Edition 558 June 2023
Printed courtesy of Mrs Annette Haynes as a service to the community
Please email your entries for the July 2023 issue to: ThePennant@mail.com by 21st June 2023
Telephone Box News
We hope that you enjoyed the Coronation Golden Coach!
Thanks are due to our terrific artist, designer, and creator, Squish, our heroic craftsman, Terry, Valda who provided the space where it could be built and helped with the painting and Steve who provided the lighting and the rest of the team who helped in many different ways.
The Telephone Box Team
Bradford Abbas Open Gardens 2023
Sunday June 25th, 12 noon till 5.00 p.m.
Following the success of the event two years ago (when it poured with rain, as you will remember!) we will be opening gardens again for the families and friends of the residents of Bradford Abbas and Clifton Maybank.
We have a variety of lovely gardens throughout the village which will be open. If you would like to open your garden too please let us know (01935 706419).
Please do come and bring others. You will be asked to sign in outside the village hall, pay £4 in aid of the telephone box and village planting schemes etc. Children will be free. You will be given a badge to wear and a map. Each garden will be identified on the map and also by balloons outside the house. Some gardens will be providing tea. Toilets will be open in the village hall.
So do come along and enjoy an afternoon in the varied and lovely gardens of our village.
St. Mary’s Community Trust
Thanks to everyone who came to our Church That Rocks event on Saturday 6th May (Coronation Day) and the performers who entertained us all. The weather meant that only a few hardy perennials were brave enough to set up tables in the street at lunchtime, but we were delighted the Rose and Crown pulled in a good crowd and the W.I. had a full house in the village hall for afternoon tea.
Next up for us is Afternoon Tea at the church on Saturday 15th July. This was very popular last year and if the weather is good, we will set up tables in the churchyard.
On Saturday 9th September we will be holding our outdoor festival in the village playing field, The Church That Rocks 2. More details nearer the time.
Later in the year, we will be bringing you:
Saturday 7th October – The Big Harvest Breakfast (in the church)
Friday 8th December – Wreath-making evening in the village hall (with Prosecco and puddings).
Sunday 24th December – Outdoor Carol Service at twilight in front of the church
Money made from our events goes towards local good causes.
See you soon.
Jo, Alan, Rob, Ruth, Trevor and Gary, The ST MARY’S COMMUNITY TRUST team
70s Charity Evening
Update on 70s themed evening in aid of Parkinson’s UK being held at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club on 22nd July at 7.30 pm.
Brilliant silent auction including Lanes Hotel, Wyke cheese, Swan Theatre, Castle Gardens, sports massage and many more! Quiz and basket meals included in the ticket price. Fantastic disco and raffle. Price for best dressed (optional).
Ticket entry only: £12 adults, £3 children, to be bought in advance please.
For tickets or more information please call Sarah 07805884825 , Tania 07807667466 or Jemma 07956918792
Bradford Abbas History Society - Summer Outings
Our June meetings on either 27th June Tuesday afternoon at 2.30 or 29th June Thursday evening at 7.30 will be a guided tour of the lower part of Bradford Abbas along Church Street, Churchwell Street on to the Church, The School and Mill Lane, with Tony White. Small fee of £2 for members and £4 for non-members and guests to cover temporary membership for the visit. Book with Tony at Wisteria Cottage or ring 01935 424441. Meet at the junction of Back Lane and Church Street.
Mill Farm Events
- Hugh! The musical is coming to Mill Farm on June 30th. Make sure to grab tickets for this hilarious two-woman, original music musical as they are selling fast!
- In July we see the return of the travelling theatre company The Rude Mechanicals bringing their latest play, “Miss Popwells Garden”, to the farm on July 22nd.
- July 29th sees the return of the Mill Farm Party, our brilliant one-day festival celebrating another year of Mill Farm Music and the brilliant clients we have worked with, with headliner The Entitled Sons.
Head to our website www.millfarmdorset.com for more details.
Bradford Abbas Petanque Group
Petanque or Boule is great fun, gentle exercise and many levels of skill. We meet on Wednesday morning at 11.00 and Thursday afternoon at 2.00. We also have a monthly Family and Friends Sunday, the next being the 11th June. Please come along and have a go, you will be very welcome. See you at the Sports and Recreation Ground soon, I hope. Please contact Zoe on 07743277656
Bradford Abbas Camera Club
The club is on its summer break so there are no scheduled meetings. However, summer photoshoots may be arranged at short notice, so check on our website for these – sbacameraclub.co.uk
Meetings resume in September.
Bradford Abbas Women’s Institute
Our June meeting is a social evening to be held on Tuesday June 20th at 7.30pm in the Skittle Alley at the Rose & Crown, join us for Skittles & Nibbles. We welcome new members. The WI is a warm and friendly group, come along.
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 £30.00
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.
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.
