Full colour issue VILLAGE NEWS www..org.uk

December 2018 / January 2019 Issue 459 Editorial Committee [email protected]

Editor Linda Lobl-Smith Home Farm 714475 Treasurer Annalisa Duff Willow Lodge 712247 Julie Walton The Old Rectory 701784 June Pearce The School 701030 Chris Draper Home Farm Cottage 248557

Biddestone Broadsheet and the village website seek to reflect the life and interests 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 responsibil- ity 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 Sunday in the month, copy should be sent to the Editor at the email address above.

Biddestone Village Website www.biddestonevillage.org.uk

A full colour version of the Broadsheet is available on the website. If you do not wish to have your contact details published online then please make the editor aware of your preference. Any other notices or contributions to be posted specifically on the website should be sent to the email address at the top of the page. To post an item on the Biddestone Village Website or facebook page please contact the Editor Linda Lobl-Smith

Donations Received The Broadsheet has received the following donations this month; We would like to say a huge thankyou for the £605 in donations.

front cover image: Rock Nativity by Emily and Gertie Draper

Village Hall Classes Main Hall Thursday 10.30 – 11.30 am Precision Pilates Amber Edenbrow – 07725316923 or [email protected] Monday 9:45 -11:45 a.m. Painting Group Sue Tennant - 01249 720615 Thursday 7.30 – 10.00 pm Dancing Phil Fletcher – 01793 936091 or [email protected] Monday 8.00 – 10.00 pm Hips & Haws Clog Jan Field – 01380 827140 or [email protected] Friday 6.30 – 8.00 pm Yoga for healthy backs, knees and shoulders Lydia Holmes [email protected] Tuesday 9.00 – 10.00 am & 10.30 – 11.30am Real Life Yoga Emma Goodwin – 07771662567 or [email protected] New Club Room

Tuesday 6.00 – 9.00 pm Iyengar Yoga Class Monday 7.15 – 8.45 Precision Pilates Edgar Stringer - [email protected] Amber Edenbrow – 07725316923 or [email protected]

Wednesday 10.00 – 11.30 am Iyengar Yoga Class Tuesday 10.30 – 11.30 Health in Motion Lydia Holmes – [email protected] Mandy Roberts 01225 811667 or 07980696919

Wednesday 2.00 – 4.00 pm Womens Institute (3rd Wednesday in Wednesday 10.00 – 12.00 am Writing Group month) Tim Smith – 01249 714455 or [email protected]

Wednesday 6.00 – 7.00 Circuit Training Wednesday 12.00 – 4.00 pm Quilting and Patchwork Class Simon Bennett – 07815619138 or [email protected] Anne Chapman - 01249 782842

Thursday 7.00 – 8.00pm Boxersize (coming soon)

Village Hall

To Book the village hall or the newly finished club room. Please contact the Booking Secretary at [email protected] Or 07391 511495 Editorial December

Welcome to the Christmas issue of the Broadsheet, packed with should be now able to confidently plan ahead, knowing that seasonal village events: The Advent supper hosted by Simon we are on a sound financial footing. and Charlotte Bruce is a popular fundraiser for the church; Caroline Dale and Co. will be entertaining us with an evening We will be holding a coffee morning in the village hall club of music plus, of course, their special rendition of Bohemian room on 13th December to thank our supporters and the dis- Rhapsody! There will be singing around the Christmas Tree on tributors who work tirelessly to deliver the Broadsheet to your the Green and back to Home Farm for mince pies and mulled door each month. wine afterwards. The village pubs have various festive activi- ties, too. We would like to wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. The Broadsheet committee would like to thank all of those who donated their fivers (and more!) to our fundraising drive, the total sum raised was £540. We also went before the Parish Council to request an annual raise which they responded to Welcome to Dave and Cath Cooper plus Benno the dog at No. with a generous increase from £300 to £600 per annum, so we 14 Little Challows!

Advent Supper Friends of St Nicholas Biddestone

Join us to celebrate Advent with a candlelit supper.

