Broadsheet May 2021 Issue 482.Indd 1 27/04/2021 00:20:00 White Horse Update Reopening Dates

Full colour issue online BIDDESTONE & SLAUGHTERFORD NEWS www.biddestonevillage.co.uk

May 2021 Issue 482

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 1 27/04/2021 00:20:00 White Horse Update Reopening dates

Following our re-opening on Monday 12th April, for daily, fresh air dining & drinks (garden & frontage only) we plan to offer INDOOR dining and drinks from 17th May. Hooray!

• Bar hours: Mon to Fri 11.30am to 3.00pm, 5.30pm to 11.00pm. Sat: 11.30am to 11.00pm. Sunday 12.00am to 7.00pm.

• Dining hours: Mon - Sat 12.00 to 3.00pm & 5.00 to 8.00pm. Sun 12.00 to 3.00pm. • Prepayment over phone at time of ordering preferred or cash by special arrangement. • Dining Menu: on Facebook page or printed copies available in the porch • Details and services offered are subject to change at any time, dependent upon Covid 19 • Takeaway Meals: Service continues for lunch & regulations and hopeful easing of Government evening meals: restrictions. See our Facebook page for updates.

Wednesday to Saturday, available at side gate TAKEAWAY MEALS WILL CONTINUE TO BE OFFERED from 5 to 8 pm at agreed times. Sunday lunches available 12.00 to 3.00pm. • To order telephone 01249 713350 and payment by card is preferred at time of order. Not available Mondays or Tuesdays, Menu will change fortnightly. • Meals are freshly prepared to order, subject to availability on the day and at the agreed time. • Order by phone Wed to Sat from 10.00am to 1.30pm, or 6.00 to 8.00pm for next day; for Sun- • Meals are packed ready to collect, and your card day lunches order by 8.00 pm on Fridays receipt will be attached to the food package.

Middlewick House Open Gardens is back!

Offering a great family-friendly weekend, ambassadors Nick and Annette Mason are kindly opening up their garden to the public once again to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust. Pink Floyd drummer, Nick Mason, usually parks a few of his astonishing cars around the house for enthusiasts to enjoy, too.

The garden will be open 26 June - 27 June 2021 11am to 4.30pm. Find out more at wiltshireairamblance.co.uk/events

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 2 27/04/2021 00:20:02 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Editorial May

[email protected] Welcome to the May issue of the Broadsheet. We bring you news of village activities as life returns to something approaching normality. EDITOR Book club is starting anew and the WI has its Cake and plant sale on the Green on Linda Lobl-Smith, Home Farm 714475 Bank Holiday Monday It is good to see the White Horse re open its doors and has proved a popular meeting PRODUCTION EDITORS place once again! Liz Turner, Myra Keen I wonder how many villagers will remember the Sawmills as it was? The item on page 8 shows how much it has changed over the years. Please send us any old photos DESIGN or items of village history that may be of interest. I’m sure many new residents will Richard Eccleston, Chris Draper be interested in learning about the village as it used to be. April Fools....We hope you enjoyed last month’s item on the Sloe Gin harvest. TREASURER Annalisa Duff Village Notices

Alison Fovargue, Jo Holder, Julie Walton, Welcome to Liz Ayliffe who has moved into Sawmills Barn and to Charlie and Becky June Pearce who have moved into Church Cottages, we hope you will enjoy living here in Biddestone.

DISTRIBUTION David Pearce

PRINTING Corsham Print

GET INVOLVED

Biddestone Broadsheet and the village website seek to reflect the life and inter- ests of the village. Written contributions are invited from readers on any subject that will be of interest. Photos, drawings and art work would also be welcome. Any opinions expressed or implied within this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor or Committee and no responsibility can be accepted for any errors of fact printed on these pages. We will of course endeavour to be as accurate as possible. ● Last copy date is the 3rd Friday in Let’s be more likes sunflowers the month, copy should be sent to the Editor at the email address above. Sunflowers turn according to the position of the sun. In other words, they ‘chase the light’. You might already know this, but there is another fact that you probably do not know!

