Whitton Ways January 2023

National Garden Scheme

New Wildlife Group and much more...

January 2023 - 80p

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

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I think it’s desperately easy to the start a new year, to start with all sorts of good intentions – maybe totally unrealistic ones – aimed at reinventing ourselves and putting right all the faults and flaws that we know we have, not to mention obliterating the results of far too many “just one more” mince pies or choccies or slices of turkey.

On the 6 January, we celebrate the arrival in Bethlehem of the Magi – the “Wise Men” who came bearing symbolic gifts and seeking the infant Jesus. Not tastefully grouped round the manger with the shepherds, but arriving anything up to two years later, at the end of a long and arduous trek over “moor and mountain, field and fountain, following yonder star” as the carol has it.

And it seems to me that they needed two very different kinds of resolution. The first was the big decision to set off on that mad adventure in the first place – having seen the star, to follow wherever it led them. But the second type of resolve – having embarked on that path – involved dealing with the ups and downs along the way. Finding water, finding shelter, choosing which path would take them closer to their goal.

Maybe those are the kinds of resolution we need at the start of the new year as we

continue on the journeys of our lives. We may need a radical reinvention (and in that case, we ask God to give us the insight to find it and the courage to follow it through). But it’s probably more likely that we’ll simply need to identify the next stage in our path that will enable us to grow and develop, not just as people but also as people of faith, caring for God’s world and his people.

Beth has written elsewhere in the magazine offering Confirmation and/or Baptism preparation. We have plans for an exciting Lent course based on “Les Miserables”, and I’d love to run another “Reading Group”, reading and discussing an interesting book that could help us grow and develop. Watch this space!

But whatever your good resolutions for 2023, I wish you every blessing as you find and follow the path that – as the old prayer book has it – “God has prepared for us to walk in”. Not coercing or constraining us, but enabling us to become what we could be…

With love, Sue

Rodd

Retired Team Vicar

Holy Cross Bells Rededicated

Unless you have an interest in them they really don’t draw much attention to themselves.

For most of us, if we see a church, we might remark on its appearance or the quaintness of its rural setting before we walk on.

All the while, more often than not, six, eight and sometimes ten beautiful bronze bells hang inert in that flint covered Norman tower you have just walked or driven by.

An amazing combination of ancient timbers, cast iron, bronze, oak and ash fittings and hemp rope.

The actual bells themselves have probably been there hundreds of years, exposed to cold, frost, condensation and heat.

After their harsh environment, consider then the dynamics when they are actually rung.

Irrespective of the temperature, be it extremely hot or cold, a clapper the size of a small cannonball is thrown against the same spot on the wall of the bell at an enormous speed* every time the bell is

rung. This is frequently repeated between 250 and 3000 times a session.

The minor miracle is that the bells don’t crack, break or shatter more often.

Church bells are working pieces of machinery with bearings, hinges, ropes and shackles that all have to be maintained and all of which are subject to wear and tear.

The six bells of Holy Cross, Ramsbury are no exception.

Over time their bearings had moved out of true and had started to wear. The bells had long gone out of tune through long use.

In the Ringing Chamber we had long accustomed ourselves to the particular quirks of each bell.

On top of that our ropes were probably the longest in Wiltshire!

The previous major maintenance took place in 1926. So nearly a century later in November 2020 all six bells were removed by White’s of Appleton.

They were returned to us in July 2021 with

new headstocks and bearings, a major repair to Number 5 bell and with the bells retuned and cleaned on the outer surface.

The oak frame (first laid in about 1595 during the reign of Elizabeth I) had also been strengthened.

For we bell ringers, as a special treat, rope guides had been installed in the Ringing Chamber. This removed the “rodeo” element of bell ringing which was particularly terrifying for beginners but which caused even the most experienced of us a few “moments”. So we were very much the cats who had had the cream when we rang our bells again after they had been reinstalled. They handled beautifully and sounded quite wonderful.

Grateful thanks must be paid to The Friends of Holy Cross for their fund-raising and also to those who made donations (some anonymous). There was also a grant from The Llewellyn Edwards Bell Restoration Fund.

But we bell ringers are a cautious lot. The support of “Higher Authorities” was deemed necessary. So we took the opportunity of a planned visit of our Bishop for the licensing of Tim Marriott as a Lay Worship Leader, to invite him to come up

to the Ringing Chamber to bless our newly refurbished bells.

Bishop Andrew duly visited on Sunday 30th October 2022. Before the service he came up to the Ringing Chamber to discuss arrangements and timings.

During that visit he suggested that he might undertake the task without donning mitre, robes and staff.

We were obliged to put him on the right track here as we have strict standards as to what our beloved Bishop must wear on official business in the Ringing Chamber. Bishop Andrew took it all in good heart and duly struggled up our narrow circular staircase in all his finery as is to be seen in the photograph. He then gave a blessing of the bells and a short prayer was said.

Our very grateful thanks go to Bishop Andrew and repeated thanks to those who generously contributed to the cost of the repairs.

David Jackson

(*  I tried to find the exact speed without success but found that there are many learned papers on the dynamics and acoustics of bell ringing if anyone is interested.)

Those attending the Ramsbury Lunch Club’s Christmas celebration were treated to some excellent singing from Classes 5&6 from Ramsbury Primary School, with Sian Haynes playing the keyboard.

The delicious Christmas meal was throughly enjoyed by all and was then followed by carol singing, accompanied by Ian McCall on the keyboard.

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Ramsbury Parish Council

Most residents should, by now, have received a newsletter and introduction from a local Emergency Warden. Included in these letters is a request for details for a village database. If you have not responded please do so that we can collate contact details as soon as possible.

White gates have now been installed on the B4192 at Whittonditch which we hope will contribute to making the road safer for residents.

We hope you enjoyed the Christmas trees in Ramsbury High Street and they helped to lift spirits at what is a very difficult time. We are grateful for the help of Ramsbury Estates in installing the trees. They cost the Parish Council just over £1,000 for trees, batteries and electricity. There are collecting tins in the village shops. If you feel that you would like to contribute to the cost we would be grateful.

