Full colour issue online & NEWS www.biddestone.org.uk

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September 2019 Issue 466 Open Gardens 2019 by Di Webb

This was the most successful Open Gardens that we have or- car park. Well done to the car park attendants, who coped very ganised, we were lucky with the weather – the usual dress code well, especially when running out of spaces. is a pair of waders, but this year it was just right. Teas were provided in the Oak House by Charlotte and her Thirteen gardens were opened to the public, and visitors com- band of very competent helpers who were busy on Saturday, mented on the high standard and said how interesting it was to but rushed off their feet on Sunday. Simon ran the Pimms Tent see so many different styles of gardening. All had one thing in to the delight of many. A total of £1,725 from these went to the common, a passion for gardening, and producing a garden full Friends of St Nicholas. Hennie raised £700 for Help Tibet from of flowers and colour in August is no mean feat. teas at the other end of the village.

The church was absolutely stunning, decorated with flowers After expenses we made a donation of £1,000 each to Dorothy from all the different clubs in the village, finishing touches by House, Julia’s House Hospice and Air Ambulance. Rosemary, Ronnie and Barbara. Romantic music provided by that old romantic, Stewart. Thank you to all you gardeners for making the weekend such a tremendous success. Thought for the day - only two years to go Saturday was very busy with visitors from all over the west, we until 2021! had been very fortunate in that Waitrose had generously includ- ed an advertisement in their weekend newspaper. On Sunday Di the crowds just kept coming, and we had to open the overflow

2 Editorial September EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

[email protected] Welcome to the September edition of the Broadsheet. We hope you enjoyed the bumper 24-page colour issue covering the Fete and Biddstock, a big thank you to EDITOR both events for your donations which helped towards the extra cost of the colour Linda Lobl-Smith, Home Farm 714475 printing.

TREASURER The Open Gardens in July was a huge success this time, with the weather being Annalisa Duff much kinder than usual, all the gardens great and small looked wonderful and the teas, ice cream and Pimms did a roaring trade as everyone relaxed in the sunshine. WEBSITE Well done to everyone who helped with this event. Alison Fovargue The next date for your diary will be the wonderful Slaughterford Country Fair and Julie Walton Pet Show, happening at St Nicholas Church, Slaughterford on 7th September. Let us June Pearce hope that the lucky streak with the weather continues for this one!

DESIGN The annual Safari Supper in aid of St Nicholas Church will take place on 14th Chris Draper, Richard Eccleston, September starting at The Oak House and continuing at various locations throughout Liz Turner the village before returning for the auction. There are still tickets available for this really enjoyable evening. GET INVOLVED Yet another date to add for October, the Broadsheet Quiz returns this time on a Friday night, for those of you who could not make it to the May Day event. Bring Biddestone Broadsheet and the village your friends and family, and join the fun on 25th October in the Village Hall. website seek to reflect the life and interests of the villages of Biddestone and We have received news of a new village venture, a pop-up shop at the Village Hall on Slaughterford. Written contributions are Friday every fortnight. Using local produce from The Best of Wessex. customers can invited from readers on any subject that taste before they buy at The Biddestone Pop-Up-Farm-Shop. See page 9 for details. will be of interest. Photos, drawings and art work would also be welcome. Email accounts are often set up to compress images so they can be sent more quickly, but we need photos to be Broadsheet Quiz October 25 high resolution. So, when sending photos by email, please attach a file, preferably Join your quizmaster, Ian Smith for a fun-filled evening of brain teasing questions at a .jpg, and send it ‘Actual size’ or ‘Large ‘if the Village Hall, Friday 25th October at 7.30pm. Teams of four at £5 per head. Tel possible. 01249 714475 to reserve a table. Any opinions expressed or implied within this publication are not necessarily Bring your own picnic or feast to enjoy in the interval; drinks are available from the those of the Editor or Committee and bar. no responsibility can be accepted for any errors of fact printed on these pages. All funds will go to the Broadsheet. We will, of course, endeavour to be as accurate as possible. ● Last copy date is the third Friday in the month, copy should be sent to the Editor at the email address above. VILLAGE WEBSITE Reader’s Letter www.biddestonevillage.org.uk I moved to Biddestone over 20 years ago, and although A full colour version of the Broadsheet I currently rent out my cottage, I like to keep an eye on is available on the website. If you do not things. I particular enjoy Farming Notes – Ian keeps me wish to have your contact details published amused and informed. online then please make the editor aware of your preference. Any other notices or Just like to say what an excellent job you are doing with the contributions to be posted specifically on Broadsheet in terms of its content, style and presentation, the website should be sent to the email the current July / August edition is a particular highlight. address at the top of the page. Best Regards, Adrian Rowden ● To post an item on the Biddestone Village Website or Facebook page please contact the Editor Linda Lobl-Smith Cover photo: Biddestone Open Gardens photo: Cover

3 Recipes by Julie Walton

Pear, Blackberry and Almond Cake 20g dark chocolate

A good way to use up some excess 1 handful of flaked almonds late-summer fruit 22cm loose-bottomed cake tin, Ingredients greased and lined with baking parchment 225g self-raising flour

225g margarine 1. Preheat the oven to 180 125g sugar degrees C

3 eggs 2. Place the margarine and sugar in a mixing bowl and mix until 3 ripe pears, peeled, cored and cut into smooth, using an electric whisk or wood- mixture with a metal spoon 1cm cubes. en spoon 5. Bake for 40-45 mins until the cake is 2 handfuls of washed and dried black- 3. Add the flour, eggs and almond es- firm to the touch and a golden brown berries sence and mix until combined 6. Allow the cake to cool on a metal rack I tbsp plain flour 4. Sprinkle the plain flour over the pears and blackberries, Gently stir until the 7. Melt the chocolate and drizzle over the 1 tsp almond essence fruit is coated and fold into the cake cool cake, sprinkle with flaked almonds

Safari Supper and Auction

We will be holding a Safari Supper and an Auction of Gifts, Time and Promises on Saturday 14th September. All funds raised will go to the Friends of St Nicholas.

