”, and we use
the term to mean something that’s just a figment of someone’s wild imagination – something we should just dismiss out of hand as untrue, unreliable and of no value. Actually, in the real meaning of the word, a myth may or may not be factually totally accurate, but that’s not the point – the crucial thing is that it tells us something deep and important that would be hard to express in any other way. The story of Noah is a good example. It’s no accident that this is probably the Bible story that more people know than any other. It’s a story that catches the imagination of even the smallest child, but it’s also a story that resonates with adults – particularly at a time like this, when so many of us have been hunkered down in our own little private arks, trying to keep ourselves and others safe from a tempest that may be threating our livelihoods, our mental and physical well-being, and maybe even our lives.
The story of Noah has something to tell us – whether it’s the child’s picture-book version with tigers and kangaroos and hippos, or just a smaller, domestic, picture of a man, guided by God, trying to keep his family and his livestock safe. Noah listened to hear where God was guiding him, he trusted God to show him what to do, and he was rewarded, when the floods had subsided, by the sight of the glorious rainbow – beauty coming out of troubles, and a reminder tht God had always been with him as he went through them and would never forsake him in the future. That’s the truth behind the myth – and that’s the reason why the symbol of the rainbow speaks so clearly to us at this difficult time: the truth that hardships can be weathered together if we care for one another, that God will never abandon us to deal with them alone, and that there is always hope for a brighter future.
We’ve taken the symbol further this time, though – we hold out the promise of the rainbow, not just to those safe in their individual arks, but also to those who venture out in tiny and sometimes fragile canoes, on to choppy and treacherous waters, for our sake. We give thanks for their courage, and we trust that – like Noah and his family – we can all come through this together in trust and hope. With love Sue Rodd Team Vicar
"Do have a look at Sue Rodd’s lovely retelling of the story of Noah’s Ark, available on Vimeo, https://vimeo.com/416894981 which was filmed by Paul Trickey and also available on our Whitton Team website (http://whittonteam.org.uk).” Front Cover Duckling Rescue in Ramsbury - see p. 9
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Letters to the Editor
Dear Vanya
During this time of isolation and lockdown, and like so many others, I’ve found myself doing jobs that I’d previously been ignoring. Last weekend I found myself surrounded by piles of old photographs which I was sorting through – a mixture of family photos and those depicting village events and once familiar faces. Rather than putting them away, sharing them with others seemed to be a logical step, but, quite remarkably, neither Facebook, or any of the other social media channels had any pages specific to the sharing of reminisces of Ramsbury, so I set one up, and named it ‘Bygone Ramsbury’. I know I’m not alone in feeling immensely proud of growing up in Where do babies come from? such a tremendous village such as Ramsbury, but I’m also aware that I’m certainly not I was delighted to read Susie Whimster’s wonderful Horticultural Society column (on unique in having such special and fond memories of those times either. Perhaps it’s page 10) which focuses on the humble therefore not surprising (although it’s surgooseberry. prised me!) that within a week, the page gained 300+ members. The stories, pictures It reminded me that when my second son and memories shared have been fascinating. was born in 2000, my work colleagues Some old friendships have been rekindled clubbed together and had delivered to us a baby gooseberry bush and bottle of Cham- and a few of those who have moved away pagne with the note: “Everybody knows that have reappeared. All I did was start the page, babies are found under gooseberry bushes”. but it’s the 300+ people who have brought I won’t dig too far into the murky origins of this Facebook page to life. If you’ve got access to Facebook and would like to join us that saying, but it was a lovely gesture and Kieran’s gooseberry bush (pictured) has now on a stroll down Memory Lane, or to discover what the village you’re now living in been providing us with a wonderfully tasty used to be like, then search for us at ‘Bygone crop for almost 20 years. Ramsbury’. Vanya Many thanks, David Hunter 2
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Dear Vanya,
During the first week or so of lockdown I was walking around the village on my daily
around the country doing the same for charity the plan came together. Originally, I hoped to raise £300, but so far I have raised more than £885 for NHS Charities Together exercise seeing lots of families spending thanks so my lovely friends and neighbours time together and wishing there was some- being so happy to get involved. thing I could do to help in these strange This has been a wonderful project, keeping times. A friend then asked me to take a pic- me busy (and sane) during lockdown and ture of her and her family on her husband's raising some money for our precious NHS. birthday — from a safe distance — and But it's now time to start thinking about the when I saw a couple of other photographers future and getting back to work so I am not going to be taking anymore bookings. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ elizabethwatts2020 Liz Watts Ramsbury
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You can see more pictures on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ elizabethwattsphotography 3
Counting my Blessings in a Covid World I was counting down the days until my annual visit to my mother, in New Zealand. The tickets had been booked months earlier, but then came the flu from Wuhan. As the situation became more grave in China, I was reading the runes and believed it was only a matter of time until travel would be restricted. And, so it proved to be.
while I was in the air, the New Zealand Government stepped up a gear and effectively slammed shut the doors to the country. At that moment, on March 15th, there were just 6 cases of the Wuhan Flu — newly-named Covid-19 — in the whole of New Zealand, but now anyone arriving into the country would have to isolate for two weeks. In fact, since then, New Zealand Government’s — and particularly the Prime However, I did manage to Minister Jacinda Ardern’s deget my trip to NZ just in time. My mother, now 87, cisive approach has been universally acclaimed as ‘the and I strolled along sunlit beaches, enjoying shopping right way to fight the virus trips and lunches out and with total lockdown’. It was serious for New Zealand as generally eating too many it effectively closed down cakes and jovially elbowbumping the neighbours. tourism, one of its main revBut things were about to get enue earners, but the stringent lockdown and ‘track a whole lot more serious when it came to returning and trace’ operations quickly managed to follow every home to Wiltshire, mid March. The pandemic was in virus case. full attack and a few days beI arrived home and waited fore my return, the first leg of flight home was suddenly nervously for two weeks to see if I had picked up anycancelled. I did manage to thing nasty on the flight… book another and during a As far as I know I didn’t… slightly-scary six hours in Singapore’s Changi Airport, or if I did, I hadn’t noticed it. it occurred to me that the UK might shut its borders before I even made it home! My mother has been staying indoors or pottering around her suburban garden — not That’s not so far fetched… 4
much different — she relied on the kindness of neighbours to do her shopping and errands, so quickly got to grips with elements of modern life such as mobile phone face-to-face chats and not using cash.
We are so very lucky to be living in such a beautiful rural area. My husband has been able to work effectively from home — and is likely to continue to do so for a while yet — the children have quickly adapted to the on-line work from University and secondary school. We have had the countryside to get into, encountering almost no one during our walks, and I can get to the supermarket, following the new precautionary social distancing rules. However, I have friends whose small businesses, painstakingly built up over years, have been utterly destroyed by the lockdown, trashing their livelihoods; others who have been ‘furloughed’ — surely the word of the year — and now must cope in much reduced circumstances and with uncertain futures and looming unemployment. I’ve used Ocado deliveries regularly for some years, and initially continued as normal
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until one friend, who was particularly upset and stressed by the effort to get her elderly isolating parents to engage with online shopping, told me she thought, it was verging on immoral to hog these valuable online shopping ‘slots’ which were needed more urgently by others who were completely housebound.
leave parcels on the doorstep and I wave and shout my sincere thanks. Deliveries are certainly not taken for granted any more and these few deliveries become moments of heightened excitement in our otherwise fairly humdrum days.
