CHURCH SERVICES Steeple Ashton June St Mary’s St Leonard’s Keevil Steeple Ashton Round About Your Parish Sunday 1st 11.15am Sunday Parish Communion 3.30 pm Great Hinton (BCP) (Rev Parker) after Afternoon Special 6.30pm Evensong Ascension Bun Service (R Havergal) Reading: Ac. 1: 6-14 JUNE 2014 Easter 7 Readings: Acts 1. 6-14 John 17. 1-11

Sunday 8th 8am Holy Communion 9.15am (BCP) (Rev Dove) Holy Communion (CW) Pentecost 10.30am Family Service (Coffee will be served after the on the Village Green service) Readings: Ac. 2: 1-21 Jn. 20: 19-23

Sunday 15th 8am Holy Communion (BCP) (Rev Parker) 9.15 am Trinity 11.15am Parish Communion Morning Prayer (BCP) (CW) (Rev Dove) Readings: Readings: Isaiah 40.12-17, Isa. 14: 12-17,27-32 27-31 Mt. 28: 16-20 Matthew 28. 16-20 Keevil Airfield, the evening of June 5th 1944 Sunday 22nd 8am Holy Communion Sterling Heavy Bombers line up on Keevil Airfield 70 years ago, in prepara- (BCP) (Rev Dove) 9.15 am tion for ‘Operation Tonga’ – part of ‘’. Later that night, Proper 7 10.30am Morning Prayer Holy Communion (CW) at 23.00 hrs, the first of a total of 46 of these fully-laden aircraft – each (Rev Dove) Readings: Ps 96 carrying 20 Paratroopers of the British 6th Airborne Division, and powered Trinity 1 Readings: Romans 6. 1b-11 Jn. 1:1-14 and 20: 24-31 by four Bristol-made Hercules engines – was to thunder down the main Matthew 10. 25-39 runway, barely clearing the hills to the south-east. Their destination: Nor- mandy – and the start of ‘D-Day’.