So far we received a received a good number of pledges for the auction, these include:

Welsh Adventure Talk from a motoring Journalist Tickets to Bath Rugby

Landscape architecture consultancy Golf at Bristol City tickets and hospitality

Christmas garlands Painting of the Royal Crescent Gents haircut

Pedestal flower arrangement Supper for 4 Hand turned wooden bowl

Christmas hamper Box of 6 specialty marmalades Spinning tuition for 2

Box of chutneys and pickles Tickets to MK Dons Rose pruning

Book on air combat paintings Afternoon tea at The manor House Childs bicycle

Lift to Heathrow or Gatwick Cakes Patchwork quilting lesson

Tickets are £20 each person for the supper. All funds raised will go to the Friends of St Nicholas. If you can’t make the safari su- per but would still like to bid, Simon will bid on your behalf or just come along to the auction at the Oak House that starts at 10pm and bid in person.

Please contact Simon or Charlotte if you are able to make a pledge, host a table or for tickets on 01249 716330 or simon.bruce@ btinternet.com

4 Farming notes by Ian Smith

Most farmers would, I think, take this the BBC and its vegan fellow travelers I suppose this is pointless, you are all year’s weather in a heartbeat, presuming, blaming the whole woes of the world on going to be burnt to a cinder or drowned of course, that the present unsettled spell meat production. Quite how my cattle by rising sea levels caused by cattle does not stop the combines for too much are harming the planet compared to the belching, in fact be very afraid, farmers longer. There is a reasonable window of dozens of planes that cross the skies of are going to kill everyone. time to get a ripe corn crop in, but the Biddestone parish daily is unexplained. longer it is left the more chance there is Personally I feel I am far more likely to that it will go flat and the grain begin to According to the NFU, admittedly not meet my end in a fug of carbon mon- sprout and spoil. I think this window is an unbiased source, this weekend would oxide or a rage-induced cardiac arrest shorter than it used to be, because I well see the UK run out of temperately grown whilst stuck in a traffic jam caused by remember combines working well into food should we have no imports. No Greta Thunberg and her certainty crazed October. Maybe more modern varieties doubt this is a very simplified view but acolytes blocking the public highway and and heavier yields make the crop less none the less has a serious point. A quick preventing me going about my lawful durable, this generally would not matter scan of The Editor’s green veg shopping business. given the massive increase in combine a while back showed stuff from Egypt, capacity and capability to get the crop off Kenya and Israel*, all well and good quickly – we shall see… but two of these vegetables were out of season in this country, a point that has *Homegrown avocados not availa- Stock farmers will be looking at bulging become too easy to forget in the ubiquity ble currently! The 20-somethings are barns and clamps full of winter fodder, of supermarket shopping. It is perfectly convinced that smashed avocado on the transformative power of rain at the possible to eat home-grown vegetables sourdough is the only suitable breakfast right times can rarely have been better throughout the year from spring salads to food in the morning. I am trying to illustrated than by the contrast with last winter sprouts, cabbages etc. Doing this, re-educate them, the garden is full of year. There is, of course, no yin without a along with nice home-grown meat would salads, new potatoes, spinach, kale, beets yang and the end price for cattle sales is cut out vast transport energy and, no etc. Smoothie anyone? all downwards, not helped, of course, by doubt, make everyone healthier. How does your garden grow? by Julie Walton

September is a time for harvest in the garden with apples, pears, plums and raspberries all ripening. It is also a good time to make a note of which plants to move to start planning your planting schemes for next year.

Things to do in September

- Plant all spring bulbs except tulips, these are best done in October.

- Plant polyanthus and wallflowers once the summer annuals have finished. Dig in some compost to refresh the nutrients in the soil.

- Hardy annuals can be sown where they are to flower next year.

- Green manure plants can be sown on any ground that is to be left bare until next spring. They should be dug into the soil next spring where they improve soil structure and release nutrients.

- Put grease bands around fruit trees to prevent winter moths laying their eggs.

- Lift and divide perennials.

- Harvest vegetables.

- Feed greenhouse vegetables such as tomatoes and aubergines twice weekly.

- Dead-head perennials.

- Collect seeds from perennials to propagate.

5 Movie Review By Adan Walton

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, lake and surrounding mountains, the Spring seasons of the title reflect both the chang- Director: Ki-duk Kim, South Korea, es in the natural world and those in the 2003, 103min monks’ lives. This profoundly spiritual film reflects the Buddhist philosophy that enlightenment comes through letting go of desires and attachment; but its insights A small Buddhist monastery floats on a have a universal significance. The story raft in the middle of a lake, hidden away is beautifully crafted and unfolds with in the mountains of rural Korea. An a gentle simplicity, amid the stunning aging monk is endeavouring to pass on beauty of the natural environment as it his wisdom to a young novice. Despite changes through the seasons. the old monk’s patient teachings, the boy finds himself distracted by trivial tempta- There are lovely touches of humour and tions, and as he grows into a young man, humanity throughout the film, particular- his desire for worldly experience leads ly in the way the old monk deals affec- him into a cycle of suffering, despair, tionately and with compassion towards atonement and, ultimately, enlighten- his wayward apprentice. It is one of ment. those rare films that stays imprinted on one’s memory, for its beauty, grace and Set entirely within the confines of the deep insight.

Moviola

RED JOAN [12A]

Inspired by an extraordinary true story, Wednesday September 25th, Grittleton If you could let Lesley know the film is set in a picturesque English Village Hall by September 17th if you would like village. Joan Stanley (Judi Dench), lives Doors open 7pm, programme starts at tickets that would be very helpful. in contented retirement until her tranquil 7.30pm Future dates for your diary: existence is shattered when she’s arrested Tickets £6 adults from Lesley on 01249 October 30th Fisherman’s Friends by MI5. Joan has been hiding an incredi- 783157 December 4th Yesterday ble past; she is one of the most influential www.moviola.org spies in living history. At Cambridge email [email protected] http://www.grittleton.info University in the 1930s, the young Joan (Sophie Cookson), a demure physics student, falls in love with an attractive Russian saboteur, Leo (Tom Hughes). Through him, she begins to see that the world is on a knife-edge and perhaps must be saved from itself in the race to military supremacy. Post-war and now working at a top secret nuclear research facility, Joan is confronted with an im- possible choice: would you betray your country and your loved ones, if it meant saving them?

