Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Page 1
Biddestone Broadsheet Full colour issue online : www.biddestonevillage.org.uk
August 2017 No 443
Page 2
Editorial Committee [email protected] Editor Linda Lobl-Smith Home Farm 714475 Treasurer Annalisa Duff Willow Lodge 712247 Carolyn Madley Stonehaven, The Green 712831 Julie Walton The Old Rectory 701784 Mary Mullens Parkers Farm Bungalow 714399
Biddestone Broadsheet and the website seek to reflect the life and interests of the village. Written contributions are invited from readers on any subject that will be of interest. Photos, Drawings and Art work would also be welcome. Any opinions expressed or implied within this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor or Committee and no responsibility can be accepted for any errors of fact printed in these pages. We will of course endeavour to be as accurate as possible.
Last copy date 3rd Sunday in the month, copy should be sent to the Editor at the email address above.
Biddestone Village Website www.biddestonevillage.org.uk A full colour version of the Broadsheet can be found online, If you do not wish to have your contact details published
online then please make the editor aware of your preference. Any other notices or contributions to be posted specifically
on the website should be sent to the email address above. The website also has a live feed from the Biddestone Village Face-
book page ( you can view this without having your own Facebook account )
To post an item on the Facebook page, please email [email protected]
To post an item on the Biddestone Village Website, please contact the Editor Linda Lobl-Smith
Classes available in Biddestone Village Hall Monday 8.00 am – 5.00 pm Play Therapy Sarah Bentley – 07771923097 or [email protected] Monday 9.45 – 11.45 am Painting Group Sue Tennant – 01249 720615
Monday 8.00 – 10.00 pm Hips & Haws Clog Jan Field – 01380 827140 or [email protected] Tuesday 9.00 – 10.00 am Real Life Yoga Emma Cawthra – 07771662567 or [email protected]
Tuesday 7.00 – 9.00 pm Iyengar Yoga Class Edgar Stringer - [email protected] Wednesday 10.00 – 11.30 am Iyengar Yoga Class Lydia Holmes – [email protected]
Wednesday 10.00 – 12.00 am Writing Group Tim Smith – 01249 714455 or [email protected]
Wednesday 2.00 – 4.00 pm Womens Institute
(3rd Wednesday in month)
Wednesday 6.00 – 7.00 pm Circuit Training
Simon Bennett 07815619138 or [email protected]
Thursday 9.00 – 10.00 am Real Life Yoga Emma Cawthra – 07771662567 or [email protected] Thursday 10.30 – 11.30 am Pilates for beginners/intermediate The Stonehouse Clinic -01249 700417 or stonehouseclin-ic.co.uk
Friday 10.00 am – 12 noon Yoga with Naomi Naomi Seager 07727124097 or www.pranastar.co.uk Friday 6.30 – 8.00 pm Yoga for healthy Backs, Knees and Shoulders - Lydia Holmes – [email protected]
Sunday 5.15 – 6.15 pm or 6.30 – 7.30 pm Real Life Yoga Emma Cawthra – 07771662567 or emma-
Bridge Club It has been suggested that there might be enough demand for a Biddestone social bridge group to be formed, maybe to play once a month or possibly more. Anyone interested should contact; Ian Smith 01249 714475 Jane Iggulden 01249 713311
Page 3
Front Cover: Fete day, thank you to Nigel Ross-Smith for the photo
Welcome to Andrew Bell and his daughter Venetia who have recently moved into The Cottage on The Green, and to
Matthew and Angela Smith and their dog, Badger who have moved into 1 Church Cottages.
We hope you enjoy living in Biddestone and look forward to getting to know you.
Donations The Broadsheet would like to thank the fete committee for the generous donation of £850, plus another
£10 from a village resident.
A large white ceramic baking dish has been found after the Fete most probably from the fairy cake competition. If it
is yours please call Helen at Pool Farm on 07765863876.
