Ramsbury & Axford Village Diary
April 2004

Nature Notes
Bird Notes
Rainfall

Best Kept Village
KDC collections
Silver Band
Patients' Reps.
Ramsbury WI
Rvnsbry Players
Hort. Society
The Flyer
Churches
Axford Bingo
Guided Walks
Watermill Players
Treloar Coffee

Thanks

Advance Notices

On other pages:

Contacts for Village Organisations

Ramsbury & Axford Village Diary is published by:

Ramsbury & Axford Amenity Group.

Please may we have items for the May Diary by 18 April. They can be left with Sylvia Judge, 55 High Street; Ben Tottenham, Vicarage Cottage, Back Lane; at the Post Office; or by email to Diary@Ramsbury.com.

We have been publishing the Village 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 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

March 16th and what a grand spring day that was, a joy to be out of doors, such a contrast to the snow that fell less than a week before. Some of the children optimistically took their toboggans up on the hill, but I am sure that the snow was too thin. All in all the weather has been very varied during the past month but with the lengthening days nature has sprung to life. Frogs are now active in garden ponds and their spawn is also to be found and no doubt strips of toad spawn as well. Unfortunately I have seen two toads squashed on the road; it seems that during the very wet spells they and the worms venture on to the tarmac and get stranded as the rain passes.
After the drabness of winter it is always a joy to see the early spring flowers, particularly the various bulbs sending up their flowering spikes. These and the early flowering shrubs and trees have a daintiness not seen later in the year. Will it be a good year for the fruit trees I wonder? Frosty nights may yet occur when the plum and other fruit trees begin to flower. The blackthorn is already putting on a good show, and the hawthorn leaves are beginning to unfurl in sheltered places. Many wayside plants are putting forth their young leaves, including the nettles, to give food for the caterpillars as they begin to emerge. Some over winter in this stage of the butterfly's development, one such is the small cabbage white. I found one of its caterpillars recently on the last of my brussels sprouts. This is the time of year when the weeping willows are at their most attractive stage as the leaf buds begin to show the first of their yellowish leaves as they unfold.
The other evening I managed to avoid a very young rabbit that was running in the road, will it live to adulthood? On another occasion a fox went safely into a roadside hedge. Their young do not seem to be found squashed on the roads, perhaps they are kept close to the den while small. As yet the ants do not appear to be as active as other forms of life, perhaps the soil its still too cold.

Rosie Pauline

Bird Notes

My last visit to Hens Wood in March rather disappointingly revealed just two Siskin and four Redpoll, whereas this time last year the tally read like this: 30 Crossbill, 45 Siskin, 15 Chaffinch, 2 Bullfinch, 6 Yellowhammer, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Linnet. In other years the finches in Hens Wood have been in their hundreds!
Some birds are prone to eruptions in their numbers, these include Bramblings,Crossbill,Siskin and Redpoll. These fluctuations in numbers correspond to the size of the seed crops. Siskin and Redpoll can increase as much as four times in successive years. I look forward to seeing what the wood holds in store for us next year In the last month I have seen Red Kite over Park Copse and Knowledge Hill, and others have been seen in Savernake, Chisbury and Froxfield.

John Marshall

Rainfall

The rainfall for the month to 18 March was 1.14 inches, average 2.85 inches.

Best Kept Village Competition

The Parish Council has decided to enter the Competition this year. There is a small cash prize and the winner may be able to go forward to the Calor Gas Village of the Year Competition which has a prize of £6000. Judging is in June and July so can we please ask you to tidy up your immediate environs and try to present the village well. The Junior Football Club have agreed to earn a donation to their funds by doing a clear up in early May, which should give a good start. Apart from entering the Competition with a little effort we shall have a more attractive village to the advantage of all. Ramsbury cum Axford Parish Council.

Rubbish and Paper collection

After the Easter holiday, rubbish will be collected on Thursday 15 April. Paper Boxes will be collected on 8 & 22 April - please note that cardboard is not accepted.

Ramsbury Silver Band

The Ramsbury Silver Band, founded 1900, is looking for new players, particularly Cornet and Bass players. Their aim is to recruit enough players to enable them to go to Contests, and to field a full band at summer engagements. The Band practises in the Church Room, Back Lane on Wednesdays from 7.45 pm to 9.15 pm, and on Fridays from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm.There is a training band practice on Friday between 6.30 and 7.30 pm. All ages are welcome to come along and have a go. The Band will provide instruments and music. If you would like more information please contact them on 520154, or by email ramsbury.band@ntlworld.com

Patients' Representatives Report

The new Surgery project is on schedule, the ground works having been completed and the building commenced. Up-to-date photographic progress reports (supplied by Dr. Owen-Jones) can be seen in the surgery.
The new out of hours arrangements are working satisfactorily in our area with the Marlborough and Ramsbury doctors working together, and the Minor Injuries Unit at Savernake, including the Xray Department being available.
Dr. Handford will be working at the surgery until 2 April after which Dr. Zoe Wardley will be taking over his patients. Dr. Handford will be continuing with medical homeopathy treatment on a part time basis at the Ridgeway Hospital, Wroughton. A formal farewell and presentation to him will be made on Tuesday 13 April at 8 pm in the Memorial Hall. All are welcome.

Ramsbury WI

The next meeting will be held in the Methodist School Room on Thursday 1 April at 7.45 pm when Robin Radley will speak about CHICS, an Orphanage in India.. If you know of Robin's work at Treloar please come and hear of his new work in India. The monthly competition will be for anything Indian. All welcome.

