Summer 2016
BURBAGE NEWS QUARTERLY Vol 4:3
Send your stories and pictures to bneditor@burbagevillage.org.uk
Mike Bird sent in this photo taken in his back garden earlier this year. They are two, I would suggest rare, albino sparrows. Mike and his wife, Margaret, were looking forward to watching them develop but sadly the babies were taken by a bird of prey flying over.
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BUILDING WORK:
PARISH COUNCIL
There are two housing construction sites in the village at the moment and with that there has been, and will continue to be, an increase in traffic with the potential for irritation and accidents. Contractors and their subcontractors have to work to certain rules that govern hours of work, noise, safety and other environmental factors. Burbage Parish Council has worked with Wiltshire Council to minimise the impact. For example, we have asked that all site traffic for the Persimmon site enter the village from the roundabout and access the building site from the High Street so there should not be any construction traffic on Suthmere Drive or elsewhere in the village.
Signs and Notices: We seem to have a lot of notices around the village advertising past events and seeking lost animals. Could I ask that organisers and residents remove notices from lamp posts, telegraph posts etc after the event or within a reasonable time (TWO weeks). No signs or notices should be placed on the Village Gates.
Please remember that a formal planning application may be required for any ‘change of use’ eg from ‘holiday let’ to ‘residential’ or from ‘pasture/agricultural’ to ‘domestic’.
Any unsafe practice should be reported directly to the Police by dialing 101 or email pewseynpt@wiltshire.pnn. police.uk .
The Parish Council has seen several such applications during 2015 including retrospective ones. Anyone considering a change of use should contact Wiltshire Council Planning Department and seek advice. Failure to do so could have financial implications!
Again it would help if you kept the Parish Clerk informed.
Steve Colling, Chairman Please use the Parish Clerk as the primary contact with the Parish Council. That way we have a record of issues and, hopefully, nothing will get overlooked. Joyce Turner can be contacted at:clerk@burbage[2]
Burbage Parish Council - Planning With the recent interest in development within the village and on its boundaries, I thought it a good time to remind everyone of the planning process as it affects Burbage Parish residents both inside and outside the Settlement Boundary:
Burbage Parish Council receives copies of all relevant applications about 10 days after the application is registered. The Council aims to visit all sites to discus proposals with the applicant or their agent before making their decision at the next Planning Committee or Full Council Meeting. Generally three or four Councillors attend the site visit and they will only go onsite with the permission of the applicant or agent.
Applicants submit proposals to Wiltshire Council who, ultimately make the decision to approve or otherwise. Wiltshire Council publish the details online and in the Gazette & Herald (major applications only). Notices are also placed at the site and neighbours get a letter advising them of the application.
Outline details of planning applications likely to be discussed at the next meeting are listed in meeting agendas which are posted on Council notice boards and published online at:
Online details can be found by searching for the appropriate pages at:
http://burbage-pc.org.uk/meetings.php
http://planning.wiltshire.gov.uk/Northgate/ PlanningExplorer/GeneralSearch.aspx
The Council considers each application at a formal meeting. All Council meetings are open to Burbage Parish Residents. On the occasions where members of the public attend, they are invited to speak if they so wish. Decisions are recorded in the minutes of the meeting and relayed to Wiltshire Council to meet their published deadline.
To search for recent applications scroll down to the box marked Parish then look for Burbage in the list. Then scroll down to Search dates within a specified number of months. Put in a number then press Search. Depending upon the number of months selected, it may take a few minutes to bring up the pages.
The timeframe for making decisions is very tight and although we have two meetings a month when planning matters can be discussed, it can be a struggle depending if paperwork is slow in coming to the Council.
All planning applications submitted in the selected timeframe are listed with links to the specific page. Each planning application has a unique number and all the plans and documents can be accessed through links. Anyone can make a comment online by following the link.
We try to visit each applicant to discuss the issues and gather sufficient information to make an informed decision. Burbage Parish residents are encouraged to make their views known at Council meetings but rarely does anyone come along and so we can only assume that there is no concern. That said, residents can make comment direct to Wiltshire Council online and petition Stuart Wheeler, our local Councillor.
Note there are three key dates: Date Application Registered, Last Date for Comments and Date of Decision. The whole process is supposed to be completed within about eight weeks.
Steve Colling, Chairman
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BURBAGE FLOWER CLUB Our July meeting took place on the 14th with a visit to the home of Pam Lewis who is a renowned international demonstrator who has demonstrated throughout the UK, Europe and the Channel Islands. She has also won Gold at Chelsea Flower Show. Pam has previously done a demonstration for the Burbage Flower Club.