Biddestone & Hartham Women’s Institute W.I. September

At the W.I. meeting on 18th September, the speaker will be Edward Barrett talking about “Lunch with the Queen”. Visitors welcome: 2-4pm at the village hall.

6 Poetry Thank you to Hilary Noyes for this month’s choice

Written in the thirteenth century by the famous Persian poet Sa’adi, these words are inscribed on the entrance to the United Nations building. The call for equality and human rights in the world is as relevant today as when it was written.

Bani Adam

Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, Other members uneasy will remain. If you’ve no sympathy for human pain, The name of human you cannot retain

Sa’adi (1210-91)

Thu 12: Award-winning, one-woman show nect to nature and create art outside. Pound Arts that inspired the BBC’s hit TV series Fleabag, broadcast live to cinemas from London’s A new after-school drawing club for 6-11 year The Pound Arts in offers an impres- West End. olds starts Monday 16 September 3.30-4pm sive range of live events, cinema and work- (term-time only), runs until 16 December shops. For more details see poundarts.org.uk, Fri 13: An evening of classical music from or pop in to the café, serving fresh, vegetarian four award-winning Wiltshire young musi- and locally sourced food, including vegan cians: Lorna Davis, cello, Katherine Stonham, and gluten-free options, Monday to Saturday violin (2017), Cassie Dalby, mezzo soprano 9.30am - 6pm (or until late when events are and Daniel Springate, cello. on) and pick up some fliers. Wed 25: The Audition: A Juke Box opera Highlights for September include: Thurs 26: Live from the National Theatre: the Tues 10: Live from the National Theatre, Tony-award-winning One Man Two Guvnors author of The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret At- ,starring James Cordon. wood, talks to broadcaster and author Samira Ahmed about her long career and the release From Saturday 7: Art Outside, a four-week of the long-awaited sequel to her seminal course with resident artist Rachael Heard Tale, The Testaments. walking to a variety of local locations to con-

Book Club by Diane Ross-Smith

Thank you to Kate for the delightful visit to Hartham, where we sat in the beautiful garden, enjoyed refreshments and discussed bees, blooms and books.

August’s meeting was cancelled. On Monday September 16th at 7.15pm. we shall be dis- cussing ‘The Children’s Book’ by AS Byatt at Diane’s house. For October the choice is ‘Silence of the Girls’ by Pat Barker.

Any enquiries? Phone Diane on 712105

7 Memories of Biddestone By Agnes Leonora Zipfel

I was born on July 25th 1920. My is where Cromwell stabled his horses. It parents were Albert Leonard Down and was said there was a battle at the nearby Sarah Agnes Fricker. They met during village of Slaughterford, and the river ran the First World War when they both lived red with blood. at Buckhorn Weston in Dorset. My father lived with his widower father on a farm, During the period between the World his mother having died at the early age of Wars farming was in a very bad state. It 46. My mother lived with her widowed was the second World War that put farm- mother and a spinster sister 14 years ing on its feet. We always had enough older than herself. During the war my to eat, growing plenty of vegetables mother was a cheesemaker. She went to ourselves. My father would go out and various farms, doing seasonal work. shoot hares, rabbits and pheasants. He was a good shot, and there were plenty to work. Unfortunately the mill closed They married at Buckhorn Weston on the farm. There were also mushrooms down after the war. Employment in Church on May 1st 1919, and lived at in the Home Ground and in other fields was at the Bacon Factory Caggypole Farm as my grandfather had away from the farm. (which closed) and Westinghouse Brake died in 1917 aged 73. They decided to and Signal Company, and of course move, and in 1920 they bought a farm We did not get much chance to pick these shops and offices. in Biddestone in Wiltshire. In May 1920 because other people used to go into the they moved stock, farm equipment and fields. Then in September 1942 all the In 1922 my Aunt Emily and grandmother furniture to Mountjoy Farm. It must have livestock of the village were infected came to live at West Yatton about two been quite a feat. with foot and mouth disease, and people miles from Biddestone. They rented a were absolutely forbidden to go into very old farmhouse. Mr Marsh, a farmer, There was a large old grey stone house, the fields. All the cattle were killed and had two farms, he lived in one house thatched at first, but over a period of time the infected ones buried in quick lime. at and did not need the that gave way to slates. The barn was One farmer, Harry Matthews’ stock did other. Sadly, my grandmother died in No- still thatched, but in a matter of months not have foot and mouth, but they were vember 1922 of cancer, and my aunt con- after they arrived the roof fell in, and my killed because they were very near to tinued to live on alone. She must have father re-roofed with red pantiles. The others who did. He was very upset and been lonely, as there was no radio or TV farmhouse had an orchard and another said God would look after his own. in those days. She mainly gardened, small field nearby. The rest of the land wrote letters, and did sewing. was ‘Up on top of the Hill’ as it was After the war, Biddestone became a called. It overlooked Colerne and on- beautiful village. All the old houses were I used to spend some weekends with her. wards to the City of Bath. In the course bought and renovated. Elliotts farmhouse I cycled from school on a Friday, and of time my father bought more land, so had been a cloth mill at one time. Elliotts returned on Sunday. that the farm comprised about 130 acres. also owned about a dozen or more prop- erties, but they sold them off one by one On Sundays my aunt walked to The orchard was full of apple trees, ‘Ann as they needed the money. At one time Biddestone and I went to church with Elizabeth’s’ were cookers, and ‘Quaren- there was a village grocery shop. There her in the morning. I used to go again in tines’ were smallish red eaters (possibly was a Post Office situated up Cuttle the evening with my mother and father. I Quarrenden, there is a variety like this Lane, but Mrs Smith died in her 90s and also attended Sunday School for a num- called Devon Quarrenden). There were it was closed and another Post Office ber of years. also several plum trees. One, in par- opened at the other end of Biddestone ticular, always had masses of fruit, and (Harts Lane). There is a very ancient On Tuesdays again my aunt walked over, my mother made jam and bottled some. thatched cottage on the edge of a large and cooked dinner for us. She was an There was a Blenheim Orange tree which duck pond. A Lord Mayor of London excellent cook, and a wonderful garden- was a lovely apple, and a pear tree, but it bought it, a relation of the Elliotts. The er. She grew good vegetables because never bore any fruit. village school was near the pond, it was the farmer let her have plenty of farm built in the 1840s. manure. Tuesday was butter-making day. The village of Biddestone had many My mother used to churn the butter in a old thatched cottages. The Church of After the war some of the men cleared big wooden barrel which must have been St. Nicholas is quite close to Mount- out the village pond. They also cut the hard work. She used a glass churn later joy Farm. The Rectory and Glebe land grass in the centre of the village where on and before the churning was eventual- adjoined the farm. During my time in the war memorial stood. The green was ly done by a belt and electricity. Biddestone, Cannon Ketchley was the bounded by some beautiful big houses. rector. He baptised me and my brother Near the centre of the village was an In the spring of 1937 my aunt had to David Julius who was born on May 14th old pump house where before the war leave West Yatton because the farmer 1922. He also married William Zipfel the men of the village used to gather to needed the house. She bought a bunga- and I on July 17th 1943. gossip. low at Biddestone by the cemetery.

