Ramsbury and Axford
Village Diary December 2002 is published by Ramsbury
and Axford Amenity Group.
You can read this page from top to bottom, or click on these links to jump straight to the bit you want.
Memorial Hall
Christmas lights
Ramsbury WI
Parish Council
Ramsbury Flyer
Amenity Group
Axford carol service
Carol singing
Horticultural Society
Churchyard bins
Coffee Centre
Silver Band
LINK Scheme
Ramsbury video
And on other pages.
Ramsbury & Axford Village Diary - December 2002
Please may we have items for the January Diary VERY PROMPTLY by 16 December. They can be left with Sylvia Judge, 55 High Street or Ben Tottenham, Vicarage Cottage, Back Lane, at the shop counter at the Post Office or 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
At least half the days in the last month have brought rain to Ramsbury
during part of the day or night. Fortunately the water meadows are not
flooded on the grand scale of last autumn. Most mornings I look at the
Kennet and notice that its level is rising and the water is muddy. It
is now flowing too fast for the ducks, most of them seem to be missing
although a few are on the banks or swimming on the side ditch. The rain
may be the dominant factor at present but I am sure that we were all aware
of the gale at the end of October, which broke boughs and flattened any
weak fences, including one of mine.
The mild wet weather favours the growth of fungus. I have noticed several
varieties on decaying wood recently e.g. beech tuft (white) and the harder
polystictus, which is much more common but less attractive, also a rich
brown one with overlapping caps so high on a dying elm that I was unable
to collect a piece to identify it. On another day I found a wood blewit
(lepisra nuda) in the garden. It is said to be good to eat but I was not
bold enough to try it; it is of a lilac colour but of the size and shape
of a mushroom, ink caps are also around at this season.
Not so pleasant was the sight of two dead rats one morning on the track
east from Ambrose Farm. I wonder if they had been poisoned? Would they
be taken by some scavenger and pass death higher up the food chain?
The birds have started eating my pyracantha berries so I expect that they
will all be gone by Christmas. In the hedgerows some spindle berries can
still be seen, also purging buckthorn and privet berries both of which
are black, these and the red and black bryony berries will be feeding
some birds.
A Happy Christmas to you all, and may no one suffer the devastating effects
of flooding.
Bird Notes
In the last month Ramsbury was visited by a Merlin on at least two occasions.
This Hawk is Europe’s smallest bird of prey. It breeds on moorland
and heath but during the winter months moves to coastal and downland areas.
Staying with Birds of Prey; this time the Red Kite, I have at long last
seen this bird myself after various sightings by other people: it took
off from The Plantation and made its way slowly to Park Farm.
Winter visitors are now here in some strength with Fieldfare and Redwing
in good numbers. I have seen a flock of about 60 Golden Plover flying
over Springs Hill and heard Siskin and Crossbill over Ramsbury.
On the Broadwater at Chilton Foliat a flock of 12 pairs of Gadwall were
seen at the beginning of November.
John Marshall
Rainfall
The rainfall for the month to 18 November was an exceptional 7.55 inches,
average 3.40 inches.
Ramsbury Memorial Hall
The Trustees of Ramsbury Memorial Hall urgently require a Supervisor
(or Supervisors) to offer two hours a week monitoring the condition of
the Hall facilities, reporting to the Trustees. An honorarium is payable.
For further details contact Roy Alexander on 520304.
Christmas
Lights
Come and see the Christmas lights at Whitehill Close from Sunday 1 December.
Collection boxes for your donations to the Great Western Hospital Evolution
Appeal are at 1, 6, 7 & 9 Whitehill Close.
For more information on the Appeal please call Julie Coe on 521085.
Ramsbury WI
Mr John Girvan will give a talk entitled “Who was Santa” at
the next meeting in the Methodist School Room at 7.45 pm on Thursday 5
December.
The Membury Fort Carol Service will be held in Baydon Church at 7.45 pm
on Monday 9 December.
Ramsbury Parish Council
SKIPS
There will be skips at Axford and Knowledge Crescent on Friday 6 December.
COUNCILLOR VACANCIES
There are three vacancies which the council want to fill by co-opting
individuals. Anyone interested in becoming a councillor should notify
the Parish Clerk before 7 December. Telephone 01672 520045 (Ansaphone
at Parish Office) or write to The Parish Clerk, Parish Council Office,
The Memorial Hall, Ramsbury.
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR REFUSE COLLECTIONS
Friday 27 December & Thursday 2 January.
Ramsbury Flyer
(The Community Bus also has
its own page at www.ramsbury.com/flyer).
The Christmas shopping trip to London will be on Saturday 7 December
leaving the Tree at 8.30 am and returning at 4.30 pm. Fare £8
- book on 01672 520555.
The next Newbury trip will be on Thursday 12 December leaving the
Tree at 11.30 am and returning at 2.30 pm.
Ramsbury Amenity Group
There will be a guided walk on Sunday 8 December to Loves Copse 4½ miles, meeting at the Tree at 2 pm, with dogs under control.
BOXING DAY WALK
Priscilla and Ronny invite you to join them for a short walk on Boxing
Day at 2 pm at the Tree. Everyone is welcome, all your family and friends,
to recover from your Christmas Dinner!
