Our cover is a harvest picture. In the field, the corn has been cut and the bales of straw are awaiting collection. However, it is not the intention of Spotlight to look ahead but instead, to look back over the summer months. Weather wise we had more than our fair share of rain which amongst other things, made life difficult for our farmers. It also affected some holidays and leisure time.
Despite the rain there was a great amount of entertaining events in our villages.
There were so many that it becomes difficult to mention them all in any detail
but looking back through the Spotlight diary, in May we saw the Social Club
Beer Festival, the School Social evening and various outings beyond the villages.
The following month produced the Royal British Legion Dug-Out Supper, the Cider
Fest at the Brewery Inn, the concerts at the Three Magpies, the Social Club
Dinner and Dance and again, outings beyond the villages.
July saw the very novel Bulkington Scarecrow Trail which was supported by rides on the Great Bulkington Railway. The Church Garden Party was successful with people refusing to be defeated by intermittent rain. During August the rain held off for the Village Fete and the Village Flower Show. Large events like these demand a great deal of imagination and organisation and all of these were particularly successful. The Fete raised a record amount of money which is needed to maintain the Lye Field, much of which is happily undertaken by the Last of the Summer Wine. The Flower Show was also highly successful with the entries made by the school children worthy of a special mention. Additionally there was the Bulkington Summer Party. Yet again there were all of the usual Club activities and even more events outside the villages, perhaps the biggest being the gardeners who enjoyed an excellent week over in Norfolk.
September started with a splendid fund raising event organised by David Sawyer and his colleagues when over 500 cyclists rode lengthy distances for the British Heart Foundation. At the time of writing these notes we can still look forward to a Wine Fest in the Social Club and to all of the usual activities organised by the many clubs and organisations that exist in Seend.
All of these pleasures are only available to us because they are provided by
the hard work and dedication of many different groups of people. These people
fully and freely make tremendous and lengthy efforts to make our villages the
socially pleasurable places that they are. They all deserve thanks and congratulations
for what they do. Some of the organisations are currently in need of support
and offers of help will be greatly appreciated. Spotlight will be pleased to
pass on any such offers.
My family and I would like to express our thanks for the many cards and messages of condolence we received. Each one was gratefully appreciated.
I would also thank our Rector, Revd. Sacha Pearce, for the steadfast help,
support and friendship she offered us during this very difficult time, and the
funeral service which we found a great comfort.
Brenda McKinness.
Arthur was a Wiltshire Man. He was born and brought up in Coate. At the outbreak of the war he was fourteen, and his family home was bombed during the war. I have no knowledge of any conscription for Arthur; it may be he was exempt as an agricultural worker. In his early manhood, and prior to the advent of myxomatosis in 1952, he earned a living from the rabbits by trapping, snaring and ferreting. For a time he left the district, working on a fruit farm in Surrey for a Lady Lloyd George. These brief details of Arthur’s early life are all derived from his reminiscences.
I first met Arthur in 1971 when I and my family arrived in Seend. I was thirty-three and sufficiently foolhardy to take on Seend Green House. The house itself far exceeded our needs and the garden, eighteen months after Miss Usher’s death had run wild. I knocked on doors seeking help. Arthur Coombes and Nelson Revel, both then with regular jobs at Wiltshire Farmers, generously agreed to help out during the summer evenings and at weekends. This began a relationship with Arthur broken only by his retirement at the age of seventy. Of course, retirement was not a state acceptable to Arthur. He took on projects here and there, bringing to every family his optimism, his good humour and his determination.
The circumstances of Arthur’s departure from this life are enviable. His pace may have slackened but it never faltered. To the day he died he was still working, skittling and betting on the turf.
There was always some thing picturesque about Arthur’s appearance: the donkey jacket tied fast with binder twine in the winter, topped off for so many years, with a blue army beret. When that finally wore out it was replaced by the invariable black cap which thereafter became a fixture. Although Arthur and I were never conscripted, it may be that the army beret prompted the following thought. My wish would be that were I ever exposed to war, with all its dangers and privations, Arthur would be the man I would have for company. His resourcefulness, his courage, his dogged determination would all have gained added value to extreme situations. He epitomised the English spirit. All that was encapsulated in his unvarying response to any enquiry as to his well being: “mustn’t grumble”. It is by that indomitable response that I will always remember Arthur.
