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Parish News, August 2010 - There are 18 articles - do scroll down and have a look at everything

Our Doctor writes Great Bedwyn School News Wroughton Social Stroke Club
Bedwyn trains passenger group

Our Doctor writes Great Bedwyn School news Wroughton Social Stroke Club Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group

Kerbside Waste Collection and Recycling
Paediatric First Aid Training
Community Speedwatch
Great Bedwyn Parish Council
Kerbside Waste Collection & Recycling Free Paediatric First Aid Training Community Speedwatch
Great Bedwyn Parish Council

Chisbury Crop Circle


Bedwyn Millennium Choir
Crofton Vegetable and Flower Show
Nature Notes
Chisbury Crop Circle Bedwyn Millennium Choir Crofton Vegetable & Flower Show Nature Notes
Starlight Walk comes to Marlborough
Kennet and Avon Canal - 200th birthday celebration Friends of Brendoncare
Royal British Legion
Starlight Walk comes to Marlborough Kennet and Avon Canal Friends of Brendoncare Froxfield Royal British Legion - Great Bedwyn & District Branch


Great Bedwyn Pantomime Society - Review of Puss in Boots Miscellaneous notices

Great Bedwyn Pantomime Society Miscellaneous notices





































Our Doctor writes

OUT OF HOURS CONTACT NUMBER 0300 111 5717

The proposed government changes
The plans of the coalition government are causing much comment and concern not only in our tiny area but across the whole of England. The proposed changes will not affect Wales or Scotland. At the heart of these changes is the desire to move the commissioning (the planning and arranging of care) away from PCTs and for these responsibilities to be given to practices. There is experience of primary care, practice led commissioning from the last Conservative administration in the form of fundholding. This enabled individual practices to take control over limited areas of their budget and to control where patients were referred based on the negotiated services that were available. The proposed changes are much more ambitious than this with practices needing to form into groupings of around 75,000+ patient populations. This will enable a more strategic approach to service development and provision. Currently we operate in a grouping of 5 local practices with a total population of around 32,000.

Public Health – where will it fit in?
There are some significant threats associated with an upheaval of this magnitude. Currently public health departments do not appear to be a major part of the new process. Practice groupings will need to make sure that Public Health is an integral partner in this new vision of care. Not just as a service which is bought like other specialties but as a partner in key service development areas. There needs to be a co-ordinated approach to service delivery which transcends common conditions. An example of this is the current debate surrounding the number of children’s heart surgery units for the whole of the UK. Proximity and the desire of hospitals to offer such a service needs balancing with the volume of work required to maintain clinical excellence. It is not clear in this brave new world who will make decisions like this. There is also the need for federations of practices to work closely and flexibly with hospital colleagues to design appropriate patterns of care not necessarily predicated on built structures or historical patterns of working.

Administering the changes
The second major threat relates to key individuals and organisations needing to spend time on the process of structural reorganisation at a time in the economic life of the country when all hands need to be on the pump to improve the efficiency of care delivery. Another large threat is the ability of GPs to be able to take up this challenge in a consistent and uniform way. Previous and current experience has been gained by early adopters and those keen to accept a challenge. There are no current plans to have any pilots for this new system. There will need to be a source of help and support for the commissioning process and currently there is no clear mechanism for this to happen. I believe that the Royal College of GPs should take an active lead in this area.

The possible effect of market forces on health care providers
Finally, much of these plans revolve around the marketisation of healthcare in England to a much greater degree than has happened in the past. If the planned benefits are to be harvested then there will need to be failures within such a system. It will be interesting to see how the Government deals with hospitals and practices who economically fail. Will they be bailed out, which would undermine the whole approach or will they be left to go under? These proposed changes are certainly exciting and have the scope to deliver improved outcomes but there needs to be flexibility as things evolve over the next few months and years rather than a dogged fixation to an ideology.

