Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all BA villagers!!
Bradford Abbas Parish Council - Neighbourhood Plan
The Parish Council would like to thank all those who attended the meeting on 16th November when we had presentations from the chair and clerk of Hazelbury Bryan PC, Steve Murcer and Malcolm Wilson, on their experience in setting up a Neighbourhood Plan. On a show of hands amongst the 50 plus people present, it would seem that there is a will for Bradford Abbas PC to also start the process off.
The PC cannot do this alone and a group of nine people approximately will be needed. We have some names already and have asked anyone else who might be interested to contact our clerk on bradfordabbaspc@hotmail.co.uk BEFORE 3rd January 2022 so that the PC can consider the subject at the next Ordinary PC meeting on 4th January. For those who couldn’t make it on 16th November, please go to the PC website (https://bradford-abbas.uk/) where there are links to the details of Neighbourhood Plans.
Rose and Crown, Bradford Abbas
Well, over three months in and it's remained pretty busy thanks to all our old and new customers.
The focus for us now is Xmas and a busy December which is filling up well with bookings. Xmas menus and pre order forms are available to pick up from the pub or can be emailed. Details are also on the website.
Watch out for what's happening in the December schedule so you can see what will be going on.
Hope to see you over the festive period and a very merry Xmas to you all, from all the staff at the R & C.
St. Mary’s Week 2021
To make your Christmas go with a bang, the St Mary’s Week Team has the following events. Put them in your diary now.
SATURDAY 4th DECEMBER CHRISTMAS SINGALONG from 7:30, in the church, bar, free entry.
FRIDAY 10th DECEMBER from 7:30 CHRISTMAS WREATH-MAKING in the Village Hall (with welcome drink and puddings). £20 per head. SOLD OUT.
FRIDAY CHRISTMAS EVE from 5:30 OUTDOOR CAROLS AND NATIVITY (in front of the church – Church Road will be closed to traffic)
VILLAGE SANTA COMPETITION - Since we were unable to run a scarecrow competition this year, we invite you to join us by making Bradford Abbas a Santa-filled village. Big ones, small ones, in front of your house, on a poster in your window...any type, anywhere. Please have yours in place by 14th December and on display until at least 1st January. We will select a favourite home-made Santa and a chocolate-based prize will go to that house.
29th January 2022 HERE WE GO, A-WASSAILING - Starting at 6pm from the church. Dress up warm with good shoes/boots and torches/lanterns as we go to bless the apple trees. Or just join us from 7pm in the church for entertainments and drinks (including mulled cider).
Saturday 19th February THE BIG BREAKFAST - Come to the church for a cooked breakfast. We are also inviting all village organisations to join us that morning and set up a stand or a video display to promote the work that you do and to help you raise new members/volunteers.
Look out for posters and notices on the Pennant’s Facebook page for details of all these.
If you can help with any of these events, please contact us.
Jo, Alan, Rob, Ruth, Trevor and Gary, the ST MARY’S WEEK team
email on info@StMarysWeekBA.org.uk; Social media @BradfordAbbasStMarysWeek
Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club
Children's Christmas Tea Party
Come and have tea with Santa on Saturday 11th December 4-7pm. £2.00 per child to include Santa tea box and a present from Santa. Tickets available from Monday 29th November. Please buy your tickets by Wednesday 8th December from Emma Parsons (school playground, The Club Bar or email bascentertainments@gmail.com for details). Fun and games for all.
Christmas Skittles and Raffle
Saturday 18th December from 7pm. Prizes for highest scoring man, woman and child. Raffle to take place during the evening. Tickets available now at the bar.
Yeovil Railway Centre
Santa Specials are being run on Sunday 5th, Sunday 12th, Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th and Thursday 23rd December. Prices per person (adult or child) are £10 and pre booking is essential this year, at least 24 hours in advance. Groups of eight or more are £9 per person. We may not be able to take any ‘on the day’ transactions. Please help us by booking as early as possible and there will be less chance of disappointment.
See www.yeovilrailway.freeservers.com for availability and our online booking service.
Friendship Club
This year’s FRIENDSHIP CLUB Christmas Lunch has been booked with Mark at the Rose & Crown for WEDNESDAY 8th December at 1pm. So, we are all looking forward to having a good chat and a festive laugh at the end of these dark few years.
Our first meeting next year is the Tuesday 1st February 2022 which is the first Tuesday afternoon of the month at 2pm in the Village Hall. There will be Bingo, a draw, Tea & Biscuits and a chance to buy Eva’s cakes and quiches from our trading table. Also, there is a chance to have a chat and laugh with fellow villagers. Everyone is more than welcome.
Monday Night Bingo
Our ever-famous CHRISTMAS BINGO this year is on Monday 20th December at 7pm, with eyes down at 7.30, at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club. Everyone over 18 is welcome to our light-hearted evening which also includes our special Christmas draw a chance to win one of the many cash Christmas special games and of course a laugh and chat, we should finish about 10pm. Regular weekly Bingo resumes on Monday 3rd January 2022.
Sherborne Bradford Abbas Camera Club
Tuesday 7th December: Seasonal social get together with a competition ‘The most unusual image’ plus a quiz. Back in the village hall with yummy mince pies!
As usual further information can be found on our website sbacameraclub.co.uk
Bradford Abbas Women’s Institute
December notice - Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 21st December at the Sports and Social Club, for our Christmas lunch, 12.30 for 1.00 p.m. There will be a short business meeting, a raffle, Secret Santa and bring any relevant Christmas cards for distribution.
January notice - Our first meeting in 2022 will be on Tuesday 18th January in the Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. We are lucky to have Karina Parsons coming along to tell us about Fund Raising for the Breast Cancer Unit in Yeovil, where an amazing amount of money has been raised despite all the problems posed by Covid. Come along and hear all about it – there will be the usual refreshments, a raffle and news of forthcoming meetings and events.
