CHURCH SERVICES St Mary’s March St Leonard’s Keevil Steeple Ashton Sunday 4th 11am Parish Communion 9.15 am Round About Your Parish (BCP) All Age Service Lent 3 Great Hinton MARCH 2018 Sunday 11th 8am Holy Communion 9.15 am (BCP) (Rev Hugh Hoskins) Holy Communion Mothering 10.30am Mothering (Coffee will be served after Sunday Sunday Family Service the service) (Worship Group)

Sunday 18th 11am Parish Communion 9.15 am (CW) Morning Prayer (Rev Tony Longdon) Lent 5

Sunday 25th 8am Holy Communion 9.15 am (BCP) (Rev Hugh Hoskins) Palm Sunday Holy Communion Palm 11am Parish 3.30 pm Sunday Communion(CW) (The Ven Dr Sue Groom Archdeacon Café Church of Wilts) (in the Village Hall) Ken Berrett at 48 High Street, late 1960s or early 1970s Holy Monday 26th Tue. 27th Maundy Thursday 29th Around the time of this photo there were three general stores in Steeple Week Wed.28, Thursday 29th 7 pm Ashton, plus a Post Office, and a butcher’s shop in Butts Lane. The three 6pm Compline Passover Supper High Street stores were commonly known as “Top Shop”, “Middle Shop” and “Bottom Shop” – the Post Office being part of “Middle Shop”. Number 48 – “Bottom Shop” – was previously known as “Vic Ashby’s Shop”. On 12noon Quiet Service March 30th 2 – 3 pm retirement in 1958, Mr and Mrs Ashby had sold the property and business (Claire Horton) Vigil to Ken and Doreen Berrett. Good 6pm Evensong Friday (Katherine Venning) Steeple Ashton Village Shop

Sun 1st Apr 11am Parish Communion 9.15 am Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5.30pm (Rev Hugh Hoskins) Family Communion Saturday 8.30am to 4.30pm; Sunday 9.ooam to 12noon Easter Day Shop telephone: 01380 871 211 Bryan writes… WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER All God’s Creation is Very Good! In 1947, having survived a near-miss when a neighbour’s home was The interdenominational movement of the Women’s World Day of Prayer destroyed during the very worst of the Bristol bombing in 1940, my father, invites everyone to attend one of over 5,000 services being held on Friday Ken Berrett, was still working at the Bristol Aeroplane Company. Earn- 2nd March with the title ‘All God’s Creation is Very Good’. We will join an ing reasonably good money, he was living with my mother Doreen, infant estimated 3 million people around the world that day in a service which has brother Terry and me in a relatively modern house in Patchway. But that been written this year by the women of Suriname in South Africa. year, he decided to give this home and job up – after receiving a letter from Starting in Samoa as tthe sun rises, and ending as the sun sets off the coast his father, Herbert, back here in Steeple Ashton. of American Samoa, the service will have been translated into more than 95 languages and 1,000 dialects as we are reminded that we have responsibili- Herbert Berrett was 72, and a widower. After losing his only help by the ties in caring for this wonderful world we live in. overnight disappearance of his eldest son (who had fallen for the charms This is not simply a day of prayer for women, but for everyone who cares of an Essex girl stationed at Keevil Airfield), he was finding it a struggle to about our world and those who live in it. for details of services in your area carry on running his business – the old family home where my father had and for further information and resources, please visit the WWDP website: grown up: Moorfield Farm, Church Street. He had written requesting help; www.wwdp.org.uk and so, we duly ‘upped sticks’, left Patchway, and came to join my grandfa- WWDP - March 2nd 2pm at the METHODIST CHURCH. ther on his dairy farm, beneath the tower of St. Mary’s Church. Please come and join us to keep the 24 hour wave of prayer going round Continued on page 30 the World. ALL are welcome, Refreshments after the service.