Ideas for local community projects
Locally our patient partnership group is growing and developing. At their last meeting there was much interest in the work of Dr Sam Everington in Bromley by Bow in London. We know that many things contribute to health and wellbeing. Sam has taken a really holistic approach to health in his area and has set up various social enterprises aimed at helping individuals to develop the skills of individuals to help them to be more economically active and less excluded within society. There is a clear link between this and health. Our group has been looking at the possibility of helping people to develop their IT skills by setting up a programme within the village. I think this has the potential to be the beginning of an exciting move within the community and I’m watching with great interest. If you have any ideas that would contribute to making the whole community a healthier and better place to live then please let me or Anthea Rogers our Chair person know.

I think that’s enough for now (I’m actually on holiday as I type!)

With Best Wishes,

Dr Tim Ballard

OUT OF HOURS CONTACT NUMBER 0300 111 5717

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Great Bedwyn School News

In support of Year 5’s project on World War II, a trip to the Steam Museum in Swindon was arranged at the end of June. The children handled WW2 artefacts as well as board a reconstruction of a wartime carriage. They also met an ARP warden, sounded an air siren and ran for cover in a reconstructed public shelter. It was a fascinating day, which was enjoyed by everyone.

Reception held a highly successful cake and toy sale complete with silent auction in early July. They raised a phenomenal £560.00 towards the new build, our highest total to date. Thank you to everyone who helped, particularly the local businesses who have been so generous in supporting our cause.

With all the school assessments now finished, the children have focused their attention on demonstrating their athletic prowess. On the 3rd July, a group of children took part in the Avon Valley Mini Marathon with fantastic results. Great Bedwyn School walked away with three out of the four cups! With ten schools and over two hundred children competing, this result was an outstanding achievement by the Bedwyn’s team. Special thanks to Eugene Vines, Henrietta MacKinnon and Sarah Richardson who trained the children for the event. All the children were amazing but special commendation goes to Molly Vines, Sophie Mallinson, George Nicholson, Jago Stock, Joseph Knight, Ollie Frost, Gabbie Painting (1st), Ruby Soellner, Zoe Bulsara, James Richardson (1st) and Nathaniel Arnold.

The Avon Marathon was followed by Bedwyn’s annual Sports Day and the Cross County. Both the events were keenly supported by parents, grandparents, relatives and friends. Congratulations to Nathaniel Arnold and Gabby Painting who were our overall winners in the Cross Country event. Following the events on the field, the GBSA held a highly successful Sports Day barbeque raising £176.78.

The annual school Art’s Festival focused on Rousseau’s painting "Surprise". As part of the activities, the whole school visited to the local woodland to take advantage of the local environment. Pupils were involved in both tiger hunting and environmental art. Trips of this nature have proved invaluable to help pupils understand more about their local wildlife and the countryside in general.

All the children attended the Onyx brass concert at St Mary’s church on the 16th July. Thank you to Mrs. Groves and her team who co-ordinated the event.

On the 17 July, Bedwyn became host to its second ‘Croftonbury Festival’. Over sixty families (many with their pets) arrived to support GBSA's tentathon weekend. Craft activities, nature trails and a children’s disco were held throughout the afternoon and evening. Families gathered round the camp fires to chat and listen to music, absorbing the atmosphere of that proper 'Glastonbury experience!' Huge thanks to everyone who made the event such a success, particularly, John Campbell and his team of chefs (co-ordinated by the Cordereys and the Sheehans), Del Walters who supplied all the meat, Peter Vallis for the children’s disco and to Wendy Northeast for Wendy’s kitchen. The evening entertainment was courtesy of Felix Stock, Patrick Blunt, Lisa from Loose Salute and Nick Harper. Very special thanks to Sarah Richardson who managed the entire event and to Rob and Eugene Vines for the use of their field. A staggering £1,000 has been raised.

As the end of the academic year approaches we say goodbye and good luck to all our present Year 6 children and look forward to welcoming our new Reception pupils in September.

