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Ramsbury & Axford Community
Village Diary - March 2009 |
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| Please may we have items
for the April Diary by 18 March. They can be left at the Post Office; or sent by email to diary@ramsbury.org |
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When writing in the middle of January I ended by saying, may we have no more severe weather. Little did I know what was to come, nor that the snow in Ramsbury would linger longer than in Newbury and Swindon. It goes to show, that in urban areas the heat from large buildings helps to warm the atmosphere; although reports suggested less snow fell on the land east of Hungerford. In shady places heaps of dirty snow may look unsightly, but at least with a slow thaw the problem of flooding for some is less likely. Once again we have an illustration of how hardy our early spring flowers are, with snowdrops, aconites and some cyclamen showing little sign of the freezing conditions they experienced as they emerged from the blanket of snow which had helped to reduce the intensity of the frost for a few days. Not everything survived so well, as, after the rubbish had been collected last Tuesday (10 Feb), I saw a frozen rat lying in the gutter. I wonder where it had come from? I hope it is not a sign that there are too many of these around. This is the time of year when the birds and other wildlife find it hard to find adequate food. I have been putting seeds and other food on the bird table in the hope of feeding a robin and other small birds but, in spite of a roof, the pigeons still manage to take some of it. In Chapel Lane I noticed there was a good crop of ivy berries. The pigeons should feed on these. May the weather be milder by the time the diary is received at the beginning of March, so that more daffodils are in flower to go along with hazel catkins which are already beginning to show in the hedgerows. I have already had reports that a few daffodils are flowering locally in sheltered places. Are those in the shops coming from Cornwall or the Channel Islands, I wonder? Rosie Pauline The deep snow and persistent cold of early February had a number of effects, not least in the avian world. A number of unusual visitors to garden feeders were noted all over the village. These included Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Siskin and Brambling. There have also been a number of Blackcaps around, which were recently discovered to be 'reverse migrants', coming to us from Germany, while our Blackcaps are off in Africa. As the temperatures increased, so did the birdsong. Thrushes, Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Great Tits and Dunnocks have all discovered their voices and are busy creating and defending their territories. The real joy of the month has been the almost daily sightings of a Barn Owl, and sometimes a pair, just before dusk, working the valley anywhere between Seven Bridges and The Manor. One late afternoon, near Harbrook, one owl rose from a kill just a few metres away from me, landed in a nearby tree and fixed me with a very meaningful stare. Someone else has had the same experience with a Little Owl near Chilton Foliat. It is astonishing to think that until as recently as the 1950's owls were one of the most persecuted species in the land. For once, we seem to be making progress. Paul Swan Rainfall for the month to 18 February including snow melt was 6.75 inches, average 2.91 inches. |
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Ramsbury Primary School - Our Great New Space We are trying to raise £75,000 by summer 2009 to construct a new building. We are undertaking a wide range of fundraising activities and are asking all in the community to help us by making a donation towards our project or attending our fundraising events. Please contact the school on 520244 for further information. Newcomers Welcome Pack The Ramsbury Amenity Group, the publishers of this Diary, also produce a Newcomers Welcome Pack. Please contact Rolf Mitson on 521366 if you are new to the village and have not received a copy. Waste Black boxes and green wheelie-bins will be emptied on Tuesdays 3, 17 and 31 March. Black wheelie-bins and orange sacks will be taken on 10 and 24 March. Skips will be at the Square in Aldbourne on Tuesday 3 March from 8 to 10.30 am and the Ramsbury Surgery on Tuesday 17 March from 8 - 10.30 am. New Yellow Pages are due in March and the old Yellow Pages may be recycled in Black recycling boxes. |