Sunday 29th 10.30am 6.30 pm Parish Communion (CW) Holy Communion (BCP) Proper 8 Steeple Ashton Village Shop (Rev Parker) Readings: Eph. 2: 1-10 Readings: Romans 6. Jn. 3: 1-21 Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5.30pm 12-23 Saturday 8.30am to 4.30pm; Sunday 9.ooam to 12noon Trinity 2 From King James’ version Matthew 10. 40-42 Bible Shop telephone: 01380 871 211 Bryan writes more about the front-cover photo... June Bed in Summer Some weeks ago, Mrs Mary Boyce (nee Wyeth), of ‘The Old Par- It’s beautiful the summer month of June In winter I get up at night sonage’, Steeple Ashton, encouraged me to write an article com- When all of God’s own wildflowers And dress by yellow candle-light. memorating the 70th anniversary of ‘Operation Overlord’. Mary are in bloom In summer quite the other way, And sun shines brightly most part of lived in Sussex during the war, and her brother George served in I have to go to bed by day. the day the Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry, 391/98 Field Regiment Royal And butterflies o’er lush green meadows I have to go to bed and see Artillery T. A. throughout the entire conflict. In 2008, Mrs Boyce play. The birds still hopping on the tree, recorded her wartime memories in a book: ‘George’s Dragon’ – Or hear the grown-up people’s feet using her brother’s letters to combine their experiences of the Light hearted skylark songster of the wing Still going past me in the street. period. I have used this book, along with volume 2 of ‘A Book of High o’er the quiet and lonely moorland And does it not seem hard to you, Keevil’ (from a series of four produced by ‘The Keevil Society’), sing When all the sky is clear and blue, plus other sources, to write the following article. Above her nest cloaked by the tangled And I should like so much to play, After dropping the Paratroopers in during the early hours, the heath planes – crewed by members of 38 Group made up of airmen from the RAF, Her charming song so exquisitely sweet. To have to go to bed by day? RAAF, RNZAF and RCAF – returned to ‘RAF Keevil’, and their crew tried to Robert Louis Stevenson So mellow the gentle breath of june sleep. By the evening of D-Day, the men were climbing once more into their day breeze re-fuelled and re-serviced aircraft, and taking off again for France at 19.00 The birds rejoicing on the leafy trees hrs. Towing Airspeed Horsa Gliders loaded with Light Infantry Troops and And dappled trout in pool bed of continued on page 24 the stream Bask in the sun their spotted skins Newsletter Deadlines for 2014 agleam. June (for July/August) 17th; August 19th; September 16th; October 21st; Francis Duggan November (for Dec/Jan) 18th. Newsletter Information Items for the July/August newsletter should be received by Tuesday 17th June 2014. They should be sent to Mrs Helen Montague-Smith, 1A Butts Lane, Steeple Ashton or by email to [email protected]. All published items solely express the views of the author and are the copyright of the author and Round About Your Parish unless otherwise stated. The Editor would like to remind you that it is up to you, the readers, to supply all news and copy for the newsletter. The sender’s name and address need to be received before printing. Inquiries for advertisements in the newsletter should be made to Mrs Chris Plum on 01380 870875. There may be a waiting list. Please send your ads by letter not email. Please note, we do not deliver flyers for advertisers. Flyers for Village activities and events can be delivered with the newsletter. If you wish to have a flyer for a village event delivered with this newsletter, please contact Anne Howard on 870505 during the third week of the month to see if it is convenient. All flyers have to be counted out for the delivery packs and as there are 25 deliverers this can take some time. No more than two per newslet- ter would be helpful. Editor CATHOLIC NEWS THE NEW 300 CLUB 2014 STEEPLE ASHTON PARISH COUNCIL Subscriptions: £50 annually - £13 CLOSURE OF MINI RECYCLING SITE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST quarterly - £4.33 monthly. New mem- TROWBRIDGE & ST bers are most welcome to join at On 5th May the local mini recycling site at Elmsgate, Steeple Ashton, closed. BERNADETTE’S WESTBURY any time. Prizes are: £200-£70- Wiltshire Council has decided to close all of their mini recycling sites in £50-£10 - £5 monthly. For infor- Wiltshire, as they are no longer a cost effective means of collecting material ( incl VILLAGES). mation and application form contact for recycling. Parish Priest: CANON LIAM Frank Geraghty 01380 871083 email: O’DRISCOLL PUBLIC PHONE BOX on Common Hill [email protected] TELEPHONE 01225 752152 The state of the public phone box at Ashton Common has been reported to www.stjohnthebaptist.co.uk LIVING YOUR FAITH – BT. As it is the only public phone box in the locality BT need to keep it opera- SUMMER CAMPS 2014 tional. An engineer has been asked by BT to sort it out. I suggested that the St John’s Sunday Masses : These very exciting events will take engineer took a pair of shears with him! Fingers crossed that someone one Saturday (Vigil) 6pm; Sunday place at Our Lady’s Homestead, day may actually be able to use it. 10.30am & 6pm Nympsfield, Glos. The events for chil- RECREATION FIELDS Weekday Masses: dren aged 7 to 11 years runs 4th – Two temporary laminated signs have been put up at the entrances to both Mon: 9am; Tues: 6pm; Wed: 8th August and for 12 to 16 years old recreation fields, showing the GPS location and the address, in orderto 12.10pm; Fri 6pm runs 11th to 15th August. enable accurate information to be passed to the emergency services, should Sat: 10am; 6pm (Vigil) Details 07847 915415. it be required. Rosary: Weekdays before Mass. The Parish Council are still in the process of an Asset Transfer from Wilt- SVP Fri 6.45pm SICK AND/OR HOUSEBOUND Confessions: Sat: 10.30-11.15am Any catholic who is sick or shire Council for both of the Recreation Fields. and 5-5.45pm housebound should let Canon Liam On 8th April an Order for Footpath 2 (St Mary’s Recreation Field) diversion, (01225 752152) know as he would be came into force. Previously the footpath went diagonally across the field, but St Bernadette’s, Westbury pleased to arrange a visit and bring has now been diverted around the edge. Holy Communion, if desired. Sunday Mass - 9am BUS SHELTER near Newleaze Weekday Mass -Thursday 11 am Due to vandalism to the plastic windows in the bus shelter, the Parish Coun- Confessions/Reconciliation before MASS TIMES at NEARBY Mass and any time on request. CATHOLIC CHURCHES cil will be temporarily removing them. St Joseph’s, West Lavington LITTER BINS SHARING OUR FAITH (01380 723572) Mass on Sunday at With the ever changing world of waste, it can make it difficult for anyone The Group meets in the Parish Centre 9.00am to understand how they should dispose of their litter, so Wiltshire Council Trowbridge on Wednesdays from Immaculate Conception, 8-9pm.This is open to anyone wish- Devizes (01380 723572) Mass on is making it easy for residents with its ‘Any Council Litter Bin Will Do’ cam- ing to learn more about the Catholic Saturday 6.00pm and Sunday paign. The message is a simple one. Whether dog waste, litter, cigarette Church. 10.30am and 5.00pm butts or chewing gum; put it in your nearest council litter waste bin. St Anthony Melksham (01225 If you are walking your dog and there is a nearby litter bin, you can simply LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 2014 702128) Mass on Saturday 5.30pm use this. If there is no nearby litter bin, take it home and dispose of it in the This will take place from 22nd to and Sunday 9.30am 29th August. Details phone Canon St George’s Warminster (01985 council provided household waste bin. Liam 01225 752152. 212329)Mass on Saturday evening There is no longer a need for expensive specialised bins for dog waste as all 6.00pm and Sunday 8.00am & the council’s disposal facilities can accept this waste. This means all litter AUCTION OF PROMISES & 10.00am can be simply mixed and disposed of together. Easier, cheaper and more SMALL GOODS (For information on any of the above convenient. Friday 6th June in St John’s Parish please contact Centre, viewing from 7pm. Admis- Francis Geraghty 01380 871083 WEBSITE… www.steeple-ashton.co.uk The site went live in April. sion £2 to include wine & nibbles. email: [email protected]) Some statistics: 36 1 WEBSITE… It’s now live…www.steeple-ashton.co.uk Methodist Church Diary and Events The 23rd Psalm is one of the most well-known psalms in our Bible. ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’ – we hear it read often at funerals and sometimes at weddings. I’ve just been reading a book called, ‘The Shepherd’s Song – A Story of Second Chances’ by Betsy Duffey & Laurie Myers. It’s a story of how one piece of paper with the 23rd Psalm written on it changes 12 lives as it gets passed around the world by one means or another, and then returns to its original owner. It’s quite a fascinating and unusual book and has made It’s a website for the whole me look at the 23rd Psalm in a new way. village, so feedback from you Quite a few people have written more modern versions of this psalm – is encouraged! Please email there’s ‘the computer user’s psalm’, the ‘architect’s psalm’, the ‘politically Lynda on correct 23rd Psalm’ and the one about ‘The Lord is my pace-setter’ which [email protected] I quite like, among others. Here is one which made me think – what about It’s a starting point and over you? Izzie Smears The tv is my shepherd; my spiritual life shall be in want. time it will evolve and grow. It makes me to sit down and do nothing for the cause of Christ. The main page has had 620 views. It demands my spare time, it restores my desire for the things of the world. The ‘How to find us’ page 306 views. It keeps me from studying God’s word. The Parish Council Meeting Dates 64 views. It leads me in the paths of failure to attend God’s house. St Mary’s Church 164 views. Yea, though I live to be 100, I will pay my rental. My telly is with me, its sound and vision comfort me. History link to Bryan Berrett 328 views. It prepares a programme for me even in the presence of visitors Village Shop 139 views. when it’s volume shall be full. Wiltshire Council Services 148 views. Surely comedy and commercials shall follow me all the days of my life and I Blog page re: temporary closure of The Strand 51 views. shall dwell in spiritual poverty forever.’ The Spinners & Weavers directory entry has had 61 views. We continue to hold in prayer our lovely Pauline Tiller as she recovers Parent & Toddler Group 24 views. from her operation and hope that she’ll soon be able to be more mobile. Womens Institute 21 views. Worship each Sunday at 9:15 a.m. unless otherwise advertised. Please join us if you can, and stay for a cup of tea/coffee and a chat after the service. Don’t PLANNING forget, if you would like prayers said for you or someone you are concerned about, Planning applications are considered at Parish Council Meetings and Plan- please pop a note into the post box by the door and we will pick it up and include it ning Issues Only Parish Council Meetings. There is an Open Forum for in our Sunday prayers. members of the public to comment on planning matters prior to their Diary Dates: JUNE consideration. Sunday 1st Revd David Coppard – Holy Communion service Appeals to The Planning Inspectorate: Monday 2nd West Wilts Maranatha Group meet at 7:30 p.m. All welcome 13/00907/OUT - Land West Of 17 Ashton Common Steeple Ashton Wilt- Sunday 8th NO SERVICE IN THE METHODIST CHURCH UNITED FAMILY shire BA14 6DY - Proposed detached dwelling and garage (Outline applica- SERVICE FOR PENTECOST ON THE VIL LAGE GREEN AT 10:30 a.m. tion to determine Access, Layout and Scale). If wet the service will be held in the Methodist Church This appeal has been dismissed. Wed 11th Reflections & Fellowship in the Douglas Room at 10:30 a.m. Thurs 12th SACT meeting at 2:30 p.m. in the Methodist church New Plans: Sunday 15th Mr Bernard Cooper will lead worship 14/01024/FUL - 11 Dark Lane North Steeple Ashton Trowbridge Wilts BA14 Thurs 19th SACT Prayer & Praise at 7:15 p.m. 6EY - Change of use of the garage/workshop to Bed and Breakfast accom- Sunday 22nd Morning service with Revd Gary Gotham from Devizes modation. Double garage to be modified creating a single garage/storeroom Wed 25th Reflections & Fellowship in the Douglas Room at 10:30 a.m. and office. Sunday 29th Mrs Michel Gard will lead worship 2 35 The Lord Reigns Prayer of Allegiance 14/04344/FUL - Land North West Of 6 Holmeleaze Steeple Ashton Wilt- The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad shire - Change of format approved under application W/13/00152/FUL Let the distant shores rejoice We let go of our hope in from a 2 bedroom bungalow to a 3 bedroom bungalow with garage. By your word all things were created our country, 14/04124/FUL - 17 Ashton Common Steeple Ashton Trowbridge BA14 6DY each in it’s allotted space and time. our finances, - Two storey rear extension, new dormer window and 4 new rooflights. You breathed life through your Spirit our work, 14/04215/FUL - Moorfield Farm, 2 Church Street, Steeple Ashton, BA14 and in the whisper of the wind our abilities, 6EW – Partially retrospective outbuilding with double car port (Alteration we are reminded ourselves. to planning permission W/09/02433/FUL). of your Spirit’s continual presence. 14/04066/FUL - Unit 3 Spiers Piece Steeple Ashton Wiltshire BA14 6HG - The Lord reigns let the earth be glad We put our hope in you. Retention of Unit 3 for use as storage ancillary to agricultural contracting Let the distant shores rejoice You are our business. © 2002-2014 ROOTS for Churches strength, 14/03899/LBC - Quince Cottage 3 Dark Lane North Steeple Ashton Wilt- hope, shire BA14 6EY - Exterior alterations to existing garage. In appreciation of women: (Maya Angelou) joy, 14/04776/PNEX - Raydown House Edington Road Steeple Ashton West- Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. future, bury Wiltshire BA13 4NW - Rear orangery. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size and King. 14/04843/FUL & 14/04934/LBC - The Dovecote 9 The Strand Steeple But when I start to tell them, Ashton Trowbridge BA14 6EP - Erection of carport, replacement of a door They think I’m telling lies. with a window and new door on the north wall I say…It’s in the reach of my arms 14/04864/FUL & 14/04865/LBC - Home Farm 62 High Street Steeple The span of my hips, Ashton Trowbridge Wiltshire BA14 6EU - Repair and replacement works to The stride of my step, Granary doors and windows; introduction of handrail to external stair of The curl of my lips. Granary; replacement of driveway gate; repairs to carport roof; installation I’m a woman of two double garage doors to the existing car port. Phenomenally….Phenomenal woman, that’s me…….. PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS FRIDAY CLUB (for all the family 0-13yrs): The next Planning Issues Only Parish Council Meeting will be held on 3.45-4.30pm drink & biscuits & chat; Monday 9th June 2014 in the Skittle Alley of the Village Hall, starting at 4.30pm songs and children’s worship; 7.30pm. 4.50- 5.30pm fun & games. All welcome fortnightly: Next meetings June 6th and 20th in the Village Hall The next Main Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday 30th June SUPPORTING THE CHURCH: in the Skittle Alley of the Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm. Those who wish to support the work of the Church by regular giving, dona- tion or will should contact the treasurer Anne Strange on 01380 870278, [email protected]. Gift Aid envelopes, for those paying tax, PARISH COUNCIL OFFICE (2 St. Mary’s School, High St.) must have a legible postcode and address. This is open to the public three times a week (Monday and Tuesday 2.30pm - 3.30pm; Wednesday 10am – 11am) or by appointment. The HOME COMMUNIONS telephone number is 01380 871461. If you are unable to get to church through sickness or disability, the Lynda Beaven, Clerk to the Parish Council. Tel:01380 871461 email: Vicar (01225 752635) or Rev Lionel Dove (01380 870013) will be [email protected] pleased to arrange a home communion for you and/or your spouse. For information the non-emergency POLICE CONTACT NUMBER is 101 34 3 WILTSHIRE COUNCILLOR NEWS FROM JONATHON SEED SOME IDEAS FOR MAKING June meaningful (why not try and follow or create some of your own?) As Joel Gray famously sang in Cabaret ‘Money makes the world go around’. Luckily we are not faced with the hyperinflation and political instability of >Day 1 – Go to church to say thank you for Summer pre-war Berlin but the lyrics are still accurate and money still makes the > Day 2 – Mon’s Vicar at home for chat or prayer (9-12noon) world go around. As you have already received your Council Tax bills you > Day 3 – Schools back; thank God for childhood. will know that the Wiltshire Council part has been frozen again. This is > Day 4 – Be aware of how much good there is in the world the fourth year in a row and the average household will have saved £382 > Day 5 – Do something that makes you feel good today over the last five years even when just compared with inflation. The Police > Day 6 – Think of people who work in our hospitals and Fire and Rescue elements have increased by a smidgeon under 2% > Day 7 – Pray for those who will be married today and Parish Council’s have made their own decisions on their own precepts. > Day 8 – Keep the Sabbath holy; know that life is sacred. Wiltshire Council’s gross annual budget is almost £900 million – including > Day 9 – Pray for people who dread Mondays schools and public health which are directly funded by central government. > Day 10 – Fill the world with your prayers of love The net budget (after taking out schools and public health) for 2014/15 is > Day 11 – Find time today to go out for a walk £333 million and is almost £7.5 million lower than last year (2013/14). This > Day 12 – Read the Gospel of St Mark is a bit technical but what is says in plain English is that we have once again > Day 13 – This day is a gift to you – Don’t waste it had to manage increased demand, such as the increasing costs of looking > Day 14 – Just noticing each movement of life will make you happy after elderly residents and inflation with less money from government and > Day 15 – Hear the church bells ring to our hearts. without increasing Council Tax. In summary it’s tough as we have had > Day 16 – Notice your breath.You are alive before a thought takes hold. to save over £26 million as compared with last year but that is what the > Day 17 – Pray for our schools and schoolchildren Administration of Wiltshire Council is there for! > Day 18 – The light never leaves us; feel its warmth and energy. One of the great joys of being a Wiltshire Councillor with a role in the > Day 19 – Plan an adventure by train or by bus Administration (or Cabinet as we refer to it in County Hall) is getting out > Day 20 – Smile at people whether they see you or not and meeting people across our diverse and very special County. In my Cabi- > Day 21 – Pray for families under stress net role over the past year I have visited all of our 23 Leisure Centres and all > Day 22 – Think of the meaning of your baptism or confirmation or our 31 Libraries and by the end of next month I will have attended meet- > Day 23 – Pray for your neighbours. Are they happy? ings of all of our 18 Community Area Boards. This has been a big task but > Day 24 – Acceptance: accept the things you can’t change. it also given me a great opportunity to meet the dedicated staff that make > Day 25 – Be tolerant of others and the world (yourself too) our Wiltshire services and democracy work and to see just how effective our > Day 26 – Think of the place where you were born. Connections. new “localism” is in our communities. > Day 27 – It’s the end of the week for workers. Give thanks! In Wiltshire that we have taken a decision to maintain our library, leisure > Day 28 – Pray for all people who suffer today…inc yourself! and some youth service offerings when other local authorities are cutting > Day 29 – Go to church; pray for new born babies their services and we have also chosen to think “outside the box” and place > Day 30 – Be glad that God brought you into the world. these services as well as some highways projects all under community man- ‘Taste and see that the Lord is Good’ agement by Community Area Boards. We are also trying to deliver the Julian Parker physical and community aspects of these services through Community Area Campuses with the first Campus opening next month in Corsham anda Hour of Prayer and Praise (SACT) whole raft of others including our own Melksham Community Area Campus Singing your favourite hymns, chatting and praying. A real spiritual uplift! opening by the end of 2016. In order to get all of this to work we go back This month: June 19th at 7.15pm in the Methodist Hall to money making the world go around and are having to make efficiencies. Wiltshire Council is trying hard to do much more with much less money 4 33 St Mary’s Church, Steeple Ashton and the only way we can do that is to succeed in our core goal of creating more resilient communities and encouraging local people to help shape and The Vicar writes deliver their local services. Wiltshire Council has been encouraging local So many of us are living with split personalities today, trying to be all things people to volunteer to help to run local services and this has been already to all men. At one moment seeking to acquire and accumulate what we think been a spectacular success with the library service and there will be many we need for so called ‘quality of life’ (material things), and at the same time more opportunities to volunteer to help to run local services in the future. wanting to be soft and caring (non acquisitive) to those we love. But it cre- So although money clearly does make the world go around here in Wilt- ates a big tension within us. Our lives are split (lack wholeness)...and many shire we are determined to deliver more services with less money and make feel a constant need for inner healing. our communities more resilient. You see the problem is...as Jesus said: “No man can serve two masters: for Jonathon Seed either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” ~Matthew 6:24 You cannot hold two opposing views at the same time. This is black and white....though you may pretend otherwise, there is no grey area. Even though your life may seem like a mixture of views, when you get to the heart of the matter, you are only pointed in one direction. If your attention is out- ward on the world you are serving material wealth and the person who you think benefits from it, which is you…or yours. But if you think you are getting somewhere, and that this is really serving your interests, while satisfying your need for happiness and love, please realize that Prov- erbs 27:20 is true when it says, “the eyes of man are never satisfied.” It is the nature of a man to be invariably caught up in desire and fear”. However much you have achieved or attained so far, the itch to have more will still go on. You see you are caught and can’t let go. If your attention is inward, or let us say intelligent, reflective upon what can really satisfy the needs of a man - his sense of being in harmony and at peace with himself and others/his world, you are seeing the One Master, God. There is no perception of two masters here. Like the psalmist you will declare, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) While it is We look forward to seeing you all at St. Mary’s Church Fête this year. We the nature of the first view to desire and want, “never satisfied”, the nature hope that the weather is kinder to us this year so that you can enjoy the of the inward view (that arising out of honest reflection) is freedom from Stalls and Competitions and then sit down and have your tea in the lovely want. gardens at ‘The Lodge’. Yes, at the heart of the matter, you cannot serve two masters. When the We would be very pleased to receive items for the stalls and competitions, false view that sees two masters is dropped, the One Master remains……and including cakes, home cooking, gifts, books, Bric-a-brac, garden produce & with it peace at last. Something your loved ones will notice. plants, bottles, and prizes for the Tombola, raffle, and Children’s competi- tions. These can be given to any of the helpers or brought to ‘The Lodge’ on JUNE the morning of the fète. “I’m glad I am alive, to see and feel “Long about knee-deep in June, The full deliciousness of this bright day, ‘Bout the time strewberries melts If anyone would like to help in any way please don’t hesitate to contact us. - William Allingham, On the vine.” On a Forenoon of Spring - James Witcomb Riley Kathy & Marion Pearce (01380 870071) 32 5 Steeple Ashton WI Notes from St. Mary’s PCC Our PCC meeting was held on the 19th May. Confirmation Classes will be The speaker for our May meeting was one of the two Bobby Operators for held during July. Please contact Julian with the names of all those who the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust. The Trust covers the area of Swindon and would like to be Confirmed this year. Wiltshire and is an independent charity established in 1998 following a We plan to concentrate the Efforts and Energies of the PCC on our Mission study by Nottingham University into the effects of burglary. and Stewardship initiatives. Our Mission initiative is in full swing. The Stewardship Initiative was launched at our APCM which was held on the Bobby Operators visit mainly over 60’s by appointment in their homes to 8th April in the Village Hall. This was a very well attended meeting with 47 give advice on safety and security. They install appropriate equipment to members of our Electoral Roll present. We concentrated discussions on our improve the security of the property at no cost to the resident. precarious financial state. We plan to roll out our Stewardship Initiative to the rest of our Parishioners during July. An open meeting is planned to be held in our Church. Your support is really vital if we are going to keep our The Trust running costs are £200,000 a year, some £88,000 of which is beautiful Church open. provided by the police ‘in kind’ support such as petrol and office space. The The Vestry subcommittee was reformed taking in to account the new costs are met through donations and fund raising events some of which are members of our PCC. Gerry Oughton will join and Geoff Buxton Dean and hosted by the Trust Patron, the Duchess of Cornwall. Peter Lowery will be invited to continue their work on this Sub Committee We plan to shortly arrange a meeting with our Architect, Alan Smith in We were shown equipment and given advice on ways of making ourselves order that he can outline the various options open to us. There are rumours and our homes safer. that there are Parishioners who are not happy with our proposals which in The vote of thanks was given by Pauline Price. summary are: 1) Install toilet facilities between the Vicars Vestry and the North Aisle. The evening continued with our business meeting and Sue Culverhouse 2)Move the font from the Baptistery to just inside and to the left of the South door . (Where it should be) presented information on the W.I. proposed Resolution to ‘Increase organ 3)Convert the Baptistery into a meeting room with its own separate heating donation’. The final vote will take place at the W.I. Annual Meeting in Leeds system. on 7 June 2014. 4)Remove all the pews from the left of the South door to the Baptistery up Members ended the evening by enjoying the refreshments served by Jane to the centre line of the first row of pillars. Cooper, Pat Dove and Andrea Wilson. 5)Install fold away kitchenette against the South wall between the South INVITATION – You are invited to join the W.I. for an afternoon visit to door and the Baptistery. the garden of Pam Lewis at Marston on Friday 18th July. We will have tea, Please contact me or Michael by phone or e-mail and express your opin- a flower demonstration, stroll in the garden and time to browse her wrought ions so that they can be taken into account. The only external feedback that iron containers and unusual plants in the greenhouse. If you don’t drive we I have had so far has come from Keevil and that was very positive. can organise transport. For more details give me a ring on 01380 870540. Mrs. Elisabeth Carter has been our Leprosy Mission representative for many years but has now retired and Innes Crucifix has volunteered to take Kathleen Fielding over. The PCC are setting up a “Social and Publicity Committee” in order to Thank-you arrange fun not fund raising events for our local community and to publicise I would like to say a sincere thank-you to every-one who sent me cards the work of the Church. We hope to arrange 3 or 4 events a year. We have a and good wishes following my recent surgery. I greatly appreciate all the list of names that we think could do a good job so please be prepared to be kindness shown to me. approached. Pauline Tiller We continue to work closely with our Preservation Trust and hold joint Officers Meetings . For Your Diary: Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy, Raffle for Sudan at Churchwardens Church Farm, Steeple Ashton on Saturday 17th August at 10.30 a.m. Roger Meade 870988 [email protected] (Michael Moore 870323) 6 31 Flight from an old Airfield