Cold Weather Advice

The cold weather in December brought home how expensive heating has become. If you are experiencing difficulties the newsletter from Emergency Wardens gives details of some organisations which may be able to help. Advice from Scottish and Southern Electric is that it is unlikely that managed power outages will be necessary, and if there are any they will be limited to three hours on a rota basis. If you are over 65 or have any medical vulnerability you may meet the criteria for priority services in the event of a power outage, planned or otherwise. There are leaflets in the Post Office with a form to register.

News of power outages and any other information will be regularly updated on our website www.ramsbury.org.uk

Boundary Walk

Looking forward — Spring is not far away — we will soon begin plans for the Boundary Walk 2023. Keep the date April 30th (usual first weekend in May has been hijacked by ‘higher powers’!).

Lastly, our shops, the Post Office and Midway Stores served us well during the pandemic. Please support them now by using them regularly and not only if snow prevents travel.

Thank you to all our Councillors for their help and support and the time they give from busy lives.

Happy New Year and here’s hoping for a better 2023,

Sheila Glass, Chair Ramsbury Parish Council

Allotments

There are a few vacant half plots and raised beds. Spring WILL come so if you would like one please contact Denise Edwards on 07867 921878 or allotments@ramsbury. org During the night of Friday December 2nd several sheds on the allotment site were broken into and expensive garden tools including Wolf tools, a mower and a brush cutter were stolen. If anyone saw anything suspicious that night please contact Denise.

Hills Stores Charity Shop

Happy New Year to all our contributors, staff and customers. Without all of you the Charity Shop would not work. We had a very successful half-price sale and Christmas shop in December. Contributions to the

local organisations which man the shop continue to be healthy, at a time when funds are tight for everyone. At present these are Ramsbury Scouts, Ramsbury & Aldbourne Bowls Club, Holy Cross Church, the Luncheon Club, Recreation Centre, and WI.

We depend on your generous donations and your custom so please continue to support us.

Sheila Glass & Mary Holdsworth

Ramsbury Memorial Hall

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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

An update from 1st Ramsbury Scout Group

It’s been a very busy autumn term for all 3 of our sections and, despite a couple of program changes to cater for unsuitable weather, it has been fun and interesting for everyone.

Here are a few of the highlights: Scouts

After an opening week of games and patrol allocation, the Scouts had a couple of split nights either honing their shooting skills on our own Air Rifle range or braving the dark tracks and trails around Ramsbury on their bikes.

Another night was spent cooking up a Mexican Chilli from scratch with minimal input from any Leader – the real test was when they had to eat their own cooking. However, I can vouch that the food was all very tasty.

One night was spent preparing for a ‘Survival Camp’ but, unfortunately due to some of the very wet weather at the beginning of November, we had to cancel this event. It is supposed to be fun and we will try again in the springtime.

Before Remembrance Sunday, we had a visit from Brigadier Lizzie Faithfull-Davies who spoke to everyone about the meaning and importance of Remembrance Sunday. In addition to the theory, she put the Scouts through their marching paces before the parade itself. She was also able to witness our new Scouts being invested and the first of our Scouts to make their ‘Promise’ to the King.

Cubs

The Cubs have had a very busy programme including nights of orienteering, campfire cooking, pumpkin carving and ‘Guy’ making, whittling and woodworking and a night hike for some winter stargazing. They also managed a visit to Holy Cross Church, where they learnt the art of bellringing. More recently, they had an evening learning basic knots and how to build some very successful catapults.

Our newest Scouts being invested

Cubs in the Belfry at Holy Cross

Cubs testing their Catapults

Beavers

Since September, the Beavers have enjoyed a jam-packed programme of adventurous pursuits. We began by welcoming our newest members to the group - including four new leaders - followed by a beautiful walk seeking out signs of Autumn. The next week the children built Swedish torches, learnt how to light them before cooking a hearty supper of cheesy tomato pasta - a highlight of our Autumn programme.

We’ve since enjoyed: building spaghetti and marshmallow towers; creating crowns and sceptres fit for a new king; learning mindfulness and yoga and a fantastic night hike where we were all captivated by majestic Mars, glowing noticeably red over the Wiltshire countryside. We brought the term to a close on a frosty -3 degree evening, with a fast paced and highly competitive game of Capture the Flag.

Lighting the Swedish Torches

As usual, I would like to thank all our dedicated leaders, without whom none of the above activities would be possible.

Dates for the future:

For those who are itching to put something into to their new 2023 Calendars and Diaries the Ramsbury Run will be on Sunday 14th May and the annual Scout Quiz will be on Saturday 30th September. Both of these help us run the Scout Group activities and maintain our facilities.

Mike Allman Group Scout Leader

Beavers out on an early evening walk around Ramsbury.

Dog Collar Diaries

My favourite ever episode of ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ was the one where the Revd. Geraldine Granger found herself accepting the invitations to multiple Christmas meals, trying to keep up the pretence at each house that it was the only invitation she had accepted. Great hilarity (and indigestion) ensued! As I write this (early December), I have been to my first Christmas lunch. By the time you read this, I wonder how many Christmas meals I will have eaten.

I am also working out logistics for welcoming a large group of friends to stay. Having worked out the sleeping arrangements, and even a space to cook and eat together, I realise that I need catering sized pots and pans! Hospitality is so much more than an invitation. It is about changing my environment to help others feel at home.

Preparing a meal is not just about the food, of course. It is about the company. It is about taking time to listen to others around the table. It is about sharing something of yourself in conversation. Food is a great facilitator in the building of relationships and the building of community. ‘Warm spaces’ initiatives this winter are doing much more than providing warmth and nourishment. They are bringing people together – particularly valuable for those

who live alone.

In recent weeks I have been talking about food being central to our fresh Church vision, for many of the reasons listed above. At the same time, I have been really aware that we can’t be seen to be frivolous with food, or wasteful, in these times when so many risk going hungry. Food Banks in this country are seeing their greatest demands ever. Meanwhile, overseas, there are communities struggling to grow crops to feed themselves. I am currently part of an inter-church working group which is building a link between the Deanery of Marlborough and the Diocese of Morobo (South Sudan). Many people who have been living in refugee camps in Uganda are now returning home, but discovering that their homes have gone and there is nothing to eat. The Bishop of Morobo Diocese is seeking the help of our Deanery to purchase seeds to grow a variety of crops to feed the community. We may not be sitting around a table sharing food with him, but somehow, through this food programme we are sharing in the community which they are rebuilding. Maybe I should be sending my catering sized pots and pans to South Sudan!

