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News from Axford Chilton Foliat Froxfield Ramsbury and Baydon May 2020 60p
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HITTON WAY S
March 2020 will surely be remembered for the many changes that each of us has had to make in our life style - having to avoid close contact with others - discouragement of visits to or from our children - being limited to one walk per day - to name but a few.
One of the main lessons that we can learn from this is to recognise how many facilities and services we've taken for granted. Here's a thought about how to become more aware of the things we may be taking for granted. Go into each room in your house and make a list of items (either in the room or having some connection with it) which people living below the poverty line won't have. Keep a copy of the list and decide how frequently to review it. Most of us will have had to make changes to our lifestyle and to re-order our priorities. There have been many who have offered to help those in need — such as the recent government scheme to recruit helpers for the NHS which produced over 500,000 volunteers — (twice the target) in 2 days.
When a facility (or a regular event) in which we are involved is cancelled, we’ll need to decide how to re-allocate the time (beware of overusing the "well earned rest" option!) Remember Jesus' Parable of Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 makes it clear that God expects us to use what we've been given to serve Him and other people.
We need to think how we can use any extra time and to avoid the danger of feeling resentful that we're can't stay in one of our comfortable ruts! I was recently challenged by words of John Bell on Thought for the Day: "It may be that there are sides of our character, potentials within us, unfulfilled intentions which can be given space. This could be anything from tidying our affairs and making our wills, to doing all the jobs and making all the contacts which our previous busyness forbade. It might also be that this is a time in which we begin to love into life all the broken and vulnerable aspects of ourselves which have been long neglected.”
There’s also a danger that we avoid getting involved because we consider the task to be either “too simple” or “too difficult”. Saint Paul recognised this mistake by those who lived in Rome. “Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith that God has given to you all. For just as you have many members in one physical body and those members differ in their functions, so we, though many in number, compose one body in Christ and are all members of one another. Through the grace of God we have different gifts.” (JB Phillips translation of Romans 12.3)
Christian Aid Week (which is from 10-16 May), encourages us to contribute to the needs of those in underdeveloped countries where the effects of Coronovirus will be far more devastating than in UK. So let’s remember that the saying is “Charity BEGINS at home” and NOT “Charity ENDS at home”. Tony Eyles
Front Cover Pupils of Chilton Foliat School - see p. 34
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Chilton Foliat Community Action Group Chilton Foliat Parish Council have set up the Chilton Foliat Community Action Group to offer aid to any parishioner who may be selfisolating or unable, for any other reason, to get out and about. Thanks to our volunteers, over the last month we have been able to arrange for the collection of prescriptions from Ramsbury Surgery, Lambourn Surgery and Boots Pharmacy, Hungerford and have also managed to pick up groceries. If anyone in Chilton Foliat needs help with any of the following:-
• essential shopping, • collecting prescriptions, • posting letters, • or would like a friendly chat on the phone. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have been diagnosed or advised to isolate.
If you need any help please contact: Main contact: Nic Coome Telephone number: 1.07920 867542 2.01488 683753 niccoome@fastmail.co.uk
Alternative contact: Steve Campbell You are not alone; a member Telephone number: of our local community ac- 1.07500 895938 tion group will then contact 2.01488 683745 you to try to provide support campbells79@hotmail.com from within the village. This is not an alternative to the Soley Area: Rachel Sutton NHS or social services, and Telephone number: we cannot give medical ad1.07799 627272 vice; it is simply Chilton Fo- 2.01488 681742 liat residents looking after rachel@nusseyhaulage.co.uk each other. Nic Coome
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Ramsbury’s response to Covid 19 There was an overwhelming response to the leaflet put out on March 17th by Parish Council emergency wardens. As a result I liaised with Alison Foale who set up a Whatsapp volunteering group (now numbering over 80). Ashley de Safrin and Nick Swann organised in Axford. Names were shared with Ramsbury Surgery to facilitate script delivery. Elaine and Shirley in the Post Office have been great, Elaine has been going to cash and carry almost every day and deliveries have been set up (ring 520229). The volunteer group has been collecting prescriptions, shopping, delivering from the Post Office, dog walking and telephoning vulnerable residents. On March 25th volunteers delivered a leaflet to all residents from the Parish Council giving info and phone numbers for help. The Bell took over meals on wheels. Ramsbury Brewery has been producing hand sanitizer (541407 for details) The woodfired pizzas are coming to the Memorial Hall car park on Thursdays 4.30 -
8.30pm 07990872585 by Wednesday to order and for details. We are holding a virtual PC meeting on April 20th and there is now no requirement to hold an Annual Meeting in May although we will hold a virtual PC meeting. Play areas closed, loos closed, grass cutting stopped Boundary Walk postponed We are keeping the floral displays going to raise morale. Major thanks to all the people who have come forward with offers of help and to
Ramsbury & Wanborough Surgery We are still open and available for all of our patients so if you are feeling unwell or are experiencing any change in your health, please contact us. We are still your GP Surgery and are here to look after you. Many patients may be having health issues and we are keen for these not to be forgotten. If you have any health concerns please do ring for telephone advice or you can book a telephone appointment online. You can register for our online services by contacting reception on 01672 520366. Please follow our Facebook Page 'Ramsbury and Wanborough Surgery', we use this platform to post updates and to share information.
Whitton Ways Magazine
Editor Vanya Body 01488 686834
Distributor - Ramsbury Ethel Hutchings 01672 520278
Advertising Patrick Springfield 01672 520086
Distributor - Froxfield Vanya Body 01488 686834
Designer Julia Goodman 01488 680721
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Parish Councillors who have helped. If you can help or you need help of any kind phone 07979327505/520409 Sheila Glass, 07724063800/520279 Alison Foale, 07795199059 Penny Willetts, 519331 Ashley de Safrin. Check www.ramsbury.org.uk and facebook regularly for lots of info and updates on local delivery services and updates from Wilts Council. Sheila Glass Chairman
Distributor - Chilton Foliat Ronna Bourne 01488 684497
The copy date for the June issue of Whitton Ways is Friday 15th May. Please send copy to: Vanya Body The New House, Brewhouse Hill, Froxfield, SN8 3LD Email: Phone:
whittonways@gmail.com 01488 686834
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Churches and Corona
ways of “being church” in these crazy and worrying times.
There’s been much discussion as to why – when places like off-licences and DIY stores can stay open – our buildings have been closed, even for private, socially-distanced prayer. We could argue the rights and wrongs of this – probably interminably!
“The ‘church’ is a building; the ‘Church’ is the people of God.” – Archbishop Justin Welby
What it HAS meant, however, is that we’ve needed to think laterally, and to be grateful for the wonders of modern technology that enable us to care for one another – and also to worship – in new ways that may change, for ever, some of the ways in which we do things.
It was a real surprise to hear a music request on the radio the other Sunday, from a minister who didn’t have much to do because he couldn’t get “out and about” – ouch! We’re finding we’re busier than ever, finding new 4
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of contacts – just phoning to say “Happy Easter” and to check that folk are doing all right.
First, of course, as the Archbishop said, faith is about far more than just buildings; it’s also about more than worship – it’s about how we show our love of God by caring for one another, particularly in times of trouble. Our villages have responded magnificently to the crisis, and to the need to look out especially for the vulnerable. Some of our local shops have gone FAR beyond any reasonable call of duty in ensuring that people are not only fed, but also safe. The Parish Councils, Lunch Clubs, Meals on Wheels, Link Schemes, Emergency Response Teams and other organisations have all played their part – and many of those involved are church members: church at the heart of the community, as it should be. In a couple of the villages, our lists of church Community Contacts have been a valuable starting-point for ensuring that someone is “out there, on the ground” for each little patch of that village. On a smaller scale, the clergy have been gradually working their way round our lists
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Linked to all that, we’ve tried to spot other good things that are going on, and support them – for example, by putting a twentyfoot rainbow on the wall of Aldbourne church, and the blue light that illuminates its tower in support of all those in the “front line”. The Food Collective baskets in the church porches are being filled and sent to help those who need this assistance. Morespecific reminders of the eternal Easter message of hope in the darkest of times have been the large crosses in four of our villages – bare and bleak on Good Friday, adorned with spring flowers on Easter morning! – and the many little Easter gardens dotted around the villages; see the WhittonTeamNews Facebook page for examples! And so, finally, to the worship and the fellowship that underpin all these things. We decided that – because not everyone is on-
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schedule, whereby – over the course of a calendar month – we pray specifically for each street on our patch, and focus on various groups within the parish. There was even an Easter story for children, and we’re looking at how we can still support our brilliant schools during lock-down. We also plan to start a Wednesday morning phone “drop-in”, for catch-up and chat…
line – we’d share services by “conference call”, so that folk could just phone in to feel part of a worshipping community. We’ll continue to do that for as long as the lockdown continues – see the contact details elsewhere in the magazine. We’ve also video-ed some services for those who prefer to “tune in” in that way, as well as posting the orders of service on the website. In addition, there’s a “praying round the parish”
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We’re talking to the wedding couples about having “Plan B”, just in case, and to bereaved families about the possibility of memorial services later, to set beside the small-scale funerals that are all we can currently offer, at gravesides or in crematoria. So there are many strands in our interwoven life, trying to take the message of Easter and live it out in the face of the very real difficulties that are facing so many people. The technological learning curve has at times been near-vertical, but rewarding. Our love
and prayers are with you, and please do let us know if there is more we can do to help! And we look forward with real hope to the day when all this is over, and we can fling open the church doors again and be together in reality as well as in spirit. Wishing you every blessing – Sue Rodd and Rhona Floate, Team Vicars
Ramsbury & Aldbourne Bowls Club Ramsbury & Aldbourne Bowls club is closed at present due to the Covid 19 situation. However a rota of green keepers are allowed to maintain the green with essential mowing & swishing to preserve this facility.So,thanks to all those involved we can report that the green is in good condition and hopefully we will be able to enjoy the benefits of their hard work at some point in the future. While we are at home thinking of all the activities we would like to resume or try out when the current restrictions are lifted please consider bowling.New members are always welcome and hopefully we can be on the green enjoying a game sometime soon.
