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Please
may we have items for the February Diary by 18 January. 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
The build up to Christmas may be a busy time with cards to write, extra
shopping and cooking to do but as I look out on a foggy mid December afternoon
I cannot help thinking that it is no bad thing. The retired at least are
kept occupied when there is little pleasure outside with so much wet and
mud. On a brighter note there is always some colour to be found - the
red of holly berries that seem to be quite numerous this year. Other colourful
berries are to be seen in gardens together with a variety of variegated
evergreen leaves, although the general scene is of bare twigs. Sunshine
brings a change, as when I noticed an orange yellow tinge to the tall
willows, suggesting that their spring buds were developing before the
recent cold snap. Another interesting feature is when the sunlight shines
on dew laden cobwebs, I was surprised how many there were on my gate.
By the New Year will it be ice and snow or very mild for the season I
wonder? Will anything be flowering in the gardens? During the past month
there have been a few blooms on the wallflowers and a campanula, while
on a bank nearby there was a purple violet flower. Hopefully the recent
cold snap will have killed off some of the garden bugs and germs so that
we can start the month free of colds etc.
Rosie Pauline
Bird Notes
December 16 was a wet and miserable day which promised very little from
a bird watching point of view. However, a trip down to Seven Bridges proved
very lucrative!
Before leaving the village, I noted 'White Wings' the rook flying over
pasture with a number of its kind. at Seven Bridges I could hear a buzzard
screaming from the depths of a wood. A flight of some 30 siskin flew over
noisily in the direcion of Park Copse. Then, drifting along by the edge
of the Deer Park was a flock of tits which included long tailed tits,
blue tits, a single marsh tit and a pair of treecreepers. There was also
a pair of bullfinches which ooked stunning against the brown and grey
background. A number of lesser black-backed gulls and black-headed gulls
appeared to drift with the wind. Finally, a charm of goldfinches graced
us with their presence. Not bad for a day that promised nothing!
Also seen in December were golden plover on Springs Hill, a water rail
in flood water at Stitchcombe and more than 70 crossbill in Hens Wood.
John Marshall
Rainfall
Rainfall for the month to 16 December was 3.19 inches, average 3.40 inches.
Ramsbury Memorial Hall
The Trustees would like to pay tribute to John Lye who retires as Hall
Booking Secretary and Supervisor at the end of the year. With the help
of his wife Muriel, he has been untiring in his efforts to maintain and
promote the use of the Hall; and much of its present success is as a direct
result of his work.
We are grateful to Elaine Mills and her staff at the Post Office for undertaking
the booking and cash collection. We welcome Mavis Manning who has volunteered
as Hall Supervisor. We thank all users for helping us keep the Hall in
good condition by complying with the Conditions of Use, and in particular
leaving it clean and tidy after use.
Chris Inward Chairman of Trustees.
Ramsbury Lunch Club
The Club has "lost" several drivers recently and some new drivers
would be most welcome. The task is not arduous or lengthy and the driver's
rota only comes round about twice during each school term, always on a
Wednesday. Drivers take elderly Club members from their homes to the Church
Room at about 12.15 and back home at 2 pm. Duties can be swapped between
drivers.
Do please contact Peter Brown on 520776 or email peterbrown@dialstart.net
and volunteer to help.
Patient Advisory and Liaison Service (PALS)
The NHS has introduced a new service for patients and carers, which can
be contacted on a freephone 0800 389 7671. The aims of PALS are - to advise
and support patients, their families and carers - to provide information
on NHS services - to listen to concerns - to help sort out problems. Leaflets
are available at the Surgery.
Patient Representative Group
The Doctors reported in December that because of extra nursing staff
patients will be called in for routine health checks. There are two new
Receptionists, Lynn McCarthy and Maralyn Rumbold. There is a vacancy for
a Dispenser. Plans for the new Surgery, in Whittonditch road, are now
on view in the Surgery. It is not too late to have a flu vaccination:
there is still a supply so please ring for an appointment. Some 1200 patients
have already been treated since October.
Bus Connections to the Great Western Hospital
The new Hospital is open and there is very easy bus access to the site.
Every bus serving Ramsbury (the 46 from Hungerford and the 48 from Marlborough)
will set down and pick up at the main entrance. The return fare is £3.30.
There are 14 buses to and from the Hospital between 7 am and 7 pm. Timetables
are available in the Surgery and Library. Car parking at the Hospital
is not easy, so park your car near a bus stop in Ramsbury and make this
simple bus journey.
Waste Collection & Skip
Waste collection is on Thursday 2 January and a Skip at Whittonditch
on 10 January.
Axford Bingo
There will be Bingo on Wednesdays 8 and 29 January at 7.30 pm in the
Village Hall.
Ramsbury Horticultural Society
There will be a Quiz with Lambourn at 7.30 pm in the Memorial Hall on
Thursday 9 January. It may be recalled that Ramsbury won a close contest
last year, by one point, so we hope that all members will come along to
support the team in another expected close contest.
The AGM will take place at 7.45 pm in the Memorial Hall on Monday 27 January.
Please also try to be present on that occasion.