Pam doing one of her arrangements
We were lucky with the weather which was warm and without rain! The evening started with a guided tour of her beautiful and extensive gardens which surround her house all of which were filled with a huge variety of plants, all useful for flower arranging of course. There was lots of interesting wildlife to see on the way around as well. After the tour we went indoors to enjoy a delicious home prepared meal before watching Pam create five beautiful arrangements whilst she gave an amusing but informative commentary. We were all given a raffle ticket and five lucky ladies went home with one of them. A few ladies enjoying coffee after the meal
Jean, Our Chairman, giving a vote of thanks. Another arrangement is shown
Another of Pam’s arrangements.
Since our visit to see Pam, news came through that her husband sadly passed away on 15 August 2016.. Condolences go to Pam and her family.
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BURBAGE FLOWER CLUB August was a free-style evening. It looks as though Pam’s demonstration of last month inspired our members as they produced some wonderful arrangements a few of which are shown here and on the next page.
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BURBAGE FLOWER CLUB
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IT’S A STITCH UP Hare today! The spring meetings continued to be very well attended with a lively atmosphere and eclectic mixture of activities, but one grabbed everybody’s attention!
Needle felting is felting without soap
and water (which is how felt is traditionally made). Carded wool is used and you push the top layer of wool into deeper layers using a special barbed felting needle. Wool fibre has that unique property which allows it to "stick" to itself causing the wool to felt by continually stabbing it with the felting needle.
Occasionally someone will come in and say, ‘look what I have learnt to make!’ (we always do an informal ‘show and tell’!) and we all say, ‘oh how lovely, we’d like to do that!’ And this is exactly what happened when Kim brought in a delightful needle felted hare she had made at a workshop. After not too much persuasion she agreed to pass on the skill, providing the materials we would need at very little cost. She was taken aback by the level of interest – seventeen of us wanted to learn, twice as many as her own tutor had taken on! However, despite reservations, Kim proved to be an excellent teacher and very patient as some of us stabbed ourselves, broke needles and were generally more demanding than a class of primary school children. Well, not quite, but some of us did need a bit of hands on assistance. At the end of three fairly silent hours though – no time to chatter on this occasion – everyone had produced a very passable hare, albeit some needed a bit of finishing off detail. They assembled for a group photo before going to live in their new homes. I think Kim went home to a G & T! She certainly earned it! We all took our hats off to her!
Three dimensional creatures are made by taking a piece of the wool, rolling it into, for example, a sausage shape for a body, then pushing the needle into it all over, keeping on turning it until all the fibres are pushed in; other body parts are similarly made then the ends needled together to join. It has to be rested on a thick piece of foam, like a car wash sponge, whilst being worked. Please note: as the felting needles are wickedly sharp, it can be very dangerous (fingers will get in the way however careful one is) and is not for unsupervised children to try. Look for ‘needlefelting’ online and find YouTube videos.
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IT’S A STITCH UP
Right: Kim’s boys
Below:
Hare line-up
DO GIVE IT A TRY! We charge £3.00 for each session providing tea, coffee and biscuits
WE MEET
CONTACT Helen tel: 810949 or Kay tel: 811093
Once a month on the third Saturday
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LOOK OUT FOR: Posters around the Village, or in the Burbage News printed edition
WOMAN’S OWN Golden Anniversary party In this 50th Anniversary year an extra event took place. On July 10 Woman’s Own joined in the Morning Worship at All Saints’ Church because since the group actually began as a church group in 1966, some original members thought such a celebration would be appropriate.
To begin with, therefore, it was affiliated to the Church, meeting monthly on Thursday afternoons in the Old Vicarage, with invited speakers, refreshments and a good membership.
It was a lovely service, very well attended, led by Barry and Liz Smith, with music led by Nicolas Leigh-Hunt. The various contributions usually made by those on the church rota were fulfilled as far as possible by members of Woman’s Own.
The Church Service cake to celebrate 50 years of Woman’s Own
Stewards were Ann Kempson and Jenny Frazer: Glenda Pearce did the reading, Jean Weller led the prayers, the song pro was managed by Sarah Scott (with technical advisor, Nathan Scott). Coffee was served by Kay Francis and the flowers were arranged by Di Acheson and Lilian Richardson. A wonderful celebration cake, beautifully decorated with sugar craft flowers, by June Eales, was offered afterwards with the coffee and was very much admired and enjoyed! Barry gave an introduction, which included a brief history of Woman’s Own, as follows: Woman’s Own began life in April 1966. It was started by the wife of the recently arrived vicar, the Reverend Andrew Woodford. Mrs Woodford recognized that there was no suitable group for the young wives and formed what was essentially a junior group of Mothers’ Union.
In the fullness of time it changed focus, becoming detached from church affiliation and embracing a wider membership although many of the original ladies remained; it was named Woman’s Own and was led by Audrey Chandler. Meeting times were changed to the evenings. When the Burbage branch of the WI closed, it was the only group in the village for women.
