NETHERAVON, HAXTON & NEWSLETTER June 2020 Issue no. 424

* * *

COPY DEADLINE for July issue is Thursday 25 June 2020 at 5pm Take advantage of technology with our email: [email protected] or hard copy to Maggie Butler at 11 Mill Road, Netheravon, SP4 9QB. Phone 01980 670122 The Butlers still print, collate and distribute your newsletters, compile all commercial advertisements and maintain the accounts.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

At this time all social gatherings are suspended

MINI DIRECTORY (01980 unless otherwise stated)

Phoenix Hall Bookings (Michala) 670646 Day Centre (Christine Covil) 670774 Rev. Gale Hunt, Avon River Team 670326 Rev. Barry Davis, Baptist Centre 622355 Christ the King, Catholic Church, Amesbury 622177 Methodist Church Amesbury 676766 SSAFA Forces Help 632567 Plainwatch 674700 Durrington & District Link Scheme 594857 AWS JOBS, Pre-Schools, Creches 673379 Scout Group for Boys & Girls 07768 579314 Football Club, Children’s Coaching Club 670634

1

Children and Bible Stories………..

Can you imagine the nun sitting at her desk grading these papers, all the while trying to keep a straight face and maintain her composure!

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST.

CHILDREN WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.

1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF. 2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS. 3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT. 4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS. 5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH. 6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES. 7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS. 8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE. 10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY. 11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA. THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL. 12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM. 13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES. 14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES. 15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA. 16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER. 17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION. 18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD. 19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE. 20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE. 21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS. 22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES. 23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN. 24. St. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE. 25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

Follow the newsletter on Facebook. Newsletter, Fittleton, Haxton & Netheravon.

2 Oh my goodness what a strange time it has been and almost certainly still is.

As I write this, we are still very much in Lockdown with hope that some restrictions will soon be eased. Life will not be returning to the normal that we know, anytime soon, and we will need to find a ‘new normal’

So much changes in our lives all the time, people come into our lives and people leave, we move house, we change schools and jobs. Things never stay the same.

We as Christians have an anchor that holds us firm and keeps us steady through all the changes, the ups and downs in our lives. That anchor is of course God who never changes, never leaves us, although we may sometimes leave him, he just waits for us to return to Him.

In our communities and our homes we do still have so much to be thankful for. No matter how bad this situation has been there has been so much love and care, a reawakening and strengthening of a community spirit.

I’m sure like me you have been reflecting on many things over recent weeks, and it might be that you have found a church service to view on line, on YouTube or Facebook, maybe you are asking some big life questions and about God and the Christian Faith.

If you have why not try talking to God, He is just waiting for you to talk to him.

We may be allowed back in our Churches by the time you read this and we’d love to see you but if the buildings are still closed you can still join us with on-line resources and services, or resources delivered to your door. Check our website www.avonriverteam.org.uk

A bible verse that many of you will know is appropriate for us always but particularly now at this time.

Look after each other, look out for each other, and be assured that God is watching over all of us.

May God Bless you and keep you today and always

Reverend Heather Brearey

200 Club Lottery Winners for April 2020 S PICKERING, MISS M BIRKS, MR T JONES MR & MRS DRAYSON, SIAN THOMAS-NEALE Gill (Murphy) 01980 670135

Thank you to each and everyone of you for all the support you have shown to the Phoenix Hall.

3 SAVE YOUR MILK BOTTLE TOPS Salisbury District Hospital Stars Appeal are collecting clean milk bottle tops so please could you save yours and when life returns to a new normal, they can be put in the collection tubs in either the Phoenix Hall or Netheravon Working Men’s Club. The milk bottle tops are made into ‘soft play surfaces’ and the Stars Appeal receive money for their contribution. When our lives return to a new-normal, charities will be desperate for donations, fundraising etc so this is one way you can help –