At the bottom of the village was a mod- There was a paper-making factory* * in Slaughterford erately sized Elizabethan Manor, and a where a lot of Biddestone people were place nearby called the Barracks. This employed. They either walked or cycled

8 Field FIRE A raging fire in the field beside Challows Lane on 1st August began when an unfor- tunate rook hit overhead wires, causing sparks to leap on to Graham Corp’s crop. As several fire engines fought the blaze, Rodney Mansell, helped by other neighbours, lead ponies in the adjoining paddock to safety. The flames rose twice as high as the deter- mined fireman, and for a long time as one patch of flames damped down, another would leap up in the bone-dry barley. Eventually, however, once the flames reached the grass and hedges, it died down, and the only serious casualty was one blackened ex-rook.

Biddestone Farm Shop pops up

A new Biddestone Pop-Up Farm Shop offering local produce The Biddestone Pop up Farm Shop will be open on the from The Best of Wessex will be visiting the village hall, following Fridays: initially on on a fortnightly basis, from 13th September. 13th September 5-8pm Items such as hams, cheese, chutneys and biscuits will be available to taste and buy along with local seasonal vegetables 27th September 5-8pm and some West Country spirits. 11th October 5-8pm Fresh food such as fish, meat, bread, cakes etc can also be purchased if ordered by midday the previous day via the 25th October 4-7pm website thebestofwessex.co.uk or by phone (01225 938 100). If villagers have any thoughts or recommenations please email Other items on the website’s ‘virtual shelves’ can also be or- [email protected] or phone Giles on 01225 938 dered by noon on the day for pick up that evening. 100.

Dates for parish steward’s visit

Parish steward Mark Hawkins will be in the village 19th/23rd supply street name plates September and 17th/23rdOctober. Removal of limited graffiti from road signs, bollards and street His varied duties can include: nameplates

Cutting growth from drains Hand cutting of grass and vegetation in visibility area

Hand clearing of blocked drainage, grips, culverts, pipes and Hand treatment of weeds pits (unable to jet system) Hand clearance of encroaching growth and soil from footpaths Clearing storm debris from the roads and footways Repair of small potholes in roads and footways Pedestrian barrier preparation and painting Clearing vegetation from road signs Cleaning and straightening small road signs, street nameplates and bollards If you have any problems, contact Wiltshire Highways or Di Webb on [email protected] or 01249 715963. Securing existing small road signs, verge marker posts and 9 Creating the perfect village Wedding By Linda Lobl-Smith

Enlisting the help of David Taylor, we bar and kept the drinks flowing through- removed the old trellis fence from the out the day. edge of the car park and put up a rose arch, removing the unsightly hedge and With flowers to complete the look, The- draining and filling in the pool. The odoras made the bride and bridesmaid gravel car park, was expertly dealt with bouquets, Jill Jeffries supplied the huge by Simon Hart, who levelled the ground, floral ‘chandeliers’ and E. Billet & Sons brought topsoil, created a new car park provided all the cut flowers we used in and excavated the stream at the bottom the churns etc. All were a pleasure to of the paddock. deal with, nothing was too much trouble

New turf for the lawn, plus trees and hedging for the paddock were acquired with help and advice from David and June Pearce, again planted by David Taylor and the lawn laid with help from Ronnie Needham. Discovering the ne- glected trees in the paddock meant a call to Barry the tree surgeon, who helped to remove a couple of those.

Oakwrights deserve a special mention for making and fitting new windows along with Phil Maidment for his work on the farmhouse and Joseph Franklin Willis for the dry-stone walling.

With a bit more planting and mainte- As many of you will doubtless know nance we would have a venue… already, we have recently had a wedding here at Home Farm. On to wedding planning, how to translate ‘I was thinking of a simple rustic theme’ Ian’s daughter Jenny wanted to be into reality? We called on Caroline married at her childhood home, with Penny from Vintage Marquees, and with a marquee on the lawn in front of the her infectious enthusiasm she organised house, a simple request at first glance. beautiful tents, tables, chairs, lighting However, there was no lawn in front of and props (a wonderful photo booth in the house, only a large gravel car park a horse box) to set the scene. Next we left over from our B&B days and beyond needed a caterer: Carolyn Madley and that a very unkempt hedge enclosing the her team from Kitchen on the Green pro- paddock and an even more unkempt old vided wonderful food, boundless energy swimming pool in the corner of that. So and endless patience. The lovely lads where to begin? from J&L Bar Services stocked up the and the end results were stunning.

