Edition 568 May 2024
Printed courtesy of Mrs Annette Haynes as a service to the community
Please email your entries for the June 2024 issue to: ThePennant@mail.com by 21st May 2024
Bradford Abbas WI – Helping our Hedgehogs, Village Hall, Tuesday 21st May, 7.30pm
Neighbourhood Plan
Calling all those of you who enjoy walking around our village and the surrounding countryside! Have you noticed any notable natural/environmental features that you feel are of particular interest, be it birdlife, wild animals, wild flowers, particular trees etc, that we could include in the section on biodiversity in the Neighbourhood Plan? If so, then we would very much value your comments which you could either leave in the dedicated box in the Telephone Box, or email them to Jenny Thomas, tudorcottageba@gmail.com by 31st May.
Many thanks, from the Neighbourhood Plan working group.
Village Trees
There are some very large trees in the village churchyard and people are sometimes surprised when they learn that these are not particularly old. We have photographs from 100 years ago showing that there were no large trees near the church at that time. Five of the largest trees are fast growing, invasive species and a study has revealed that their root spread has now reached a point where the foundations of the building are under threat. These trees are also
susceptible to splitting and falling in high winds – in the last two years, two of these trees have suffered partial falls, luckily avoiding injury to people. The PCC (the managing committee of the church) has therefore made the decision that for the good of the church building those five trees should be felled. Permission to fell them has been granted by Dorset Council planning department and we hope to have the work carried out in the next couple of months.
The PCC knows that people are often upset when trees are felled and wanted to explain the situation. Among the positives from this situation, it is hoped that allowing more light to reach the church it will reduce the effects of damp on the building. In addition, we will regain views of our beautiful village church such as they were for hundreds of years before these non-native trees were planted. We’d like to thank everybody for their understanding and for their patience while this matter is sorted out.
St Mary’s Church PCC
Bradford Abbas and Clifton Maybank Village Hall
Wine Tasting Evening, Saturday 11th May
Hosted by wine expert, Bradford Abbas resident and owner of The Drinksmith in Sherborne, Jamie Wynne Griffiths. He'll take you on a blind tasting odyssey, sampling 6 wines from unusual grape varieties and lesser-known regions, accompanied by nibbles and a quiz. This is an opportunity to sample wines you'll never see in the mainstream shops and will make for a thoroughly original tasting experience, with plenty of laughs along the way. Wines can also be ordered on the night if you fancy enjoying them at home. This event will take place in the Village Hall and as it has limited space pre-booking is recommended. To book please contact Tricia Chapman 01935 602279 or pcchapman18@gmail.com. Tickets are £15.00 per person; 7:30pm start. All proceeds go to the upkeep of the village hall.
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.
Folk Festival at Mill Farm, Saturday 25th May
Our Folk Festival is back! Bigger, brighter, and more effervescent than ever for 2024, Saturday 25th May, 11.00am – 10.30pm. The perfect one-day music festival and Dorset countryside family day out; full to the brim with beautiful ambience. Featuring a superb line up of fine folk music acts including Mae Karthauser, Ninotchka, Motorhome the Band, Suthering, Jamie, Gould, Billie Maree, Edd Donovan and The Ducks.
There will be plenty of activities for kids of all ages - face painting, bouncy castle assault course, fluffy alpacas, as well as arts and crafts and stalls to browse and peruse the day away. Ideal for keeping the smalls entertained while you soak up the festival atmosphere. Festival food and drink will be available from local vendors all day until the night lights twinkle. The Mill Farm Bar will be back in the field fully stocked with local wines, beers, ciders and spirits as well as non-alcoholic alternatives. Perfect for a wee tipple in the sunshine.
Tickets available at https://www.millfarmmusic.com/events/folkfestival2024/
Bradford Abbas History Society
Tuesday 25th June at 2.00pm. A Guided tour of “Sherborne Museum” with a focus on items and stories local to the area. Please be ready for 2.00pm sharp. The Cost will be a £5 per person donation to the Museum. Prior booking with Tony White tel: 01935 424441.
Thursday 25th July at 7.00pm. Visit & Guided History tour of “Sherborne Steam & Waterwheel Centre”, Oborne Road, DT9 3RX. This is a guided tour and demonstration of the Waterwheel in motion plus details of the history of the Sherborne Public Health Acts of the late 19th Century. Cost will be a £5 per person donation to the Centre. Prior booking with Tony White.
Please note, there will be no meetings during May.
The Rose and Crown, Bradford Abbas
Key dates in May:
Sat 4th May - Big Breakfast 10-12am; Sat 11th May - Grand Pool Final (tbc); Fri 17th May - Italian night 6-9pm; Sun 19th May - Quiz 5-7pm; Thurs 23rd May - Medium Evening (Anne Wright) 7pm; Sat 25th May - Peter Littlewood and his band 8-30pm; Mon 27th (bank holiday) - Fun day, live music with Phil Dewhurst and bouncy castle / food 12-6pm.
A couple more events to be confirmed so keep your eyes peeled 👀
For bookings please phone 01935 423199 or email roseandcrown@btinternet.com
St. Mary's Bradford Abbas Heritage Fund: Annual General Meeting
Join us in preserving a cherished landmark at the heart of our village, the historic St. Mary's Church. Open daily, the church offers a peaceful retreat for prayer, reflection, and significant life events such as weddings and baptisms. Many of our loved ones are also laid to rest in its peaceful churchyard.
Founded in October 1995, the Heritage Fund has been instrumental in maintaining this architectural gem for the enjoyment and benefit of future generations. We are now seeking new members to help continue this vital work. Your support can be in the form of an annual subscription or a one-time donation.
