Seend Short Mat Bowls Club was formed in 1998 as a result of a Village Appraisal questionnaire which indicated that a number of residents would be interested in some form of Bowls if it were available.
There being no bowling green in the immediate area (maybe this situation could be remedied some time in the future?), it was decided that the Short Mat version of the game would be a suitable alternative. We started up with borrowed mats and expert coaching from David and Glenys Gilbert, who are still the driving forces behind most of the Short Mat bowling in the county, eventually obtaining a Millennium Grant to equip ourselves with two mats and all the ancillary equipment.
22 people initially signed on, and our membership numbers have fluctuated around this figure during the six years of the Club’s existence (including for several years some enthusiastic Under-18’s).
The Club, meeting every week on Wednesday evenings in the Usher Pavilion, rapidly began to gain a reputation for both its sociability and its achievements, and started to attract members from not only Seend but the surrounding area.
We can be proud of our competition achievements to date – we won our division of the Wiltshire Winter League 2000-1 at our first attempt thereby being promoted to the First Division, winning that two years later and missing out last season by a mere one point. Over the years we have had successes in the County Singles and Triples, as well as other tournaments around the country, being very “chuffed” when we won the last County Summer Open 4’s, against opposition consisting of 52 teams from 10 different Counties! 7 of our members form part of the Wiltshire County Squad of 37 players.
Short Mat Bowls is, of course, a game designed for village halls, and maybe the slopes of the Usher Pavilion surface give us a definite home advantage – we’ve never lost a home game during our entire existence (it’s obviously going to prove fatal to have put that in writing!).
If this all sounds as though we take it all too seriously, Wednesday nights are very sociable, relaxed affairs, and there’s always a good “natter” over tea and biscuits.
Come along and give it a try!
The Rectory, Saturday, 10th July – 2.30p.m.
With thanks to the Revd. Sacha Pearce the Garden Party will be held in the Rectory garden and will include the annual stalls, games, competitions, etc.
Please contact the Rector (828615) or the Churchwardens if any one can help with supplying items for the various stalls: i.e. White Elephant, cakes, toiletries, raffle prizes, etc. These will be much appreciated.
The Garden Party is always a happy and friendly occasion. Do come along and enjoy yourselves.
'How awesome is this place, thank you for its beauty and peace …’Often there are entries similar to this in our Visitor’s Book near the door of the Holy Cross Church. Many features of the church and its life contribute to this atmosphere but on a Sunday morning, at either service, welcoming people as they arrive, the role of the sidesmen is a vital feature of the worship of the day.
The Churchwardens and the Rector warmly thank those who have served the church in this way and are very pleased that you are still willing to do so! If there are any more men and women who, on a Sunday morning, could prepare the books, calmly ‘meet and greet’, welcome new-comers and visitors, take the collection and generally assist the Churchwardens … and who could think of offering themselves as sidesmen, please would you speak to either Tony Hill or Walter Mayell.
Thank you very much indeed!
At the meeting in May Mr. Brazier spoke to us about Uganda and showed the Mothers
Union a video about “Sending a Cow” to this country.
At the Church Garden Party on the 10th July we shall be running a Stationery Stall. Items which will be gratefully received may be left with any M.U. member or can be brought to the Rectory on the Saturday morning.
Bishop Peter is coming to the Pavilion, Seend on Tuesday, 13th July at 2.00p.m. This is a Deanery Social Afternoon and also next month, Wednesday 21st6 July at 12noon, we are having a “Teddy Bears Picnic Lunch” and entertainment at the Pavilion. The wave of Prayer is on 29th July – 4.20p.m. – 4.45p.m.
Thank you to the many people who donated to this collection. The amount raised in Seend and Bulkington was £768.
Thanks also go to the many collectors who spent time in collecting for this charity.
On Sunday, 6th June, 2004 , the 60th anniversary of D.Day, there was a parade and service held at The Church of The Holy Cross, Seend. The service was combined with the normal Trinity Sunday service at 0930 and in spite of the early start, was well attended by 22 members. The parade was commanded by our Chairman, Colonel Nigel Knocker and we were led into church by Brian Culverhouse, our Standard Bearer. The Remembrance part of the service was taken by our Padre, the Revd. Freddie White, our President Peter Hicks read the Memorium and Major Roger Brind read his intercession prayers.