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The Curate spreads her wings! Sunday 19th April was Karen Rizzello’s last Sunday with us as she moves to a “House for Duty� part-time post as a priest in the benefice of Lyneham & Woodhill. She was licensed in an online “Zoom� service on the 26th April – a mark of the strange times we’re living through!
We wish her every blessing in her new ministry – she will most certainly be aa blessing to them, as she has been to us! We’d hoped to take formal leave of her on the 19th April, when she was due to lead a Team Service
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We all owe her a huge debt for the contribution she has made to our parish during the time she has been here as Curate – most notably, her roles in establishing “Cake & Company� and “Little Fishes�. Having completed her training curacy, it was in-
evitable that she’d be seeking a more permanent post in which to exercise her ministry – but we’re deeply grateful that she has helped see us through both Christmas and Easter without Simon! Hopefully, we’ll soon be able to appoint a new Team Rector, and the clergy team will be back up to full strength again.
with Bishop Andrew, with refreshments and a presentation. This was, of course, unfortunately not possible because of the lockdown, but we hope that she will come back later so that we can thank her properly.
In the meantime, we are starting to make a collection for a leaving gift to her – please send contributions, either as a cheque to the Team Office, or via online banking to Whitton PCC (sort code 09-01-55; a/c number 36943087). Please put ‘Karen’ as the reference!
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Ramsbury Horticultural Society It seems strange to be writing this piece for Whitton Ways in beautiful April weather while we are all in lockdown, but one blessing of being confined to our homes is that at least we have our gardens to enjoy and to tend.
Because of the coronavirus outbreak the Spring Show on 4 April had of course to be cancelled, but the Chairman, Denise Edwards, organised a Virtual Spring Show, put up on the village website and on social media. There were an amazing 240 entries – fantastic photos of everyone’s lovely spring flowers, bulbs and shrubs, vegetables and even cheese scones, lemon drizzle cake, marmalade and floral art. Well done everybody who sent in photos, and a big thank-you to you all for supporting it. As various people commented, it was a lovely idea and really brightened up the day.
latest information and updates about what’s going on.
New date for Open Gardens Although the Open Gardens event has had to be cancelled for this year we are very pleased to say that all the garden owners are happy to take part next year, so we have rescheduled it for Sunday 20 June 2021. Jobs for May We’re getting into the busiest time of the year in the garden, so there is plenty to be getting on with.
• Harden off plants raised from seed before planting them out towards the end of the month • Thin out direct-sown hardy annuals • Harden off bedding plants, dahlias and cannas and plant out once all danger of frost has passed If you haven’t yet seen the photos, you can • Stake tall perennials such as delphiniums and lupins find them on the Society’s website (rams• Cut back the flowered shoots of Choisya to buryhortsoc.co.uk), where there is a tab in promote a second flowering in the autumn the top-right corner labelled ‘Virtual Spring • Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as ForShow’. Click on that and you will find the sythia, flowering currants and Spiraea after pictures. flowering • Prune out overcrowded and dead stems of Forthcoming events for May and June early-flowering clematis (C. alpina, cirrhosa, May Talk, Spring Plant Sale, Ramsbury macropetala, armandii) Street Fair and Open Gardens • If your daffodils flowered poorly it was Because of the coronavirus lockdown reprobably because they are overcrowded. strictions the talk on the National Gardens Lift and divide the bulbs, dig some organic Scheme on Monday 4 May has had to be matter into the soil and replant them. cancelled and we are not able to hold the • Plant up containers and hanging baskets Plant Sale on 16 May at Millstream this year. but keep them in a glasshouse and make At the moment it seems unlikely that the sure they’re protected from late frosts Street Fair on 13 June will go ahead, and • Take softwood cuttings of herbs such as very regretfully, with the agreement of all sage and lemon verbena, and shrubs the owners involved, we have had to post• Earth up potatoes pone the Open Gardens Day on 21 June • Harden off outdoor tomatoes for planting (see below). out in early June • Harvest asparagus However, all is not lost as we are hoping to • Sow pumpkins and squashes indoors. be able to put on a ‘virtual’ Open Gardens • Sow maincrop carrot, French beans and instead – please check the Society’s website sweet corn outdoors and also its Facebook page regularly for the • Look out for lily beetles on fritillarias and 10
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lilies and squash them as soon as they appear
They have a reputation for being difficult to grow, but in fact peonies are relatively We might think that climate change is bring- low-maintenance plants once ing forward the date when we can safely established, are not fussy as plant out, but the Royal Horticultural Soci- to soil type as long as it’s ety’s weather records suggest that the tradi- free-draining, extremely hardy, can last for tional advice of late May for southern decades, and are not particularly susceptible England still applies. If you’re wondering to pests and diseases apart from botrytis. whether or not to plant out, here are some They also make excellent cut flowers. points to consider: There are two main types of peony: herba• Frosts in May are still possible, especially ceous species such as Paeonia lactiflora and on still clear nights with a northerly Paeonia officinalis, and woody or ‘tree’ peonies airstream. such as Paeonia delavayi. Crosses between • Think about the microclimate in your own these two types were not achieved until garden – if it’s exposed it will be more 1948, when a Japanese breeder, Toichi Itoh, prone to frost than a sheltered garden. eventually succeeded after more than a thou• If your garden is on a slope, frost pockets sand failures. These hybrids are known as may occur at the bottom of the slope, Intersectional peonies, or Itoh peonies, and where cold air is trapped. remain expensive even now, costing between • Listen to the weather forecast and protect £50 and £100 a plant! plants with fleece if frost is predicted. Coral Charm • A brief frost just before dawn will damage tender plants such as courgettes or busy lizzies but probably won’t harm established potato plants or fruit. Late frosts occur at ground level. Growing herbaceous peonies
White Cap
There are three golden rules to follow when planting peonies:
I wonder if there’s anybody who doesn’t like • Don’t plant them too deeply – the crown should be no more than 5cms (2ins) below peonies, flamboyant or elegant, single, semithe soil surface. Make sure that the roots double or double, fragrant, with colours are not exposed. The reason for this is ranging from white to yellow, pink to purple that peonies need a period of chilling in and everything in between. Yes, the flowers the winter so that the cold can penetrate are relatively short-lived but so beautiful that and initiate flower buds, so if you plant they are surely well worth a place in every them more deeply they won’t flower. garden.
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Cream Puff
Some people think that peonies don’t like being moved, but in fact it is possible to lift and replant or divide them in the autumn so long as you stick to the first rule above and that you also remember to keep between 3 and 5 buds on each bit of root.
Karl Rosenfield
• Plant them in a sunny position: some varieties (eg Paeonia lactiflora ‘White Wings’) will tolerate light shade, but on the whole the more sun they get the better. • Plant peonies in free-draining soil – they don’t like sitting in water in winter. If your soil is reasonably fertile, peonies won’t need regular feeding, but you can apply a general fertiliser such as Growmore, or pelleted seaweed, in the spring if you think they need a boost. When the leaves have died down in the autumn, cut them back to ground level and remove them. Some varieties will need staking, especially those with heavy double flowers – semi-circular hoop supports work well for this.