And so, I am counting my blessings. I was able to see my mother, who is safe and Which had me thinking. If healthy in New Zealand, not groceries, should I exwhere the virus is already on pect anything other ‘non-es- the wain. Kind neighbours sential’ items to be are looking out for her, delivered… book shops are when we children are far, far shut; was it acceptable to ask away; we are all well and someone to ‘risk their lives’ probably have not had the to get me the latest bestvirus; I’ve been exercising to seller. I needed some new Joe Wicks every morning summer walking sandals. with my daughter and we are Should I do this? Which actually feeling fitter; we’ve shop to support? The one I enjoyed many long family would hate to see go out of walks and the (mostly) fanbusiness? tastic weather. All the children are home and coping However, as my husband better than I had feared with pointed out, courier delivery the social isolation, thanks people are quite likely selflargely to the ‘HouseParty’ employed in the ‘gig’ econand ‘Zoom’ Apps. We have omy, so are probably also reconnected with old delighted to still have work friends on phone and tablet. and an income. They can Embracing this technology
Whitton Ways Magazine
Editor Vanya Body 01488 686834
Distributor - Ramsbury Ethel Hutchings 01672 520278
Advertising Patrick Springfield 01672 520086
Distributor - Froxfield Vanya Body 01488 686834
Designer Julia Goodman 01488 680721
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Distributor - Chilton Foliat Ronna Bourne 01488 684497
has never been an issue for us, but I recognise it can be for many — particularly older people — and this means a far greater levels of loneliness. But for us, it has helped enormously with ensuring our life in isolation is not quite that isolated after all.
Now we are taking tentative steps to coming out the other side of pandemic and, to me, the future seems actually much less certain. No summer holiday; no meals in restaurants; possibly no school until September, possibly no University even after that (some are already apparently pulling the plug on their autumn term). Who knows when I will see my mother again! I reject the concept of this being ‘the new normal’. Let’s stop using that phrase altogether and work to return to some better sort of normal very soon!
Vanya Body
The copy date for the July issue of Whitton Ways is Friday 12th June. Please send copy to: Vanya Body The New House, Brewhouse Hill, Froxfield, SN8 3LD Email: Phone:
whittonways@gmail.com 01488 686834
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Locked down in Myanmar
basic foods in them. They deliver these to people who need them most including the children and families who are known by the Yangon Pavement Picnic.
Back in March, the Joy Centre family in Yangon, Myanmar found themselves with just 12 hours to find a new home!
been actively supporting people who are most affected by the lockdown. In Yangon, many people who are forced to stay at home have no savings. They work It was a challenging time, but every day to find enough thanks to a prayer answering money for their daily needs. God and the kindness of a So, with no work they have Burmese couple they have a no food! temporary home until October. Finding a house while The Joy Centre family has the city is in lockdown is im- been making Bags of Blesspossible, so Tory and Ma Jar ing — which have rice, have had to take faith to a beans, oil, eggs and other new level and not even think about trying to find a new home. Instead they, with the children, have spent the lockdown keeping cool in buckets of water when temperatures soar to over 40 degrees!
They have also been packaging up soaps and masks to deliver door-to-door to over one thousand homes in one of the city’s poorest areas. As well as giving these things, they have been translating WHO recommendations so that people know how to take precautions and protect themselves from the virus. No day is the same, but one thing does remain the same! When news of the virus broke in January, the Joy Centre family started gathering together every morning to pray! They pray for doctors and nurses, for all those sick or suffering at this time, for world leaders, for scientists and they particularly remember everyone back in the UK!
Tory Gordon
Like many children in the UK, they have been doing PE with Joe Wicks and they have been enjoying drawing with Rob Biddulph on YouTube. They have also
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To the Rescue!
By Isla Miah (9) and Louis Miah (7) One of the most exciting things to happen to us in
cross Newtown Road, but we didn’t make it that far‌
Halfway down the hill, we came across the mother duck quacking very loudly. For a short while we did not know what was wrong, but we soon noticed that she only had 4 baby ducklings stood beside her.
We quickly noticed that 11 of her ducklings had fallen down the slips in a drain and they were quacking back to lockdown was helping a their mother. We managed to mother duck and her duck- lift the drain cover and with lings get safely to the River the help of our neighbours, Kennet. It was a normal day we used a net and a box to in lockdown: taking lessons fish the ducklings out of the on google classroom, joining drain one-by-one and rezoom meetings and playing in the garden. From a bedroom window, we watched a mother duck waddle down The Paddocks with 15 ducklings trailing behind her. We went outside to help her
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turned them safely to the mother duck. We followed them all down the hill to the river. At first, they went the wrong way and we had to stop cars on Newtown Road, but with our help, they found the river in the end. What an exciting day saving ducklings from a drain!!!
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Ramsbury Horticultural Society Please check the Horticultoes as the plants come tural Society’s website (ramsinto flower buryhortsoc.co.uk) for • Sow runner beans into rich updates on the plans for an ground at the base of tall alternative Open Gardens on supports 21 June. • Make successional sowings of salad crops and carrots Jobs to do in June • Plant out squashes, courWith the gardening year now gettes and outdoor cucumin full spate here are some bers and tomatoes jobs to be getting on with • Plant out sweet corn for June: 40cms (16ins) apart in Ornamentals blocks rather than in rows, • Deadhead early annuals, as this aids pollination by perennials and repeatthe wind flowering roses regularly to • Protect soft fruit from encourage more flowers birds • Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as weigela, Gooseberries deutzia, choisya, and philadel- Gooseberries seem symbolic phus straight after flowerof early British summertime ing with such delights as goose• Take softwood cuttings of berry fool or gooseberry deciduous shrubs crumble – or even a tart • Sow biennials such as for- gooseberry sauce to eat with get-me-nots, sweet oily fish! They are native to williams, wallflowers, Can- northern Europe and thrive terbury bells (campanula in our coldest areas, and medium) and foxgloves now have been cultivated for at for flowering next year. least 300 years. Picked in • Removed dead flowers May they are mouth-puckerfrom camellias and rhodo- ingly sour, but left on the dendrons bush to ripen they will be • Pull away non-flowering sweet enough to eat as a shoots from the base of dessert fruit. They are easy pinks (Dianthus), to trim to grow, and will produce and pot up as cuttings for fruit for many years even if planting out next year left unfed and unpruned, al• Divide bearded iris after though some care and attenflowering tion will significantly • Check pot plants regularly increase their yield! You can for whitefly infestation and buy gooseberries in supertreat with insecticides or a markets but the advantage of biological control growing your own is that you Vegetables have a huge variety of culti• Remove side shoots from vars to choose from, and a cordon tomatoes much bigger range of colour • Start harvesting early pota- and taste. 10
There are two main types of gooseberry: culinary or dessert. The former have tougher skins, and are too sour to eat raw so are used for jams as they need large amounts of sugar to make them palatable, and these are the ones that the shops sell. Dessert gooseberries tend to be red, have thinner skins and are much sweeter. If you have limited space, then it is probably best to grow dessert varieties and harvest some of the unripe fruit in May for cooking while leaving the rest to ripen for eating in July.
Invicta
Gooseberries prefer an open sunny site, but they will tolerate some shade, although the plants tend to become lax and sprawling in heavy shade. They tolerate alkaline soils better than many fruits, like free-draining but moisture-retentive soil, and a spot with good air movement around the plants helps to keep mildew and sawfly at bay. If you’re growing them as individual bushes, plant them 1.5 to 1.8m (5–6ft)
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apart. They appreciate some well-rotted manure when planted, and a mulch and top-dressing each spring with a potassium-rich fertiliser. You can also train them as cordons, in which case they should be planted 30–45cms (12–18ins) apart.