On Saturday, 5th June, we held our annual Dug Out Supper in the Social Club. This was very well attended by approximately 80 members and non-members, and an excellent meal was prepared by our willing team of volunteers. The evening was rounded off by a first class performance of nostalgic songs and poems from the D Day era, given by The Tisbury Trio, who very generously donated their fee to Royal British Legion funds. A most enjoyable evening was had by all.
There is now a very smart circular seat around the tree for all to enjoy. You can sit and watch the tennis, cricket, children in the playground or just sit with a friend for a chat!
A very big thank you to the Last of the Summer Wine for constructing it and placing it around the tree.
Wiltshire Gardens Trust: Cadenham Manor, Foxham. Mr. & Mrs. Nye were very welcoming to this vast garden which had belonged to Mrs. Nye’s grandmother, and which they are in process of restoring. Mr. Nye gave an account of the history of the 16th century house. Part of the gardens consisted of small rooms surrounded by yew hedges, which Mrs. Nye’s mother could remember jumping over at the age of ten years. The site of an old canal was being restored as a water garden, on the boundaries and there is an existing moat with water lilies. The parterre, white and rose gardens were in full bloom and the red, yellow begonia and flock gardens were yet to come.
Members Gardens: Many thanks to all members who spent long, hot hours preparing their gardens for viewing and thanks to those who came to look and enjoy. So far, the evenings have been very pleasant.
Church Garden Party: Saturday, 10th July:
Please bring any offerings of plants, produce, cut flowers, etc. along to the
Rectory garden during the morning of this event. Would those who have offered
to help come in the morning to help price and organise the stall and/or help
run the stall during the afternoon. Many thanks.
Just a few weeks to Fete Day! Programmes will soon be available to whet your
appetites for what should be a great day’s entertainment.
The Westerners Show team is returning to Seend to re-enact scenes from the old American West, with authentic props and costumes, and no doubt a good old-fashioned shoot-out. The exciting dog sport of Flyball will be demonstrated by the Bassett Allsorts team and the children will be catered for by Snuffy’s Magic Show as well as a Punch & Judy performance.
A different flavour of music, provided by the Rough Street Jug Band, will be the accompaniment for the afternoon, and of course, there will be all the usual side-shows and stalls to relieve you of all that heavy cash weighing down your pockets.
Hopefully the Grand Parade and Fancy Dress will be bigger and better than ever, so get your thinking caps on and come up with some Float or Costume ideas. Prizes are given for Best Decorated Vehicles, Best Children’s Floats, Best Fancy Dressed Pedestrian and Best Children’s Fancy Dress.
If you have anything to give away, here are the possibilities -
Tombola Prizes – contact Colin Waldeck (828946) or Christine O’Reilly
(828888)
Toys in good condition – contact Mary Gray (827238).
Good quality books – contact Ann Hunt (828581).
Bottles for the Bottle Stall – contact Frank Teasdale (828617).
White Elephant – clear out those cupboards! - contact Ron Apted (828427)
or bring it to the Pavilion the week of the Fete (Wednesday, 11th August 7 to
9p.m., Thursday, 12th August 7 to 9p.m., all day Friday, 13th August.
The Cake Stall is asking this year for small home made cakes, biscuits, shortbread, buns, etc. and savouries like cheese straws. Large cakes are also welcome but we thought it would be nice to have a change this year – contact Lilian Smallshaw (828540).
There are really good prizes to be won in the Lucky Programme and Grand Draw competitions – don’t forget to enter on the day!
Lastly a plea for helpers both on the day and also in the planning of next year’s event – contact Colin on 828946.
Our May meeting was spent strolling around the Roundway White Horse accompanied by John Girvan who gave us an informative talk on the history of the local area. This was followed by a drink (to warm us up!) and a chat in a Devizes pub.
Forthcoming activities: 28th July promises to be a fun evening as we head off for a visit to Cranmore Station which will include a ride on a steam train and a jazz band for entertainment. For our August meeting (26th) the ladies are organising a visit by coach to a vineyard for an evening of wine tasting.