Newsletter Deadlines for 2018 March 20th; April 23rd (Monday) Items for the April newsletter should be received by Tuesday 20th March 2018. They should be sent to Mrs Helen Montague-Smith, 1A Butts Lane, BACH, BEETHOVEN AND SCHUBERT ON APRIL 14th. Steeple Ashton or by email to [email protected]. All published items solely express the views of the author and are the copyright Julia Pusker and Renata Konyicska will be performing a lovely pro- of the author and Round About Your Parish unless otherwise stated. gramme of violin and piano solos and sonatas in Edington Priory The Editor would like to remind you that it is up to you, the readers, to Church on Saturday 14th April starting at 7.30pm, the first Edington supply all news and copy for the newsletter. The sender’s name and address Arts concert of 2018. need to be received before printing. Telephone 01380 871285. Inquiries for advertisements in the newsletter should be made to Sarah These two outstandingly talented young Hungarian musicians will Dennehy on 01380 870731, email: [email protected]. play works by J.S.Bach, Beethoven and Schubert, including solos both There may be a waiting list. Please send your ads by email if possible. Please for solo piano and violin, and violin sonatas for both instruments. We note, we do not deliver flyers for advertisers. are in for a seriously lovely evening’s music! 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 Tickets are £20 (front nave), £15 (rear nave) and £10 (sides); Eding- contact Anne Howard on 870505 during the third week of the month to see if ton Angels have a 10% discount, and 18 and under come free. Ring it is convenient. All flyers have to be counted out for the delivery packs and as Chrissy on 01380 831256, or email [email protected]. Full pro- there are 25 deliverers this can take some time. No more than two per newslet- gramme details are on the website, www.edingtonarts.org/whats- ter would be helpful. Editor on. RISE THEATRE - NEW PRODUCTION OF ‘ROMERO – HEART- STEEPLE ASHTON PARISH COUNCIL February 2018 BEAT OF EL SALVADOR’ THURSDAY 15TH MARCH 7.30 P.M. Parish Council Meeting Minutes: The minutes of the Parish Council We have RISE Theatre visiting St. John’s. RISE will be performing for us their Meeting held on the 29th January have been posted on the website and on new production of ‘Romero – Heartbeat of El Salvador’ A thought provoking the village noticeboard next to the Longs Arms. It was another packed meet- play about Blessed Archbishop Oscar Romero’s challenge to those in power ing with positive outcomes on issues reported and plans for enhancing the and his call for justice. The production tells the true story of Blessed Oscar parish. Romero and his heart for the oppressed people of El Salvador. Romero chose Village Spring Clean: The annual spring clean is set for Sunday 4th to challenge those in power and stand up for social justice. He demanded March, meeting at Acreshort Community Park at 10am. All are welcome! respect for human rights. Come and experience this exciting play, performed You will be provided with a focussed area of the village, protective equip- with energy and passion by the RISE Theatre team – www.risetheatre.co.uk ment and refreshments on return. Please note that you will be asked to read For tickets please contact the Parish Centre office Tel 01225 and sign a risk assessment before we can send you out, to keep you safe. 767215,[email protected] or visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/ risetheatre £5 per ticket or £15 for a family of four (children 11+) Refreshments included. HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERV- SHARING OUR FAITH ICES The Group meets in the Parish Maundy Thursday Centre, on Wednesdays Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7.30pm from 8-9pm.This is open to anyone Good Friday wishing to learn more about the Solemn Passion of the Lord 3pm Catholic Church. Holy Saturday Subscribe to your favourite page on our web site: You can now sub- Easter Vigil & Mass of the Resurrec- SICK AND/OR HOUSEBOUND scribe to pages on our website, so you will get an email alert when they are tion 7.30pm Any catholic who is sick or house- bound should let Canon Liam Easter Sunday Mass changed or updated. This doesn’t work for all pages yet, but our webmaster (01225 752152) know as he would Morning Mass St. Bernadette’s West- is working on it! be pleased to arrange a visit and Parking in St Mary’s during football matches: We would urge anyone bury 9am bring Holy Communion, if desired. Morning Mass St. John’s 10.30am that attends football matches at the weekend to park courteously to enable Evening Mass St. John’s Trowbridge MASS TIMES at NEARBY residents to access their properties and for emergency vehicles to have 6pm CATHOLIC CHURCHES access at all times. Please also be mindful that access on the footpaths for pedestrians/pushchairs/wheelchairs is also needed so they do not have to THE NEW 300 CLUB 2018 St Joseph’s, West Lavington walk out into the road. Subscriptions: £50 annually - £13 (01380 723572) Mass on Sunday at quarterly - £4.33 monthly. New 9.00am School Railings: The Parish Council, Council and the School members are most welcome to join Immaculate Conception, Building Management Committee are all contributing towards the project at any time. Prizes are: £200-£70- Devizes (01380 723572) Mass to renovate the brickwork and railings outside the village shop and some £50-£10. For information and appli- on Saturday 6.00pm and Sunday of you may have noticed one of the stones missing at the front. This has cation form contact Francis Geraghty 10.30am and 5.00pm been removed so that the stonemasons can match up the most appropriate St Anthony Melksham (01225 (see below). stones. The renovation work should start in earnest very soon. 702128) Mass on Saturday 5.30pm (For information on any of the above and Sunday 9.30am Dog Poo Bag Replenishers Needed! Further to recent reports, we have please contact: St George’s Warminster (01985 now increased the number of poo bag stations from eight to 23. This leaves Francis Geraghty 01380 871083 212329) Mass on Saturday evening no excuse for dog waste not to be bagged up and taken home. With this email: [email protected]) 6.00pm and Sunday 8.00am & 10am many stations, we would like to ask for volunteers to refresh bag holders 40 1 when empty (bags supplied by the Parish Council). If you would like to be Church Diary responsible for one or two stations near your house or on your dog walks, All services are at 9.15 am unless otherwise stated. Please come along and please call Lynda Beaven on 871701. join us. You can be assured of a warm welcome, and a time to chat, plus a Salt Bin: We have funded a Salt Bin for the use of the village should we cup of tea or coffee after the service. If there is anyone for whom you would meet icy conditions on the High Street. It is sited just inside the right-hand like prayers to be said, please leave details in the post box at the front door, entrance to the gardens of the Longs Arms. Please make use of it when nec- and they will be included in the Intercessory Prayers on essary. If it is nearly empty, please advise the Clerk on 01380 870708 March Planning: Planning applications are considered at Parish Council Meet- 4th 9.15 am Revd, David Coppard – Holy Communion ings and Planning Issues Only Parish Council Meetings. There is an Open 11th 9.15 am Peter Walker Forum for members of the public to comment on planning matters prior to 18th 9.15 am Pauline Tiller their consideration. All minutes are posted on the website and the village 25th 9.15 am Revd. Mary Teed notice board. Parish Council Meetings: Other Dates March 12th Main Parish Council Meeting Every Thursday 2.30pm CAMEO April 9th Annual Parish Meeting (Main Hall 7pm) followed by a short Parish Thursday 1st 7.00 pm Lent Group Council meeting Friday 2nd TBA Women’s World Day of Prayer May 14th Main Parish Council Meeting (AGM) Thursday 8th 7.00 pm Lent Group Parish Council Office: (2 St Mary’s School, High Street) Thursday 15th No Lent Group This office is open to the public twice a week (Monday 2.30pm – 3.30pm; Thursday 22nd 7.00 pm Lent Group Tuesday 10am – 11am) or by appointment. Leon Karas, Clerk to the Parish Thursday 29th 7.00 pm Lent Group Council, can be contacted on 01380 871461 or email clerk@steeple-ashton. co.uk. All Councillors have live @steeple-ashton.co.uk email addresses There will be no Reflections & Fellowship or Housegroup in which are also posted on the website. March Find us on Social Media! Our Facebook community is still growing! Through the Parish Council page CATHOLIC NEWS and Steeple Ashton Village Discussion Group, we have covered many topics ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST TROWBRIDGE & ST BERNADETTE’S of interest to our residents. Recent discussions have included frustrations WESTBURY ( incl VILLAGES). with dog poo and bonfires, requests for manure and detached bungalows PARISH PRIEST FR TOM FINNEGAN for sale, information about door to door selling and the offer of a gentle bike TELEPHONE 01225 752152 ride. Please be assured that this page is monitored regularly, and we take all requests seriously, actioning where appropriate. St John’s Sunday Masses : We would love you to get involved – search for us on Facebook. If you are a Saturday (Vigil) 6pm; Sunday 10.30am & 6pm Weekday Masses: village group and need help with your social media or village event promo- Mon: 9.00am. Tues: 6pm; Wed: 12.10pm; Fri 6pm tions, please get in touch with Pippa at [email protected] or Sat: 10am; 6pm (Vigil) 871578. Rosary: Weekdays before Mass. SVP Fri 6.45pm Confessions: Sat: 10.30-11.15am and 5.15 - 5.45pm Mobile Library Visits: Longs Arms, Steeple Ashton Wednesdays 11:15am – 12.15pm St Bernadette’s Sunday Mass - 9am Weekday Mass -Thursday 11 am Ashton Common, Bus Stop Wednesdays 3.45 - 4.10pm (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10.30 – 1050am 14 March, 28 March, 11 April. Confessions/Reconciliation before Mass on Sundays. 10.15 -10.25 Thursdays 2 39 St Mary’s Church, Steeple Ashton From the Churchwardens. Appointment of new Vicar. Our next Vicar will be the Revd. Oliver Learmont. His appointment to the post was confirmed by the Bishop of Ramsbury last month. The Revd Learmont is currently Priest in Charge of The Fosse Group of Parishes, which is a grouping of 3 rural parishes, with 5 churches, to the east of Nottingham. At the time of producing this issue of the newsletter the date of Oliver’s official induction as vicar or of the date of him moving in to vicarage had not been confirmed, hopefully we will have more news on this in the next edition. This year there are some adjustments to our Holy Week services. We have the Archdeacon of Wilts presiding at the 11am service on Palm Sunday. On Monday to Thursday of Holy Week we have a service of Compline at 6pm. (There is a benefice service of Communion on Maundy Thursday at North Bradley at 7pm.) On Good Friday we have services in St Mary’s at 12noon and 6pm. On Easter Day we have a 11am Service. We are attempting to reinstate the 8am service on Easter Day, if this can be arranged. It will be confirmed on the church noticeboards and in the April Newsletter. Roger Meade Michael Moore 870988 870280