Sunday 23rd December 2018 at 7 pm at The Oak House. £20.00 per person, all ticket money to the Friends of St Nicholas. Please book before 10th December so that tickets can be issued and numbers finalised. To book or discuss special dietary requirements please call 01249716330 or email [email protected]

Snow Wardens

Before the winter arrives forcefully in Biddestone and Slaugh- terford, we would like to appoint additional Snow Wardens so that there are at least two people covering each area of the villages. We are looking to update the Snow Plan for the December meeting of the Parish Council due to be held on 11th December.

If you would be willing to act as a Snow Warden, please give me a call or drop me a line. Recipe by Julie Walton

A Dairy-Free Christmas Cake

INGREDIENTS 350g plain flour 2 tsp baking powder 3. In a large bowl mix all of the dried ingredients togeth- 175g dark brown sugar er, except the baking powder 225ml vegetable oil 300ml soya milk 4. In a jug, dissolve the baking powder in the soya milk, 2 tbsp black treacle add the vegetable oil to the milk, stir and then add to the 125g raisins dry ingredients and mix until combined. 125g currants 125g sultanas 100g chopped glacé cherries 5. Add the soaked fruit, mixed spice and black treacle, 75g mixed peel mix well and put into the prepared cake tin, place the 2 tbsp mixed spice blanched almonds in circles gently on top of the cake 3 tbsp of a spirit of your choice mixture. Place a piece of baking parchment with a small Blanched almonds for the top of the cake hole cut into the centre, the size of a 50p. This allows the 22cm round cake tin, double lined with baking parch- steam to come out and prevents the cake from burning on ment. the top.

1. Soak dried fruit and cherries in the spirit of your 6. Bake for 1hr 45 mins, or when a cocktail stick inserted choice for 1 hour or over night. into the comes out clean. 7. Allow to cool thoroughly before storing in an air tight 2. Pre heat the oven to 160 C. tin.

Record of meeting of Biddestone & Hartham Women’s Institute, 1st November 2018 Val Ringham, President, welcomed 12 members and one centenary wall hanging. Al- visitor, and introduced our speaker, Peter Knight, for his talk ison and Val S-J reported on on “Ancient origins of church – symbolism”. With the aid of their WI holiday in the north- many explanatory slides he demonstrated how pagan symbols west; next year’s would be in and those from other cultures had been adopted and adapted Lincolnshire. to illustrate Christianity and to promote its own agenda. Such symbols included the halo, the serpent, dragons, the sun and New correspondence. Details the moon. He concluded by saying: “The real power of sym- of a mechanism by which bols and myths is that they possess the ability to engage not members making certain only the mind but the heart”. Carol gave the Vote of Thanks. purchases on-line could arrange for the WI to receive funds. Trapunto Workshop in Devizes on 9.2.19. Centenary Fair at Delicious refreshments were provided by Val S-J, and the Rowdeford School on 15.6.19. with many different categories, raffle prize was won by Linda. including craft items, flowers, cakes, photography and writing a story in eight words. Val R had made some stars following Business meeting instructions in the Nov/Dec WI News.

The Minutes of the last meeting were read and signed as a Finance. Carol said the situation continued to be healthy. The correct record. WI had provided a wreath for the Remembrance Sunday ser- vice in view of the special anniversary this year, but it would Matters Arising. No more information about data protection. be the last. The two Vals would attend a New Speakers Day on 22 Novem- ber (if members had any ideas for speakers they should suggest Christmas Party, 2-4 on 12 December. Arrangements con- them). Dates in July, November and December 2019 had been firmed. Challenge: Make a snowflake in any medium. offered for the WI Adviser’s visit. We should make a centenary banner for our branch, even if we did not submit it – sugges- 16th January meeting: Beryl Pendley would talk about Royal tions still needed. We had to choose our favoured Resolution Bargemasters. All welcome. using the form in the Nov/Dec edition of WI Life – Val S-J would collect these at the Christmas Party.Val S-J thanked Beryl and Julia for their contributions for Bonfire Night, which had been a great success. Carol had sent her square in for the Farming Notes By Ian Smith

The farming year has all played out now, next year’s crops have gone in with near perfect planting conditions and will need to do nothing but sit tight through the coming winter. The dry ground and mild weather have been good for outly- ing cattle, relieving some pressure on post drought feedstock, which whatever the next few months bring, are in the barn for better or worse. The one sure thing is that sometime this winter we shall need rain, the ditches must run at some stage or we shall be facing the mother of all water shortages next summer, shades of 1975-6 for those of us with long enough memories.

