Whitton Ways February 2023

February 2023 -

News from Aldbourne, Axford, Baydon, Chilton Foliat, Froxfield and Ramsbury

80p

hildcare set within the stimulating and characterful surroundings of Wiltshire and Hampshire.

We have settings in Marlborough, Savernake, Mildenhall, Aldbourne and Penton.

We teach, inspire and develop confidence, independence and creativity within a safe and secure environments for children from 3 months to 12 years of age.

Open 51 weeks of the year, full time and term time spaces. 2 year old funded places and 30 hour places available.

For more information contact amber@avenue-nursery.co.uk or Sophie on 01672 515 763.

www.avenue-nursery.co.uk

Growing up within the girlguiding family, February 22nd has always been ‘Thinking Day’ to me. (Apologies to those in the scouting world who know it as ‘Founders’ Day’!) As well as marking the birthdays of Robert and Olave Baden-Powell, members

are encouraged to use the day to ‘think’ about fellow members in other countries around the world, learn something about their culture, and join together in a project which will have worldwide impact.

These days, those living in other parts of the world do not feel so distant, due to technology making communication and information gathering so much easier. The idea of simply ‘thinking’ about those overseas can seem inadequate when our screens are filled daily with news stories from across the world.

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has chosen as its theme for this year’s Thinking Day ‘Our World,

Our Peaceful Future’, focusing on the environment as it relates to global poverty and gender equality. When young people sense injustice, their voice, passion and action become powerful and infectious. Although those involved in girlguiding and scouting across the world represent diverse cultures and faiths, all longing for a fairer, more sustainable future, I can’t help but notice that 22nd February this year is also Ash Wednesday. As Christians begin forty days of prayer, penitence and fasting, the focal figure is Jesus. His passion for bringing about God’s justice, righteousness and peace has inspired a movement of millions of people. Taking a stand and making a difference comes at a cost. Whether we are marking Thinking Day, or the start of Lent, or are passionate about another cause, I wonder what the cost will be to us as we seek a greater reward.

Beth Hutton Team Rector

“More Tea, Vicar?”

I am sitting in the warm, avoiding going out into a beautiful sunny day that I know only too well includes a wind that cuts like a knife. I’ve been thinking about the ways in which even small comforts can help compensate and give comfort – that cup of hot tea or soup when you come in from the cold, a toasty fire to come home to, a snuggly jumper…

I can just about cope with being cold, and I can deal if necessary with being wet – but I do loathe being both simultaneously! Yet there are things that need doing, places to go and people to see – which all make it so very good to have a safe, welcoming place to come back to.

I guess that we constantly have to try to achieve a balance between pulling in and being comfortable, as against reaching out and stretching ourselves. An excess of either isn’t good for us. Too much stretching and we risk become overextended and exhausted; too much cosiness and we become merely self-indulgent.

It was Archbishop Michael Ramsey who said years ago that the duty of the Church is ‘to comfort the disturbed, and to disturb the comfortable’ – and I suspect it’s as true now as it was then. I’ve seen the quote applied to art – even Banksy has incorporated it in one of his works – but I think it applies even more so to our spiritual lives.

We all need to have a ‘safe, welcoming place’, spiritually, to come back to, especially when times are hard and the world is cold. That’s where the ‘comforting the disturbed’ comes in.

But our faith also needs to be a living, growing thing if it’s not to wither and shrivel into apathy or complacency. So we need to stretch our spiritual muscles too, to exercise and grow, to tackle the hard questions and use the brains and the emotional skills the good God gave us, to widen our horizons and deepen our relationships – with God and with other

people, as we ‘disturb the comfortable’ –including ourselves!

We had a grand time in September, some of us, reading a challenging Christian book together and then discussing it – maybe confronting some ideas we’d taken for granted for years, about what it means to have faith and a healthy relationship with God. We’ll be doing some more, similar, ‘grown-up’ reading in the coming weeks in an environment where no question is too stupid to be asked, but where we can stretch and grow safely together.

This Lent, we’ll also be running extra home groups, looking at some of the themes from the film Les Misérables. Email helpline@ whittonteam.org.uk or check the notice boards for more details. With love

Sue Rodd Retired Team Vicar

Treloar’s

At the start of each new year we usually put our minds to planning our regular fundraising activities for Treloar’s for the year ahead, the major one being our annual Spring Fair. This didn’t take place in 2022 because we had had an Autumn Fair only six months earlier. But the date was already booked for this year’s on Saturday 6th May. It was then that I realised something else of national importance was taking place on that very day … the coronation of Charles III, an event we’d be unable to compete with!

This clash seemed to represent the last straw in a series of setbacks that have been making our event increasingly difficult to organise. A number of our key stallholders would no longer be participating this year, some of our regular volunteers would not be available. More significantly, our key organisers (myself included) who have been doing this for the past twelve years felt it was time to step down and let someone else take over.

Unfortunately no-one has come forward who would be willing to take on the responsibility for this major village event. So it is with reluctance that we have decided to scale down the fund-raising activities in Ramsbury and the surrounding villages. This does not mean they will cease; the annual Picture Quiz will still be produced each spring, and a Treloar’s team will participate in other village events such as

Street Fairs, Table Top sales etc.

I know this will be a disappointment to many of you who look forward to this regular occasion every spring. After more than fifty years perhaps it is time to accept that even in a village like ours, things change and give way to other forms of fundraising for charity. That may be the number of charity shops that now line every town High Street, or online “Go Fund Me” type fund-raising.