I have 3 unclaimed plates in Willowbrook where the cake stall was held at the fete.in June. One is large in white/
cream and a very nice edging. Made by Coach House, the other two are a little smaller, made by Sabichi and in plain
cream. Please call before collecting to make sure I am in. 01249 713170 Andi Ewen
Beware! I have been contacted by Liz Hodges in Slaughterford about a scam phone call purporting to be from BT
regarding problems with her computer. She said they were very plausible and became quite indignant when she que-
ried them. Do not be caught out, Liz knew that it was a scam because she does not own a computer! See pg 11
July 2017
Record of meeting of Biddestone & Hartham Women’s Institute, 19 July 2017
Carol welcomed 11 members and one visitor to her home for our annual Garden Party. It was warm enough to sit outside in her lovely garden, and we spent time chatting together and enjoying the wide variety of food provided by members. In the brief business meeting, chaired by Val R., the Minutes of the June meeting were taken as read, and there were no Matters Arising. Val read out a note received from Jo, and in return a card signed by all present was sent to her. Correspondence. Reminder about the Grand Auction in aid of Denman on 19 August. Orders for 2018 calendars and diaries to be in by 18 August. August outing. Confirmed as lunch at the Flemish Weaver followed by a visit to Corsham Court on 16 August. Numbers of those interested were given to Betty. It was agreed that the quiz prepared by Val S-J and Alison should be held over to the Christmas Party. Challenge. Val S-J reported that the potatoes grown by members were being weighed, and the result would be an-nounced at the September meeting. Val R. thanked Carol for her hospitality.
Children Wanted!
Your Broadsheet needs you!
Wondering what to do in the summer holidays? Get creative,
we want your artwork, poems, short stories, puzzles, jokes,
reviews of games, films or books; do you have a favourite place
you always visit in holidays like Bowood or Longleat? Tell us
about it or anything else you would like to share about Bid-
destone or the area around us.
We are launching a competition for the front cover of the Sep-
tember issue, an original artwork of approx. A4 size. The dead-
line for this and all other items is August 18th.
You can email your entries to [email protected]
or give it to a member of the committee or drop it into Home
Farm.
Good Luck!
Page 4
Little Challows – Graham Priest
Most visitors, as well as recent residents, may not realise that Bid-destone has three greens. The oldest, The Butts may date from the ear-liest recorded archery law of 1252. [Fig.1] The 'Assize of Arms' (Ordinance) of King Henry III ordered that all English:- "...citizens, burgesses, free tenants, villeins and others from 15 to 60 years of age..." should be armed to aid in the defence of the realm and in loyalty to the monarch. The poorest were expected to have a halberd and knife, as well as a bow if they owned land worth more than £2. Edward III's later law of 1363 commanded obligatory practice of ar-chery on Sundays and holidays. This:- "...forbade, on pain of death, all sport that took up time better spent on war training especially archery practice". Butts (probably derived from the Anglo French word 'bouter' to expel) were located on flat ground near the edges of settlements and were to be at least 219yards (200m) in length. Targets were a number of circular, turf-covered mounds with level tops 6.5 ft (2m) to 26.25ft (8m) across and 3.3ft (1m) to 10ft (3m) in height. No trace of these edifices remained at Biddestone. The directives were in force for centu-ries. The 'North Wiltshire Muster Roll' Anno 30 Henry VIII (1539) recorded the 'Tything of Bittson' and noted:- “The whole Tything hath in redyness a bowe and scheffe of arrowes, with other small wepyns. Archers:- Robert Smyth, Willwam Nowell, Thomas Austen, John Kyl-bery & William Batten. Byllmen:- Thomas Halbart, John Fletcher, Roger Kylbery, Thos Marshe and William Bonde”. The butts have re-verted to nature now; only used by dog walkers etc. The iconic open area of The Green likely originated after 1661 when William Mountjoy of Biddestone Manor damned the Wavering stream to create the pond. [Fig.2] Until surrounded by stone dwellings in the early 18th century this was marshy ground with an open sewer/drain running through it. Traces of one original outfall existed to this day in the basement of Willow House, built in 1730. John Aubrey men-tioned the effluent when describing the formation of the pond:- “...improvement is chiefly from the nitre, although the filth of the street helps”. It was probably a Turnpike Trust c.1743 that piped the Waver-ing and so created the level grassed area we see today. When Lord Methuen enclosed Home Fields in 1742 and then a complete 'Enclosure Award' was published in 1812, both open sites became 'common' land. This was owned collectively by several per-sons, usually from adjacent residences, who had traditional rights that allowed livestock to graze and firewood or turf to be cut for fuel. These individuals were 'commoners'. Just beyond living memory chicken co-ops, tethered goats etc. used the greens. Plough horses and cattle drank from the pond and the water was also used to soak wooden wagon wheels or withies for basket making (The Butts). [Fig.3] Although manicured, walked by tourists and used for village events little regular communal domestic activity takes place on the The Green today. On 1st March 1965 a plan for the third Biddestone green at Little Challows was established. Reginald George Hibberd sold a field off Challows Lane ('Challey' on a plan), once called 'Woods Close', to Smith & Lacey (Developments) Ltd. [Fig.4] This company, based at Pound Mead Corsham, designed a small estate of seven detached and twelve semi-detached houses accessed by a road from The Tynings to Challows Lane. A 1950s bungalow on the corner of the site, also built by Reg Hibberd for his son Wilfred, was called Little Challows (now 'Kingsmead') hence the title of the new development. [Figs.5 & 6] We bought 'No.2' on 27th July 1967, married on 5th August and have enjoyed Biddestone life ever since. This was the 'Show House', hence being the last one empty. The term simply meant that the ceilings were lime-washed and the walls distempered, other tenants had to paint their own! The kitchen had two power sockets (one linked to a cooker point) and a sink. Tongue & groove wooden floors were hand sanded then varnished and extra electrical fittings installed, partly to run an electrical storage heating system as there was no coal gas supply. The gardens had been made from a fallow field, used as a log store for 14 years, so the weeds at the rear were taller than an adult. [Fig.7] The builders were persuaded to rotovate the ground but this left tons of 'brash' and of course chopped up roots. After double-digging and much sieving a garden was created over the next 18 months. [Figs.8 & 9] Plants mushroomed! [Fig.10] Ownership of a car allowed the commute to Colerne for work but post-office & shop provided local facilities. Milk, bread, newspaper, fish, coal deliveries and two postal rounds per day were standard. Dustmen emptied galvanised bins from the rear of the properties. Despite what would now seem to be privations we real-ised how lucky we were to be away from the city in our own home.