Although I would settle for things as they are I know that farm- ing, as the late great writer on all things agricultural A.G. Street was fond of saying, can only do well if God is in his Heaven and the country is prosperous and stable. This devoutly to be wished situation cannot really be achieved until the all-con- suming Brexit imbroglio is sorted out one way or another.

There were really only ever two courses of action post refer- endum: to unilaterally pull out or negotiate some monumental parliament might she win a general election on it? I don’t know fudge. The first option was never a runner as the ‘’ Great and but pressure always builds before the storm and once it breaks the Good’ of the Establishment were never going to do that, af- clear skies come behind. ter all ‘The man in Whitehall ‘knows best of course. The great fudge is what we have and sniffing the breeze on my tractor I Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy and Prosperous New think Theresa May might have the wind behind her, if it fails in Year

sharply uphill from there, with Danks Down wood on our right, Village Walk then goes through Danks Down Cottage wood until we reached the crossroads at the top of the hill. The Biddestone Walking group met at The White Hart Pub, Ford at 11.00 am on Sunday 25th November 2018. Our route then took the left hand turn which becomes a Bridleway and drops down to the bottom of the valley at The Sixteen hardy souls (including several with new joints) and as- Pinetum. We crossed the dry river bed again and turned uphill sorted mutts, set out for the monthly trek round the local area. with Out Woods on our right, towards the site of an old Roman Villa. The footpath/bridleway crosses through Truckle Hill We left the top Pub Car Park and took the snicket up to the Barn and then turns right towards North Wraxall. Truckle Hill A420. We then turned right and walked along the pavement valley which is very steep was then on our left and becomes for 300 yds, until we could turn left up between some houses part of Wraxall Park. to join the footpath. This pleasant route crosses a very old stone stile and bridge over a tributary of the Bybrook. We Our path was than along a tarmac lane, which runs for about were shocked to see that there was absolutely no water flowing 1.5 miles to join up with the North Wraxall to Nettleton road. along there at this time. I have never seen that before and don’t know if it is a direct result of the dry, hot summer, or if the wa- There is a stile on the left into a field which took us diagonally ter flow is being manipulated somewhere else! The path turns across to Court Close Farm at the top of the village. The stiles in and out of that field are quite tricky, but we managed to get everyone over safely. We then followed the lane down through North Wraxall village and up the other side until we turned left onto the Old Coach Road. This has Cullimers Wood on the left side and Prestgrove on the right. This track is level and is about 2 miles long. Then there is a downhill section of the lane back to the A420 where we started out.

Most people stayed to enjoy a drink in the pub afterwards, where they are most accommodating for dogs.

The walk took two hours and was about 5.5 miles in total, with only a few hills and lovely scenery.

Next walk will be advised when there is a definite date. Book Club

We enjoyed Lorena’s hospitality with mulled wine and deli- In December, the book of choice is “The Music Shop” by cious nibbles as we discussed “A Spool of Blue Thread” by Rachel Joyce. We shall be meeting at Rosemary’s House at Anne Tyler. 7.15 p.m. on Monday 17th December.

It was interesting to see how the house was in many ways a On 21st January 2019 we shall be meeting at Debbie’s home to central character in the novel which spanned several genera- talk about “The Muse” by Jessie Burton. tions of a family living in Baltimore, USA. Gradually the story of their lives, loves and relationships unwound like the spool of MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL blue thread which was discovered in a cupboard near the end READERS of the book. Any enquiries? Phone Diane on 712105

Mahjong in Biddestone

Have you ever played Mahjong, or would you like to learn? If so, contact Myra Keen on 01249 323869 or [email protected]

Village Link

“volunteers transporting the Community”

Do you know anyone who might benefit from our services?

Consider joining our Volunteers?