IT COSTS YOU NOTHING! Take care and keep safe. Gill 01980 670135

Thank you I would like to thank the farmers in Netheravon, Haxton and Fittleton for opening up their fields for walking our dogs during the corona crisis. We really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Avril Drayson Thank you, Richard Sheppard, for sharing this letter that was sent to all school Children, acknowledging their contribution during WW11

4

A Blast from the Past I was brought up at what is now known as the Clock House. There is a large flint stone outside it at the corner of High St and Old Post Office Lane. It is there to protect the house from carts whizzing round the corner! There are a couple of brick buttresses also supporting this ancient house from collapse. This junction of Old Post Office Lane and High St was originally a crossroads as the lane continued east up to Orchard Farm and Wexland Farm to the west. From 1920 to 1974 Clock House was the farm house for Mill Farm and the home of the Sheppard family. The farm was on the site of the present School and Village Hall, with its cart entrance from the lane, and a pedestrian way in to the High St. The houses in the village were numbered for the first time shortly after 1898 after its purchase by the War Department. This was no.116, followed northwards by 115 (now part of 116), 114, and 113, next to the vicarage. Prior to the arrival of the Sheppards the house was the village post office and doctor’s surgery. The row of cottages is in the centre of the village and made of “cob”, a traditional mixture of chalk, straw, animal manure and hair. The walls were created using “shuttering”, very thick and built no more than about three feet at a time. The only other building material in the area before the use of brick was flint and this could be used for foundations, paths and often decoration. Cob walls can last a very long time as long as they stay dry under the deeply thatched roofs. The clock was erected to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. It was wound up every week by George Sheppard, clockmaker, who lived at Lower End by the Smithy. Later my father Alfred wound it until it was converted to electricity in the 1960s when Arthur Whitmarsh was chairman of the Parish Council. A ladder was kept in the garden for that purpose of just the right length. When the house was sold after the death of my father in 1984, I was afraid that a new owner might remove the clock and so gifted it to the parish council.

Marion Coupe

Tree Planting as lockdown exercise in Netheravon

From 300 trees in a local back garden, to 300 trees in Netheravon Cemetery, over the space of a week, volunteers from Netheravon, Haxton, Fittleton and Fighledean, ranging in age from toddlers to retirees, used their allotted hour of exercise to plant hedging whips in the cemetery. A number of varieties, including oak, rose, blackthorn and rowan, to name but a few, were planted around the perimeter fence, along the path extension and in a small nursery, in order to create a varied woodland hedgerow. It is hoped this will provide a sympathetic boundary to the surrounding fields, perfect for attracting wildlife, while yielding a peaceful area for contemplation. Buoyed by exceptional weather, volunteers marked out proposed locations for the whips, and planted and watered them. Hopefully the whips will prosper and will provide a tranquil vista to visitors of the cemetery for decades to come. Many thanks go to the 20 volunteers who gave up their free time to give something back to the village and its community. Your willingness and hard work were very much appreciated.

Sarah Gerrard

After note from Netheravon Parish Council Thank you to everyone for taking part in this project. The trees were provided free of charge by the Woodland Trust and the Parish Council are very grateful that the planting could be done in such a timely manner so that they were not wasted. Special thanks must go to Sarah for organising this so efficiently. David Burke, Chairman