Choose two- to three-yearold bushes with a well-balanced head of three to five main branches and a clear stem of 10–15cm (4-6in) and plant them as barerooted plants in October/November or February/March to avoid the worst of the frosts, at the same depth as the old soil mark on the main stem (this shows up as a change between a darker part of the stem (below the old soil level) and lighter-coloured wood, which was above soil level). Make the planting hole wide enough to take the roots, and spread these out to cover as much of the hole as possible. Backfill, adding some rotted manure or compost to the soil, and then firm the soil around the plant.
any remaining higher side shoots back to one or two buds.
tion and prune for an open shape to keep air In year 2 and following circulating. years, in winter shorten lead- Sawfly larvae ers of bush plants by a third, can defoliate the plants comand cut back side branches pletely if left unchecked, so inspect the plants regularly for the caterpillar-like larvae, and remove and squash them. Recommended varieties are: ‘Careless’ – large fruits that turn transparent when ripe ‘Invicta’ – green cooker, big crops, mildew resistant
Whitesmith
to two buds. Remove any branches growing into the centre of the bush, as the aim is to produce an open ‘goblet’-shaped plant, and take out any dead wood and low branches growing outwards from the base of the plant.
‘Leveller’ – yellow dessert variety with delicious flavour ‘Pax’ – sweet, red berries on almost spine-free stems
Whinham’s Industry
In year 2 for cordon plants, from early June to mid-July cut all young side shoots to 5 If you’re growing gooseber- leaves, and tie the growing tip to the cane. After the ries as bushes, in the first spring after planting select 5 leaves have fallen in autumn, ‘Whinham’s Industry’ – red main stems and prune them prune those same side dessert, large sweet berries, back to 15–20cms (6–8ins), shoots back to one or two removing all the other stems. buds and cut back the tip by shade-tolerant and copes with heavy soil a third. If you’re planting cordons, prune the tips back by a ‘Whitesmith’ – a Mildew and sawfly are the quarter when you plant them, cutting to just above a two common problems with dessert/cooker with white fruits gooseberries. To minimise bud, and remove all side shoots that are 15cms (6ins) the chance of mildew, Susie Whimster or lower from the ground as choose mildew-resistant varieties, plant in an open locawell as any suckers, and cut
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Methodist Church News As we look forward to seeing when lockdown will change, when will our church be open again. I feel our online services will become a new way of looking at church, the way we become part of our church groups. Our Methodist Church services are available through contacting our Minister Revd Stephen Skinner by email rev.stephen.skinner3@gmail.com
Coffee Morning at the Lychgate As we look forward to when we can meet again, how is the best way of spending our time, have we learned a new craft or hobby, will we bring it along as a talking point when we return to meet again to share with our friends. Prayers of thanksgiving
For the health workers tending the seriously ill. For the scientists working on a vaccination.
Axford Angle Hello Readers,
For the supermarket workers, hygiene sanitation providers. For the good news stories of recoveries and effective planning. For the singing from balconies by locked down communities. For the recognition that isolation doesn’t need to mean loneliness.
For the notes through letterboxes offering help and support. For the internet and telephones and technology that connects. For the awakened appreciation of what is truly important. God take care of all of this and much more. Blessings Your senior Church Steward Julie Coe
By Niéve Anstey Aged 13½
I hope you are all okay in lockdown. It’s been very strange and so quiet in Axford.
Apart from the Thursday Clap for the NHS where people have been out clapping with their hands, banging saucepans and there has even been music from a trombone player too, keeping us all entertained. Friday, 7 May was VE day and it was so
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For the researchers analysing data and identifying trends. For the media outlets working to communicate.
lovely to see all the bunting around the village and people paying their respects with the 2-minute silence. I am lucky not to have experienced war in my lifetime.
The virus will be a part of history that I can remember and talk about first-hand but for the last surviving generation who lived through the second world war, I hope that we will keep their stories alive and keep remembering them. 13
Big Screen Cinema in the Memorial Hall Ramsbury Roxy has been suspended during this Covid 19 situation.
We look forward to seeing you all again at our film nights as soon as possible. Please let us have suggestions for films you would like to see in our future programmes. Contact us on roxy@ramsbury.org
The Post Office Ramsbury Flowers
Toys and Games
Cash Point facilities Greetings Cards Personal Banking
Dry Cleaning
Foreign Currency
Fresh Milk/Bread
Tel: 01672 520229
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salon the
Book appointments on 01672 521110
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Ramsbury Memorial Hall AGM The AGM of the Hall is usually held in May. Obviously this has not been possible this year, but the Trustees hope to hold an AGM later in 2020, or early in 2021. Notices will be put in Whitton Ways and the Village Diary, and posters will be displayed around the village, as usual.
The Hall, like all public buildings, is currently closed. The Hall Trustees wish to reassure all Hall users and residents of Ramsbury that the Hall has sufficient financial reserves to carry it through these unprecedented times. When life returns to normal our Memorial Hall will be waiting - freshly painted - to welcome back all
the activities that make Ramsbury such a very special place to live.
If anyone would like to see the accounts for 2019/2020 they should contact the Hall’s Treasurer, Neil Keen, on neil.keen@edmont.co.uk.
Rosalie Winter, Clerk to the Trustees
PICTURE QUIZ IN AID OF TRELOAR’S The winner of the Picture Quiz was Betty Herbertson of Ramsbury with 49 correct answers out of 50. Answers are available in Ramsbury Post Office or by emailing Hilary Hicklin at hilextra@yahoo.co.uk. Thanks to everyone who took part.
The Montana clematis on the wall of St Mary’s church. It’s never flowered like this before!!
The Flyer - Greener Transport
Surgery transport every Tuesday and Thursday. We regret that shopping trips to Hungerford, Marlborough, Newbury and all excursions are suspended until further notice. . For news about Surgery transport or further information please visit www.ramsburyflyer.org or call Janet on 01672 520682.
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Across Wiltshire and the UK, groups of home sewers have spontaneously gathered together to sew sets of ‘scrubs’ for NHS staff. These are the very simple vneck top and loose-fitting trousers normally worn by surgical staff, but which are now are being adopted across many more areas of hospitals due to the need to
the Great Western Hospital. Laura Coulson, Head of Facilities at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says that the hospital has been gratefully receiving homemade scrubs from a number of sources. “We have been very fortunate to receive quite a large number and alongside our
warm, so all staff on the COVID areas have been wearing scrubs as well, and it’s a lot more comfortable.
“Clearly the amount from our laundry provider does not cover this so the generous donations have been amazing to help and support staff. Doctors who would usually enter wards and see patients in their own clothes increase the level of personal usual scrubs and, although have also needed to wear protection for all staff work- we are doing quite well, we scrubs which previously we ing in close contact with pa- are happy to receive more haven’t accommodated — as tients where Covid spread due to the ease for some you can imagine there are might be an issue. staff in key areas they find in around 500 plus doctors (not wearing these below their all on at the same time) that There are several initiatives PPE,” she says. need to be supported. across Wiltshire feeding into “So far, we have probably received over 500 sets from Over at Aldbourne, Janet five generous groups. We Spath is pulling together a team of sewers and is keen tend to give out three sets to to hear from others in Rams- a staff member to use as bury and surrounding viluniform. The groups have lages who might like to get been very generous and also involved. This group is sup- made laundry bags to allow porting the Swindon Scrub staff to put their dirty scrubs Hub and its scrubs are being in the laundry bags to take distributed to GP surgeries home and wash altogether,” and nursing homes as well as adds Laura. the GWH. The Scrub Hub can provide material, but is The Great Western does also looking for donations of have daily deliveries of “All the scrubs we receive fabrics — plain but not too scrubs from its own laundry are being used at the hospipale in colour. Each set of provider, which normally tal, but fully aware these scrubs takes about 5 metres support theatres and mater- groups are supporting care of fabric, so unwanted duvet nity units. homes, surgeries and other covers and sheeting works care sectors.” well. For Swindon Scrub “As you can imagine with all Hub contact Janet Spath on the PPE staff are expected Laura says that whilst pat01672 540 937 or to wear, being in the uniterns are great and fun for janetspath@btinternet.com form and PPE on top, it gets the children’s areas of the
Scrubbing up our sewing skills for the NHS
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Whitton Ways
It’s a strange time for us all to rethink our lives and get into a new routine of not only what we do but the way we do it. Some of our ladies are now enjoying venturing out to the garden centres but for some of us that is still a restriction. At home, our gardens are positively blooming with pride following a few weeks of glorious sunshine and all those hours we never seemed to have had before to spend tending, weeding, planting and just enjoying. Others are ‘doing their bit’ for the NHS and care workers as this piece from Bridget Warr explains:
“Like so many of us, being “confined to barracks” has meant that my work level reduced and I had spare time and energy. I heard that people were volunteering to sew scrubs, caps, masks and linen bags for medics and care workers and immediately saw this as a way I could make a very small contribution to those amazing people who are helping us fight Covid 19.