Please ask them to call one of our Coordinators on

07590 720836 Poetry

Thankyou to Hilary Noyes for this months choice

Trio:

Coming up Buchanan Street, quickly, on a sharp winter evening a young man and two girls, under the Christmas lights – The young man carries a new guitar in his arms, the girl on the inside carries a very young baby, and the girl on the outside carries a chihuahua. And the three of them are laughing, their breath rises in a cloud of happiness, and as they pass the boy says, “Wait till he sees this but!” The chihuahua has a tiny Royal Stewart tartan coat like a teapot holder, the baby in its white shawl is all bright eyes and mouth like favours in a fresh sweet cake, the guitar swells out under its milky plastic cover, tied at the neck with silver tinsel tape and a brisk sprig of mistletoe. Orphean Sprig! Melting baby! Warm chihuahua! The vale of tears is powerless before you. Whether Christ is born, or is not born, you put paid to fate, it abdicates under the Christmas lights. Monster of the year go blank, are scattered back, can’t bear this march of three.

- And the three have passed, vanished in the crowd (yet not vanished, for in their arms they wind the life of men and beasts, and music, laughter ringing them round like a guard) at the end of this winter’s day.

EDWIN MORGAN

Our beautiful churchyard

As an occasional visitor to St Nicholas Church I have followed with interest the great improvement that is taking place in the upkeep of the churchyard. Thanks to the hard work of the Bid- destone Gardening Club, organised by Di Webb, it no longer appears forgotten and forlorn.

Ivy shrouding the lower trunks of the yew trees has been removed and this has greatly improved the view of the church from the road. The borders of the path up to the church now receive regular attention from members of the club and the brambles, ivy and nettles, which partly hid gravestones and made their examination a hazardous and unpleasant experi- ence, have in the main, been removed.

The area to the east which was almost impenetrable (except for children looking for conkers in the season) has been cleared. It will be possible in the spring for visitors to approach more easily the lovely large area of primroses and daffodils in that part of the graveyard.

If you have not been recently it is well worth a visit.

John Owen, The Old Bakehouse Bishop of Bristol joins our Coffee Morning

Every now and then, on my rare day off work, I try my best to was greeted by a smiling ray of sunshine, who introduced her- attend the Biddestone coffee morning that is held on a Thurs- self as Viv. Not quite sure who she was, I introduced myself day in St. Nicholas church. Any excuse to have a lovely cup and told her to go and help herself to the selection of cakes. It of coffee and a homemade slice of cake, where you can catch wasn’t until much later that I asked someone who the person up with the rest of the villagers: those whom you haven’t seen was and they told me very excitedly that it was the new Bishop for ages and some of the new residents, who have recently of Bristol, Rt Reverend Vivienne Faull, who was visiting some moved to the village and are keen to meet others. Young and of the parishes in the area, on the day. old, everyone is always welcome, whether you go to the coffee morning every week, or once a year, like I do. After we all tried as many of the delicious cakes as we could manage to eat in one morning, trying not to make it too ob- This past Thursday, 22 November, was one of those rare vious that we had second and third helpings, we had a lovely Thursdays, where I had the day off work, to start thinking group photo taken, to mark this special occasion. about Christmas presents to buy, Christmas cards to write, various neighbours to have over for a cup of tea and several Thank you so much to Simon and Charlotte Bruce for the other things that you try to cram into one day. But first on my incredible amount of hard work that they put in, to make the list was to pop into the coffee morning, to see the familiar faces church look so beautiful! For the great variety of delicious that I don’t get to see as often as I would like to. cakes, the beautiful tables and flowers and for just quite simply making everyone feel so welcome. I was immediately struck by how the church was transformed to a beautiful haven that displayed no less than 20 different I would recommend to others, who don’t always have plans on types of beautifully decorated home baked cakes, welcoming a Thursday morning, to pop into church, have a cup of tea and tables with little bouquets of flowers and the uplifting smell of cake, as it is a wonderful opportunity to get out and about and freshly ground coffee. It was evident just how much work and to catch up with others. You might not always be greeted by thought went into the transformation of the church and how the Bishop of Bristol, but you will be greeted by a welcoming welcome I felt, the minute I walked in. group of people!