5 Don’t delay seeking medical help because of coronavirus People living in are being advised not to let worries about coronavirus stop them asking for medical help for themselves or their children if they become ill, have a serious accident or have a concern about their health. They are also being warned that not seeking medical help for symptoms that could be the early warning signs of serious conditions such as cancer could be putting lives at risk. The warning comes as new data shows a considerable drop in the number of people coming forward to ask their GP for help and advice during the coronavirus outbreak. Recent statistics show that, in Bath alone, the total number of weekly referrals from GPs to the Royal United Hospital have fallen from around 2,000 at the beginning of March to 300 at the end of April. In Swindon, the average number of patients being sent by their GP to the Great Western Hospital for further investigations into symptoms that suggest cancer each week has dropped by more than 200 to 80. Dr Ruth Grabham, Medical Director at BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG, said the statistics made for worrying reading because the drop in numbers “is not because people are not experiencing symptoms.” “While it may seem that coronavirus has put a stop to most aspects of everyday life, the one thing it hasn’t stopped is what’s going on inside our bodies,” she says. “Now more than ever, we need to pay attention to anything that isn’t normal and seek help early on. “For example, if you notice blood when going to the toilet, or if you’ve found a lump that wasn’t there previously, or if you’ve just noticed something odd that is causing you to worry, you need to speak to your GP. “Should the symptom be the early warning sign of something serious like cancer, that delay in seeking help could have serious implications for how successful possible treatments may be.” Although GP practices across the region have adopted new ways of working, such as establishing isolated clinics for potential coronavirus patients, the practices themselves are still open to offer care, treatment, advice and peace-of-mind. The same also goes for emergency departments at the three hospitals in Bath, Swindon and Salisbury, all of which continue to be open 24 hours a day for people with a genuine and life-threatening health concern. Additionally, all healthcare facilities in the region, as well as those elsewhere in the country, have put in place stringent infection control measures to ensure that the risk of contracting coronavirus while visiting a hospital or GP surgery remains low. • Details of which services continue to open, as well as how to get in contact, can be found online by visiting www.bswccg.nhs.uk • For information about local hospital services visit https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/, www.gwh.nhs.uk or www.salisbury.nhs.uk • Further information on how to stay well throughout the coronavirus outbreak can be found at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19.

Wiltshire Household Recycling Centres are now open and operating a Postcode system. You need to observe social distancing rules, wear gloves, only one person per vehicle and have proof of address on show in your windscreen. SP4 postcodes can visit on: 26, 28, 30 May and 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 June Dates will be reviewed on 14 June

6 PHOENIX HALL – High Street, Netheravon, SP4 9PJ - (Charity No. 1003542) Jointly owned by Netheravon & Fittleton Parish Councils Managed by the volunteer Phoenix Hall Management Committee - Charles Coslett (Chairman), Alan Wood (Secretary), Michala Mather (Treasurer), Caroline Aubrey-Fletcher, Alan Brown, Sue Greenhow, Nigel Jackaman, David Jaffrey, Alice Gordon, Chris Puzey, Gill Murphy (200 Club Lottery)

To book the Hall: MICHALA MATHER (Treasurer): T: 670646 or Email: [email protected] Availability of the Phoenix Hall can be viewed at www.phoenixhall.org Due to COVID-19 the hall is temporarily closed but please make provisional bookings.

Co-op LOCAL COMMUNITY FUND The Co-op organisation are supporting our Phoenix Hall again this year. They made a grant payment in April of over £2,000 towards repairs and improvements to the hall. Join the Co-op and make Phoenix Hall your chosen charity for 2020. (www.coop.co.uk/membership). IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PHOENIX HALL

The committee have used the Co-op grants, grants from Netheravon Parish Council and Fittleton Parish Council plus the profit from the Race Night to make improvements to the facilities in the hall :-

1. Refurbishment of the Committee Room kitchenette This room has a new kitchenette. It has had new chairs, a new carpet, new curtains and been repainted. It is now ideal for meetings, lectures, family gatherings and small parties at just £5 per hour. 2. Plumbing There are new taps to the ladies and gentlemen’s toilets plus an outside cold tap for outdoor activities. The cistern to the disabled toilet has been refurbished and a new toilet bowl will be fitted. 3. Lighting to the Corridor and Committee Room New light fittings are about to be fitted. 4. Main Hall a) The two double emergency doors are awaiting replacement after COVID-19. b) A piano wire has been strung around the hall to enable hirers to hang bunting, pictures and other items. 5. External a) The emergency-exit step from the committee room will be re-fitted together with a safety rail. b) The grass will be mown by the committee and new flowers planted in the tub. PHOENIX HALL LOTTERY (200 Club) The Phoenix Hall lottery has been postponed due to COVID-19 as it is too dangerous to make collections. A new type of lottery is being planned so that the residents of Netheravon, Fittleton and Haxton, plus other users, can support our villages’ Phoenix Hall from the profits of the Lottery. RE-OPENING OF THE PHOENIX HALL AFTER COVID-19 The Management Committee will take note of Government advice and decide when the Phoenix Hall will open and under which conditions, bearing in mind that users vary in age from babies and toddlers (Children’s parties and Cheerful Cuppa), children from 4-15 (especially Youth Club), to those elderly persons most vulnerable to dying from COVID-19 (Exercise classes, Bridge Club and Cheerful Cuppa). Alan Wood, Secretary. T: 01980 671265

