Ramsbury and
Axford Village Diary April 2002 published by Ramsbury
and Axford Amenity Group.
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Ramsbury & Axford Village Diary - April 2002
Please may we have items for the May Diary by 18 April. They may be left with Ben Tottenham, Vicarage Cottage, Back Lane, with Sylvia Judge, 55 High Street, at the shop counter at the Post Office or sent by email to Diary@Ramsbury.com. We have been publishing the Village Diary at www.ramsbury.com/diary since July 1998 and have regular readers around the world. If anyone in Ramsbury would like to find out more about the Internet, please visit www.ramsbury.com and contact Peter Raper by email or phone 521092.
Webmaster's note: Contributions sent by e-mail
to Diary@Ramsbury.com will
be automatically forwarded to Sylvia Judge without my seeing them.
Nature Notes
Hopefully by Easter the wet days and cold winds will be left behind
and spring sunshine will be enhancing the green buds and leaves as
they unfurl. In sheltered places the hawthorn is already showing dainty
green leaves on its twigs.
Unfortunately with Spring comes carnage. Recently I have seen rabbits
and badgers that have fallen victim to passing cars. Numerous frogs
are suffering the same fate at present. Is it the wet weather or are
there more frogs about than usual, I wonder? When we have a sunny
day, bumble bees are now appearing but as yet I have not seen any
wasp or hive bees. The latter do not seem to have been thriving too
well in recent years.
In spite of a short spell of severe weather before Christmas, the
slugs and snails do not seem to have suffered. To my surprise while
recently digging, I came across a green caterpillar with white lines.
It may have been that of a MEADOW BROWN? It is one of the few caterpillars
that partially hibernate whereas with most butterflies over wintering
is in the form of a chrysalis so that a butterfly can emerge in early
spring.
As the days get longer, what ever the weather, both plants and animals
respond to changing conditions. I was conscious of this today (March
15th) when I noticed how much the butterburr flowers had developed
in the past few days. Also the grass is now growing fast so a few
drying days and the lawn mowers will be out.
Bird Notes
I have just been reading an old Ornithological Report about Buzzards
in Wiltshire in 1973. In that year three pairs were confirmed breeding
in the whole of Wiltshire. What a change now 29 years later when you
can see two pairs defending territories to the west of Ramsbury alone!
Red Kite sightings have gone from nothing two months ago to an abundance
this month with sightings from Scropes, Elmdown, Springs Hill and
Ramsbury Manor. We had two over Knowiedge Hill which were so low that
you could make out individual feathers on their undersides! Willow
Tits are also present at Scropes and a pair of Gadwall were present
on flood water at Harrow Farm.
As I write this on March 17th I have just heard my first two summer
migrants! They were Chiff Chaffs in Hens Wood. I have also had a report
of a Ring Ouzel on Liddington Hill.
John Marshall
Rainfall
The rainfall for the month to 18 March was 3.82 inches, average 2.85
inches.
Ramsbury WI
The next meeting of Ramsbury WI is on Thursday 4th April at 7.45 pm
in the Methodist School Room. Mr Stephen Slater will give an introduction
to HERALDRY. There wiil be a trading stall selling indoor and garden
plants. Visitors are welcome.
Village Design Statement available for review
The draft of the Ramsbury Village Design Statement is now complete and two copies will be available in the Village Library for review and comment for six weeks from Saturday 6th April 2002. Those copies will be in full colour and will be retained in the Library. Further copies in black and white will be available to be borrowed for short periods by anyone who wishes to study the draft more closely.
There will be a display of the Statement in the Memorial Hall between
10 am and 12 noon on Saturday 13th April. Members of the project group
will be present to discuss any points villagers would like to raise.
Horticultural Society
Monday 8th April 7.45 pm. Methodist School Room. Talk on Clematis.
Wednesday 17th April. Visit to Highgrove Gardens. A party of 25 for
security reasons only. Paid up members should have applied before
March 16th. Cost £10. Names required in advance of visit so
no changes after March 30th.
Post Office News
VARIETY SHOW TICKETS
Tickets for this show in May will go on sale at 9 am on Saturday April
20th at Ramsbury Post Office.
Also, new stamps available with circus theme from April 9th, new film
(Moulin Rouge) on video and new stationery items including "Monsters
inc" cards.
Ramsbury Flyer
(The Community Bus also
has its own page at www.ramsbury.com/flyer)
The next visit to Newbury will be on April 11th. Depart the TREE at
11.30 am. Return from Newbury at 2.30 pm.
Ravensbury Players
The Ravensbury Players will be presenting `Night CaIIers', an evening
of three plays, with an interval refreshment of Cheese and Wine, on
Friday and Saturday April 12th and 13th.
This production will support CALM (Children's Cancer and Leukaemia
Movement). Tickets £4.50 available from Mills Butchers, Midway
Stores and by telephoning 01672 520986.
Parochial Church Council
Annual General Meeting on April 22nd in the Church Room at 7.30 pm.
ELECTORAL ROLL
Everyone [?! - ed.] needs to renew their membership of the Holy Cross
Church Electoral Roll this year. There are forms to be completed at
the back of the Church. They have to be submitted by April 7th which
is the statutory fifteen days before the PCC Annual General Meeting
on April 22nd.
