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Ramsbury & Axford Community
Village Diary - May 2008 |
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| Please may we have items
for the June Diary by 18 May. They can be left at the Post Office; or sent by email to diary@ramsbury.org |
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A season of new beginnings and re-growth has begun as the perennials in both the garden and hedgerows send up their new growth for another season. This year there seems to be more wild arum (lords and ladies) springing up everywhere; I am not the only one who is finding it becoming quite a pest in the garden. At present the dog violet is still putting on a show and in late March I noticed quite a patch of barren strawberry in flower at the lower end of Loves Lane. The leaves of the barren strawberry are a greyer green than the wild strawberry and it does not give small fruits like the latter. When going to another part of the country in spring it is interesting to note vegetation changes. I spent a week after Easter on the Isle of Wight where the camellias and flowering currant were in full bloom. My currant blooms about two weeks later and my camellia, being in the shade, will not be flowering for a few weeks yet. Neither did I see magnolias spoilt by frost as here. Bluebells were starting to flower and illustrated the problem of our native one hybridizing with the Spanish one that has escaped from gardens into woodland. This invader is a paler blue and of a more upright stance. On another woodland walk one of our party saw a red squirrel. Fortunately, like Brownsea Island, the Isle of Wight still has them, as the grey has not reached either place, whereas, there are very few areas on the mainland where the red are managing to survive. Have you seen any butterflies so far on sunny days? I have seen a few peacocks, one with rather worn wings, I wonder where it spent the winter? Male yellow brimstones are also on the wing, the females are white and seem to pass unnoticed, mistaken no doubt for a cabbage white, although the markings are a bit different. By the time May arrives may we be enjoying warmer weather with breezes lacking the cold nip of winter. Rosie Pauline "One Swallow does not a summer make". I spotted a single Swallow on Saturday, April 5th, over the water meadow. This turned out to be one of the earliest sightings in Wiltshire, but the Swallow may have regretted the early arrival as the same place was covered by three inches of snow the next morning! These early lone arrivals should have plenty of company by the time you read this, and slightly better weather. Other early, and noisy, arrivals have included a Chiffchaff in Mill Lane, and a Blackcap singing its heart out on Newtown Road. The Skylarks on Springs Hill seem to have added a few decibels to their stunning song as they climb, sometimes singing for five minutes without a break. Three Buzzards were making a huge amount of noise one morning in a crystal blue sky; it is startling to think that their eyesight can allow them to spot prey as small as a beetle from that height. Other activities are going on in silence: the Mute Swan sitting on the nest at Seven Bridges said everything with a glare. Above, we have seen Red kites, Kestrels and a Hobby going about their business in total silence. Sighting of the month was two synchronised Tree Creepers climbing two trees a few yards apart! Paul Swan Rainfall for the month to 18 April was 1.90 inches, average 2.85 inches. Rainfall October – March, on which the river depends in summer was below average 16.75 inches in a 10 year average of 20.20 inches |
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Route to Victory WW11 commemoration Thursday 1 May 7.30pm Talk by Roger Day at Ramsbury Primary School on 'The Kennet Valley at War'. Saturday 3 May 7.30 - 9.30pm American fashion show & forces radio broadcast at The Green, Aldbourne. Sunday 4 May 7-12pm 1940s Dance & Fashion show in the Memorial Hall. Tickets at the Post Office £10. Monday 5 May World War 11 event starting with an Allied Liberation Parade. A WW11 military vehicle convoy will depart The Paddocks at 10am, pass through the Square, Back Lane and Loves Lane to "Camp Ramsbury". At Camp Ramsbury the day will include re-enactment displays and a WW11 aircraft flying display & parachute drop. Adults £5, OAPs and accompanied children free. 5 May "Ramsbury at War Museum" in the Memorial Hall 11am to 5pm, entry free & refreshments available Ramsbury Recollections, Village Stories 1900 - 1947 The Parish Council Oral History Project CD “Ramsbury Recollections” contains fascinating extracts from the archive. It contains over 40 reminiscences of everyday village life in the first half of the twentieth century. Available for £7.99 at the Post Office and at the “Route to Victory Event” on Monday May 5. Proceeds will go towards the cost of producing the complete archive, which will be available in Ramsbury Library, Ramsbury School and the County Record Offices at Trowbridge. The Best Kept Village competition This will be judged in May/June. Please help and keep your part of the village clean and tidy. Some plants outside might help our chance of winning and would make the village a more attractive place. Methodist Church May 4 Service at Aldbourne 10.30 am (no Service at Ramsbury). Ramsbury Roxy Friday 2 May - 'A Bridge Too Far'- The brave Allied attempt
to seize the all important bridge at Arnhem was one of the most
legendary operations in World War II . Cert 15. Big star cast.