Bright morning sun, a sky of cyanine, THE FRIENDS OF STEEPLE ASHTON Head pillowed on a parachute I lie. Deep in this long neglected summer green, THE FRIENDS OF STEEPLE ASHTON held their Annual General Meeting Watching white cumulus drift through half closed eyes. on 2nd May 2014 at the Village Hall, at which the committee said farewell to a number of people who have given sterling service to the Friends : Caren Here once, a pale blue ensign caught the breeze Felton – who dealt with our events and activities; Diana Springall - who When long legged Sterlings flew the glory days. took over as Treasurer and set a very high standard of clarity and efficiency; The tumult of their thundering Hercules’ Lydia Peters - who has reluctantly been Hon Sec for more than ten years; Rumbled across the fields and far away. Malcolm Crucefix – who has been planning secretary and thus a key figure in the Friends’ function for an amazing twenty years; and Mike Montague- All’s peaceful now, those desperate years long past Smith – our President and mentor whose wisdom and specialist knowledge Where crumbling huts and quiet runways lie, of all things planning has been of the greatest value for the last five years. An empty hanger, rusting in the grass, Grateful thanks were expressed to all by Anne Howard, Chairman, includ- Deserted Nissens open to the sky. ing to Lennith Thomas, who has retired as ex officio committee member in charge of the running of the bulk oil scheme. This has now been transferred The silent watch tower stares through shattered eyes to Colin Green. Its signals square now rank and overgrown. No duty pilot scans the anxious skies, After the business of the evening was complete, a large appreciative audi- Or friendly Pundit call the stragglers home. ence watched the presentation of “Steeple Ashton and the Great War”, in which Rosemary Brett Green - supported by Alan Dudman, Marian Pearce, So many winter rains and summer suns Kay King, Mike Montague-Smith, Colin Green, David Hare, and Julian Since they hauled down its flag and marched away. Peters, with David Berrett’s excellent illustrations – told us about some of Now long abandoned, overlooked, all duty done, the volunteers from the village who went to war, where they lived and what A part of England’s history in decay. happened to them, from official records and family histories. Our Chair- man thanked all the participants for an interesting and moving occasion, Yet there are echoes on the wind that some will hear. and the evening came to an end with a wine and cheese party. Faint voices singing half forgotten songs. Young laughter drifting back across the years, The new committee now consists of Anne Howard – Chairman, Sue Lowery Long shadows of the old days lingering on. – Hon Treasurer, Alison Evans – Hon Secretary, Rosemary Brett Green – Planning, and Tony Evans – Luffenham Field, plus the unelected represent- Soon upward soaring larks I must outclimb atives from the WI, the Parish Council, and the Parochial Church Council. And, for a moment, glint in the summer sun. Lydia Peters was elected as President, and the committee requires one more As dauntless Sterlings did in that bloody time, elected/co opted member to bring it up to strength : could you be that I’ll too head north of east and soon be gone. person ? Get in touch with any of the new committee members if you would like to join in. As my departing clamour ebbs away, Silence will, once more wrap this quiet place. The Children’s Society Its ghosts can live again their gallant days Many thanks to collectors and the amount collected was £345-82p. Of brave assault and resolute endeavour. In Christian love, from Margaret Dray 30 7 The 1950s gradually witnessed the airfield becoming a semi-abandoned, For purposes of village news, oil Come and join us..... partially derelict and quite desolate area. It was certainly used far less by delivery for June will be on Thurs- Praise and Pray the military than it is today – and access was virtually unrestricted. As chil- day, June 26th and I shall require Methodist Chapel dren, my friends and I would use the area as a great ‘adventure playground’ orders by Friday the 19th. Thank Thursday June 19th – riding our bicycles around the perimeter track (and later, motorcycles), you. Colin Green. 7:15p.m. roller-skating on the flat roof of the Control Tower, and exploring the many You choose the hymns abandoned buildings. I particularly recall the excitement and apprehension Correction Coffee and chat of feeling our way through a series of dark, underground rooms, ankle-deep On page 3 of the Welcome Leaflet in water (long-since safely sealed off!). the phone number of Trowbridge During my research for this article, I have read various accounts of extreme Hospital is incorrect. The number acts of bravery, endeavour and endurance enacted by Servicemen in war- to call is 01225 711329. time operations out of ‘RAF Keevil’. To choose between these Servicemen, Malcolm King and single out one account to reproduce here, would prove almost impossi- ble – and would perhaps do a disservice to the others. Therefore, as a tribute THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION to all those involved at the Keevil airbase during the conflict – including the St John’s Catholic Steeple Ashton and District many anonymous military and civilian men and women who served there – Social Group Branch I have decided to finish with a poem. This appears, with no author’s name or Auction of Promises date, on page 109, volume 2 of ‘A Book of Keevil’. It was written by a post- (& Small Goods) The Royal British Legion is com- war flying instructor from RAF Hullavington, apparently reflecting alone at Saturday 6th June from 7.00pm mitted to supporting ex-service- Keevil Airfield whilst his pupils trained in the skies above. “Long( legged” in St John’s Parish Centre men and their families and those refers to the Stirling’s extra-long undercarriage. “Hercules” was the name of Wingfield Road, Trowbridge wounded in action from the the Sterling’s engines, and “Pundit” was the homing-beacon for returning Complimentary Glass of Wine, Second World War to Iraq and aircraft.) Bryan Berrett Nibbles & Raffle Afghanistan. Admission by Catalogue £2 Acknowledgements (the list of sources is too extensive to print here – Give your support to them by please contact Bryan for a copy if required) attending Come & Enjoy a Great Fun Filled Many thanks to Mary Ashby for her recollections; to Mary Boyce for her original Spring Evening!!! Royal British Legion Evensong at suggestion, plus the loan of her copy of ‘George’s Dragon’; to Brian & Joyce Pearce for their time & information: & to Margaret Poole, for her recollections. Info: St Mary’s Church, Steeple Ashton [email protected]). on Sunday 6th July 2014 Info: Frank Geraghty 01380 at 6.30 pm 871083. A chance to clear out The Reverend Tony Longdon will officiate.