Sophie Callaghan

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Wroughton Social Stroke Club

Coffee morning to raise money for the Wroughton Social Stroke Club

We had our annual coffee morning in June and managed to raise £566.35 for people who have had strokes. The money is used to provide much needed holidays and outings for people who would not normally have the chance of these opportunities.

We all enjoyed the morning and many thanks to everyone who supported the occasion.

Jan Scurr

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Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group

Just when we thought we had a lull in passenger group activity we have suddenly had a very busy month. Therefore this article is a little longer than normal.

On June 25th I attended the First Great Western (FGW) Stakeholder Conference, in Bristol, on behalf of the Passenger Group. It was a very positive meeting and what struck me is that FGW and Network Rail management are very open, honest and working together to improve our railway. Gone are the BR days of always saying 'No' and gone are the hostilities between FGW and Network Rail.

Over the last few years they've faced an uphill struggle of years of BR under investment. The sums being invested in the network infrastructure are quite staggering. On the downside are the fears over the government's comprehensive spending review. Reading between the lines the mood was that electrification would be scrapped. This, in itself, is not a disaster but FGW desperately need to have the decision made so they can make decisions on rolling stock. Due to the nature of franchise agreements the majority of rolling stock is leased. Prior to the electrification announcement an order had been placed for new diesel units which would have served sections of the FGW area, including us, from December 2011. This would have resolved many of the issues we have (e.g. lack of morning train to Paddington between 0700 and 0800 and lack of trains west). However, when electrification was announced the purchase of these diesel units was cancelled by the government. If electrification is now cancelled it puts FGW back to square one with an aging HST rolling stock. It was raised that the HST fleet might be overhauled again, this would include new toilets and better door access (to comply with forthcoming disability legislation).

Another fear for FGW, r.e. the government's comprehensive spending review, is whether the major works at Reading will be stopped. This truly would put the industry back as Reading is a major bottleneck to the region, causing delays and timetabling issues. Though the work scheduled for this Christmas, to move all the signalling control from Reading to Didcot, is still to go ahead. This will effectively shut the line between Theale and Maidenhead between Christmas day and January 3rd (inclusive) with the line briefly reopening to serve New Years Eve. Therefore if you are a London bound commuter, and don't wish to use the bus replacement service, you might wish to consider taking the full Christmas week off. At present it appears that there will be shuttle buses from Theale and a bus from Newbury to Slough. Further details are available at http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=4888

Lack of ticket collectors on local trains
The other thing of interest to us, raised at the conference, is the lack of ticket collectors. This was especially significant as I travelled to Bristol and back, via Reading, without being asked to show my ticket at any point. The panel did not have any solutions other than "it's a problem". It appears that funding for revenue protection staff is not just down to FGW. On July 8th Bill Wells and I met with FGW and raised this again. What we discovered is that there is a crazy funding issue where the DfT increase the grant as revenue tails off. Therefore FGW have to get £6 back for every £1 they invest in additional ticket selling staff - otherwise they are better off with the DfT grant. The FGW managers acknowledged it's a crazy system but from a business point of view we can understand their point. However, they have agreed to try and improve the situation and talk to the DfT. One suggestion they took on board straightaway is to get the 0646 always to arrive at a Paddington platform with a ticket barrier. We also presented them with some recently collected Wiltshire Council figures, of Bedwyn station usage, which clearly shows that there are more people using the trains than tickets sold.