Woman’s Own continues to be a secular group, with however, about a third of members or more being church goers and it seemed appropriate to celebrate the 50th Anniversary with a Church Service. All of the young wives have of course grown up! Many have moved away or on, as one would expect over this period of time. There are still two faithful, original members, however, Mary Powell and Pearl Vallis Currently, the group meet every third Thursday evening usually in the Church Centre and have a range of speakers, or events such as mini craft shows, Christmas craft workshops or demonstrations, skittles, cheese and wine, a birthday party, a Candlelit Christmas meal, and an August theatre trip. Occasionally other visits are arranged. Each year we donate to a local charity. New members of any age are always welcome, of course and we look forward to the next 50 years! [10]
WOMAN’S OWN Golden Anniversary party The actual month of our founding Fifty years ago, was April and so on the 21st we sat down to our Golden Anniversary Dinner, on this occasion sharing the auspicious date with another significant celebration – Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday!
June Eales made and beautifully iced a celebration cake; she also made the table flower decorations.
It was a three course meal, with a very 1960’s starter of prawn cocktail and chicken main course, prepared by our very own chef Elaine Dutton, with expert help from sous chef Kay Francis. Puddings were prepared by the other sous chefs (Committee Members including Kay)each with a golden theme. All very delicious.
Everyone attending wore something gold or yellow and most brought a photograph of themselves taken in 1966 (give or take a year) for a “Guess-who competition”.
June stood down as a Committee Member in April and we are very grateful to her for her years as publicity member.
We raised a glass to ourselves of course, but also to the Queen on her very special birthday!
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WOMAN’S OWN Golden Anniversary party Photos showing the celebration of Fifty Years for Woman’s Own.
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WOMAN’S OWN Golden Anniversary party
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WOMAN’S OWN Golden Anniversary party
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WOMAN’S OWN Gardens of the Rich and Famous
Power to the People
On May 19 in Burbage Church Centre we welcomed a return visit of David Moon with another wonderful presentation showing us Gardens of the Rich and Famous.
The meeting in June was a talk by Richard Giles, entitled "Power to the People". This turned out not to be a political meeting stirring the masses into action in response to the then, forthcoming Referendum Vote: No - the power in this case referred to the water mills of the Pewsey Valley in the 18th and 19th centuries. A power that was probably more relevant then to the everyday lives of ordinary folk.
We were taken on a journey to the stunning Exbury gardens of Lionel de Rothschild, to the Duchess of Northumberland’s beautifully modern garden at Alnwick, to Lindisfarne to view the superb kitchen gardens of Gertrude Jekyll, to Kipling’s typically English Arts and Crafts garden at Batemans, and to the tantalizing garden of a mystery theatrical celebrity! We saw the lovely Bradford on Avon Iford gardens designed by Harold Peto, a
It was interesting to hear how many mills there were in those times, mostly for grinding wheat. The majority no longer exist, due to a lower water level in the River Avon caused by the flooding of water meadows to provide grazing for farm animals and extraction by the water companies. The names of villages, give a clue to their whereabouts, e.g. New Mill and Milton Lilbourne. Close scrutiny of the area’s OS maps will doubtless reveal many more.
contemporary of Sir Edward Lutyens and the National Trust’s Nymans in West Sussex, erstwhile home of German industrialist Edward Messel where the now ruined house acts as a dramatic backdrop to the planting. Then, not so far from home, that of our well-beloved Mary Berry who as well as cooking does almost all her own gardening!
Richard has been a regular speaker at Woman’s Own and we were pleased to see him again. He had a lot of interesting facts to impart, so there was a break in the middle for refreshments, which included Elaine’s delicious scones!
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Burbage & District Model Railway Club MAY MEETING:
JUNE MEETING:
Two further very generous donations of locomotives, rolling stock and track work have been received. Some items have been out of use for a while, these need cleaning and lubricating and so on. Members will be working on this over the next few months.
At the June session of our Club, some Members reviewed the items that had been donated over the past few weeks while others continued constructing scenery with a combination of polystyrene block and paper machĂŠ. Each of the donated items were examined carefully and graded according to their condition and potential for use on the Club's layout and for missing parts so that these can be procured thus permitting use of the vehicle.
The layout has now been mounted on metal legs, replacing the previous wooden legs. This is a great improvement, being much more rigid. We wish we had done this at first, but we learn as we go! Each board now has four legs, so can be put up separately to allow any board to be worked on independently.
The scenery construction was new to some of us and at this stage it appeared hard to visualise how the finished scene would look like. However, once it was explained, it was easy to appreciate the added appearance it would add to the look of the finished layout.
David S is working on polystyrene scenery, cut with a hot wire from left over packaging. This will be covered in Papier Mache, a quick and cheap way of making contoured hills in 00 scale. Chris P laid out and cut a paper template to convert to a sub-board for a range of buildings being built by Philip S. Another sub-board has been made, but needs improving, we shall work on this as well.