Mr Jean a brilliant local band, got the party started and kept everyone dancing until midnight.

Photographer Anna Durrant was simul- taneously, patient, capable and unobtru- sive, capturing beautiful memories of the day.

Local accommodation was provided by Gill Stafford (Anvil Cottage); Joan Emm (Wren’s Cottage) and Di Webb (Owl Cottage B&B).

Last, but not least, thanks to all the friends and neighbours who helped in so many different ways to make it such a special day, we are truly blessed to live in this wonderful village.

10 Recommended by Ian & Linda Smith, Home Farm, Biddestone:

Anna Durrant Photography – joanpressleyhats.com 01249 812153 www.wessingtoncabins. 01666 837569 co.uk Joseph Franklin-Willis – 07477 021312 Barry Senneck, Empire Tree Works – 07968 475731 Leanna Biggs, Bath – makeubyleannabiggs.co.uk Carolyn Madley – 01249 712831 Mines Leisure Hire, Corsham (refrigerat- David Taylor – 07974 631016 ed trailer, glassware and crockery) 01225 812059 E. Billett & Sons, Whitley – ebillettand- sonswholesaleflorist.co.uk Mr Jean – mrjeanband.com

Fox in the House (suits) – Oakwrights – 01225 430630 foxinthehouse.co.uk Phil Maidment – 07886 030720 Indiebride London (wedding dress) – indiebride.co.uk Simon Hart – 01249 712655

J&L Bar services – Theodoras, Corsham – 01249 715340 Jandlbarservices.co.uk Vintage Marquees, Melksham – Caroline Jill Jeffries, Colerne – 07977 201067 Penny 07921 810396 vintagemarquees. jilljeffries.com co.uk

Joan Pressley Hats, Devizes (hats) – Wessington Cabins Ltd, Calne (loos) –

Peacock Arts Trail Kathy Hutton The popular Peacock Arts Trail open tures. Printmaker Kathy Hutton, will studios event will be taking place in and be welcoming visitors to her beautiful around Corsham, Box, Chippenham and studio in Yatton Keynell. Annie Meier Melksham from Saturday 5th to Sunday from Biddestone will be exhibiting her 13th October. colourful paintings at the Barn Gallery in Kington Langley, and talented stitcher Fi More than 40 venues, including studios Redmond will be exhibiting her work in and exhibitions, open their doors to Chippenham. Fi’s tapestry about the First show off an eclectic mix including fine World War is a permanent exhibit at the art, jewellery, textiles, photography and Chippenham museum. much more. For more information, pick up a brochure Dominic Clare will be opening his amaz- at Corsham Town Hall or Library, visit ing workshop in Slaughterford, where peacockartstrail.co.uk or search for Pea- he creates impressive wooden sculp- cock Trail on social media.

Fi redman Annie Meier Domonic Clare

11 Village Hall classes From painting to yoga – there’s something for everyone

Main hall CIRCUIT TRAINING 6.00-7.00pm PILATES WEDNESDAY MONDAY Simon Bennett 07815619138 10.30-11.30am WRITING GROUP PAINTING GROUP [email protected] Physio led 10.00am-Noon 9.45-11.45am Beth Borthwick Tim Smith 01249 714455 Sue Tennant 01249 72061 THURSDAY [email protected] [email protected] PRECISION PILATES HIPS & HAWS CLOG 10.00 - 11.00 am IYENGAR YOGA CLASS 8.00-10.00pm Amber Edenbrow 07725 316923 New Club Room 7.00-8.30pm Jan Field 01380 827140 [email protected] Edgar Stringer [email protected] [email protected] SEQUENCE DANCING MONDAY TUESDAY 7.30-10.00pm PILATES QUILTING AND REAL LIFE YOGA Phil Fletcher 01793 936091 11.00-Noon PATCHWORK CLASS 9.00-10.00 & 10.30-11.30am [email protected] Stonehouse Clinic Noon-4.00pm Emma Goodwin 07771 662567 01249 700417 ann.barnes@ Anne Chapman 01249 782842 [email protected] TOT’S TENNIS stonehouseclinic.co.uk 1.50-2.35 pm THURSDAY IYENGAR YOGA CLASS Three and four years old PRECISION PILATES BEGINNER PILATES 6.00-9.00pm Sam Hull 7.30-8.30pm 7.30-8.30 Edgar Stringer sam@connect2sportscoaching. Amber Edenbrow 07725 316923 Jill Rowland 07974 788591 [email protected] co.uk [email protected] [email protected]

WEDNESDAY FRIDAY TUESDAY IYENGAR YOGA CLASS YOGA FOR BEGINNERS HEALTH IN MOTION 10.00-11.30am 9.00-10.00am 10.30-11.30am ● To book the Village Hall, Lydia Holmes Dena Bray Mandy Roberts 01225 811667 please contact the booking [email protected] [email protected] or 07980 696919 secretary: 07391 511495 or [email protected]

An Evening of Comedy and Film

Biddestone Tennis Club member Graham Made it Happen’. The film features band Village Hall 8pm Friday October 4 Jones should be in the Guinness Book of members of artists such as Pink Floyd World Records for visiting more record and Radiohead, and is currently being Entrance £7.50 Doors open at 7.30pm shops than any other person. screened at cinemas throughout the UK and Graham is on at 8pm. (thevinylrevivalfilm.com). The true story of Graham’s time spent To make sure of your seat, please contact working in and around the world of The evening also includes a fun individual Jane Walters jane@barncottagesatlacock. independent record retailing is every bit pop quiz with great prizes – and the bar will co.uk or 07966 553194 as colourful, funny, strange, and occasion- be open. Everyone is extremely welcome. ally sad as any fictional yarn.

Graham will be performing at Bidde- stone Village Hall on Friday October 4th to raise funds for the Tennis Club. Gra- ham has a vast number of funny stories which appear in his books, and guaran- tees to have you in hysterics with tales from the crazy world of record retailing about Queen, The Who, Elton John, The Beatles, Take That, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Cilla Black and many more.