Mathew Thorpe.
Julie and David would like to thank everybody who sent cards and messages of sympathy at the loss of Arthur. Thank you to all those who attended the lovely service given by the Revd. Sacha Pearce and Mrs. Pam Muller.
To all our friends and family in Seend, many thanks for all the good wishes
and help over the last few weeks. We are sad to leave Seend after 30 wonderful
years, but have great memories. We are off to pastures new in South Cornwall,
but we will hopefully return many times to see you all.
Best Wishes from Brenda (Goodier), Nick (Gay) and Graham (Alford).
We have had quite a busy summer. Firstly Bishop Peter came and gave a talk to our Branch and members of the Deanery. We also had our “Teddy Bears Picnic” lunch and entertainment with the Playgroup and Bouncy Club. The Lunch and Garden Meeting was held in the Pavilion due to bad weather, and finally we helped on the Deanery Market Stall held annually in Devizes, the proceeds from which went to overseas projects.
Our next meeting is on the 20th October at 2.45p.m. in the Pavilion. Our speaker will be Mrs. H. Gill and her talk is entitled “The Butterfly Effect”. New ladies are always welcome.
Elizabeth Campbell.
PROMS BAND CONCERT.
At the
GARRISON THEATRE, TIDWORTH.
THURSDAY, 28th OCTOBER.
Tickets £8.40p. To include Shuttle.
If interested, there are only two tickets left, please contact Elizabeth Campbell.
0n 828451.
Seen on a Church Notice board: “ Please Note . The cost of attending the Fasting and Prayer Conference includes meals!!”
Our August trip to Wylye Valley Vineyard was a highly successful evening, being informative as well as fun. Having inspected the growing vines, naturally we had to try a few samples, and most of us were tempted into buying a bottle or two.
Thursday, 30th September: - tour of Wadworth Brewery.
October meeting (date to be confirmed) - Murder Mystery Night,
with cheese & wine.
Wednesday, 24th November: - we are trying to arrange a visit
to the American Museum in Bath to see their Christmas decorations.
For more information please ‘phone Geraldine on 828664.
The Mothers’ Union: Wednesday, 27th October, 10.30a.m.
meeting at Manor Farm, Keevil, with guest speaker Mr. Geoff. Adams.
Church Flowers:
Sunday, 3rd & 10th October – Mrs. Raby Cox.
Sunday, 17th & 31st October - Mrs. Elliott.
Church Cleaning: - October – Mrs. Mary Jones.
Church Cleaning Extra:
Our dedicated band of ladies who keep our Church spick and span throughout the
year, do an excellent job. However, between cleans, a happy band of cobweb spinners
appear and enjoy the freedom of weaving their creations between the pews and
chancel screen.
It would be much appreciated if the ladies on the flower rota, if time permits, might give any intrusive cobwebs a flick with a duster, while they are in the Church arranging the flowers. Hopefully this may keep the cobwebs to a minimum between the monthly Church cleanings. Thank you all.
Andie Elliott.
We will decorate the Church for our Harvest Festival on Saturday, 2nd October in readiness for our Harvest Festival Service on SUNDAY, 3rd OCTOBER at 10.45a.m.
Any gifts of flowers, fruit and vegetables will be most gratefully received, either on the Saturday or during the service. Later at 7.00p.m. we will hold our Harvest Supper, followed by the Auction of produce at the Church. Tickets will be available soon and we look forward to the pleasure of your company.
Following a successful summer party at Bulkington, it was decided to start a line dancing class in Bulkington Village Hall, on a Monday evening beginning in November. Look out for confirmation of time, etc. in next month’s Spotlight or ring Thelma Boulton (828101) or Liz Futter (828485).
On behalf of all the “revellers” may I express our thanks to Nev. And Thelma for hosting our late “Summer Party” in their lovely garden at Millcroft, and to all the committee members who helped organise this village hall fund raiser.