During the days preceding the session, Member Chris P added legs to each of the quarter layout baseboards so that it would be easy to transport and set up for future exhibitions. The layout is progressing very well and its appearance is now becoming more attractive. The Club welcomes new members and also any donations and gifts of unwanted model railway items. If you would like to try your hand at this hobby or have any equipment you are not using, please feel free to call me Sonny Hamid, on 01672 811 933
Anyone in the Burbage area interested in model railways should give Chris Patrick a ring on 01264 850345, we welcome new members, we can show and explain some skills we have acquired and no doubt learn from them as well.
For more information on the Clubs activities please contact Sonny Hamid on 01672 811 933 or Chris Patrick on 01264 850 345.
The BDMRC will next meet at the British Legion Hall, Burbage on Monday, 10 SEPTEMBER starting at 19:00.
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Burbage & District Model Railway Club
Photos from the June meeting submitted by Sonny Hammid
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Burbage & District Model Railway Club JULY MEETING: Members continued with the construction on many parts of the Club's layout. Work was undertaken on constructing more low relief buildings, line side huts which can be used to cover point motors, adding grassland and constructing hills using rigid polystyrene foam sections. The addition of legs for each quarter section of the Club's layout has made working on individual sections very much easier with the added advantage that all four sections can be moved easily to an exhibition venue without too much effort. Some photographs of our work during the July Club session together with some of Members new acquisition are shown here but more are available if you would like to see them. The Club welcomes new members and also any donations and gifts of unwanted 00 gauge model railway items. If you would like to try your hand at this hobby or have any equipment you are not using, please feel free to call me Sonny Hamid on 01 672 811 933
The BDMRC will next meet at the British Legion Hall, Burbage on Monday 10 SEPTEMBER 2016 starting at 19:00.
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Burbage & District Model Railway Club JULY MEETING:
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HIRING THE VILLAGE
The Village hall is open for bookings for any personal or business event. The Village Website gives details of hiring charges. A booking form and terms and conditions of hire can be sent to you by email.This email address is regularly checked but is not managed on a 24/7 basis. Please make contact by telephone and leave a message if there is no reply. See how nice the hall can look with a bit of decoration bvhwi Contact Louise lts@gmail. com o , who r is the b o o k of ings tel: 01 ficer, 672 8 10421
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HIRING THE VILLAGE
SWINDON MELA PRESS RELEASE:
The Swindon Mela is a showcase for South Asian art, culture and food and has been a regular annual event since 2002. The one-day event is held in the Town Gardens, Old Town, Swindon and promoted by Swindon Mela Limited, a not for profit Company. The event is organised by the Swindon Mela Project Team who are all volunteers, with assistance from their associates and service providers. It is with sadness that today Swindon Mela Limited reluctantly announces that it has had to cancel the 2016 Mela. The main reasons behind this decision has been adverse pressures, costs and regulation imposed on the company at this very late stage by a small section of the local authority. The Swindon Mela Project Team have been planning the event for over fourteen months, working extremely hard and committing their own resources to stage the 2016 Swindon Mela. The rising costs for street trading licences imposed on individual stallholders and a 25-page application form required by the authority to allow them to attend the event has resulted in a substantial drop out from major contributing stallholders who have supported and enjoyed attending the event throughout its fourteen-year history.
This coupled with additional regulation surrounding the closure of a number of roads in the area surrounding the venue, has resulted in heightened costs to carry out this process. This process was not confirmed as a requirement by the authority until the 1st August giving the volunteer little or no time to secure additional funding or complete the required plans to implement this. Jaspal Bhui of the Swindon Mela said, “We are very sad for our Team, supporters of the Swindon Mela and Swindon itself but we hope our supporters will appreciate that we as an organisation rely on generous donations on the gates to support the event and with unreachable increased costs the not for profit company and voluntary supporters cannot afford to sustain a shortfall on our budget which now stands at a total of approximately £26,000. As a guide, average Mela costs in past years has been approximately £45,000 to stage and this year we had worked even harder to reduce costs. However, Swindon Mela will not give up on our efforts to stage a future Mela in Swindon and pledge to continue to seek out other ways to deliver a successful Mela in 2017 to our supporters and the people of Swindon who have gained so much pleasure and goodwill from our past events.” For information on the 2017 Swindon Mela as it becomes available please visit www.swindonmela.com
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BURBAGE & DISTRICT CAMERA & VIDEO CLUB JUNE MEETING: At the Club's June session, Members were divided into three separate groups to discuss different aspects of still and video photography. The major group concentrated on examining new cameras purchased by members over the past few months and recent innovations were very impressive. Member Mike P demonstrated his new Nikon bridge camera equipped with a 83X zoom! The sample of the moon shot he displayed at the meeting seems to indicate that we do not require expensive telescopes for astrophotography any more. The second group discussed the Clubs forthcoming production of a short humour-based film set in the WW2 period. We are looking for all skills to help us including producers, directors, editors, actors, etc. If you have movie making skills of any sort that will help us to improve our production, please do contact us. The third group discussed photography techniques with members who wished to use film cameras and this involved exploring differences in digital and film and the approach to use of film.