Compared with the picturesque cottages dotted around Biddestone the houses lacked any vernacular link with the Cotswolds. The dwellings owed much to the 1961 Homes for Today and Tomorrow report of the Parker Morris Committee which established 'Parker Morris Standards' two years later. The Ministry of Housing was focused on public accommodation with its 1963 Design Bulletin 6 - Space in the Home but many private developers adopted the measures too. Over half a century later many readers may be unaware that as late as 1975 some million British homes were still rated as slums, and another 1.8 mil-lion unfit for habitation. Even in Biddestone many of the now desirable resi-dences lacked basic amenities such as bathrooms and inside toilets. A 1960s alternative for newly weds with practical skills was to buy a cheap run-down cottage and 'convert' it to 20th century standards. Others snapped up any new buildings within their price range, cheaper in the countryside because Rateable Values were less. The new rules required one interior flushing toilet, possibly in the bathroom. A semi-detached house for four/five people stipulated a net floor area of 72-82 square metres. The kitchen volume was set at 2.3 cubic metres. When the exter-nal temperature was -1°C heating systems had to maintain the kitchen and circu-lation space at 13°C and the living and dining spaces at 18°C. As a result of more affluence and large government initiatives in the 1960s/70s more homes were built in the Britain than at any other time (over 425,000 in1968). Like Little Challows the majority of houses from this period were func-tional in design so tended to be box-like. The Smith & Lacey 'House Type SDH 83' semi-detached of 3rd August 1965 had pseudo-Bath Stone coated ashlar con-crete cavity walls, substantial wooden rafters, 'Marley' concrete tiles, wooden single-glazed casement windows, a coal-fired 'Baxi' boiler for partial central heating and an electric immersion heater for hot water. Only 1.5ins of 'Vermiculite' provided insulation in the attic. Internally the open-plan dining room/lounge was still a centre for family activity, the kitchen was separate and the upstairs bathroom/toilet was adjacent to the bedrooms. A separate garage was provided. Detached houses differed in scale & heating but were broadly similar. Gardens existed at front & rear. The nineteen houses were arranged around an irregular rectangle transit-ed by a roadway but faced on to a green and open-plan gardens. Social engineer-ing was engendered as house deeds precluded garden walls or hedges, separate outbuildings, caravans etc. at the front of the properties. The large windows to oversee the space, garage provision and infrequency of vehicle movements meant the green was an ideal play area for children. Community effort was re-quired to cut the grass with hand lawn-mowers! Older children from around the village soon adopted the space as a football ground as the Sports Club did not function then. As continues to this day residents were drawn from the village itself, transient owners on the climb of the housing-ladder and incomers who adopted the longer-term 'Little Challows' lifestyle. Mainly the former & latter socialised, helped with larger chores (a communal ladder was bought), shared child-care (baby-sitting) and in the 1960s some took part in the irregular collection of cheap pianos and (in one case) hauled them upstairs! Neighbours were of various ages, marital situations and occupations. No.1 housed Des. Stoneham (& family) who was the self-employed mason re-sponsible for the site. Names are hazy from 1967 (apologies) but we recall (3) Watts - Lyons Maid salesman (4) Humphries - banking? (5) Fuge (6) ? bachelor with sports car & canoe (7) Swatton - Morris Dancer (8) Barratt(?) - spinster teacher (9) Frank & Thelma - RAF? (10) Godfrey - RAF (11) Mace - RAF (12) ? - Westinghouse (13) ? - teacher (14) young family (15) Newton - teacher & dentist (16) Hudson - (Alan Hayes' daughter – Sylvia + Roger) Westinghouse (17) Pursey - heating engineer? (18) Hazelwood - teachers (19) Hart (?) (Simon's family) - RAF. Many females were housewives and pre-school chil-dren were frequent so the green was an asset. The village school was open so the school run was short Hibberd's wood yard buzzed with activity. Firewood could be