Since 2012 our ten Spring/Autumn Fairs have raised over £37,000, with almost half of that coming from donations. We do not wish to see the link broken between the village and Treloar’s and hope that those of you who wish to continue their support will consider making a regular donation to Treloar’s either through the website (www.treloar. org.uk) or by contacting me by telephone on 01672 520899 or email at hjhicklin@ yahoo.co.uk.

Thank you so much for supporting the annual “coffee morning” in the past, and please watch this space for news of other fund-raising activities.

Hilary Hicklin

Stone, Marble & Granite Memorials | Additional Inscriptions

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Tel: 01672 516661

Mobile: 07739 701614

GARDEN SERVICES

Mowing, Hedge Cutting, Pruning etc

Phone 07743 017646

Evenings 01672 520349

51 Whittonditch Road, Ramsbury SN8 2PY

Marlborough Taxis

07791 673192

HUMANE PEST CONTROL SOLUTIONS

Tel: 07900 105371

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Ramsbury News

Allotments

Despite what it can sometimes feel like, Spring really is coming and with it the beginning of the growing and planting season.

There are a couple of half plots available at the allotments if you want to give it a try. It’s all win-win, with fresh veg at a fraction of shop prices, free outdoor exercise, and no gym membership costs.

Half a plot costs £35pa or alternatively try a small raised bed for £10pa. Even if you have a garden, an allotment can be useful to grow large items like brassicas, potatoes, sweetcorn etc, leaving you room at home for salads.

If you are interested, contact Denise Edwards on 07867921878. More information is available on www. ramsburyallotments.co.uk

Hills Stores Charity Shop

We had a very good Christmas season thanks to the support of donors, customers and volunteers. To make the New Year as good, we need your continued support both donating and buying.

There are lots of bargains to be had: school uniform ( and scouts, cubs, ballet clothing) at £1 a piece; books 3 for £1; plus toys, cooking and household equipment, bric-abrac etc - all at bargain prices. Offer of the month is a brand new Kenwood kMix 75 stand mixer with glass bowl, dough hook and k-beater for £150.

We are now approaching £120,000 given out since we opened in 2009. All the money goes to local organisations, currently the Scouts, Bowls Club, Church, Lunch Club, Rec Centre, WI, British Legion and the Ravensbury Players. 2023 is going to be a tough year - let’s see if we can continue to help fund these worthy causes. Follow us on Facebook for opening times.

Sheila Glass

Parish Council

Two representatives of the energy supplier

SSE attended the Parish Council meeting on Monday 16th January to give details of the SSE priority scheme for vulnerable residents who may need help during a prolonged power outage. There are forms in the Post Office which you can complete if you feel that you may qualify for help, or contact the Parish Council.

SSE pointed out that in the event of a planned or unplanned outage mobile phone masts may be affected, so mobile phones may not work. If you have a landline you should keep an ‘ordinary’ plug in phone for use in these circumstances.

If you are in danger of flooding, the Parish Council has ‘aquasacs’ which expand to form sandbags to prevent ingress of water.

The Coronation

As you are no doubt aware the coronation of King Charles lll is on May 6. There will be a street fair with a coronation theme on Monday May 8 and there will be cream teas in the Square on Sunday May 7. You may wish to give some thought to local street celebrations as happened for the Platinum Jubilee last year.

The Boundary Walk, usually held on the first weekend in May, will this year take place on April 30.

Planning Applications

All planning applications relevant to the villages can be seen on our website www. ramsbury.org as well as details of upcoming events. Contact the Parish Council if you have a public event which you wish to advertise.

Minutes of Parish Council meetings are available in the Post Office and on the website. Parish Council meetings are held in the Memorial Hall at 7.45pm on the third Monday of each month. All are welcome.

Ramsbury Memorial Hall

The ideal venue for receptions, dances, stage performances, conferences, exercise groups, presentations and family gatherings

- Hall of character

- Modern facilities

- Full disabled facilities

- Stage

- Alcohol Licence

- Free Wi-Fi available

- Public address system

- Comfortable chairs

Registered charity number 272112

- Seating at tables for 120

- Licensed for cinematography

Also available separatelyThe Lychgate meeting room for gatherings for up to 25 people with kitchen and toilets.

Enquiries and Bookings at ramsburymemorialhall.org or call Robert Osmond on 01672 520568

LINK is here to help anyone who needs a lift to medical appointments, shopping, hairdressing etc, whether the need is temporary or permanent.

Please call Penny Willetts on 520111 for more details. The service is free but small donations are welcome.

LINK is organised by a committee of seven people but the lynchpins are our co-ordinator Penny who matches requests to drivers and the drivers themselves, who are ever willing to take clients on trips. We are currently holding free coffee mornings for clients and drivers on the first Friday of every month (next one due on Feb 3rd and then March 3rd ) in the British Legion at 10.30am. If you would like to come and need a lift, please phone Penny, otherwise please come under your own steam and join us.

The LINK AGM is on February 6th at 7pm on zoom. If you would like to attend, please let Penny know.

New drivers are always welcome. We pay 45p a mile and out of pocket expenses. The commitment is as much or as little as you like. If you think you could help with this community service, contact Penny for details.

After being taken over in the summer of 2020 by Sophie

Pakenham, Marlborough

Chiropractic Clinic has continued to grow, and we’ve got some exciting new additions to the team. In November 2022, Leia joined the clinic as our second chiropractor allowing us to open the diary to new patients again! As chiropractors, we specialise in looking at how the nervous system interacts with the musculoskeletal system. This means we assess the body as a whole, and fully investigate the cause of where certain issues arise, as the cause is often not from the painful area itself! We pride ourselves on optimising function and striving for maximum quality of life for all of our patients.