We invite you to be part of this noble effort to keep our village vibrant. Please attend our Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 27th June, at 8:00 PM, held in the village hall. For more information or to join, pick up a membership form available in the church.
Let's ensure St. Mary's remains a pillar of our community for years to come.
Cross Road Bradford Abbas Neighbourhood Watch Group
Recently we set up a Neighbourhood Watch Group based upon our Postcode, a total of 14 properties, and nearly everyone has registered to join our group. Starting a group is about bringing us together as a connected community knowing that local help and support is available. Looking out for each other. It does not require anyone to arrange coffee mornings, although to date we have had two! We have set up a WhatsApp group to keep in touch should we need each other urgently.
The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is not about individuals policing or apprehending criminals. Reporting suspicious activity highlighted by our Resilient Communities Coordinator, Dorset Police, will help everyone in the local area.
It is free to register as an individual Member or as a Group at www.ourwatch.org.uk. The only data required is Name, Address, Telephone number (optional) and an e mail address for external information.
We distribute relevant information to members who do not have e mail access. I act as our group’s coordinator and am willing to discuss the joining process and assist anyone in the village interested in forming a localised group.
Dave Furby Tel: 07989 269949
Monday Night Bingo
Every Monday at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club at 6.45pm with eyes down at 7.15pm. Everyone 18 and over is welcome to our weekly light-hearted evening which also includes a small draw a chance to win the SNOW BALL and of course a laugh and chat, we finish just before 9.00 pm.
Bradford Abbas Sports and Recreational Club
Please note, the club will be closed on Sunday 9th June 2024.
The Friendship Club
The Friendship Club meeting this month is on Tuesday 7th May at 2.00pm at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club. New members will be warmly welcome. We always meet on the first Tuesday afternoon of the month.
Bradford Abbas Variety Club – Show 2024
The 46th Variety Show has been and gone!
After months of planning and hard work, by those you saw on stage, behind stage and elsewhere in the wings and community, I hope you’ll agree it was another fantastic show with lots of fun and laughter for everyone, with great entertainment, food and drink!
We’d love to have a 47th Show, but more performers will be required, (young and old, no excuses!) – so you can start thinking what you could bring to the Show in readiness!
Great to see so many of you attending, otherwise there wouldn’t be a show, so huge thanks to everyone involved and to you for supporting our community for the benefit of us all.
We will be holding our AGM end September/early October – date to be advised.
St. Mary’s Church, Bradford Abbas
UPCOMING SERVICES HERE - EVERYBODY IS WELCOME
SUNDAY 5TH MAY 10am Morning Service (lay-led)
THURSDAY 9TH MAY 7pm Ascension Day: Service of Healing and Reconciliation.
This service is for people across the whole Three Valleys Benefice (16 churches) and is likely to be well attended. It will be the last service taken in Bradford Abbas by Tony Gilbert who is soon to retire. Please do come along.
As usual, the church will be open all day, but we are specifically inviting parishioners to drop in during this day to say a quiet prayer, thinking especially of the day’s themes of Healing and Reconciliation.
SUNDAY 19TH MAY 10am Holy Communion
SUNDAY 2ND JUNE 10am Morning Service (lay-led)
SUNDAY 16TH JUNE 10am Holy Communion
REV TONY GILBERT RETIRING
The Rector of the Three Valleys Benefice, Rev Tony Gibert, is retiring and with his wife Nicola will shortly move away after ten years with us. Tony’s final service in our benefice will be at Thornford Church on Sunday 23rd June at 11am followed by refreshments in Thornford village hall to which all are invited. We’re expecting the church to be packed.
FRIENDS OF ST MARY’S CHURCHYARD
The friends of the Churchyard group is in contact with regular helpers and is trying to allocate specific churchyard tasks to individuals who can then plan to time their sessions to suit their personal circumstances. But if you wish to come along to a group session to help out, we are asking volunteers to come along on the last Saturday of the month through the spring and summer. Dates for your diary: Saturday 27th April, Saturday 25th May, Saturday 29th June (from 10:30am for a couple of hours – or just come and give us an hour if that’s all you can manage). Please bring your own secateurs and other gardening tools.
A message from Rev Tony Gilbert…… Time to Say Goodbye
One of my favourite sayings is: ‘If you want to give God a laugh tell him your plans!’ Why do I mention that now?
When Nicola and I were coming to the end of our time in the RAF and deciding what, if anything to do next, we both felt that we did not want to retire but instead put the talents and skills we had learned in the RAF at the disposal of the wider church. We felt that working in a single parish with perhaps one or two churches for maybe five years would be ideal and that was our plan. Bishop of Sherborne, Graham Kings, and Archdeacon Paul Taylor then approached us out of the blue and asked us to consider a completely different plan and come to the newly created Three Valleys Benefice with not one but 16 parishes and 17 churches. They were very persuasive, so we came for an interview and as they say, the rest is history.
We have put the skills and talents I mentioned earlier to good use but not in the way we had initially imagined, and I believe we have made a real difference. The best part is that both Nicola and I have had a great time here over the last ten years and made many friends along the way. We will miss you all when we leave. So, I hope you will keep in touch with us in Cullompton. These Dorset villages are great places to live in with an energy and vibrancy we hadn’t anticipated. I believe that they and similar villages are the real powerhouse of the church. Nicola and I are proud to have shared our lives with you for these ten years.
So, God might have had a laugh at our plans but as ever he knows what he is doing.
Yours, Tony and Nicola Gilbert