Chilton Foliat WI
Sewing scrubs for Wiltshire liver and collect as, in the current situation, I emerge from the house very rarely. Eventually I found Sew Scrubs For Wiltshire and Lucy and Lara Till who do a great job getting their 100 volunteers across Wiltshire sewing to order.
They have responded to requests for scrubs and other sewn equipment from two hospitals and several care homes across the county and the requests keep coming in. As I write (at the end of April), my tiny contribution has been seven sets of scrubs. The first set took me thirteen hours and ages on Zoom and ‘phone to a very patient seamstress friend, but having once got the hang of it, (aided by a slight simplification of the pattern used,) I find I can turn a set out between three and a half and four hours (including time for my propensity to make mistakes!). I enjoy the therapy of sewing and the feeling that I am doing something that will be useful, if only in a small way. And it beats housework!
If you want to talk this through, It took a few days of searching please contact me at the internet to find an organisation that would be prepared to de- bridgetwarr@hotmail.com. If
you don’t want to sew, but have any spare suitable fabric, we can put it to good use.”
Sew Scrubs for Wiltshire has a Go Fund Me page and really need donations so that we can keep buying fabric as well: please help support this good cause: it costs £1000 for fabric for 100 scrub sets and we want to order at least this much each week. https://www.gofundme.com /manage/sew-scrubs-forwiltshire Our WI newsletter is going to become a monthly edition in which we hope members will continue to send in details of what they are doing and giving helpful hints for gardening or DIY as well as favourite recipes or an activity they wish to share with others. These newsletters will be added to the WI page on the village web site so do take a look. www.chiltonfoliat.com . We will be back... until then please, stay safe.
Liz Outridge
hospitals, to maintain a pro- metre) — so not too thin — fessional, clinical appearance, and any colour (preferably plain fabrics are preferred. not patterned) except ‘hospital blue’, so they do not mix She adds that the scrubs them up with the scrubs should be sewn from fabric provided by the hospital own which are 65% polyester laundry supplier. There are 35% cotton; can be washable many sewing patterns and at 60c, and are at least tutorials on YouTube and 115gsm (grams per square across the internet.
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£10.00 per hour, including Heating in Winter For bookings contact Sarah Williamson on 01672 520161 (If leaving a message please provide a landline number whenever possible)
Kevin W Nunn Interior and Exterior
Painter and Decorator High standard of work
Providing a stimulating and nurturing environment for all children aged 2.5-4 years, 5 days a week. Led by a qualified teacher and experienced childcare professionals, Ramsbury Pre-School is the perfect place to start your child’s learning adventure.
Breakfast Club (Mon to Fri 8-9am) and Afterschool Club (Tues, Wed and Thurs 3-6pm) also available. Call now to arrange a visit: 01672 520901 www.ramsburypreschool.org.uk Back Lane, Ramsbury, Marlborough SN8 2QH
01488 657898 07979 481 181 liverpoolfc.kn@gmail.com 35 Laylands Green, Kintbury, Hungerford, Berks RG17 9UB
BROWN & CLEMENS
Domestic appliance repairs Washing machines, dishwashers, cookers. Established in 1972 40 years of local service. Please call:
01672 511077 or 01635 528058
AREA SWEEP
A Professional Chimney Sweep Service The Ravensbury Players - Ramsbury’s Drama Group New Members always welcome Including Actors, Backstage and Front of House Contact Chris Perkins
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Ramsbury WI
Here we are with another month gone by, and the country is making tentative “baby steps” back to normality. Realistically it will be many months before it is possible, or indeed sensible, to hold anything like a normal WI meeting. But each time two of us meet in the street, or have a socially distanced cup of tea in a garden, we must do it in the spirit of WI. As WI women we know that we can get through this.
Oven Roasted Ratatouille with Sausages - serves 4
Ingredients • 2 red, yellow or orange peppers, deseeded and cut into long strips • 1 aubergine, cut into 1” cubes • 1 or 2 courgettes, cut into thick slices • 2 onions, cut into thick slices • 2 tbsp olive oil • 8 sprigs of fresh rosemary (if you have it) • 1 pack of cheap cherry tomatoes Mary and I continue to be on the end of a phone • 12 chipolata sausages call or email if anyone wants a chat, or if you have • About ⅓ of a loop of chorizo, cut into slices any suggestions for ways that members can keep (optional) • 1 tbsp tomato puree in touch over the next few months (preferably • 1 chicken stock cube not computer based, as not everyone has the technology). I will keep members informed of any Method new developments by email or phone. Put the peppers, aubergine, courgettes and onion As I have not been rushing off to meetings, I have into the roasting tin. Drizzle over the olive oil and had far more “proper meals” than usual over the toss the vegetables so they are coated. Lay the last two months. Here is an adaptation of an old rosemary sprigs on top and roast at 200c, gas mark 6 for 20 minutes. Waitrose recipe that you might like to try. It makes a tasty supper and creates very little washTake the tin out of the oven. Remove the roseing up. You do need a large, heavy roasting tin. mary sprigs & discard. Stir in the cherry tomatoes. Place the chipolatas and slices of chorizo on top of the vegetables, then return to the oven for 15 minutes. Mix the tomato puree and crumbled stock cube with a bit more than ¼ pint boiling water in a mug. (Never mix tomato puree in a plastic jug because it will discolour the jug.) Take the tin out of the oven and pour in the stock mixture. Return to the oven for a further 10 mins at 220c, gas mark 7. Serve with boiled new potatoes, jacket potatoes, rice or crusty bread.
There were many signs of economic downturn
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I would like to finish this month on a personal note. I want to thank all the WI members and other friends who made my 70th birthday in April so special. Despite the lockdown and poor weather on the day, it is a birthday I will always look back on with great happiness. Proper celebrations will be held as soon as life returns to something like normal.
Rosalie Winter
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I have six routes I have been walking over the last couple of months to get my daily exercise, and my daily connection with nature. One of those walks takes me from Froxfield straight up Bird Watching Brewhouse Hill and with Ted Smith along to Little Bedwyn, returning along the canal to The Pelican and then along the A4 past the new Froxfield Nature Reserve (more about that another time — the species list is already growing!) and home.
Lockdown Birding in Froxfield
I'd like to talk about a very short stretch of that walk, basically from the top of Brewhouse Hill to the junction down to Little Bedwyn. This is agricultural land — with many delights for the birder. The woods at the top of the hill are full of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Whitethroats just now — with a welcome Garden Warbler putting in an appearance at the weekend — but it is the open country that attracts the speciality birds. Red Kites abound up here, particularly when the farmer is ploughing the fields.
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Skylark
From their reintroduction to the Chilterns between 1989 and 1994 there are now estimated to be more than 1000 breeding pairs in the area. Wales had a population of Red Kites, but refused to support the project so these birds were originally from Spain. So, remember it's 'Buenos Dias' and not Good Morning... They are beautiful birds but are not effective hunters as they are surprisingly light — just 1kg yet a wingspan of between 175 and 195cm. They feed on carrion and scraps and often worms. I watched a pair just this week trying to move a road-kill rabbit from the road to the field but they could not manage the task. My record count at the top of the hill at one time is 49 but I'd be
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interested to hear of any higher counts from readers! The bushes along side of the road to Bedwyn harbour a small population of Corn Buntings. I usually hear their 'jangling keys' song long before I see the bird. My highest count is just eight but these are birds that have seen a serious decline in numbers over the last fifty years so eight is just wonderful.