The Overlord , worked between 1968 - 73, consists of 34 COFFIN TRIAL panels telling the story of the D-Day landings on 6th June 1944. It can be Sadly, this event has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances seen at the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth. This is part of panel 12, showing ‘the armada’ being protected by 15 squadrons of Allied fighters. 8 29 Keevil for various dangerous clandestine operations over France. Trans- porting members of the SAS, SOE and others, they would take off and fly by moonlight, maintaining a low-level altitude towards their secret desti- nations. It was vital that they reached their location at the pre-determined time, as the lights and code signals would only be switched on for two min- utes by the Resistance waiting below. A successful flight home to Keevil would then be dependent on the evasion of German night-fighters. One vet- eran of 299 Squadron recalls, on more than one occasion in 1944, walking into ‘The George’ in Trowbridge, and being reunited with “SAS and others” whom he had previously dropped in France. Having completed their mis- sion, they had returned by reaching Gibraltar or the south coast of France, before being picked up by torpedo boats from Malta. From October 1944, RAF Keevil was used as a training base by No 22 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit, flying twin-engined Albemarles coupled with Waco Hadrian Gliders. By June 1945, the airfield was being used by 61 OTU for training newly-qualified pilots to fly Spitfires, and then later, Mustangs. From its beginning as a fully operational base in the summer of 1942, Keevil Airfield was used as a site to assemble Supermarine Spitfires. The air- craft were put together in the large hanger accessed through the farmyard of ‘Manor Farm’. The ‘Griffon’ and ‘Merlin’ engines were made by Rolls-Royce. Other parts were manufactured locally in small workshops – such as the Barnes Steamroller works at Southwick – and then sent to the new ‘Vick- ers’ factory in Bradley Road, Trowbridge, also built during 1942. Vickers constructed wings, built and fitted out the fuselages, and installed ‘Merlin’ engines. The fuselages and wings would then be sent to Keevil for assembly, where propellers and Griffon engines were also fitted. (The Bradley Road building eventually became owned by ‘Hattersley Heaton’, and was demol- ished in 1996). The planes were finished, tested, and then flown out of Keevil – many by women pilots – to be delivered to RAF Squadrons elsewhere. A total of 569 Spitfires were assembled at Keevil during the course of the war – all making their maiden flights just a few hundred yards from the centre of Steeple Ashton. When the Second World War finally came to an end, Keevil Airfield soon wound down its activities – and July 1947 saw it ceasing to be a fully-staffed base. During the early 1950s, it was used by RAF Hullavington Training School, for pilot training on jet powered Provost aircraft. Instructors flew the planes over from their north Wiltshire base, and the pupils commenced their “circuits and bumps” – at the airfield which just a few years before, had been alive with the sound of Stirlings, Spitfires and the preparation for armed operations. 28 9 Natural History Club News June 2014 Outside of the base, the airmen tended to “swamp the Longs Arms” as one “ Careful” I cry out to husband as he shifts some spare raspberry canes from US veteran remembers, adding: “The locals treated us very well indeed.” the back of our fruitcage, near the wall with the big fig tree. “What’s this?” Further afield, the men used ‘The George Hotel’ in Trowbridge (a fine 16th There is a plant I’ve not seen before. It’s the leaves which are different. Two century building and the site of an inn since at least 1467, this was closed opposite full leaves and a delicate spike of a flowerhead with pale green and gutted in 1981; it is now part of commercial premises next to ‘HSBC’ florets each having little forked tongues. I couldn’t say that a florist would in the pedestrianised part of Fore St.) along with other establishments in give much for one- but it’s an orchid! So how come it gets here? Never here Devizes, Westbury and Bradford on Avon. before! It’s a twayblade (I suppose in old English it means two leaves) and Opened in the June of 1942, ‘RAF Keevil’ was used from September to according to the book it grows in damp woods and shady pastures. Well the November by the US Army Air Corps (later re-named USAF). They utilised little spore-like seed blew in here and grew undisturbed by lack of weeding the base as a ‘staging’ destination for Dakotas en route to North Africa. In this part of the garden. So what shall I do with it now? It will be surely tram- 1943 the airfield was occupied by the popular US unit the 153rd Observa- pled on. So I’ve put a twiggy barrier around it until I decide. tion Squadron – flying Boston Light Bombers, ex-RAF Spitfires, P51 Mus- I’ve wondered before if short-sighted people get into flowers which they tangs, plus Piper L-4s. Squadron members would often hand out sweets and can see near-to, and the far-sighted become the birders? chocolate to the children of Keevil and Steeple Ashton, and organise parties On that note, mixed news about Hirudinae and swifts. Yes they are all back, for them on the base. Some lucky – and doubtless excited – youngsters were but one member reports her usual swallows are not in the rafters over her allowed to sit in the cockpit of the Douglas Boston. In December 1943 the garage and one farmer told me that her housemartins are not back. These US 363rd Fighter Group arrived, and spent a short time here waiting for P51 would not have been victims of the Maltese massacre of small migratory Mustangs – which they did not receive until the unit had moved on to Kent birds that Chris Packham has recently brought again to everyone’s atten- in the February of 1944. tion. And why maybe only one cuckoo heard south of the village, not the three that there were ten years ago? And we have for the third day running a blue-ringed racing pidgeon in the garden looking lost. (Ann Ferry says leave it- it may just need to rest and feed, before it will set off again.) Maybe it’s the weather? So why don’t you come and maybe get an answer, at our next meeting on Thursday 5th June. Our birders led by David will give a talk on bird migration.