The Village Hall committee have been making plans for the future use of the hall and fund raising activities. We hope to have an aerobics class starting sometime this month on Wednesday evenings. This will not be very strenuous (or terribly expensive!) and details can be had from Thelma on 828 101. The Mothers and Toddlers group are going to have their first session on Thursday, 15th July (details from Gill Breach (828272). We would be very pleased to see people from Seend for the events. David Stirling has been working on a grant application from the Lotto which, if successful may result in us being able to have the toilets adapted for use by the disabled. A hot water heater has been purchased and will shortly be fitted into the ladies toilet. According to David, if we could work up some enthusiasm for a “Heritage Project” there are some fantastic grants available. Volunteers? We have engaged our builder, Melvin Difford, for a week in the Autumn to attend to the brickwork on the east wall and we have plans for a Village Canal cruise in early September. The restoration team led by Spike Flynn intend to hold a social/dance/musical evening at Millcroft in August (All-Same-Auction-No Auction!).
On Saturday, 4th July (American Independence Day) the Great Bulkington Railway will be in steam for most of the day in support of the Village Scarecrow Event. We will be giving rides to adults and children with lemonade, teas and a few ‘stickies’ on the lawns! So if anyone would like to send their children off to the seaside, please come along. The tide is rather a long way out so we can’t actually see the sea! BYO Buckets & Spades!
Sundays 4th & 11th July: Floral Art for Scarecrow Trail.
Sunday, 18th & 25th July – Mrs. Woolnough.
July – Mrs. Elliott.
The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 14th July at 8pm. In Bulkington Village Hall.
Re: Bulkington Parish Council Chairman’s Report:
I would like to clarify the third paragraph of the Chairman’s Report in
case it should lead to any misunderstanding :
It should read -
“Following the closure of Steeple Ashton School, we wrote to the County
Council confirming our continued support of Keevil School which has been, and
is, attended by many children from Bulkington.
Bulkington Scarecrow Trail: Saturday, the 3rd and Sunday the 4th July,
2004.
For the past six months, the ‘Scarecrow Team’ have been meeting
on Saturday mornings to assemble, dress and decorate our characters for this
year’s Scarecrow Trail.
We feel rightly proud of our efforts and our teamwork, and the weekly meetings have been full of happy chat and dedicated work. Now the time has come to show our creations to the Village and hopefully many visitors.
We invite you to join this fun weekend, either by displaying a decoy scarecrow of your own or just being part of this special fund raising event. We look forward to the pleasure of your company, fair weather and much fun and merry-making.
At our meeting in June Mrs.J.Bowman entertained us telling stories of sayings by youngsters and her talk was called “Out of the Mouths of Babes”. The photograph of a child competition was won by Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell.
The speaker at our July meeting will be Mrs. Enid Burnett and her talk is called “Canine Partners”. The competition is for a dog photograph or ornament. There will also be a Bring & Buy stall at this meeting.
A reminder: The Saturday morning breakfasts will start on 31st July and the last one on the 21st August.
Summer is well and truly here and Wimbledon is just around the corner so it must be time for Tennis! Anyone interested in joining the Seend Tennis Club should contact Ric Ellinger (828683), Garry Reason (828983) or Philip Proven (828407).
We have coaching for the juniors on Tuesday evening and competitive league matches on Monday and Wednesday evenings (until August) but the courts are available, for members only, at all other times for fun tennis. The booking form will soon appear on the Tennis Club Notice Board, which is now positioned in the entrance to the Pavilion.
Membership this year is the same as last – £55 Family; £25 Adult and £5 Junior/Student. (Members please note that fees are now due and should be paid to Garry Reason.
So come on you budding Tim’s; dust off your rackets and get out there on the courts – summer will not last for ever!
At the AGM of the Seend Shuttle Committee, held on the 25th May, the chairman thanked those who had retired from their bus duties this year, particularly remembering Olive Barrett who died at Christmas and is sadly missed by us all.
We have been very happy to welcome Alison Cobbing, who has taken over the private hire bookings and organising drivers and Graham Appleby who does much of our service driving and is the bus key holder. After several kind offers of new homes for the bus, we now house it in The Barge car park which is very accessible and doesn’t disturb anyone. With the help of the school children’s posters, which were all displayed at the meeting, and the free voucher insert in Spotlight a few months ago, we have done our best to encourage more passengers to use the service runs. We also have information, timetable, and pictures on the excellent Seend website (www.weend.org.uk).