The elements were definitely out to get us, but in true Brit style, we arrived with our waterproofs, and a super selection of suppers, (not a soggy sandwich in sight!) determined to have a great night – and we did. The kids enjoyed it as well!!.
Many thanks for a great night.
AKE.
At the July Meeting Mrs. Enid Burnet and a friend talked about “Canine Partners”. They brought along their lovely dogs and showed the many things that the dogs do to really help disabled people; they are also excellent companions. Thanks were given for the talk and a donation made to the Canine Club. The competition “A dog photograph or ornament” was won by Mrs. Rosemary Ham.
In August Mrs Gravina gave us “Weaving and Spinning” lessons. The competition “Something I made” was won by Mrs. Kay Beasley.
At the September Meeting Mr. Julian Johnson told us of “The Volcanic Islands” in the South Atlantic and explained the history of all three. The competition “A Shell” was won by Mrs. Lorna Hillier.
During this Summer we have had quite a few activities including the N.F.W.I. 85TH Birthday Band Concert at the Garrison Theatre at Tidsworth and which was enjoyed by all members attending. The Seend W.I. also entertained “The Bad Boys” from the T.V. series to tea and this year’s breakfasts were very successful.
Seend W.I. has a little bit of history repeating itself: in October, 1919 the
President was Miss Bell who during her term of office was married. On the 11th
September this year our President, Judith Daykin, also got married and this
coincides with Seend‘s 85years celebrations in October.
On 13th October Seend W.I. celebrates its 85th birthday with a dinner and entertainment
in the W.I. Hall, Rusty Lane at 7.30p.m.
‘Thank you’ to all those who purchased bulbs. I am pleased to report that a profit of £260 has been handed over to the ‘Friends of Berwick’ to help in the provision of facilities at Wiltshire South Girl Guiding H.Q. at Berwick St. James.
I do hope you have a superb display. Thank you.
Anne Salter.
Our thanks to all those who helped on the Club stall at the Flower Show & Fete and to those who gave plants and produce; we made £113. Well done to those who took part in the Flower Show.
Club visit to Norfolk in August: All on board the coach thoroughly enjoyed a truly varied week. On our way to the Nelson Hotel, Norwich, we visited Hatfield House and viewed the house and formal garden. Sandringham House gave the impression of a family home, with informal paintings and photos of the Royal family and a collection of models and paintings of wild life belonging to the Duke of Edinburgh. Norwich Cathedral is a truly magnificent Norman building, alongside a Benedictine Monastery, of which little remains intact. The herb garden, started by the monks has been renewed in recent times and is now in a temporary site whilst new building is going on; we had a comprehensive tour of both places. There was plenty to do and see during a free afternoon in the city from looking at ancient dwellings to shopping or visiting the castle to see the work of the Norwich school of artists. We would gladly have stayed longer at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve. As gardeners we had chiefly gone to see the garden laid out by Piet Oudolf. This was a delight and perfectly fitted its setting of streams and lakes where wild and rare birds were visiting and breeding; but the delightful walks and interesting projects could have kept us there all day. However, Felbrigg Hall provided an interesting afternoon in the house and garden.
We could not be in this area without a look at the Broads and the Northern Norfolk coast, so we meandered through the countryside, stopped for lunch at a local pub near Hazeborough and had a beach walk or a paddle.
The recently designed garden of East Rushton Old Vicarage had a series of well organised gardens of great variety of form and flora, quite different to anything visited so far. Again in Hertfordshire on our way home, we stopped to look at the gardens of Benington Lordship. These surrounded a Queen Anne style house and its folly gatehouse, built from flints. Old fish ponds, terraces, a hillside herbaceous border and walled vegetable garden made for a delightful picnic stop and a last meander.