purchased and transported home in an old wooden wheelbarrow. Sometimes cattle or even the Beaufort Hunt passed through the green. Agricultural pursuits were all around and tall elms lined the fields. In 1973 Calne & District Rural Council were per-suaded to adopt the green for the 'Plant a Tree in '73' initiative. [Figs.11 & 12] Regular council grass-mowing began and householders purchased ten deciduous tree saplings to be planted by council employees. Six mature trees survived to this day and enhanced the appearance of the site. [Figs.13,14 &15] Over the 50+ years many families and our three children grew-up and enjoyed life in Little Challows. University and employment moved them to cit-ies but six grandchildren and new generations can now experience the Bid-destone environment. Cars have increased in size (and number) so few residents use their garages. Parking on the road is now constant. Traffic is greater but the green largely remains a safe place to play. [Fig.16] An annual barbecue brings householders and friends together. [Fig.17] Neighbourliness planned in 1965 worked! When our two premature girls arrived in 1977 a rota of villagers helped with the regular bottle feeding regime. A community ladder was also acquired. A village within a village? Those well built 1960s houses have been modified and improved so sell quickly to those who desire the Biddestone location with-out the complications that historic cottages bring. Gardens are mature, the green acts as a focus so hopefully life & death, arrivals & departures will continue for at least another half century!
Page 5
Fig 1 Fig 2 Fig 3
Fig 4 Fig 5 Fig 6
Fig 7 Fig 8
Fig 9 Fig 10 Fig 11
Page 6
Captions Fig.1. The Butts in April 2017 (Priest) Fig.2. The Green 1917 (Biddestone Archives) Fig.3. Biddestone Pond c.1920s with cattle (Biddestone Archives) Fig.4. The site of Little Challows (Field 117) in 1921. 113 is The Butts with pond (Ordnance Survey) Fig.5. Little Challows (North Wilts District Council) Fig.6. No.2 Little Challows after 5th August 1967 (Priest) Fig.7. Little Challows from No.2 in winter 1967. Weeds in foreground (Priest) Fig.8. Graham double-digging garden early 1968. Note the elm trees beyond Challows Lane (Priest) Fig.9. Judy finishes sieving front lawn early 1968 (Priest) Fig.10. First garden in summer 1968 (Priest) Fig.11. Ivan Priest at Little Challows after trees planted in April 1974 (Priest) Fig.12. Little Challows 1980 (Kate Hartley) Fig.13. Anya, Sonya & Ivan Priest with grandmother in September 1980. Note the tree (Priest) Fig.14. Lisa Daniels outside No.15 c.1982. The tree has been felled (Phil Daniels) Fig.15. Aerial view of Little Challows & The Butts 1986 (Martin J. Brayley) Fig.16. Little Challows 21st April 2017 (Priest) Fig.17. Little Challows barbecue 20th July 2012 (Priest)
Fig 12 Fig 13 Fig 14
Fig 15 Fig 16 Fig 17
Biddstock 2017 After the success of 2015 and raising £3,500 towards Wiltshire Air Ambulance the Biddstock team set about making the event bigger and better and grass roots by raising money for the village itself. After months of planning the 8th July came and the weather was very kind to us. We were fortunate enough to have lots of local support and all wristbands were sold out well in advance, we couldn't have asked for more support from villagers, friends, strangers and anybody else who came along. The night was a roar-ing success and we managed to raise just under £7,000 towards community facilities in the village (redevelopment of bar in village hall). We hope that you all enjoyed it as much as we did and hope to see you in 2019. Pam, Matt, Gordon, Andy, Mike and Tom.
Page 7
Edward Bear met again this month in Biddestone Church for songs, stories, games and crafts. This month we learnt about "The Lost Sheep". If you would like to be part of Edward Bear please contact [email protected]
Page 8
Beans in Blossom
The south-west wind! how pleasant in the face It breathes! while, sauntering in a musing pace, I roam these new ploughed fields; or by the side
Of this old wood, where happy birds abide, And the rich blackbird, through his golden bill,
Utters wild music when the rest are still. Luscious the scent comes of the blossomed bean,
As o'er the path in rich disorder lean Its stalks; when bees, in busy rows and toils, Load home luxuriantly their yellow spoils.