As always, there were the familiar faces of neighbours and other villagers whom I haven’t seen for a long time and it was wonderful to catch up with everyone. Within about half an Gertie Draper hour of people chatting and laughing, coffee beans grinding and cake being eaten, I happened to stand near the door and Village Litter pick - Sunday November 18th

On a lovely sunny autumn morning, twenty or so volunteers gateposts and tree branches. This suggests that littering is turned out for the autumn litter pick, with two teams head- not simply a mindless, random activity. The pattern of litter- ing out from the Green and the north of the village to forage ing indicates some thought has gone into not being observed through hedgerows and verges for litter. We returned with when littering, and of deliberately throwing into the country- around 20 bags full, plus some car parts in Hartham Lane side items which are small, light, clean and easily placed in (probably the result of random collisions), but my impression a domestic recycling bin. This implies (perhaps surprisingly) was there seemed to be less litter than at our Spring pick up, that the litterers may actually be capable of a modest degree of which is encouraging. rational thought and are acting intentionally, albeit it a way that makes no sense to the rest of us. Nowt so queer as folk, as they During these events, I find myself wondering about the psy- say. chology of litterers. The majority of the litter (typically plastic drinks bottles and cans, all easily recyclable) tends to be found Anyway thanks to all those who came out for the pick, and we away from the main village, in quiet country lanes and look forward to a good turn out for the spring clean up. particularly in field gateways. Adam Walton We also find a lot of dog poo bags deliberately hung from

Christine Taylor held a coffee morning in her beautiful home on 15th November and raised more than £600 for St Nicholas PCC. Everyone enjoyed the wonderful range of cakes on offer. Sev- eral people commented that Christine should start a cake shop! As well as the delicious refreshments and delightful company, there was also the pleasure of retail therapy.Beautiful children’s clothing was on offer as well as delightful items, many from Bali and Hong Kong, including clothing, jewellery and pretty ornaments. There was also a raffle.

The PCC sends a sincere thank you to Christine, her helpers and all those who attended this happy event. The money raised will help to pay for the daily expenses of running St Nicholas Church and all that entails. Dates for your Diary – December

13th December Broadsheet Coffee Morning 10.30am ( changed from 11th December )

14th December Advent Supper, St. Nicholas Church 21st December Christmas Concert, Village Hall 8pm

6th July BIDDSTOCK 2019

20th and 21st July 2019 Open 2pm until 6pm Entrance £5 Children free

20th/21st July 2019 Biddestone Open Gardens

Older persons standard concessionary bus pass

Information about renewal of bus passes

From 01 January 2019, not all bus passes will be renewed automatically. This is because there are approximately 20,000 passes in circulation that have not been scanned on a bus prior to re- newal, indicating that the pass has not been used. In these cases, the passes will not be automati- cally renewed.

If your pass is not automaticaly renewed but you would still like to receive one to use in the future, please contact on 0300 456 0100 and we can arrange for your new pass to be issued.

Wiltshire Council regrets that any charges which may occur on bus journeys are non-refundable Clubs and Community Activities in and around Biddestone

Allotments Located at the village hall. Cake Sale, . 1st Saturday Every month, For more information, contact David Daniel 701311 outside the Post Office 8.30 -11.30am

Bridge Club The club meets for a social evening of bridge; no Cotswold Wardens Walks Monthly schedule on village tuition is available so players must have some level of website – contact Barry Cox experience. Bridge club will meet on Monday 5th November in The White Horse at 7pm. contact Edward Bear, Pre-school group See back page for details Ian Smith 01249 714475 or Jane Iggulden 01249 713311 for details. Skittles Village Hall, Wednesdays 7pm and 9pm. Bar open. Contact Mike Chrystal 712833 Book Club The Book club meets once a month. Contact Diane Ross-Smith for details 712105 Moviola Community cinema, showing in Grittleton village hall. See feature for details. Biddestone Singers Meet together at The Oak House or St. Nicholas on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm – 9pm All Parish Council Meets on second Tuesday of each month, welcome, no previous experience or standard of singing Village Hall, 7pm necessary. For more information, please contact Parochial Church Council Monthly meetings [email protected] or 716330 Village Link ‘Volunteers transporting the community’ If you Biddestone Walkers The walking group meet on the last need this service or would like to help. Contact 07590 720836 Sunday of every month. Contact Kate Jones for details 715180 www.village-link.org.uk

Biddestone Tennis Club Club night, Tuesday evening & Sat- Womens Institute Monthly meetings and outings. Next meet- urday morning. For membership details see website. ing 21st November.