During your initial consultation, Leia will run through your medical history to gain a deep understanding of you and your body before assessing neurology, muscle function and joint mobility. We might ask you questions related to other health conditions that may seem unrelated, but this helps us decide which treatment techniques are most appropriate to you, ensuring you get the most out of your treatments.

It’s not all just about the famous chiropractor clicking! After your examination, Leia will discuss her findings and build a treatment plan appropriate for your individual needs. She will explain the various adjusting techniques and adjustment instruments suited to you, as well as classic chiropractic manipulation. Leia will also discuss a variety of lifestyle changes and exercises to compliment your treatment.

For more information on conditions we treat, if you’re struggling with discomfort or just want a tune up visit our website or give us a call on 01672 511 599 – we look forward to meeting you.

01488 658445

For parties, weddings, funerals, dinners at your home

Let us take the strain, so that you can enjoy yourself

Angell’s Catering, 34 Queensway, Kintbury, Hungerford RG17 9XP

59 High Street Ramsbury 01672 520261

Established over 40 years

Swindon Buses - weekdays

Ramsbury departures AM - 7.23, 8.48, 9.58, 11.08 PM - 13.08, 14.43, 15.58, 17.03,18.28,19.38.

Swindon departures AM - 06.15, 07.05, 08.30, 09.50, 11.35 PM - 13.10, 14.10, 15.30, 16.55, 18.05.

All buses stop at the GW Hospital. Check times at bus stop.

Friday February 10th

RAILWAY CHILDREN Cert U

Picking up nearly forty years after the events of the original film, ‘The Railway Children Return’ will take audiences on an exciting and heart-warming journey, in which a new group of children are evacuated to a Yorkshire village during World War 2.

Stars: Jenny Agutter, Tom Courtenay, Sheridan Smith

Friday February 24th

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN Cert 12A

An uplifting and moving comedy drama about pursuing your dreams and shooting for the stars, no matter what hand you’re dealt. Maurice, a dreamer and unrelenting optimist, manages to gain entry to the 1976 British Open Golf Championship qualification round despite being a complete novice

Stars: Sally Hawkins, Rhys Ifans, Mark Rylance

Tickets £4 from Ramsbury Post Office until 1pm on film night or £4.50 on the door. Door and bar open at 7.15pm, film starts at 8pm. Please email roxy@ramsbury.org for more details

Are you sitting on a valuable first edition?

Hugh Clayton shares some insights about the second-hand book market gained from volunteering at the Oxfam bookshop in Marlborough.

When The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was first published in an English translation in

The UK publisher had been cautious about this first book in the author’s Millenium Trilogy. Larsson was virtually unknown in the UK and had died four years earlier. The publisher therefore tested the market with a first hardback edition, said to comprise fewer than 2,000 copies. The book was a great success, and the publisher hastily issued a much more numerous second hardback edition. Put a copy of each edition side-byside and they look identical inside and out.

2008, it was more than a runaway bestseller. The first two hardback editions of Stieg Larsson’s novel held a useful lesson for anyone who assesses the value of secondhand books: never assume that small details are insignificant. Early hardback copies of the Dragon Tattoo began to be donated to the Oxfam bookshop in Marlborough High Street about 18 months after publication. All the copies of the first two hardback editions looked the same, and almost all were put on sale at £2.99. Two copies, donated months apart, each sold for well over £100.

Two small visible differences account for the wide price disparity. One is in the number line of tiny figures printed on the copyright pages of thousands of UK titles (the page after the main title page). The number line identifies an edition and runs in the UK horizontally from right to left, usually near the foot of the page. In the first hardback edition of the British Dragon Tattoo the line runs from 1 to 10 and in the second from 2 to 10. Another difference between the two editions can be found on their dust jackets. The first carries a price of £14.99 while on the second the price is £20. Otherwise the two jackets are almost identical.

This is an example of the sort of knowledge I have acquired since starting to volunteer at the Oxfam bookshop in Marlborough some 15 years ago. Oxfam has more than 700 shops in the UK of which about 15 per cent are specialist bookshops, like the one on Marlborough High Street.

Spotting value

When I arrived at the shop in 2007, I had plenty of experience of buying and reading books, but none of selling them. When

Small town; big market. This early copy of Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets was published in New York.

after a few years I was asked to start valuing books, I found myself on a steep learning curve. Luckily, I have always worked at Oxfam with friendly, alert and helpful volunteers and managers.

A guiding principle for all of us is the importance of the condition of books in the second-hand market. Stained bindings and torn pages and dustjackets don’t inevitably destroy value, but all of them reduce it. With some early rarities the correct jacket can represent well over half the value of the book. Books by successful authors of the 1950s and 1960s were often issued with striking dustjackets created by well-known illustrators. In recent years a small but busy industry has appeared, mainly in the US, that prints facsimile jackets for the work of authors such as Stephen King, J.R.R. Tolkien and Ian Fleming. Some printers of these facsimiles print their brand name inconspicuously on their new jackets, but others print nothing that identifies a modern jacket as a replica.

Much of my time in the shop is spent on old books, but they are not necessarily the most valuable. The Folio Society has been in business for 75 years, for many years publishing quality versions of classic authors such as Thomas Hardy and Evelyn Waugh. But some of the Folio Society books that are most valuable today were issued in the 21st century.

A good example is the Society’s 2009 Dracula, published both in a standard version and a limited edition of 750 numbered copies made from different materials and signed by the illustrator. The second version was sold at a much higher price.