TRELOAR Coffee Morning
This annual event will take place on Friday April 26th at 10 am in
the Memorial Hall. Entry fee 50p to include coffee. Stalls - Gifts
and Bricabrac, White Elephant (but please no jumble), Cakes, Preserves,
Plants and Books. Plus raffle. Any contributions can be delivered
to the hall on Thursday afternoon April 25th or contact Evelyn Parsons
(520624) or Doris Dennison (520521 ) to arrange collection.
LINK Scheme for Ramsbury
There will be an open meeting on Tuesday April 30th at 7.30 pm in
the Church Room, Back Lane, Ramsbury. Potential volunteers and users
and those curious to know about the Scheme are all welcome.
The Flora London Marathon
Joy Wilson is running the Flora London Marathon on April l4th 2002
to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. If you would
like to support her, there is a sponsor form on the counter in Ramsbury
Post Office. Thank you.
Ramsbury Amenity Group
GUIDED WALKS
There are walks on Sunday l4th April and 28th April. Meet at the Tree
2 pm. Every one welcome. Contact R.Price on 520652.
LIST OF VILLAGE ORGANISATIONS
The revised list of contacts in village organisations has been distributed
as an insert in the April diary. It can be viewed
on the
village organisations
page. Please send any further changes using our convenient feedback
form.
Black Rock Family Disco
There is a family disco at the Memorial Hall on the 27th April at
7.30 pm. Tickets on sale at Mills Butchers and the Post Office. Contact
A. Dennis 521083.
Ramsbury Painting Group
Meets twice a month in the Church Room, Ramsbury. Contact Chairman
Dr Bernard Brooks on Ol672 520135 or Secretary on Ol672 810868.
Patients Representative Group
Last met at the start of March. During Dr Symon's absence due to ill
health a Locum Doctor is to cover her duties. She hopes to commence
in mid April and will be at the surgery for at least six months. We
send our best wishes to Dr Symon.
The Surgery are appealing to young people between ages 20-24 to have
the Meningitis C Vaccination. It is a single dose. It is not compulsory
but it is recommended that everyone in that age group has this done.
Please phone the surgery to make an appointment.
Prescription Charges have to rise to £6.ZOp per item. Sadly
the Surgery is losing the services of Avril, one of the District Nurses.
We are all sorry to see her go and wish her well in her new job.
Used Stamps
Evelyn Smith thanks everyone who sends her stamps for The Iris Fund
for the prevention of blindness .Last year £630 were raised.
Give your stamps to any WI member who can pass them to Evelyn at a
meeting.
Ramsbury Cricket Club
would like to invite players of all abilities to play cricket during
the 2002 season. League matches are played on Saturdays (2 pm start),
Friendlies on Sundays (2.30 pm). Nets and coaching mid-week.
Interested parties should contact Peter, Robert or Ellin Osmond on
01672 520568.
ADVANCE NOTICES
BEATING the BOUNDS
The jubilee "Beating the Bounds" walk will take place on
Bank Holiday Monday, May 6th. All are weIcome for part or all of the
walk. No dogs. Start from the tree 7.30 am. Transport will be available.
COMMUNITY BUS AGM
The Community Bus AGM will be held on Tuesday May 7th 2002 at 7.30
pm. at a New Venue - The Crown and Anchor. The Committee hope many
people will attend to support their work and help plan for the future
service.
VARIETY SHOW
THIS, THAT, and MORE of the Other will be performed on May 23rd, 24th
and 25th. This year all the profits will be divided between The Prospect
Hospice at Wroughton and Ramsbury Pre-School. If you would like to
advertise in the programme, please contact Rosemarie Derrick on 01672
520334 or e-mail information to rderrick@jacgb jnj.com. Any donations
to these worthy causes will be gratefully received.
Tickets available from the Post Office from April 20th, all at £5
each. Remember these usually sell out on the first day so buy early!
The Parish Council and the Recreation Centre Plans.
CHILDREN
PLAN YOUR FANCY DRESS - Two divisions each with prizes: (i) Any costume,
(ii) Kings and Queens from History.
DECORATED BICYCLES - have the same two categories.
SOAP BOX DERBY - Entries in Adult, Boys, Girls, Parent and Child (over
7) sections. The Insurers insist that all soap box entries must have
a brake. Prizes for best design and best decorated!
Let your imaginations go!. See www.ramsbury.com for pictures of soap
boxes in days gone by.
Ramsbury in Bloom
Decorate the outsides of your homes with hanging baskets, window boxes,
potted plants and flower beds in red, white and blue flowers for the
weekend. Plus a Flower Festival and Exhibitions.
Street Fair
Run a Stall on the High Street with or without a Jubilee Theme. Apart
from a small charge for the site all your profit is for your organisation.
Programme
June 1st - Fancy dress procession in street fair with the Silver band.
Dance to 50's music and have a "Fish and Chips" supper in
the evening.
June 2nd - Jubilee Church Service. Walking Treasure Hunt. Concert
in Church of Chopin Piano music.
June 3rd - Soap Box Derby and BBQ. Evening Family Dance with Premium
Banana and a firework display. Contact Sheila Glass 520409 or Ian
Smith 520871..
ECUADORIAN LUNCH & SWIMMING PARTY
Sunday July 7th at 12.30 pm at Hilldrop Farm. Come to hear about the
amazing John Dury Mission in Guayaquil, Equador. Holy Cross Church
PCC and proceeds from this event support this mission. Tickets £5
for Adults and £3 for children.
RAMSBURY BALL
Saturday September 7th 2002. Booking forms available from the Crown
and Anchor.
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