The evening will also include a screen- ing of a 43-minute documentary ‘The Vinyl Revival’ based on his latest book ‘The Vinyl Revival and the Shops That 12 Clubs and Community Activities Come and join in the many activities in and around Biddestone

Allotments located at the Biddestone Tennis Club Coffee, Cakes and Chat Skittles Village Hall Wednesdays village hall. For more information, Club night, Tuesday evening & in the church, St Nicholas 7pm and 9pm. Bar open, contact David Daniel 701311 Saturday morning. See Biddestone,Thursdays 10.30am- spectators welcome. Contact clubspark.lta.org.uk/ Noon. Everyone welcome Mike Chrystal 712833 Bridge Club First Monday Biddestone TennisClub of the month. Club meets for Membership John Marrinan Cotswold Wardens Walks Village Link ‘Volunteers a social evening of bridge; no [email protected] 07773 Monthly schedule on village transporting the community’ If tuition is available, so players [email protected] website – contact Barry Cox you need this service or would must have some level of or see Biddestone Tennis Club like to join the volunteers. experience. Contact Ian Smith Facebook page. For coaching Edward Bear Pre-school Contact 07590 720836, or for 01249 714475 or Jane Iggulden contact Dan Tonkin group. See back page for details more details see the website 01249 713311 for details 07805 923279 village-link.org.uk Moviola Community Book Club Third Monday. of Biddestone Cricket Club cinema, showing in Grittleton Women’s Institute Meets on the month. Contact Diane Ross- See website for more details village hall. See feature page 6 third Wednesdays in the village Smith for details 712105. biddestone.play-cricket.com, hall 2-4pm, and arranges outings. or Biddestone Cricket Club Gardening Club Last Monday Next meeting on June 19th Biddestone Singers Meet at Facebook page of each month 7pm The Oak House or St. Nicholas Contact Di Webb Youth Club Yatton Keynell church every Thursday 7.30- Brownies Yatton Keynell Village 715963 Village Hall Wednesdays 9pm. All welcome. For more Hall Every Wednesday 6.15- 8-9.30pm. Contact Alan information, please contact 7.45pm yattonkeynellbrownies@ Parish Council Meets on Brinkworth 782647 [email protected] gmail.com second Tuesday of each month, or 716330 Village Hall, 7pm Marshfield Flower Can Craft! Y atton Keynell, St. Arrangement Club 1st Biddestone Walkers The Margarets church. A get together Parochial Church Council Wednesday of each month floral walking group meets on the last to chat and craft, third Monday of Annual Parochial Church Council workshop and 2nd Wednesday Sunday of every month. Contact the month 7.30-9.30pm Meeting St Nicholas Church, floral demonstration. Marshfield Kate Jones for details 715180 Biddestone. Monday 25 March Church Hall 7pm. Cake Sale Yatton Keynell first 7pm. Everyone welcome Saturday of month 8.30 -11.30am outside the Post Office If you would like to add details of an activity or club, please contact the Broadsheet.

Skittles season 2019-20

The skittles season starts again 2nd The John Flint Memorial Trophy held in to make sure they are ready to start on October, and the teams are ready to roll. March and April is a straight knock-out time – 7.30pm for early games – remem- Everyone is welcome to come along to competition, highest overall pins over six bering you may have to help set up the the Village Hall, have a drink at the bar, legs wins. In case of a tie, team captains alley ready for the game. Late teams, watch the action and have a chat. will nominate a sudden-death playing starting at 9pm, need to put the alley order with the first named playing each away when finished. The league games run from 2nd October other (and then, if necessary, the second to 26th February. The draw was made named player and so on) until there is a on 30th July 2019 by Giles Heasman of pin total winner. (Players cannot play for The White Horse, witnessed by Andrew more than one team in the cup.) Short, David Taylor, Dave Daniel, Mike Foston and Rodney Mansell. Playing schedules will be distributed by team captains. Mike Crystal asks players

13 Abridged Parochial Church Council minutes 3rd June 2019

Present: Rosemary Warchus (Church watertight. Also re-pointing work around with a contribution from the Education Warden), David Webb (Chairman) the porch. Further investigation to be Fund. Stewart Entwistle (Treasurer), Penny carried out at the back of the church, to Lloyd (Secretary) create more space . Open Gardens, organised by Di Webb and the Garden Club, 20th and 21st July. Apologies: Victoria Tunsley, Maureen Church Warden’s Report: Obligatory The church to be decorated as if for a Greenwood, Julia Tisdale, Ronnie safeguarding training to be completed by wedding, including taped music. Seven Robinson. all PCC members. If work can continue clubs in Biddestone will be involved in to reorganise the back of the church then the decoration. Financial Report: We discussed the work the PCC will have to submit a Facul- that is planned to go ahead: This will in- ty. Hartham Park has donated £10.000 The meeting ended at 8pm with a prayer. clude renovations on the roof to make it which will help towards the cost along

New Church Entrance path

In July St Nicholas Church installed an improved path surface along with a new handrail which together will enhance safety for all parishioners and visitors. The new surface is more non-slip and forgiving underfoot while the wrought iron handrail is solid and compatible with the entrance gate. Total project costs of £6,000 provided by funds raised by the Friends of St Nicholas.

The AGM for the FOSN will be held Thurs Sept 19th 2019 at 7pm in the church.

Corsham Churches Food Bank

August has been a bad month for the banks up and down the country, with some running out of food. Low-income families’ incomes get stretched to the limit during long summer school holi- days with children at home all day with no school lunches to help feed the family. If you have a young family, you know what it is like during the school holidays constantly providing food. Pause and think how you would cope on a small fixed budget no treats for the kids.

When shopping, please just add an extra tin, jar of coffee, long-life milk and fruit juice.

Thank you to all of you who make a donation every month.

