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Please may we have items for the July Diary by 18 June. 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
After enjoying such grand weather prior to Easter we seem to have degenerated
into more variable weather, the April showers have come a little late.
It will however help the seeds to germinate, whether they are garden flowers
and vegetables or weeds, after Mid May's steady rain the garden hoe will
soon be out. It is now a joy to see the gardens becoming more colourful,
and the heavy autumn rains appear to have had a beneficial effect on the
flowering shrubs.
Once again the boundary walk was blessed with ideal weather and a good
variety of wild flowers were in bloom. There were cowslips on the downland
and kingcups in the water meadow, while in a woodland clearing the blue
flowers of bugle were quite distinctive, even if not as eye catching as
the swathes of bluebells beneath the fresh green leaves of the beech trees.
Other blue flowers of the season included ground ivy, quite a small plant
and very different from the ivy smothering trees and walls. Also several
varieties of speedwell were in flower, the one with the largest and brightest
blue flowers is the germander speedwell. Some people found the parasitic
toothwort (referred to last month) by some trees. Recently in Loves Lane
I came upon a dryad's saddle on an elm stump, this is a bracket fungus
that can grow on living or dead wood during the summer months but can
also be found well into the autumn.
During dry periods you may need to visit the water butt, have you noticed
little wriggly creatures near the surface? These are immature mosquitoes,
some of the adults are already on the wing on fine days, especially after
rain.
How many of you will notice flowers and insects not usually seen in this
area when on holiday I wonder?
Rosie Pauline
Bird Notes
Today I went for a wander along the byways around Balak. There were a
good number of Warblers to be heard including, Whitethroat, Black Cap,
Garden Warbler and Chiff Chaff. The highlight of this outing for me though,
was the sight of a fox munching on a pheasant, it knew I was there and
only about 40 feet away, but carried on regardless for nearly 5 minutes!
A couple of months ago I found that a fox had left its mark on a mole
hill in Hens Wood, on close inspection of the ballot you could see that
it contained a pheasant's foot!
At the beginning of May I was watching a pair of Red Kite doing a mating
flight, where one follows close behind its partner, it is quite a lack
lustre affair in comparison to the Buzzards soaring in unison, diving
and talon holding.
Check out Seven Bridges at the moment as Woodcock, Grasshopper Warbler,
Nightingale and Cetti's Warbler can all be seen.
John Marshall
Rainfall
The rainfall for the month to 18 May was 2.92 inches, average 2.2 inches.
Annual Parish Meeting
At the Parish Council Meeting following the Annual Parish Meeting, the
Chairman Sheila Glass welcomed the two District Councillors, Susan Findlay
and Brian Twigger. They thanked everyone for their election. Also welcomed
were the new coopted Parish Councillors Diann Barnett, Debbie Marshall,
Paul Court and Geoffrey Treherne.
Memorial Hall
Hirers are reminded that the Hall Notice Board is available for the free
display of notices advertising their events. Notices should be left with
Roy Alexander at 55a High Street.
Hills Stores
Contrary to rumours circulating in the village Hills Stores is not about
to close. It is true that Marianne wishes to leave in the autumn. In the
meantime Gavin Tait and Marianne Garner are actively looking for somebody
who will take on the lease, and thus maintain a tradition of service to
the village going back to 1792. If anybody who reads this article is interested
would they please contact Gavin Tait on 01672 521491.
Axford Otters Baby and Toddler Club
More baby and toddler members are needed to keep this club going. It
now meets every Friday at Axford Village Hall from 9.45 to 11.45 am. There
are outings twice a term, an outside play area with swings and slides
used in fine weather, and picnic sessions on certain Fridays. Each child
has its personal folder to store the results of regular art activities
and there is provision for allergy sensitive children to have suitable
healthy snacks. For further information contact Vicky Murray on 521500.
Amenity Group Welcome Pack
The Amenity Group is working on an updated version of the Welcome Pack
that used to be given to new residents. It will contain brief details
of Church Services, Shops, Surgery, Clubs & Organisations etc. If
there is enough interest a list of small businesses, e.g. builders, will
be included. If you are interested please contact Ben Tottenham (address
above).
Road Works on Newtown Road.
The Newtown Road from the Paddocks to Howe Mill is closed for 6 weeks
from 19 May for strengthening work to be done on the sub-standard bridge
at Howe Mill.
Skips
Following discussions with Kennet District Council, Ramsbury Parish Council
has decided, for a last trial, to have a skip at Whittonditch on Wednesday
4 June to be removed next day Thursday 5 June. If the system is in any
way abused by the dumping of rubbish on the ground once the skip is full
then no further skips will be provided at this site.
Ramsbury WI
The next meeting will be on Thursday 5 June at 7.45 pm in the Methodist
Schoolroom to hear Mrs Leonie Clark talk on Reiki Healing Therapy, and
the competition will be for a sprig of a herb. Members met on May Day
to discuss Resolutions to be voted on at the June I.G.M. Visitors and
new members are welcome.
Ramsbury Silver Band
The Ramsbury Silver Band is giving a Concert in the garden at Ramsbury
Hill on Sunday 8 June from 3 5 pm. Tea will be provided, and there will
be no charge but donations to their funds will be welcomed.
RAG Guided Walks
These take place on Sunday 8 June, 4½ miles to Loves, and on Sunday
22 June to Wilton Water and Crofton Pumping Station 3½ miles; meeting
at the Tree at 2 pm. Bring binoculars and share cars to Great Bedwyn.