Biddestone Cricket Club See website for more details Youth Club, Yatton Keynell village hall Weds 8-10.30pm. Contact Alan Brinkworth 782647 Brownies, Yatton Keynell village hall Weds 6.15-7.45pm [email protected]

Can Craft! Yatton Keynell, St. Margarets A get together to If you would like to add details of an activity or club, please chat and craft, 3rd Monday of the month (£1 inc. refreshments) contact the Broadsheet. 7.30-9.30pm

West Yatton Down scrub clearence

Scrub clearance days at West Yatton Down SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) will be held on the third Thursday of each autumn and winter month, to conserve the environment on this beautiful site supporting nine species of orchid and more than thirty species of butterfly. Volunteers should wrap up warm; bring a picnic lunch or flask of tea if you would like to do a further hour or so in the afternoon. We have purchased some fabulous tools called Tree Poppers, they remove the roots too, and you’ll love them.

Location: Park along the roadside at the Long Dean Y fork on the side of the road from West Yatton to Castle Combe ST851 759 (OS Map 173)

Leaders: Maurice Avent & Alan Needham (01249-713218)

2018 Dates 2019 Dates

Thursday 20th December 2018 – 11.00am Thursday 17th January 2019 - 11.00am Thursday 21st February 2019 – 11.00am Thursday 21st March 2019 - 11.00am New Year’s Eve at The Biddestone Arms, Starts at 7.30

Disco from the past 50 years, snacks when sugar levels run low

And a glass of Champagne at Midnight!!

Tickets just £10 - Make sure you book early!

The Biddestone Arms Quiz of The Year 2018 on Thursday 4th January .

Major Events, politics, sporting events, good news and bizarre events.

Includes questions asked by the mad landlord and sound and visual clues on the big screen.

Free entry. Prizes to include champagne,quarts of beer etc etc

Broadsheet Coffee Morning

13th December 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The Club Room Biddestone Village Hall.

Corsham Churches Foodbank Biddestone Collection Point is in St. Nicholas Church Our Foodbank receives donations of food from all the local The Food Bank benefited from the Harvest Festival where vari- churches in our area, given by members of the congregation. ous churches in the benefice generously contribute food. What In addition, we are given monetary donations, most of which a shame it’s not like that every month. All you have to do once is used to buy items of food, supplementing what has been do- a week is pop into the church with a tin or two ( if every house- nated. Local charities also help us by giving us grants and we hold in Biddestone dropped in one tin or packet, that would be have good relationships with local Supermarkets such as the 300 items ) you know it is always appreciated and you will Co-op in and the Pickwick Road store, Sainsbury’s in feel good that you have done something kind to help someone and McColl’s in Box. In each location a box is set who is struggling to get back on their feet. aside for donations to the Foodbank. Thanks Di Webb We store all our donations and issue them in proportion to the needs of the particular client. We try to issue food that will contribute to a balanced and nutritious diet. Although we can store only dried, packet and tinned food, we give vouchers to enable our clients to get fresh milk, bread and spread from the Co-op in Corsham, fresh fruit and vegetables from the Cor- sham Greengrocer and toiletries and hygiene products from a local chemist. Biddestone Christmas Concert

with CAROLINE DALE & FRIENDS

Friday Dec 21st 8pm - Village Hall

Thanks to the continuing generosity of Caroline Dale and her musical friends this concert has become a great village tradition which for many villagers heralds the start of their Christmas celebrations.

This year the event will be in our Village Hall with a complimentary drink on arrival and pay bar open until late !

All proceeds to our charity - The Friends of St Nicholas .