On behalf of us all, Peter Fisher thanked Tony for all his hard work in organising the trip in all its variety. In reply Tony said that he felt that the time had come to say that this would be his final trip for many reasons. Sadly Audrey had not been well enough to come with us and she was very much missed. We must thank both Tony and Audrey for their joint efforts over many years to provide us with a well run week away each year, both at home and abroad. These have all been appreciated and enjoyed and they deserve a rest. We wish them well in the future
It is with sadness, that we must tell you that one of our faithful members, who was on the Norfolk trip, passed away shortly afterwards. We shall miss Roy McKinness and have sent our sympathy to Brenda and family.
The next Gardening Club Meeting is on Tuesday, 12th October. The speaker will be David Bassett whose subject will be ‘Delphiniums’. The competition will be for six Herbal Biscuits – using inspiration from Mrs. Scot’s talk!
New members from Seend and district are very welcome to talks, etc. during the Club’s 2004/2005 programme. Meetings start at 7.30p.m. in the Pavilion, Rusty Lane, Seend.
Joyce Brand.
14th October, 2004: Annual General Meeting, in Seend Social
Club at 8.00p.m.
16th October: Annual Standard Bearers Competition at Winterslow
Village
Hall.
12th November: “We Will Remember Them” Concert
at City Hall, Salisbury.
15th January, 2005: County Conference, 2005 at Warminster Assemby
Hall.
Roger Brind.
Next month the Poppy Appeal will once again become a reality. Everybody will
receive a pamphlet with their copy of Spotlight explaining the problems that
have to be continually faced. You will also receive a Gift Aid Envelope which,
as a tax payer you are invited to sign together with the amount you contribute.
This amount can be placed directly in the Box but please sign the envelope and
give it to the collector. This enables the collection to benefit by 28p. in
every pound .
It may not be well known, but Seend has won the prize for the biggest collection
made by a small village over the past three years and this has been due to a
little extra help with Gift Aid.
We have virtually the same collectors as last year, so please appreciate their visit; unfortunately none of us is getting any younger!
A.R. Hodgkinson (01380 828545)
The Club has visited three houses and one castle this year, the last event being on Saturday, 4th September, when members enjoyed a visit to The Vyne, a National Trust House at Sherborne St. John near Basingstoke, The Vyne was built in the 16th century and contains many items of interest. It is set in beautiful grounds featuring herbaceous borders, a walled garden, lakes and woodland walks.
At the end of August, 21 members joined in a guided tour of Devizes town, rounding off the evening with a meal at the Raven Inn.
Fortunately we have been blessed with good weather on each occasion.
Our next meeting will be the AGM on 11th November at 8.00p.m. in the Pavilion.A short business meeting will be followed by a talk on Lacock Abbey. Visitors will be most welcome.
Joy Stack
It’s all over for this year, and it seems to have been another success in every respect – a beautiful day (yet again!), lively entertainment, good food and drink and the generosity of the hundreds of people who enjoyed the event producing a financial result worthy of everyone’s efforts during the preceding months and on the day itself.
The Fete’s contribution towards the upkeep of our Lye Field and Pavilion will be in the region of £6,000. Congratulations and thanks to all concerned.
Colin Waldeck – (retiring) Chairman of Fete Committee.
If anyone has lost a lightweight jacket found in the vicinity of the Tug of War held towards the end of the Fete, please ring Colin or Jo on 828946.
If you’re a fan of The Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, you’ll immediately understand the reference, but if not, don’t worry, all will become clear by the time you have read these few paragraphs. Quite why 42 was determined by the Giant Computer to represent the Meaning of Life etc, was unclear in the context of Hitch-hiker, but here in Seend there is no such uncertainty!
It’s to do with being part of a group of people with a common purpose: the desire to do something worthwhile and have some fun while doing it: to do something to benefit mankind or at least the very small portion of it that lives in Seend: to get together to ‘suppose’ and ‘what if’: to find the means to help it along, and having found the means, TO DO IT! Here is a calculation which should help to make things clearer.
-7 meetings (average time 2 hours) total time: 14 hours.
- relates activities resulting from meetings. 14 hours.
- preparation day, event day, and clean up day: 14 hours.