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BURBAGE & DISTRICT CAMERA & VIDEO CLUB JULY MEETING: The month of July was a very exciting one for the Burbage & District Video and Camera Club (BDVCC). Mid month, we travelled to Gaydon to visit the British Motor Heritage Museum where we photographed cars that had nostalgic appeal and the engineering and styling that was used in the development of some extraordinary cars produced in the U.K. in the past. (Photos on the right) This visit was followed by another outing to the top of the steeple of St. Peters Church in Marlborough, arranged by Michael B. The tour provided us with the opportunity to photograph the town in aerial view and landscape around the town which is not visible from ground level. The Group was then treated to a conducted tour of the various parts of the tower. During the month Club Members were asked to record the proceedings of the celebration marking the Queens 90th birthday held in Barn Meadow. Still photographs were produced together with a four minute fully edited and titled film encapsulating the highlights of the event. The Club has now gained wider recognition and we have been asked to cover the forthcoming "The Bedwyn's Community Fun Day" commencing 12 noon to 4 pm on 18 September 2016. We will be setting up a studio, taking photographs and videos on site and lecturing young people in the art of film-making. We are sure that our contribution to this event will also help us get even more members for our Club. Our August session is scheduled for a visit to a working Farm, photographing cattle, farm buildings, etc. This visit has not been confirmed as yet and Members will be contacted with further information as soon as confirmation is received. A visit to London has been proposed and is likely to be a one day trip covering the river to photograph sites between Waterloo Bridge and Westminster Bridge. More information on this next month. [24]
BURBAGE & DISTRICT CAMERA & VIDEO CLUB Photos by members of the Burbage & District Camera and Video Club on their recent visit to British Motor Heritage Museum at Gaydon
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BURBAGE & DISTRICT CAMERA & VIDEO CLUB Some of the views taken from the tower of St. Peter’s Church Marlborough on a recent visit. Photos supplied by the Burbage & District Camera & Video Club Members
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BURBAGE & DISTRICT CAMERA & VIDEO CLUB
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BURBAGE & DISTRICT CAMERA & VIDEO CLUB
Photos contributed by Sonny Hamid and Mike Bird For more information please feel free to call Sonny Hamid
tel: 01672 811 933 or [28]
Mike Bird tel: 01672 810 574
BURBAGE & DISTRICT CAMERA & VIDEO CLUB
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BURBAGE & DISTRICT CAMERA & VIDEO CLUB Members of the club enjoyed a good August session, on Member Robert C's farm, where we were taken, by Robert, into the field where he has a small herd of really spectacular Whitepark cattle: Good shots were obtained in a really nice hillside location. He then took us into a field where they were combining barley, and we were able to take atmospheric shots, caused by the dust and light, as the combine discharged its load into the waiting tractor and trailer. We then returned to the Legion hall to compare results, and enjoy a well earned drink. Mike Bird.
The next club meet will be at the Legion Hall
19.30 hrs on Wednesday 21 September where members can bring prints or DVD and/or USB stick to display. [30]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MA’AM The next few pages are dedicated to “A Royal Picnic in the Park” to celebrate the 90th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. All the splendid photographs have been submitted by the Burbage & District Camera & Video Club Members, Sonny Hamid, Larry Emmerson and Philip Leach
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A number of people were responsible for helping to make the day a great success and sincere thanks go to them for their valiant efforts : HRH Kim Leitch (for standing in for the real Queen who had to cancel at the last minute), Karen Brown who gave excellent service as the Royal Lady-in-Waiting. Glenda Pearce, Sue Masey, Mike & Pat Eley, Steve and Karen Carey, Norma Borthwick, Margaret Wheeler, Sandy Rex and the Village Hall Committee, Giles and Deborah Williams, Gill Terry, James Oliver, Mike Tupman MBE, (also the current Town Crier of Marlborough), Burbage Parish Council (for funding), Sonny Hamid and Burbage Camera Club, Dobie Wyatt of Cadley (who supplied the rope for the ‘tug-o’war’), John and Rebecca (Mace Store, East Sands), Mike Bishop, Allan Masey, Prospect Hospice Shop Pewsey, (who supplied the ‘wellies’), Bill Mather, Phoenix Brass Band, Burbage Primary School and Tiddlywinks, Chris Wheeler, Burbage Bell Ringers, Richard Turner (evening BBQ), Linda G, Steve and Chris Redwood. Apologies if I’ve missed out anyone! Just as importantly, Everyone who came along and Everyone else who helped or contributed in some way.
Our very own Burbage Queen (Kim) arriving in style to the picnic in the park
GOOD COMMUNITY SPIRIT!
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Amelia Giddings, aged 3 years, presenting ‘Her Majesty’ with flowers.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MA’AM The Welly Wanging competition - nobody has told me who won so I can’t tell you.
