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Please
may we have items for the April Diary by 18 March. 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
Signs of spring may be appearing with clumps of snowdrops flowering in
the hedgerows and our gardens, but the temperature during the first half
of February is not allowing us to forget that winter is still with us.
We may have only seen a pepper pot dusting of snow in this part of Wiltshire,
but some mornings the wind chill factor is quite severe.
A few days ago I was encouraged to visit Welford Park, never have I seen
such a spread of snowdrops, in places the white carpet was such that at
a quick glance it suggested an inch of snow, but I fear that by the time
March arrives they will all be over for another year. A little sun soon
brings out other flowers such as the aconites, which do not seem to grow
wild in this area as in some chalk areas of England. Soon the primroses
will be flowering, some garden primulas are already in flower but the
birds seem too fond of the yellow ones, perhaps they harbour some tiny
insects which they will be needing to feed their young. By the time this
diary is printed, daffodils may be flowering in sheltered places as I
notice that their leaves are shooting up and some already have their flower
buds well developed. As a result of some hard frosts I notice that many
wallflower plants are not looking happy, no doubt some will recover to
mix their blooms with the tulips by Easter.
Despite the cold giving rise to black ice on occasions I was surprised
when opening up my whirligig last week to see a tiny green caterpillar
fall to the ground in a rather torpid state. I doubt it had been there
since the autumn since it is opened most weeks. Had it been active enough
to get there on one of the mild sunny days, or was there an egg there
for the past few months that hatched and moved and therefore got dislodged?
May March bring sunny days and no gales.
Rosie Pauline
Bird Notes
The Common Buzzard's plumage is unique to individual birds. There is
one bird that is marking his territory around the Hilldrop area which
has a white gorget on his breast. He had a visitor this weekend and by
the sound of the excited mewing you could tell that it was a female. Alas
she kept on flying.
Hens Wood is buzzing at the moment with at least 60 Crossbill, 40 Siskin
and numerous Goldfinch. Hopefully these numbers will increase right into
March. Staying on females, at the end of January there was a small group
of Chaffinch who would feed by the road by Ramsbury Manor gates. In this
flock was a pair of Brambling. These are winter visitors -- they look
much more "orange" than Chaffinch, they also have very prominent
rumps. Don't confuse these white rumps with Bullfinch which have been
seen throughout the area this year.
John Marshall
Rainfall
Rainfall for the month to 18 February was 3.38 inches, average 2.42 inches.
Village Design Statement - a sell-out
The Ramsbury Village Design Statement was launched on Saturday 18 January,
and all 250 copies were sold within three weeks. A further supply has
been ordered and will be available from the village Post Office and the
White Horse Bookshop in Marlborough as soon as possible. In the meantime
you can order a copy from the Post Office.
Ramsbury & Axford Link Scheme
Over 30 requests have help have been answered by the Coordinator, Ken
Taylor. These included shopping runs, good neighbour visits and trips
to Savernake Hospital for appointments and to the Surgery for collections
of prescriptions. The Link number now appears on the Diary Calendar and
is 520111.
Our Beautiful Environment
As the weather improves and more people are walking in the countryside
please remember that the ideal visitor only leaves footprints. Please
do not drop litter, and, ideally, pick up any that you see and dispose
of it properly. Remember that dogs can disturb wildlife -- keep yours
under control. We live in a beautiful area, let us try to keep it that
way. Parish Council
Axford Aerobics
Due to increased demand the Tuesday evening class has been moved to the
Memorial Hall in Ramsbury. Anybody is welcome and all abilities are catered
for. Both classes are from 8-9pm. Tuesday is mainly aerobics with a short
conditioning section, but Thursday (in Axford) is Body Conditioning. Helen
Scott
Ramsbury Silver Band
The Band urgently needs cornet and trombone players. They will be taking
part in the Phoenix competition at the end of March.
Ramsbury Lectures
Two series of lectures are held each year. Please let me know the answers
to three questions.
1. Would you be pleased to attend if one session was in the evening (as
in the past)?
2. What subjects would interest you?
3. Do you know anyone who would be available to do a morning or evening
series of eight or 10 lectures (pay would be arranged with the speaker)?
If there is enough support arrangements would be made for 2004. Rosie
Pauline 520324
Ramsbury Horticultural Society
The Society will hold the first talk this year on Monday 3 March at 7.45
pm in the Methodist School Room. Richard Cripps will speak on "The
Fruit Garden". Prospective members will be welcome.
On Saturday 22 March at 2 pm in the Memorial Hall the Society is bringing
back its Spring Show, in conjunction with the "Bowls Club Fete".
Please support this reintroduction! Schedules will be available from the
Post Office. You can contact the show secretary, Brian Twigger, on 520353
for further information. Entry details must be made at our desk in 'The
Bell', The Square, on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 March.