Total number of hours involved in one year: 42
The question therefore is, what do we spend 42 hours on each year? The answer – the Seend Summer Fete! So there you have it. For us here in Seend, the answer to Life, The Universe and Everything is the Summer Fete – and if you would like to sample participation in the deeper meaning of Life etc. you can – in the Pavilion, at 7.30p.m. on Tuesday, 5th October. Recent arrivals to the village, Shaun and Susie and Davey and Sally, have promised to look in if they can, so join them, and us – Brian Hunt, Mary Gray, Neil Yockney, Roger Brind, Mike Bryan and me, Bernie Prolze – to plan the unchartered course that is Fete 2005, and perhaps enjoy a glass of wine while doing so. Please come along if you can spare the time – plus 42 hours!
Fete 2004 raised a record sum of £6,000 +. I and the rest of the Fete 2005 Committee would like to break this record. We will need all the help we can get … Bernie Prolze (828391).
July: 1st Prize: £35. Nr. 75: Vaughan Letts.
2nd Prize: £30. Nr.181: Miss V.M. Smith.
3rd Prize: £20: Nr. 72: Cathy Pond.
4th Prize: £15: Nr. 17: Mr. M.D. Park.
August: 1st Prize: £35: Nr. 4: Harry Broadbridge.
2nd Prize:£30: Nr:172: Ron ’Essex Boy’ Apted.
3rd Prize: £20: Nr.139: Mrs. Walsh.
4th Prize: £15: Nr.137. Richard Whitehead.
100+ Club Prize Winners for September:
The draw took place on 7th September following the quarterly meeting of the
Lye Field Committee. The draw was made by one of the Committee and the lucky
winners are:
1st Prize: £35: Nr.108: Mrs. Janet Bryan.
2nd Prize: £30: Nr. 57: Miss Anne Salter.
3rd Prize: £20: Nr.105: Mrs. Ann Hutchinson.
4th Prize: £15: Nr.,137: Richard Whitehead.
Bernie Prolze.
The next Rural Arts Wiltshire event in the village is on Sunday, 3rd October at 8.00p.m. in the Pavilion. The Duo del Fuego (Roger Huckle and Hayley Savage) will play works by Paganini, Manuel de Falla, Corelli and Locatelli on violin and guitar. Both are experienced, award-winning classical musicians, and the evening is guaranteed to be an absolute delight.
Light refreshments will be available in the interval, and/or you can bring your own beer or wine and glasses. Tickets are £6 (£3 concessions) or £15 for a family ticket (two adults and two or three children). Concessions are full-time students and those in receipt of benefits. Unfortunately, pensioners do not count as concessions unless they are in receipt of disability or other benefits. Sorry! I don’t make the rules! You can get tickets from Seend Shop and Post Office or by ringing Tessa on 828617.
Any proceeds will go towards the upkeep of the Lye Field and Pavilion. If you would like to donate a raffle prize, please ring Tessa as above.
Don’t forget, the Welcome Book for newcomers to the Village is now available from Richard and Melanie in the Shop. Do collect one for your new neighbours – or, better still, encourage them to go in and introduce themselves.
Please, please support our scheduled services on Mondays (to Seend Shop and
Post Office), Tuesdays (to Melksham) and Thursdays (to Melksham and Devizes).
The volunteer drivers get lonely on some trips, which is a shame as they are
jolly good company and incredibly helpful! You’ll find the timetable on
www.seend.org.uk
And you can book the Shuttle for private hire if you want to organise an outing
for family and friends or for a village club or organisation. ’Phone Alison
on 828568 for details.
There are usually some spare seats on a private hire shopping trip to Bath or Salisbury on the first Wednesday of each month. Phone Terry on 828203 to book your place.
The 8-week study course this Autumn is entitled “Women in History” and will examine the lives and roles of various groups and classes of women in the 12th to the 17th centuries, particularly those who have traditionally held the lives and futures of their communities in their hands.
The proposed syllabus will be :
1. The lives of Royalty.
2. The “Middle Classes”.
3. The “Lady about Town”.
4. Life in the Convent.
5. Village Life.
6. The Wise Woman.
7. The Under class.
8. A Time of War.
The weekly sessions will run from Monday, 11th October until Monday, 29th
November, 2004 and will take place in the upstair room at Seend Social Club.