Specialist suppliers of peonies are: Benison Peonies, Market Rasen, Lincs (www.benisonpeonies.co.uk); Primrose Hall Peonies, Westoning, Bedfordshire (www.primrosehallpeonies.co.uk); Kelways, Langport, Somerset (www.kelways.co.uk).
Susie Whimster
Horticultural SocietyPlant Sale and Garden Supplies Please check the website www.ramsburyhortsoc.co.uk and our facebook page Ramsbury Horticultural for updates on our plant sale, we will also try to keep everyone updated with plants for sale in the area and suppliers of compost seeds etc during this time. Open gardens event planned for June new options are currently being explored.
Ramsbury Allotments The allotments are going from strength to strength. The beautiful weather has brought out all the gardeners who are now preparing and planting. There are now 20 raised beds in use as well as most of the allotments. We look forward to the first harvests of asparagus and salads, potatoes are planted and seed sowing and planting out are going on apace. The new website is now on facebook Ramsbury Allotments. Watch for future developments
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Big Screen Cinema in the Memorial Hall
'We are sorry but it has been necessary to suspend the Roxy during the current virus problem' Please see our website: http://www.ramsburyroxy.org. We can be contacted on: roxy@ramsbury.org
The Post Office Ramsbury Flowers
Toys and Games
Cash Point facilities Greetings Cards Personal Banking
Dry Cleaning
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Tel: 01672 520229
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And That’s It From Me Dear Friends
Too many of us are experiencing the pain of separaI am writing this my final tion and bereavement across Curates Egg. Alas I will be a our community. I pray for curate no longer. I have a you all, for those you love new post as the House for and for all those who supDuty Priest at Lyneham and port us on the front line. Woodhill. What I would like to say is April has been full of good- how grateful I am for the byes for me at what is an ex- generosity and fellowship I traordinary time for the have enjoyed here across the whole world. On April 19th Whitton villages. You are a I presided at my final Sunday wonderful community and I service, as part of the Whit- will miss you and your kindton team, via phone confer- ness when I leave. ence. My time here has been full On April 26th I was licensed of amazing moments and as House for Duty Priest, via plenty of laughter. Zoom video conference, to the Lyneham and Woodhill My most memorable moBenefice. ment was my ordination at Salisbury Cathedral followed We would normally mark closely my celebrating the these transitions with a serv- Holy Communion Service in ice of celebration followed Holy Cross, Ramsbury. by a bring and share tea. But given the tight corner we My most joyful moments all find ourselves in with the have been spent with young Coronavirus pandemic we and old at worship, on visits, will have to wait for better at Cake and Company, our times to celebrate together schools and the Flying fishes. face to face. One of the funniest moments was when a wedding I
was leading began while I was in the vestry changing the battery on my lapel mic. I found out later that someone had accidentally switched on the music announcing the entry of the bride, who hearing the cue, set off down the aisle. I got to the altar breathless but just in time for the bride to arrive!
As I leave Whitton, I go with great memories. Remember that Jesus told his disciples to love God and to love one another. That is our first and most important commandment. In these challenging days we are finding new ways to love each other, to take care of the vulnerable and come together as communities. Continue to shine the light of Jesus wherever you are. Until we meet again. Let us pray: May you all be safe and delivered out of this time of trial and may we remember what we have learned through these experiences and stay connected and strong as a community.
AMEN and may God Bless you, Revd. Karen
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Methodist Church News As we arrive in May, on writing this, I am unsure where we will be with coronavirus crisis — will there still be no Church or Coffee Morning this month or next? What have we learnt during our time at home: new crafts, new cooking skills? We will have so much to talk about when we meet again. Puzzles are available, if you would like to call, I be happy to drop one off, just call me on 01672 521085
Maybe we have been enjoying worship sheets by email, or on-line services, how are you keeping in
Our Doctor Writes
It’s wonderful to see you all rediscovering your creativity. We have really enjoyed the funny videos circulated social media to keep spirits and moral up.
touch during this time with family and friends and God family?.
Pray: “Thank you to all our, NHS staff, doctors and key workers for keeping us safe and giving us care where needed. “We pray for our Prime Minister and leaders of our country to lead us in making the right choices.” Blessings yours Senior Church Steward Julie Coe
Rediscovering your creativity
We encourage you to use this time to rediscover your hobbies and passions that normal busy lives do not allow. Thank you for your lovely Enjoy it! Read that book, donations to the surgery – watch that boxset, go for we are enjoying your cakes, that bike ride with your famWe’ve also been sent photos fruit and other food goodies. ily. We look forward to when by family and friends of If we are not careful we may this unprecedented time has some of the projects they be rather large come the end passed to be able to enjoy are now having the time to of lockdown! these things with our famido. Baking cakes, arts and lies again too. crafts, musical endeavours, An enormous thank you for circus skills and acrobatics. It the fantastic scrubs that have Please keep social distancing is great to see so many of been made by members of – this is the most important you exercising but please do the community – far more and effective action you can be careful! Now is not the exciting (and flattering!) than do. time for a trip to A&E. the usual NHS blue. Stay home. Protect the NHS. All the team at the Old We’d like to welcome a new Save lives! School Surgery love the rain- member to our team. Medbows and see them everyications are now being deliv- Dr Angela Paddon, Dr where in windows – carry on ered by Ben to support our Kathryn Ryland and the rest painting! Hearing the commore vulnerable patients. of The Old School Surgery munity clapping for key Team. workers has been very emo16
tional and uplifting. Thank you so much for your support; it means a lot to us.
Whitton Ways
Please Support Treloar's Trust
As you know, at this time of year preparations for the Spring Fair in aid of Treloar’s are usually well under way, however the Covid19 pandemic has stopped us in our tracks. This is the first time that we have had to cancel during the fifty plus years that Ramsbury has been fundraising for Treloar’s.
team. I was portering food to the boarding houses – like everyone else filling in where needed. The whole fundraising team volunteered to cover various shifts during this period.
Then as things worsened families started taking their children home and we dropped from 170 to around 40 students. This meant we now had hundreds of staff and few students – a complete reverse of the Nevertheless we are acutely previous situation . . . We think aware of the increased need after Easter families who are strugfor our support this year as gling may well want their child to some people have had to come return to Treloar's. Then everything to terms with their new cirwill change again. cumstances and reduce or canWell Treloar's has its own heroes, cel charitable donations. So this is putting an even greater our transport team have been driving all over the country delivering strain on organisations like medical packs and equipment. Our Treloar’s who still have enormous costs to meet and yet are therapy teams are telephoning families three times a week to make suffering a fall in revenue. sure there are no problems and Jon Colville, Treloar’s Director helping if there are. Our teachers of Fundraising (who comes to have put together fun learning our Spring Fair every year with packs so that the young people are his wife, Kim) responded to a stimulated and still have an educarecent email enquiring how tion path at home. they are coping with these Behind all this at every step a huge words: effort to try and keep the virus “At one point we had over 120 staff away from the young people. Very self-isolating which is very difficult to few would survive if the unthinkcope with. Then it was all hands to able happened. the pump. I worked in catering, then We of course have a dozen or so as part of the touch point cleaning
who live at Treloar's. We are their home so have to keep going and stay open all the way through.”
I am sure you will be as moved by these words as I was. A number of people have said they would still like to contribute even in the absence of the Spring Fair, so if you wish to make a contribution, however small, you can do so in one of the following ways: Send a cheque made out to Treloar Trust to me at the address below: Hilary Hicklin, Bramleys, Crowood Lane, Ramsbury, Wilts SN8 2PT Hand in cash or a cheque (made out to Treloar Trust) at Ramsbury Post Office who will pass them on to me.
I will then forward to Treloar’s all the contributions to help them in what are even more difficult circumstances, and will let you know the total sum raised.
Thank you all for your continuing support, and stay safe and well! Hilary Hicklin
The Flyer - Greener Transport
Surgery transport every Tuesday and Thursday. As notified in April Whitton Ways shopping trips to Hungerford, Marlborough, Newbury and all excursions are suspended until further notice. For news about Surgery transport or further information please visit www.ramsburyflyer.org or call Janet on 01672 520682.
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£10.00 per hour, including Heating in Winter For bookings contact Sarah Williamson on 01672 520161 (If leaving a message please provide a landline number whenever possible)
Kevin W Nunn Interior and Exterior
Painter and Decorator High standard of work
Providing a stimulating and nurturing environment for all children aged 2.5-4 years, 5 days a week. Led by a qualified teacher and experienced childcare professionals, Ramsbury Pre-School is the perfect place to start your child’s learning adventure.