Ravensbury Players

The Ravenssbury Players will present 'Visitors', consisting of three one act plays of 'Revelation and Consequence' at the Memorial Hall on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 April. The curtain will be up at 7.45 pm and there will be an interval for supper and a raffle. There will be a licensed bar and tickets, to include supper will cost £5 and can be obtained from the Post Office and Midway Stores, or by telephone from 520068.

Ramsbury Horticultural Society

On Monday 5 April at 7.45 pm in the Methodist School Room Jenny Whittam will speak on 'Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden & the Spring Flowers of Namaqualand South Africa'

Ramsbury Flyer

(The Community Bus also has its own page).

The next visit to Newbury will be on Thursday 8 April leaving the Tree at 11.30 am and returning from Newbury at 2.30 pm.

On Tuesday 20 April and 25 May the Flyer will travel to Marlborough via Chilton Foliat and Froxfield. Leaving the Crown & Anchor car park at 1.15 pm, it will call at Chilton Foliat at 1.30 pm (and Froxfield College at prior request). It will return from Marlborough at 3.45 pm. The fare will be £2. Book with Muriel Lye on 520555.

Easter Church Services

Axford Bingo

There will be Bingo in Axford Village Hall on Wednesdays 14 and 28 April at 7.30 pm.

Ramsbury Amenity Group Guided Walks

There will be guided walks to Great Coppice (Walk 2) 4+ miles on Sunday 11 April, and to Westwood 4 miles on Sunday 25 April. Share cars and meet at the Tree at 2 pm with dogs under control.

Watermill Theatre 'Mr & Mrs Schulz'

The Watermill Theatre's touring production of 'Mr & Mrs Schulz', a thriller set in post 1945 South America, will be staged at the Memorial Hall on Wednesday 21 April at 8 pm. This is exactly the same production that has recently been seen at the Watermill. Tickets are available from the Post Office and Midway Stores or from 520986: prices £6, £3 concessions, £15 family of two adults and two children.

The Treloar Trust - Coffee Morning

The Treloar Trust provides education, therapy, independence training and first class care for young people with physical disabilities, some of whom have sensory impairments, little or no speech or learning difficulties. Ramsbury has supported Treloar for a number of years and the Coffee Morning from 10 am to 12 noon at the Memorial Hall on Saturday 24 April is the main fund raising event. We would be very grateful if you could continue your support by donating items for the various stalls that are planned, and help by delivering them direct to the stall organisers. Contributions can also be left at the Hall on Friday 23 April from 2.0 - 4.0 pm.
- Books, adult and childrens Christa Mardon 520018
- Kitchen/Preserves Jean Cocker 520681
- Gifts Juma Lance 520629
- Cakes Jean Leslie 520634
- Bathroom/Linen Judy Davies 520337

THANKS

The Coffee Centre has recently sent £500 to six local charities. The Bruce Charitable Trust, The Prospect Hospice, The British Red Cross (Medical Loan Fund) and the Ramsbury Surgery (Equipment Fund) have each received £100. The Douglas Arter Centre and the East Kennet District Community Transport have been sent £50 each. Julie Coe would like to say thank you to all those who support the Coffee Centre.

The Horticultural Society and the Bowls Club would like to thank all who supported the Spring Show and Fete on 13 March, either by their entries or their attendance.

ADVANCE NOTICES

The 2004 Beating the Bounds of the Parish will take place on Monday 3 May, the Bank Holiday. Meet at 7.30 am outside the Bell for the Flyer or 7.45 am at the start of the walk on the road to Crooked Soley as in 2003. It is a lovely time of year to see our beautiful countryside at its most beautiful. Would walkers please put the date in their diaries. Helpers for the tea are urged to get in touch with Geoffrey Treherne on 512406.

The Annual Ramsbury Closed Golf Tournament will be held at Marlborough Golf Club on Monday 3 May. Open to all golfers who live in the parish of Ramsbury & Axford and a chance to pursue the prestigious Ramsbury Trophy. Tee off time is early afternoon and we are grateful to Gordon and Liz Kenneth who are kindly hosting the post tournament celebrations and barbecue at Whittonhill. Those who are not members at Marlborough will have to pay the members guest green fee in addition to the tournament entry. To enter please phone Dave Lewis on 520008 or Robert Osmond on 520568.

Ramsbury Horticultural Society plans a Plant Sale and Coffee Morning on Saturday 8 May at 55 & 55a High Street and a visit to Exbury Gardens near Beaulieu on Saturday 15 May. Applications for tickets price £10 are already due and should be sent now to Roy Alexander 55a High Street. The Gardens Open day will be on Sunday 18 July from 2.0 - 5.30 pm

Aldbourne Senior Section Guides are holding a Table Top Sale in Ramsbury Memorial Hall on Saturday 8 May from 10 am - 12noon. To book a table at £10 ring 520988. The funds raised will go towards the cost of the members of the Senior Section who are travelling to India as part of their Queen's Guiding Award.

The Annual Parish Meeting will be held in the Memorial Hall at 7.45 pm on Monday 10 May. All village residents and organisations will be welcome at that meeting.

The Ramsbury Branch of the Royal British Legion is planning to hold a commemorative D-Day get-together on Wednesday 9 June at 7.30 pm in the Club. This will be for all WW2 ex-service people and their spouses including Home Guard, Women's Land Army, Fire Service, Police and widows. Please come along and share, in a convivial atmosphere, your memories of those dark days of 1939-45. To help with catering please call either the Chairman on 520865, or the Secretary on 520555.

To celebrate Marlborough's 800th Anniversary the town plans a programme of events during June culminating with the visit of H.R.H The Prince of Wales on Friday 18 June.

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