VILLAGE WEBSITE Have you ever wondered what happens on cloudy and rainy days when the sun is completely covered by clouds? ...This is an interesting www.biddestonevillage.co.uk question. Isn’t it? Perhaps you think the sunflower withers or turns its head towards the ground. Is this what crossed your mind? Well, that’s A full colour version of the Broadsheet incorrect! This is what happens: They turn towards each other to share is available on the website. If you do not their energy. wish to have your contact details published online then please make the editor aware Nature’s perfection is amazing. Now let’s apply this reflection to our of your preference. Any other notices or lives. Many people may become low-spirited, and the most vulnerable contributions to be posted specifically on ones, sometimes, become depressed. the website should be sent to the email How about following the example of the beautiful sunflowers i.e. address at the top of the page. supporting and empowering each other. Nature has so much to teach us. Wishing everyone a ‘Sunflower’ trait of turning towards each other on ● To post an item on the their cloudy and gloomy days. Biddestone Village Website or Facebook page please Charlotte Bruce contact the Editor Linda

Cover: Embroidered sunflower, by Charlotte Bruce Embroidered sunflower, Cover: Lobl-Smith

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 3 27/04/2021 00:20:03 How does your garden grow? by Julie Walton

May is the month that everyone starts to think about containers effective as they grow each year. You can use any perennial but for the garden. I make my own compost and use that to fill the make sure that you have a container large enough. Nepeta, lav- pots - it costs nothing. I do sieve the compost and keep it in enders, Erysimum and Erigeron daisies give a fantastic display an old dustbin, so it is ready for use. If you don’t have ready- and will be covered in butterflies. made compost, then please buy the peat free compost. I can recommend New Horizon. It is sold in the hardware shop in Corsham and the Coop. The destruction of peat bogs is a large Things to do in May. contributor to climate change. The earth’s peat bogs hold more carbon than all the world’s forests com- Put plant supports around the plants bined. It takes 100 years to form 10cm that are going to need them. Plants of peat and the extractors take 22 m of look more natural if this is done peat at a time. It seems to me rather a early, so they can grow around them, lot of damage for a few bedding plants! remembering to put something on top I use the peat free compost for seeds of bamboo canes to prevent an eye and the seeds germinate and thrive. injury. Dead-head spring flowering bulbs but On the subject of bedding plants, please allow the leaves to die down. think about what you buy. Summer Beans and most other vegetables can bedding plants you buy in the garden be sown in the vegetable garden. It centre are forced and are doused in is best to germinate squash and cour- pesticide and grown in high chemical gettes in pots allowing them to grow fertilisers for rapid growth, which result to a reasonable size before planting in poor plants. Most are sterile, such out. This helps to protect them from as pansies and begonias, which means slug damage. they do not produce seed so do not Start a compost bin using your grass have nectar. Many have been geneti- cuttings and annual weeds. Ideally cally modified so that they are double you need two compost bins, one for flowered making it impossible for making and one for using. You can insects to reach any nectar the flowers put anything in it, but best to avoid may produce. Having said that, you can cooked food, perennial weeds and still go to the garden centre and buy woody materials. Mix it with a fork plants that are good for the pollinators. every couple of months and you can Here are a few annuals you can buy in add a bit of well-rotted horse manure the garden centre: - or chicken manure. Leave it to rot down over the winter and then you ‘ll have your own rich compost which you can use Marigolds, Cosmos, Alyssum, Salvias, Antirrhinum, Sunflow- to mulch the flower beds and use for container growing. Do ers, Sweet peas, Zinnia (single flowers), Sweet Williams. use peat free compost for seeds though as you don’t want to germinate any weed seedlings. Commercial compost is made at Perennials can also be grown in containers; this is also cost a higher temperature to kill the weed seeds.