Methodist Church Diary and Events There was once a Father and Daughter climbing Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales. At first a cool drizzle fell, but by the time they were three-quarters of the way up it was hailing and snow covered the ground. The daughter sat on a rock, clearly afraid. The Father asked “Do you want to go down?” “No” she said. “Do you want to climb to the top?” “No”. “Do you want to stay here?” “No, I’m scared and tired, but I think I’d regret going back down”. She finally stood and began climbing up an icy slope. When they got to the top he thought “What did we go through that for?” A few moments later the cloud broke, the sun shone on their backs. As they looked north there was a view of hills and distant sea. The world had changed in an instant: the white-out replaced by golds and greens and blues. This vision lasted all of 15 seconds and then was gone. The wind picked up, snow fell and all was white and dangerous once more. But in that moment all fear had gone and there was the feeling of a bigger world which was beautiful and which held great promise. This Lent, as we look towards the glory of Easter and the promise of summer ahead, may we all feel strengthened and positive about the good things in life? Perhaps we can share our feelings with others. Alison Evans 38 3 DEREK JEFFERIES

St Mary’s Church has a seat- ing capacity of around 220 but the Funeral Service for Derek on 19th January saw a fantas- tic 400 people (about) crowd into the church to say farewell to him. A few latecomers were able to sit on chairs but there were about 150 people stand- ing at the back and sides of the church. A number of people com- mented that they had not seen such numbers in the church for a great many years. The sum of £2,658 was donated, split between Wiltshire Air Ambulance and The British We invite ALL Families and Friends to our *MOTHERING DAY* Heart Foundation. Family Service. Do come and join us for this Happy Occasion. The enormous number reflected the huge respect and liking in which Derek Tea and Coffee after the service. was held - not only in Steeple Ashton and adjacent villages but in the wider farming community. So that no-one could miss this, a Tractor and Bailer were parked outside the churchyard gates and few people are likely to forget the song “I’ve got a brand new Combine Harvester” (by the Wurzels) being played as Derek was taken out of the church. The Reverend Tony Longdon officiated with poems being read by Christina Jefferies, Jack Pike and David Hunter. Geoff Hyatt read the Tribute which was compiled from information and anecdotes supplied by Rene and the rest of the family. Derek’s great sense of humour came out with one story being of a Lady in Melksham complaining of earth on some of the potatoes she was buying and being told by him that this was due to potatoes being grown in soil but that they were experiment- ing with growing them on trees to avoid this happening in future! Both the Village Shop and Longs Arms were closed for at least the duration of the Service and refreshments were served afterwards in the Village Hall. Sarah King had organised all of Marie and Claire’s friends and they did a valiant job feeding the large number of people who went back to the Hall. Derek will be much missed and all our thoughts go out to Rene and all the members of the family. He will not be forgotten. 4 37 Jonathon Seed writes: Wiltshire is a beautiful county and or area of Wiltshire is especially beauti- ful and we want it to stay that way! Wiltshire Council is heavily involved in a CleanupWilts campaign to help to retain that beauty. The first stage of the CleanupWilts campaign targeted fly-tipping. The second phase has recently been launched to try to stop people littering, spe- cifically targeting ‘food on the go’, and reinforcing the message that we are all responsible. If we can change behaviour it should reduce littering and fly tipping. The Great British Spring Clean has just taken place and I have no doubt that all the volunteers who give up their time to pick up litter must get extremely irritated when their good work is ‘trashed’ by the thoughtless. Wiltshire Council spends £2.5m a year picking litter; that figure would be far higher were it not for the local community efforts. The Council would far rather the £2.5m be spent on filling potholes and resurfacing roads. Perhaps if people knew that it takes up to 80 years for a crisp packet to degrade and even paper cups take up to 40 years, they might think about not littering. Recycling a plastic bottle can save enough energy to power a 60w light bulb for 6 hours. In our rural area most of the litter can only come from being thrown out of car windows. Please don’t do this. Just take it home and put it in your bin or recycle it. Jonathon Seed

Recycled Harvest Harvest Festival at St Mary’s included offering a variety of items which could be recycled for charity. Specs, coins, stamps, ink-cartridges, phones and tools were generously given and have been passed on appropriately. The haul of tools were particularly welcomed by the gentlemen at Holt Congrega- tional Church who spend Wednesday mornings mending ad honing them for the charity “Tools for self-reliance”. They are pleased to receive garden tools, carpentry and electrical tools – in fact any tools. They also mend sewing machines each of which is dispatched with a wine box containing cloth and haberdashery. So if you have remnants of fabric, odd reels of cotton, lace, fasteners etc it all can be used. The collecting baskets can be found in church on the pew behind the main door- a short walk for us all- any gifts you donate will be taken by various reps to the chari- ties. It couldn’t be easier. A rainbow of some 50 jumpers of various sizes has been passed to the charity “An African Dream”. This charity cares for orphaned children in one village, paying widows to care for them, overseeing health and education. Funds are raised for par- ticular needs; recently enough money was raised to immunise not just the children but the “mums” too. We also sent 3 knitted blankets. Thank you everyone who has contributed to these successes. Rosemary and Susan 36 5 By early 1975, the shop was one of two remaining in the village – the “Middle Shop” having closed in 1970. My parents were making a decent living, and delivering grocery orders three times per week; but my mother’s Notice is given that the AGM health was now failing – and so, after serving the community for 17 years, of the Trust will be held on Friday they decided to retire. They sold up, and purchased a bungalow in Acreshort Lasagne 23rd March 2018, at 7.30pm in Lane, number 25, overlooking the fields towards the hills. Supper the Village Hall. Writing a ‘Thank You’ to the village in the newsletter of June 1975, my and After the formal business, the parents said: Songs to Amuse meeting will be open for general discussion of the future of the with Trust and the plans being devel- Graham Dalby and oped with St Mary’s Church PCC Ben Jarvis - piano Saturday 3rd March 2018 The Fentons – Pip and Thelma – continued at the stores until the early at 7.30pm in the Village Hall 1980s. (Two further changes in ownership followed, until, on 7 November Tickets £15.00 for your diaries... 1987, the shop finally closed.) Available from the Village Shop: The Church Fete will be held Sadly, my parents were not destined to spend a long retirement together. 01380 871211 at The Lodge at 3pm My mother died around one year after moving to the bungalow, aged 62. Cash wine Bar on Saturday 23rd June Four years later in 1980, my dad passed away, aged 68. Looking back now, my parents lived full, happy and meaningful lives, and I feel that both left a lasting impression of kindness and good humour. THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION I once heard my father’s laugh described as “infectious”; he probably did Steeple Ashton make at least one person smile every day. These days, whenever I walk up Acreshort Lane and pass the Parish Coun- 97TH ANNUAL DINNER cil seat dedicated to my father’s memory, I find it so appropriate. For this is the spot he walked his dog to each evening before bed – exactly opposite FRIDAY 13TH APRIL 2018 the gate to the field where our “new” farm would have been built. This often AT STEEPLE ASHTON VILLAGE HALL makes me ponder – what if... Bryan Berrett 7.30 FOR 8 PM Members and friends are all very welcome Help Needed... As you may have seen in the Wiltshire Times last week, our local Amateur GRAND RAFFLE Dramatics group The Trowbridge Players have been given notice to Tables will be for eight people. To make a reservation, leave our scenery store in Holt by 31st March. We are on the lookout for a please ring Geoff Hyatt on 01380 871319. suitable weather-proof out-building / stable with over 500 Sq Feet of avail- able space that we can move our scenery to. We are willing to negotiate on Dinner consists of a main course, followed by a choice of puddings, rent etc. but commercial rates are well above us. I thought that if we could plus cheese and biscuits and coffee. publicise this in the Steeple Ashton newsletter then we may be able to find Please bring your own wine – glasses are provided. someone local who could help us out. Our contact is trowbridge_players@ hotmail.com. My parents-in-law live in the village (Ken & Ann Hunt) and I TICKETS £16.50 often look at the newsletter when we visit. Tim Knott 6 35 Steeple Ashton Village Shop

