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Ramsbury & Axford Community
Village Diary - March 2006 |
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| Please may we have items for the April Diary by 18 March. They can be left with Sylvia Judge, 55 High Street; Ben Tottenham, Vicarage Cottage, Back Lane; at the Post Office; or by email to diary@pccare.ltd.uk | |||||||||||||||||
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The middle of February and writing for the third month of the year already on a day with a fresh wind, which suggests that March is on its way. The day getting longer allows one to feel the worst of the winter cold may be passing, especially as the snowdrops and aconites are now flowering to give some colour to gardens and woodland, while the birds’ singing brings cheer to the great outdoors. Looking back over the notes for March for the last two years it appears that the hard frosts have delayed the development of some plants a little. The daffodils in Tankard Lane are not likely to be flowering for a while yet, and the lesser celandines in a sheltered part of my garden are not ready to flower. The hazel, however, is adorned with plenty of catkins sending their pollen away on the wind to make some sneeze. Animals are now showing signs of life, as a few days ago on returning from Marlborough approaching Whites Hill a stoat shot across the road, the black end to its tail being clearly visible. Well after dark last evening it was the turn of a badger to be crossing the road from Aldbourne, no wonder they get killed on occasions. Moles, as is usual at this time of year are throwing up earth mounds on rising ground away from the river, perhaps this is a preparation for next month’s breeding season. They not only feed on worms but on other ground dwelling grubs. Will the recent cold weather have killed off any of the soil pests I wonder? Only time will tell but this morning a snail was on the garden path, had it crawled there or had my dog pushed it there when nosing amongst the shrubs? Heavy rain also brings worms to the surface: these go deeper during cold spells. Now to keep our eyes open for other signs of spring. Rosie Pauline Hens Wood, which can be buzzing with bird life at this time of year is eerily quiet, probably due to extensive forestry work. One thing which did catch my eye though was that the nest boxes had all been fitted with a metal template to protect the entrance from marauding Great Spotted Woodpeckers, who widen the hole and take any fledglings. Even one of these templates had been attacked. A regular in Hens Wood in previous years has been the Siskin. This tiny little finch can be heard and seen at the west end of Ramsbury this year, although I have not seen them in Hens Wood. The skies over Spring Hill are well worth watching to see the Golden Plover doing their aerial displays. I have had a report of a Peregrine Falcon over Spring Hill and Water Rail have been seen all down the valley. Finally, nothing to do with birds but in Knowledge Hill there is a belt of trees; at the beginning of February I was watching a fox walk nonchalantly down the side of the trees. It was interesting from the point of view that it was 3pm on a weekday afternoon! John Marshall Rainfall for the month to 18 February was 0.73 inches, average 2.91 inches. |
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Both new and established Ramsbury residents will welcome a reminder that there is an A4 Diary in the Post Office for all organisations to record the date, time, place and nature of any future event that they are planning. If all organisers would check the diary before firming up the date of an event, and then record their own event in the Diary, clashes of dates could be avoided. Recently Axford had to change the published date of their fête as the Horticultural Society had already chosen that date but not published it. |
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The Annual Meeting of Ramsbury WI will be held at 7.45 pm on Thursday 2 March in the Methodist School Room. Can all members please make a special effort to attend. After the business is concluded there will be a session called ‘Captured in Time’, and any member is welcome to bring along a picture or photograph and talk briefly about the memories it evokes. Ramsbury Roxy
