Ramsbury & Axford Village Diary
December 2003

Nature Notes
Bird Notes
Rainfall

Ramsbury WI
British Legion
Parish Council
Guided Walks
The Flyer
Axford Bingo
Hort. Society
Project 2005
Link Scheme
P.O. News
Silver Band
Coffee Centre
Marie Curie
Lunch Club
Carol Singing
Xmas Services
Xmas Lights

Thanks

In Advance

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 January Diary by 18 December. 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 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 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

Only little over a month to Christmas and we are still enjoying comparatively mild weather with many sunny days as even some of the misty mornings have quickly given place to sunshine. It is good to have it so pleasant for walking especially as I have a new dog. With little autumn rainfall the Kennet is still very low and, as you may have noticed, the watercress has spread out to such an extent that it makes the river look very narrow in places. In spite of this, I have seen a heron on two occasions but I doubt there are any fish near the bridge worth taking.
As yet the birds are not eating my pyracantha berries: perhaps it is because there are plenty of wild fruits for them. I have never seen such a crop on the spindle trees and some of the blackthorn bushes have a heavy crop of sloes. A few weeks ago the sweet and horse chestnut trees in the Hungerford area were shedding many good nuts: yet by a canal in the west the sweet chestnut trees had only hollow nuts, drought at the wrong time no doubt, and the fungus seems to be suffering in the same way in many places.
Some insects are still surviving. In mid October, two dragonflies were hovering over some water plants and more recently a blowfly, spiders, daddy-long-legs, a small moth and a tortoiseshell butterfly have all been seen. There is always something to be seen, as when a fox crossed the road after dark as I approached Chilton Foliat.
At least foxes and deer do not get killed on the roads as often as the pheasants, although I did see a young deer dead by the roadside a few weeks ago. The autumn colours may have been better and longer-lasting this year than usual but it was quite a quick change with a windy day on 14 November; a reminder that winter is upon us. As the festive season approaches may all go well for the many readers of the village diary.

Rosie Pauline

Bird Notes

The highlight of the month must be the visit of a Black Redstart in the Whicha area. This handsome bird has a black body and a red tail, which is where the name comes from: the old English for tail is Steort. It is a summer visitor but is increasingly becoming an over-winterer. Originally it could be found by sea cliffs and mountains but now it can be found in any sort of habitat. In 1923, there was only one breeding pair in Britain and now there are at least 100 so its prospects appear good!
Whilst in Bolstridge Bottom, I noticed three sheep that had Jackdaws wandering up and down their backs. In the spring, the birds are taking wool to line their nests but at this time of the year the sheep are walking larders, full of insects which are the Jackdaws' staple diet.

John Marshall

Rainfall

The rainfall for the month to 18 November was 1.79 inches, average 3.40 inches.

Ramsbury Royal British Legion

TALK
Anita Fisher was called up for duty in the Middle East as a Territorial Nurse. She will be speaking at 8 pm on Sunday 7 December in the Club about her enlistment and relocation back in civilian life.

COMPUTER
The Parish Council computer, formerly in the Library, is now in the Legion Club. A local businessman has kindly donated a wheeled table with shelving and double brakes. Computer literate volunteers would be appreciated to iron out the glitches still in the system. Over 130 subscriptions for the year have been paid, but there are still some 20 outstanding.
John Lye Hon Secretary

Marie Curie Cancer Care

Ena Wordsworth's "Guess the faces" Quiz in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care is in local shops now.

Post Office News

You can now top up your mobile phone card at the Post Office. Look out for our Christmas Competition. Come and name the reindeer for "Children in Need". There are new releases on DVD and Video this month
X Men 2, Sweet Home Alabama, Matrix Reloaded and How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days.

Ramsbury Lunch Club

Ramsbury Lunch Club would very much like one or two more volunteers to transport the elderly infirm in the village to the Lunch Club every other Wednesday (in term time only) and to take them home afterwards. With sufficient drivers, the duty only comes round about five or six times a year, so do please volunteer if you can. Telephone Peter Brown, Driver Coordinator, on 520776 (email peterbrown@dialstart.net) if you would like to help.

Project 2005

Planning permission has been received for the first phase of the programme to extend and improve Ramsbury's sports and leisure facilities. Work will start during the autumn and winter, levelling and grading the land to the West of existing facilities, prior to seeding in the spring. There will be a Christmas raffle run by The Bell with profits going to Project 2005.