Revd. Beth Hutton

New faces in the Editor’s chair

Two Ramsbury people have, so far, stepped up to help edit Whitton Ways and continue the tradition of a Parish Magazine for the local community, packed with news and views from our area. We are still seeking a third to join the new team of editors!

Rowan Whimster has lived in north Wiltshire for more than 30 years and since 2006 here in Ramsbury. He will be widely recognised for his work on local history.

“I have been lucky enough to spend my working life in the fascinating world of the past, first as an aerial archaeologist, then with organisations like English Heritage and the National Trust, and most recently as a freelance editor and writer.”

In 2020 Rowan wrote Ramsbury: A Place and its People  with the help of local naturalist Peter Marren, and some of the other local causes he works with are The Friends of Holy Cross, Action for the River Kennet and Wessex Archaeology. When he’s had enough of looking backwards into history he turns to his other life as a maker of thoroughly contemporary ceramics.

Nicky Willmore moved to Ramsbury 9 months ago from a village 50 miles away. She says Whitton Ways has, “proved itself absolutely invaluable to my husband Markus Bolton and me. We first read the magazine when we were viewing properties in the area, when its pages made it clear that Ramsbury and the Whitton villages were lively, active and welcoming communities and now it’s an indispensable reference manual for us.

“I am very keen to contribute to my local community. With my background in journalism, public relations and corporate communications, helping with Whitton Ways seemed like the perfect fit. After a year of retirement I am raring to go and I am very much looking forward to meeting people as I help the team put the magazine together.”

Meanwhile, after 15 years at the helm, retiring editor Vanya Body is still around and about and will be supporting the new team whilst she starts to pursue more personal creative writing projects.

Whitton Ways a winner

Whitton Ways has again been judged among the country’s best Parish Magazines. This time, the magazine has been voted 5th best in the country by the judges of the National Parish Magazine of the Year competition. Your magazine was pitted against 450 entries from all over the country and also scooped the Best Print award. If you would like to get actively involved in producing Whitton Ways, email whittonways@gmail.co.uk

Subs Due

Subscriptions will be due once again this month. You can pay the £8 to your own distributor, or take advance of the facility to pay online direct from your bank account.

Please Note: If you do pay on-line, please let your distributor know!

The Whitton Ways account details are:

Account name: Whitton PCC

Sort code: 09 - 01- 50

Account number: 04676688

A New Generation of Holy Cross Flower Arrangers

About 55 years ago Miss Marjory Wilson, a staunch supporter of village life, placed her last weekly posy of flowers on the High Altar of Holy Cross, something she had done for many years.

Her retirement coincided with a growing interest in flower arranging amongst several Ramsbury ladies. A small group asked Sally Stevens-Hoare, wife of the then postmaster, if she would pass on the skills she had acquired when doing table decorations for her husband’s RAF. Mess dinners. She agreed and the group regularly met in the Post Office to try their hand at arranging. One of the group’s enthusiasts was Frances Mills who, along with Peter, was running the hardware shop. Frances rapidly became a professional florist, and working from the shop, was soon making funeral wreaths and beautiful bridal bouquets and button holes as well as doing funeral and wedding flowers in church.

Around this time Mrs Hilda Watson, a long experienced and eager flower arranger, moved into Ashley Piece, and with much energy, cajoled the young women living around her into joining a new Church Flower Arranging Group. Hilda was a

determined, kind and excellent teacher especially when it came to the all important ‘covering of the mechanics’. This included having no oasis or wires showing and filling in the back of the arrangement ‘remembering that it was this that the Vicar had to look at’.

The group soon grew. With Frances’s help in ordering flowers and advising on how many blooms might be needed for any large arrangement or pedestal (always a daunting question) it flourished and confidence increased.

Since then the group has enjoyed several demonstrations from eminent flower arrangers, celebrated important national and royal events, and the televised Easter service for the BBC. It has put on exhibitions — including one of Christening Robes and another of Wedding Dresses through the Ages.

Some of the early ‘Post Office’ group and Hilda’s pupils are still arranging in Holy Cross. Many new members have joined over the years, some were already semi-professional, some keen on joining one of the local flower clubs and some

experimenting as they went along. There was always guidance and friendship on offer. This is still the case, and if anyone would like to join this cheerful and enthusiastic group please contact Gilly Doel 520686, Fiona Setter 520684 or Bev Mann 520378 (pictured, left to right.)

N.B. It is not necessary to have done any arranging before. There will always be someone to help whenever needed and be assured there will be a great welcome!

On behalf of everyone in the group, the retiring committee would especially like to thank Frances for her loyal, enthusiastic and practical help and kindness over the last 55 years and for her demonstrations and the many beautiful arrangements she has done over this time. We also thank her and Peter for having always generously allowed the group to extensively pick the shrubs in their garden.

The Committee would also like to thank Bev, Fiona and Gilly for taking over the organising reins and wish them as happy a time in the future as we have had in the past.

Jane Handford Ramsbury

St. Nicholas’ Church, Baydon –Auction of Promises 2023

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

work outweighs the pockets of a small community.

We would love 2023 to be the year that we wave goodbye to the scaffolding and conclude the project to stabilise the chancel wall at the east end of St. Nicholas’ Church. There has been a lot of fundraising towards this in recent times, for which we are truly thankful, but the cost of building

We would like to organise a large-scale Auction of Promises this year to aid us in this work. Whether you live in Baydon, a neighbouring village or further afield, we hope you can help us make this a success. We will need ‘promises’ of different values for people to bid on. Are you able to offer an experience that money normally can’t buy? Do you know anybody (or any businesses) who could offer a high-end promise?