Help a hedgehog

As Ian writes in his Farming Notes, after so much rain, it is now very dry and this is very bad for our hedgehogs. So please consider putting out some water. If you want to offer food, meaty (not fishy) cat or dog food is best or cat biscuits. Or you can buy hedgehog food and even hedgehog bowls and houses from pet stores. For more information about our prickly friends, see the British Hedgehog Preservation Society website britishhedgehogs.org. uk or the wesbire of the Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue in Cricklade oandf.co.uk

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 4 27/04/2021 00:20:04 Farming notes by Ian Smith

Drought is starting to grip the parish farms. There has been no rain at all in April, the cold nights and the dry north east wind has seen the water table plunge by at least four feet judging by my ponds. The light brashy soils covering much of the parish do not take kindly to water shortage and although the spring sown crops were planted in good time into perfect seed beds resulting in good germination these will soon suffer without a good drink. The winter sown crops which have established deeper roots over the season will fare better for a while, but the real pressure will be on the grassland. First silage cuts would normally be about now, and these will always be the heaviest but no doubt some very light tonnages will now be cut, and prayers said for rain to come.

A dry April means of course that April has been dry. It does not foretell climatic meltdown as two years ago the spring crops were not even sown yet because of the wet. We cannot read too much into odd extremes, the years 1890-1910 were known as the’ long drought’ we have had the ‘little ice age’ in the 17th century and god alone knows what happened to the weather in the early middle ages when harvests failed all across Europe

for several years and a weakened population then succumbed to Turner Liz Dry field: the black death. We must, of course ,hope that history does not repeat itself and I dare say after this dry spell breaks we shall not see the sun all summer! up. I have a Moorhen sitting tight on the drainage pond and However, the world is still turning as to my great joy my barn I have seen yellowhammers where last year I had seen none. swallows returned today (22nd April) Last year they hatched What chance of hearing a Cuckoo in the fields around Bidde- eleven young so I am hoping that more than one pair will show stone this year? Precious little I fear but we can but hope.

Recipe by Julie Walters

ROASTED RED PEPPER TART

An amazingly simple tart if you use shop bought pastry, perfect for lunches in the garden. Serves 8.

Ingredients

200g chilled shortcrust pastry 300g jar of roasted red peppers, drained. Half a red chilli 1 crushed garlic clove 1 medium egg 100ml single cream 1 small onion finely chopped Seasoning to taste

Method Preheat oven to 180 C. Roll out the pastry, if in a block, and line a greased 20.5cm x 2.5cm loose-based flan tin. Prick all over, lay a sheet of grease-proof paper over the pastry and fill with baking beans. Cook for 29 mins. Remove beans and paper. Fry the onion and garlic until soft and golden. Place the cooked onion and the rest of the ingredients in a food processor with salt and black pepper, purée until smooth. Pour the purée into the pastry case and cook for 35 mins until the filling is set. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 5 27/04/2021 00:20:05 Broadsheet Bulletin - Biddestone and Slaughterford email newsletter

The Biddestone and Slaughterford Bulletin announced in previous issues is now underway. The intention is that the Bulletin will be sent only when there is something really newsworthy that cannot or should not wait until the next printed version of the Broadsheet. So far, 8 issues have been sent, 4 in February and 4 in March. We have 40 residents who have given consent to receive emails with an additional handful of residents, who do not use email, requesting printed copies.

To add your email address to the list, please send an email to [email protected] saying the following (or words to this effect) “I consent to my email address being added to the list to receive the Biddestone Bulletin”, or complete the form below. We are hoping to cover every household in the parish with the Bulletin, just as we do with the Broadsheet, so please do sign up to receive your copy and don’t miss out on village news. Please encourage your neighbours to sign up also, especially those without email who will clearly never get the chance to see village news in a Facebook post and therefore will have more reliance on the new Bulletin.

