Edition 555 March 2023
Printed courtesy of Mrs Annette Haynes as a service to the community
Please email your entries for the April 2023 issue to: ThePennant@mail.com by 21st March 2023
Neighbourhood Plan Upda
The future of Bradford Abbas and Clifton Maybank, the way they grow and change in years to come, is of great interest and importance to us all. In order to meet this concern, neighbourhood planning was introduced to give communities more control over the ways in which their neighbourhoods develop. The Government's Localism Act of 2011, which aims to give local communities the right to have a vital say in how their area is developed, led to the Bradford Abbas Parish Council and Clifton Maybank to jointly begin to produce a neighbourhood plan. We are pleased to enclose our first household survey to assist in shaping our future neighbourhood plan.
The Rose and Crown, Bradford Abbas
Opening hours:
- Monday CLOSED;
- Tuesday 5 - Close (Drinks Only)
- Wednesday 12-3 & 5-close (Drinks), 12-2 & 6-9 (Food)
- Thursday 12-3 & 5-close (Drinks), 12-2 & 6-9 (Food)
- Friday 12 - close (Drinks), 12-2 & 6-9 (Food)
- Saturday 12 - close (Drinks), 12-2 & 6-9 (Food)
- Sunday 12 - 6 (Drinks), 12-4 (Food)
Thursday Night Steak Night (Every week) - 2 8oz rump steaks and a bottle of wine for ÂŁ30.00
UPCOMING EVENT - 29th April 2023 - The Bradford Abbas Beer Barrel Race (Teams of 8)
For more information and Booking forms please email roseandcrown@btinternet.com. All funds raised are to be split between Bradford Abbas Pre School and Bradford Abbas Church.
After the Race & Trophy Presentation, the fun continues into the evening with Beer, Virtual Horse Racing (table bookings advised) Raffle and Disco!!! A day not to be missed.
Pop-Up Market
The Pop-Up Market is held in the Village Hall on the third Saturday of each month, 11am until 1pm.
We have eggs, jams and chutneys, flowers and plants, pet and bird foods, bread, Avon, VivaMK household goods, handmade cards and gifts, homemade cakes and cookies and the Candy Cabin van. We hope to have fruit and veg too for the next market on 18th March.
Thank you to everyone who supported our first market in the village hall.
We also have a smaller market every Tuesday in the pub car park, 2.30-3.30 pm.
Mill Farm Events
- Ben & Dom – Live at Mill Farm – Friday, 10th March – Amazing acapella harmonising duo tour their debut album, His Head Lies Heavy.
- Mill Farm Dining Society – Thursday, 23rd March – Best of British Flowers – Welcoming springtime, Chef Oli Kahan offers a delightful menu celebrating delicate floral fragrant flavours.
Tickets and further info available online: www.millfarmmusic.com/events
Bradford Abbas Women’s Institute
Our meeting in March will take place on Tuesday 21st March at 7.30pm in the Village Hall when Sue Gully will describe for us “My Small World”, i.e. her dolls’ houses. The competition will be: a Miniature Treasure. Come and join us and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits and some friendly chat – all welcome.
Bradford Abbas History Society
Our next meetings will be in the Village Hall on Tuesday AFTERNOON 28th March at 2.30pm and Thursday EVENING 30th March at 7.30pm. Roger Marsh will talk at both meetings on ’The Railway History of Yeovil, South Somerset & West Dorset’, depicting the early years of the arrival of the railways.
Meetings are open to all at a cost of ÂŁ2 per person per meeting or free to History Society members (annual subscription ÂŁ10) and to those 16 and under.
Bradford Abbas Variety Club
- The Bradford Abbas Variety Club is pleased to announce that it will be going ahead with the 2023 show. The show will be held on Friday evening 14th April, with a matinee and evening show on Saturday 15th April. Tickets on Sale from Sunday 12th March.
- Rehearsals have started, but if you’d like to take part, then please come along to the Village Hall on Sunday Afternoons 2pm. We are looking for singers/dancers/actors/stage help, all welcome.
- Any village organisations that wish to perform Front of House duties and therefore gain a donation from the show's proceeds, then please get in touch. If you need any further information, please contact Merys on 07834 547578.
St. Mary’s Community Trust
Thanks to everybody who came and supported The Big Breakfast on Saturday 18th February. Apart from those of you who spent your money on the superb food, our special thanks go to those who helped us in other ways: Dave in the pub who helped with the cooking, Suzanne who supplied some of her excellent produce, and Amy, Bea, Anne and Graham who helped cook and serve in the church.
After the breakfast, we held our annual open meeting of the trust which was attended by most of the trustees and a few hardy villagers. If anybody has a question about what SMCT does, feel free to ask one of us.