Tickets £3.50 from the Post Office, £4 on the door. Doors open 7.30 pm, films start at 8 pm. Ramsbury Horticultural Society The Society's first talk of the year will be 'My Organic Garden' by Christie Leary at 7.45 pm on Monday 6 March in the Memorial Hall. Prospective members are welcome to come to this and any other talks. ROY ALEXANDER Bella Voce AGM and Concert The Choir’s first AGM will be on Tuesday 7 March at 7.30 pm in the Memorial Hall (prior to rehearsal); a brief but necessary business meeting for members to attend. Members of the public are also welcome. Bella Voce’s next concert will be at 7.30 pm on Friday 24 March in the Memorial Hall. Music from classical to light-hearted. Tickets £5 available at the Post Office and Midway Stores from 8 March. Please book early. Challenging Pain There will be pain management courses for all people with chronic pain from arthritis on Tuesdays 7 & 14 March at Marlborough Rugby Club. If you are interested call 01 980 624993 for details and reservations. Axford Bingo There will be Bingo in Axford Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Wednesdays 8 and 22 March. Ramsbury Flyer The next visit to Newbury will be on Thursday 9 March, leaving the Tree at 11.30 am and returning from Newbury at 2.30 pm. Book with Muriel Lye on 520555. The Community Bus also has its own page - just follow the link. Marlborough Brandt Group Lent Lecture The Lent Lecture will be given at 8 pm on Thursday 9 March in Marlborough College Memorial Hall by Mark Malloch Brown, Chef de Cabinet to Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations. Mr Brown chairs the Development Group of UN organisations that is trying to ensure a more effective UN programme to tackle worldwide development challenges and respond to the millennium development goals. There will be a retiring collection. Tickets available from the Brandt Group; Nicola O’Connor on 861116. Project 2005 Casino Night Project 2005 is running a Casino night on Saturday 11 March at 8 pm in the Memorial Hall. Tickets at £7.50 are available from Ian Smith on 520871 and Clare Allman on 520233. The evening will have a James Bond theme, and the tickets include a free cocktail and canapés. There will be a pay bar, roulette, black jack and craps. Please support Project 2005 and their new facilities for the youth of the village. Ramsbury Amenity Group Guided Walks There will be guided walks on Sunday 12 March to Littlecote (No. 3) 5 miles, meet at the Tree at 2 pm: and on Sunday 26 March to Whiteshard (No. 10) 4½ miles. Meet at the Tree to share cars. Dogs under control. High Sheriff’s Service The High Sheriff of Wiltshire, Mr David Margesson MBE JP DL will hold the traditional annual service to ‘Celebrate the Rule of Law’ at Holy Cross Church on Sunday 19 March. Judges from Wiltshire Crown Courts, High Sheriffs from adjacent counties and other dignitaries will process in their robes at 2.30 pm from the Square to the church. The Rector will conduct the service, and the Bishop of Swindon will preach the sermon. The Bell Ringers, Ramsbury Silver Band and the Bella Voce choir will participate. Whilst many seats in church will be reserved for invited guests, members of the regular congregation should also be able to attend. The High Sheriff will entertain the congregation to tea in the Memorial Hall after the service. Ramsbury Parish Council The Parish Council will meet at 7.45 pm on Monday 20 March in the Memorial Hall. All members of the public are welcome. English Chamber Choir The London based English Chamber Choir is giving a concert in Holy Cross Church at 7 pm on Saturday 25 March. The programme will probably feature Bach and Brahms with some lighter opera choruses and popular music after the interval, when wine and soft drinks will be available. Tickets £10 (concessions £5), from the Post Office, Danny Watson, a choir member, 521168, or on the door. The concert will end at 9 pm. The Bell is offering a special supper (last orders 9.45 pm), pre-booked on 520230. The Choir hopes to stay overnight and join Bella Voce to sing at the Mothering Sunday Service (any offers of spare beds would be welcome). Ramsbury Amenity Group AGM The Amenity Group AGM will be held at 7.30 pm in the Church Room on Tuesday 28 March. Melanie Hall from the Regional Office of the National Farmers Union will speak on ‘Badgers and Bovine TB’. It is hoped that most RAG members and the public will attend to hear about this important topic. |
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The winners of the January 2005 draw were: Please donate any Old and used spectacles to 15 Union Street. They go to Erlstoke Prison to be overhauled, checked and then sent to the Third World. Thank you. Priscilla Price. |
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The annual Coffee Morning in aid of Treloar will be held on Saturday 22 April from 10 am - noon. An Art Exhibition in the Chapter Room at the Bell on 21,22 & 23 April will also donate to the Treloar Trust. More details in April. The Ravensbury Players will be presenting ‘On the Fiddle’ on Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 April in the Memorial Hall: an evening of one-act plays, with supper. Tickets will be available at the beginning of April. Please delete the advance notice of the Axford Fête given in the January Diary for 12 August and substitute Saturday 29 July. Ramsbury Horticultural Society - 2006 Programme
The Diary is published in paper form, and is incorporated here by kind permission of the Ramsbury Amenity Group. |
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