For all news: Penny Aeberhard, 01380 870602, [email protected] or David Culverhouse, 01380 871621, The Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower, discusses the Over- [email protected] lord plan with seniot Allied commanders. ‘Welcome Leaflet’ The next phase of activity at the airfield began in March 1944, with the Usually the first person a newcomer meets is their ‘street contact’, who arrival of 196 and 299 Squadrons of 38 Group RAF, and Army Pilots of the gives them the above 4 page leaflet that details a great deal of information Glider Pilot Regiment. As mentioned earlier, various British and Common- about our two villages. wealth aircrew flew Sterling Heavy Bombers out of Keevil on the 5th/6th The Village Shop, St. Mary’s Church, and the Methodist Church also have June. They also took part in the Arnhem operation – code-named ‘Market a few copies for the visitor, or passer-by, who may wish to know more about Garden’ – in the September of 1944. Heavy losses and casualties of both our communities and the facilities on offer. Army and Air Force personnel were incurred during the operation, and a This ‘Welcome Leaflet’ is a useful reference guide to have so if you want a number of aircraft were lost. copy please ring me on 870078. Malcolm King During this time, 196 and 299 Squadrons also flew Sterling Bombers out of 10 27 -ished. They were built to accommodate and service over 2500 permanent staff, with a number of the buildings being situated in lanes to the south and east of Steeple Ashton – areas which for years had been utilised only for farming; before the airfield’s construction, Acreshort Lane for instance, was little more than a stone track. Accommodation units were situated around the end of Acreshort Lane, in Southbrook Lane, off Edington Road and off Drove Lane. Some were used to house ‘displaced persons’ and Polish refugees after the war. A few of these Community Money Advice Trowbridge still stand – having been used variously as pig sties, chicken sheds, football changing rooms, and more recently, commercial units. Lengths of wartime concrete track are also still in place today around the village; notably Drove Make a difference in people’s lives by volunteering, praying or supporting Lane and Whitelawn Lane, around the area off Edington Road which heads us financially: towards the top of Acreshort Lane. A ‘Nissen Hut’ construction – once the Community Money Advice Trowbridge (formerly part of Hope Debt hospital and mortuary – still stands off Whitelawn Lane, and a complex of Advice Service) underground air-raid shelters existed near the top of Acreshort Lane until is a unique service reaching deep into our community providing ongoing, the early-1990s. face to face debt advice and support, enabling families and individuals to Along with Mrs Mary Boyce, another of our Steeple Ashton residents to deal positively with debt and financial difficulties. have an insightful recollection of wartime life in England is life-long village We do this firstly by connecting with those in need, through local services resident Mary Ashby. Miss Ashby was a young teenager during the early- and multi agencies like the 4Children (Sure Start) Children’s Centres, Food 1940s, living with her parents Victor and Winifred in the grocery shop at the banks, Churches and Parent Support Advisory teams (in partnership with entrance to Acreshort Lane. Mary can recall, in the weeks preceding D-Day, Collaborative Schools Limited). We work on location in these centres which seeing Airspeed Horsa Gliders being held in the fields on the south side of are familiar, local and safe environments for those who need our help. We Hinton Lane. Also from the time approaching the Normandy invasion, she also see self-referred clients in our centrally located office. clearly remembers a manned ‘check-point’ – consisting of some oil drums Our debt advisors provide advice and support from budgeting right through supporting a barrier rail – being in place in the High Street, next to the to insolvency and we communicate directly with the individual’s creditors ‘Black Barn’ on the corner of Acreshort Lane. This blocked off the High to reach the best financial solution to resolve the debt. We have a signed Street to the south of her parents’ shop, along with Acreshort Lane. Mary agreement with all our clients to share information openly between us, the says how, in cold weather, soldiers manning the barrier would light fires at client and their supporting agency eg. Children’s Centre Outreach worker. the base of the wall fronting the Black Barn; Mary’s father ‘Vic’ soon took to This enables the family/individual to work through not only the immediate allowing the duty-sentry use of his shop’s front porch! financial problems but tackle the root causes of their debts. We love this At the Keevil Airbase, leisure and entertainment was limited due to offi- approach and believe it is a fresh way forward for debt advice which lasts cial restrictions, but both the Officers’ Mess and the Sergeants’ Mess held beyond just an appointment. the occasional Dance or Social Evening. These would be attended by both Can you commit to praying for us? Can you commit to supporting us finan- village and WAAF girls, plus others from the local towns. The Dance Hall cially either individually or corporately? Are you interested in volunteering was used as a chicken shed after the war, and now forms part of Brian and with us? Our volunteers offer as little or as much time as they can and the Joyce Pearce’s caravan site at ‘Raydown Leaze’ on Edington Road. It is one roles are varied. of many original wartime buildings on their site. Earlier in the war, while If you are interested in making a difference to our community in this way and the USAF were based at RAF Keevil, some stars and entertainers apparently would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you. Please contact visited the base. Intriguingly, it has been claimed by some that Glen Miller our office on 01225 781270 or email us at [email protected] and his Orchestra, Bing Crosby and Vera Lynn all performed there at differ- ent times. 26 11 FORGET-ME-NOTS-CLUB Mrs Boyce continues: The AGM scheduled for 7th May was postponed, due to illness, until 21st Meanwhile we saw constant waves of heavy bombers fly over the coast May. and could hear the noise of explosions on the other side of the Channel. As no speaker had been booked for 7th May, members enjoyed a pleasant Despite bad weather at the beginning of the month, 6th June dawned as a afternoon listening to the Chairman, Gloria Philpott , assisted by Jenny beautiful summer’s day and with the first news bulletins from the BBC we Drewitt, reciting poems and reading humorous were informed that the invasion in Normandy had begun... It was a spec- anecdotes, after which members chatted amongst themselves over tea and tacular site watching wave upon wave of gliders being towed over Bognor biscuits. Regis going south over the to Normandy in the evening, A REMINDER: There are just a few seats remaining on the coach outing and my mother and I watched them from her bedroom window... But there to Bourton-on-the- Water on 4th June, at £10 per head. Contact Gloria on were still many more months of bitter fighting ahead, and many lives still 01380/870593. to be lost. The young Mary Wyeth learned later that what she had viewed off the coast Email: [email protected] G. Oakley (Sec) 01225/775681 of Selsey Bill in the weeks before D-Day, were ‘Mulberry Harbours’. These floating ‘roadways’ were towed across the Channel, where they were assem- bled to facilitate the delivery of supplies onto the Normandy beaches during CHILDREN’S BOOKS WANTED the invasion. Thinking of downsizing or re-vamping your children’s collection? Westwood with Iford Primary School needs Key Stage 1/2 fiction books for their new Community Library. They would be grateful for donations. Pass on your books to support the next generation of young readers! Call Jackie Merivale on 01380 871359 to arrange collection or for more information.