SPRING is on its way! The signs are everywhere; snowdrops, celandines, primroses, forsythia and daffodils are all in flower and the lengthening days and warmer sunshine are most reassuring. The LOYALTY VOUCHER SCHEME - no further cards will be issued after the end of March but we will of course continue to stamp existing cards until the end of April to allow customers to collect the vouchers they have earned. The earlier Coffee Shop Loyalty Scheme will be reinstated during May. MOTHERING SUNDAY - falls on March 11th this year and, as usual, we will have appropriate cards and gifts to suit every pocket. EASTER RAFFLE - get your tickets, at £1.00 per strip of five, from the beginning of March - don’t miss the chance to win this years giant Easter Egg! The draw will be at 12 noon on Thursday 29th March.

Ken with Best Kept Wiltshire Village Award, 1976 EASTER OPENING HOURS - Good Friday, March 30th 9am - 12am Dad continued with his jokes and stories as always; he once told me that Easter Saturday, March 31st 8.30am - 4.30pm he liked to “make at least one person smile every day.” They both enjoyed Easter Sunday, April 1st Closed - no newspapers meeting people, and it is no exaggeration to say that the shop would often Easter Monday, April 2nd 9am - 12am ring with laughter. My mother was always the one to keep a careful watch Caren Felton on business affairs – as my father was apt to be quite generous to those he felt were in need, especially children and the more vulnerable. Mum made sure he wasn’t TOO generous! Steeple Ashton WI Our February meeting was well attended considering the fourteenth was Ash Wednesday; Valentine’s Day; half term and a cold wet early evening. We were pleased to welcome five visitors. During the business time, dates were announced for Federation events, ideas were suggested for our own future activities and we had a report from one of our members who had attended a Federation event on ‘Why not to buy an Electric Car’. the speaker this month was Win Quinney who told us about ‘The Amaz- ing World of Bats’. Her talk was highlighted with slides, a display ofpho- tographic material and plenty of handouts for us to take home. Win is a licenced person to rescue and care for bats and she brought one to show us. we all learned a lot. The group’s next meeting in March will be the AGM when we will be elect- ing our new Committee and President. Early 1970s Kathy Fielding 34 7 STEEPLE ASHTON FILMS