Our treasurer reported another good financial year. Even though bus fares were down and repairs and insurance up, we still made a surplus of £2,089.45. With the continued support of the Council we can begin the process of acquiring our next bus. Providing new drivers come forward to replace those stalwarts who are approaching insurance retirement age, we can continue knowing that the financial backing is there. During a general discussion at the end of the meeting, it was agreed that the body work of the bus should be tidied up – so you should have a smarter bus to hire before too long. Do pass on any requests for the specifications for the new bus. We are already thinking about more room for shopping trolleys and heated mirrors and windscreen.
First Wednesday shopping trips:
The Shuttle still goes to Bath or Salisbury on the first Wednesday of each month,
on a private hire arrangement.
Call Terry on 828203 to book your place.
At the time of writing, it looks like the next RAW event will be on Sunday, 3rd October at 8.00p.m. (not 11th September as stated at the Lye Field AGM). The artists this time will be the Duo del Fuego, classical guitar and violin. As usual, any profits will go towards the upkeep of the Pavilion and playing field.
It’s the time of year when members of Seend Cleeve Sailing Club, with the assistance of Seend Fawlty Players, come round collecting goodies for the bottle stall at the Fete. Anything from a magnum of champers to a tin of mushy peas will do – it’s all in a good cause! Watch out for us as follows :
Monday, 9th August - The Street.
Tuesday, 10th August - Sells Green and Martinslade.
Wednesday, 11th August - Seend Cleeve.
If we miss you, you can always bring your bottles along to the stall on Fete day. Any Fawlty Players who can volunteer to help, please ring Frank on 828617.
If you’re new to the village, or have (or are about to have) new neighbours, please ring Tessa on 828617 for a copy of the Welcome Booklet, which has lots of info about the village.
The draws took place on 1st June, following the Lye Recreation Field Committee
AGM and Quarterly Meeting, and on 14th June at the start of a meeting of the
Fete Committee. The draws were made by Committee members, and the lucky winners
were :
May, 2004:
1st prize £35. Nr. 183. Mr.M.Mayell.
2nd prize: £30. Nr. 51. Mrs. Joyce Brand.
3rd prize: £20. Nr. 128. Mr. Roger Allen.
4th prize: £15. Nr. 147. Mrs. Pauline Brown.
June, 2004:
1st prize: £35. Nr. 122. Mrs. E. Howe.
2nd prize: £30. Nr. 117. Mr. Geoff Cooper.
3rd prize: £20. Nr. 139 Mrs. Walsh.
4th prize: £15. Nr. 158. Mrs. S. Davies.
100+ Club “New Year“:
The switch over to the new 12-month period – May to April – was
completed without problem. Thanks to all subscribers for responding so efficiently.
In the process we attracted 13 new subscribers, which means we presently have
157 members, our highest total ever! I would like to raise this figure to 200
– or is that too ambitious? Nevertheless, in 12 months time, when you
see the renewal notice in Spotlight, think about the possibility, and make sure
that your subscription is promptly returned so that I can concentrate on the
remaining 43 …
As a result of the higher membership, total receipts are £2,270, of which £750 has gone to the Lye Field, leaving £1,520 to be distributed as prizes as follows :
* Each month – excluding December – there will be the usual 4
prizes: £35, £30,
£20, and £15..
* In December there will be 9 prizes, as follows: £100, £75, £50,
£45, £40, £35, £30 and two further prizes of £25
each.
Thanks to everyone for supporting the Lye Field. Enjoy it!.
Dave and Lorraine Spencer moved into Wick Farm, Keevil at Christmas and so did Devizes Kats and Kits in Care. The voluntary rescue is now fully functional and we are full up with rescue and sanctuary cats. The setting is idyllic for them and for us.
Most of our existing helpers stayed with us but we are still in need of more
help for some mornings. If you are 16 or over and love cats and have a few hours
to spare, please contact Lorraine on: 01380 828850 (Answer phone is always on).
A great programme of events is in place for the summer and autumn – Seend Social Club is the place to be, so make sure you note the following events in your diary now!!!
Summer BBQs:
Weather permitting will take place on 17th July and 21st August
– we are hoping to get some interesting beers in for the occasions.