Breakfast Club (Mon to Fri 8-9am) and Afterschool Club (Tues, Wed and Thurs 3-6pm) also available. Call now to arrange a visit: 01672 520901 www.ramsburypreschool.org.uk Back Lane, Ramsbury, Marlborough SN8 2QH
01488 657898 07979 481 181 liverpoolfc.kn@gmail.com 35 Laylands Green, Kintbury, Hungerford, Berks RG17 9UB
BROWN & CLEMENS
Domestic appliance repairs Washing machines, dishwashers, cookers. Established in 1972 40 years of local service. Please call:
01672 511077 or 01635 528058
AREA SWEEP
A Professional Chimney Sweep Service The Ravensbury Players - Ramsbury’s Drama Group New Members always welcome Including Actors, Backstage and Front of House Contact Chris Perkins
Phone: 01672 520515
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The very essence of the WI lies in members getting together to enjoy fun and friendship, so the current social distancing regulations cut right across this. But we can still be in contact by telephone and email, plus the occasional “one side of the street to the other” conversation! We hope that members are keeping well and staying safe and at least enjoying the good weather. Please remember that the Parish Council has set up a whole network of volunteers and if you need help don’t hesitate to contact them. Mary Holdsworth and I are both on the end of a phone if you want a chat. We shall have to keep fun and friendship in our hearts for a while yet, as our June meeting has also been cancelled. I will keep members updated of future developments as they happen. Meanwhile...
Invitation to everyone to join in our next “yarn bombing” project Ramsbury WI was planning to make crocheted yellow
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Ramsbury WI
roses to put up round the Tree and in The Square at the Street Fair in June. This was part of our centenary celebrations. We have had to change our plans and are now aiming to cover as much of the village as possible with yellow ribbon and roses in September. If any non-members would like to make roses we would love to have them!
Because there are more stitches in each consecutive row, you will find that the work naturally starts to curve around into a spiral.
1st row Miss 5 chains. (1 treble, 2 chain, 1 treble) into 6th chain. *Miss 2 chains (1 treble, 2 chains, 1 treble) into next chain. Continue from * to the end.
To make up Lay the strip on a flat surface and let it form a spiral of either 3 or 4 layers, depending on the length. The aim is to make a flattish rose (see photograph). Turn the rose over and stitch the layers together - you will probably need to check from the front that all the layers have been caught in. Please don’t cut the threads off as they may be used to sew the roses to ribbon.
Here is the pattern: Use double knitting wool in any shade of yellow and a 6mm (4¾) crochet hook. Make either 66 chains (for a medium size rose of 3 layers) or 90 chains (for a larger rose of 4 layers).
2nd row Make 3 chains. *(2 trebles, 3 chains, 2 trebles) into first V shape (this is the 1tr, 2ch, 1tr shape from 1st row). Continue from * to the end. The final (2 trebles, 3 chains, 2 trebles) goes into the top of the 5 chains.
3rd row Make 1 chain. *7 trebles into 1st V shape (this is the 2tr, 3ch, 2tr shape from 2nd row), 1 double crochet into next space. Continue from * to the end. The final double crochet goes into the top of the 3 chains.
Please keep any roses you make until the current regulations are lifted. I will put a note in a future Whitton Ways advising on where the collection point will be. Happy Crocheting!
Rosalie Winter
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I moved to Froxfield in December 1999 so I have been actively birding here for more than twenty years. My walks typically take me along the canal as far as Kintbury (taking in the River Dun Freeman's Marsh) Bird Watching at or to Crofton in the with Ted Smith opposite direction. I also walk over to Ramsbury and Hen Wood or to Chilton Foliat or up Brewhouse Hill and on to Little Bedwyn. In that time I have recorded 143 different species to date including some rarities.
What is the link between Froxfield and the RSPB?
there, in the small pond. I have seen them regularly ever since, a maximum of 15 together but usually smaller numbers. They move between Froxfield and Freeman's Marsh so I often see them in the air including three over my house this morning.
There have been significant changes over that period. For example - twenty years ago I could be confident of seeing Barn owl, Little Owl and Tawny Owl on one evening walk and now, more often than not, I don't record any owls at all. By contrast Kingfishers and Water Rails along the canal are now The Little Egret is possibly a beneficiary of global warming, it is a highly successful regular but I had to work hard for them colonist of Britain. By 1990 there were only back in 2000. 620 UK records in total and now there are I was surprised some years ago to discover a thousands every year. They first bred on Little Egret in Froxfield. As you leave on the Brownsea Island in 1996 before discovering A4 towards Marlborough it was on the right the delights of Froxfield. I watch them as they stand silent and motionless before that fast and precise stab of the bill - seemingly always finding some tasty morsel.
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In breeding season the birds develop lacy plumes on the back of the crown which were used to decorate hats. In 1914 an ounce of Egret feathers was worth more than 20 times the same weight of silver. Egret farms started to spring up and eggs were removed from nests to force the birds to re-lay. Each adult bird would be plucked
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flight because of its big wingspan and feet stretching out behind, whilst the cormorant is all black with its wings set a long way back Down by the River and flying in flocks of up to twelve birds. with David Stoyle The cormorant is a recent visitor and is a I suppose if you are thinking of birds along menace as it is a voracious feeder and takes quite big fish. Other water birds common a river the first one that comes to mind is the kingfisher, a majestic bird in colour and along our stretch are ducks, moorhens (red bill), coots (white bill), swans, Canada geese flight. What a wonderful sight it is to see the turquoise blue on its back as it flies away and occasionally the little grebe. from you or the orange breast when it flies towards you. Sure enough the Kennet has kingfishers in abundance and I regularly see them at the Ramsbury Town Bridge and at the Triangle. I often go fishing at Speen Moor near Newbury and they will fly past me all day long, I have even had some land The river is of course a haven for many of the smaller birds and if you are prepared to on my fishing rod and earlier this summer sit still on any stretch and use a pair of had the privilege, for a second time, of watching a young kingfisher learning to dive binoculars there are countless species to see and listen to. At the Ramsbury Triangle I into the water after being shown by one of have seen grey wagtails, nuthatches, (climb its parents. I naively thought that these down a tree) tree creepers, (climb up and things came naturally but clearly not as the first attempt reminded me of my son’s first around a tree) goldcrest, (the smallest UK bird) warblers and of course sparrows todive, painful, ugly and ineffective. Practice must however make perfect and the sight of gether with most varieties of finches and a kingfisher plunging correctly into the river tits. Elsewhere along the river I have seen reed buntings, cuckoos (at 7 Bridges) terns, and withdrawing with a small fish between black caps, little egrets, lapwings and wrens. its beaks is something you never forget.
Birdlife of the River Kennet
Other birds that feed on fish in the river and are a common sight are the Grey Heron and the Cormorant. Both are a regular visitor along our valley. The heron is often seen in the evenings downstream from the Ramsbury Bridge while the cormorants can be seen swimming underwater and popping up out of nowhere. The heron is distinctive in
There are many more species of birds in our area but I have restricted this article to those I have seen by the river. One I have not mentioned is the sparrowhawk who once petrified me by swooping along the river straight towards me until pulling away at the last minute. It left me realising what if feels like to be a vole or rabbit!
four or five times a year without killing it to produce one third of an ounce of feathers. Many wild birds were slaughtered simply to decorate hats in Paris, London and New York.
later they received a royal warrant and the RSPB was born, now the largest wildlife NGO in Europe with more than a million members.
In 1889 in Didsbury a pioneering group of female conservationists formed the Society for the Protection of Birds. Their key aim was to discourage the destruction of bird life for decorative purposes. Fifteen years
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So there is the link - the beautiful Little Egrets we see around the village every day actually inspired the beginnings of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Ted Smith
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Calais - from a friend who is still working there What happens when a Global Pandemic meets a refugee crisis? We are living in unprecedented times. With border closures, food hoarding and scarcity; hospitals over capacity and struggling and not knowing when or if you will see relatives again. As these issues are being faced by much of the world, here in Calais the resolve, reaction and response of volunteers on the ground, and the vulnerable they are here in solidarity with, is too, unprecedented in itself. This is a little insight into what I have seen in the weeks since the French government announced lockdown due to Covid-19.
Arriving on site at the La’Auberge warehouse on the day of the French lockdown, I heard that some organisations had already taken themselves off the field. Some were still operating, some trying to regroup and plan how they would keep themselves active and implement safety procedures including reduced services and increased hygiene measures.