THE AUDIENCE SATURDAY 24 MARCH 2018 – 7 PM (PLEASE NOTE EARLY START) (DOORS OPEN AT 6.30 P.M. FOR REFRESHMENTS) AT THE VILLAGE HALL, STEEPLE ASHTON Every week Queen Elizabeth II meets with her current Prime Minister. We don’t know what they talk about as no minutes are published, or even kept, and none of the twelve Prime Ministers who have served during the Queen’s reign has given anything more than a vague hint of what their discussions have covered. So, how do you make a play out of that? Peter Morgan’s answer is to blend fact and fiction. He draws on what is known about the personalities of various Prime Ministers, and the issues they faced during their periods in office, then mixes in the character of a shrewd and intelligent monarch. He does this by providing us with completely fic- Ken & Doreen, tional, but witty script. On stage in the West End and on Broadway this has early 1960s proved immensely successful, humorously entertaining, well-observed, and the walls. They changed this relatively quickly, updating the layout and has just enough in the way of authenticity to be believable. shelving. Behind one Victorian display cabinet, they found an old broad- This presentation is a National Theatre Live performance of the West End sheet copy of the ‘Daily Telegraph’, dated 14 May 1864. production starring Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II, as she did in ‘The Queen’ for which she won an Oscar in 2006. Many other well know actors While I had much preferred living at Moorfield, this new home fascinated appear as the various Prime Ministers including Paul Ritter as John Major, me. Unbeknown to us at the time, it is one of Steeple Ashton’s late-medi- Edward Fox as Winston Churchill, Richard McCabe as Harold Wilson, Nath- eval, timber-framed hall houses, originally built for a clothier and much aniel Parker as Gordon Brown, Michael Elwyn as Sir Anthony Eden, Hayden altered over the centuries which followed. On our first evening there, still Gwynne as Margaret Thatcher and Rufus Wright as David Cameron. a few months short of my 17th birthday, Terry and I discovered a hidden We are all intrigued by what might go on behind closed doors and ‘The door in my bedroom. It was papered over, with just the wooden grab-handle Audience’ gives us a very entertaining glimpse. left exposed to give the game away. Behind it, much to our surprise, were Tickets £6 available from Steeple Ashton Village Shop or can be stairs winding up to the attic. (A handy access point, as it later transpired reserved by ringing Alison Wilson on 01380 871345 – we were to collect 52 buckets of snow from that roof space after Boxing Night 1962, blown through under the stone tiles during a terrible storm.) Acreshort Community Park Beneath the wallpaper elsewhere in my bedroom, I went on to uncover The ultimate aim for the park off Acreshort Lane is to promote and encour- carved beams. age the health and well-being of all Steeple Ashton residents. Plans include The business did well over the next few years. Along with serving in the an improved entrance, a picnic area, a basket swing and other older chil- stores, my parents would put together grocery orders for villagers and dren’s play equipment and adult outdoor fitness equipment. others, and my father would deliver them in his car. After a while, they man- A grand opening will be held on 22 September this year, which will be a aged to take some short holidays, leaving the shop in the hands of friends celebration of all achieved so far, as well as providing the villagers with the and relations; namely, my mother’s sister Louisa Pollard, my mother-in-law opportunity to have their say in what is completed next. Other plans could Kath Palmer, and Mrs “Glad” Burbidge. My parents maintained an active include a community bulb planting event, children’s nature trail and other part in village life, and dad was elected to serve on the Parish Council, even- annual events. John Aeberhard tually becoming chairman. 8 33 MARY BARNETT APPLE TAKES ROOT IN STEEPLE ASHTON’S PLANS FOR NEW COMMUNITY PARK A Mary Barnett apple tree, a species of dessert apple that originated in the village of Steeple Ashton in the early years of the 20th century, today took its place in the corner of a former school playing field that the local parish council is developing as a community park. A short planting ceremony was attended by Margaret Kyte, 84-year-old granddaughter of Mary Barnett, and great granddaughter Sandra Stevens, bothl still living in the village. Also present were Mel Burge, Pippa Birch and Linda Beavan of the parish council, as well as Penny Aeberhard, who presented the tree to the village after nurturing it in the local Manor orchard for some seven years. Ken with his herd, 1950s Mary Barnett apples are recognised as a separate species by the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale Farm, Faversham in Kent. Mr Victor Ashby, owner of the stores at 48 High Street, was retiring. He Mary Jane Barnett lived at Rose Cottage, Steeple Ashton Common, and had spent most of his life at the shop, and his family had run it since at least died young, at 44, in 1912. She and her husband, Worthy, are both buried the late 1800s – but now, at 67, Vic and his wife were selling up. After much in St Mary’s churchyard. Mary Barnett’s apples were allegedly grown from deliberation, the Acreshort Lane farmhouse plans were abandoned; my par- pips originating on her wedding day. They were, so the story goes, taken ents were to become shopkeepers. from a Lane’s Prince Albert tree growing next to a Lady Sudeley tree. Her Moorfield had been a farm for generations, and worked by our family apples have green flesh with a sub-acid flavour and are ready for picking since my grandfather first took on the lease in the September of 1921. He in mid-October. It’s still possible to grow them, as propagation material is later purchased the property, along with its 11 acres, when the Rood Ashton available. Estate was broken up into lots and sold off, in 1930. Planting the tree: l to r, Linda Beavan; Margaret Kyte; Sandra Stevens, grand- Yet in the September of 1958, the cows and farming equipment were auc- daughter and great granddaughter of Mary Barnett; Pippa Birch; Penny Aeber- tioned, and the 11 acres of land were sold to local farmers. Notice was given hard, who donated the tree. Kneeling with spade, Mel Burge. on the remaining 21 acres of rented fields – and our Church Street home, Moorfield farmhouse, was sold as a private residence. I would no longer work on the land with my father – and a new start beckoned once again for the family. In the first year or so at number 48, my mum and dad felt it necessary for my father to take part-time work on Manor Farm (maybe he just missed being outside). But it was not long before their new venture was prospering, and dad could give up this work to help my mother full time in the shop. They both took to this new life well – and now, they were able to have Sun- days off. But their half-day, on a Thursday, was invariably spent stocking up at ‘Cash and Carry’, firstly in Calne, and later at Stratton’s the wholesaler, Melksham. Margaret Kyte with an Forty eight High Street had been a shop for generations, and also oper- old photograph of ated as a bakery until 1939. When my parents took ownership, old ham her grandparents, hooks still hung from the ceiling, and countless wooden shelves adorned Mary and Worthy Barnett 32 9 FORGET-ME-NOTS-CLUB I am sure my grandfather appreciated having his youngest son and family Meetings resumed after the Christmas break on 21st Feb when The Skylarks around. Despite being advanced in years, he was still working full time on from Primary School paid us a visit, and entertained us with all the farming tasks – which included hand milking – and by now, thanks their singing. Cake was also the order of the day, kindly made by Sue Wind- to my mum, he was being well fed and looked after. Although, during the sor and Margaret Dray, and very much appreciated by everyone. summer months when Terry and I were noisy, he would take his daily short Members will need to bring their thinking caps along to the 7th March afternoon nap ‘away from it all’ – in the wood shed! meeting as a quiz is on the agenda, and on 21st March a Beetle Drive will In January 1956, after a short illness, my grandfather passed away, at the provide amusement to the sound of rattling dice! age of 81. Immediately after the funeral, back at the farmhouse, his ‘last will The Easter Tea and Bingo will be held on 4th April this year. and testament’ was read aloud by the family solicitor. With my dad’s four siblings present, it was announced that Moorfield Farm was to be inher- Glynnis Oakley (Sec) 01225/775681 ited entirely by Ken – the youngest son. The others were to share Herbert’s remaining assets. Red Cross Collection Week Sunday 6th - Saturday 12th May. Until that moment, my parents had assumed the farm would be sold off, If there is any one who would like to help with the collection let Sue Cottle and the proceeds shared between them and my father’s three older brothers know. Tts a great way to meet and get to know people especially if you are and one sister. As it transpired, it seems my grandfather had changed his new in the village. will at the last minute, in recognition of them having come to his aid eight years or so earlier. Cream tea for the people of the Kadugli district of Sudan. Sunday 19th Despite having been left Moorfield, a wonderful inheritance in so many August. Details later. Sue Cottle ways, my dad had little capital with which to run it. He therefore found him- self needing to do something he had never done before: take out a bank In Remembrance of the Fallen from Steeple Ashton and Great loan. Hinton of the Great War 1914 -1918 As for myself, I was to help out mornings, evenings and weekends; I was 14 years old, and until the age at which I could leave school and work full The St. Mary’s Bell Ringers will toll the bells at 6.00pm in solemn respect on time on the farm, I would have to work whenever I was home. The earliest the 100th anniversary of the death of each of the men recorded on both of opportunity to finish my schooling came later that same year – and so the the War Memorials of Great Hinton & Steeple Ashton to mark the sacrifice day before my 15th birthday, when school broke up for Christmas, 1956, I of those who fell in the First World War. left to work full time with my father. We welcome anyone who wishes to join us on these occasions. We are hoping We had 16 cows, and farmed 32 acres. Although it was hard and seven- to have researched brief notes on the lives of each of these men, which we days-a-week, I loved the work. will use during these simple acts of remembrance. (If you have any informa- This way of life was both enjoyable and fulfilling; and yet, after a couple tion, which can be added to these notes, please let us know). of years, despite installing a milking machine which eased things a little, we In March we remember: were still only just making a living – and the loan was barely being paid off. 21-Mar-18 Age: 21 Pte. Eric Keates 2nd Bn. Wilts. R. Plans were drawn up, and passed, to build a new farmhouse and buildings Eric Keates was born on 12th November 1896 in Wingfield, the younger of on our land in Acreshort Lane – as a farm here would avoid having to drive the two sons of Charles and Ellen Keates. Eric’s mother, Ellen, daughter the cows to and from Church Street twice a day for milking in the late spring of Thomas and Leah Huntley, had been baptised at Wingfield (Winkfield) and summer months. Parish Church on August 16th 1869. In 1871 she was a child of two living It was 1958, and by now, after 11 years without a day off, my mum and with her parents on Langham Farm near Tellisford in the parish of North dad were feeling the strain both mentally and physically. But later that year, Bradley. Her mother died in 1877 leaving her father with four children. He a fresh business opportunity arose in the village. married again and by 1881 there was another child and the family were liv- 10 31 continued from the inside front cover -ing in Green Lane Cottage, Southwick; her father was a Game Keeper. Ten years later in 1891 Ellen was a servant (cook) in a house in Wingfield Road, Trowbridge for a Solicitor and his family. Her parents and four children were living in Southwick. Eric’s father, Charles, was born in Tinhead, the son of John and Betsy Keates and was baptised at Edington Priory on 22nd September 1861. In 1871 the family had moved to Berkeley and Charles was at school. Ten years later some of the family had moved to Heathel, presumably nowadays called Heath Hill, a short lane with a few cottages in West Ashton parish on the opposite side of Sandpits Lane to the entrance to Rood Ashton House. Some of the family Ken Berrett on were employed at the House. In 1891 Charles was a stable hand employed Spitfire wing, and living at Rood Ashton House and his parents were still at Heath Hill. BAC, WW II Charles and Ellen married on 3rd May 1893 in the parish of Road Hill. (The spelling to Rode changed in 1919.) Charles Dennis, Eric’s elder brother, was At the centuries-old farmhouse, my parents had to quickly adapt to a differ- born in Trowbridge in 1894 and was nearly three years older than Eric. ent way of living – which, for many others in Steeple Ashton, was then quite In 1901 Eric and his brother and parents were living in Whitley where Eric normal: no hot running water, no indoor flush lavatories, and no electricity and Dennis attended the school after transferring from St Peter’s, Devizes upstairs; bed time was very much by candlelight! that year. By 1901 Eric’s grandfather had died and his grandmother and In our early days at Moorfield, during the winter, my brother Terry and I her two younger children Albert, 19, and Beatrice, 14, were living in Wing- took our weekly baths in front of the living-room fire, in an old tin tub. The field. Eric’s mother died in 1909 and in 1911 Beatrice was living with Eric’s water was heated in a wood-fired copper boiler in the wash house. As for the father and brother Dennis in Woolverton. Eric’s father was a coachman, his toilets, I shall spare the reader full details of the tasks associated with the brother a chauffeur and his aunt Beatrice a servant to the Younghusband management of our double Victorian outside lavatories – except to say that family who lived close by in The Rectory. my grandfather kept a good garden, with lots of lovely fruit and vegetables! In 1911 his grandmother and Albert were still living in Wingfield and Eric, Although my father was earning less than half the wages he had been now 14 had joined them. His brother married in Warminster in 1915 and a receiving just after the war back in Bristol, conditions gradually improved son was born in July the following year. Dennis did not live to see his son’s for us as a family. By the early 1950s, electric lighting was extended to the first birthday, being killed in the war. Their father Charles was buried in St first floor, and a bath had also been plumbed into the old lean-to wash- Mary’s Churchyard on 7th December 1937. house. Hot water still had to be heated, but by now this was in a free-stand- Eric Keates is recorded in the Steeple Ashton War Record Book and on the ing electric boiler. Two flush lavatories had been plumbed in, albeit into the War Memorial. old, brick-built twin-roomed outside privy – which was screened from the Judy Buxton Dean road by a large elderberry bush! The following will be remembered in 2018: For my dad, returning to the family dairy farm had meant working along- side his father seven days a week, and this continued without a break for 10-Apr-18 28 Pte.L ancelot Henry Griffen, 1st/4th Bn. Wilts. R. some years. Despite this, I remember it as a happy time, with much ‘home- 12-Apr-18 22 L. Cpl. Leonard Lionel Griffen, MM D Coy. 1st Bn. Wilts. R. 25-Apr-17 27 CSM Bert Deed - 8th Bn. D.C.L.I. Duke of Cornwall’s Lt Infan made’ fun and laughter. My dad had a great sense of humour, and loved try (101st Anniversary) to make people laugh; a trait which stood he and my mother in good stead 6-Aug-18 27 2nd. Lt. Alfred George Bull, DCM 5th Bn. K.R.R.C. att 8th Bn. later... 18-Aug-18 32 Pte. Thomas Wheatley Wilshire 7th Bn. R. Can. R. During this time, my parents also took on looking after my 13-year-old 6-Sep-18 34 Bdr. Edward William Rogers 316th Siege Bty. R.G.A. cousin Pauline. She remained with us until she married at the age of 18, in 4-Oct-18 37 L. Cpl. Albert George Franklin A Coy 1st Bn. R. Mun. Fus. 8-Oct-18 28 2nd. Lt. Gordon Eyre Baxter 2nd Bn. Devon. Regt. 1956. 30 11 Bonfires and Smoke Nuisance – Guidance from St Mary’s Church Wiltshire County Council: EASTER LILIES Wiltshire Council receives complaints about smoke from garden bonfires, It has become a cusom for the domestic flues and chimneys and about smoke emanating from commercial altar lilies to be donated by those premises. who would like to remember a Garden bonfires produce smoke and smells, which can annoy neighbours loved one. as well as damage the environment. Garden trimmings that are still green If you would like to contribute one and wet can give off lots of smoke, and materials like plastics and rubber lily or more, (cost £3 per stem), create poisonous chemicals when they are burnt. Most garden waste can be please let me know by March 18th easily composted and larger amounts can either be placed in your Green Bin so that I can order them in time and taken away providing you have arranged a Garden Waste Collection or to open their petals. Kay King taken to one of the household waste recycling centres in the county. 870078 If you must have a bonfire to burn any waste that cannot be composted, then it is advisable to follow these simple guidelines. Safari Supper * Warn your neighbours – this gives them an opportunity to close windows Friday 15th June and doors, remove washing off the line and they are much less likely to com- If you are interested in attend- plain ing or hosting, please contact Sue * Ideally burn later in the evening when people are less likely to use their Geddes - 871412 or Johanna Dix- gardens Perkins on 870584. * Only burn dry material An Exhibition of Pictures Further details to follow. * Never burn household rubbish, rubber tyres or anything containing plas- Photographs and Art Work tic, foam or paint of St Mary’s, old and new Saturday 7th April, * Avoid lighting a fire in unsuitable weather conditions - smoke hangs in St Mary’s Church Heritage and 10am- 4:30pm the air on damp, still days. If it is too windy, smoke blows into neighbours’ Cultural Centre, Steeple Ashton Free admission, gardens and windows and across roads A beautiful church in a Refreshments/stall available * Avoid burning when air pollution levels in your area are high or very beautiful village high. You can check air quality on 0800 556677. In aid of St Mary’s Church If you have a picture to lend * Keep your fire away from trees, fences and buildings [email protected] for the day, or work to submit * Warning Never use oil, petrol or methylated spirits to light a fire - you Pursuing Edward Thomas (all are welcome) get in touch could damage yourself as well as the environment. The WW1 poet and his link with * Never leave a fire unattended or leave it to smoulder - put it out. Tel:870119 [email protected] Wiltshire and Steeple Ashton