St Leonard’s Church Fete 2014

The SUMMER FETE King George VI visits the invasion beaches on 16 June and Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Brooke on 12 June. In this panel, they will be held in the grounds of are shown together with Generals Eisenhower and Montgomery. In the The Manor, Keevil, courtesy of the Vernon family, background, ships unload stores in the prefabricated Mulberry Har- on Saturday 14th June bour at Arromanches. commencing at 2.30 p.m. On D-Day, a great number of airfields scattered across southern England All the usual Stalls for you to browse were used in ‘Operation Overlord’. We can never be sure, but it may just be Games for everyone to enjoy possible that some of the gliders Mary and her mother saw being towed over Indulge yourself with Ice Cream and Afternoon Tea Bognor Regis, had begun their fight at ‘RAF Keevil’. Today, in the villages of Steeple Ashton and Keevil, it is difficult to imagine All in aid of St Leonard’s Church funds the extent and impact of the infrastructure and operations which accompa- nied the new ‘Aerodrome’ here. Most of the original 400 or so buildings and other constructions which formed ‘RAF Keevil’ have since been demol- 12 25 Bryan writes....continued from the inside front cover equipment, and maintaining an altitude of 1000 ft, the Sterlings headed across the Channel. The first of the gliders to be released by its pilot landed west of the Caen Canal, at 21.30 hrs. It was quickly joined by others. The sol- diers’ task: to unload and set up six and seventeen-pounder anti-tank guns, to defend the ‘Pegasus Bridge’.