Refugee Community Kitchen (RCK) a long-standing hot food organisation changed its distribution technique to providing food preserved in takeaway boxes, cutting down time in the field and DIY hand sanitizer. Volunteer numbers drastically dropped over the next few days as people were advised to make
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plans to get home safety; if the French government shut all groups down or people started showing symptoms. Volunteers lived day to day not knowing how long they would be able to carry on. After a week and with the UK going into lockdown itself, RCK made the decision to suspend its food service to ensure all volunteers could safely get home. This was devastating to every volunteer and all neighbouring organisations. RCK has kept serving food for over 4 years, never halting. This has left vulnerable adults in Calais and Dunkirk reliant on the inconsistent state food. Sometimes bread, sometimes cheese, sometimes neither. Out of RCK’s temporary pause ‘Calais Food Collective’ has been created by volunteers; with the aim to distribute dry food packs allowing people to cook for themselves. The WoodYard is still operating all be it on a smaller scale. Distributions involves a lot of apologies, however after a pause due to wood deliveries not being able to get through. The people we distribute to seem understanding and accepting of the reduced amount of wood, and new hygiene procedures (Overalls always to be worn out in the field, no more handshaking or sharing of food and meals). This loss of personal interaction is tough because it is through the
small exchanges of everyday activities that humanity is seen.
With rumours of accommodation but no clear dates, continued Police brutality, tent clearances and tear gas. In some ways life in Calais and Dunkirk for refugees has gone more untouched than the rest of the world. But they are more at risk of contracting the virus due to poor sanitation, close proximity and poor general health. Maybe when your life is of such extreme vulnerability, uncertainty and out of your control, even a global pandemic fails to impact it compared to those with more freedom and more too loose?
For now, services here are trying to adopt and overcome new barriers faced each day. We try to come together and provide ‘the basics’ for people. And they continue to greet us with smiles, waves and corona handshakes (involving the bumping of elbows). Because social distancing should never mean the end of social caring. Links to fundraising groups mentioned in this article: https://www.gofundme.com /f/calais-food-collective https://donate. helprefugees.org/supporters/ fire-wood-for-refugees-innorthern-france/147/
Isobel Russell
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Whitton Ways
TIMOTHY'S QUIZ
Hi Children, I have been feeling a bit bored at home, because just like you I have to stay in the garden. But I have been busy making up a Quiz for my friends so I thought you might like to have a go! Before you start the questions, you will need to go on a treasure hunt, I love treasure hunts especially when I find a bone! Can you collect small items that start with the letters in your magic word…. Your magic word is D I S N E Y Did you find everything?
Now you can move on to your questions….. 1.How many times does Cinderella’s shoe fall off in the movie? 2.How many sides does a Triangle have? 3.What is the name of Simba’s Dad in the Lion King? 4.What are the three Primary Colours ? 5.In the Incredibles where do the Parr family live? 6.How many hours are there in one day? 7.How many thingamabobs does Ariel say she has? 8.What is a baby Kangaroo called?? 9.What is Bambis Rabbit friend called? 10.What do you call a group of Lions? 11.What Colour do you get if you mix Red with Blue? 12.Can you name 3 Characters from Paw Patrol? And my favourite question is… When is Dinner time Ha Ha ! Can you unscramble these letters to find the correct word? XBO………………..SPURE……………TAC ……………… Unscramble these Programmes….. BEALZ and HAPIOS
Hope you enjoyed my Quiz, I wonder how many questions you could answer? Keep washing those hands i’ts really important, I am washing my Paws! Love, Timothy xx
Whitton Ways
Answers on p. 35
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Lockdown at the College, Froxfield It could be worse, and in a way the residents are lucky. Our small world lends itself to isolation. We are mostly indoors and when out in the garden keep our distances. Some are hibernating — they really cannot afford to catch Covid-19. The days have become a blur and it seems an age since the lockdown was imposed. It is hard to know what day it is! Occasionally the sun shines in — and lights up the dark internal corners hidden in winter — spring cleaning seems like a good idea! Having a clear out of cupboards and drawers is occupying some of us. Football has been replaced by coronavirus news. Although there is only so much you can take — books and DVDs from the College library are in demand. For those of us on the internet, shopping is possible, although Tesco has no delivery slots during April, and soon I will need more food! Volunteers have offered to shop. We ‘thank’ them. Kindness is everywhere.
The College is usually a busy place for workmen and others coming and going. There is always something with 400 year old walls and pipes. The scaffold may still be over the clock tower but not the builders – they are gone for now. It is eerily quiet. In fact, apart from the postman we have the College Quad to
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ourselves. At 8 pm on Thursdays we stand on our doorsteps or open our windows to clap our NHS workers who are fighting this virus and risking their own health as the Government tries to catch up with the equipment and protective items they need. It is what it is, but the world had been caught napping.
what an alien would make of Froxfield if he landed on the village green. It is all rather surreal. Nature has the surrounding countryside pretty much to itself —– but signs of spring and the odd tractor in the field, now that the winter rains have stopped, are reassuring. I wonder about those whose homes were flooded in February and how they are managing. Traffic on the A4 through We don’t think too much Froxfield has been reduced about the future; each day as to the odd vehicle and the it comes, but we know the stillness lends itself to a economy will have to be room with a view. With reset when this is all over. warmer weather this may We are sticking to the Govchange. For those with hob- ernment guidelines and hope bies: writing, knitting, paint- more draconian measures ing to name a few we have will not be necessary; stay the luxury of time - perhaps. well. For those of us who Our thoughts are with the can get out for exercise, it is doctors and nurses, families, a balm to more worrying the children, all those whose thoughts and uncertainty? lives have been turned upNone know how or when it side down. Is this like the will end or what the reset War? For me, not really, alwill mean. I wish I could though there is a war time close on an uplifting idea or spirit that means we can word. The only thing one smile or wave in the face of can say is that as I write the the unknown. sun is shining. With no one about, which is most of the time, I wonder
Claire Costello Froxfield
BEDWYN MUSIC SOCIETY SUMMER CONCERTS Unfortunately we are not able to have the May concert. If circumstances permit we are hoping to hold concerts in the near future. Please watch this space. 27
For five years in the mid-1990s I had the pleasure, and not a small amount of excitement and apprehension, of working with a team of Russian geologists, on a major mineral exploration programme in Siberia. Siberia starts at the Ural mountains and stretches 5,500 miles and 7 time zones eastwards across northern Asia to the Pacific. It covers an estimated 57.5 million square miles and the exploration programme I worked on was focussed on finding gold deposits in a 9.8 million square mile area in the centre and east of Siberia. This stretched from Novosibirsk on the Ob River in the west, across Krasnoyarsk Kray or Province in the centre, eastwards into Irkutsk and Sakha (Yakutia) and south into the AltaiSayan mountains of the Altai Republic, Chita and Buryatia — vast!
Geology Rocks by Chris Carlon
Hunting in the Siberian Taiga
Siberia covers the huge river systems of the Ob, the Yenisey and the Lena, and the mountainous areas of Altai and around Lake Baikal. The whole place is both stunningly beautiful and hauntingly empty and covered almost entirely by coniferous forest — the Taiga. From the Arctic tundra in the north the vegetation slowly changes southwards, first with scattered larches then denser woodland and forest with spruce, fir, cedar, birch and pine. The animal life also changes from the reindeer, lemming and fox of the tundra to the brown and black bears, wolves, sables, squirrels, polecats, stoats, lynx, elk, hare, wild boar, polecats, wolverines and hundreds of bird species in the forests. If you ever wanted to wander aimlessly through never ending forest then this is the place and if anywhere was ‘the lungs of the 28
Taiga Forest
planet’ then this is it. Needless to say it’s very easy to get completely lost in the forest, which is why small, dispersed and isolated Siberian ‘aboriginal’ communities have remained even up to modern times; the Tunguses, Yakuts and Buryats among others. Apart from the stops along the Trans-Siberian, and further east the Baikal-Amur railways, there are few roads, and interestingly the size and importance of the roads decreases as soon as you head out of the city boundaries into the countryside or as you head north. It isn’t uncommon to find yourself on a deeply rutted dirt or gravel track threading its way through the forest within minutes of leaving the main highway.
Based in Novosibirsk it was a very long days drive by jeep for 500 miles along the irregular tarmac and often potholed, main highway to the city of Krasnoyarsk. This is the capital of Krasnoyarsk province, itself an area bigger than Finland which stretches
The Road to Yeniseysk
Whitton Ways
Fretwork house in Yeniseysk
northwards to well beyond the Arctic Circle. Krasnoyarsk, the capital of the province, is a rather ugly, industrial city, closed to foreigners through the Soviet era. It sits astride the Yenisey River, an amazingly long and beautiful river that rises in the Sayan mountains to the south and empties into the Kara Sea in the Arctic.