Skylarks are everywhere. Their song fills the air and I think of 'The Lark Ascending' by Vaughan Williams every time I hear it. I love the way they land and just vanish, running the last few feet to their nest to confuse predators.
Cuckoo
sign of better times ahead. I imagine the hosts near Froxfield are mainly Dunnocks and Meadow Pipits — Cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds' nests and allow their 'host' to feed the chick all the way to fledging. Unfortunately the Cuckoo chick hatches early and sets about getting rid of the hosts' eggs as soon as possible.
This is a great spot for Cuckoos and this has been my best year for this species in many years. I counted five different birds on one walk during late April. Their numbers Nature is red in both tooth and claw. have dropped in the UK by 65% since the 1980s (BTO figure) so hopefully this is a Ted Smith
Red Kite
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End of life specialists launch appeal for support during Covid-19 pandemic The Coronavirus pandemic has affected the nation in different ways but one area that has been hit harder than most is the charity sector.
“This means we are supporting people in their homes on a scale of operation we have never attempted before, we’ve re-deployed staff to ensure that our skills are used in the best For local charity Prospect Hos- possible way and we’ve inpice, demand for services is in- vested heavily in PPE to procreasing while, at the same tect our key workers, our time, vital funding dried up patients and their families.” overnight. The charity continues to deliver essential specialist As a local independent charity, end of life care to local people, Prospect Hospice depends on but is now struggling to find nearly three quarters of its inthe funds to do this. come to come from local people but since the end of March, To combat this, the charity is many fundraising events have launching an appeal to raise needed to be cancelled and all £2million to ensure its crucial hospice shops have closed services continue during this meaning the traditional ways time and in the months and people used to support the years to come. hospice are no longer available. Irene Watkins, chief executive of Prospect Hospice, said: “The hospice is still supporting this community, but to respond to the current needs for Covid19 we have had to dramatically change and increase the size and scope of our services.
Talking about funding of the hospice at this time, Ms Watkins said: “As you’d expect, we have cut costs wherever we can, and the Government recently committed £200 million to support hospices across the country. From this Prospect
Hospice has received an allocation of £341,000, which we welcome, however, in the current climate, we calculate that over the coming six months the shortfall from lost income will mean that we will still need to raise a further £2 million to deliver the hospice service. This I know is a big number but we simply must raise it.”
Care from the hospice is delivered free of charge to patients in the Swindon and north east Wiltshire area but the hospice incurs large costs in order to do this and, during the Covid-19 period, it is costing the hospice £17,197 a day to run all of its services. Broken down, it costs around £26 per day to fuel a nurses car so they can visit patients in their own homes, around £177 will pay for all of the specialist medical supplies and equipment that we need to care for a patient, and the average cost of a single person cared for at this time is around £601. Prospect Hospice has been part of the local community for 40 years but it now needs your help to be here for the next 40. To donate and support Prospect Hospice, visit www.prospect-hospice.net/ donate.
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Cook x Drinks or dinner parties, indulgent suppers, shoots, freezer filling, picnics, lunches, birthdays, christenings, weddings & much more. x Fully staffed or delivered to your door
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JOHN MARSHALL PAINTING & DECORATING Interior/Exterior/Wallpapering
Telephone 01672 520926 or 07825 990723
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Elizabeth Watts Photography Lifestyle family, portraits and events www.e lizabethwattsphotography.com 07484618329
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Whitton Ways
Venus revealed
Subsequent to my 'Resplendent Venus’ article in April Whitton Ways, I have two images of these apparitions: Venus is the very bright 'star' apparently embedded in the
jewel-like cluster of the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) — it doesn't look so good on the printed page but looked wonderful in binoculars. Neither does this 'record'
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shot show the Pleiades to best effect — for this please see my astronomically produced web image: www. astrocruise.com/milky_way/ Pleiades_0710.htm. Can you
(which does not of course have Venus in the frame).
Above Venus is the bright 'star' to the upper right, with a slender crescent Moon to the lower left. I cannot tell if the dark side of the Moon will be visible in the printed image; if so the illumination of the dark side is due to reflected light from the Earth. In other words, sunlight falling upon the Earth is reflected back into space and, even at a distance of a quarter of a million miles, a sufficient amount of it reaches the Moon to illuminate the otherwise dark side. Despite all these technicalities, the Moon and Venus made a align the Pleiades asterism in conjunction which was the image printed here with lovely to see. the web image? Hint: the former image is rotated Philip Perkins about 40 degrees clockwise compared to the latter
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Phone: 0774 3017646 Evenings: 01672 520349
Banyard & Bailey
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The Old School House, 42 High Street, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0NF T 01488 683555 E dhc@dhc-solicitors.co.uk 26
Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority - Registration number 468087
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People living in Wiltshire are being advised not to let worries about coronavirus stop them asking for medical help for themselves or their children if they become ill, have a serious accident or have a concern about their health.
sign of something serious like cancer, that delay in seeking help could have serious implications for how successful possible treatments may be.”
Although GP practices across the region have adopted new ways of working, such as They are also being warned that not seeking establishing isolated clinics for potential medical help for symptoms that could be the coronavirus patients, the practices themearly warning signs of serious conditions selves are still open to offer care, treatment, such as cancer could be putting lives at risk. advice and peace-of-mind. The warning comes as new data shows a considerable drop in the number of people coming forward to ask their GP for help and advice during the coronavirus outbreak. Recent statistics show that in Swindon, the average number of patients being sent by their GP to the Great Western Hospital for further investigations into symptoms that suggest cancer each week has dropped by more than 200 to 80.
Dr Ruth Grabham, Medical Director at BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG, said the statistics made for worrying reading because the drop in numbers “is not because people are not experiencing symptoms.”
Don’t delay seeking medical help because of coronavirus
The same also goes for emergency departments at the three hospitals in Bath, Swindon and Salisbury, all of which continue to be open 24 hours a day for people with a genuine and life-threatening health concern.
Additionally, all healthcare facilities in the region, as well as those elsewhere in the country, have put in place stringent infection control measures to ensure that the risk of “While it may seem that coronavirus has put contracting coronavirus while visiting a hosa stop to most aspects of everyday life, the pital or GP surgery remains low. one thing it hasn’t stopped is what’s going on inside our bodies,” she says. “Now more • Details of which services continue to than ever, we need to pay attention to anyopen, as well as how to get in contact, can thing that isn’t normal and seek help early be found online by visiting on. www.bswccg.nhs.uk “For example, if you notice blood when • For information about local hospital servgoing to the toilet, or if you’ve found a ices visit https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/, lump that wasn’t there previously, or if www.gwh.nhs.uk or www.salisbury.nhs.uk you’ve just noticed something odd that is • Further information on how to stay well causing you to worry, you need to speak to throughout the coronavirus outbreak can your GP. be found at www.nhs.uk/conditions/ coronavirus-covid-19 “Should the symptom be the early warning
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The North Wessex Downs
- the anonymous area with features of international importance Do you REALLY know where you live? Well, did you know that if you live in the area bounded by Wantage, Didcot, Reading, Newbury, Basingstoke, Andover, Devizes, Calne and Swindon you are fortunate to be living in one of the country’s finest landscapes. In fact, so fine that an Act of Parliament has given it the same status and level of protection as a national park, like the Peak District or the New Forest.
The North Wessex Downs is one of Britain’s 46 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and with an area of 668 square miles it is the third largest. However, unlike the Cotswolds or the Chilterns, both nearby AONB, the North Wessex Downs is for many people almost unknown, even when they live within it. And yet it contains many gems, both natural and man-made, some of which are internationally important. For instance, there are white horses carved into the sides of hills, Neolithic long barrows, Roman mosaics, castles, Civil War battlefields, over 250 Grade 1 or 11* Listed Buildings, and 15 Registered Parks and Gardens. Let us look more closely.