To Editor of Biddestone Broadsheet. Home Farm, Biddestone

Please complete ONE of the following sections:

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Name ...... First line of address ......

Signed ...... Date ......

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Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 6 27/04/2021 00:20:06 Poetry Thank you Hilary Noyes for this month’s choice.

The Shining Streets of London

Now, in the twilight, after rain, The wet black street shines out again; And, softening through the coloured gloom, The lamps like burning tulips bloom.

Now, lighted shops, down aisles of mist, Buses (with coloured panes that spill Smoulder in gold and amethyst, A splash of cherry or daffodil) And paved with fragments of the skies And lighted faces, row on row, Our sooty town like Venice lies. From darkness into darkness go.

For, streaked with tints of cloud and moon, O Love, what need have you and I The tides of a bewitched lagoon Of vine and palm and azure sky? Into the solid squares we know And who would sail for Greece or Rome And round the shadowy minster flow; When such a highway leads him home?

Till even that emperor of the street, Alfred Noyes (1880-1958) The bluff policeman on his beat, Reflected there with portly pride Tugs From boots to helmet, floats enskied. At noon three English dowagers ride, Now every woman’s face is fair, Stiff of neck and dignified, And Cockney lovers walk on air, Margaret, Maud and Mary Blake, And every road, in broken gleams, With servile barges in their wake; Mirrors a travelling throng of dreams. But silhouetted at midnight, Darkly, by green and crimson light, Like radiant galleons, lifting high Three Nubian queens pass down the Thames Their scutcheoned prows against the sky, Statelyly with flashing gems. With lamps that near you, blazing white, Or dwine in crimson through the night, George Rostrevor Hamilton (1888-1967)

Wordsearch Answers

Here are the answers to April’s trcky spring flowers wordsearch puzzle. How many did you find?

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 7 27/04/2021 00:20:07 Memories of the Saw Mills By Simon Hart

Simon Hart has some great memories of Biddestone Sawmills Hibbard, ‘timber merchants, hauling and sawing contractors and is pleased and happy the Sawmills building has been kept, & undertakers’ at ‘Saw Mill, Biddestone’ in ‘Shalley Lane’. with the future of the site being saved from over development. It was powered by steam until a Crossley oil engine appeared Living in a neighbouring house as a child in the 1960s and in the 1930s. In 1943 it made a mould for a Phoenix Caisson 1970s, he remembers how prominent the mill was as a working out of African mahogany. This cast concrete for the Mulberry sawmill. Harbour used on D-Day 6th June 1944.

He says: At some date before 1948, they bought an AEC Matador Tim- ber Tractor. This helped fell the huge elm tree at Elm Lodge in “The huge engine started up at 8 o’clock every morning and March 1976. chugged away throughout the day, powering the huge vertical and horizontal saws. The blades sawing through the trees Prior to 1911 (Bertie) Orchard & Co. were ‘timber merchants, could be heard all over the village. I would go there with my carpenters & wheelwrights & steam saw mill proprietors’ be- parents to collect wood and take stones from our garden to fill tween the White Horse & Biddestone Arms behind Hawthorne the ruts the cranes had made.” Cottage. They employed many villagers as can be seen from the appropriate censuses. Later something hushed up Simon remembers the low ceilings in the building and the belts happened to Bertie and the saw mill closed. and pulls whizzing around in the trenches covered by boards. He would watch the huge articulated lorries arrive, park in the lane and the matador crane would winch and roll the trees off the side of the lorry on to the yard. Fond memories.

History of the sawmills by Graham Priest

John Elliott founded the saw mill in 1927 and was joined by Reginald G. Hibbard in 1930. In 1935 this was Elliott &

aerial view 2021

aerial view 1988 taken from RN Helicopter aerial view 1999 - 2001

The Saw Mills as it seen today.