Later in the year, we have…
The Church That Rocks with live music in front of the church and – when night falls – inside the church. We have changed the date of this since the last edition of The Pennant to coincide with the King’s coronation weekend. So make a note in your diary for Saturday 6th May. At lunchtime, we will encourage villagers to come and have a party in Church Road (as you did last year for the Queen’s jubilee). The pub will have music and a BBQ. Later in the afternoon, the W.I. will be serving afternoon tea in the village hall.
We are happy to work with any other village organization which wishes to get involved with other activities.
The Church That Rocks 2 with live music in the playing field will be on Saturday 9th September.
Jo, Alan, Rob, Ruth, Trevor and Gary, The ST MARY’S COMMUNITY TRUST team.
Mixed Ability Yoga on Saturdays
Come join us at Bradford Abbas Village Hall on Saturday mornings from 9.15am--10.15am. These are friendly and fun classes, suitable for most. Start your weekend with movement and relaxation. ÂŁ8.50 per session. For more information email emmarileyyoga@gmail.com, message on Facebook @emmarileyyoga or call 07884246550.
The Friendship Club
The Friendship Club meets on the first Tuesday afternoon of the month at 2.00pm at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club. There is Bingo, a draw, tea and biscuits and a chance to have a chat and laugh with fellow villagers, new members are welcome.
Bradford Abbas Parish Council
In order to book the village hall please go to the Parish Council website (https://bradford-abbas.uk/hall) to see if the hall is available and how to book, alternatively please email bacmvh@gmail.com or ring the Booking Secretary (Tricia Chapman) on 01935 602279. Please note the new telephone number.
Please note we are having issues with the bradfordabbaspc@hotmail.co.uk address, please use this address (bradfordabbas@dorset-aptc.gov.uk) until further notice. Apologies for the inconvenience.
Monday Night Bingo
Every Monday at 6.45pm with eyes down at 7.15pm at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club.
Everyone 18 and over are welcome to our weekly light-hearted evening which also includes a small draw with a chance to win the SNOW BALL and of course a laugh and chat. We finish just before 9pm.
Sherborne Bradford Abbas Camera Club
Tuesday 14th March: Workshop, theme to be decided
Tuesday 28th March: Macro and close-up Competition. Members can submit up to two entries, mono or colour, print or dpi. Judging will be by Laura Pearce.
Further information at sbacameraclub.co.uk
Bradford Abbas Sports & Recreational Club
New members are always welcome. The Club Function Room can be hired for Private Parties. For bookings, please contact the club: Tel: 01935 420575, www.bradfordabbasclub.co.uk
Visit our Facebook page: Bradford Abbas Sports and Recreational Club
Crib Morning - Mondays from 10:15am. Tea, coffee and lots of laughs are available.
Bingo - Monday evenings - Starting at 6:45 pm with eyes down at 7:15pm.
Arts & Crafts - Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm. If you are feeling artistic, why not join like minds.
Happy Hour - Every Sunday we are open from 1:00pm-5:00pm and we have a happy hour 3:00pm-4:00pm
On Tuesdays we are open from 7:30pm as there will be skittle matches taking place, so please do come along and support the teams. During the skittles season we will also be open on Thursday evenings for another of our skittles teams.
Yeovil Railway Centre at Yeovil Junction
Sunday 19th March: Steam Train Day with Peckett 0-4-0 Pectin giving rides in our coach (disabled access ramp for standard sizes wheelchairs) along the ex GWR Clifton Maybank branch.
No pre-booking, just turn up and pay at the gate. Rides every 20 minutes from 11am to 12.20pm with a break for lunch (engine and crew!) then resuming at 1.50pm to 3.30pm. Turntable demos at 12.40 and 2.30pm.
Admission ÂŁ12.10 with Gift Aid (otherwise ÂŁ11) for adults, child ÂŁ6.05 (gift aid) otherwise ÂŁ5.50. Note: One child admitted free with each full paying adult, children under five and members free.
Planned attractions are the shop, light refreshments, model railway, miniature railway, plus exhibits and displays including the Chard signalling panel.
Advance notice for children at Easter - Peter Rabbit and an Easter Egg hunt.
St. Mary’s Church, Bradford Abbas
SERVICES IN MARCH AND APRIL - EVERYBODY IS WELCOME – PLEASE DO COME ALONG, WE ARE ALWAYS DELIGHTED TO SEE NEW FACES.