Ramsbury Flyer
(The Community Bus also has
its own page at www.ramsbury.com/flyer).
The first visit to Newbury in 2003 will leave the Tree at 11.30 am on
Thursday 9 January and return at 2.30 pm.
The outings to Bath and London were both very successful and enjoyed by
all. Many thanks are due to Brian Keen and Edward Judge for giving up
their time to drive to these busy places.
Ramsbury WI
The New Year Party will be held at 7.30 pm in the Church Room on Friday
10 January. There will be entertainment from a group of barbershop singers
followed by supper. Tickets at £4.50 are on sale in the Post Office,
or from Rosalie Winter on 520261. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun.
Amenity Group Guided Walks
There will be a Walk to Park Farm (4 miles) on Sunday 12 January, and
to Piggs Hill, taking cars to Preston (4 miles) on Sunday 26 January.
Meet at the Tree 2 pm.
Conservative Association - Ramsbury Branch
The AGM of the Branch will be held at 7.30 pm in the Church Room on Monday
13 January. The speaker will be Mark Cann.
Village Design Statement (VDS)
The VDS, which was adopted by Kennet District Council in November, will
be "launched" at a meeting from 10.30 am to 12 noon in the Memorial
Hall on Saturday 18 January. Copies of the VDS, and of the aerial photographs
which were taken especially for the illustrations, will be on sale. A
free cup of coffee will be provided.
Lectures in Ramsbury - Georgian Britain
A course of ten weekly lectures will start at 10.30 am to 12 noon in
the Memorial Hall on Thursday 30 January. Mora Abell will trace the development
of Georgian Britain from 1714 - 1830. The lectures will cover architecture,
paintings, furniture and fashions of the time. The fee will be around
£45. Enrolment will be at the first meeting.
Enquiries to Rosie Pauline 520324.
Royal British Legion Club
The AGM of the RBL Club will be at 8 pm on Friday 31 January.
Ramsbury and Aldbourne Bowls Club
David Robertson will again captain the Club in 2003, members
decided at the December AGM. The officers are Richard Badger - Secretary
540378; Richard Bushnell - Fixtures Secretary; Keith Evill - Competitions
Organiser. The Club committee in addition to the officers includes Allan
Davison (Treasurer), David Robertson and Constance Golding, with Bill
Hall re-elected Chairman.
Banking and Shopping in Ramsbury
Closure of the bank, the butcher and the building society
has altered the pattern of shopping in the village. However the Post Office
has expanded its services. It is now possible for personal customers of
the Alliance & Leicester, Barclays, Cahoots, the Cooperative Bank,
Lloyds TSB and smile.co.uk to cash cheques and to make cash and cheque
deposits. Cheque book, guarantee card, paying-in book and deposit envelopes
will be needed.
For those choosing to receive their pension through the Post Office, a
new Card Account is being created. Pensions will be paid into this account
by Automated Credit Transfer, so cash can be with drawn simply by using
a swipe card. Let us try to keep the Post Office and Ramsbury's thriving
shops and businesses. If we don't use them we will LOSE THEM.
Post Office News
Congratulations to Ashley
Court, Laura Barnes and Becky Appleyard, winners of the Halloween competition.
From April pensions and benefits will be paid in a different way. If you
have any difficulty in understanding these changes, please come in and
take a leaflet or speak to a member of the staff who will be pleased to
help. You will still be able to collect cash from your Post Office.
New stamps for 2003 include Birds of Prey (release 14 January), and The
Secret of life, celebrating DNA (release 25 February). Video releases
include Spiderman, 40 days & 40 nights and Austin Powers.
THANKS
RAMSBURY LUNCH CLUB
Very many thanks from fellow helpers and guests of the Lunch Club to Harriet
Jennings, who is retiring as Organiser after four years, and for all the
hard work she has done for the Club so efficiently and cheerfully during
the past nine years. Margaret McKay becomes the new Organiser.
AXFORD CAROL SERVICE
The Advent Carol service at Axford saw a congregation of around 80 including
20 children. The Church was nicely decorated with a splendid Christmas
Tree and a new Advent Ring of five candles. Maria Holstead led the singing
with a solo and the children gathered round the Crib to sing the first
verse of "Away in a Manger". The Axford Village Hall and Church
Committees are warmly thanked for the tea, mince pies and goodies which
followed.
ADVANCE NOTICES
RAMSBURY WI
The first monthly meeting will be on Thursday 6 February at 7.45 pm in
the Methodist School Room, when Mr Clarke will speak on "The World
of the Honey Bee".
RAMSBURY PRE-SCHOOL DISCO
The Valentine Disco will be held from 8 till late in the Memorial Hall
on Friday 14 February. Reserve your ticket now at £7.50 to avoid
disappointment. Speak to Pre-school committee members, or Linda on 520947
or Bev on 515547.
RAMSBURY AMENITY GROUP AGM
The AGM of the Amenity Group will be held on Thursday 20 March.
RAMSBURY CHARITY BALL
Reservation forms for the next Ramsbury Charity Ball to be held on Saturday
6 September are now available at the Ball HQ, the Crown and Anchor
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