Several such dual versions of other titles have followed, but none of the limited editions has reached the Marlborough Oxfam shop - yet. If one does, we’ll be ready for it.

Hugh Clayton

All is not as it seems

The Testament Politique du Marquis de Louvois was published in France more than 300 years ago and was a fake from the outset. Almost everything on the title page is false, including the bold statement that the book contains the political testament of the Marquis of Louvois, who was King Louis XIV’s tough war minister. No it doesn’t: the name of the real author does not appear anywhere in his book’s 576 pages, all carefully compiled as if they had been written by the minister. The only thing on the title page that is approximately true is the publication date (expressed in Latin), of 1695. The author was an obscure ex-soldier who wrote fake memoirs of other historical figures. This book was not a flop; and was reissued at least twice in the early 1700s.

Donations (books, CDs, vinyl and DVDs) welcome during Oxfam shop hours

The Church Room

Back Lane, Ramsbury

Available for Church and Community use, Hire for parties, functions etc

£10.00 per hour, including Heating in Winter. Seating for up to 80 with large kitchen and crockery.

For bookings contact the Team Office on 01672 520963. (If leaving a message, please provide a landline number whenever possible.)

Kevin W Nunn

Interior and Exterior

Painter and Decorator

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

High standard of work 01488 646204 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

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Ramsbury’s Drama Group

New Members always welcome including Actors, Backstage and Front of House

Contact Chris Perkins

Phone: 01672 520515 Email: cfp4176@gmail.com

@RavensburyPlayers

FIRES | WOODBURNERS | NEST REMOVALS | OIL

FIRED BOILERS | CAPS AND COWLS SUPPLIED AND FITTED

Sweeping Certificates Issued

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areasweep@btinternet.com

It is three long years since we have been able to hold our New Year Party, and we made up for it with a great evening on January 13. Ramsbury Memorial Hall looked very inviting, set up with round tables decorated with flowers and candles and the whole thing lit by fairy lights. Ian Smith, our ever-helpful WI friend, welcomed everyone with a glass of Winter Pimms. After Mary had made a brief welcoming speech we enjoyed a delicious meal cooked and served by the wonderful Caroline Tellwright. The whole meal was superb (and in the interests of accurate journalism I sampled almost everything) but I must single out the treacle tart, which was sublime. During the meal guests tackled a quiz. I can’t comment on this as I was the question-setter. Several people claimed it was very difficult, but the winners got 28 points out of a possible 32. So I don’t think it can have been that hard. Many thanks to Mary, Ian and all of WI committee for a lovely evening.

In mid December, 22 members enjoyed a festive lunch at the Crown and Anchor, and we are very grateful to Mike and Juliet for looking after us so well. The following day we had our last coffee morning of the year at Poppies Cafe, and we are also very grateful to the whole team at Ramsbury Royal British Legion for welcoming WI members every month. Our next coffee morning will be on Thursday 16 February from 10.30am onwards.

After all this socialising we return to the Church Rooms for our first monthly meeting of the year. This will be at 7.30pm on Thursday February 2. Our speaker will be from the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre at Hamstead Marshall and they will be talking about the work of the charity. They may bring a four-legged companion with them, but I cannot guarantee this!

Visitors (men included) are always welcome

to join us for our meetings. The usual format is that we start promptly at 7.30pm and listen to our speaker for about an hour. Then we have a break for tea, coffee and biscuits after which there is a short business meeting to bring everyone up-to-speed with what is going on. Visitors can either leave after the refreshments or stay, whichever they prefer.

It is surprisingly difficult to answer the question “What is the WI?” I can tell you that it is nothing to do with jam and Jerusalem. In Ramsbury we only sing “Jerusalem” once a year, and not many members make jam. It is very much to do with friendship, community and life-long learning. By far the best way to find out about the WI is to come to a meeting. You can contact us first, or just walk in. You can be sure of a friendly welcome and no pressure to join. Please contact us at WI@ ramsbury.org or ring 520908 or 520261 if you would like any more information.

Can you help trace any Froxfield descendants?

In recent months visitors to Froxfield churchyard may have noticed that we removed some trees which had seeded themselves and grown in the wrong place – i.e. through graves! We now have a much clearer view of what work is needed to tidy up that corner of the churchyard. There are two graves, in particular, which have suffered as a result of the tree roots. We would love to be able to trace family

members of those buried in these graves to agree a plan of action. Can you help us track down any relatives of these people?

Frances M. Kelly (Widow of Revd. Kelly)

Thomas Neate Redman

If you have any information, please contact the Revd. Beth Hutton on 01672 520235 or whittonteamrector@gmail.com

History revealed in a dilapidated

gravestone

As the overgrown trees are cut back from the two gravestones, we take a moment to wonder who were these people whose last resting place had become forgotten and overlooked over the years.

A little bit of digging into the archives of ancestry.com is revealing of not only this man’s personal history but also the changing patterns of life in rural Wiltshire.

Thomas Neate Redman was born in 1852 and baptised in Froxfield’s All Saints Church by the Revd Canning Stiles. His father, John Redman, was a ‘Yeoman’ farmer at Manor farm, which lies at the heart of Froxfield and gives its name to Manor Park and Manor Farm residential streets.

John wasn’t born in Froxfield, but in Melksham and his wife Eliza hailed from Yatesbury. How did they come to be farming in Froxfield? At the time of the 1871 census John Redman farmed 865 acres and employed 21 men and 2 women and 16 boys.

They had two sons, James, then 20 and Thomas 16 and three other children, John,

Eliza and Alice, as well as two servants.