Other things raised, with FGW on July 8th, were:

  1. We asked about progress on our request to have a stop on the 0546 weekday from Exeter. This would call here at 0729 and be direct to Paddington. It’d also connect well for Thatcham and Theale. There has been some progress. At present this service is only 80% on time at Newbury and has a 7 minute wait at Westbury. From December 2010 they will reduce this to 3 minutes at Westbury and use the additional four minutes at Pewsey, Hungerford and Newbury. If they can get this to work, and on time, they will then consider giving us a stop.
  2. From May 2011 there will be a re-working of some of our trains. In short the 1706, from Paddington (calling Bedwyn at 1824), will no longer terminate at Westbury but instead go via Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon, Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads. This gives us an interesting evening service west but sadly it means that the 1917 from Westbury (calling here at 1944) will no longer run. This is an important part of our westbound service and, given the loss of the weekday 0930 west from December 2010, it is disappointing. We put a number of proposals to FGW and the two that they will consider are (i) switching the Hungerford stop, on the 1523 from Taunton, to Bedwyn (Hungerford passengers would then catch an existing connecting service from Bedwyn) and (ii) giving us a stop on the 1954 from Exeter. It was pointed out to us that westbound ticket prices from Bedwyn are the same as from Newbury, if travelling via Newbury. FGW also pointed out that it costs, in terms of fuel used, £10,000pa per additional HST stop.
  3. Ticket sellers on our trains often try and sell a full fare on the 0840 and give advice that an off peak ticket is not valid, from Paddington, between 1630 and 1730. As the 0840 is an off peak train and 1706 and 1806 return services are open to off peak tickets FGW agreed that some retraining is required.
  4. We raised the subject that when things go wrong people are often left stranded and without information. FGW agreed that they could do better and are investigating a recent incident (the suicide at Twyford) where they clearly failed passengers.
  5. We thanked FGW for the recent station repaint and the replacing of the Perspex in the up shelter. We had previously asked for new shelters but, given the economic climate, this proved impossible.

Happy Travelling!

Steve Smith

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Kerbside Waste Collection and Recycling

Wiltshire Council is proposing a new scheme for waste collection and recycling that, if adopted, will provide an enhanced service for our area (i.e. the former Kennet District Council).

The proposed scheme means that all Wiltshire residents will receive:

• A kerbside collection of plastic bottles and cardboard (but not Tetra cartons) every 2 weeks. It is not yet decided what this waste will be put in: Wiltshire Council's preference is for bags or sacks rather than another wheelie bin.

• A kerbside black box collection for glass, papers, cans, foil and textiles every 2 weeks (i.e. our current kerbside recycling).

• A non-chargeable optional kerbside collection of garden waste every 2 weeks (i.e. our current green wheelie bin collection, but free).

• A collection of left-over waste every two weeks (i.e. our current black wheelie bin collection).

The kerbside collection of Tetra packaging and food waste is not yet included, but Wiltshire Council is keeping this under review. Tetrapacks can be recycled at Household Recycling Centres, and Wiltshire Council subsidises the cost of domestic food waste digesters (see www.recycleforwiltshire.com).

Comments from the public are invited by 20th August, after which Wiltshire Council will decide on the proposal. Full details of the proposal, the reasons behind it, Frequently Asked Questions and how to comment are on the Wiltshire Council website at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/rubbishandrecycling/waste. If you do not have access to the Internet, a paper leaflet titled 'Waste collection and recycling' is available from Wiltshire Council (tel. 0300 456 0102).

Steve Hobson

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Free Paediatric First Aid Training

Free Paediatric First Aid Training for Mums and Dads!

Earlier this year, the Patient Participation Group, 'Great Bedwyn Surgery Patient Connect', wrote to all parents with information about First Aid training.

A course was run in conjunction with 'Angels First Aid' in The Legion recently and we had some great feedback. We are keen that everyone who wants to do the training gets the opportunity. Therefore, in the Autumn, we will be funding a course and offering it free of charge.

If you are interested in the free course on offer in the Autumn, please could you add your details below and indicate what day of the week/ time of day are best:

NAME:_________________________________________

CONTACT DETAILS:__________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________ (address, 'phone no. or email address)

CONVENIENT DAY/TIME ETC:__________________________________________________________

Please return these details either to myself or Philip Blunt via pint6x@hotmail.com or you can also email Practice Manager, Keith Marshall via kmarshall@nhs.net or drop this form into the surgery

ANTHEA ROGERS

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Community Speed Watch

So what is the idea behind this initiative?