They returned to Yeniseysk thoroughly disappointed, only to be requested some weeks later to return to the area again to re-map and sample.
They asked the head of the Krasnoyarsk Geology Committee why they should return because “There are no rocks to sample”. “There are now” was the reply. When they About 180 miles up-river is the lovely old returned to the area they discovered that the town of Yeniseysk, one of the Siberian loca- Russian Airforce had been called in and had tions where the Decembrist army revolubombed long lines across the Tunguska fortionaries from the December 1825 uprising est to produce a series of deep craters! were sent. Their lovely timber houses with The expedition geologists re-packed and set amazing “fretwork” window frames litter off once more and then had several weeks the old town. of work finding and climbing into the It was here that I met the staff of the craters to sample and map the exposed Yeniseysk Expedition, the mineral explorocks supported by helicopters and mobile ration teams that roam far and wide by field camps. You see, sensible exploration, jeeps, boats and helicopters on roads, tracks, the way it is normally done, would have inrivers and by air, across central Siberia unstigated a drilling programme with abdertaking mineral exploration from remote solutely minimal damage to the air supported field camps deep in the forest. environment, but this is Russia and things Some years before I joined them they had are done differently. Or as it was explained been asked to explore the Tunguska, a very to me “Here we don’t have a problem with remote area in northern Krasnoyarsk. The the environment; the environment has a forest in this area is floored by sands and problem with us !” gravel and they simply couldn’t find any And there is more to this story………… rocks to map and sample in the forests.
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Do you have a little spare time?
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Recreation Centre?
We are looking for help with the grass cutting.
Might you be able to sit on a ride on mower and cut the pitches now and again? If so, join our team of volunteers! Full instruction given.
You would be helping to maintain this incredible facility
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Contact Roger Henry on 520395
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Support needed to keep Marie Curie Nurses on the frontline in the South West, through the Coronavirus crisis
Across the UK, Marie Curie is gearing up to care for hundreds of additional dying patients requiring end of life care, in order to relieve the unprecedented pressure on the NHS during the Coronavirus crisis. With the number of cases rapidly increasing in the South West, local Marie Curie Nursing teams are working harder than ever. Given the choice, people overwhelmingly say they would prefer to die in their own home, or in a hospice, rather than a hospital. End of life patients who do not want to be in hospital need to be moved to a more appropriate setting, as beds in critical care units are urgently required for patients who need lifesaving treatment for Coronavirus.
said: “When the NHS and public need us most, we are facing huge struggles raising vital funds. Along with the cancellation of hundreds of high street and supermarket collections, we’re now losing income from the closure of our charity shops and from cancelled fundraising events such as the Padstow to Rock Swim - which raised over £80,000 for us last year. My message to those in the South West, please donate if you can.”
ability to fundraise is seriously compromised. Events are being cancelled, and we’ve had to close our Shops. That is why we have launched an emergency appeal to make up the shortfall, and ensure the charity can care for more dying patients, support the NHS and ultimately save lives in the weeks and months ahead. “We are all in this crisis together and already we are seeing how the public in this country is rising to support each other and the most vulnerable. Please donate now.”
Marie Curie’s Chief Executive Matthew Reed said: “At this time of national emergency, Marie Curie Nurses and frontline staff are needed more than ever as the • Donate online at: NHS is put under ever greater mariecurie.org.uk/emergency strain. • Text NURSE to 70633 to help us reach the families who “Sadly, some people’s lives will be need us. Texts cost £5 plus 1 As experts in providing end of life shortened by Coronavirus, so the standard rate message. 98% need for end of life care will be care in the community, Marie is received by Marie Curie. To Curie can help, but only if it con- greater. Marie Curie can meet this unsub text OUT to 78866. tinues to raise the donations it need, and in doing so will help Thank you. free up intensive care beds needs to fund its vital work. needed for Coronavirus patients. Due to increased demand, Marie Last year the charity provided Curie has extended the opening 175,000 hours of direct care for “But just as we want to help, our hours of its Support Line service over 3000 people in the South income has been decimated. We to 7 days a week: Monday to FriWest, allowing them to die at need donations urgently to keep day 8am to 6pm, Saturday and home where they wanted to be. our Nurses and Hospice staff on Sunday 11am to 5pm. If you, or Marie Curie needs to raise the frontline. someone you know, is affected £50,000 a week to continue to run by a terminal illness and conits essential frontline services “Unlike other healthcare cerned about Coronavirus, our across the South West, at a time providers, Marie Curie is reliant Support Line team are ready to when its ability to generate this on donations from the public to help with the information you money has been seriously comsurvive. Every week the charity need when you need it. Call free promised. needs to raise £2.5million to care 0800 090 2309*. You can also for the tens of thousands of peo- find more information on our Natalie Garland, Marie Curie ple who require nursing and hos- website: mariecurie.org.uk/coroSouth West Fundraising Manager, pice care. At the moment, our navirus
Whitton Ways
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R COPP
Tree & Hedge Planting Fencing & Seeding All Grass Cutting Undertaken
Tractor-drawn mower available for large jobs Ride on or hand mowers for smaller jobs
LEVERTON FRAMERS Bespoke Picture Framing & Mirrors
2 Leverton Farm Buildings, Leverton, Nr Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0TA
tel: 01488 684077 www.levertonframers.co.uk
Opening hours: Tuesday - Friday from 9.00 - 5.00 pm Saturday from 9.00 - 1.00 pm Closed on Sundays and Mondays unless by appointment
Chilton Foliat Village Hall Beautiful well equipped hall, available for hire for all types of events. Licensed for music. Contact us on: Enquiries@cfvh.co.uk or Bookings@cfvh.co.uk or 07435 307279 for further information and pricing
11 London Road Marlborough SN8 1PH
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Tel: 01672 520637 Mobile: 07502 265 376
Hypnotherapy (Cognitive) Siobhan Nell
Experienced and completely confidential Help with a wide range of concerns and difficulties including: anxiety, stress, exam nerves, performance issues, phobias and fears, depression, goal attainment, sleep issues, eating issues, relationship concerns. Online therapy also available via skype, zoom and whatsapp Contact: 07704616900 or sbhnnll@gmail.com
FOUR SEASONS GARDEN SERVICES Unit 2 Mills Building, New Hayward, Hungerford RG17 0PZ Tel: 01488
684583
(good discounts available) Sales and servicing for the above equipment. Collection and delivery
Free Home Delivery www.sumblerbrosbutchers.co.uk
01672 512185
Whitton Ways
Suspension of the Meals on Wheels service
Sadly, because of the coronovirus outbreak and the lockdown measures imposed nearly a month ago, the Meals on Wheels committee decided to suspend the service after the delivery on Thursday 19th March, as we could not continue to guarantee the safety of our clients and volunteers. Sue Brady Catering, who supplies the Luncheon Club meals and schools meals, is back doing frozen meals. Lasagne, cottage pie, beef casserole, chicken casserole. Diana Trickey is organising delivery. Call 520630 for details.
Also, 5aday Devizes may have some slots left www.5adaybox.co.uk excellent veg boxes delivered free
The Manager at The Bell has also very kindly undertaken to cook and deliver meals to our clients twice a week. As far as we know, both of these alternatives are still being used and along with support from family, friends and neighbours our clients are doing well. We very much look forward to starting the service up again, hopefully in the not-too-distant future.
Susie Whimster Chairman
Although our buildings are closed, we have enhanced our digital offer to customers over the last few weeks so that library activities and services can be accessed more easily online. There are daily live rhyme and story times being delivered by library staff that parents and children can access via individual library Facebook pages. There are links to all of these on the ‘Active communities resource page’ on the Wiltshire Council website ( http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure-active-communities ) You can also view previous rhyme times on Wiltshire Libraries new YouTube channel.
Library News
We have also added to our eBook, eAudio and eMagazine collections. Wiltshire library members can download eBooks and eAudiobooks and read eMagazines for free by registering on the Wiltshire RBdigital website or the RBdigital app with a valid library card number and email address. Again a link to this can be found on the ‘Active communities resource page’ or by visiting the Libraries Homepage on the Wiltshire Council website. There are also links to other websites that provide book and reading related content for adults and children to help sustain you over the next few weeks.