Minutes after midnight on D-Day, French civilians are awakened as the Close up of one of the planes in Panel 34 of the Overlord Embroidery. first Allied Paratroops and gliders land. The Overlord Embroidery was designed by Sandra Lawrence with expert In Sussex, during the build up to D-Day in 1944, Mrs Mary Boyce (nee advice from the Armed Forces and historians. It took 20 ladies from the Wyeth) of ‘The Old Parsonage’, Steeple Ashton, was living with her parents Royal School of 5 years to finish, being completed in 1973. in Bognor Regis. Mary had joined the staff at Barclay’s Bank in West Bognor The materials used included original fabric from khaki battledress and gold Regis in 1941, to help replace the male employees who had joined the Serv- braid. Working from cartoons, the panels were made on a linen base with ices. In her book ‘George’s Dragon’, Mary recalls the events around Bognor layers appliqued and then embroidered and top stitched. leading up to the invasion: At home in Bognor Regis we were having our own experiences of war. Bombs fell once again on the town and also Chichester in April... The sur- rounding countryside in Sussex and Hampshire was steadily filling up RIDE & STRIDE Saturday 13 September 2014 with tanks and guns and all the equipment necessary for an invasion. Last year Geoff Witts (weather man) raised £160. This is early to mention Thousands of men were at the ready but who knew the date of D Day this event, which is in aid of the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust. Half of Operation Overlord? the sponsor money raised goes to the upkeep of the church of your choice. One morning in May I was cycling to the Bank along a narrow winding There are a number of keen cyclists and walkers in this parish. Please con- lane when I met a convoy of American tanks moving out of the town. They sider taking part. You make up your own route; nearly every church in the slithered from side to side churning up dust and grit and it was impossible county is open, many with manners to sign your card. Most other counties to get past them. Needless to say I was late for work and got black looks are doing this on the same day. Sponsor forms and lists of churches will be from my Bank Manager. available from your parish organizer. I should be most happy to have some Mary goes on to say how she witnessed the appearance of what seemed to other person take over as organizer. This also involves doing a rôta from be “… a building...” off the east coast of Selsey Bill. Over the next few days, 10am – 6pm. Many are willing to do this. more appeared – yet after just one week, they had vanished. Your parish organizer of 25 years - Lystra Berrett 01380/870809 24 13 STICKY FAITH

SALISBURY - Wednesday June 11th 2014 Elim Christian Centre, Dews Road, Salisbury, SP2 7SN

What is Sticky Faith? The Christian church has a problem that we’ve known about for many years. The simple fact is that vast numbers of young people in our churches and Christian youth/children’s groups give up on faith in their teenage years and early adulthood, often having nothing further to do with the church. Survey after survey shows it to be a huge issue, but up to now we’ve seemed power- less to do much about it We want to do our part to help youth/children’s leaders, parents and others to be fully equipped to help young people stick at their faith so that it lasts through into adulthood - hence the reason we call it Sticky Faith.

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14 23 There will be a number of different engaging sessions during the evening including a stream for church/youth & children’s leaders and one dedicated for parents & carers. The event is totally free as we want as many youth, church, children’s lead- ers and parents to come as possible. We only ask that you BOOK beforehand so we can provide sufficient handouts and refreshments. You can book as a church/group or individually, details are on the flyer attached. Even if you can’t make it yourself, please do forward this to anyone you think would be interested. Thanks so much. More information about the event is in the flyer attached to this email.

Please email me with any questions @ [email protected]

Friday Club Parent and Toddler Group Meeting dates for April - open every Wednesday 3:45pm-5-15pm at our Village Hall 10am – 12. in the Village Hall. Friday 6th and 20th June All Welcome.

MOBILE HAIRDRESSER Postal Collections in Steeple Postal Collections Ladies, Gents & Children Ashton in Great Hinton Reasonable Prices Mon - Fri Saturday Mon - Fri Saturday Available to come to your home Longs Arms 4pm 10am 4.15pm 8.30am at your convenience Newleaze 12noon 11am Please contact Charlotte Ashton 11.30am 11am 01380 828199 Common

Keith Draper Steeple Ashton Village Hall Contact Details New Daytime/Work Telephone Number: 01225 703144 Garden Maintenance Services New Evening/Home Telephone Number: 01225 356196 New Email Address: [email protected] Over 40 years experience Payments and booking forms can still be posted to: References available Moorfield Farm, 2 Church Street, Steeple Ashton Tel: 01225 867999 Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 6EW Mob: 07775787284 Many thanks, Sandra Stevens 22 15 Village Diary The Newsletter prints a Diary of Events each month. If you are organising activities in the village, you may wish to contact me to avoid a clash of events. Helen Regular events in Steeple Ashton Village Hall, unless otherwise stated

Monday Ballroom Dance Classes; 7.00pm. Tel: 07917 573831 Steeple Rocks; 7.30pm. Venue, call 01380 871890 Brownies; 5.30 - 7pm. Term Time. Carolyn Collis: 01380 Tuesday 870379 Guides; 7pm - 8.30pm. Elizabeth Leversha 01380 831278 8am Prayers in St Mary’s Church Wednesday Baby and Toddler Group; 10.00am - 12noon 1st and 3rd Wednesdays; Forget-Me-Not Club, 2.30pm. 2nd Wednesday; Women’s Institute, 7.30pm Thursday Dee Dee Wilde Dance Class, 10.30am YOGA; 10.30am - 12noon Mobile Library (alternate Fridays, dates and times below) Friday Walking group meets at the Longs Arms; 2.30pm Friday Club; 3.45pm - 5.30pm, Term Time. Contact 01380 870013. JUNE

4th Wed Forget-Me-Nots, outing 5th Thur Bird Migration, The Manor, 7.30pm 17th Tues Newsletter Deadline 19th Thur SACT, Methodist Church, 7.15pm

6th Mobile Library; 10.45-11.45am, Steeple Ashton, The Green Fri 11.50-12.10am, Steeple Ashton, St Mary’s 20th 12.15-12.30pm Ashton Common Bus Stop 21st Sat St Mary’s Church Fete, The Lodge, 2.30pm HOUSEKEEPER Responsible: Professional: Hardworking 27th Fri Summer Luncheon, Jacobus House, 12.30pm

30th Mon Parish Council, Skittle Alley VH, 7.30pm, Any aspect of housekeeping undertaken Cleaning, ironing, washing, gardening

July References available 6th Sun RBL Evensong, St Mary’s Church, 6.30pm Please Contact Joanna 07960 208423 : 01225 774376

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Ashton Mill Barn, Steeple Ashton, Wilts, BA14 6HQ 18 19