Open Studios Susan Kirkman and Arran Miles will exhibit their art work at Witcha Cottage on Saturdays and Sundays between 3 & 25 May, on Mondays between 5 May & 26 May, and at other times by appointment. Studios and garden open from 11 am to 6 pm. Further details at the Post Office or phone 520429. Boundary Walk For the Boundary Walk on Sunday 4 May, the Flyer will be in the Square at 7.15 am. But it would be preferred if walkers could make their own way to the usual start on the B4192. The Route Booklet is available in the Post Office and Midway Stores. Ramsbury and Axford Golf Society The Ramsbury Trophy will be played at Marlborough Golf Club on Monday 5 May. All Society members welcome. To join the Society or enter the competition, see www.ragsgolf.co.uk or phone 520568 Ramsbury Flyer The next visit to Newbury will be on Thursday 8 May leaving the Tree at 11.30 am, 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. Ramsbury WI Thursday 8 May in the Methodist Schoolroom. Doors open at 7.15 pm and the meeting starts at 7.45 pm. We will discuss the two resolutions that are going to the National AGM in Liverpool in June, and afterwards Dr David Haycroft will give a talk on "Planting Summer Containers". He will also bring plants for sale. Visitors and new members welcome. WI Busy Bees meets in the Lychgate Room on Thursday 15 May at 7.30 pm. Horticultural Society Spring Plant Sale & Coffee Morning The Spring Plant Sale is on Saturday 10 May at 10 am at ‘Millstream’, 9 High Street. Please put aside any plants that you can for this event, but deliver only on the day itself, between 8.45 & 9.45 am. Ramsbury Amenity Group Guided Walks These will be on Sundays 11 May to Bluebells, West Woods 4 miles, and 25 May to Minal 4 miles. Meet at the Tree in the Square at 2 pm. Shared cars and dogs on leads. For further details call Sheila Morgan 520501. Axford Bingo There will be Bingo in Axford Village Hall on Wednesdays 14 & 28 May at 7.30 pm. Community Bus AGM The Flyer AGM will be on Thursday 15 May at 7.30 pm in the Alexander Room of the Memorial Hall. Ramsbury Circuit 5 mile run Sunday 18 May at the Recreation Ground. Children's races 10.15 am, main race 11 am. Application forms available from the Post Office or in Village stores. Organised by the Pre-School, and proceeds go towards the update of its resources. Annual Parish Assembly Monday 19 May at 7.45 pm in the Memorial Hall. There will be reports from village organisations and YOUR opportunity to have a say on village matters and to question the Parish Council. Memorial Hall AGM The Memorial Hall AGM will be on Wednesday 21 May at 6 pm in the Memorial Hall Horticultural Society Coach Trip The coach will leave the Square on Saturday 24 May at 9.15 am to Longstock Water Park, Hants. The coach is booked full but check with Sheila Glass on 520409 in case there are cancellations. |
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Vodafone of Newbury donated £350 raising the appeal to a total of £2,578.17 for the Prospect Hospice. Seamus Lecky sold the Red Lion and left on April 27. We will miss him and are very grateful for his support and generosity to Axford over the years. We wish him a happy & satisfying life in his new home. Our Post Office appears to be safe for now but please think
about Hill's Stores and Midway
Stores as well. Our village shops
supply most daily needs, are competitively priced and will deliver.
If every family in the village spent £10 in one or both
stores weekly, and account holders settled promptly (those who
do not settle promptly know who they are) this would make a vast
difference-think about it. Hill's Stores is one of the oldest
shops in Wiltshire - don't let us be responsible for its demise.
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Ramsbury Silver Band concert on Sunday 8 June 3-5 pm in aid of the Ramsbury and Axford Link Scheme. Ramsbury Hill by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. S. Blunt. (Church Room if wet.) Teas and raffle. Horticultural Society Rose Evening and Members' Supper will be on Saturday 14 June at 7.30 pm Rare Plant Fair on Sunday 22 June at Mary Hare School for Deaf children, Arlington Manor, Snelsmore Common, Newbury, RG14 3BQ from 10 am to 4 pm. Contact Anne Munby 01635 244204. Annual Arthritis Research Coffee Morning and sale on Saturday 28 June in the Memorial Hall from 10 am - noon. If you can help or contribute items for sale, please call Marion Young on 521126. The Diary is published in paper form, and is incorporated here by
kind permission of the Ramsbury Amenity Group. |
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