7 Dear Sir,

Having resigned my position as teacher last month I had to work my notice period. How could I make things easier? I know, move onto home territory. But first a question. David has acquired some Bronze maths certificates but the week I did not help he got a gold! Perhaps my resignation would have been expected anyway! Right, let’s do some wood and metal work. Now son, we measure the metal in 'thou'. What? Thou boy, thousandth of an inch. A what? How do you measure things? Millimetres. A what? Millimetres, these small ones on the ruler. No son. A ruler is in charge of a banana republic. A measuring instrument is called a rule. The measuring instrument that you have in your hand is a micrometer and it reads in thou. Anyway, so much for measuring. After this lesson David proceeded to use his tools to build a wood kit of Stephenson's Rocket which could appear in a future class room show and tell. Next, let’s do some baking for our VE Day party. Do you know how we won the war? Yes. Captain Mainwaring beat Hitler. You are not wrong kid, I'll give you that. Now baking. We need some bread so we need to grind 1 pound of flour and an extra ounce for dusting and we need eleven fluid ounces of water. What? Do you mean grams and millilitres? OK, I give up, let’s build a model spitfire. I now raise a glass of Stonehenge Ales as a toast to our real teachers. Thank you, and how on earth do you do it? R Johns. (Parent/Lockdown Teacher)

75th Anniversary VE Day Celebrations

Netheravon, Fittleton and Haxton residents embraced the spirit of VE Day wholeheartedly. Residents decorated their homes and the VE Day Committee ensured that the area was adorned with bunting and flags. There was a competition for 3 separate categories and the winners are listed below. Best Decorated House Children’s decorations: Best Decorated window: 1st 31 Court Farm Close 1st 3 Walnut Close 1st 26 Court Farm Close 2nd Haxton Bridge House 2nd 41 Choulston Close 2nd 617 Thorne Road 3rd 15 Downside Road 3rd 14 Hales Road 3rd Bill’s Cottage, Mill Road 4th Old Post Office House, High Street

Debbie Corbett, Chair of the VE Day Committee expressed her thanks to all the volunteers for all their hard work, helping with the bunting, social media, the judging, posters etc. It was really appreciated. She also expressed her thanks to our lovely singers for all their hard work, Richie Ayling for the albums, Tunnel Rat Studios and everyone who got into the spirit of the day and took part. Whether it was having high tea, dressing their windows, houses or themselves, it was really lovely.

Netheravon & District Working Men’s Club will be 100 Years Old on Friday June 26th 2020 Celebrations were due to be held at the Club, but have obviously been postponed. The Club started in a hut in, what is the Phoenix Hall, school field now. Then some years later moved to its present location on the High Street. Over the years it has had its ups and downs. Lots of Secretaries, Chairmen and Stewards. Not forgetting the Bar Staff. All those different characters, too many to mention. We all have our own memories to savour. Those of you who want to share your memories there is a “Memories of the Club” Book. We will be celebrating the Clubs 100 years later in the Year. Please take time to look at our website (nwmc.co.uk) especially our characters page. We will be adding more as we find them. If you have a photograph you wish to share on our characters page please get in touch with us. Looking forward to our nostalgia night, when permitted. Stay safe!

8

NETHERAVON IN BLOOM

We are running Netheravon In Bloom once again and the Parish Council would like to encourage everyone to keep their front gardens spick and span and plant a lovely display which will be judged early August.