The herd-cows toss the molehills in their play; And often stand the stranger's steps at bay, Mid clover blossoms red and tawny white,
Strong scented with the summer's warm delight.
John Clare 1793-1864
Thank you to Hilary Noyes for this months poetry selection
The Legs There was this road, And it led up-hill, And it led down-hill, And round and in and out. And the traffic was legs, Legs from the knees down, Coming and going, Never pausing. And the gutters gurgled With the rain's overflow, And the sticks on the pavement Blindly tapped and tapped. What drew the legs along Was the never-stopping, And the senseless, frightening Fate of being legs. Legs for the road, The road for legs, Resolutely nowhere In both directions.
My legs at least Were not in that rout: On grass by the roadside Entire I stood, Watching the unstoppable Legs go by With never a stumble Between step and step. Though my smile was broad The legs could not see, Though my laugh was loud The legs could not hear. My head dizzied, then: I wondered suddenly, Might I too be a walker From the knees down? Gently I touched my shins. The doubt unchained them: They had run in twenty puddles Before I regained them. Robert Graves 1885-1985
Page 9
Biddestone village fete 2017
What a superb day it was. Gorgeous weather, so many stalls with something for everybody and hordes of very happy people. We got chatting to a family who had travelled from Lincolnshire for the fete for a third year in a row as they had so enjoyed the last two. With the very popular addition this year of the Pimms Tent I suspect that they might be back next year too! Having been surprised in 2015 that prep for the Fete 2016 started in November!?! It was once again clear that the undertakings, effort and commitment was reminiscent of the run-up to the D-Day landings with incredible effect! All of the stalls were very popular – the coconut shy and bric-a-brac stalls doing a roaring trade, with the regular ding of the strongman hammer and the occasional ‘wanged’ wellie, clipping a tree or small child (or was that just me!?). Mike’s skittle alley promised prizes for all willing to have a go but none could out-do a heavily pregnant Helen Benton – Gladiator Supreme, on almost every event for which there was a prize! New arrivals also seemed to do well; the Pimms Tent would have proved popular in a thunderstorm but given the glorious weather, provided welcome refreshment for most of the fete goers! Being charged with selling the hair garlands was a fabulous job which meant that Caoimhe, Rosie, Sofie and Orla were able to wander around and enjoy all the atmosphere the fete had to offer. The garlands were a very popular addition to the fete, helped no doubt by the girls modelling them so beautifully and their incredible sales technique. It wasn’t long before Matt Powell had to, begrudgingly, give up his personal stock to the girls, as was the efficiency with which they carried out their task. It was such a lovely family day and it is clear why everyone talks so highly of the Biddestone Fete (nationwide by all accounts). Record takings of over £7,000 were made on the day, much of which will go to local charities (more news of which to follow). The lack of torrential downpour this year meant that the fun carried on for quite a while after! We’re looking forward to 2018 already.
Orla O’Sullivan
Bash the Rat prize win-
Almost there!
Bric-a-Brac
Page 10
Cakes a Plenty! Cupcake Competition
Ducks always popular
Face Painting
Lucky Dip
Splash the Rat
Art Competition
Many thanks to Nigel Ross-Smith for the splendid selection of photographs of the fete!
Page 11
Farming Notes “Whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass grow upon a spot where only one grew before, would do better for mankind and do more essential service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together” Thus spoke Jonathan Swift in Gullivers Travels in 1704. What was true then is as true now especially as the achievements of politicians at present are set at such a vanishingly low level. It is a wonder of nature and testament to farming that one single grain of wheat at sowing can be turned into 50 at harvest. That harvest is almost upon us. Coming out of London on the GWR the other day down through the Badlands of Berkshire, passed the always mystical Uffington white horse, marking the start of the great southern chalk uplands, I saw field after field of ripening grain, the early crops of oilseed rape and winter sown barley were already cut and I thought that this was at least a land at peace where only cataclysmic weather would stop the com-bines and prevent the storage of enough food for the coming winter. Not only safely stored but at the owners discretion to sell to the highest bidder as and when he sees fit. This may
seem an arcane point, but it is not. That crop is legally owned by he who produced it, in England at least, no-one with
a stronger band of mates can take it and no government agency can appropriate it. This is surely a corner stone of a
society run, whatever its faults, on the rule of law and explains why democracies so rarely seem to suffer from hunger
and want.