Scroll on 10 years and Thomas is himself a farmer — at Harrow Farm, which is around the Chisbury crossroads on the A4. The farm buildings lie now ruined and largely derelict. But in 1881 Thomas, aged 25, and his wife Margaret Ann were there with two young children. He appears to have married Margaret by special licence in the Church of St Mary Abbots in Kensington in London. She is listed as being born in Stepney, Middlesex and is four years his senior. How did they meet? What did she make of the move from bustling Victorian London to farming life in Wiltshire? On the census he is listed as farming 630 acres and employing 11 men and 8 boys… so

Thomas Neate Redman

successful in anyone’s books at a young age. They also employ a nurse to help with the infant children.

Another 10 years pass and Thomas now has four children: Eleanor, aged 11, Sydney, 10, Mary, 8, and Margaret, 7. He is still listed as a farmer and employer but is now living at The Limes in Froxfield with his children. His parents are retired and living in the Manor House. The Redmans must have been an extremely well-known family in Froxfield. Why did they leave Harrow Farm?

Thomas Neate lived out his days at The Limes and died on June 3 1909. He left an estate worth £2566 17s and 7d to his widow Ann who was later buried alongside and whose name is on the gravestone. What became of his family? Son Sidney (or Sydney as he was baptised in Froxfield Church in 1881) was still in the village as a boy, but after 1891 the trail goes cold.

Thomas’s older brother James, however, turns up living in Winterbourne Bassett in 1881, married and farming 1100 acres with 25 labourers employed! He has four children. How did they acquire the farms and did they continue the family’s farming tradition?

Does anyone in Froxfield or the district claim any relation to this prosperous farming family who lived more than 100 years ago?

Vanya Body

Well, we have started the New Year as we hope to go on.

The New Year party was a resounding success, and a good time was had by all. Our thanks go to Clive and Sheila for their sterling work and all the people that contributed to make it yet again an evening to remember.

The following day we piled onto the coach and, despite a soggy start, were absolutely delighted by the stunning displays of Christmas lights at Kew Gardens – the hot chocolate and food were good too!

The Society AGM will be over by the time you read this, so the new schedules will be available to collect from Ramsbury Post Office. For the first time since the pandemic, membership subs will be due. These can be paid by BACS to sort code 30-94-46, account number 00104525. Please mark with your name and ’mem’, so that Kingsley, our treasurer will know what it is for and from whom.

If anyone thinks they are not receiving

newsletters, or have changed their email address, could you please let me know –diannbarnett@hotmail.com

Happy gardening all.

Diann Barnett

Flying Fishes

Ramsbury WARM Spaces

Methodist Church Services

Sunday 5th February 10.30am Service led by local preacher

Sunday 12th February 10.30am

Covenant service led by Rev Stephen Skinnner

Sunday 19th February 10.30am

Service led by local preacher

Sunday 26th February 10.30am first week in Leny - Service led by local preacher

All are welcome to join us for our services here in Aldbourne.

Thank you to all who joined us for carol singing on Monday December 19th, and to the Ramsbury Silver Band and the Royal British Legion who kept us going with refreshments. It was a very wet evening but our spirts were high - well done all.

Dear All

As we start 2023, we inevitably wonder what lies ahead for us in the new year. Maybe you have new goals for this year, new things to do and to learn, new places to visit and new dreams and aspirations. In the Methodist Church, our covenant service is a way of recognizing the new year, sharing our hopes with God and celebrating our life with the church. As methodists we are lucky-we have two New Years – in September we mark a new annual cycle of church events and celebrations. This year, our covenant service will be held on Sunday February 12 at 10.30am and will be led by our Minister Rev Stephen Skinner. All are welcome to join us.

The Methodist Hall in Aldbourne is also open every Tuesday for hot drinks from

10am until noon, as part of our Warm Places initiative. A soup lunch will be served on Thursday from noon to 2pm on the second and fourth weeks of the month.

Coffee mornings at the Lychgate will be held on Thursday February 2 at 9.30am, on Thursday February 9 at 9.30am, Thursday February 16 at 9.30am and Thursday February 23 at 9.30am. Please join us for coffee.

In 2022, we raised a total of £549.29 from these mornings, enabling the charities we support to do some wonderful work in our communities, so a big well done and thank you to everyone. Let’s keep up the good work in 2023, joining up for coffee in a warm place where we can chat with friends, swap puzzles and books. Thank you, too, to our Methodist Circuit for funding the cost.

Blessings

From your church steward

Julie Coe

Ramsbury Flyer

Regular Services

Hungerford

Wednesdays, from Ramsbury (The Square 10.06am), Chilton Foliat at 10.15am and Froxfield at 10.30am. Fridays, from Aldbourne at 10.00am, Ramsbury, The Square at 10.15am and Froxfield at 10.30am. Bus passes can be used!

Marlborough

1st & 3rd Wednesdays each month (1st & 15th February), calling at Chilton Foliat at 1pm (booking required), Ramsbury at 1.10pm and Albourne at 1.30pm. Returning at 2.45pm. Bus passes can be used!

Newbury

2nd Thursday of each month (9th February). Leaving The Square, Ramsbury at 11.30am and returning from Newbury at 2.30pm. Fare £4.

Outing

On Thursday 16th February to Welford Park, near Newbury, to see the beautiful carpet of snowdrops. Leaving The Square, Ramsbury at 1.30pm. Fare: £5.00. Special reduced entrance fee of £8.00. Collection can also be arranged from outlying villages.