There are no byelaws restricting bonfires in Wiltshire’s Area and there are A talk by David Kerslake no specific times of day restricting bonfires. St Mary’s Church Flower Ladies Wedding Flower Festival - July Thursday 15th March However if smoke is caused by a bonfire is creating a nuisance, the council 7:30p.m. has powers to take action under the provisions of the Environmental Pro- Do you have a vintage Wedding Dress? Could you loan St Mary’s Church BA14 6EW tection Act 1990. Private individuals can also take action through a Mag- Tickets £5 including welcoming istrates’ Court. If a bonfire is causing smoke to drift across a road, please it for this display in the Church Contact Petra Brown 870696 wine/juice the from Village shop contact the police. /01380870119/email above If you are affected by smoke, we would recommend that you discuss it ini- [email protected] 12 29 -ally with your neighbour, as they may not realise that they are causing a problem. Always try to be reasonable, otherwise your discussions may end up in further arguments and create unwanted future neighbour tension. Explain the details of your concern and try and agree a reasonable solution or compromise. If the situation does not improve, then feel free to contact the Environmental Protection Team. We would ask you to fill out a smoke nuisance log sheet for two weeks and then return it to us. The nuisance log sheets are very impor- tant and the Council will not take any further action unless it has received completed nuisance log sheets from you. If the log is not returned without a reasonable explanation within 21 days the complaint will be closed. Once we have received your log sheets a member the case officer will assess them and contact you to discuss what will happen next. We may write to the alleged offender bringing their attention to the matter and providing them with a simple guide on how to have a bonfire whilst reducing the risk of it being a nuisance to neighbours. We may also make visits in an attempt to witness the smoke. Officers will usually undertake a maximum of three visits to substantiate your complaint. If after the three visits no nuisance has been established, the council will close the investigation. Further information can be found at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/env- health-smoke-nuisance.