It is NOT a revenue led scheme

Its main aim is to slow down traffic entering this and other local villages making them safer places to live in.

The Facts

The community speed watch team have all been trained.
We share a camera with the other villages in the Pewsey Area Board area.
We are surveying traffic, volume, direction and speed

If you are travelling over the speed threshold and are recorded by the team, you will be sent a letter by the community speed watch coordinator basically informing you of this fact and requesting that you travel within the permitted limits in the future.

If you are recorded a second time you will receive notification of this from the Chief Constable of Wiltshire.

A third time you will receive a visit from a police officer and you will be targeted by the Road Policing Unit. This may result in a fine and points.

The above applies if you are surveyed by any of the teams in the Pewsey Area Board area.

There has been some discussion locally about the legality of this scheme; it is legal. It has the full support of Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire Council.

Please support us - we are trying to make our village a safer place for your family.

If you would like to get involved with Community Speed Watch please contact the Parish Council via its link on the Village Website.

Sally Rhodes


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Great Bedwyn Parish Council

Extract from the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 14th July 2010

Apologies: Cllrs. Roger Durie, Karina Nicholson, Gordon Stone and Charles Howell

Matters Arising:

1. Allotments. (JvH)
The PC agreed for another skip to be supplied, on a one off basis, to be use specifically for clearing the area adjacent to allotment 98A, which will then be returned to cultivation. (Allotment holders will be notified when skip is available) Work party to be organised, as agreed, with allotment holders at their meeting, to help clear area adjacent to allotment 98A. Plot 109C has been re-allocated and plot 99B is due to become available over the next few months.

2. Youth Club. (KN)
A disco is being arranged. The youth club will close for the summer holidays and re-open in September.
A new youth leader is being sought.

3. Traffic items.
Portable speed camera. (SR/SH/JR)
Church Street (Crofton end) a speed review has been requested.
Speed stickers are now distributed and are thought to be making drivers more aware.
Speed watch is now in operation. See separate article.

4. Village defibrillator.
The system is now fully operational. Suggested training days are 6th and 11th September, but are subject to the “Legion” being available. A donation of £15 per person will be sought for the CPR/Defibrillator courses, but anyone unable to contribute should still attend.

9. BT Payphone. (CAB)
An inspector has reviewed the condition of this kiosk, and his report is eagerly awaited by a different department of BT, before a decision is forthcoming regarding the re-decoration. We are awaiting response from BT.

12. Rubbish at the Wharf.
There have been complaints regarding fly tipping etc, at the wharf. Letter to be compiled and issued to British Waterways.

Planning: (JC)
Wiltshire Council, full planning:
4, Forestry Houses – single storey side and rear extension.
Wharf – information panel.

AOB:
1. Wiltshire Council 20mph Speed Limit Trial. A policy is under review and WC is looking for support from local councils. A letter will be written to WC, showing our interest, and nominating the Parish Councillors as willing participants. Areas of particular concern, with the PC, are :-
a) the two bridges and up to the 3 Tuns,
b) the church in Church Street up to, and including part of Farm Lane. This follows a complaint raised regarding the two bridges.

2. A complaint has been raised regarding disability access/egress at the railway station, and a request made for improved walkway/footpath signage over the two bridges. There was a request for a disabled parking bay between the bridges. This request was not supported, as the PC considered it dangerous for anyone to park on or between the bridges. There was also a request for the disabled bay of the railway car park to be better defined. The PC to liaise with Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group. Brook Street is already listed for Machine Patching by WC, date to be advised, and Highways will be contacted regarding the request for improved walkway/footpath signage over the two bridges. The pavement, currently on the Wharf side of the bridge, will be requested to be re-located to the station side. At present pedestrians alighting from West bound trains are encouraged to cross the road at a very dangerous part of the bridges.