Once the project is complete we will arrange a celebration to thank everybody who has helped us. Please contact the Revd. Beth Hutton with offers of promises (01672 520235). Thank you.

on Friday January

DEATH ON THE NILE Cert 12A

20th 2023

Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian adventure aboard a glamorous river steamer descends into a terrifying search for a murderer when an idyllic honeymoon is shattered by violent deaths. Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

We are always keen to have more members of the Roxy team. Please email roxy@ramsbury.org for more details

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

Preparation for Baptism, Confirmation and / or Communion

Early in 2023 I would like to offer some sessions to any teenagers or adults who would like to prepare for Baptism or Confirmation. The style and content will be moulded to fit the people who are interested. Confirmation is usually for those who were baptised as an infant or young child – a chance to ‘confirm’ and claim for themselves the faith into which their parents and godparents brought them. If you weren’t baptised at a young age, we usually suggest that you prepare for Baptism and Confirmation at the same time.

Whilst Confirmation needs a mature decision, the Church now makes less of a link between Confirmation and receiving Communion for the first time. Children in Key Stage 2 and above may feel (with the support and agreement of their parents / carers) that they would like to prepare to

receive Communion. Children need to have been baptised to enter into this preparation (which would be a number of sessions).

If you would like further information about either of these groups (Baptism / Confirmation preparation for teenagers and adults or Communion Preparation for children), please contact the Revd. Beth Hutton on 01672 520235 whittonteamrector@gmail.com

BAPTISM & CONFIRMATION

Open the Book – what retired people get up to!

Teams of local retirees regularly go into Aldbourne, Baydon, Chilton Foliat and Ramsbury schools to present The Bible in an accessible and enjoyable way for the children and everyone attending, as part of the Open the Book programme.

The Bible stories are linked to themes around the school’s value and the stories are lifted from the Lion Storyteller Bible. The volunteers become the actors — dressing up, and using some simple props and backdrop to help them to engage the children with the text.

As our teams are rather small in number, we usually ask some children to help us taking

the roles of soldiers, servants or camel traders etc.

There are no lines to learn and the performance is followed by a moment of quiet reflection, a short prayer and sometimes a song. The whole presentation only takes about 25 minutes.

We do need more volunteers from all of these villages to join us — especially men — so if you are interested in joining our Open the Book ‘am drams’, please contact either Sue Rodd 01672 541 571 or Liz Nash on either 01672 521 413 or 07710 211 353

Liz Nash

A Wildlife Group for Ramsbury

Ramsbury is exceptionally rich in wildlife habitats. It begins with the river, a famous chalk stream, with its springs, braided brooks and mill leats. Along the banks are meadows rich in wild flowers, including marsh orchids and ragged robin, as well as willow scrub and reedbeds. On the steeper slopes on either side lies chalk grassland, home for several rare butterflies, while up on the higher ground are woods of ash, oak and hazel, noted for their beautiful carpets of bluebell.

Despite the wealth of wildlife on our doorsteps, Ramsbury lacks an informal body that could offer talks on subjects of interest and linked wildlife walks. When, on occasion, we have hosted such a wildlife evening, such as on the rare Duke of Burgundy, or the occasional foray to find fungi, it has proved very popular.

Downriver, Kintbury has hosted a successful wildlife group for more than thirty years, and Hungerford has its own environment action team. Closer to home, Chilton Foliat began a community wildlife project as recently as last September.

Inspired by such projects, nine of us, all residents of Ramsbury, and all (obviously!) interested in wildlife, have got together to try and start such a group. We want it to be informal, open to anyone from the village and beyond. We want to celebrate the natural diversity of the parish and its neighbours, to reveal some of its wonders, and also to suggest ways in which we can all help wildlife to thrive. Between us we have a fair amount of expertise, in animals and birds, in plants and insects, and also some knowledge of history on the ground, such as old trackways and the traditional management of grasslands and woods.

Our broad plan is to offer around three

evening talks per year, and, linked to them, also three field excursions. The first in late April, would be on birds and identifying bird song – a short walk across the river meadows at that time of year should reveal around two dozen singing birds, including cuckoo, marsh tit and up to eight kinds of warblers.

The second, in late May or early June would focus on butterflies and wild flowers, including our star, the Duke of Burgundy. And the third, in autumn, might be a fungus foray amid seasonal colours and ancient trees. With the owner’s permission, we hope that some walks will be ‘off-piste’, in places normally private. At the end of the year we intend to hold a wildlife quiz. We would advertise each event by poster, and in the village diary (and perhaps also in Whitton Ways!).

To kick off the project, we propose to hold an inaugural meeting in the village hall in early spring. We would talk about the village and why it is good for wildlife, and project some of the highlights. We would discuss how you can become involved, what we hope to achieve, and set out our programme for the first year (and, of course, be open to your suggestions on what we might do). We will probably have to make a small charge to cover the cost of the hall, and possibly the Flyer for some field trips. But otherwise the group would be kept as informal as possible.

This is very much a trial run. We hope you think this is a good idea, and a timely one. We are all concerned about climate change and the threats to our wildlife. Ramsbury is fortunate in retaining so much wildlife-rich scenery, and so many opportunities to enjoy it. We hope this will be an opportunity to find out more, and to celebrate it together.

Peter Marren

1. Burnt Copse Bluebells and Stitchwort

2. Duke of Burgundy

3. Greater Butterfly Orchid

4. Oil Beetle

5. Clifden Nonpareil

6. Chicken of the Woods

The Church Room

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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.)

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Interior and Exterior

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We love to do something different at our December meetings and this year we kept up the tradition with a visit from the Froxfield Pelicans Morris Dancers. After a brief introduction from their leader, Chris Carlon, they entertained us with dances in the Cotswold tradition, where they wear white clothes (blue skirts for the ladies) plus bells and handkerchiefs. The dancers then changed into black clothes covered in coloured rags to perform the darker, edgier, Border Morris. This was really dramatic stuff, with lots of clashing of heavy wooden staves. While some of the dancers were getting changed we got the chance to have a go at a fairly simple routine and, like all these things, it is much more difficult than it looks! We really enjoyed ourselves and are very grateful to the Pelicans for coming over the hill on a cold December night to entertain us.

On 5 December we welcomed friends from Aldbourne and Chilton Foliat WIs to our annual Carol Concert. This was a lovely, peaceful evening where we sang traditional carols and listened to some varied and thought-provoking readings on the theme of Friendship. Many thanks to the Aldbourne WI Choir and their pianist, everyone who decorated the Church Rooms and all of you who came. The collection raised £175 for Swindon Women’s Aid.