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 8 27/04/2021 00:20:11 Stills from a 1948 video showing the felling of Elm trees in the grounds of the Old Rectory. The 8 minute film made by Charik Brothers Timber Merchants from London is a fascinating insight into the process of tree felling and local village life. Several Elm trees are cut and transported the short distance to the Saw Mills where they are cut and prepared for local craftsman and the International Timber Merchant.

A Receipt for a coffin The Saw Mill in 1993

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 9 27/04/2021 00:20:11 Corsham Walking Festival 11th - 13th June Now Booking

Throughout last Autumn and over the Winter months the Cor- Our guided walks will explore our beautiful countryside with sham Walking Festival Committee have been working behind hidden valleys, meandering brooks and far-reaching views the scenes, in isolation of course, to put together this year’s looking at ancient Parishes and Manor Houses, the areas Indus- Corsham Walking Festival Programme. trial and Rural Heritage plus one focussed on wildflowers. The last twelve months has seen an increase in footfall on our There is also a Free Programme that includes the ever-popular local footpaths and byways, especially family groups keen to Children’s Treasure Hunt, Nordic Walking and one to look find something new in the local area to explore. at Lichens and Mosses. Families and groups can join in our So, what better way for you and your family to emerge from Cryptic Mystery Walk – ‘Corsham Needs a Super-Hero’, to test Lockdown #3 than to go on a walk in an area that you have their powers of observation around the local area. never travelled learning something new about North West Wilt- To find out more information please visit our website at: www. shire, Bath and South Gloucestershire. corshamwalkingfestival.org.uk

Open Gardens 2021

The Open Gardens Committee has sadly decided not to open the gardens this year. A difficult decision, but there is so much uncertainty and we don’t know the level of risk in July. It is disappointing as it is becoming quite successful with many visitors making return visits.

Thank you to all you gardeners for your continual support and the new gardeners who have volunteered to open for the first time. We can all look forward to 16th and 17th July 2022 and make it very special, with I hope many new gardens. Thanks Di

WI Plant sale

Biddestone and Hartham Women’s Institute are back in action! We are planning to have a cake and plant sale on The Green on Bank Holiday Monday 31st May 10am to 12 noon.

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 10 27/04/2021 00:20:12 Neighbourhood Watch by Di Webb

Several years ago, I was asked to set up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. The success of the scheme depends on the information given. If I don’t receive information I can’t alert the village and surrounding villages. If you witness a crime, then report it to the police but if it is people behaving suspi- ciously or a suspicious vehicle tell me so I can alert the village. Communication is the basis of a successful scheme.

Over the years the scheme has evolved into a community notice board covering subjects from lost and found, church services, pub menus, road closures. Many of you have found the continual supply of information especially weekly updates on Covid from Wiltshire Council helpful during this difficult time. However we must not lose sight this is Neighbourhood Watch and it can only operate efficiently if information is passed on. I know it is disappointing the lack of information on Rural Crime - we can only hope that will improve.

Thanks

Di Webb

Wildlife Watch by Liz Turner

This lady sparrowhawk is a regular visitor to Cuttle Lane. It’s sad when we see evidence that’s she’s had one of our little birds for lunch, but the fact she’s here indicates that there’s a healthy population – and she is very beautiful.

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 11 27/04/2021 00:20:13 Crossword by Diane Ross-Smith

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

9 10 a 11

a a a a a a a

12 a 13

a a a a a a a a

a a 14

15 a a a a a a a a a

16 17 18 a a

a a a a a a a a 19

20 a 21 22

a a a a a a a

23 a 24

a a a a a a a a

25 a 26 Crosswords first published in The Honeycomb May 2017 The Honeycomb May firstCrosswords in published