Were you aware that Silbury Hill, 39.3 m (129 ft) high, on the A4, 5 miles west of Marlborough, is the largest man-made mound in Europe? It is estimated to have taken some 18 million man-hours to build 4,500 years ago. Or that together with the nearby Avebury stone circle (and Stonehenge) it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986?
As well as having probably the country’s richest array of prehistoric sites, the North Wessex Downs is blessed with some outstanding examples of landscapes and biodiversity. The chalk hills, like Walbury Hill south of Inkpen and the Downs north of Marlborough, are very visible but the associ-
Avebury
Silbury Hill 28
ated chalk streams are rare and need protection (see footnote 1). The North Wessex Downs also contain a rich mosaic of woodlands, like Savernake Forest and West
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Cherhill
Woods, pasture, heath and common land, such as at Bucklebury and Hungerford. Between them they support a rich and diverse array of wildlife. Next time you go for a walk you may see a flock of lapwings, brown
of the best quality turf. But such areas are shrinking – in the 30 years since 1968 chalk grassland has declined by 32%.
Mankind’s interventions have taken their toll but you will be sure to find something appealing in what was built, even when little remains. Take the Roman mosaic in the grounds of the equally interesting Littlecote House, near Hungerford; or the home of
Littlecote House
the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, Highclere Castle, south-west of Newbury, now almost universally known for its “starSavernake Forest ring” role in Downton Abbey; or the Kennet and Avon Canal which was snatched hares boxing, a marbled white butterfly, from abandonment in the 1950s, then regreen hellebore, native bluebells, meadow stored, and reopened in 1990; or two “bysaxifrage, or a freshwater white-clawed cray- products” of the canal – Wilton Windmill fish. The chalk grassland is one of the most and Crofton Beam Engines. The former is biologically rich and diverse habitats in the the only operating windmill in Wessex, while whole country. Over 40 species of flowering the latter is the world’s oldest working steam plants can be found in just one square metre engine in its original location and still per-
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BAYDON MOWERS
GARDEN MACHINERY SPECIALIST WELDING GAS SUPPLIER (MIG & TIG)
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All makes of new machines. Trade-ins taken. Collection and Delivery. Spare Parts. Servicing & Repairs. Warranty.
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chimneymen@gmail.com www.mjdunne.co.uk
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01672 521122 philip@astroprints.com www.astroprints.com Ashley Piece Ramsbury
Do you have a little spare time?
Would you like to help us at the
Recreation Centre?
We are looking for help with the grass cutting.
Might you be able to sit on a ride on mower and cut the pitches now and again? If so, join our team of volunteers! Full instruction given.
You would be helping to maintain this incredible facility
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Contact Roger Henry on 520395
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Wilton Windmill
turesque villages often with historic churches and attractive public houses. Farmland makes up 84% of the AONB but many and varied are the activities that have been located here, quite often in former farm buildings. Food production, brewing and tourism may be unsurprising but what about publishing, classic car restoration, leather working, and the only place in the world where all stages of bespoke kitchen knives are made in the one place (in Savernake Forest)?
In reading this article, the chances are that you have found out something new about the North Wessex Downs, even if you live in this amazing area. So are you now tempted to walk the Ridgeway or Wansdyke, forming the task for which it was designed. or visit an attraction which you have never got around to before now, or search for a But the North Wessex Downs is also very new plant, bird, fish or animal, or support much an area where people live and work. the North Wessex Downs Landscape Trust? The market towns of Hungerford and Marl- The links and books noted below will help. borough lie in the centre while further away lies Lambourn, well known as a centre of Ted Hiscocks horse racing, and Pewsey with its statue of King Alfred the Great, Anglo Saxon King of Notes Wessex. In between there are dozens of pic- 1.Action for the River Kennet (ARK: www.riverkennet.org) is a charity set up to address the threats to the Kennet and the fragile plants and animals which it supports. 2.Globally there are estimated to be 210 chalk streams of which 160 are in England. 3.Useful web site: www.northwessexdowns.org.uk 4.Helpful book: “North Wessex Downs� by Steve Davison; Robert Hale, London; 2013 5.North Wessex Downs Landscape Trust is a registered charity which caters for individuals who wish to get involved in conserving and the enhancing the AONB: www.nwd-landscapetrust.org.uk Meadow Saxifrage
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All photographs by David Hall, Blue Sky Photography, except Littlecote House by Ted Hiscocks and Meadow saxifrage by NWD AONB Unit.
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R COPP
Tree & Hedge Planting Fencing & Seeding All Grass Cutting Undertaken
Tractor-drawn mower available for large jobs Ride on or hand mowers for smaller jobs
LEVERTON FRAMERS Bespoke Picture Framing & Mirrors
2 Leverton Farm Buildings, Leverton, Nr Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0TA
tel: 01488 684077 www.levertonframers.co.uk
Opening hours: Tuesday - Friday from 9.00 - 5.00 pm Saturday from 9.00 - 1.00 pm Closed on Sundays and Mondays unless by appointment
Chilton Foliat Village Hall Beautiful well equipped hall, available for hire for all types of events. Licensed for music. Contact us on: Enquiries@cfvh.co.uk or Bookings@cfvh.co.uk or 07435 307279 for further information and pricing
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Tel: 01672 520637 Mobile: 07502 265 376
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FOUR SEASONS GARDEN SERVICES Unit 2 Mills Building, New Hayward, Hungerford RG17 0PZ Tel: 01488
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(good discounts available) Sales and servicing for the above equipment. Collection and delivery
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01672 512185
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Whitton Ways back issues go online Whitton Ways magazine has seen a number of changes over the last 10 years, from being printed professionally to being delivered to you in full ‘glorious’ colour. Now the magazine’s back issues can be read online, and shared with friends far and wide.
There is now a tab on the website for Whitton Ways which, if you click, will lead to a page featuring pictures of all the issues we have published this year. Click on any picture of the magazine cover and you will be taken to the website of www.issuu.com which The Whitton Team Benefice provides a platform for onhas a website: http:// line publishing of magazines whittonteam.org.uk where and be able flick through the you can read news and infor- pages of that issue. mation about each of the churches in our area, and We will put the latest magafind details of how they are zine online at the end of the helping to serve their compublication month. We very munities during the Covidmuch prefer everyone to 19 crisis. There are links to carry on with their subscripServices available by dialling tion to Whitton Ways and in on a telephone as well as have it delivered to their videos of bible stories for homes — at 50p per issue, children, delivered by our this is a great bargain! It is own Rev Sue Rodd and also the only way we can affilmed by Paul Trickey. ford to produce the printed
Refuse collections and Recycling
28ͲMay 01ͲJun 02ͲJun 08ͲJun 11ͲJun 15ͲJun 16ͲJun 22ͲJun 25ͲJun 29ͲJun 30ͲJun 06ͲJul
The Whitton Ways team has been working hard to keep the magazine going during the virus crisis and we pay tribute to our dedicated team of local deliverers who have been out and about and during their daily walks ensured that Whitton Ways has been delivered during the lockdown period. Keep safe.
Vanya Body Editor
For Ramsbury and Axford please check online at ilforms.wiltshire.gov.uk/WasteCollectionDays/index
Chilton Foliat Black box + Blue wheelie Black wheelie + Green wheelie
Black box + Blue wheelie Black wheelie + Green wheelie
Black box + Blue wheelie Black wheelie + Green wheelie
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magazine so that it can be enjoyed by all, especially those for whom accessing this technology is not an option.