The early copy date prevents me telling you about our Christmas Lunch at the Crown &

Anchor and our coffee morning at the Royal British Legion, but I am sure they will be full of festive cheer.

Our next event is the New Year Party, which will be on Friday 13 January. The party will be in Ramsbury Memorial Hall at 7.30pm, with a catered 2-course meal and all drinks included. Tickets are £15 for members and £35 for guests. Tickets are now on sale in Ramsbury Post Office and must be purchased before the end of December. If anyone would like a lift to the Memorial Hall (and home again!) please speak to Mary or Rosalie.

There will be the usual coffee morning on Thursday 19 January in Poppies Cafe at the Royal British Legion Club from 10.30am onwards.

Our 2023 Programme is now complete and copies will be available at the party. There are lots of interesting things to look forward to, including a morning visit to a goat farm finishing with lunch.

The committee would like to thank everyone who has made 2022 such a happy and successful year for Ramsbury WI: we wish you all a peaceful and healthy 2023 and look forward to seeing you at our meetings.

Please contact WI@ramsbury.org or ring 520908 or 520261 if you would like any more information about Ramsbury WI.

National Garden Scheme - making millions for charity

More than £3 million were donated by the National Garden Scheme to some of UK’s best-loved nursing and health charities

Last year saw a return to near normality for garden opening and visiting for the first time in three years and, despite the prolonged drought during the summer that led many gardens to close, the National Garden Scheme announced 2022 donations totalling £3.11 million to its beneficiary charities.

The lion’s share, £2.45 million goes to some of the UK’s best-loved nursing and health charities, many of which have continued to provide vital support to the NHS and

communities across the UK in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and who are now struggling to provide services in the new cost of living crisis. These include Marie Curie and Macmillan Cancer Support. The long-term nature of funding from the National Garden Scheme allows these charities to continue the provision of critical community nursing services, end-oflife care and respite for families and carers. National Garden Scheme Chairman Rupert Tyler said: “Despite the worst of the pandemic having passed our beneficiaries continue to support those in often dire need and who have now been confronted with the challenge of the new cost of living crisis. This continues to place unbearable pressure

Supporting the National Garden Scheme this year - left to right: Arit Anderson (Trustee), Jo Whiley, Rachel de Thame (Ambassadors)

and Dame Mary Berry (President)

Photo © Lucy Hooper

on many aspects of their work, and we are delighted to be able to continue our support in such a meaningful way.”

The National Garden Scheme relies primarily on the income generated by admission at its garden gates and on the sale of plants, teas and cake. Additional income streams include fundraising events such as online talks, garden parties and commercial partnerships.

Commenting on these activities, Chief Executive George Plumptre said: “The enormous contribution by our garden owners and volunteers was added to by other fundraising activities in 2022. A special fundraising event at the iconic Temperate House at Kew raised over £48,000, and in July we hosted our third Great British Garden Party, giving the opportunity for anyone – whether they open their garden or not – to have an event with friends or family and raise funds for the National Garden Scheme, generating £30,000.”

2022 also saw two key funding milestones; more than £10 million donated to Marie Curie since our partnership began in 1996 and 10 years of continued partnership and more than £1.7 million donated to Parkinson’s UK. Parkinson’s UK now estimate that around 7,000 patients currently benefit from support from the nurse posts that have been funded by the National Garden Scheme.

“We know that the long-term continuity of our funding from year to year is very unusual and our beneficiaries have emphasised that this is a key quality in the support we are able to give to them. It is something of which we are enormously proud,”

added George Plumptre.

The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique, affordable access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens and raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake. Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors we have donated over £67 million to nursing and health charities. Founded in 1927 to support district nurses, we are now the most significant charitable funder of nursing in the UK and our beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute.

To find your perfect garden, visit ngs. org.uk, download the National Garden Scheme app or purchase the National Garden Scheme’s Garden Visitor’s Handbook, which is published annually and available via ngs.org.uk/shop and at all good book retailers.

Registered Charity 1112664

Change of date for the Christmas party

The Society’s Christmas Party has been deferred until Saturday 7th January and tickets are still available to members from the Post Office.

It should be a fun evening, with wine tasting, great food and company!

Our AGM will be on Monday 30th January at 7.30 pm in the Church Rooms, Back Lane.

Church Clear Up Challenge

Thankyou to everyone who came to the annual sweep-up and bonfire at Holy Cross Church on 26th November.

There were more leaves than usual and, after much rain in November, it was a particularly challenging job — but almost all the leaves were gathered and burned, and the remainder will be put into our green wheelie bins.

Ian McCall Ramsbury

Come along for mulled wine and a fun quiz, and to hear all about our new 2023 schedules.

Happy New Year to everyone who has supported the Ramsbury Horticultural Society this year and has come along to our shows.

Let’s hope we can get back to the ‘old normal’ this year.

Diann Barnett

The Knitting Group meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month; January’s meeting will be on the 10th from 2pm at 55a High Street. We welcome anyone who would like to come, whatever their standard of knitting. Help is always available! If you are interested please contact Estrid Eyles, 01672 520789 — or just come along.

Happy New Year to all our clients and drivers. A huge thank you to all our drivers, our committee and particularly to our coordinatorPenny Willetts, who keeps the whole show on the road.

LINK continues to support those who for one reason or another cannot drive

to medical appointments, hairdressing, shopping etc.

Ring Penny on 01672 520111 for details. The service is free. Small donations are welcome, but not essential.

As ever we need more drivers. If you could help us with driving, contact Penny for details. We pay 45p a mile and out of pocket expenses.

Ramsbury WARM Spaces

The Church Rooms will be open on SUNDAY 8th JANUARY and SUNDAY 22nd JANUARY

From 2.30pm to 4.00pm

Board games, card games, dominoes, jigsaws, plenty of chat, bring your knitting or the Sunday papers.