Refuse collections and Recycling
30ͲApr 04ͲMay 05ͲMay 11ͲMay 14ͲMay 18ͲMay 19ͲMay 25ͲMay 28ͲMay 01ͲJun
For Ramsbury and Axford please check online at ilforms.wiltshire.gov.uk/WasteCollectionDays/index
Chilton Foliat Black box + Blue wheelie Black wheelie + Green wheelie
Black box + Blue wheelie Black wheelie + Green wheelie
Whitton Ways
Black box + Blue wheelie
Froxfield Black wheelie
Green wheelie Black box and Blue wheelie Black wheelie Green wheelie Black box and Blue wheelie Black wheelie
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Chilton Foliat CofE Primary School in Lockdown With thankfulness, courage and love!
Never more so have our core in evidence since we said Christian values of thankful- goodbye to most of our chilness, courage and love been dren following the Government’s direction to close schools to all but key worker and vulnerable children on 18th March 2020.
With only two days’ notice, yet typical of our strong whole school community spirit, Easter eggs for all were kindly donated by our local Tesco store and a Fun Day Friday was planned by the teaching staff. Disco dancing on the playground, a multi-sports competition and
Bring an old friend back to life...
Dennis White
Repair and Restoration of Longcase and other Pendulum Clocks
Estimates given without obligation
59 High St, Ramsbury, 01672 520261 Established over 40 years
a happy Easter sing along, ended our last day together, for a while at least.
Carefully prepared homeschool learning resources were both sent home and made available via our school
For parties, weddings, funerals, dinners at your home Let us take the strain, so that you can enjoy yourself
Angell’s Catering, 34 Queensway, Kintbury, Hungerford RG17 9XP 01488 658445
• Stone, Marble & Granite Memorials • Additional Inscriptions Open: Mon-Fri • Cleaning & Restoration 9am–5pm • Free Home visits Sat by appointment Workshop & Showroom: Pelham Court, London Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 2AG
34
Tel (01672) 516797 martin@mjsly.co.uk www.mjsly.co.uk
RENOVATION AND CONSERVATION FOR OLD AND LISTED BUILDINGS
07727687535 or 01793741185 limeway2010@gmail.com www.limewaywiltshire.co.uk
Whitton Ways
website. Since then, the support that our parents are giving to their children at home is wonderful, especially as many are juggling their own home working commitments - we are hugely grateful for their engagement.
their new circumstances. We also have a special tab for our collection of rainbow pictures for the NHS. (See picture).
Looking forward to the beginning of our Summer Term, the teaching team will The school website continue to develop ways to (www.chiltonfoliatprimary. provide support, encourageorg.uk - Latest News Secment and engagement for tion) has become the focal their pupils as home learning point for a wide collection of continues. We are setting up resources, including a grow- our own Chilton Foliat ing gallery of photographs school newsletter with confrom the children, showing tributions from children inhow they are adapting to cluding photos, stories, poems, jokes, quizzes, and Timothy’s Quiz anfascinating facts. We will remain open for our key swers worker families and take 1. 3 pride in being able to sup2. 3 port those providing essen3. MUFASA tial services to us all. We will 4. RED,YELLOW,BLUE be ready to respond to fur5. METROVILLE ther Government advice on 6. 24 HOURS when we may be able to 7. 20 open our doors once again. 8. JOEY Finally, and to end on a high 9. THUMPER note, we are also looking for10. PRIDE ward to welcoming our new 11. PURPLE reception children to our 12. CHASE, RUBBLE, school community. We are ZUMA, MARSHALL confident that with thankfulROCKY SKYE ness, courage and love, we
can offer these and all our children a diverse and inspirational primary school experience and education, whatever challenges come our way. Katie Turner, Headteacher. For further information about Chilton Foliat CofE Primary School please contact the on Tel: 01488 682630 or email to admin@chiltonfoliat.wilts. sch.uk
Sadly The Knitting Group will not be meeting until further notice, but please don't stop knitting. We have one new member who has joined because she wanted something to do while we are in "Lockdown". I wonder if there is anyone else who thinks knitting might fill a gap? If you need supplies of yarn, needles anda varity of patterns to meet varying skill needs please contact me by email estony@estony.co.uk or phone - 01672 520789. Hope to see you all back here as soon as feasible. Best wishes, Estrid Eyles.
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ORANGE KEY A R C H I T E C T U R A L
D E S I G N
Are you contemplating extending or improving your home?
New life can be given to any property by renovating, adding an extension, loft conversion or garage conversion. Contact us for a friendly chat and a FREE design consultation to find out how.
4 The Cuttings, Hungerford 01488 682918 info@orangekeyltd.co.uk www.orangekeyltd.co.uk
Flying Fishes Club
Suspended due to Coronavirus
Swindon Buses - weekdays Ramsbury departures 07.38, 08.43, 09.58, 10.58, 13.08, 14.48, 15.58, 17.03, 18.23, 19.23. Swindon departures 06.30, 07.10, 08.40, 09.40, 11.35, 13.15, 14.10, 15.30, 16.50, 17.55
All buses stop at the GW Hospital. Check times at bus stop.
Specialists in Garden & Landscape Irrigation Automatic Garden Watering Systems professionally designed installed and maintained RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS
SHAUN MEDLIN Tel : 01672 520144 Mobile : 07799 893520 shaun@waterwisegardens.co.uk Website: www.waterwisegardens.co.uk Hightown, Whittonditch, Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 2QA
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PATIOS, WALLING, FENCING, POND CONSTRUCTION, SEEDING & TURFING, HEDGE CUTTING, PRUNING AND TREE PLANTING, DRIVE CONSTRUCTION
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TEL: (01672) 540051 www.kimberbros.co.uk
36
PLUMBING & HEATING FRANCIS ANDREW
Central Heating Installation & Repairs Boiler Installation & Repairs Landlord Certificates Bathroom & Kitchen Installations All domestic Plumbing No call out charges Free estimates 24hr service Fully Qualified & Insured Mob: 07720 245333 Home: 01793 791542 Email: faplumbing@hotmail.com
Whitton Ways
These are strange times indeed, and all of our local schools have needed to respond quickly to Government advice, keeping their children safe at the same time as providing for their education as best they can. Like other schools, attendance at Ramsbury Primary has been closed to all but keyworkers’ children since 20 March.
Tasks set have not been compulsory, but have allowed a mixture of independent working and working supported by parents, following each class’s current topic and curriculum. The children have emWith in-school numbers now braced home learning with varying between 5 and 10 enthusiasm, following the across both key stages on a daily videos of who’s in daily basis, the majority of school each day, and loving children have been at home. the daily storytime, with This is not ‘home-schooling’ their teachers reading to as it is traditionally known, them on a pre-recorded as schools have continued to video. Class 5 have particuprovide a curriculum and to larly enjoyed seeing Mr support children and their Jones’ selection of headgear parents. At Ramsbury Pri– with a different hat each mary, all classes have been day! learning via Google Classroom – teachers can set So how do you keep children tasks, provide information, engaged with learning when send videos and links and faced with the current chalchildren can all post comlenges? As well as keeping fit ments and talk to their with Joe Wicks and many of teachers. Using Google the nation’s children (and Classroom has allowed chil- parents!) here are just some dren and teachers to feel of the things the children at they aren’t working in isola- Ramsbury Primary have tion, to post and share what been busy with in the last 2 they have been doing. Mrs weeks: Rean, Assistant Head at Ramsbury, commented • A highlight for the chil‘Using Google Classroom dren of Class 3 has been has given both teachers and their Children's Choice, they children a way of keeping in have come up with some touch every day and we are fantastic projects including all very glad of that opportu- creating bug hotels, rainbow nity at a time our regular weaving and programming face-to-face contact is miss- robots. ing.’ • In keeping with their ‘dinosaur’ topic, Class R have
Whitton Ways
been ‘On a Bear (dinosaur!) Hunt’, making obstacles to go over, under and around, writing signs for the dinosaur’s cave, doing cosmic yoga to retell the story and measuring their own and their families feet to compare with the foot of a TRex! • Class 6 investigated surface tension of liquids, in their own kitchens, sharing their findings with their classmates and teachers via Google Classroom, they have also done some fantastic literacy and artwork based on the book, 'Unforgotten Coat' by Frank Cottrell Boyce, which their teachers have been reading to them via the daily ‘Jackanory’ video. • As well as doing lots of fun practical work with their families to support learning about fractions, Class 2 have been using humour to write their own versions of the amusing story, 'Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion’. • Class 4 investigated magic numbers in an outdoor maths challenge, and used their own maths counters (including fizzers, midget gems, blueberries and pompoms) instead of school equipment.
Joanna Price 37
Charles S. Winchcombe & Son
INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS & MEMORIAL CRAFTSMEN Est. 1932 Incorporating Thomas Free & Sons Funeral Directors Est. 1875 24 hour Service
Private Chapels of Rest Pre-Paid Funerals Craftsmen made Memorials
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Additional Inscriptions
Winchcombe House, 37 New Park Street, Devizes, SN10 1DT.