To book the Flyer, please call Janet on 01672 520682 / 07584 253117

Surgery Transport continues every Tuesday and Thursday morning. For news about Surgery transport or further information please visit ramsburyflyer.org

The Ramsbury Flyer AGM to be held at 7.30 pm (19:30) on Thursday 9th February in The Lychgate Room, Ramsbury

January is traditionally our Art evening in Chilton Foliat and we were very sad that our regular speaker was unable to come along. We are very glad to report that Barbara Cropp was able to fill in at very short notice with her topic entiled; “Pots; Clay and Other Muddy Stuff”

Barbara is a keen potter and brought along a selection of pieces she had made. During her talk we learned about all the different types of clay, where they came from and their particular uses. It was interesting to discover that bone china is actually made from a clay that has been mixed with ground bones, probably from cattle, and was the English cheap equivalent of the beautiful porcelian found in China and the Far East. It dosen’t have the extra fine quality of the porcelain, but is much lighter than the clay alone and enables the making of delicate pieces of pottery much prized in earlier times by the Royals and aristocracy. As well as talking about the various clays, Barbara explained about the different firing methods both for industry and personal use. The many different techniques used during the working of the clay were amazing, giving each pot its own unique surface and design.

We are endebted to Barbara who bravely travelled from Melksham in the pouring rain just to be with us for this meeting. I am

sure we will be inviting her back at another time.

Our Annual General Meeting will be on Thursday 9 February starting at 7pm. Following the AGM we will have a talk from Cristina Di Benigno who will be teaching the members how to play with Lego ! Yes, we will be making flowers whilst getting to know more about this product that was possibly in most children’s Christmas stocking. It should be a fun evening and I look forward to my report next time. We do welcome visitors to any of our meetings for a small donation towards funds.

Sadly we will be losing our secretary as she has decided not to stand again for re-election. Julia Goodman has been a wonderful part of our committee from February 2020 and I want to say a huge thank you to her for all the work she has done for our WI especially through the Covid lockdown when she, along with our committee, arranged Zoom meetings and kept everyone in touch with each other. Thank you Julia for all have done for Chilton Foliat WI. We will miss you at the helm.

If you would like more information about being a secretary or would like to join our lively committee, please call me on 01488 683190 or email womens.institute@ chiltonfoliat.com

We have a great diary of events covering a wide range of subjects for this year. If you would like a copy, do either email or call. Details of our meetings are also posted in the porch of Chilton Foliat village hall.

I hope to see you very soon.

Liz Outridge President

Flower arranging in Holy Cross

I would like, on behalf of many of us, to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Jane Handford, Mary Cook and Liz Hawes who have been much valued members of the flower arrangers and who have served on the committee for many years: Jane and Mary for 40-plus years and Liz at least 25! They have done a magnificent job and I am delighted to say will be continuing to arrange as well as provide much needed experience and support to us newbies.

Is flower arranging something you might be interested in doing?

If so. do come along to Holy Cross Church for tea and cake on Thursday 23rd February 2.30-4pm. It will be a lovely way to meet other enthusiasts and find out more about it.

I look forward to seeing you

Bev Mann

Tennis club wins Wiltshire club of the year

Ramsbury Tennis Club has been named Wiltshire Club of the Year 2022 by Wiltshire Tennis (LTA). This is a great achievement and reflects the significant development of the club in the past few years, with our exceptional facilities in the clay courts and new hard courts 6 & 7, the superb coaching offer and of course the growth in membership.

The winning nomination now goes forward to the LTA South West Awards Panel. Chris Wilson, chairman of the club, said: “It’s all the more gratifying to receive this award as we start the 50th anniversary year of the club’s founding.

“I am sure all members will want to join

Visit your village library

Aldbourne and Ramsbury Libraries have both reopened and currently offer the opening hours below:

Aldbourne

Monday: 1.30 – 4.30 pm and 5 – 7 pm

Tuesday: 10 am – 12 pm *

Thursday: 1.30 – 4.30 pm

Ramsbury

Monday: 2 – 4 pm *

Wednesday: 10 am – 12 pm *

Saturday: 10am – 12 pm *

* Volunteer operated opening hours.

Volunteers wanted

If you are interested in volunteering contact Jane Hunt on 01225 713792 or at jane.hunt@wiltshire.gov.uk

me in thanking the numerous committee members, coaches and supporters who have helped make this possible, not least the many who have helped with fundraising.”

The Knitting Group will continue to meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. February’s meeting will be on Tuesday 14th at 55a, High Street, Ramsbury. Please join us any time after 2 pm. All-comers are welcome, whatever your standard of knitting. Help is always available! If you are interested, please contact Estrid Eyles on 01672 520789 – or just come along.

Video recording of landmark organ concert to celebrate Holy Cross organ restoration

Many of you will remember that eight years ago saw the completion of one of the most significant projects in the history of Holy Cross Church: the restoration of the c.1812 pipe organ.

Eight months later, James O’Donnell, Chief Organist, Director of Music, and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey, came to Holy Cross to give a most wonderful inaugural concert on the newly restored organ.

This amazing concert is available for the first time for all to see on YouTube. Even most of those who were present at the concert in October 2014 were unable to see the full detail because the organ is in a recessed space.

James is considered one of the finest organists in the country. The Joyful Concert, as it was called, consisted of 10 pieces and James exercised the organ to its fullest extent, producing the most gorgeous and exotic sounds that had ever been heard on this organ.

This concert, together with the restoration of the organ the year before, is considered amongst the most important milestones in the entire thousand year history of Holy Cross Church.

So please watch it now - you will be amazed at what you see and hear! To fully appreciate the wide spectrum of sounds please try to listen on headphones or good loudspeakers.