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Evening entertainers [44]
The Savernake Big Belly Oak Written by Barbara Townsend Illustrated by Chantal Bourgonje
Bracken and Fern In the gentle spring breeze, bluebells waved their tiny bells, creating a moving carpet of blue on the forest floor. At this time of year, mothers would bring their new babies to show them the special hiding place deep inside Tree’s big belly trunk. One spring morning a mother deer brought her two new fawns to meet Tree. This is Bracken and this is Fern,” she said proudly, nudging them gently towards Tree. “Come inside,” said Tree. “Don’t be frightened.” Bracken and Fern nervously trotted in and were delighted to find everything two young deer could ever wish for. There were ferns to sleep on, tasty leaves and grass to nibble and plenty of room to practise running and jumping on their long wobbly legs. “Oh this looks fun,” they both bleated as they explored inside Tree. Running around, they found little areas to snuggle and hide in; they nibbled on leaves and juicy grass and felt right at home. To help make the fawns feel welcome, Tree decided to tell them the story of the famous white stag that once ruled the Forest. When the fawns were snuggled up in a patch of ferns, Tree began:
“Long ago a brave white stag came to the Savernake Forest. This mighty looking stag fought many battles to earn his rightful place to rule. He ruled with courage, strength and kindness and the creatures of the forest respected him and obeyed his commands without question. Peace and calm filled the forest.” “Since that day long ago,” said Tree, “there always been a white stag ruling in our forest and one day one of you will take his place.”
has
Bracken and Fern looked puzzled. “We both have brown fur with spots;” they both said looking at each other. Tree chuckled to himself; he had already used his magical powers to decide which of the fawns would grow to be the next mighty white stag of the forest. “Trust me,” said Tree. “Now run along and find your mother.” Tree smiled. In the spring sunshine, he could already see flecks of white hair beginning to grow on one of the youngsters. Bracken trotted away unaware of his future.
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The Savernake Big Belly Oak
Written by Barbara Townsend Illustrated by Chantal Bourgonje
Local author Barbara Townsend has kindly agreed that stories from her first book ‘The Savernake Big Belly Oak’ may be published in the Burbage News Quarterly If you wish to purchase a signed copy of the book (£5.00) contact Barbara:
email: babstownsend@hotmail.com tel: 01672 810483 http://savernakepress.weebly.com/ for further information. The Savernake Big Belly Oak © 2012 Barbara Townsend The right of Barbara Townsend to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
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CROFTON BEAM ENGINES Crofton Beam Engines Steaming Appeal Crofton Beam Engines, the Grade 1 listed steam pumping station between Burbage and Gt. Bedwyn Wiltshire, is working to raise £27,500 to keep the monthly steaming events going during 2017. The funding is needed to repair its coal fired Lancashire boiler which at more than 100 years old needs a significant amount of work over this coming winter’s service period. Peter Turvey, Chairman of the Crofton branch of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust said “We encourage everyone to visit us and enjoy a unique steam experience. Crofton is unique in the world site of industrial history and has provided pleasure to thousands of people over the years seeing these marvelous engines in action during our steaming events. Crofton gives a look of wonder to children and parents alike as it demonstrates the size and power of these engines. With history back to the industrial revolution this is a very special site. We are urgently raising the funds to complete these works this
coming winter so that we can continue steaming next year and many years to come.” Crofton is home to two beam engines dating from 1812 and 1846 which pump water to the highest level of the Kennet and Avon canal and every stroke of the beam raises one ton of water for the canal yet it seems so quiet and effortless. Crofton Beam Engines can be seen in action steaming over Bank Holidays or end of the month weekends between Easter and the end of September and it is open to visitors daily except for Wednesdays. Opening times and much more detail for Crofton is available from www.croftonbeamengines.org. Pictures: Peter Turvey, Chair of the Crofton Branch of the Kennet And Avon Canal Trust, raising funds for the boiler appeal at the steaming weekend held at the end of May.
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Prospect Hospice Prospect Hospice is the only dedicated provider of adult end-of-life care services in Swindon, Marlborough and north east Wiltshire, supporting a community of more than 300,000 people. Last year, through the delivery of our services in our purpose-built hospice in Wroughton and through our teams of nurses bringing our care to people’s homes, we cared for and supported more than 6,300 people, facing the uncertain future that comes with the diagnosis of a life-limiting condition, both for our patients and their loved ones. All our services are free, which is why we depend on the support of our community, as we always have. Just 28.5 per cent of the £7.8m it cost to run Prospect Hospice last year came from the National Health Service, underlying our need to generate the funding that we need to care for and support patients and families. But we always seek to make the most of the money that we are given, and 89p of every £1 donated to us is spent on our care and services.
Prospect Hospice Outreach Centre at Savernake Hospital: We are now offering care from our new Outreach Centre, which is based at Marlborough’s much-cherished Savernake Hospital. From here we are providing services including physiotherapy, day services, occupational therapy, counselling, complementary therapies and bereavement support, all available to people living in Marlborough and the surrounding villages.