The tutor will be Glenys Armstrong and the cost will be £32.
Don and Heather Hyde.
On Monday, 19th July, 14 walkers took part in a local walk in the area of Berwick St. James, the weather was absolutely gorgeous, as we meandered over the plains where the farmers were busy harvesting. Upon returning to the Guide Activities Centre in Berwick a further eight members joined us for the excellent Bar-B.Q meal that was laid on for us by committee members of ‘Friends of Berwick’. These ladies had worked extremely hard in preparing lovely food for this occasion. A raffle followed afterwards.
Colin Waldeck gave the vote of thanks to Anne Salter for organising this event, and to all the ladies who so admirably fed us.
White Elephant Stall – Saturday, 14th August: Once again, those who worked so hard on the run-up to and the day itself can be justly proud of the achievement this year, as this stall raised a magnificent £514.67p. A letter of appreciation has been duly received from the Lye Field Committee. Thank you everyone.
Sunday, 22nd August: 11 walkers plus a very well behaved dog, took part in the walk led by Ron Apted starting from Box to Rudloe and back along the Bybrook Valley. The weather was gorgeous, and we picniced en route. Our thanks to Ron.
Next Walk – Sunday, 31st October: 10.00a.m. Rusty Lane., for a walk to commence in Calne: taking us through Bowood, Derry Hill, Studley and back along the old railway line to Calne. Distance 7½ miles but fairly flat. Bring a packed lunch. Leader: RonApted (828427).
Ghost Walk – Meet at the Market Cross, Devizes at 7.15p.m. Friday,
12th Novcmber.
The above event has been arranged for our Club and anyone else who may be interested.
Just turn pu on this evening, make sure you are wearing warm clothes and suitable
footwear. John Girvan, local historian, will be showing us some interesting
locations where upon ’Ghosts’ have been known to exist!! The evening
will run for approximately 1½ hours and will cost you £3 per person.
Friday, 19th November – Social Evening – 7.30 for 8.00p.m.
in the Pavilion:
Speaker with slides – Mr. John Hawkin from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust .
£2.50 admission. Bring a plate of food (American Supper). Free glass of
wine. There will be a raffle. Everyone welcome.
Lin Salter
You may all have read earlier in Spotlight of all the events and happenings which occur each and every year in this beautiful village of ours.
We would like to remind you all of the most comprehensive list that our Committee can come up with, starting around Christmas time, with the services in the local Churches, including emotional Carol Services with the schoolchildren, onto the Village Pantomime, always a midwinter treat, on to Eastertime, with the Playgroup Easter Festivities in the Millennium Garden, on to the emergence of the millions of daffodils coming to fruition around the village. During all this time, the Football Club and the Cricket Club continue their activities. The Indoor Bowls season comes and goes. All this time, the Playgroup use the Pavilion for their valuable work nurturing the youngest members of our community, with the Brownies, and the Guides not far behind. The Gardening Club plan their year ahead, the Ramblers formulate their walks and the Historic Houses Group and the Theatre Club make plans. We then come full circle back to the following year’s Fete. The common denominator in all of this? It is the use of all these groups and others of the Irene Usher Memorial Pavilion and the Lye Recreation Field. This year we had added events such as Melksham Park Youth six-a-side Tournament, and the very successful British Heart Foundation Sponsored Cycle Ride.
“How wonderful” we hear you all cry. And quite right too!! The Lye Field and the Pavilion belong to us all, and is rightly used by all.
Why then, over the past few months, have we been subjected to mindless vandalism? Our maintenance gang have had to repair all sorts of damage, such as the wooden railings on the front of the Pavilion several times. A couple of windows have been smashed, but not, as you would think by footballs or cricket balls, but by persons unknown being careless and negligent. Tiles on the roof have had to be replaced. Air vents on the side of the dressing rooms have been damaged. The two most disturbing incidents have been most recently. On the eve of the Cycle ride, Saturday, September 4th, the Pavilion was entered and some chocolate, intended for sale at the event, was stolen. Some bars were strewn around the Pavilion, others have since been found in the school field, and alongside the canal towpath. The other incident we believe was even worse. Some irresponsible person decided to build a small bonfire, and EVEN LIT IT, UNDER THE OIL TANK alongside the Pavilion, and even worse, very close to our immediate neighbour. This really is beyond our comprehension.