The YouTube web address is:

https://youtu.be/Mh3onNoqfLQ

However you may find it easier to type the following into the address bar of your web browser: www.astrocruise.com#concert Scroll down and click on the relevant article that appears in the ‘news’ section and you will be taken directly to the video.

The restoration project in full

It is also well worth revisiting the fascinating story of the Holy Cross organ and gain an insight into organ building via the following YouTube video. This covers the entire restoration project in four stages:

1. Introduction and Dismantling

2. Restoration Work at Nicholson’s of Malvern

3. Reassembly and Tuning

4. The final part, ‘Celebration’, is a series of recordings of local organists on the restored instrument in tribute to the kindness of the benefactors.

The YouTube web address is: https://youtu.be/aCQIRXGUq2w

However you may find it easier to type the following into the address bar of your browser:

www.astrocruise.com#restoration

Scroll down and click on the relevant article that appears in the ‘news’ section and you will be taken directly to the video.

Philip Perkins

DIARY DATES Prospect Hospice fundraising events

This year sees the return of two of the most popular fundraising events for Prospect Hospice – the Spring Run and Starlight Walk.

The Spring Run takes place on Sunday 12 March at Stanton Country Park, with

three options to choose from: a 2.5km fun run, or 5km or 10km multi-terrain routes, both of which are chip timed.

All runners will receive a medal, with entry costing £7 for the 2.5km run, £15 for the 5km run, and £18 for the 10km run.

The Starlight Walk also makes its return on Saturday 24 June, with 10km and 15km routes and a ‘festival fever’ theme. Signing up before 1 April gives you the early bird price of £12; after this, entry is £15.

For more information on both of these events and more, visit: www.prospecthospice.net

22 December Pamela Puttick

Aldbourne

in February

Jobs for this month

• If you grow winter-flowering heathers, trim them lightly when they have finished flowering to prevent them becoming leggy and woody

• Late winter is a good time to start pruning Hybrid Tea and Floribunda roses. Species roses ramblers that flower on the previous year’s growth, and shrub roses that flower only once a year, are best pruned after flowering.

• Sow sweet peas in a cold frame or greenhouse, and pot on those sown last autumn

• Hard prune Buddleja davidii, Leycesteria, hardy fuchsias, Caryopteris, Lavatera,Perovskia and other summer-flowering shrubs that flower on the current year’s growth

• Start dahlia tubers into growth by placing them in compost but keep them in a temperature above 10°C

• Prune mahonias after flowering to encourage branching

• Check ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus and Hakonechloa to see if the new growth has started; if it has, you can prune away the old growth avoiding damaging the new shoots; if not, delay pruning until later

• Prune out a quarter of blackcurrants’ older growth at ground level

• Cut the canes of autumn-fruiting raspberries down to the ground.

• Plant onion and shallot sets before the end of the month

• Sow broad beans outdoors in light soils

• Chit seed potatoes by placing them eye end pointing upwards in a cool but frost-free light place

• In the greenhouse, cut back overwintered Fuchsias, Pelargoniums and Salvias to encourage new growth

• Finish pruning deciduous hedges this month before the nesting season begins.

Susie Whimster

Ramsbury’s Advent Breakfasts

Last autumn, the Holy Cross Local Church Committee decided to try and address three real needs that we all face: trying to keep warm in the face of rising fuel costs; dealing with inflation-busting food bills; and, to a greater or lesser extent, social isolation. The resulting initiative was called Advent Breakfasts. They were held on three successive Saturdays in the Church Rooms and were available, free, to everyone by collecting a ticket from the Post Office.

Orange juice, buttered rolls, bacon and sausages, baked beans, tea and coffee, and an apple to take home were much appreciated by all those who attended (see photo). In contrast to the cold weather the hall was well heated; the only significant problem was the frozen sink waste pipe. As

a consequence all the washing up had to be done at home!

Sincere thanks are due to the team of six hosts and all the guests.

Katie Hiscocks

The Roxy brings National Theatre Live to Ramsbury

The Ramsbury Roxy is delighted to announce that it is bringing National Theatre Live to Ramsbury from January, showing live video performances of world-class theatre in our village cinema. Recent NT Live productions include 1 man 2 Governors, The Audience, Jack Absolute Flies Again, Hamlet, Warhorse and Henry V.

There is a packed programme for the year, which opened with Arthur Miller’s The Crucible on Friday 27th January. Next up

venues. There is a licensed bar so you can chat to your friends before the show starts or in the interval.

Tickets can be booked online through the Roxy website https://www.ramsburyroxy. org/ or purchased from Ramsbury Post Office. We have now updated the website so that you can book cinema tickets online in the same way. Tickets will also be available on the door, but numbers are limited so please book in advance to avoid disappointment.

The new website includes the facility to join our mailing list. For those of you not already receiving Roxy updates, please fill in the form and we will add you to the list.

Finally, please note that the NT Live showing times are set by the National Theatre and are earlier than the usual Roxy start times. NT Live shows start at 7pm with doors opening at 6.30pm and from February the Roxy Cinema shows start at 7:30pm with the doors opening at 6:45pm.

See you soon

Peter Kearns and Markus Bolton

is Othello on Monday 6th March and Life of Pi on Monday 3rd April. Doors open at 6:30, with performances starting at 7pm.

This is all in addition to the usual Ramsbury Roxy film schedule.

Because the Roxy is a not-for-profit venture run by volunteers, tickets are priced at £12, which is much lower than other NT Live

At Ramsbury Cricket Club we welcome anyone thinking about playing cricket or maybe just joining evening practice/ net sessions in stunning surroundings. Come along on Thursday evenings from 6.30pm at the village Recreation Centre.