Ramsbury Parish Council

WALKING FOR HEALTH
Help your relations and friends who live locally to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise and we live in a beautiful area. Packs of maps showing twelve walks starting in or near Ramsbury are on sale in the Post Office, the Library and local pubs for only £5. Why not buy a pack as a Christmas present? There are two guided walks per month organised by Ramsbury Amenity Group and led by Ronny Price, many based on maps in the pack. Details are given each month in the diary. Meet at the Tree on the 2nd or 4th Sunday each month at 2 pm for conversation and company while enjoying the lovely surroundings.

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
Are you sick of traffic and parking problems? Is Christmas shopping a nightmare? Then don't overlook the shops in the village when you come to shop for Christmas (and during the rest of the year). Please try to support local businesses. It could save you time and money in the long run and you will find friendly efficient staff to serve you, which is not always the case in town. There is a vast range of goods available on the doorstep and not a parking meter or traffic warden in sight.
Ramsbury Parish Council

Ramsbury Silver Band & Christmas Carols

Please come and support your local Band at one or more of these events at which they will be playing.

The Band thanks everyone for their support during 2003 and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Carol Singing

Meet at 7 pm at The Methodist Church

Christmas Lights at Whitehill Close

The lights will be switched on at 6.45 pm on Monday 1 December. It is hoped that BBC Wiltshire Radio will join Ramsbury Silver Band for the ceremony. There will be drinks, mince pies and sweets for children. Boxes will be available for Wiltshire Air Ambulance. A colouring competition will be launched that night.

Ramsbury & Axford Link Scheme - AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Scheme will be held on Tuesday 2 December in the Memorial Hall at 7.45 pm. The Ramsbury & Axford Link Scheme was launched in November 2002 and to date 190 tasks have been undertaken by volunteers. All volunteers are cordially invited to attend the AGM. The present committee members would welcome any new people who may be interested in the scheme to join them. Refreshments will be served after the meeting.

Ramsbury WI

The next meeting will be on Thursday 4 December in the Methodist Schoolroom at 7.45 pm when Mrs P Clement will speak on "Christmas Yesterday". The competition will be for a Christmas decoration. Tickets will be on sale for the New Year Party on Friday 9 January. Visitors and new members welcome.

Axford Bingo

There will be Bingo in Axford Village Hall on Wednesday 10 December at 7.30 pm.

Ramsbury Flyer

(The Community Bus also has its own page).

The next trip to Newbury will be on Thursday 11 December leaving the Tree at 11.30 am and returning from Newbury at 2.30 pm

LONDON SHOPPING TRIP
The Flyer will leave the Tree at 8.30 am on Saturday 6 December arriving back at about 6.30 pm. The fare will be £8. Book with Muriel Lye on 520555.

Ramsbury Horticultural Society

The Society's "Christmas Event" will take place on Saturday 13 December in the Memorial Hall from 7 pm. Wine tasting, followed by a light supper, will be the focus for the evening with a festive element to the proceedings! Tickets at a subsidised price of £5 will be available from Roy Alexander on 520304.

Amenity Group Guided Walks

There will be a guided walk to the Fox and Hounds and Marridge Hill on Sunday 14 December. Meet at the Tree at 2 pm with dogs under control.

BOXING DAY WALK
Ronny and Priscilla invite you to join them for their traditional Boxing Day Walk, 2 pm at The Tree. All the family, visitors and friends to walk off the Christmas Pud!!

Special Services for Christmas

Coffee Centre News

The Christmas Raffle will be on 18 December at 10.30 am in the Red Cross Centre. Tickets available every Thursday. If you can donate a prize for the raffle, please call Julie Coe on 521085.

THANKS

The amount forwarded to The Poppy Appeal from Ramsbury and Axford came to £1858.61. The organiser, John Plenderleith, would like to thank all those who contributed and also those who kindly collected for the Appeal.

ADVANCE NOTICES

The Ramsbury Horticultural Society's Annual Quiz will take place on Thursday 8 January at Lambourn.
On Monday 26 January the AGM will be held in the Memorial Hall at 7.45 pm.

Ena Wordsworth's sale in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care will take place on Saturday 10 January. Items for the sale will be welcomed in advance at 18 High Street.

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