Seend Social Club’s first Wine Fest – Saturday, 11th September,
2004:
Following the great success of the Beer Festival, Seend Social Club is about
to stage its first Wine Fest. Details are currently in the planning stage, so
put the date in your diary and keep your eyes peeled for posters.
Welcome to the House of Fun – A tribute to Madness on Saturday,
25th September.:
Come along and stomp the night away to a fantastic Madness tribute band. Tickets
available from Sam Sainsbury (01380 828157) - Members £10, non members
£12.
Charity Dance – Saturday, 16th October:
Dance the night away to firm favourites of Seend Social Club, ‘Get This’
Tickets will be available from Ray Willis (01225 708811) or Geoff Wiltshire
(01380 828603).
Madonna is back – Saturday, 13th November:
By popular demand we bring back our Madonna tribute evening. Tickets available
from Sam Sainsbury (01380 828157) - Members £10, non members £12.
New Year’s Eve 2004 at Seend Social Club – Get ready to
party:
After the fantastic response we received from those who partied this New Year
in, arrangements are already in place for New Year’s Eve 2004 for you
to pop those party poppers, burst those balloons and throw those streamers.
Hopefully bigger and better - it’s the place to be, so make sure you’re
there!
Looking for a Venue?
As many of you will know, the Club is a fantastic venue for parties, christening
and weddings, etc. and provides great value for money. If you are interested
in making a booking, please contact Stan Wiltshire on 01380 828559 for availability
and prices.
Friday, 11th June: walkers met at Market Cross in Devizes on a beautiful summers evening to do a Heritage Walk. We had the expertise of Mr. John Girvan, a local historian and author.
We were encouraged to look up at old buildings to witness interesting masonery, brickwork and timbers, all of which we had been unaware of until now. John dressed accordingly, complete with sword, to trace the history from mediaeval times. Stories relating to Bishop Roger, Matilda and the Castle were but a few fascinating facts of that era.
The tour took about 1½ hours and finished where it had started. John was thanked by Lin Salter for an excellent evening.
Sunday, 4th July: Meet in Rusty Lane for a 10.00a.m. departure. Local walk of approximately 5½ miles in the Keevil area. This walk is intended to coincide with Bulkington Scarecrow event. We did a similar walk last year which proved to be very popular. Can you please come prepared with a pound coin to participate!
The local pub, village hall and marquee will be available for purchasing refreshments, in this way we can be supporting the local Church and cancer charities. Leader: Bob Howe (828554).
Sunday, 11th July: Meet in Rusty Lane for 9.30a.m. departure – 6½ - Amesbury and Woodford Valley. Bring refreshments. Leaders: Terry and Sheila Williams (01225 704800).
Monday, 19th July: Ramble and Barbecue style meal at Berwick St.James. The format will be as before – a ‘cuppa’ at 4.00p.m. prior to leaving at 4.30p.m. with meal planned for 7.00p.m. Cost £6 and there will be a raffle. Please contact me (01225 706451) to book a meal by Sunday, 11th July. Those members that are on the 11th walk can let me know then.
Meet in Rusty Lane at 3.15p.m. for cars to travel to Berwick. If you are unable to make the afternoon walk, please endeavour to make your own way to Berwick for the evening social and meal.
Friends of Berwick have been organising this event for several years for us,
and always proved to be very enjoyable.
The Spotlight team has always believed in the value of humour and has taken the view that a good laugh can be as good as a tonic. To this end it has, over the years, included in the text various “spoofs” and these have been enjoyed by many readers. Indeed, many of these were submitted by readers. Unfortunately, real life today results in so many bizarre, un-believable and outrageous events being reported in the media and these are often so incredible that it becomes almost impossible to detect the spoof from the truth. Spotlight has no wish to confuse readers and from now there will be no spoofs. However, the magazine will always try to find good humour and will welcome reports on humorous events and/or nice jokes. We cannot guarantee printing but please send your funny stories to us.
By April, 1967 the Lye Field was vested in the ownership of the Parish but still had to raise the necessary money to pay off the loan. The Committee assessed that the total costs of purchasing and preparing the Lye Field as a recreation ground would amount to around £8,000. A grant of 75% of this amount was possible leaving the Parish to raise some £2,000.