Your Village Hall Needs You! If you’ve a few hours a month to spare, are pro-active and have plenty of new ideas, the Steeple Ashton Village Hall Committee needs you. The hall is a valuable asset to the Steeple Ashton community and needs new committee members - please help us! If you’re interested, please email Sandra at [email protected] or call 01225 703144 (day)/01225 356196 (evening). The “Friends” began the oil scheme as a way of reducing lorry traffic to the vil- lage as well as endeavouring to find a saving in oil prices through the joint bulk Steeple Ashton Village Hall Notices order. To be part of this scheme you must be a member of the society (the member- The Steeple Ashton Village Hall AGM will be held on Thursday April 12 ship fee has now risen to a staggering cost of £2 per member).An additional at 7.30pm – open to attendance from all members of the community. cost of £2 per household is required to join the scheme. Orders should be of 500lt or more, and they are very good at topping up tanks. Key and Saucepan Amnesty – If you have a front/back door key to the It goes without saying that membership to the “Friends” is amazingly worth- hall (and are not a key holder) or if you have the hall’s very large sauce- while; the oil scheme is an additional benefit for everyone. The aim is to arrange delivery of our bulk order on the last Thursday of the pan, please return to Dick Little as soon as possible. month. Orders need to be in by the third Friday (earlier at Christmas) you can do this by ‘phone, email, note or word of mouth. Many thanks, Sandra Stevens 01225 356196 Colin Green 870119 [email protected] 28 13 FROM THE ARCHIVES

‘Steeple Ashton, Great Hinton & Semington Newsletter’

In March 1973...