Axford Bingo
There will be Bingo in the Village Hall on Wednesdays 11 and 25 June.
Ramsbury Flyer
(The Community Bus also has
its own page at www.ramsbury.com/flyer).
At the recent AGM of the Bus Committee Simon Henn stepped down as coordinator
of drivers and was replaced by Janet Webster, assisted by Ron Howard.
The Chairman Peter Raper thanked Simon for his work over the last year.
The next visit to Newbury will be on June 12 leaving the tree at 11.30
am and returning from Newbury at 2.30 pm. Please book with Muriel Lye
on 520555.
Swindon Choral Society Concert
The Swindon Choral Society will be performing a selection of Music with
a Royal Connection at 7.30 pm on Sunday 22 June in Holy Cross Church.
The programme will include music by Handel, Vivaldi, Monteverdi and Tavener.
The Musical Director Robin Nelson, who is retiring as Head of Music at
Marlborough College will be conducting his first performance with the
choir. Tickets at £10 from the Post Office - under 15s will be admitted
free.
Axford & Stitchcombe Gardens Open in Aid of the Church and Village
Hall
Gardens, including The Priory and Lisa and Gary Hyde's "Garden in
the Making" at 11 Kennet Rise, will be open on Sunday 22 June from
2 to 5 pm. Others include Grove House, Coombe Farm, Dove Cottage, Whiteway
House and Sawyers Cottage, connected by a river path below Axford House
to Stone House with its lake. There will be teas, and music by Ramsbury
Silver Band. The Village Hall will exhibit decorative art by Axford residents.
The Flyer will transport visitors from Ramsbury (from Minal too if booked
in advance). Tickets £3 for all gardens - under 14s free. For further
information ring Bridget Treherne 512406.
Axford Church Flower Festival
On the same day, Sunday 22 June, the Flower Festival in St Michael's
Church will include displays from each of the Whitton Team Churches and
from St. John the Baptist in Minal. Ruth and Rex Muffet will give a flute
and harpsichord recital from 2.30 to 3.30 pm. Evensong will follow at
6 pm.
Holy Cross Church
The church will be closed for Timber Treatment from 23 June to 4 July.
On Sunday 29 June there will be a Team Service at 10 am at Chilton Foliat.
Ramsbury Horticultural Society
The Society's "Rose Evening" will be held on Saturday 28 June
at 7.30 pm in the Memorial Hall. It is hoped that all members will be
able to enter at least one rose. Entry forms can be found in the centre
of the show schedule. Exhibits must be staged between 6 and 6.45 pm. Entry
will be free but please remember to support the raffle. Please contact
Brian Twigger on 520353 (brian.twigger@ntlworld.com) for further information.
THANKS
Andy Harker thanks all those who sponsored his run in the London Marathon
on 13 April. He achieved a personal best time of 3.06 hrs and has raised
over £900 in support of the Sunday Times Jane Tomlinson Fund. Jane
is a 39 year old mother of three who was diagnosed with terminal cancer
three years ago and has run marathons and cycled the length of the UK
on a tandem to raise several £100,000 for cancer charities.
Anne Storm is researching her father's wartime life and his disappearance,
tracing the families of the RAF and SAAF crew of flight KH158. Her RAAF
Observer father, F/O TR Millar was a member of 104 RAF & 31 SAAF both
based in Foggia Italy in 1944. On 12 October 1944 his bomber with eight
crew failed to return from dropping supplies to Italian partisans. The
wreckage was never found. If any readers served in a squadron in Italy
in 1944 or trained at British wartime bases in 1943, please contact Anne
Storm on 520575.
Mrs Constance Wilson writes "I am leaving the village after almost
fifty years to live near my daughter Caroline, in Salisbury and would
like to say goodbye to so many people I have got to know over all those
years. I will miss them but hope to keep in touch".
The Treloar Trust Organisers of the Coffee Morning on Saturday 28 April
thank everyone who helped to make it a success. £1500 was raised
on the day, with another £200 in donations. The two winners of the
poster competition were Francesca Hartley aged 11 and Phoebe Dace aged
8. Ellin Osmond.
Stella Newman and her daughters Lorna and Janice, would like to thank
everyone in Ramsbury for the kindness and good wishes extended following
Stella's recent hip operation.
The Spring Plant Sale raised £400 towards the expenses of the Horticultural
Society. The cake stall made £250 for the Prospect Foundation. Many
thanks are due to all the helpers, to the givers and purchasers of the
plants and cakes, and to Dr & Mrs Handford for again allowing the
use of their garden.
ADVANCE NOTICES
"Gardens open in Ramsbury" on Sunday 13 July.
An afternoon opportunity for an insight into some of our delightful gardens.
The net proceeds will all be donated to local charities by the Horticultural
Society.
The Annual Coffee Morning and Sale for Arthritis Research will be held
on Saturday 19 July in the Memorial Hall from 10 am to 12 noon. Donations
and goods for sale may be left with Juma Lance at Fridays, Crowood Lane,
or with Anne Tiplady at Evelyn House, High Street.
Published by Ramsbury Amenity Group
Printed by Universal Press, Chilton Foliat
Ramsbury Charity Ball. There are reservation forms for the next Charity
Ball on Saturday 6 September at the Ball HQ, the Crown & Anchor. Plenty
of tables are still available.
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