Also there will be a ‘Best Hanging Basket’ category which will be judged at the same time.

We have 9 ‘volunteers’ who have agreed to adopt a tub for a £15 challenge. They will be given £15 to plant up their adopted tub by the Parish Council and the tubs will be judged as part of the Netheravon In Bloom competition

If you have any queries please contact [email protected]

NETHERAVON PARISH COUNCIL Coronavirus Help If anyone resident in Fittleton, Haxton or Netheravon needs help with shopping, collecting prescriptions or anything else – including a chat on the phone, please contact: [email protected] Tel: 07438 933652 Or contact Mary Towle at [email protected], Tel: 01980 670748 or 07864 186271 KEEP WELL AND SAFE

9 NETHERAVON MASK TREE You might have seen it on your daily walk through Netheravon, on the corner of Queensway: There is a bird feeding station that has transformed into a mask stop. We are a group of local makers and have been making various items for NHS staff, community and key workers as part of the Salisbury Makers Hub. As it looks as though it is soon going to be recommended that we all wear face masks when shopping and in enclosed spaces, so we have joined forces with the Enford "Scrub Hub" to provide face coverings for our community. Please feel free to take a mask, but do not try them on before washing at 60 degrees and limit touching the rest of them. Please only take what you need, so that there is enough for everyone. We are asking for voluntary donations towards materials and/or a charity/community project. The suggested donation is £2. All donations can be left in the blue bag or for online donations look up Netheravon & Enford Community Mask Project at www.gofundme.com. If you can sew and would like to join us, feel free to get in touch with Suzanne at [email protected] Thank you to all the lovely ladies and gents of our little Scrubs 'n Stuff group, who did such an incredible job already. And thanks to Alice Gordon, Fiona Amstutz, Jane and Dave Swindin, Kathryn Blanchard, Sharron Mitchell, Shona Stewart, Sophie Murray and Suzanne Compton who made it possible to give the mask points a great start.

Short story competition winners 5-7 years old category 1st Place: General Sherman by Barney Woolston age 5 General Sherman grew and grew until it reached up into the clouds. The breeze pushed its branches. Everyone who watched it was excited. A storm came, it snapped the branches off! Lightning hit the tree. The people said “ruh the tree is falling!” But it did not fall. It stayed strong. 2nd Place: Dorothy by Eliza Baldwin age 5 SPLASH! She poured the bucket of water over my head. My friend Dorothy was very naughty! With crazy curly hair and bright blue eyes, she makes me smile. She’s funny and kind. No one can see my friend, Dorothy, I think she’s magic. Dorothy is looking after me, she’s keeping me safe. We will be friends forever. 3rd Place: Super Island by Freddie Abayomi age 6 There was a volcanic island and it was the biggest in the world. Max, the owner of the island, was a good man. He wore a tiger outfit and a sword, which he used to scare the baddies. He stole treasure from them and gave it to the poor. It was a happy island. 8-11 years old category 1st Place: THE ENCHANTED BOOK by Grace Thompson age 9 “Do you want to hear a story?” whispered my book. “Ok,” I answered, “but a short one.” I sat down, snuggled up with my blanket and listened. “I am a book,” he croaked, “And this is my story.” As he opened his mouth, I opened my eyes and I was ready to start the day. 2nd Place: The Unicorn Story by Scarlett-Skye Shaw Age 10 Guess what happened to me this week! I woke up and my room was all sparkly, and there was this weird neckless. I put it on and “POOF” I was on four legs and I was a ‘UNICORN’ with a majestic main and golden horn, and I was the first ever unicorn in the world. 3rd place: Bramble in Lockdown by Amelia Ellis Age 8 From Durrington Bramble the rabbit lived in Bluebell Woods and was in lockdown due to a virus. The next day was Bramble’s permitted shopping day, so he got some magic carrot seeds. On the way home he got some dandelions for tea. He planted his seeds and the next morning he had lovely carrots.

10