The Police have been informed and have taken certain items away for examination.
The Committee have made certain decisions, and would like to make it clear that
any further acts of this nature will not be tolerated. Any damage will have
to be paid for, either by the person responsible, or their parent, if necessary.
We have been further advised to prosecute any future offences.
Please take it upon yourselves to be vigilant and to report any suspicious behaviour to the Police. They have promised regular patrols in the area. It will be a very sad day to have to accept Anti Social Behavioural Orders in our village.
SEEND LYE RECREATION FIELD COMMITTEE.
The latest ‘News Release’ of the above organisation gives a clear picture of the high level of productivity under taken by the Air Ambulance crews. In 2003 they flew 291 missions with a further 93 incidents being attended by their fast car. Crews of three, pilot, aeromedic and police observer, are on duty for 9 hours from 8.00a.m. until 3.00a.m. every day of the year. Life threatening injuries always receive priority and once on board, patients can be safely delivered to any part of Wiltshire within 15 minutes.
They express their gratitude for the monetary donations received, but, of course, they are always in need of more. Anybody wishing to help should contact Tracey Edwards or Mary Laing on 01380 739453 or 07970 920414.
Kennet Citizens Advice Bureau is an independent charity currently looking to recruit new volunteers to train to be advisors or to give IT support . The bureau has offices in Devizes, Marlborough, Pewsey and Tidworth. They help local people with their legal, debt, housing, benefit, employment and other problems. The bureau provides information and advice and influences government and organisations to bring about change in policies and laws.
Full training is provided and so formal qualifications are not required. Travelling expenses are paid to all volunteers. If you would like further information please ‘phone Kerry Barratt on 01380 722242.
The last Traction Engine Rally took place in 1972 because to continue would have incurred significant risks. For a start the cost of preparing the Rally had increased and the financial forecasts were for lower profits. With one rainy exception, the weather on the previous occasions had been good but a future wet weekend could have resulted in a loss of money. It was time to call a halt.
Enough money had been raised to pay off all debts and enable the building of the Pavilion which took place in 1973 when it was formally opened by Mrs. Diana Fraser
The reasons why the Rallies were so successful are quite simple. The late ‘Fowler’ Jack Holloway personally knew the great majority of the owners of the various engines and machines. He spoke with them and persuaded them to come along with their equipment. The other reason is the great support put in by practically everybody who lived in the Parish at the time, even if it was only providing bread, cakes and other foods for which there were collection points throughout the area.
Other developments had continued satisfactorily. A Constitution had been prepared and was accepted on 10th February, 1969 following a successful application to the Charity Commissioners. The application vested the property comprised in the deeds dated 4th April, 1967 into the keeping of the Official Custodian for Charities. This Constitution still determines the way in which The Seend Lye Recreation Field is organised and controlled.
Sadly, in 1968 Miss Usher died. She had been most generous in helping to acquire the Lye Field and had made an interest free loan of £2,250. Shortly before her death she forgave this debt which made it into an out-right gift and as a consequence, the Inland Revenue demanded £1,240 in death duties. The Honorary Treasurer was the late John Hutchinson who challenged the Inland Revenue and fought a correspondence argument with them for some two years. Eventually the local M.P. now Sir Charles Morrison, took up the battle and the demands were eventually waived.
The Seend Lye Field has been, and still is, a highly successful Village asset. It has some 19 Constituent Member Organisations including such as the football, cricket and tennis clubs. Its income is largely derived from the annual Fete plus smaller amounts from donations from the Constituent Members and the letting of the Hall. Costs are kept to a minimum by the splendid work of the group of volunteers known as the “Last of the Summer Wine” and who are still carrying on the good works of the original trio: Stanley Heavisides, John Hutchinson and Bob Smith who arrived with their tools in May, 1984. Long may it continue.