David Berrett Newsletter now.... During the past year, this newsletter managed to stay in the black! It is not easy to say how we are doing but more colour might be used in the coming year which would be good. Ed. 14 27 Steeple Ashton Natural History Club March 2018 Just when I thought there was nothing to report and I had to get something into the Magazine tonight, up comes a query about stream bank holes! Are they water voles? Well I don’t know, but well done to the someone who has spotted them. She said: William Light “I am just wondering if there have been any sightings of water voles in Painting & Decorating the brook past the fields as you walk towards the bridle way that takes you Carpentry & General Home Maintenance to East Town? I’m enquiring as I have seen some burrows down by the Professional & Friendly Service water’s edge near a wooden bridge. They are quite small, 4cm, and I don’t Tel: 07974 302025 Email: [email protected] think they are rat holes and I feel they are too close to the water to perhaps be one of the other rodents. It would be so amazing to have water voles so Diary Dates close by! It would be useful if anyone can look out for signs of them too”. Saturday 7th April, Exhibition, St Mary’s Church I have circulated the group, but then also remember kingfishers use bank Thursday 12th April, Village Hall AGM holes! Friday 13th April, RBL Dinner This website has useful info on looking out for signs of them. https://ptes. Saturday 14th April, Concert Edington Priory Church org/get-involved/surveys/countryside-2/national-water-vole-monitoring- Friday 15th June, Safari Supper programme/nwvmp-training-section/searching-for-field-signs/ Saturday 23rd June, Village Fete Apart from woodpeckers drumming and other signs of spring, I don’t think 13/15 July, Wedding Flowers Festival, St Mary’s Church I have ever noted so many rooks in the village. Sunday August 19th, Sudan Cream Tea Next meeting Thursday 22nd, March. 7.00 pm at the Methodist church. Please note this change of date. Gill V will speak about badgers. About 9 years ago we had a debate about Postal Collections in Steeple Postal Collections the pros and cons of badger culling, but we never understood more on the Ashton in Great Hinton badgers’ life style etc. Mon - Fri Saturday All news: Penny Aeberhard, 01380 870602, penny.aeberhard@btinternet. com or David Culverhouse, 01380 871621, [email protected] Longs Arms 4.15pm 10am Mon - Fri Saturday Newleaze 12noon 11am 4.15pm 8.30am Proposed Westbury Incinerator (Gasification). Ashton 11.30am 11am A more serious topic to think of the wider ecological perspective, for our Common village*: Seeing a rather horrific poster, with an illustration of black clouds emanat- Steeple Ashton Village Hall Contact Details ing from a new chimney stack, I attended a meeting in Westbury to discuss New Daytime/Work Telephone Number: 01225 703144 the proposal by Hills, our local Wilts recycling waste disposal company. Per- New Evening/Home Telephone Number: 01225 356196 mission for application had been granted back in 2015. New Email Address: [email protected] Steve Carver from Steeple Ashton filled me in beforehand: Payments and booking forms can still be posted to: “The proposal from Hills is for a gasification plant. This is very different to Moorfield Farm, 2 Church Street, Steeple Ashton what GENeco is doing at Avonmouth, where we recycle waste food back to Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 6EW agriculture and inject gas into the national gas grid. Many thanks, Sandra Stevens My thoughts are that gasification is still a relatively new technology and 26 15 using a single reactor to treat a wide range of different types of waste is not the most efficient way to operate. The proposed gasification plant will take all types of waste and heat them up to very high temperatures at which the materials will be vapourised. The vapours will largely comprise hydrocarbons, and these will then be burned to generate electricity in the gasification plant. Eric Lépine In my opinion this proposed plant is not a “renewable” energy plant Managing Director Tel: 07787 557599 and should only be used for dealing with wastes that cannot be recycled. Email: [email protected] Increasingly there are better ways to recycle plastics so gasification should Website: www.silkwisecatering.co.uk only be used for those wastes for which there are no other uses. For those non-recyclable wastes, gasification is better than landfill as it will gener- Loose Covers and Curtains ate electricity and avoid filling yet more of our precious land-space. The plant will have to meet certain emission standards, but it would be Individually made to your own worth understanding how the Environmental Agency (EA) plans to check specifications that the emissions comply with the proposed emissions offered by Hills. Free estimates One of the biggest issues with the plant will be the quantity of waste to Sue Hocking be treated each year, and how this is transported to the site. Hills will 01225 865706 need to confirm which routes will be used and should avoid using the A350 0774 8780985 through the middle of Westbury. Bringing the waste in by rail might be a [email protected] better option.” But at the meeting we were categorically told that the train option was not on. Here are some extracts from a local paper on the meeting, with some adaptation and personal comments. “Emotions ran high as protestors against a waste incineration plant in Westbury said they do not trust either site operator Hills or the Environ- ment Agency to keep the town safe and healthy if the scheme goes ahead. Around 130 residents from all over the county attended the meeting, called by Westbury Town Council in response to mounting public concern about the plan to construct an advanced thermal treatment gasification plant, which will burn rubbish at the firm’s Northacre site, alongside the railway area. Presentations from the EA and Hills Waste were followed by a heated question time session. Friends of the Earth had an articulate older man with very specific questions for us eg where would the plume from the stack be falling?. The particulate matter from the stack, would be very, very fine, with some trace toxic contaminants. Hills was challenged by many: could we trust them? –“Can Hills ensure that materials that I separate out as being recyclable, in other words recov- erable, will not end up in your incinerator? Ed Dodd of Hills answered: “Yes you can trust us and we are not bending the rules. But I can’t confirm 16 25 that what you separate out, will not end up in the incinerator. If plastics or materials that you separate are contaminated, they will be taken in for incineration.” A member of the South West Wilts Green Party, commented: “Apart from particulate matter and other chemical pollutants released on the town, the Westbury plant would contribute CO2 to the atmosphere”. The plant would last about 25 years so it was apparent to me that it would, indeed, be an interim position for waste management. But without fast commitment to major green energy policy, the alternative to improve our present large landfill (producing methane) would be a viable short-term solution. I wanted to ask if we leave the EU what then? And what standards will we comply with as there is much more experience in, say, Germany, than in the UK. Many people seemed confused and unhappy by Hills’ responses: e.g. “Hills will argue that this is less damaging to the climate than landfill, but nei- ther incineration nor landfill are the solution”. At the moment 30 per cent of Wiltshire’s household waste is burnt in an incinerator in Slough. This is what needs to be reduced by improving recycling and collecting food waste”. We heard that there will be a new plant at Swindon to be managing plastic waste. Alison Mobile Hairdresser Westbury mayor Gordon King, chairing the meeting, often had to step in to Have your hair done in the comfort keep things in order. He said: “We wanted to listen to and hear what people of your own home. had to say, and they did not disappoint. This was a well-argued debate competitive rates. on both sides where two underlying issues remain unresolved. The first is 25 years experience in Womens, the extent to which we can trust the proposers to comply absolutely with Mens and Childrens hairdressing. the conditions of the permit and the EA to provide effective enforcement of Call Allison on 07974125840 those conditions. The second is the extent to which we can truly have confi- or 01225 519755 dence that the process of gasification is really the best available technique for dealing with residual waste and that it does not present a major long- term hazard to our health. “What is clear is that sooner or later a tough decision must be made which will not satisfy everybody”. It is really electricity generation and landfill management versus potential air pollution and aesthetics. Hills confirmed its plans meet all the environmental and public health guidelines, and said it will be submitting an application for the permit in March. Penny Aeberhard. * in my self-appointed role - anyone else free to volunteer to this positon, very welcome! 24 17 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

Rainbows; 5 - 6pm. Amy Lester: 871785 0r email - Tuesday [email protected]. Brownies; 5.30 - 7pm. Term Time. Carolyn Collis: 01380 870379 Guides; 7 - 8.30pm. 8am Prayers in St Mary’s Church Wednes- Baby and Toddler Group; 9.30am - 11.30am 1st and 3rd Wednesdays; Forget-Me-Not Club, 2.30pm. 2nd Wednesday; Women’s Institute, 7.30pm Thursday Dance! Dee Dee Wilde, 10.30am contact 01380 870 489 YOGA; 10.30am - 12noon Friday Walking group meets at the Longs Arms; 2.30pm Friday Club; 3.45pm - 5.30pm, Term Time. Contact 01380 870013. March 2nd Fri WWDP, 2pm, Methodist Church 3rd Sat Lasagne Supper, VH, 7.30pm 14th Wed Mobile Library; 11.00-12noon, Steeple Ashton, The Green 28th 4th Sun Village Spring Clean, see p3 7th Wed Forget-Me-Nots, Quiz, 2.30pm, VH 9th Fri Family Bingo, see p29 12th Mon Main Parish Council, VH, 7.30pm 15th Thur Talk, St Mary’s Church, 7.30pm 20th Tues Newsletter deadline 21st Wed Forget-Me-Nots, Beetle Drive, 2.30pm, VH 22nd Thur Natural History Club, Methodist church, 7pm 23rd Fri St Mary’sTrust AGM, VH, 7.30pm 24th Sat The Audience, VH, 7pm 27th Tues Concert, St Mary’s Church, 7pm 18 23 Pete Clark Building Solutions ...the builder that cares

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