Bradford Abbas History Society
We have again organized a choice of either an afternoon meeting on Tuesday 25th January at 2.30pm or an eveningmeeting on Thursday 27th January at 7.30 pm. Both are in the Village Hall. The two dates are on the same subject which this month will be on a more in-depth look into the known reports and Archaeological discoveries within and around Bradford Abbas by Tony White.
Starting with Professor James Buckman, who came to farm in the village in 1863, and realizing the significance of his discoveries and finds, right up to the present-day discoveries with a Geophysical survey carried out by Historic England. Tony will again be trying to convey his knowledge of the history of the village across to a likeminded audience.
These meetings are open to all at a cost of £2 per person per meeting or you can join the History Society at a cost of £10 for the year starting in January 2022. 16 and under you are free.
St.Mary’s CE Primary School
St Mary’s CE Primary School staff and pupils came back with a bang after the half term holiday. What a busy few weeks we have had and we have not even begun our Christmas preparations yet! Great Western and Five Bridges classes travelled up to Bath to explore the Roman Baths as part of the topic on the Romans in Britain. They dressed up in togas, built Roman arches, visited Roman shops, created mosaics and then toured the extensive museum. An exciting day was had by all.
Cool Aeronautics, in collaboration with Leonardo, is the Royal Aeronautical Society’s outreach programme that introduces the children to the fascinating world of flying, aerospace engineering and space. Children from Silverbridge and Five Bridges took part in a day of science, technology, engineering and mathematics’ activities that had the children buzzing. It was such an exciting day for them.
We have also been fortunate to have a visit from Fire Officer Jon Sweet, from Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, to Churchwell, Underdown Hollow and Great Western Classes. Our children are now experts in keeping themselves and their families safe and aware of the fire hazards in their houses. Thank you very much Jon!
Following the Remembrance Day Service on Thursday 11th, in which the children took part, the children in Silverlake Class held a World War 2 day. (The school had an influx of evacuees, who all arrived at school with their gas masks and identity cards.) We even had a visit from a WW2 jeep to the school. The day certainly made the children realise how lucky they are to live in a time of peace in our country.
This term our Christian value is ‘Compassion’ and our children have been living this out as they took part in the national ‘Odd Socks Day’ event to raise awareness of bullying in our society and how we can overcome this - by being united! We have also raised £229 for Children in Need, wearing our spotty, yellow, or even yellow spotty outfits to school!
If you would like any further information about our wonderful school or to see some photos of our events, please visit or school website at www.bradfordabbasprimary.co.uk.
Many blessings from the staff and children at St Mary’s CE Primary School, Graham Simpson (Deputy Headteacher)
St.Mary’s Church, Bradford Abbas
SERVICES IN DECEMBER:
We have the following services in Bradford Abbas this month - EVERYBODY IS WELCOME
SUNDAY 12TH DECEMBER 10am Holy Communion
SUNDAY 19TH DECEMBER 6pm SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS
CHRISTMAS DAY 11am a shortened Holy Communion service
SERVICES IN JANUARY:
SUNDAY 9TH JANUARY 10am Morning service (lay-led)
SUNDAY 16TH JANUARY 10am Holy Communion
On weekends when we are without a service in Bradford Abbas, we encourage villagers to join a service at one of our neighbouring churches. At the time of going to press, we did not have all these details. Once known, they will be posted on the Pennant’s FB page and on the notice boards outside the church.
CHRISTMAS POST BOX
The post box will be in the church from Saturday 4th December until the last collection on Saturday 18thDecember at 2pm. You may post cards for any address in Bradford Abbas. Gloves and sanitiser will be used by anybody handling the cards for everyone’s protection. This service is provided free of charge, but if you would like to make a donation, please use the donation box in the cafe area (which goes to the general running and upkeep of the church) or the box near the main door (which is specifically for the church’s fabric fund i.e. used solely for works and repairs). If you think you might be able to help with deliveries, please contact Sue on 471901.
A Message from the Rector
Holiday: “a day on which ordinary occupations (of an individual or a community) are suspended; a day of exemption or cessation from work; a day of festivity, recreation, or amusement."
Oxford English Dictionary
Christmas is approaching fast now together with its associated holiday and I thought the season demanded more than just a rather bald definition. It seemed appropriate to look at this word ‘holiday’ and talk a bit about its origin.
‘Holiday’ is truly an English word deriving from the Anglo-Saxon language spoken in the 6th Century. In fact, the word ‘day’ which we see in days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, etc...) as well as a stand-alone word, comes from the Old English dæg "day" (so Mōnandæg, Tīwesdæg, etc...). Hāligdæg is a combination of the Old English Hālig (meaning holy or sacred) and dæg. Thus, holiday literally is a Holy Day.
The word’s spelling transformed over the centuries and the word ‘Hāligdæg’ ‘haliday’. And then the 'a' in ‘haliday’ was lost in favour of an 'o' to give us the familiar word holiday. Initially either holy day or holiday (first recorded in 1460) were used interchangeably. But still, holiday referred exclusively to special religious days. However, the definition expanded to include secular days as well such as ‘Bank Holiday’.
You might be interested to know that the name of the fish ‘halibut’ comes again from the Middle English hālig (holy)and butte, meaning (flat) fish. Once it was not uncommon for people to eat halibut on a holy day and so the fish became known as halibut, the holy fish.
But whatever you do this Christmas remember that it is first and foremost a Holy Day.
Happy Christmas from all the team,
Reverend Tony Gilbert
Rector Three Valleys Benefice & Rural Dean of Sherborne Tel: 01935 873044; www.threevalleysteam.org