Colin Brinsden - Parish Clerk: 01488 684646

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Chisbury Crop Circle

When walking in the countryside one can never be sure what lies round the corner. On the afternoon of the first Sunday in July, my wife and I were nearing the summit of Roger Hill, on our way to Chisbury hill fort, when a camper van containing a Norwegian family stopped alongside and asked us if we knew where the corn circle was. When we said we didn’t, they asked for directions to St Martin’s chapel, Chisbury, which we were happy to give, since that was where we ourselves were bound.

When we reached the Chapel, we found the normally deserted spot crowded with camper vans, cars, minibuses, and a coach from Swindon. In the cornfield that lies between the chapel and Little Bedwyn, was a most elaborate corn circle alive with ant-like visitors, some of whom were allegedly performing magico-religious rites in the centre. Local people said that it had appeared mysteriously on the night of Friday, 2nd July. Can anyone offer an explanation?

Andrew Hutchison 

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Bedwyn Millennium Choir

The choir was flattered to be invited to perform as part of Hungerford’s annual HADCAF arts festival this year. Our director, Fiona Scott MacArthur, put together a varied programme, interspersed with solo performances from Jane Heather, Sue Kershaw, Alan Butterworth, Brenda Mason, Vanya Body and Annie Quinton-Smith. Fiona, a mezzo-soprano, also sang a number of pieces herself, and it was truly wonderful to hear such a professional musician fill the church with her beautiful singing.

A special mention must go to our pianist, David Stewart, who coped extremely well with the veritable mountain of new music he had to learn for this concert.

Fiona is running a series of summer singing evenings in the church on Thursday evenings then our regular rehearsals will begin again on Monday 6th September. New members are always welcome – no audition required.

Rachel Bond 

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Crofton Vegetable and Flower Show

A small show for local gardeners and children will be held at Crofton on August Bank Holiday; Set-up on Saturday viewing Sunday and Monday.

If you live/work/play within 15 miles of Crofton you can enter (forms in local shops, the Pumping Station or 01672 870300.)

Adult and children's classes available, including the family scarecrow competition, which will be judged by the public!

This promises to be an entertaining event following on from the success last year; we look forward to receiving your entry forms!

All are welcome to the show to support local talent whether you enter or not!

Any questions please call Maxine on 870300.

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Nature Notes

Last year there appeared to be a problem with our blue tit box being attacked by woodpeckers. I don’t think that any real damage was done then but this year there has been a persistent attempt by the woodpeckers to do so much damage that the young blue tits were in serious danger. Spring Watch filmed woodpeckers on the attack. We think our blue tits managed to take to the wing but only because a friend erected some defensive measures to keep the woodpeckers at bay. This is all very disappointing as the black and white woodpecker is handsome and we like having him around - but not as killers!

Some of you may have noticed a curious piece of hedgerow on the way to Marlborough which has gone completely white. This is due to the creation of a network of silk webs and a huge number of caterpillars connected to a colony of the small Ermine moth. The caterpillars strip the hedgerow completely bare and in 1782 a plague of similar caterpillars struck the south east of England when hedges and fruit trees were stripped.

Still no House Martins at Folly Farm but close neighbours have located four brand new nests under the eaves of their house. We have had 20 orchids in flower this week but I don't know how they got there.

David Back


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Starlight Walk comes to Marlborough

Prospect Hospice is asking Marlborough ladies to put their best foot forward this year when the town plays host to the Marlborough Starlight Walk on 11 September.

The hospice is hoping to build on the success of the Swindon Starlight Walk on 26 June, which saw 800 ladies walking through Swindon in what has become the hospice’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Last year’s event saw 650 ladies raising £65,000 for the Wroughton-based hospice, and this year’s event is hoped to have raised more than ever before.

And now the charity has decided to create a second walk especially for the ladies of Marlborough.