Ian Smith
Tech Support Scams continue to gain new victims
Tech support phone scams have now been targeting Internet users around the world for a number of years. Despite widespread publicity about these scams, they continue to gain new victims every day. An Overview Of The Scam You receive a phone call from a person who claims to be a tech support worker. The person warns that your comput-er has developed a problem and offers to help you fix it immediately. However, the person is not a legitimate tech support worker and he is certainly not calling to help you. If you comply, the scammer will instruct you to download and install remote access software; this allows the scam-mer to take control of your computer remotely, ostensibly so that the viruses can be removed. In reality, the scam-mer will install malware on your computer. The scammer may also demand that you pay an immediate fee for their services and insist that you provide credit card details.
An Evolving Ploy When these scams first appeared back in 2010, the majority of the scammers purported to be from software giant Microsoft. Nowadays, the scammers have refined their strategies. Some may claim to be from high profile Internet security companies such as Symantec, which owns the well-known Norton anti-virus software. However, many of the phone scammers now claim to be from Internet Service Providers (ISPs). For example BT or Sky. The ISP cover story is perhaps a little more believable because your ISP might actually contact you by phone if it discovers a problem related to your account. Latter-day scammers also tend to be even more aggressive and threatening than they were in the past. They will warn that, if you do not deal with the problem, your service will be disconnected and you will be sued by your ISP or even the government.
How To Recognise These Scams and Avoid Becoming a Victim Firstly, keep in mind that companies such as BT and Microsoft will never cold-call you about supposed infection or hacking attack. These companies will sell you software or Internet services, but they are not monitoring your com-puter for problems. If it detects a problem with your account, your ISP may call to discuss the issue. But, they will not demand that you allow them remote access to your computer, and they will not insist that you immediately pay over the phone to fix a supposed problem. Be very cautious of any phone call that makes such a request in any form. And do not give any personal or financial information, even if they become demanding or aggressive. If in doubt hang up and call the company back to check. But, don’t use a phone number supplied by the caller. Instead, find a contact number via a telephone directory or a company website or letter.
How You Can Help The best way to thwart these insidious criminals is to make sure that as many people as possible know about their scam calls. Don’t assume that all your friends, family members or work mates are aware. You might be surprised. Talk about the scams, and, if necessary, take the time to bring people up to speed. Spreading the word can really help! Get up to date information on the latest scams by going online at Hoax-slayer and Snopes. Source: http://www.hoax-slayer.com/ http://www.snopes.com/
Page 12
Biddestone Village Spring Clean
Although we did not organise a village spring clean in April, we are planning an event towards the end of
September.
Watch the Broadsheet for dates and details. Will be great to get as may helpers as possible!
Biddestone PC.
Village Steward The Parish Steward will be in Biddestone & Slaughterford on 20th and 24th July and 21st and 25th September. Clearing growth from drainage grips, drain gully covers. Hand clearing of blocked drains, gullies, grips, culverts. Unable to jet wash. Painting pedestrian barriers. Clean-ing and securing road signs. Removing graffiti. Hand clearance of encroaching vegetation and soil on foot-paths . Repair of small potholes on the road and foot-paths. If you need to report any work that needs carrying out contact me on 01249 715963 or owl-cottage @hotmail.co.uk Di Webb
Page 13
BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION 2017 DISTRICT ROUND
NORTH WILTS – MEDIUM VILLAGES
VILLAGE REPORTS
FINAL SCORES 66 – Biddestone 64 – Oaksey 58 – Dauntsey We were pleased to see an absence of unwarranted advertising and fly-posting in villages. And likewise with fly-tipping; though some of you mentioned it we saw none. We were pleased to see all the efforts made to improve village facilities and to encourage people into participating. Footpaths are contentious because they should be maintained by Wiltshire Council but, with fewer staff and the probable continuation of austerity, with whatever new funding is made available going to “more im-portant areas of our life”, such as NHS and the police, footpaths will continue to be near the bottom of the pile for funding. To what extent villages should take responsibility for their own footpaths is a question that should be asked. Similarly with notice boards. Does the advent of modern technology – websites, tablets, etc – mean that there is no longer a need for a notice board? This is another issue we need to consider. We thank you all for entering – whatever the problems you have had to overcome - and thank you for presenting your villages to us in such a well-kept way. BIDDESTONE