ACROSS 1. Fear in the past omitted on radio? (8) measurement. (5) 5. No wise men among these Native Americans! (6) 3. Grease hand for tropical source of edible lubricant. (3, 4) 9. Famous ship on this month’s river … (9) 4. Arch fish environmentalists protect on areas of grass for 11. …perhaps sounds like this month’s insect! (5) games. (7, 6) 12. Indian hunter or houseboat – Kashmiri – turns losing a 6. Leading South African minister uses recruits at institute for metre. (7) Japanese fighters. (7) 13. Endure ancestor by the sound of it! (7) 7. Mix icy green with first of liquid to produce ingredient for 14. Removing attraction by mixing gin – sad meeting. (13) Royal Icing. (9) 16. Wise sidekick bewildered - come Amber Rice! (4, 9) 8. Cheapest accommodation ever poetically in street era? (8) 20. Might anyone you please organise local entertainment 10. Marx flees race confusing paparazzi taking pictures on beginning seasonal dance round this? (7) these? (6, 7) 21. Unwelcome plant found in field dismay wee digger. (7) 14. Female worker’s diary amid churns. (9) 23. Speak slowly and pull left! (5) 15. Rum and beads exchanged for islands of British dependen- 24. Description of unpleasant cold in school grouping. (9) cy. (8) 25. Tranquillise dignified. (6) 17. Limn too diffuse to describe satellite illumination. (7) 26. Coffee served in The Times press office. (8) 18. Monopoly’s most expensive property sold at this month’s fête? (7) DOWN 19. In slow time finish aria - applaud diva giving Mimi tempo. 1. Plant found first making its mark on Southern Australia. (6) (6) 2. Old writing implements found in pig’s pen with Chinese 22. Amends diets. (5)

Biddestone & Slaughterford Parish Steward We have the steward for 1 ½ days a month, the time is split between Slaughterford and Biddestone. The steward is due in the village 18th and a full day 19th May. His duties include filling in small pot holes, clearing ditches, gullies and drains,clearing over-hanging vegetation and keeping road signs clear and clean. You can report any problems to www.wiltshire.gov.uk or email me [email protected] Di Webb

● If you have any problems, you can report them to www.wiltshire.gov.uk or email me [email protected]

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 12 27/04/2021 00:20:14 Edited highlights of the virtual meeting of Biddestone & Slaughterford Parish Council held on Tuesday 13th April 2021