Tea, coffee and cake available. All welcome - don’t sit at home in the cold

Enquiries to 01672 520908

Ramsbury Silver Band

Now that the busy Christmas period is over and the carol books are put away for another year, we turn our attention to the next Spring and Summer programme. We already have booked a couple of engagements and expect also to be playing in the bandstands in Chippenham, Swindon and Newbury. So we need to learn some new pieces and to polish up old favourites.

This is a great opportunity for new players to join the band and we would be delighted to welcome brass or percussion players who have recently moved to this area or who would like to revive their playing skills. We meet every Friday 7:30 – 9:30 pm in Axford Village Hall.

We are also very willing to teach beginners, children or adults. After just a few onetoone sessions (held on Fridays immediately before the band practice), they are normally

able to sit in with the band and thus gain valuable experience of playing in a group. If you or your child wishes to try out a brass instrument (or percussion), whether or not you have some previous musical experience, do gave us a call or email. It can often be very beneficial if a child and parent learn together. Instruments are loaned free of charge as required.

We do hope to hear from you and we wish you all a Very Happy New Year.

Edward Judge07976 724550 / edward@pccare.org.uk

Tracy Smart01672 521028 / piglet.smart2@btinternet.com

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Alternatively drop it into us at 5 & 6 Whittonditch Works, Ramsbury, Wiltshire, SN8 2XB.

We offer IT support and Repairs from our offices for local businesses and residents, we also have

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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 (4th & 18th January), 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 (12th January). Leaving The Square, Ramsbury at 11.30am and returning from Newbury at 2.30pm. Fare £4.

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

TREASURER AND DRIVERS WANTED...

A very Happy New Year to one and All from all the members of Chilton Foliat WI

A New Year already and the start of a very busy one for Chilton Foliat. Julia, our secretary, has produced a full Diary of Events for this year which was presented to all the members at our Christmas Event evening in December. We start off this year on Thursday 12th January with an special Art session with Patty Medlin who will be guiding us through a still life and shading lesson. Our members had expressed help with shading as this seemes to be one of the more difficult things to achieve correctly with drawings. I am sure Patty will be the right person for the job.

In November last year, Chilton Foliat held another Quiz night in the village hall. It was a huge success, and 56 people attended the event under the wachful eye of our quiz master Peter Camfield. Peter is a brilliant quiz master putting together 40 questions which is held in two sections I can’t thank him enough for all the time and effort that he puts into these evenings for our WI. It is very much appreciated.

prizes. The treasurer of the village hall committee also made a 100 Club draw whilst a hot supper was being served. This was a hugely successful night and a welcome bonus to our WI funds.

The overall winners of the evening were Joh and her team, (pictured bottom left), who went home with a bag full of goodies. Thank you to all who supported the event.

On December 5th we travelled to Ramsbury to join their WI and members from Aldbourne for a Carols evening where we enjoyed singing along with many friends. There was a lovely set of readings from members of all three WI’s and some beautiful songs sung by the Aldbourne choir. Thank you so much Ramsbury for inviting us. It was a lovely friendly evening finished off with warm mince pies and a hot drink.

Our last meeting of 2022 was a Christmas Event evening when members were asked to produce on one A4 page a Christmas tradition in another country especially if there was a family connection. There were entries from Poland, Holland, Italy, New Zealand. Cuba and, although sadly she couldn’t be with us on the night, Chantal, (who is half Dutch), was the outright winner. It was her family connection making the traditional ‘Balkebreij’ that involves many hands to hold down the huge cooking pot as part of the tradition, as is the breaking of a wooden spoon. This swayed the judge in her favour.

Once made, this meatloaf is sliced thinly, fried in butter and served with bacon when the family returns from Midnight Mass. A lovely story and well done Chantal.

During the interval there was a raffle and we thank the Stag Services for their kind donation of a free MOT as one of the main

Each winner of all our competitions earns points that go towards the Ellen Skehan cup which is awarded at the end of the year to the member with the highest number of points achieved in that year

I was delighted at our Christmas meeting to be able to award the 2022 Cup to Carol Cook, who will be the custonian of the cup for the next 12 months.

Congratulations Carol, very well done!

After the competition the ladies sat down for some good old Britsh Christmas fayre with all the trimmings followed by the

‘secret Santa’ and some interesting games arranged by vice-president Rita Coclough. It was great fun and the hall looked very festive having been decorated partly by Rosemary Turner with some of her own garden foliage. Well done Rosemary.

We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to Thomas, (Chilton’s new landlord), Lewis and the team in the Wheatsheaf Pub for a lovely meal served in the village hall. Everyone agreed it was really delicious and we look forward to the next time.

I would also like to thank the husband ‘volunteers’ who came along on the night to help set up and clear the hall, although I’m not sure ‘volunteer’ is the correct term. They were a great help, so many thanks chaps. You did a brilliant job.

2022 has been a strange year with many highs and lows so we move on to this year with new vigour and lots of fun ahead. So, for anyone wishing to join our WI or wanting further information, please do contact the secretary through the email below.

womens.institute@chiltonfoliat.com or telephone me direct on 01488 683190

Best wishes,

Liz Outridge President

Six Centuries of Song

Bella Voce Choir are delighted to report that their recent concert ‘Six Centuries of Song’ was a great success. The choral pieces received much praise with comments like “you wouldn’t hear better choirs in London” some said they felt emotional, particularly during Mozart’s Lachrymosa and Schubert’s Sanctus which, I have to say, sounded so beautiful.

We were treated to Solos by Margaret Swan and Alice Simmons. Issy Haynes supported the choir by playing Benedictus on the Cello, what a

talented young lady!

Ian kindly ran a bar for us, with donations going to Holy Cross and the Trussell Trust, which is a local food bank charity. It is a great cause and much needed in today’s climate. Choir was supported by the usual front of house team, which was much appreciated.

Finally thank you to all who came and supported Bella Voce. We look forward to entertaining you again in the Summer. Please make a date in your diary…Saturday 17th June 2023

Bella Voce Summer Concert!