Black wheelie Froxfield Green wheelie Black box and Blue wheelie Black wheelie Green wheelie Black box and Blue wheelie Black wheelie
Green wheelie Black box and Blue wheelie
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Our Doctor Writes
General Practice in the near future Although our main doors may be closed, general practices are working hard adapting to challenges on a daily basis to deliver a service using new technologies. This month I would like to update you about what is happening in general practice. We are still there for you!
do not go to your GP surgery. ment (PPE) and keep the time spent with you to a minimum. Social distancing Non-COVID-19 will be observed in the waitAppointments ing room and with all other Since mid March GP pracstaff. tices have been using telephone and video consultations to assess paYou can arrange a teletients. This will continue in phone/video appointment order to minimise the risk of by contacting your surgery exposure to the virus for by phone or using doctorCOVID-19 both patients and staff. Face link. This is a virtual 24/7 People who think they have to face consultations will be health assistant that connects symptoms of COVID-19, arranged if necessary to ex- you to your local NHS servmost commonly a high fever amine you and/or for blood ice, allowing you to check over 38° C and a new pertests. If you are asked to go your symptoms confidensistent cough, should conto your surgery the clinician tially and book an appointtinue to phone NHS111 for seeing you will be wearing ment with your own GP. advice and guidance. Please personal protective equipwww.doctorlink.com. Bring an old friend back to life...
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Tel (01672) 516797 martin@mjsly.co.uk www.mjsly.co.uk
RENOVATION AND CONSERVATION FOR OLD AND LISTED BUILDINGS
07727687535 or 01793741185 limeway2010@gmail.com www.limewaywiltshire.co.uk
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pecially inhalers. The dispensary team at The Old School Surgery are working very hard to ensure alternatives are found. However this takes time and it is taking longer that the previous 3 days to process repeat prescriptions. Please would you order your repeat prescription a week in advance to enable the dispenReferrals and investigaChildhood Immunisations tions, Screening and mon- sary team time to resolve any problems. All routine referrals and non itoring blood tests urgent diagnostic tests were The childhood immunisation suspended in mid March. programme has not changed Joint injections and minor Urgent cancer referrals and and continues despite the surgery emergency referrals have pandemic. If you are sent an At The Old School Surcontinued. However there invitation for your child to gery the doctors are only has been a significant drop be immunised please contact performing urgent minor in the number of cancer re- your surgery. Screening resurgery, for example, ferrals nationally. If you have quiring face to face interac- draining an abscess. Pasymptoms which you are tion has been suspended. At tients have enquired about concerned may be due to present cervical screening is having joints injected to cancer, please make a teleonly available for women help manage pain. The adphone appointment. The re- who have had an abnormal vice from NHS England is ferral pathways to hospitals smear previously. At The not to do any joint injecand community services are Old School Surgery the tions. Steroids used to inject being restored. Staff were practice nurses manage joints can reduce immunity and if you contract Covid 19 redeployed to other services the immunisation and to cope with Covid 19 pascreening programmes so after your joint injection tients. It is hoped that GPs if you have any questions there is the potential for you locally will be able to start please ask for a telephone to have a more severe, life threatening infection. referring this week and have appointment with the access to test such as X Ray nurse. If you are taking Thank you once again for all and ultrasound very soon. medicines (eg warfarin, your kind words of support. The consultants at The methotrexate, lithium, Great Western Hospital in azathioprine, amiodarone) We are managing to eat all Swindon, The Royal United which require monitoring the delicious cakes, biscuits, chocolates, fruit and the in Bath and Salisbury Diswith a regular blood test flowers brighten up our trict Hospital have always please make an appointwork areas. been very supportive to GPs ment with your practice and available for advice. nurse. Stay alert/home, stay safe. They have been even more Dr Angela Paddon and the Repeat prescriptions amazing during the current There are shortages of cer- team at The Old School crisis and provided additain medicines at present es- Surgery. tional access via telephone At The Old School Surgery you can book a 10 minute telephone/video consultation and this should be regarded in the same way as if it is a face to face appointment. If your appointment is about a rash or a skin condition the receptionist will ask you to send a photograph.
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and email for both Covid and non-Covid patients. These lines of communication will remain open to help GPs manage patients we would normally refer. If you are referred to hospital your appointment will most likely be a telephone appointment initially.
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ORANGE KEY A R C H I T E C T U R A L
D E S I G N
Are you contemplating extending or improving your home?
New life can be given to any property by renovating, adding an extension, loft conversion or garage conversion. Contact us for a friendly chat and a FREE design consultation to find out how.
4 The Cuttings, Hungerford 01488 682918 info@orangekeyltd.co.uk www.orangekeyltd.co.uk
Flying Fishes Club
Suspended due to Coronavirus
Swindon Buses - weekdays Ramsbury departures 07.38, 08.43, 09.58, 10.58, 13.08, 14.48, 15.58, 17.03, 18.23, 19.23. Swindon departures 06.30, 07.10, 08.40, 09.40, 11.35, 13.15, 14.10, 15.30, 16.50, 17.55
All buses stop at the GW Hospital. Check times at bus stop.
Specialists in Garden & Landscape Irrigation Automatic Garden Watering Systems professionally designed installed and maintained RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS
SHAUN MEDLIN Tel : 01672 520144 Mobile : 07799 893520 shaun@waterwisegardens.co.uk Website: www.waterwisegardens.co.uk Hightown, Whittonditch, Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 2QA
K B IM
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LANDSCAPING CONTRACTORS
PATIOS, WALLING, FENCING, POND CONSTRUCTION, SEEDING & TURFING, HEDGE CUTTING, PRUNING AND TREE PLANTING, DRIVE CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN SERVICE AVAILABLE
TEL: (01672) 540051 www.kimberbros.co.uk
36
PLUMBING & HEATING FRANCIS ANDREW
Central Heating Installation & Repairs Boiler Installation & Repairs Landlord Certificates Bathroom & Kitchen Installations All domestic Plumbing No call out charges Free estimates 24hr service Fully Qualified & Insured Mob: 07720 245333 Home: 01793 791542 Email: faplumbing@hotmail.com
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A letter from a friend on the front line of the refugee crisis Hi Duncan,
Just thought I would give you a little update to the general situation for refugees.
The Woodyard in Calais is still operating. It’s the start of Ramadan so people are anxious for wood to cook at night. It is good that we can still get out to distribute it. This is really important as, in Ramadan, Muslims can only eat after 8pm, or more correctly, sunset. The Calais food collective is up and running and into their second week of distributing food. So far there has not been a significant number of Covid-19 cases amongst the refugees here, but services such as preparing food, distributing clothes, tents and sleeping bags, are still very limited and the French police are not letting up on their intimidation of refugees and the volunteers supporting them, nor of the destruction of personal property. The situation in Athens is complicated as getting around to the Khora centre and the new Beehive café is not encouraged by the authorities and refugees, who use these two venues, tend to be confined to areas outside of the city. Further afield at Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, where the largely stateless Rohingya muslims, driven out of Myanmar
Whitton Ways
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in a genocidal push, have ended up in one of the world’s largest refugee camps, where early cases of Covid-19 have been occurring. Isobel Russell
https://www.gofundme.com/f/calais-foodcollective https://donate.helprefugees.org/ supporters/fire-wood-for-refugees-in-northern-france/147/
Froxfield Beer Festival 13th June 2020
We are sorry to have to announce that the beer festival will not be taking place this year due to the Coronavirus restrictions.
Barry Adams
37
Charles S. Winchcombe & Son
INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS & MEMORIAL CRAFTSMEN Est. 1932 Incorporating Thomas Free & Sons Funeral Directors Est. 1875 24 hour Service
Private Chapels of Rest Pre-Paid Funerals Craftsmen made Memorials
Charles S. Winchcombe & Son
Additional Inscriptions
Winchcombe House, 37 New Park Street, Devizes, SN10 1DT.
01380 722500
Cleaning and Renovations
Thomas Free & Sons
Albert House, The Parade, Marlborough, SN8 1NE.