Hedges, trees, walls, banks, verges were generally well maintained but, though we accepted growing of plants (intentional or not) at the base of garden walls, we were a little less happy about weeds growing at the junction of kerb and road. Residential gardens and outbuildings were also well maintained with many of them a joy to look at. The public playing field was huge and immaculate with several pavilions, including one under construction, and numerous pitches. The (club members only) tennis courts were also immaculate. The whole area is a tribute to the people who keep it in this condition. The Village Green area, which includes a well-maintained and interesting pond with lots of ducks and good clean seating, was extremely neat and tidy. The allotments were a mixed bag, some very good as your profile states but others less well-tended, a shame as the allotment movement seems to be well-supported in many villages elsewhere in the region. Some footpaths were good and walkable but others, particularly in the Challows area, were difficult or even impossible to walk. Situated in the playing field area, the Vil-lage Hall was neat and tidy with a very good and equally tidy outside seating area. The public toilets were also in a very ac-ceptably clean condition. The church, set in a conservation area, was fine, the cemetery well looked-after and the war memori-al immaculate. Of the pubs, one was To Let and the other “closed – flood in the kitchen” but both were being well-maintained. The Stud also was very neat and tidy. The telephone kiosk had some weeds growing into it but was otherwise clean and work-ing. Notice boards were a bit light on information, the one by the cemetery had a dirty glass cover which made it difficult to read the information and that at the Village Hall was good for Hall activities but not forthcoming about other goings-on in the village. There was some litter in the Challows and also the children’s play area but no fly-posting that we saw. The map was very good – features easy to see. And the overall impression is of a well looked-after village with lots of community spirit. Well done. Areas to improve (you were good and you won so don’t be offended if we say): 1 Footpaths 2 Notice boards 3 Litter
Dear Parish Clerks and Village BKVC Coordinators, I am pleased to be able to inform you that your village has been judged first in your district and size category in this year’s Wiltshire Best Kept Village Competition. The scores for all entrants will shortly be published on our web-site. Please note that you should only compare your score with that of other villages in your own district category, as different judges worked in different areas and village sizes, and each judge has a different subjective view on scores: some mark harder than others! Judging for the County Round will take place, as previously announced, on days in July but as usual no warning of those dates will be given. I shall endeavour to send your individual report on your first (district) round performance in the next few days. Best Wishes and Good Luck in the County Round. Mike Manson Mike Manson Project Officer CPRE Wiltshire
Best Kept Village 2017 Competition Update
Page 14
Abridged minutes of the meeting of Biddestone &
Slaughterford Parish Council 11th July 2017
Prior to the meeting the new Cotswold Warden for Biddestone area
introduced himself. Barry will present a report at each future Parish
Council meeting.
Following statutory requirements the following issues were discussed:.
Notification of Planning Applications Received:
17//05489/TCA St Nicholas Church, Church Road, Biddestone,
SN14 7DR
Proposal: Fell 1 Chestnut Tree 20% Crown Lift to Sycamore Tree and
Crown Lift 4 Yew Trees to 4.5 mtrs from Ground Level on Road Side.
NO OBJECTIONS
17/05826/LBC Home Place, The Green, Biddestone, SN14 7DG
Proposal: Removal of Internal Wall Between Kitchen & Dining Room
NO OBJECTIONS
Finances: Current Account £42958.20 #2 Account £5495.29
Accounts for Payment July 2017 £372.96 proposed by AJ and AP-
PROVED
Grant Request from Wiltshire Citizens Advice – Deferred to next
meeting
Representatives & Working Party Reports:
Chippenham Area Board- next meeting 26th June. RdF attended
CAB budget £139,108.00 includes £11,000 CATG budget for pave-
ments and paths.
CATG – SB attended. The two request for drop kerbs in Biddestone
were unsuccessful.as they were not considered to be for the public
good. SB will inform the two parties concerned.
Representatives & Working Party Reports:
Chippenham Area Board- next meeting 26th June. RdF attended
CAB budget £139,108.00 includes £11,000 CATG budget for pave-
ments and paths.
CATG – SB attended. The two request for drop kerbs in Biddestone
were unsuccessful.as they were not considered to be for the public
good. SB will inform the two parties concerned.
Parish Forum- Announcement that Planning Training will take place
on 26th September in Chippenham. Morrison’s recycling depot to
close.
Parish Steward’s Report – DW liaison. Mark to concentrate on drains,
gullies and weed-killing
Police & Neighbourhood Watch Update – Building equipment from
‘Old Brewery’Slaughterford stolen
Slaughterford Update – Broadband – AW lead Rep Gigaclear are
working with Wiltshire Council to provide broadband to those houses
not covered by BT by 2019, however Honeybrook Farm is still unable
to get broadband through either scheme.