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RENOVATION AND CONSERVATION

Ramsbury Lunch Club

Wednesday 4th January and Wednesday 18th January in the Church Rooms

DECEMBER RESULTS

I have done the December 200 Club draw and because it is Christmas and I was feeling generous, we have an extra first prize of £100 this month so we have our usual prizes, plus one. The winners are £100 to Janet Hierons and also £100 to Lionel Barnes, £50 to each of Margaret Mitson, Veena Nandha, Sarah Kinch, Alison Seaton and Mark Graham, and £25 to each of David Langton, Hilary Hicklin, John Herbertson, Saskia Stephenson, Chris Morgan and Geoff Doel. Well done to the winners and huge thanks to all our supporters this year and a Happy Christmas to everyone!

Net Zero Ambitions For Ramsbury

We, our children and grandchildren are facing a climate emergency of a kind that humanity has not recently faced. In the meantime, Vladimir Putin’s war with Ukraine has reminded us how much we depend for our oil and gas on countries over which we have little economic and political control.

Part of the solution has to come from the global politicians and business leaders who attended last month’s COP 27 meeting in Egypt. But there is also a lot that can be tackled at the level of local communities like ours.

Useful amounts of electricity are already coming from the solar farm at the top of Spring Hill, the panels on people’s roofs and the heat pumps in their gardens. But there is the potential for much, much more. By combining the energy of the sun, wind, river and earth, Ramsbury’s countryside could easily produce enough carbon-free electricity to meet the needs of its 2,000 people, not only now but far into the future.

What’s more, our long tradition of selfhelp means we are ideally placed to work together to make much more efficient use

of the energy we already consume. Play our cards right and we could transform ourselves into a self-sufficient community long before Britain as a whole meets its netzero target.

Our neighbours in Hungerford, Marlborough and Great Bedwyn are already further down the road than we are. But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t catch them up if that’s what we really wanted to do.

One obvious starting point would be to use a physical meeting plus social media to spark a creative conversation about how Ramsbury should respond to the climate change and energy emergencies. What do we need to do next and who can help us on our journey?

But before even that can happen, a core group of volunteers would need to come together to at least get the show on the road. If you think you might be interested in taking part, or have a special interest in any particular aspect of the low-carbon agenda, then do please drop me a line at rowanwhimster@gmail.com

Rowan Whimster

Holy Cross Lunch Aids Help For Ukraine

Holy Cross’s annual fund-raising lunch supporting Caragh Booth’s charity for Ukraine was held on Tuesday 15th November 2022 in Susie Eliot-Cohen’s Shoot Room at Hilldrop — with Ukrainethemed food and a raffle.

Caragh was eloquent on the needs and impressive in what she has already achieved. We raised £1,410 that went directly to the charity in the name of our church.

Caragh, who is based in Axford and Somerset, along with a small group of friends and relations, and taking no money for themselves, has raised so much money she had now joined forces with a similar group and become a registered charity! Full details can be found on an email from Susie Eliot-Cohen to the Friends of Holy Cross.

Caragh invited the committee to Great Hidden Farm on 28th November to help pack and see off the very large lorry bound for Ukraine. It was loaded with a large hospital size generator and many smaller generators, as well as carefully-labelled packs of winter clothes. There were also other necessities, and gaily-wrapped Christmas presents for children. If you happened to hear the Radio 4 news on Sunday 4th December you would have heard an interview with Caragh who had flown out to Ukraine to join the lorry. It had been held up by the French at the border and was stuck again at the Polish/Ukraine border. Its load will have to be split up into smaller vehicles because the local roads are in a

their destination.

Jane Sykes

very bad state. The ever-energetic Caragh is there to see that all goes according to plan and the important supplies reach

Jobs for this month

Trees, shrubs and flowers

• Sow sweet peas indoors individually in 9cm (3in) pots

• Remove the old leaves from Hellebore hybrids so that the emerging flowers show up well

• Although the winter may seem wet, planted-up containers positioned against walls or that are sheltered by the house eaves or a balcony can still dry out, so water them from time to time

• Check for black spot on pansies and violas, and remove infected leaves (if the plants are badly affected it’s best to dispose of them). Deadhead the plants regularly to prolong flowering

• Move Christmas-flowering daffodils outdoors once they’ve finished flowering. Remove the spent flowers and feed regularly with a highpotassium fertiliser until the foliage dies down

• Continue pruning roses in frost-free spells

• Plant bare-root roses, shrubs, hedging and ornamental trees, so long as the ground isn’t frozen

• Many deciduous trees can be pruned now, as the leaves have fallen and the branch structure is easy to see.

Growing Nandina

Nandina domestica, also known as ‘heavenly bamboo’ or ‘sacred bamboo’, is an elegant evergreen shrub that originally came from China. Despite its common name, acquired because of its religious associations in China and later Japan, and its similarity in looks to bamboo, Nandina is not a bamboo at all but is related to the Berberis family. It is a good alternative to bamboo as it does not have the invasive

Fruit and vegetables

• Winter prune fruit trees, removing any dead or damaged branches and thinning congested ones

• Spray fruit trees with a winter wash

• Force rhubarb for an early crop by covering plants with a forcing jar or an upturned plant pot. If you use an upturned pot, make sure the drainage holes are covered to exclude the light

• Sow winter salads in a greenhouse, conservatory or on a sunny windowsill, for harvests within a few weeks

Garden maintenance

• Check bird baths regularly and top up with fresh water

• Clean and sharpen you gardening tools ready for the new season

• Sprinkle an all-purpose fertiliser along the base of hedges and around shrubs

• Clean out and scrub bird feeders regularly to maintain hygiene

• Clear soggy leaves, algae and moss from paths, patios, decking and steps

• Trim back ivy, Virginia creeper and other climbers that have outgrown their space, before birds start nesting

• Give your lawn mower a basic service or take it to a dealer for maintenance while it’s not in use season

• Clean greenhouses, staging pots and seedtrays ready for the coming growing season.

character of some bamboos and it provides much more interest. It is a shrub with something to offer in all seasons – its delicate evergreen foliage has red or purple tints in spring, and in summer some varieties bear sprays of tiny white flowers followed by green berries that turn bright red in autumn, as the foliage takes on fiery red or bronze tints. The berries and foliage remain on the plant throughout winter, giving colour and interest.