Fundraising: Your support today is vital in ensuring
that our services can continue to bring our dedicated care to people living in Marlborough and the surrounding villages, which costs more than £400,000 each year. If you are inspired to find out more about the ways in which you can raise funds towards our care, please visit www.prospect-hospice.net or contact your Community and Events fundraiser mikekennedy@prospect-hsopice.net tel: 01793 816186.
SUPPORTING NEW OUTREACH CENTRE - SAVERNAKE HOSPITAL
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Prospect Hospice’s Outreach Centre at Savernake Hospital is now open, offering care and support for patients and their carers and families and staffed by the hospice’s staff and volunteers. Whilst many of the volunteer roles have now been filled at the Outreach Centre, there is still a need for volunteer complementary therapists, so please contact the voluntary services team on 01793 813355 if you are skilled in any of the following therapies
With the opening of the Outreach Centre, it is likely that the cost will continue to rise, which is why the Charity is asking people to show their support in a variety of ways in the year ahead. “We want people from this area to really get behind supporting our work, so that we can continue to bring more of our care to more people who need it,” says Prospect Hospice’s community fundraiser Mike Kennedy. You can help in so many ways.
Massage Aromatherapy Reflexology Reiki Indian Head Massage Bowen Technique Hairdressing, make-up and beauty therapies.
The Outeach Centre also has vacancies for Volunteer Patient Drivers There are many other ways in which you can support the ongoing costs of providing Prospect Hospice’s care for people in our area, which currently costs more than £400,000 each year.
Mike says: “I would love to join local groups in this area to tell them more about our fundraising activities, and why their support is so important to us. I would also encourage people to do their own fundraising activities. Please consider opening your garden for us this summer, or hold a coffee morning or cake bake.” If you are not already on the Prospect Hospice database to receive their twiceyearly newsletter, and would like to have regular updates on the Charity’s work and how you can support it, please get in touch by emailing fundraising&support@prospecthospice.net Prospect Hospice are asking people to keep one of their household boxes in their home, or to consider becoming a neighbourhood box collector to support the scheme, that raises nearly £100,000 for the charity each year. [49]
What is at the Prospect Hospice Outreach Centre The Prospect Hospice Outreach Centre is a suite of rooms at Savernake Hospital, staffed by Prospect Hospice nurses and therapists, supported by trained volunteers, from where they will provide a range of services for patients and their families, including: 1 Physiotherapy and occupational therapy 2 Wellbeing days and complementary therapies 3 Anxiety management, breathlessness and fatigue support 4 Courses for carers and bereavement support
The Prospect Hospice Outreach Centre is also: 1 A local base for our community-based Prospect Nurse Specialists 2 An advice and assessment centre, supporting patients and staff at Savernake Hospital 3 A venue for our education courses, training and supporting local health and social care professionals Prospect Hospice’s Outreach Centre is very special and with your support can help patients in our area now and in the future.
£10 could pay for a complementary therapy treatment £25 could pay for one to one bereavement support £50 pays for one patient attending our day care service £100 could pay for an exercise and stamina class for up to six people
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PROSPECT FUND RAISING
Playing the Prospect Hospice Lottery make a real difference to people's lives, enabling us to continue giving expert care and support to patients and their families. "I play the Prospect Hospice lottery every week, and it’s a really easy way to support a charity that means so much to me. Prospect cared for my wife Barbs, both in the Day Hospice, where she met so many people who were going through similar experiences, and in the care she had at the very end of her life. The team there was wonderful. Just £1 a week is a small amount of money but it makes such a big difference. What’s more, if you keep playing, you might even win a prize – I know, because I did!” Paul Charlwood, Swindon
How our lottery works 1
Each chance in our weekly lottery costs £1. You can have up to 20 chances each week.
2
For each chance you purchase you will be allocated a unique number
3
The draw takes place every Friday and you will automatically be entered into the draw for each week that you have paid your subscription
4
28 lucky winners are selected at random by our lottery computer. Someone will win the £1,000 jackpot every week.
5
All winners’ cheques are sent by post automatically but you can check the winning numbers on our website
http://www.prospect-hospice.net/Supporter/Lottery TICKETS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT LOCAL SHOPS! [51]
Friends of Savernake Hospital and the Community provide £5,500 grant to Arts Together At the Friends’ Annual General Meeting on 11 May, the Friends of Savernake Hospital and the Community (the Friends) presented a cheque for £5,500 to local charity, Arts Together.
art sessions, and to be keeping their minds (and hands) active through the various art projects.” Julia McNeill, an Arts Together volunteer in Marlborough, attended the Friends’ Annual General Meeting in Marlborough to accept the cheque, and expressed her thanks to the attending Friends’ Trustees and Members.