Ramsbury WI
The Annual Meeting of Ramsbury WI will be held on Thursday 6 March at
7.45 pm in the Methodist School Room. Three nominations for the committee
have been received but one or two more would be very welcome. After the
business there will be a fun general knowledge quiz.
Marie Curie Cancer Cure - Daffodil Day
Ena Wordsworth will be holding a sale at her house at 18 High Street
at 10 am on Saturday 8 March in aid of this charity. Contributions of
new and nearly new items very gratefully accepted.
Axford Bingo
There will be Bingo in the Village Hall on Wednesdays 12 &
26 March at 7.30 pm
Ramsbury Flyer
(The Community Bus also has
its own page at www.ramsbury.com/flyer).
The visit to Newbury is on Thursday 13 March leaving the Tree at 11.30
am and leaving Newbury at 2.30 pm No parking problems! Book with Muriel
Lye on 520555.
Ena Wordsworth will be holding an Opera Concert at her house 18 High
Street, on Sunday 16 March at 7 pm in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.
The accompanist Margaret Brownbridge, who is the musical director of the
London Opera Players, will also perform two solos. The singers, Ashley
Catling and Diane Charlesworth, have sung with most of England's opera
companies, and have proved firm favourites with our Ramsbury audience.
The programme will be opera and operetta plus one or two well known favourite
Richard Tauber songs. For tickets telephone Ena on 520442.
Ramsbury Amenity Group
The Amenity Group will be holding its AGM on Thursday 20 March at 7.30
pm in the Church Room. The speaker will be Belinda Fowler, the Development
Officer of the North Wessex Downs AONB. This Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty has recently established a management structure, and this is a
very good opportunity to influence the Management Plan which is now being
drawn up, and which will be published later this year. The Amenity Group
would welcome anyone as prospective members for the annual subscription
per household of £2.
Ramsbury and Aldbourne Bowls Club - Spring Show
The date for you and your friends to remember is Saturday 22 March when
the Ramsbury and Aldbourne Bowls Club will be holding a joint event with
the Horticultural Society at 2 pm in the Memorial Hall. Costs are being
shared and the money raised by the Bowls Club will go directly to the
New Green Fund.
In addition to the Horticultural Society stalls, the Bowls Club stalls
so far are, Cakes (Phyllis Broadway 520870), Tombola (Pauline Badger 540378,
Maureen Hince 520827 and Christine Tappenden 540775), Teas (Jenny Davison
520591, Constance Golding 520740), Bric-a-brac (Michael Franklin 520496),
and Books Keith Evill (540334).
Contributions are needed for every stall if the event is to be a success
for the bowls club. Large and small cakes (particularly for the teas),
bottles and packets of every shape and size, and you valued books and
treasures are all required. To make your contribution, please contact
any of the stallholders. Hard goods can be left in the Clubhouse up until
Friday evening 21 March. There is space for further stalls, and a need
for lost of assistance, so please contact Allan Davison, the co-ordinator
if you can help. Finally please come and support the show and bring along
all your friends to what is already set to be a really super afternoon.
THANKS
The Smith Family
The family of Mrs June Smith, late of the School House, Axford, would
like to express their gratitude for all the messages of sympathy and support
in their recent bereavement. Thanks also to those who so generously donated
to the multiple sclerosis charity.
A Message from Maureen Sinnott
To all of Ramsbury, "Thanks a million". Love Maureen
ADVANCE NOTICES
Ramsbury Amenity Group
The Amenity Group have organised two spring and summer outings
and invite members and anyone else who is interested to apply to Ben Tottenham
520308, for inclusion in either or both parties.
On Saturday 5 April at 2.30 pm we shall be visiting Lord Heseltine's Arboretum
and Gardens at Thenford near Banbury. The Flyer will leave the Tree at
12.30 pm.
On Saturday 14 June at 10 am we shall have a guided tour of Rodmarton
Manor, Cirencester. This house, the home of Simon Biddulph, is described
as "The Arts and Crafts Movement at its Best". The cost of the
tour will be £6. The Flyer will leave promptly from the Tree at
9 am.
Ravensbury Players
The Players' April production entitled "Amsterdam or
Bust" will take the usual form of a supper with two one act plays.
It will be performed on Friday 4 April and Saturday 5 April. Look out
for further details.
Treloar Trust
The Trust's Coffee Morning will be held on Saturday 26 April
from 10 am to12 noon in the Memorial Hall.
Spring Plant Sale
The Horticultural Society's Spring Plant Sale will take
place on Saturday 3 May in "Millstream" by courtesy of Dr and
Mrs Handford. The cake stall proceeds will be for the benefit of Prospect.
Please make a cake for this event and advise Thelma Wax 520574 or Alex
Brown 521463.
Ramsbury School PTA
The School PTA will be holding a Race Night in the Memorial Hall on Friday
16 May. More details later.
Ramsbury Charity Ball
Reservation forms for the next Charity Ball to be held on Saturday 6
September are now available at the Ball HQ, the Crown and Anchor.
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