- SUNDAY 5TH MARCH 10am Welcome to Worship (lay-led)
- SUNDAY 19TH MARCH 10am Holy Communion (led by David Dunning)
- SUNDAY 2ND APRIL 10am Welcome to Worship (lay-led)
- EASTER DAY: SUNDAY 9TH APRIL 8am Holy Communion (led by Jenny Nelson)
We know this is very early, but with clergy having to conduct multiple services over Easter, it was 8am or nothing. If you come and join us, we will reward you after the service with an Easter breakfast (buns, croissants and similar goodies). - SUNDAY 30TH APRIL 10am Holy Communion (led by Jenny Nelson)
At 11am on 30th April (immediately after the service) we will hold our APCM (our annual meeting of parishioners). This is when you get to decide how your church is run in the coming year. If you are a regular or an occasional member of the congregation at St Mary’s, please do come and take part.
On weekends when we are without a service in Bradford Abbas, we encourage villagers to join a service at one of our neighbouring churches. These are posted on the notice boards outside the church.
WARM SPACE Just after Christmas, we installed a new heating system in a small part of the church (the area we call the Lady Chapel). This is a state-of-the-art underfloor system. While we trial the system (with a view to eventually extend it across the whole church) we have designated this area as a “warm space”. Everybody is welcome to come into the church and use this space. Why not meet a friend for a chat or come in to read a book. We have tea and coffee too – help yourself. The church is open until dusk every day.
THE ROAD TO THE CROSS
Venue: Church Hall, Thornford Primary School, Boot Lane, Thornford DT9 6QY.
Saturday 18th March at 4pm (lasting approx. 2 hours). Age restriction: 14+ .
This contemporary style show tells the story from Palm Sunday through to Pentecost; following the story of Jesus and his disciples as they embark on a journey together through the highs and the lows. It is brought to you by a team of 5 actors from the Oddments Theatre Company who will make you laugh, cry, and reflect whilst performing a powerful and passionate story of the message of God’s love to humanity. Oddments are a full-time Christian theatre company based in Yeovil and in this performance capture the message in a new and encouraging way.
Tickets ÂŁ12 in advance from Gary Siggins (07799 430400) or online from:
https://oddments-theatre.co.uk/book-your-tickets-here/ (or ÂŁ14 at the door).
Proceeds in support of St. Michael’s Church, Beer Hackett, Fabric Maintenance Project.
ABER VALLEY MALE VOICE CHOIR concert Saturday 20th May (evening)
Venue: St Mary’s Church, Bradford Abbas
Our friends from the Aber Valley MVC will be with us again for a marvellous evening of music. Mark it in your diary now. Ticketing details to follow via the printed Pennant and on its FB page. (Bar run by SMCT)
COME AND SING Saturday 3rd June
Venue: St Mary’s Church, Bradford Abbas (raising funds for St Michael’s Church Beer Hackett). Following last year’s successful Come and Sing event, there will be another this June. If you wish to take part in the choir (rehearsals through the day and an evening performance), we will be publishing details via the Pennant’s FB page of how to sign up as soon as we have them from the organisers.
If you enjoy choral music and would like to be in the evening audience, make a note in your diary now. This will be a real treat for you. Ticketing details will be published via The Pennant in the coming months. (Bar run by SMCT)
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER will take place on Friday 3rd March in Yetminster Methodist Church at 10.30 am. All are very welcome.
A Message from Tony Gilbert, Team Rector
As I write this article there is considerable speculation in the press that Russia is about to commence a major Spring offensive against Ukraine and its people. By the time you read this article it may well have happened. As ever it is the innocent who will suffer from this aggression. At the same time, some here and in other nations have questioned why we are getting involved at all.
As we work our way through Lent let’s remember that Christ himself was the victim of unwarranted violence. The United Kingdom has a long tradition of standing up for, and if necessary, fighting for, what it believes is right; sometimes taking on large opponents in the process. I believe that our long history of willingness to stand up to tyrants, bullies and those who seek to destroy the freedom of others comes from our Christian heritage. Although this heritage is one that espouses peace it also emphasises the importance of standing up for what is right and for regarding everyone as a valued brother or sister worthy of our sacrifice. Today’s wars are most regrettable, but our response may be a continuance of that great principle. As the Christian poet Brian Wren says:
Say no to peace, if what they mean by peace is the quiet misery of hunger, the frozen stillness of fear, the silence of broken spirits, the unborn hopes of the oppressed.
Tell them that peace is the shouting of children at play, the babble of tongues set free, the thunder of dancing feet, and a father’s voice singing.
Brian A. Wren (born 1936) is an internationally published hymn-poet and writer. His hymns can be found in hymnals of all Christian traditions. Brian Wren is married to Rev. Susan M. Heafield, a Methodist minister.