Axford Carol Service
There will be a traditional Service of Carols on Sunday 8 December at
3 pm in St Michael’s Church. It will be followed by tea and mince
pies.
Carol singing
The Methodist Church invite you to join them during the evenings to sing
carols round the village starting on
Monday 16 Dec. - meeting at the Methodist Church at 6.55 pm. Please bring
your children and friends and dress warmly. The Silver Band will play
for carols round the Tree.
Thursday 19 visiting Back Lane, Isles Road
Friday 20 the first call will be at Hilldrop Farm, then Knowledge Crescent
Monday 23 Whittonditch Road and Crowood Lane
Tuesday 24 Oxford Street, High Street calling on Dr Tiplady and finishing
at Ramsbury Hill by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Blunt.
SPECIAL SERVICES FOR CHRISTMAS
15 December 6 pm Carol Service “Christmas in story and song”,
with the Mums Choir.
16 December 7 pm Carols round the Tree with Ramsbury Silver Band, followed
by mince pies at the Methodist Hall.
20 December 7 pm Carols round the village - see Methodist programme above.
22 December 5 pm Carol service at Holy Cross by candlelight.
23 December 7 pm Carols round the village - see Methodist programme above.
24 December 4 pm Churches together - Christingle at Holy Cross.
24 December 7 pm Carols round the village - see Methodist programme above.
24 December 11 pm Midnight Mass Holy Cross.
25 December 10 am Family service with Communion. Holy Cross.
29 December 10 am Team Eucharist at All Saints Froxfield.
Ramsbury Horticultural Society
If you have not yet bought tickets for the Christmas Party, including
Wine Tasting, on 14 December please telephone Roy Alexander on 520304.
Bins in the Churchyard
The “Bin Man” would appreciate help from those who use the
rubbish bins after visiting and tidying their family graves. Please avoid
putting heavy objects in the bins. Wet oasis, sharp edged wreath holders,
bottles of water, wire netting wreaths, tree branches and spiky greenery
etc. will always split the rubbish bags making emptying a very hard task.
Please take them home for disposal.
Coffee Centre News
The Christmas Raffle will be held on Thursday 19 December at 10.30 am
in the Coffee Centre. If you would like to donate a prize for the raffle
that would be very much appreciated: please bring it to the Coffee Centre
any Thursday morning or call Julie Coe on 521085.
Ramsbury Silver Band – Christmas Concert
The Band will be giving their annual Christmas Concert on Friday 20 December
at 7.30 pm in the Church Room. You are invited to bring your family and
friends along to an evening of musical entertainment including some old
Christmas favourites. Mulled wine and mince pies will be on offer to help
foster the festive spirit. A retiring collection will be made for band
funds.
Ramsbury and Axford LINK Scheme
The Scheme is now up and running. If you need transport or odd jobs doing,
one of our band of volunteers will be happy to help. Call our Coordinator,
Ken Taylor on 520111 and he will arrange for a volunteer to contact you.
Although nearly 30 people have volunteered, we would welcome more and
Tessa Rissone 520712, or Joy Wilson 520848 can let you have more details.
Ramsbury and Axford Millennium Video
Copies of the Millennium Video are still available. You can see the village,
with its school, shops, sports, business and countryside in the year leading
up to the Millennium. Why not send a copy to family and friends who have
enjoyed a visit to the villages. It can be bought from the Post Office
or Roy Alexander, 55a High Street, Ramsbury 520304 at £12.99. There
are a few copies for use on American video machines (NTSC) at £15.99.
THANKS
THE POPPY APPEAL
The total contribution sent to the Appeal from Ramsbury and Axford amounted
to £1921.55. The organiser, John Plenderleith, would like to thank
all those who helped and donated towards this excellent result of the
appeal.
RAMSBURY BALL
The Ball on 7 September raised £8,364 for village charities including
the School, Bowls Club and Recreation Centre. Held annually since 1998
(except 2000), the Ball has raised over £34,000 for Ramsbury charities
and is planned for Saturday 6 September 2003.
LYDIA WHEELER APPEAL FUND
Lydia has now completed her training and the account should be closed.
The balance of around £700 could be transferred to our Jubilee Scholarship
Fund which benefits all children with enthusiasm, not just those with
ability and talent. It is administered by a committee and funds Masterclasses,
Ballet theatre trips and Summer schools etc. If anyone has any objections
to this proposal, or other ideas for the use of this money, please contact
me before 31 January 2003 when I plan to close the account and transfer
the money to the Jubilee Scholarship Fund.
Liz McIndoe, Westfield Farm House, Mill Lane, Ramsbury, SN8 2RE. 52051
ADVANCE NOTICES
RAMSBURY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
The Society is holding two events in January 2003 which members are asked
to note. There will be a Quiz with Lambourne at 7.30 pm on Thursday 9
January in the Memorial Hall. Last year, Ramsbury won a close contest
by one point so we hope that all members will come along to support our
team in what is expected to be another close contest. The Annual General
Meeting of the Society will take place in the Memorial Hall at 7.45 pm
on
Monday 21 January. All members are asked to make every effort to attend.
VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT
The Village Design Statement was completed in October and adopted as Supplementary
Planning Guidance by Kennet District Council on 12 November. It will be
printed in December and “launched” at a meeting in the
Memorial Hall on the morning of Saturday 18 January 2003.
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