Abridged draft minutes of the virtual meeting of PROVED at.20.08 Biddestone & Slaughterford Parish Council on To Receive & Approve Annual Governance & Tuesday 13th April 2021 Accountability Return Section 1 - APPROVED The next Parish Council meeting will be the Parish To Receive & Approve Annual Governance & Council AGM followed by a General Meeting and PRIOR TO THE MEETING ONE MINUTES SI- Accountability Return Section 2 - APPROVED will take place at the Village Hall, Biddestone on LENCE WAS OBSERVED FOR THE DUKE OF Tuesday 18th May 2021 at 7.00pm EDINBURGH, HRH PRINCE PHILLIP. To take action on any issues raised by Reps Reports (Circulated in advance of meeting)-Noted To Approve the Minutes of the Parish Council Various Village Works Commitments – Review General Meeting held on Tuesday 9th March 2021 and Contract Update - David Taylor confirmed Our parish councillors for 2021 Proposed by DW as a true record and APPROVED. re the outline ground & maintenance works as To be signed and dated by chairman. updated and scheduled plus the 2 weekly rotation Only eight candidates stood for the nine seats of the SID unit.Proposed by AK and APPROVED available in May’s election to the Biddestone To Receive & Act Upon Rolling Action List Addendum #3 parish council, so the returning officer has – Noted reported that they are all duly elected. They will Highways- take up office from Monday 10 May. One more Receive Notification of Planning Applications BIDD 24 Update – Environment Agency carrying person will be co-opted, the councillors are seek- Determined: Noted out repairs ing someone from outside the village itself which 20/10884/TCA 4 Church Row, Chippenham, SID – To be incorporated into Contract (see 280.1 is well represented. Biddestone, Wiltshire, SN14 7DR above) No election will be held on Thursday 6 May Proposal: Fell 1 Mirabelle Plum Tree for the parish council, but there may be other 20/11098/TCA Land North of The Butts, Bidde- Tree Audit Update – DW to contact Wiltshire elections taking place, such as Police and Crime stone, Chippenham, Wiltshire, Council regarding dead tree on Slaughterford Road Commissioner, Wiltshire Unitary Council or Proposal: 30% Crown Reduction to 1 Ash Tree and GG to contact landowner regarding dead tree Neighbourhood Planning Referendum. 21/00754/TCA Bay Tree Cottage, The Butts, Bid- on Yatton Road. destone, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 7DY The councillors elected for 2021 are: Proposal: 40% Crown Reduction to 1 Silver Public Conveniences Update – Following the Birch, 1 Walnut Tree and 1 Willow Tree survey VC still receiving option notices from Jason Baxter 20/10192/TCA Hawthorn Cottage, The residents. Agenda item for the next parish council George Brown Green, Biddestone, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 meeting. Michael Chrystal 7DG . Joe Franklin-Willis Proposal: Fell 1 Cherry Tree and 1 Hawthorn Tree Broadsheet/Village Website Update – VC – Bob Anthea Kelsall 20/10176/TCA Applewood, The Green, Bidde- Child (BC) had looked into the brief given by the Andrew Short stone, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 7DG Website Working Group and recommended Brigh- Adam Walton Proposal: Crown Raise Chestnut to 3 Metres from terside, a local web design company. A quote for Di Webb Ground Level, (T1), 50% Reduction to Acer £1,250 + VAT had been received from Brighter- (T2), Remove Limb Overhanging Shed side to redesign a joint Parish and Parish Council from Cherry Tree (T3) website plus an annual payment of £250 web 20/09102/VAR & 20/10113/VAR Wavering Brook hosting, SSL Certificate, security and maintenance Farm, The Green, Biddestone, SN14 7DG updates. Full training would be given in updating Parish Councillors Proposal: Variation of Conditions 5 & 3 of the website content. APPROVAL given to appoint Chairman Simon Bruce 18/06958/FUL Brighterside. GG to inform BC. 01249 716330 biddestonepc@btinternet. 20/10188/TCA Summer Lane, Biddestone, Chip- com penham, Wiltshire, SN14 7DG CPRE Best Kept Village Update – DW Submission Vice Chairman Adam Walton Proposal: Up to 2 Metre Height Reduction and Up form being sent in next week. Inspection will take 01249 701784 [email protected] to 4 Metre Lateral Reduction to Ash Tree place between 17th May and 13th June. A litter pick to be organised for 15th May. George Brown To Receive Notification of Planning Applications Mike Chrystal 712833 Received: Clerks Report Ashley Juniper 712707 PL/2021/03392 Uplands, Cuttle Lane, Biddestone Elections Updates – As only eight nominations Anthea Kelsall SN14 7DF received for the nine parish council seats these Andy Short 714724 Proposal: Fell 2 Conifers, 1 Maple and 1 Goat individuals are automatically elected and the ninth Diana Webb 715963 Willow NO OBJECTIONS seat will be co-opted. Angela Williams Wiltshire Life Awards – Barry Cox our Cotswold Parish Clerk Glenys Gill 01225 742207 Finance Warden came 3rd in the Awards. To Receive for Approval Statement of Balances for Parish council website: Accounts #1 & #2 APPROVED Addendum #2 GB gave a vote of thanks on behalf of all the Parish www.biddestoneslaughterfordpc.uk To Approve Accounts for Payment March & April Council to Angela, Ashley and Simon, who are re- 2021. APPROVED tiring this year, for all their hard work, enthusiasm ● The next ‘virtual’ Parish Council To Receive Internal Audit Report from Karen Sayer and support over their years in office. meeting will take place on Tuesday 13th Ltd - Noted April 2021 at 7.00pm To Approve Certificate of Exemption - AP- There being no further business the meeting ended