Tickets £20 pp on sale December 1st 2018 and available from :

Simon Bruce: John Owen: Stewart Entwistle: Maureen Greenwood: Paul Sneddon: 716330 716180 715887 715969 716523

Tickets available now

CAROL SINGING 6:00 p.m. Wednesday 19th December

STARTING AT THE TYNINGS, ENDING AT THE

GREEN, FOLLOWED BY REFRESHMENTS AT HOME FARM Crossword

By Diane Ross-Smith Solution to last months Crossword

1 2 3 a 4 5 6 7 8

a a a 9 a a a a

10 a 11

a a a a a a a a

12 13 a 14

a a a a a a a a

15 16 a 17 a

a a a a a a a a a 18 a 19 20 a 21

22 a a a a a a a a

23 a 24 25

a a a a a a a a

26 a 27 28

a a a a a a a

29 a 30

First published in ‘The Honeycomb’ for DECEMBER 2014 ACROSS 1. Anno Domini opening for run up to Christmas. (6) 4. Number of turtle doves to enclose next to Church - charge for feeding Mary Poppins’ birds? (8) 10. Request deity to give them a break, according to Carol, making them tipsy people? (9) 11. Adult version of 6 down perhaps with a picture trading East for start of Orient. (5) 12. Quiet hours of darkness for this seasonal song. (6, 5) 14. Australian native starts eating mistletoe - unhealthy? (3) 15. All step this way to indicate trainee chauffeur? (1-6) 17. Insane free in this European capital? (6) 19. and 21. across. Perplexed Mary a-weaning a baby – song about him. (4, 2, 1, 6) 21. See 19 across. 23. Garland found in textile inventory. (3) 24. Cork popped with glass the result is transparent! (4, 7) 26. Communication from modern bird? (5) 27. Inspiring affection with mixed grenadine! (9) 29. Lamb is an example – yes as it’s confused. (8) 30. Leyton team provide starting place for visitors to stable. (6) DOWN 1. How Caesar sent out his decree, imperially? (8) 2. French wine you’ll empty as you play this on the gramophone? (5) 3. Egypt’s river curtailed for nothing. (3) 5. Sounds like a complaint - stick this in your mouth and chew it! (4 3) 6. Mona Lisa with wings? (7, 4) 7. Old cow with number up and tail of dog need grooming. (9) 8. Departure of Holy Family described in old book? (6) 9. Improves commercials involving males. (6) 13. Infested and covered with sand. It rhymes! Let’s get back to basics! (5-6) 16. Sound of cow with part at door of stable - describes its humble state. (9) 18. Source of illumination from gilt arch rebuilt. (3, 5) 20. Coins from Saint Nick elsewhere included… (7) 21. ...To use here for shopping area CD medley? (6) 22. Idiot His Excellency sees in archaic dress. (6) 25. Present securer from last win expected. (5) 28. Song with look of self-importance. (3) Abridged Draft Minutes of the meeting of Biddestone & Parish Council 3th November 2018

Following the usual legal requirements these issues were The Butts - Historical notes on the origins of the name addressed: were presented to the Chairman. Following the legal advice received it was AGREED that there would be a NO Parking Notification of Planning Applications Received: 18.09562/TCA policy adopted for The Butts and the common land maintained Pool Farm, The Green, Biddestone SN14 7DG as a wildlife area.

Proposal: A) Elm Tree - reduce in size by 30% C& D) Leylan- Little Challows - Following the retraction of grass cutting dii - prune all trees by10% E) Indian Bean Tree – prune by and tree pruning by Wiltshire Council, the Parish Council is in 10% F) Birch tree – prune by10% SUPPORTED the process of registering Little Challows as Common Land. D.Taylor to undertake grass cutting. The residents of Little Statement of Balances for: Accounts #1 £49572.29 & #2 Challows to be consulted on proposed tree work and their opin- £5003.40 ions presented at the December Parish Council meeting.