Nandina is a fairly compact plant, the taller varieties reaching about 2m (6 feet or so) in height, smaller ones up to about a metre (3 ft), making the latter good candidates for container growing. They are not difficult to grow but give them a warm sunny spot to encourage the berries to form, and a well-drained, moisture retentive, slightly acidic soil, enriched with some humus and a mulch of bark chippings. If you plant one in a container, choose John Innes No 3 compost, don’t allow it to dry out but avoid waterlogging, and feed regularly with a rose food or a tree or shrub food. Nandinas are hardy and low maintenance, needing only a light trim in the spring to maintain their shape and are generally pest and trouble free.

The species plant, Nandina domestica, is an elegant slow-growing shrub up to 2m (6.5 feet) high by 1.5 m wide (5 feet) that produces good flowers and berries. There are also very good named varieties such as:

• Nandina domestica ‘Fire Power’: compact (50cm (20 ins) high), with striking red and bronze foliage in winter, but doesn’t produce berries very often

• Nandina domestica ‘Richmond’: up to 2m (6.5 ft) high; a reliable berryproducer, with reddish tinges to the foliage in spring settling to green in summer and purplish tints in winter

• Nandina domestica ‘Seika’: compact –height up to 70cms (28 ins); the foliage of this cultivar is a fiery red at first, turning green through the summer and red again in autumn. Typical white flowers appear in summer, followed by berries

• Nandina domestica ‘Magical Lemon and Lime’: reaches a height of 1m (39 ins); grown for its striking, dazzling yellowgreen foliage so needs full sun for the best colour as the leaves fade to pale green in the shade. It rarely flowers

• Nandina domestica ‘Sunset’: up to 1.5m high (5 ft); an upright shrub, its new leaves tinged purple maturing to dark

green, and typical small white flowers followed by berries

• Nandina domestica ‘Gulf Stream’: up to 90cms (35ins) high; bronze and red foliage in winter; no flowers or berries

Susie Whimster

Nandina Domestica ‘Fire-Power’

Nandina domestica with berries

Nandina domestica, flowers

New Poppy Appeal organiser

Bob Foale was ‘understudy’ to Paul Snook in organising last year’s Poppy Appeal and now steps up to take over the role.

“I know I have some big boots to fill,” he says. “It was an eye-opener for me as to how much work Paul has put in over the years. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes, but I have been keen to pick it up and know I’ll always have Paul to fall back on for a gentle steer or advisory prompt. It’s been a tough few years for everyone, but we’re all aware of the generosity shown by everyone, and the RBL is very grateful.

“The annual Poppy Appeal is an important date in the calendar, and it’s important we all remember those who went before us,” he adds.

Paul Snook reflects on his 17 years overseeing the Poppy Appeal in Ramsbury and Axford:

“The Royal British Legion (RBL) has always been of great of importance to me as during my 41 years in the Royal Air Force, from joining as an apprentice fitter to becoming a specialist aircrew navigator, I was able to observe many instances where the RBL played a key role in providing support to serving and ex-serving members of the armed forces and/or their families in times of need.

“On reaching full time retirement age, I was approached and asked if I would take over the role of Poppy Appeal Organiser (PAO) for the Ramsbury RBL Branch — this I readily accepted enabling me to continue to support this Charity in a proactive way.

“Having served for the past 17 years as PAO, I feel now there is a need to hand over the baton to a younger person with fresh ideas

and new energy to take things forward. This, I found in my successor Bob Foale — also an ex-serviceman. He has a clear understanding of the work involved and the ability to fulfil the post. I will continue to provide support and work

alongside him for as long as he feels it is necessary.

“I am very grateful to the many, many people in and around the Ramsbury and Axford area who have supported me with their time and effort over all these 17 years, thus helping raise almost £63,000 towards this worthy charity.

Handing over to a worthy successor. Bob takes over from Paul to continue the tradition of the annual Poppy Appeal in Ramsbury and Axford

Methodist Church Services

Sunday 1st January 10.30am Local Arrangement Service.

Sunday 8th January 10.30am Service led by Local Preacher.

Sunday 15th January 10.30am Service led by Local Preacher.

Dear All

As it quietens down after the busy Christmas period, how are you feeling? What is often known as ‘the twelve days of Christmas’ runs from 25th December to 5th January, and brings us in to Epiphany Eve. This is the time, as we know it, when a bright star from the east appeared to The Three Kings, or Wise Men. They followed the star to Bethlehem, and travelled for a long time on their camels, as the story goes. When they arrived they found the Baby Jesus, the son of God. Just imagine the excitement on their faces! As love shone round, all the stars begin to shine. Our services this month begin with a local arrangement. Which lucky steward will have the pleasure of organising the service? Come along and join us for our services at Aldbourne. All are welcome.

Warm Places is working with the Aldbourne Churches Together, The Junction, the Parish Council and others. Our Methodist Church is joining in and will be open for hot drinks & biscuits on

Poppy Appeal success

The Ramsbury and Axford Poppy Appeal has raised £3243.52 towards this year’s Royal British Legion welfare programme. The congregation at the Holy Cross Remembrance service generously gave £508.24 of which £265.00 was in Gift Aid. Children from Ramsbury School once again respectfully laid their Poppy

Sunday 22nd January 10.30am Service led by Mark Barrett

Sunday 29th January 10.30am

Service led by Revd David Gray

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

Tuesdays between 10am - 12noon. Then, on the second and fourth Thursday of the month, we will provide a warming soup lunch accompanied by a roll & hot drink. Everyone is welcome to drop in.

Coffee Mornings at the Lychgate restart on Thursday January 19th at 9.30am. Do join us.

Thursday January 26th - 9.30am. Join us for coffee.

We look forward to seeing you all every Thursday from 9.30am. This is also a warm place to be to chat with friends and enjoy a time of being together. We swap puzzles and books and raise a little money to support local charities. See you there!

New year Blessings, Your Church Steward

Julie Coe

Posies during the reading of the Roll of Honour.

My sincere thanks to all those who gave their time and enthusiastic help in supporting this year’s Appeal.

Paul Snook Poppy Appeal Organiser

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

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LTA South West Region Club of the Year 2017

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.

• To book for the 4.00pm service on the 29th January, contacxt Beth on whittonteamrector@

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.

gmail.com or 01672 520235.

• 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 January 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 -