01672 512110
Indoor & Outdoor Swimming Pools & Spas Repairs & Refurbishments Ongoing Support & Service Our Extensive Knowledge & Experience Ensures Total Client Satisfaction
01635 813496 38
07814 552729
www.icebergpoolsconstruction.co.uk
Whitton Ways
Diary of Events
June 10 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled 13 Ramsbury Street Fair - cancelled 13 Froxfield Beer & Music Festival - cancelled 24 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled
July 4 Chilton Foliat Garden Trail - cancelled 8 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled 11 Ramsbury Tennis Club Garden Party 22 Ramsbury Lunch Club (AGM) - cancelled September 2 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled 5 Froxfield Barn Dance 19 Christchurch Cathedral Men’s Choir and Organist - Concert in Holy Cross 16 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled 30 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled October
4 Ramsbury Run 14 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled 28 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled November 11 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled
Lipstick
11 Mission Group Lunch 25 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled December 9 Ramsbury Lunch Club (Christmas meal) - cancelled
Every morning, a little girl would go in the bathroom to watch her mother as she was putting on her makeup to go to work. But during coronavirus, the mother stopped bothering with makeup, much to her daughter’s confusion. “Mummy,” she cried early on in the lockdown: “Come back! You forgot to kiss the toilet paper goodbye!”
If you would like your event included, please email editor Vanya Body on whittonways@gmail.com with the brief details. We will include not-for-profit, sports, charity, community social and musical events.
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39
Clergy
Team Vicar Revd. Sue Rodd 16 The Garlings, Aldbourne, Marlborough, SN8 2DT 01672 541571 revsuerodd@btinternet.com
Team Vicar Revd Rhona Floate The Vicarage Back Lane Aldbourne SN8 2BP 01672 540523 rhonafloate@aol.com
Revd. Karen Rizzello Assistant Curate Brindley House, Vastern Wharf Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7PD 07882 055878 revkaren@rizzello.co.uk
Mr Tony Eyles, Lay Minister 55a High Street, Ramsbury, SN8 2QN 01672 520789
Revd. Canon Peter Ball, Priest Whittonedge, Whittonditch Road, Ramsbury, SN8 2PX 01672 520259 Licensed Lay Minister Mrs Jackie Hollander Hidden House, 6a Child Street, Lambourn, RG17 8NZ 01488 71012 Chaplain Froxfield College Reverend Ann Massey
Revd. Stephen Skinner Methodist Minister 18 Priorsfield Marlborough SN8 4AS 01672 512457 rev.stephen.skinner3@gmail.com
Mrs Estrid Eyles Licensed Pastoral Assistant (LPA) Coordinator 01672 520789
Team Office
Church Room, Back Lane, Ramsbury
01672 520963 (Answerphone) teamoffice@whittonteam.org.uk Office hours
None None 16.04.2020 25.04.2020 09.05.2020
40
Thursday 1.30pm - 4.00pm
Churchwardens
Ramsbury with Axford Paul Trickey 01672 520630 George Hawes
01672 520693
Chilton Foliat Tim Williams
01488 682987
Ramsbury Methodist Steward Julie Coe 01672 521085
Peter Camfield
01488 685457
Baydon Tina Evans 01672 540250 tina.evans50@btinternet.com
Donni Blackwell 01488 73025 donniblackwell@icloud.com Froxfield
Aldbourne Krystyna Hagerty
Bookings
Chris McGowan
Chilton Foliat Village Hall enquiries@cfvh.co.uk Froxfield Memorial Hall David Watson
Ramsbury Church Room Sarah Williamson
From the Parish Registers
01672 540698
01672 541362
07435 307279 01672 841315 01672 520161
Baptisms
Weddings Funerals Daphne Irene Ryan Mary Newton Brian and Rosemary Buckler Greta Johnson
Froxfield Chilton Foliat Aldbourne Aldbourne
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The Whitton Benefice & Ramsbury Methodist Church
June Services
Due to Covid-19, our church buildings are, sadly, still closed until further notice. Nevertheless, the Church will continue to serve and pray for our communities during this crisis. The Whitton team is currently offering a pre-recorded service each week. In addition, there is a “phone-in” service at 10am each Sunday; call 020 7660 8149 or 020 3478 5289. You will be asked for an access code, which is 141 164 667#. The pattern of services for June is: 7th June
Pre-recorded
BCP Matins (traditional)
14th June
Pre-recorded
Holy Communion (modern language)
21st June 24th June 28th June
10am 10am
Pre-recorded 10am
“Reflective Spaces” Pre-recorded 10am
Holy Communion (modern language) Morning Worship (modern language) Morning Worship (modern language) Holy Communion (modern language) BCP Holy Communion (traditional)
Morning Worship (modern language)
Other material is available at www.whittonteam.org.uk, including: • news sheets/pewsheets and service sheets;
• service videos and children’s material (including stories); • links to other sites.
Email pcc@whittonteam.org.uk if you’d like to be added to our mailing list for resources. See also our Facebook page: @WhittonTeamNews. WE WILL RE-OPEN THE CHURCH BUILDINGS AND RE-START NORMAL SERVICE PATTERNS AS SOON AS THIS IS ALLOWED; PLEASE WATCH CHURCH NOTICE BOARDS AND THE WEBSITES FOR DETAILS. PARISH OF WHITTON
Our “Wednesday Drop-In” (10 – 10.45 am) gives a phone-in opportunity to stay in touch with other members of the church family. One of the ministry team will host an informal conversation; you are welcome to stay for as long or short a time as you wish. Other home/prayer groups are also continuing to meet “virtually”. Please email pcc@whitton.org or ring Rhona Floate (540523) or Sue Rodd (541571) for access information.
Please also email helpline@whittonteam.org.uk with any requests for prayer and/or practical help at this time – we are here to serve you!
Whitton Ways
41
THE BELL AT RAMSBURY
ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY THIS SUMMER
Our food and and comfortable Our 300 300 year year old old former former coaching coaching inn inn is is known known for for outstanding outstanding food comfortable accommodation, so >,@ why &32Z; don’t @3< you 6!@ pay us Part 3( of ;,' the Ramsbury Estate >-;, with !$$3113&!ধ 32T 93 <9 a! visit? =-9-;S !8; !19#<8@ 9;!;' our 3<8 own 3>2 brewery, #8'>'8@T distillery &-9ধ ££'8@ and !2& smokehouse, 9130',3<9'T our 3<8 menu 1'2< features ('!;<8'9 European <836'!2 cuisine $<-9-2' and Dog friendly. Close to !2& pub 6<# classics. $£!99-$9W Great 8'!; walking. >!£0-2+W 3+ (8-'2&£@W £39' ;3 Marlborough !8£#383<+, and !2& Hungerford.
<2+'8(38&W
The High Street, Street,Ramsbury, Ramsbury,Wiltshire Wiltshire SN82PE 2PE || tel. 230 | | email. thebell@ramsbury.com The Square, Square, High SN8 tel.01672 01672 520 520 230 email. thebell@ramsbury.com
www.thebellramsbury.com
RAMSBURY R AMSBURY MEMOR MEMORIAL IAL H HALL ALL
An ideal venue for receptions, receptions, dances, stage performances, conferences, exercise exercise groups, groups, pr esentations and family gatherings conferences, presentations
Enquiries E nquiries and and Bookings Bookings at at www.ramsburymemorialhall.org ww w ww.ramsburymemorialhall.org orr Robert o Robert Osmond Osmond Tel. Tel T el. 01672 01672 520568 520568
" " " " " " " " " "
Hall of character ! Modernn facilities Moder facilities!! Full disabled facilities facilities!! Stage!! Stage Alcohol Licence Licence!! Free Fr ee Wi-Fi available available!! Public addr address ess system! system! Comfortable chairs chairs!! Seating at tables for 120 120!! Licensed for cinematography
Registered Charity Number 272112
Also available separately - ! Lychgate meeting room room ! The Lychgate for gatherings for up to ! 25 people with kitchen ! and toilets