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 13 27/04/2021 00:20:14 Book Club by Diane Ross-Smith

All being well, we hope to meet on Monday 17th May at 7.15pm in Kate’s garden to discuss ‘Commonwealth’ by Ann Patchett. Any enquiries? Phone Diane on 712105

Corsham Churches food bank

Thank you for your generous donations through March. We You can leave a donation in the church porch seven days a are averaging between nine and 11 bags a week. They need week. It doesn’t cost much to donate a couple of tins or a pack- the following: porridge, baked beans, tins of soup, tomatoes et of pasta and, I can assure you, it is always appreciated. or vegetables, peas, sweet corn, mashed potatoes, corned beef, If you prefer to do a bank transfer, the details are: sort code 40 tuna/sardines, pasta, cooking sauces, savoury rice, long-life 17 17 account number 01547607, or cheques made payable to custard, tea, coffee, snack bars, Corsham Churches Food Bank. In particular short supply are: long-life milk and juice, tins of steak and kidney pie and individual steamed puddings, and they Thank you, Di Webb are also running very low on sugar.

Church services

12th and 24th : on these Wednesday mornings there is a service at 9.15 a.m. This is Holy Communion on the 2nd Wednesday and Morning Prayer on the fourth Wednesday and includes prayers for the suffering.

Church Services for April 2021

ST. NICHOLAS, BIDDESTONE

9th Evensong 6.00pm

16th Holy Communion 9.30am

30th Holy Communion 9.30am

25 TEAM SERVICE St Mary the Virgin Grittleton 10.00am

ST. NICHOLAS, SLAUGHTERFORD

9th BCP Holy Communion 11.00am

30th Rogation and “Clipping” 11.00am

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 14 27/04/2021 00:20:14 The Sunny Side Of Lockdown Broadsheet committee

This extended Lockdown has been stressful, and we’re all looking forward to getting back to normal. Despite this, the committee has found some positives to the forced inaction.

Liz: About 30 years ago, my Dad wrote a book about his Annalisa: My takeaway positives from 2020 were family, including tales of farms, pubs and greyhounds in getting up to see the dawn rise in early June, and walking Essex. This year I joined Ancestry.co.uk and got to know for two hours, very magical, uplifting and memora- three lovely second cousins. They’ve enjoyed reading the ble! Nick’s was touring the North Coast 500 on his book and have shared photos I’d never seen. I was par- motorbike, in September! ticularly struck by the photo of a young ‘Auntie Mabel’ - who I knew as a very elderly lady with a pronounced hump. I’d chuckled when I read that she and her wiry little husband, Edwin, had eloped. Once I saw the photo sent to me by her grandaughter, and reproduced here, of the handsome pair, I understand. June: About 40 years ago an elderly friend of my mum’s gave her two vintage 1950s’ exceptionally comforta- ble steamer chairs fitted with their own sun shades and matching footstools to help with nodding off (known to this day as Ethel’s chairs) and we sunbathed and read our books on them more last summer than in the previous 40 summers put together.

Myra: I have always been afraid of dogs since a bad expe- rience as a young child (which I only vaguely remember). I have now overcome this and am helping out a neighbour by walking her dogs when I can. I really enjoy it. I’m also teaching myself Spanish using the DuoLingo app on my Here are some other thoughts, which I’m sure others may phone. mirror: - Deeper appreciation of the countryside around Biddestone, along with wildlife. - Daily outdoor exercise and fresh air. - Meeting other residents whilst out walking for a socially distanced chat. - More time to enjoy the village walks as working from home. - Improved baking skills, including bread making. - Supporting local businesses. - More time to read those books you’ve always meant to, but never had time. - Spring cleaning the house and decorating. - More time to get the garden looking smart. - Better use of technology, meeting up with friends near and far on Zoom.

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 15 27/04/2021 00:20:15 Photo Gallery

Broadsheet May 2021 issue 482.indd 16 27/04/2021 00:20:17