Starting and ending at the leisure centre, the 15k route follows the Ridgeway to Temple Farm before circling through Rockley and returning to Marlborough, where there will be refreshments and, for those that wish to, a balloon release with a message to a loved one.

Prospect needs £5m every year to continue to offer the services it provides for free to the community. Three-quarters of this comes from voluntary donations and fundraising events such as Starlight.

To register for the walk please go to www.prospect-hospice.net/marlboroughstarlight, or for further information email fundraising&events@prospect-hospice.net or call fundraising on 01793 816161.

What about the boys?

Just in case the men feel left out, the hospice are also asking for male volunteers to help marshal the walk on the night. Nearly 70 men volunteered for the Swindon event, but with the Marlborough Walk taking place in the countryside, there’s even more of a need for men to help keep the walkers safe.

Marshals will need to be available from 8.30pm until around 12.30am on 11 September. If you’re free and fancy volunteering for an evening for a very good cause, please call the fundraising team on 01793 816161.

Ben Holloway, Promotions Officer, Prospect Hospice 01793 816179


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The Kennet and Avon Canal

In his fifth article, this time covering the restoration of the Kennet & Avon Canal , David Harris highlights some of the early efforts to persuade the Government to support the band of volunteers who were determined to restore the waterway as a public amenity.

Back from the brink.
To John Gould, the last trader on the K&A, the idea of closing the canal brought on a determination which resulted in him initiating a High Court action against the British Transport Commission (BTC) on the grounds that they had failed to keep the canal open. He asked for an interim injunction to stop further deterioration. When the case was heard before Mr Justice Roxburgh, he refused to grant an injunction whilst at the same time heavily criticising the BTC. In a lengthy report of the case, The Times newspaper quoted Sir Andrew Clark, for the Commission thus: ..”Is it right to spend thousands of pounds merely because one man wants to sail a couple of boats on it?” The Times report went on ... His Lordship’s answer to that tendentious proposition was: “ If that was the law, then it was the duty of a statutory monopoly to obey it, just as much as anyone else ...” The hearing was adjourned but the trial never took place. Instead, John’s case was discussed out of court and he was paid £5,000 and costs with the proviso that he would not press for action until the end of 1956 when the BTC would determine whether there was any future for the canal.

Drumming up support.
Meanwhile, the Inland Waterway Association (IWA) and the Kennet & Avon Canal Association (K&ACA) had been busy drumming up public support by organising events and stage managing occasions to embarrass the Docks & Inland Waterways Executive, the Government body directly responsible for the canals. One such event was the preparation of a Petition against the BTC’s Private Bill, published in 1956, to close the canal. With more than 20,000 signatures, the Petition was taken by boat, canoe and cruiser along the canal to Reading and then down the Thames to Westminster where it was delivered to the Ministry of Transport in Berkeley Square with a request that it be forwarded to Her Majesty The Queen, which it was with much media coverage.

The Bowes Report.
Such was the pressure on the Government that an independent enquiry was set – The Bowes Commission – to report on the future of the system of inland waterways. At the second reading of the Bill in March 1956, the House of Commons forced the removal of the clause which would have empowered the BTC to prepare the scheme for the future of the K&A which in effect reprieved the canal, at least pending the report of the Bowes Commission. The Bowes report was published in July 1958 and divided the waterways into three classes. With the exception of the river Avon which was classified as being in Class A, the rest of the Kennet & Avon was classified in Class C as a Remainder waterway but did merit special mention. According to Section 174 of the Report ... “The fate of the Kennet & Avon Canal has aroused so much public interest that we think it right, exceptionally, to make significant reference to it ......... It is pre-eminently a case for redevelopment ... a procedure which would give weight to amenity and recreational values...” The K&ACA welcomed the report since an overwhelming case had been made for the retention of the canal as a navigable link between the rivers Severn (at the Bristol end) and the Thames (at Reading) for pleasure traffic and other amenities.