Why not have a go or just chat about what we offer members?

Contact: Peter Osmond on 07971 288761 osmondpeter@gmail.com

Leverton

Photography & Fine Art

• Fine Art reproductions, all sizes to 2ft x 6ft

• Digital repair of old photographs, slides, and negatives

• Perfect copies of your cherished old photographs

• 64 bit scans of prints and negatives up to large format

• High Resolution Photography, interior and exterior

• 46 years experience; many references

• Committed to excellence

T 01672 521122

E philip@astroprints.com

W astroprints.com

A 52 Ashley Piece, Ramsbury

BAYDON MOWERS

All makes of new machines

Trade-ins taken

Collection and Delivery

Spare Parts

WELDING GAS SUPPLIER (MIG & TIG)

Servicing & Repairs

Warranty

01672 841207

Monday - Friday; 9am - 5.30pm Saturday; 9am - 12.30pm

Unit 1 Skylarks, Bytham Road, Ogbourne St George, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 1TD baydonmowers.co.uk

Adie Cripps

Chimney Sweep

Fully insured and certificate of sweep issued

Chimney swept

CCTV Inspection

Cowls Fitted

Bird nest removal

T 01672 512 438

M 07557 472 541

E adie.cripps55@gmail.com @adiesweep

Adie Cripps Chimney Sweep

Clean, Friendly and Reliable

Mike Dunne Member of the ICS

Church View Cottage, 28 Froxfield

Marlborough SN8 3LD 01672 551529 and 01488 682308

chimneymen@gmail.com

www.mjdunne.co.uk

GARDEN MACHINERY SPECIALIST

Ramsbury Tennis Club

LTA South West Region Club of the Year 2017 and Wiltshire Club of the Year 2022 New members of all standards very welcome.

This year we will have 7 floodlit courts including the first artificial clay courts in Wiltshire.

Club morning, coaching sessions for groups and individuals. Singles ladder.

Full junior programme. For membership enquiries please contact Chris Snelling on 07887 550700 or at cjsnelling@btinternet.com

Clergy

Team Rector

The Revd Beth Hutton (Day off - Monday)

The Rectory, Back Lane, Ramsbury SN8 2QH 01672 520235 whittonteamrector@gmail.com

Team Vicar

Vacant

Retired Priest

Revd. Sue Rodd (Day off - Friday) 01672 541571 revsuerodd@btinternet.com

Retired Licensed Lay Minister (with permission to officiate)

Mr Tony Eyles 01672 520789

Licensed Lay Minister Mrs Jackie Hollander 01488 71012

Lay Pastoral Assistant (LPA)

Mrs Estrid Eyles 01672 520789

Other services

The Parish of Whitton Contacts

Lay Pastoral Assistant (LPA) and Parish Safeguarding Officer

Marianne Adey 01672 540629

Chaplain Froxfield College

Reverend Ann Massey

Methodist Minister Revd. Stephen Skinner rev.stephen.skinner3@gmail.com

Team Office

Church Room, Back Lane, Ramsbury 01672 520963 (Answerphone) teamoffice@whittonteam.org.uk

Normal Office Hours: Monday 1pm-3pm Thursday 9.30am – 2pm

Churchwardens

Ramsbury with Axford

George Hawes 01672 521223

Aldbourne Methodist Steward

Julie Coe 01672 521085

Chilton Foliat

Tim Williams 01488 682987

Peter Camfield 01488 685457

Aldbourne

Krystyna Hagerty 01672 540698

Chris McGowan 01672 541362

Baydon

Robert Smart

Froxfield Deputy Wardens

Raine Cully and Jan Heppenstall

Bookings

Chilton Foliat Village Hall07435 307279

enquiries@cfvh.co.uk

Froxfield Memorial HallDavid Watson 01672 841315

Ramsbury Church Roomfionamair601@gmail.com

‘Phone-in / Zoom services’ are each Sunday — except for the first Sunday of the month, when the morning Team Service is usually livestreamed.

10am Team Services: ‘Live-streamed’ church services of Holy Communion available by phoning 0203 481 5240 or 0208 080 6591 or join us via the internet, using ZOOM if you are able: [Meeting ID: 948 7729 2017 - Passcode: 052157]

11.30am Zoom Services on all other Sundays are available by phoning 0203 481 5240 or 0208 080 6591 [Meeting ID: 948 3407 2630 - Passcode: 343860]

Notes

• Informal Worship services are suitable for all ages

• A short (said) service of Holy Communion takes place each Thursday at 10.00am in Ramsbury.

Private Prayer; Our churches are open during daylight hours (except for Axford).

Please see the notice boards for up to date information.

Email pcc@whittonteam.org.uk if you’d like to be added to our mailing list for resources.

See also our Facebook page: @WhittonTeamNews and the Team website: whittonteam.org.uk

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.

• Phone number for 11.30am Zoom services: 0203 481 5240 or 0208 080 6591: Meeting ID: 948 3407 2630 Passcode: 343860

Whitton Team Worship in February 2023

The Bell at Ramsbury

Freehouse, Hotel, Restaurant & Cafe

Visit our beautiful 300 year old coaching inn, synonymous with delicious food and drink, locally sourced produce, our own brewery & distillery and 9 boutique guest rooms. Tucked in the picturesque village of Ramsbury, it is the perfect destination for a spot of lunch, drinks with friends or a weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle.

To book a table or room visit www.thebellramsbury.com thebell@ramsbury.com | 01672 520230

- The Square, Highstreet, Ramsbury, Wiltshire, SN8 2PE -