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Sunday services at 10:30 am - 1 March in Ramsbury, 8 March in Aldbourne, 15, 22 & 29 March in Ramsbury. Coffee centre every Thursday - 5 March Cake stall, 12 March Jane Ashworth cushions & homemade bags, 19 March Fair-trade stall and 26 March Card stall. The Methodist church school hall is available for hire and the new kitchen is now open. Horticultural Society We hope to re-arrange the cancelled February talk in due course. The next talk will be on Monday 2 March at 7.45 pm in the Memorial Hall by David Taylor on Pelargoniums. He intends to bring some plants for sale. The quiz with Lambourn and light supper will be on Thursday 12 March at 7.30 pm in the Memorial Hall. We are awaiting a few outstanding subscriptions - please contact Michael Handford to pay. Ramsbury WI Ramsbury WI meets on Thursday 5 March in the Methodist Schoolroom, Oxford Street. We will hold our Annual Meeting and this will be followed by Ian Purvis talking about "Treasure Seeking" (postponed from February). Doors open at 7.15 pm and the meeting will start promptly at 7.45 pm. Visitors and new members are welcome - any visitors who would like to come just for the talk should arrive between 8.30 and 8.45 pm. Busy Bees meet on Thursday 19 March at 7.30 pm in the Lychgate Room. Bella Voce Bella Voce, accompanied by White Horse Strings, will perform Vivaldi's Gloria, and choral and string music by Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Bruckner, Frank & Vivaldi, in Holy Cross on Saturday 7 March at 7.30 pm. Tickets on sale at Ramsbury Post Office, Midway Stores and Sound Knowledge, Marlborough. The Bella Voce AGM will be on Tuesday 24 March in the Memorial Hall at 7.30 pm. Ramsbury Amenity Group Guided Walks Sunday 8 March - Mildenhall 4 miles. Sunday 22 March - Pentico (No. 10) 4 miles. Walk numbers are from the Ramsbury Amenity Group Short Walks pack available from the Post Office. Come and join us on our local walks, get to know the local area and make new friends. We meet at the Tree in the Square at 2 pm on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month and everyone is welcome. Shared cars and dogs on leads. Further details from Sheila Morgan on 520501. Ramsbury & Aldbourne Bowls Club AGM Tuesday 10 March at 7.30 pm in the New Pavilion at Ramsbury Recreation Centre. New members welcome. Short Mat Bowls At a well attended meeting on Thursday 19 February, it was decided to form the Ramsbury Short Mat Bowls Club (RSMBC) with an annual subscription of £10. Club sessions, in the Memorial Hall, will be on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month from 2.30 to 4.30 pm, with a mid- week session on Thursday mornings from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Cost to play is £2 per player per session. George Hawes (520693) is organising the first club afternoon on Sunday 1 March. Ramsbury Flyer The next visit to Newbury will be on 12 March leaving the Tree at 11.30 am and returning from Newbury at 2.30 pm. Fare £3. Book with Muriel Lye on 520555 or Text to 07769 570239. For the latest news, visit the bus web page. Ramsbury Roxy Starter for 10 - Cert 12A starring James McAvoy, Joseph Friend and Catherine Tate on Friday 13 March. While his mates worry about him, a student's biggest concern is making the team for University Challenge. Easy Virtue - Cert PG starring Colin Firth and Kirstin Scott-Thomas on Friday 27 March. A young Englishman brings his new glamorous American wife home to meet his parents. Doors and bar open at 7.30 pm. Films start at 8 pm. Tickets £3.50 available in the Post Office. For the latest news, visit the Roxy web page. Holy Cross Holy Communion with the Bishop of Ramsbury, Stephen Conway, on Sunday 15 March at 9.30 am. Mothering Sunday Family Communion Service on Sunday 22 March at 9.30 am. Parish Council Meeting The Parish Council meeting will be on Monday 16 March at 7.45 pm in the Memorial Hall, Ramsbury. All Parish Council meetings are open to the public, who are welcome to attend. |
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The Horticultural Society Spring Show & Bowls Club Fête will be on Saturday 4 April at 2 pm in the Memorial Hall. Schedules are available from the Horticultural Society web page, from the Post Office, from Diann Barnett on 521363 or from Allan Davison on 520591. This will help in the selection of entries from your garden for the Show. A Coffee Morning in aid of Treloar will be held on Saturday l8 April from 10 am to noon in The Memorial Hall. More details next month. The Ravensbury Players are presenting an evening of three one-act comedy plays, with light supper, on Wednesday 22 - Saturday 25 April in Ramsbury Memorial Hall at 7.45 pm. Tickets £7 available from Ramsbury Post Office, Midway Stores, Box Office 01672 520515 or email chrissy@astrocruise.com. Bedwyn Music Society Summer Concerts will be on Fridays 24 April, 22 May, 19 June and 17 & 31 July. All concerts start at 7.30 pm in St Mary’s Church, Great Bedwyn. These include Kirckman Society concerts and performances by BBC Young Musician of 2008 and winner of the String prize in the BBC competition 2008. Enquiries to Andrew Hutchison on 01672 870970. Tickets - members £8, or £10 on the door with children free. The Ramsbury School PTA 5 mile Circuit Run will be held on Sunday 17 May at the Recreation Ground starting at 10 am. Application forms available in the Post Office. Axford and Mildenhall Open Gardens will be on Sunday 14 June from 2 - 5.30 pm. Teas with the Ramsbury Silver Band, produce and plant stalls. Ramsbury Flyer will bring people from Ramsbury, and maybe Mildenhall too. There will be 'Flowers Overall' in the Church, a music recital in the afternoon and Evensong at 6 pm. Would prospective 'Garden Openers' and other helpers please contact Bridget Treherne on 512406 as soon as practicable! We need your support. The Diary is published in paper form, and is incorporated here by
kind permission of the Ramsbury Amenity Group. |
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