With a view to increasing the size of the Committee, existing organisations within the Parish were invited to nominate a representative to serve on the committee. The organisations were The Royal British Legion, Women’s Institute, Working Men’s Club, Tennis Club, 60+ Club, Scouts, Guides, Parochial Church Council and the Methodist Chapel. The Cricket and Football Clubs were each asked to nominate two representatives.
To reduce bank interest charges it was agreed to approach interested parties in the Village asking for interest-free loans for the period of one year. An appeal was also made in Spotlight asking all and sundry for free loans of any amount for a period not exceeding one year. Also, as a starter to fund raising, draw tickets would be sold for the Derby Horse Race and additionally, Jack Holloway offered to organise a traction engine rally. It was thought that this could be arranged for August.
By the end of May, 1967, the amount raised in interest loans amounted to £3,520.
(This would have to be repaid within a year). The Derby draw produced a profit
of £29.10s.2d. (£29.51).
Also by this time, two sub-committees had been established; one to plan the development of the field and the other to plan the traction engine rally and the flower show. The latter committee very quickly realised that the traction engine rally would be a major event and that the time scale was un-realistic. They would plan for August 1968.
Progress continued in other areas. The title deeds were deposited in Barclays Bank and the field was appropriately insured. Formal planning permission was approved for the change of use from agricultural land to playing field and on Monday, 31st July, 1967, a working party met to erect goal posts and swings. Later plans included the provision of a tackle shed with the appropriate equipment, a hard tennis court and a Pavilion. There were also plans for a swimming pool but this did not materialise.
Despite the high levels of support from many people there were a few dissenting mutterings from a small number of people. The swings on the Lye Field attracted children who, when enjoying themselves, were inclined to be noisy. Furthermore, the swings squeaked. Some thought that the new playing field was too far from Sells Green and others felt that because previous sports matches had been played in a field in the Cleeve, the field should be located in that area. All of these comments were politely heard but such mutterings very quickly disappeared.
Fund raising continued. A beech tree in the centre of the field was removed, cut up, and sold off as logs. An evening of skittles at The Barge produced £20.1s.0d. (£20.05). A whist drive raised £8.11s.6d. and a Guy Fawkes bonfire raised £4.10s.9½d. Formal applications had been made seeking grants from Wiltshire County Council and from the Playing Fields Association. These applications were formally acknowledged but due to the economic situation of the day, funds were short and it would take time before the applications could be considered. The Tithe was redeemed by the Tithe Redemption Committee for the sume of £20.13s.0d.
The first Annual General Meeting was held in the Women’s Institute on 1st March, 1968. There was reason for self-satisfaction. The Field had been purchased, a successful and achieving administration was in place, a range of activities were proceeding and the Seend Lye Recreation Field was gently taking shape. Accounts for the first year showed that outstanding loans, bank overdrafts and sundry creditors amounted to the total debt of £3,451.13s.4d. John Hutchinson would take over the duties of Honorary Treasurer from the 1st April, 1968.
Whilst all of the field work was taking place, the Traction Engine Rally Committee had been working hard and the most significant aspect of this project was its sheer enormity. It was perhaps a good thing that those involved were inexperienced and unaware of what they were taking on because the size of the task was simply immense. A brief look at the initial planning gives an indication of what was involved.
The Rally would be held in Mr. John Cottle’s field at Redstocks on Saturday and Sunday, the 28th and 29th July, 1968. People were tasked to arrange and be responsible for publicity and sale of programmes, providing fuel (coal and water) for the traction engines, car parking and pedestrian control, field preparation and subsequent cleaning, security, refreshments and many, many more activities. Some of the more unusual tasks included placing old railway sleepers at the roadside so that traction engines could enter the field. More sleepers were needed to build a bridge into the car-park. Grass had to be left uncut beneath the gallopers (or merry-go-round) but cow manure had to be removed. This was because if the roundabout was unevenly loaded with riders then it might move about when revolving at speed. It would slide more easily on short grass and any manure would act as a lubricant.
There was a search for a celebrity to open the event. One suggestion was the Duke of Edinburgh but that came to nought. An approach was made, unsuccessfully, to the Lord Taverners. The final and excellent choice was Mr. Jim Lewis, a man particularly well-known throughout the traction engine fraternity.
This first rally was an outstanding success and there will be more about this in future editions of Spotlight.