Di Webb

14 Church Services St Nicholas, Biddestone

SEPTEMBER

1st Holy Communion 11am 8th Evensong 6pm 15th Harvest festival 9:30am

22nd Team Service 10am All Saints, LITTLETON DREW

Every Wednesday morning there is a service at 9.15am. This is either Holy Communion or Morning Prayer, and includes prayers for the suffering.

St Nicholas, Slaughterford Church contacts SEPTEMBER The Bybrook Team Ministry Reverend Marc Terry, Reverend Gillian Parkin, 8th Harvest Holy Commnium 3pm [email protected] priest-in-charge (Rector Associate Minister www.bybrook.org.uk Designate) Tel: 01249 782672 Tel: 01249 782704 Tel and fax: 01249 782704 [email protected] Church events Tea and Toast Mondays Short reflective prayer 8.45-10am, St Margaret’s meeting Wednesdays noon, Yatton Keynell St Mary’s Grittleton Edward Bear Morning prayer (with Lunch Club every second intercessions for the sick), Wednesday from 12.30 St Pre-school group Wednesdays 9.15am Mary the Virgin, Burton St Nicholas Biddestone Second Wednesday is Yatton Keynell ‘Café Free get-together for pre-schoolers and their parents or carers. usually holy communion Church’ Tuesday 10-12 We would love you to join us for stories, crafts, activities and noon, light lunches from refreshments on the following Fridays at 10am Morning prayer Thursdays noon-1pm 10am, St Michael and All Angels, Kingston St Coffee in the Church Michael. Second Thursday Thursdays 10.30-noon. St St Nicholas is usually holy communion Nicholas, Biddestone Biddestone

Morning prayer Thursdays 6th September 9am, St Margaret’s 4th October 8th November 6th December

St Margaret’s Yatton Keynell

20th September For more information, or to be 18th October added to the contact list, email Julia 15th November at [email protected] for 13th December Biddestone

15 Crossword by Diane Ross-Smith

Solution to last month’s crossword 1 2 3 4 5 a 6 7 8

a a a a a a a a

9 a 10

a a a a a a a a a

11 a 12 13

a a a a a a a a a

14 15 a a a 16

a a a a a 17 a a a

18 a a a 19

a a a 20 a a a a a a

21 a 22 23

a a a a a a a a a

24 25 a 26

First published in ‘The Honeycomb’ September 2015 ‘The Honeycomb’ First in published a a a a a a a a

27 a 28

ACROSS DOWN 1. Description of pride etc. ruined. (8) 6. Season found within - spelt with an umlaut – um no! (6) 2. Everyone described in colourful terms at the beginning of 9. Season Edwin termed freezing inside! (6) this proclamation. (5) 10. Unyielding, we held our bated yet trembling breath. (8) 3. Pity – tear old length of detective novel by this writer? (4, 7) 11. Heavenly body appears in film? (4) 4. Jumper very loud in providing fuel for 24 perhaps. (8) 12. Limpness of body in icy flat - CID perplexed! (10) 5. Doubter’s centre weight for this dramatist. (6, 9) 14. Element found principally in South Carolina and Iowa, 6. Muscle channel to seize. (6) Utah, Maine. (8) 7. Rubbish thrown down hill. (3) 16. Untruthful sounding instrument. (4) 8. Encountered a sailor’s current skeleton? No, just parts of the 18. Hollow cylinder formed by instrument transposing A for foot. (9) E. (4) 13. Welsh poet wrote 5’s name following singer. (5, 6) 19. Confused name edit in state of confusion. (8) 15. Company’s expression of disgust at fall of sucker. (5, 4) 21. Vendor of space mariner heard on the radio. (10) 17. Morning brothers! Fine return providing food for Zeus and 22. Tights worn to water garden! (4) Poseidon. (8) 24. Fire-raiser discovered by artist losing temperature as he 20. Like monarch requesting.(6) embraces issue. (8) 23. Utter sounds like ‘Cut!’ (5) 26. Adder season? (6) 25. Robin cuts ends of sash. (3) 27. Leap year season? (6) 28. At sea a shark no passenger on this rescue vessel! (5, 3)

VILLAGE LINK

If someone lives in Biddestone or another nearby village, and does not drive a car, how do they get to a doctor or hospital appointment?

Well, of course they can call Village Link. Village Link is not a magical chain, but a group of people willing to help and who also have a car. If you can spare a little time and feel you would like to help or know more, please ring Val Spen- cer-Jones on 01249 714830 or the Village Link Co-ordinator on 07590 720836. Thank you.

VS-J. 16 Abridged Draft Minutes of the meeting of Biddestone & Slaughterford Parish Council 13th August 2019