From harassment to co-operation.
Now that the principle of redevelopment had been accepted, a change in approach – from harassing the BTC to co-operation – took root, with Lord Methuen, then President of the K&ACA reporting that Sir Reginald Kerr, general manager of the BTC agreed to help the Association with the resources and manpower available. During the next two years, the Association prepared its own Redevelopment Plan which gave estimates of the number and variety of craft expected to use the waterway, and a forecast of the vital water supplies needed which included the provision of a borehole at Great Bedwyn to augment summer water supplies (not implemented), together with the restoration of the waterwheel pump at Claverton, and the installation of an electric pump at Crofton in place of the beam engines which should be kept as museum pieces. The Plan pointed out that the neglect of the waterway had been so great that the cost of restitution was abnormal, so special arrangements had to be devised, and the Association proposed an ingenious solution suggesting that it would be more expensive to close a navigation that to put it back into working order. As a result, the Association stated that the BTC should pay any new body taking over the canal, not only the cost of restoration, but an annual payment of interest on the difference between the cost of restoration and the greater cost of abandonment which at the same time was estimated to be in the region of £1million.

Creation of the K&A Canal Trust and BWB.
So that the Association would be in a position to take on commitments and responsibilities and thereby play a more active part in the redevelopment plans, it was decided to change the Constitution of the Association and form a Trust, hence the formation of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust in 1962 operating as a Charity limited by guarantee. At the same time, the BTC established a new administration to take over its waterways interests which would start operations from 1st January 1963 to be known as the British Waterways Board (BWB).In December 1962, the BTC issued an interim report giving its opinion on the future of the inland waterways. Points 160 – 166 covered the Kennet & Avon and were enthusiastically received by the Trust since BWB recognised that real progress could be made by volunteer involvement in terms of cost savings, practical help and fund raising.

David Harris

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FRIENDS OF BRENDONCARE, FROXFIELD

GARDEN PARTY with ROY’S MAGIC

Teas  Crafts  Residents’ Stall  Cakes

Raffle Bathroom Stall Tombola

Wednesday 4th August from 2pm

Admission £2 to include tea

Children FREE

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Bedwyn and District Branch Royal British Legion

We would like to thank all those that attended and supported the Armed Forces Day event at The Royal British Legion in Great Bedwyn on Saturday 26th June 2010. We raised approximately £250 from the stalls and donations, which will go towards The Tidworth Recovery Centre.

We had a tombola, raffle, live music – ‘Endeavour’, cake stall, RBL Poppy Appeal stand, a 2nd World War Jeep and a BBQ, run by The Youth Club. The raffle prizes were donated by local people and businesses, some of the best prizes I have seen, so a big thank you to all the donators, also thank you to all the volunteers that helped on the day, with such short notice. Rear Admiral Nick Wilkinson kindly gave a speech, supporting all our UK Troops in this Country and Abroad, past and present.

We are now planning next year’s event for Armed Forces Day www.armedforcesday.org.uk – Saturday 25th June 2011, so please put it in your diary. Any help, prizes, famous people, military vehicles, input etc. would be very much appreciated.

Valerie Dalgleish    valeriedalgleish@yahoo.co.uk 

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Great Bedwyn Pantomime Society

Dates for your diary:

7th, 8th, 9th Oct - Our next play ‘Laughter in The Dark’ a comedy by Victor Lucas

6th November – Bavarian night

12th November – Rural Arts Wiltshire present The Louise Parker Quartet

WANTED!!! – Pianist and Drummer

We would love to accompany next year's panto with live music and so are looking for a pianist and a drummer. If you can tinkle the ivories or are snazzy with a snare drum, please do step forward. Our musical rehearsals take place on Sunday afternoons, starting in October. If you are interested, we would love to hear from you.

Please contact Jane Heather on 01672 870125.

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Miscellaneous Notices


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