Arts Together is a pioneering charity working to improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life of older people through the provision of a range of participatory arts projects in Marlborough, Pewsey and other Wiltshire locations. This plays an important role in countering loneliness and isolation.
The Friends of Savernake Hospital and the Community is a local Charity helping people with health-related issues both at Savernake Hospital and in the Marlborough Community Area by providing grants of up to £10,000.
Friends’ Chairman, Janet Louth visited an Arts Together session in Marlborough last month and was very impressed. “Everyone was full of praise for the group and how beneficial it is to them,” said Janet. “Attendees talked of how good it was to meet with others at the
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For information on applying for a grant, on becoming a Volunteer at the Friends’ Shop at Savernake Hospital, or becoming a Trustee visit the Friends’ website at www.friendsofsavernake.org or contact the Friends’ Chairman, Janet Louth, on tel: 01672 513868.
WE GIVE GRANTS TO SAVERNAKE HOSPITAL AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY If you are involved in healthcare as an organisation, charity, carer or individual, why not apply for a grant? The Friends’ help people: With health-related issues Within the Marlborough Community Area By providing grants up to £10,000. Visit the Friends’ website at www.friendsofsavernake.org to apply. For more information, contact our Chairman, Janet Louth, on 01672 513868.
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Help and support for people who care According to the last census, there are 47,608 people in Wiltshire providing care and support to a relative, child, partner or friend who would not be able to manage on their own. There are many reasons why someone may not be able to cope unaided including physical or mental disability, old age, long-term illness, special educational need, eating disorder or a problem with drugs or alcohol. It is estimated that 3 in 5 people will become a carer at some point in their lives. The problem is that most people will not identify themselves as such – people simply consider themselves as a spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent or friend doing what they would be doing anyway. Many also mistake the word ‘carer’ with
those providing paid care work in a residential home or domiciliary agency capacity. Carer Support Wiltshire is a charity with a team of support workers who can provide information and support to carers living in Wiltshire, at the other end of the telephone, or face to face, along with accessing to counselling and advice relating to your role. All of our services are free and confidential for anyone aged 18 and over and we can offer you the chance to have a break through social cafés, days out, activities, craft groups and complementary therapies. We will shortly be running a monthly carers cafés in nearby Marlborough where you can come along to chat with other carers over a hot drink or two. To find out more about us, or to register for some support, please visit our website www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk, email info@carersinwiltshire.co.uk or freephone: 0800 181 4118 (01 380 871 690 from a mobile).
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Health Trainer service from Wiltshire Council
Improve your health,
make positive lifestyle changes! Do you want to: t improve your general wellbeing t build your self confidence and motivation t eat healthier food and be a healthy weight t reduce or stop smoking t be more active t drink less alcohol?
Are you over 18? A dedicated health trainer can assist you every step of the way in achieving and maintaining your goals. They can also help you find other services and activities.
Call us: 0300 003 4566 Email: health.trainers@wiltshire.gov.uk
helping you to help yourself [55]
Health Trainer service from Wiltshire Council My name is Sanj and I am the health trainer for Pewsey and the surrounding areas including Burbage. It is a free and confidential service. Health Trainers work on a one to one basis with individuals to support behaviour change and improve health. We meet with our clients in places such as the local library, leisure centre etc. We can work with clients who want to improve their wellbeing, including looking at areas such as;
Building self-confidence and motivation Eating healthier food and becoming a healthy weight Reducing of stopping smoking being more active drinking less alcohol I can also signpost and support people to access other services and activities. As a Health Trainer I can work with my client for six sessions building motivation and confidence to enable the client to help themselves and to maintain the changes. I look forward to hearing from you, Sanj.
Appointments can be made by self-referral via health.trainers@wiltshire.gov.uk or telephone 0300 003 4566
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The Burbage News Quarterly Spring issue - due out April 2016 Summer issue - due out July 2016 Autumn issue - due out October 2016 Winter issue - due out January 2017
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Burbage News Quarterly The Burbage News Quarterly is the online-only independent local community e-magazine for Burbage. Items are welcomed from clubs, organisations, businesses and individuals. Items may be edited for zlegal reasons and/or to fit the editorial space. Every care is taken to ensure that articles and wording do not offend, but no responsibility can be accepted for statements made by the subscribing authors. The views expressed may not represent the views of the Burbage News Production Team As the Burbage News Quarterly is an online-only production, you must ensure that permission to publish has been obtained from those person(s) named in your
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submission and/or from any person(s) appearing in photographs/images you would like us to use. Any logos or registered trademarks that appear in any issue must also have permission to publish. By submitting an article, story, comment, image or advertisement you are accepting responsibility for the content and are indemnifying the Burbage News from any claim for damages from any person or organisation affected by your submission Any item submitted will be regarded as copyright of the Burbage News unless the contributor requests their material be marked differently
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Unless otherwise marked, all content is copyright © Burbage News 2014 and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor [57]