CPRE Best Kept Village – 1st place awarded in the District round, the
village now goes on to the Regional Round.
Request for One Day Filming in December – ‘Production company for ‘Christmas Candle’ have made tentative enquiries regarding a possible one days filming in December. Council agreed this would be accepta-ble.
There being no further business the meeting ended at 9.00pm
The full version of the PC minutes can be found online
www.biddestonevillage.org.uk
AUGUST RECIPE A different way to use rhubarb RHUBARB FOOL Serves 4 700g rhubarb 75g soft brown sugar Zest and juice of 1 orange 1 ball of chopped stem ginger in syrup or 1tsp of ground ginger 500g Greek yoghurt Thinly sliced orange halves for decoration
1. Cut rhubarb into 5cm lengths and place in a shallow baking dish with the sugar, orange and ginger.
2. Bake in the oven at 180C for 30mins and allow to cool. 3. Puree the cooled rhubarb and then stir into the Greek yoghurt. 4. Arrange the thinly sliced oranges halves in an overlapping pattern on top of the
rhubarb and yoghurt mixture and serve chilled. By Julie Walton
Page 15
This crossword was first published in ‘The Honeycomb’ in August 2013
ACROSS 1. A tin so useful for this plant. (8) 6. Cent is made to purchase the most pleasant thing. (6) 9. Local village disconcerted to let Wilts net council tax. (4, 9) 10. Show off let N fault exceptional cards. (6) 11. Bare handed, neglected sat about start of gas heater. (8) 13. In a pot he, Caryl, was a preparer and seller of drugs to Romeo. (10) 15. River garden for old Prime Minister. (4) 16. Curé dressed in this colour? (4) 18. Back air current for renewed energy? (6, 4) 21. Apple young lover gives to helmsman. (8) 22. One of four down’s pieces perched on large container?(6) 23. Mat teacher can use to define school’s intake. (9, 4) 25. Man! Sounds like I put down plane. (6) 26. Local hamlet land gone astray. (4, 4) DOWN 2. Intimidate with petticoat for this bloomer… (7) 3. …while broken urn must, as it were, contain these flowers. (11) 4. Composer mars part of his famous suite? (5) 5. Japanese fruit sold by 6 down? Not that variety as a must in her day! (7) 6. Hear toll and smile said with speech impediment for Charles’ girl! (4, 5) 7. Small bed found in Scottish hotel. (3) 8. Feelings held in since reading this - heartfelt! (7) 12. Maiden wept: three down must not be this! (11) 14. Confused heads went wrapped in cloth literarily? (9) 17. Choc ices only cold twice give a range of possibilities. (7) 19. Hide with sign of document’s authenticity heard. (7) 20. Idyllic place within souvenir van always carried. (7) 22. Posed in glossy fabric. (5) 24. Drink for side man short. (3)
1 2 3 4 5 a 6 7 8
a a a a a a a a
a 9 a
a a a a a a a a a
10 a 11 12
a a a a a a a a a
13 14 a 15
a a a a a a a a a a a
16 17 a 18 19 20
a a a a a a a a a
21 a 22
a a a a a a a a a
a 23 24 a
a a a a a a a a
25 a 26
Page 16
CHURCH SERVICES FOR AUGUST 2017
ST. NICHOLAS, BIDDESTONE 6 Holy Communion 11.00 a.m. 13 Farewell Service for Rev. Ness Whiffin – Holy Communion, Kington St. Michael 10.00 a.m.
Evensong 6.00 p.m. 20 Morning Praise 9.30 a.m.
Every Wednesday there is a service at 9.15 a.m. This is either Holy Communion or Morning Prayer and includes prayers for the suffering.
ST. NICHOLAS, SLAUGHTERFORD 13 Farewell Service for Rev. Ness Whiffin – Holy Communion, Kington St. Michael 10.00 a.m. BENEFICE SERVICE 27 Holy Communion, North Wraxall 10.00 a.m. St. Nicholas ‘Coffee in Church’ every Thursday 10.30 a.m. – midday. (There will be no Edward Bear Club meetings in August.) Any arrangements for marriages, baptisms and funerals or any other enquiries can be made at the Benefice Office, The Bell Inn, Yatton Keynell, SN14 7BG. 01249 782704 [email protected] www.bybrook.org.uk
St Nicholas ‘Coffee in Church’ every Thursday 10.30am—midday
Full colour issue online: www.biddestonevillage.org.uk
* STOP PRESS* Missed the BBS deadline? have something urgent to tell the village? Lost dog, cat ,phone! An event to publicise? Then put it on the Village Facebook page, contact Anita or Linda at [email protected]