01380 722500
Cleaning and Renovations
Thomas Free & Sons
Albert House, The Parade, Marlborough, SN8 1NE.
01672 512110
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07814 552729
www.icebergpoolsconstruction.co.uk
Whitton Ways
Diary of Events
May 13 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled 27 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled
June 10 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled 13 Ramsbury Street Fair - cancelled 13 Froxfield Beer & Music Festival 17 Friends of Holy Cross Garden Party at The Old Mill 2.30pm 24 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled July 11 Ramsbury Tennis Club Garden Party 8 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled 22 Ramsbury Lunch Club (AGM) - cancelled
September 2 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled 5 Froxfield Barn Dance 19 Christchurch Cathedral Men’s Choir and Organist - Concert in Holy Cross
16 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled 30 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled October 4 Ramsbury Run 14 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled
28 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled November 11 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled 11 Mission Group Lunch 25 Ramsbury Lunch Club - cancelled
Whitton Ways goes on-line
Whitton Ways back issues can be read on the www. whittonteam.org.uk website. If you follow the link and click on 'Whitton Ways' then click on the image of the front cover, this will take you to a secondary website called issuu.com which allows us to upload our Whitton Ways magazines for free reading. We will endeavour to put up the previous month’s issue at the end of each month. Priority will still be given to our loyal subscribers who will continue to have the magazine delivered to their door at the beginning of each month for just £6 a year.
If you would like your event included, please email editor Vanya Body on whittonways@gmail.com with the brief details. We will include not-for-profit, sports, charity, community social and musical events.
Whitton Ways
39
Clergy
Team Vicar Revd. Sue Rodd 16 The Garlings, Aldbourne, Marlborough, SN8 2DT 01672 541571 revsuerodd@btinternet.com
Team Vicar Revd Rhona Floate The Vicarage Back Lane Aldbourne SN8 2BP 01672 540523 rhonafloate@aol.com
Revd. Karen Rizzello Assistant Curate Brindley House, Vastern Wharf Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7PD 07882 055878 revkaren@rizzello.co.uk
Mr Tony Eyles, Lay Minister 55a High Street, Ramsbury, SN8 2QN 01672 520789
Revd. Canon Peter Ball, Priest Whittonedge, Whittonditch Road, Ramsbury, SN8 2PX 01672 520259 Licensed Lay Minister Mrs Jackie Hollander Hidden House, 6a Child Street, Lambourn, RG17 8NZ 01488 71012 Chaplain Froxfield College Reverend Ann Massey
Revd. Stephen Skinner Methodist Minister 18 Priorsfield Marlborough SN8 4AS 01672 512457 rev.stephen.skinner3@gmail.com
Mrs Estrid Eyles Licensed Pastoral Assistant (LPA) Coordinator 01672 520789
Team Office
Church Room, Back Lane, Ramsbury
01672 520963 (Answerphone) teamoffice@whittonteam.org.uk Office hours
None None 11.03.2020 08.03.2020 16.03.2020 03.04.2020 03.04.2020 09.04.2020 10.04.2020 13.04.2020 40
Thursday 1.30pm - 4.00pm
Churchwardens
Ramsbury with Axford Paul Trickey 01672 520630 George Hawes
01672 520693
Chilton Foliat Tim Williams
01488 682987
Ramsbury Methodist Steward Julie Coe 01672 521085
Peter Camfield
01488 685457
Baydon Tina Evans 01672 540250 tina.evans50@btinternet.com
Donni Blackwell 01488 73025 donniblackwell@icloud.com Froxfield
Aldbourne Krystyna Hagerty
Bookings
Chris McGowan
Chilton Foliat Village Hall enquiries@cfvh.co.uk Froxfield Memorial Hall David Watson
Ramsbury Church Room Sarah Williamson
From the Parish Registers
01672 540698
01672 541362
07435 307279 01672 841315 01672 520161
Baptisms
Weddings Funerals Antony Albert Charles Richardson Colin Edwards Jacqueline Kaye Susan Stephens Thomas Port Christopher Walter George Barnes Joan Gwyneth Jefferys Dorothy ‘Dot’ Walls
Baydon Ramsbury ChiltonFoliat Aldbourne Aldbourne Aldbourne Aldbourne Aldbourne
Whitton Ways
The Whitton Benefice & Ramsbury Methodist Church
May Services
Due to Covid-19, our church buildings are, sadly, closed until further notice. Nevertheless, the Church will continue to serve and pray for our communities during this crisis. We are currently offering a “phone-in” service at 10am each Sunday; call 020 7660 8149 or 020 3478 5289. You will be asked for an access code, which is 141 164 667#. Other material is available at www.whittonteam.org.uk, including: news sheets/pewsheets; service sheets (including “Reflective Spaces” for the 22nd April); service videos and children’s material; links to other sites. Email pcc@whittonteam.org.uk if you’d like to be added to our mailing list for resources, or if you need (or can offer) help. See also our Facebook page: @WhittonTeamNews. Daily prayers alternating around the streets of the villages of Whitton went up on Whitton Team News Facebook page everyday. Rev Sue Rodd did a video: An 'egg-citing' Easter - with Rev Sue Rodd! available on video to watch....https://vimeo.com/406241457
We are here to support you during this difficult time. Our “Wednesday Drop-In” (10 – 10.45 am) gives a phone-in opportunity to stay in touch with other members of the church family. One of the ministry team will host an informal conversation; you are welcome to stay for as long or short a time as you wish. Other home/prayer groups are also continuing to meet “virtually”. Please email pcc@whitton.org or ring Rhona Floate or Sue Rodd for access information. WE WILL RE-OPEN THE CHURCH BUILDINGS AND RE-START NORMAL SERVICE PATTERNS AS SOON AS THIS IS POSSIBLE; PLEASE WATCH CHURCH NOTICE BOARDS AND THE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.
From the Holy Cross Churchyard committee
If you have a family grave in Holy Cross Churchyard please read the following: We have completed the Easter clear up of graves in Holy Cross Churchyard.
As promised we have wrapped up and named as many of the prohibited ornaments as possible and they are now safely stored in boxes under the bench in the church porch. Any uncollected items will be disposed of a week or two after social isolating is over. All spare vases from the graves are along the wall to the west of the green bins in the New Churchyard. A copy of the Salisbury Diocesan churchyard regulations can be found in the church porch.
Whitton Ways
41
THE BELL AT RAMSBURY
ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY THIS SUMMER
Our food and and comfortable Our 300 300 year year old old former former coaching coaching inn inn is is known known for for outstanding outstanding food comfortable accommodation, so >,@ why &32Z; don’t @3< you 6!@ pay us Part 3( of ;,' the Ramsbury Estate >-;, with !$$3113&!ধ 32T 93 <9 a! visit? =-9-;S !8; !19#<8@ 9;!;' our 3<8 own 3>2 brewery, #8'>'8@T distillery &-9ধ ££'8@ and !2& smokehouse, 9130',3<9'T our 3<8 menu 1'2< features ('!;<8'9 European <836'!2 cuisine $<-9-2' and Dog friendly. Close to !2& pub 6<# classics. $£!99-$9W Great 8'!; walking. >!£0-2+W 3+ (8-'2&£@W £39' ;3 Marlborough !8£#383<+, and !2& Hungerford.
<2+'8(38&W
The High Street, Street,Ramsbury, Ramsbury,Wiltshire Wiltshire SN82PE 2PE || tel. 230 | | email. thebell@ramsbury.com The Square, Square, High SN8 tel.01672 01672 520 520 230 email. thebell@ramsbury.com
www.thebellramsbury.com
RAMSBURY R AMSBURY MEMOR MEMORIAL IAL H HALL ALL
An ideal venue for receptions, receptions, dances, stage performances, conferences, exercise exercise groups, groups, pr esentations and family gatherings conferences, presentations
Enquiries E nquiries and and Bookings Bookings at at www.ramsburymemorialhall.org ww w ww.ramsburymemorialhall.org orr Robert o Robert Osmond Osmond Tel. Tel T el. 01672 01672 520568 520568
" " " " " " " " " "
Hall of character ! Modernn facilities Moder facilities!! Full disabled facilities facilities!! Stage!! Stage Alcohol Licence Licence!! Free Fr ee Wi-Fi available available!! Public addr address ess system! system! Comfortable chairs chairs!! Seating at tables for 120 120!! Licensed for cinematography
Registered Charity Number 272112
Also available separately - ! Lychgate meeting room room ! The Lychgate for gatherings for up to ! 25 people with kitchen ! and toilets