Clerks Salary & HMRC Tax, £207.65 D.Taylor Ground Cuttle Lane - No further action. Maintenance £25, Royal British Legion Wreath £20, Christ- mas Lunch Grant £60.00, Ink Cartridge £19.99, proposed for The Pond - Willow Trees. The ‘Agatha Raison’ Production payment by SB and APPROVED Company had approached the Parish Council for future filming of four further episodes between March and July 2019. SB to Following a presentation from The Broadsheet Committee it check with the Company whether the pollarding of the willow was proposed that the Parish Council, subject to the publication trees would be problematic. of its minutes in each Broadsheet, would fund the Broadsheet £600.00 annually. APPROVED Rights of Way – With Wiltshire Council funding diminishing it was believed that the routine maintenance of stiles, signage and It was proposed to extend the Clerks hours to 6 hours per week posts would fall to the Parish Council. BID8 – Footpath to The with immediate effect. Any additional hours undertaken due to Meeting House, Slaughterford – It was AGREED that in the in- projects to be paid in addition as they arose. APPROVED terest of public safety this path should be closed. SB to contact Stephen Leonard Wiltshire Council Rights of Way Officer for Draft 2019/20 Precept - Reviewed and 2nd Draft to be present- an update on Wiltshire Council’s future plans ed at December meeting for finalisation and adoption. There being no further business the meeting ended at 9.30pm. Following the Parish Plan survey an Open Meeting to be ar- ranged to present the Plan to the public. The Parish Council to meet to prepare a Corporate Plan based on the survey findings. VC to arrange a date in late November for the later.

Biddestone and Slaughterford Parish Council invite you to a presentation of the Results of the Parish survey

Biddestone Village Hall,

7-9pm, 29th January 2019

Thanks to everyone who completed the parish survey – we had an excellent 76% response.

Please come along to hear the results and to discuss how the Parish Council will set its priorities based on the findings of the survey.

Everyone welcome! Church Services for December 2018 ST. NICHOLAS, BIDDESTONE Jesus’ birthday party

2nd Holy Communion 11.00 a.m. 9th Evensong by Candlelight 4.00 p.m. Help to assemble our beautiful crib. Come dressed as a char- 16th Carol Service 6.00 p.m. acter from the Nativity and join our play! Enjoy some birthday 19th CAROL SINGING: 6. 00 p.m. cake to celebrate this special time! 23rd Jesus’ Birthday Party 4.00 p.m. 24th Christmas Eve Holy Communion 11.00 p.m. NB Please note the service is on 23rd December. 25th Christmas Day Family Service 9.30 a.m.

ST NICHOLAS, SLAUGHTERFORD

9th Holy Communion 3.00 p.m. 14th Carol Service 7.00 p.m. 25 Christmas Day Holy Communion 11.30 a.m.

BENEFICE SERVICE

30th TEAM HOLY COMMUNION at Yatton Keynell 10.00 a.m.

Christingle service Biddestone Church CHURCH EVENTS Sunday January 20th Tea and Toast every Monday at St. Margaret’s, Yatton Keynell, 3pm 8.45-10 a.m.

Morning Prayer with Intercessions for the Sick at St. Nicholas’ Biddestone, 9.15 a.m. Wednesdays – 2nd Wednesday is usual- ly Holy Communion.

Morning Prayer at 10 a.m. on Thursdays at St. Michael & All Angels, Kington St. Michael – 2nd Thursday is usually Holy Communion.

Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. every Thursday at St. Margaret’s, Edward Bear Yatton Keynell. Pre-School Group Short reflective Prayer Meeting at 12 noon every Wednesday at The Edward Bear pre-school group is a free get-together for St. Mary’s, Grittleton. pre-schoolers and their parents or carers. We would love you to join us for stories, crafts, activities and refreshments on the Lunch Club every second Wednesday from 12.30 p.m. at St. following Fridays at 10am: Mary the Virgin Church, Burton.

St Nicholas Church St, Margaret’s Church, Edward Bear Club at Biddestone for pre-schoolers meets at St. Biddestone Yatton Keynell Nicholas’ Church on 1st Fridays, 10 – 11.30 a.m.

7 December 21 December Edward Bear Club at Yatton Keynell meets at St. Margaret’s 11 January 18 January Church on 3rd Fridays, 10 – 11.30 a.m. 8 February 15 February 1 March 15 March Yatton Keynell ‘Café Church’ every Tuesday 10-12 noon; light lunches from 12 noon – 1 p.m. If you would like more information or to be added to the contact list for Biddestone ‘Coffee in Church’ every Thursday, 10.30 – future dates, please email: midday.

Julia (for Biddestone) at [email protected] or Heidi (for Yatton Keynell) at [email protected]