Following the usual legal requirements: Yatton Rd, Biddestone SN14 7BZ Traffic Calming – For the benefit of the attending members of the public SB gave Ollie Phipps, Community Engagement Proposal: Installation of floodlights on an overview of the traffic-calming meas- Manager, Chippenham Area Board, third court, involving erection of two urers that have been under investigation introduced himself and 10m poles and installation of four new by the PC and the schemes which will explained to the PC his role and how he 500-lux floodlights, two on existing take place over the next two years with would like to work closely with the rural poles and two on the new poles. NO funds raised through filming contracts villages who make up part of Chippen- OBJECTIONS and Wiltshire Council (WC) Area Trans- ham Area Board. port Group. 19/07203/FUL& 19/07322/LBC School Planning Applications Approved: Cottage, The Green, Biddestone, SN14 Road Closures – The work on the A4 7DG Proposal: Demolition of small has, despite assurances from WC, caused 19/04356/FUL & 19/04970/LBC 6 Cut- sections of external non-period walling; Hartham Lane to become a ‘rat run’ for tle Lane, Biddestone, SN14 7DF infill of existing non-period archway, vehicles trying to access the A420. AK to as well as single-storey side and rear speak to Kevin Bishop (WC) regarding Proposal: Change of material to conserv- extensions, to create enlarged living lack of adequate signage on the A4. atory roof from glass to artificial slate. accommodation. Internal alterations to non-period walls and stairs to reconfigure Clerk’s Report 19/01773/LBC Sawmill Cottage, The internal layout. Green Biddestone SN14 7DG Corporate Logo – Bob Child has taken Finance: on board the views of the PC and is Proposal: Renewal of timber floor with redesigning for submission at the next tongue and grooved oak boarding in the Statement of Balances for Accounts #1 & PC meeting. dining room. #2 Noted Wiltshire Council Strategic Planning 19/02799/FUL 4, Slaughterford Road, Accounts for Payment July 2019 Clerks Seminar 19th September 2019 – SB to Biddestone, SN14 7DB Proposal: Single Salary & Tax Aug, Ground Maint, Public attend, 2nd place available. Storey Rear Extension. Convenience Cleaning totaling £522.63 Proposed for payment by MC and AP- New PCSO Charlotte Windle – 19/02957/LBC Hawthorne Cottage, The PROVED Invitation has been sent to attend a future Green, Biddestone, SN14 7DG PC meeting. Haven Energy Account and transfer to P r o p o s a l : R e p l a c e m e n t r o o fl i g h t s EDF –Final invoice from Haven showed Peacock and Heritage Trail – Barry Cox no meter readings despite requests from Cotswold Warden outlined plans for a Planning Applications Received: the Clerk. It was AGREED to pay the series of walks in the Corsham, Box, £334.54 to enable the transfer to the new Colerne and Biddestone & Slaughter- 19/06135/TCA The Coach House, Harts supplier to take place but to continue ford Parishes. A request was made for a Lane, Biddestone, SN14 7DQ to request a full breakdown of charges contribution of £769 towards capital and between 2017 and 2019. Should Haven revenue cost and was fully supported. Proposal: Fell 3 Spruce Trees, 15% continue to refuse to show meter reading APPROVED Crown reduction to Cherry Tree and on the invoices previously provided to Reduce Lateral Branches of Robinia by enable the PC to see how they made their Lynchgate Noticeboard – To be recondi- 1.5 metres from Neighbouring Property. calculation, an approach will be made to tioned and replaced. NO OBJECTIONS the ombudsman. There being no further business the 19/06730/FUL Biddestone Tennis Club, Highway Matters meeting ended at 8.45pm

Parish council website Parish Councillors The Parish Council now has its own website where you can find the unabridged minutes and all the latest notices. See: Chairman Simon Bruce www.biddestoneslaughterfordpc.uk 01249 716330 [email protected] Vice Chairman Adam Walton Meetings scheduled for 2019 01249 701784 [email protected] George Brown Mike Chrystal 712833 September 10 November 12 Ashley Juniper 712707 October 8 December 10 Andy Short 714724 Diana Webb 715963 Angela Williams The next Parish Council meeting will be in Anthea Kelsall the Village Hall on September 10th at 7pm Parish Clerk Glenys Gill 01225 742207

17 18 The Butts Scything

As part of its work to conserve the Butts as a thriving natural environment, the Butts Working Group is investigating whether traditional scything would be a good way to cut the grass, in combina- tion with mowing, in the varied & flexi- ble regime of future grass cuts. An initial hands-on demonstration of the traditional skill of scything was arranged by Adam Walton courtesy of Peter Harper, an envi- ronmentalist from nearby Corsham, who regularly uses scything to maintain the wildflower garden at the Springfield Cen- tre. Members of the working group had a to mow the meadow area of the Butts. a supporting option this time next year. If go with the scythe, and the general view Further training is planned for later in anyone is interested in joining in, please was that this could be a fun as a social the year, and possible purchase of some contact Anthea at thebuttsconservation@ community event and a sustainable way scythes, with the aim of scythe cutting as gmail.com or 01249 713525.

approximately 6.5 x 9.5 inches Blind Auction with the frame, it has Hilary’s monogramme on the front, and is This lovely original illustration signed on the back. by Hilary Noyes is being offered in a blind auction exclusively Hilary studied Fine Art at Gold- through the Broadsheet. The smiths College and worked as a money raised will go towards property maker at London’s Old a soil survey and buying indig- Vic theatre. Her work has been enous bluebell, snowdrop and exhibited in galleries in London, daffodil bulbs to plant on the Rutland and East Anglia. Butts for spring. Please send your bids to bidde- Entitled ‘Summer on the Butts [email protected] Land 2019’, the illustration of by September 30, 2019. If you clover and buttercups in inks, would like to view the picture, featured in the July edition of please email Liz Turner on liz- the Broadsheet. Measuring [email protected]

Although adult butterflies will enjoy your holly blue needs not just holly, but ivy. flowers, they lay their eggs on nettles, Wildlife and their greedy caterpillars need lots of Log piles also give butterflies somewhere them. The caterpillars strip each nettle to bask or hide, as well providing homes WATCH of its leaves before moving to the next for all sorts of mini-beasts that birds like by clambering from leaf to leaf, without to eat. By Liz Turner going down to the ground.

If you want to see beautiful peacock, red Butterfly expert Honor Phillipps has admiral, small tortoiseshell and comma attracted 23 different types of butterflies butterflies in your garden, then make to her suburban garden in Acton, west them a nettle bed. London. She says if you see a butterfly in your garden and you want it to stay, find out what its caterpillar eats and plant it. Honor reckons a peacock butterfly needs a patch of nettles the size of a double bed, preferably in full sun for its off- spring to thrive. Pheasant family visits Liz Turner’s garden Painted ladies can be happy with a single thistle, while the orange tip caterpillar needs garlic mustard plants and the tiny

19 Open gardens See page 2

Alison and friend at the annual Little Challows barbecue

Fire! See page 9

“Wedding preparations.” Oil on canvas by Chris Draper The Butts burst into bloom this summer.So far 40 wildflowers and grasses have been identified, including this fabulous blue vetch. See page 19.

Ferraris were more of an attraction than the gardens at August’s Open Gardens event at Middlewick House, home of Nick and Annette Mason, in aid of the Wiltshire Ambulance and The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust.

20