Yeovil Railway Centre
- Sunday 4th June: Steam Train Day with Peckett 0-4-0 Pectin hauling our coach, (which is accessible with a ramp for standard sized wheel chairs). Train rides every 20 minutes with a break for lunch. Turntable demonstrations are at 12.40 and 2.30pm. Other planned attractions are rides on the miniature railway, the shop on platform 3, the model railway layout, light refreshments and exhibits and displays. Admission including the steam train rides is £12.10 with gift aid, £11 otherwise for adults, £6.05 with gift aid, otherwise £5.50 for children 5 – 15, under 5 and members free. One child is admitted free with a full paying adult.
- Saturday 10th June: Class 40 40145 returns from Weymouth to Burton on Trent via Yeovil Pen Mill, late afternoon/early evening. For information only.
- Saturday 10th June: Class 73 double headed from Waterloo to Axminster/Exeter through Yeovil Junction (and return?) For information only.
- Sunday 18th June: Steam Train Day, come dressed in your favourite Comic-Con or Sci-Fi outfit!. Details otherwise as for Sunday 4th June.
- Tuesday 27th June: Main Line Steam, London to Yeovil Junction. Engine detaches for servicing whilst the train is diesel hauled to Weymouth, Steam Loco follows later.
St. Mary’s Heritage Fund- new Secretary needed
St Mary’s Heritage Fund exists to help preserve the structure of our wonderful medieval church. We now need a new Secretary, which involves about 5 hours work twice a year around the AGM in May and a Committee meeting in November. Please contact me for further details at cathadam1@talktalk.net or 01935 432945.
Bradford Abbas and Clifton Maybank 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. Please note the new telephone number.
St. Mary’s Church, Bradford Abbas
SERVICES IN JUNE AND JULY - EVERYBODY IS WELCOME.
SUNDAY 4TH JUNE 10am Welcome to Worship (lay-led)
SUNDAY 18TH JUNE 10am Holy Communion (led by David Dunning)
SUNDAY 2ND JULY 10am Welcome to Worship (lay-led)
SUNDAY 16TH JULY 10am Holy Communion (led by David Dunning)
On weekends when we are without a service in Bradford Abbas, we encourage villagers to join a service at Thornford or Beer Hackett. Details are posted on the notice boards outside the church. There are two other services which may be of interest:
SUNDAY 30TH JULY 10am at CAUNDLE MARSH - BENEFICE HOLY COMMUNION (led by Jenny Nelson)
SUNDAY 30TH JULY 3pm at YETMINSTER - SERVICE OF AFFIRMATION (led by Bishop Karen and the 3 Valleys Team)
The Aber Valley Male Voice Choir concert on Saturday 20th May was great success. This year, the choir is celebrating 50 years of coming to entertain music lovers in Dorset.
Following last year’s successful Come and Sing event, on Saturday 3rd June, we have another big music night at the church. The COME AND SING CHOIR will perform an exciting programme, featuring music by Karl Jenkins, Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi. Tickets are £5. There will also be a bar run by SMCT. To obtain your tickets, contact Gary Siggins (07799 430400) or drop into the church on a Saturday morning.
OUR CHURCHYARD
Along with many churches across the country, we have decided not to cut short all the grass in our churchyard. This creates habitats for a wider variety of flora and fauna. Some paths will be kept short to help us enjoy the churchyard in all weathers. Because the spring was so wet, grass and weeds grew like made, leaving the churchyard scruffier than it ought to be. We are trying to find the right balance between cut and longer areas. Please bear with us.
A message from Reverend Jenny Nelson, Assistant Curate, The Three Valleys Benefice
Many will have watched the Coronation ceremony from Westminster Abbey. In a Service ablaze with colour, vibrant with music and profound in Word, liturgy and action, His Majesty the King was anointed before God with olive oil, holy oil, containing sesame, rose, jasmine, amber and cinnamon, which had been consecrated in Jerusalem. It was a profound moment of stillness within an extraordinary ceremony, recognising King Charles’ life is set for the service of others. Among the hymns and many spiritually uplifting moments, the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus reminds us of the outpouring of the Spirit of Pentecost, given to us through faith in Jesus Christ, which released the birth of the Church.
King Charles’ servant leadership follows the pattern set by Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth, who also declared “I come not to be served but to serve.”
And so, we too are reminded of our commitment to serve one another in love. Just as His Majesty’s life is dedicated to the virtues of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5.22-23), we are called to join in the celebration of his Coronation by our service.
Following the Coronation were many fantastic street and village hall parties, and also The Big Help Out, an initiative nationally which we continue in the Three Valleys Benefice. As so many do already in their regular volunteering and giving, a ‘big help out’ aims to inspire a new generation, with opportunities for everyone to become involved in local service. A plethora of local organisations invite us to become involved in their work, from Community Action groups to faith communities and churches, and there is an invitation to join in serving across our parishes in this Benefice. It is a warm and open invitation to join in with the transformation of parish communities, to serve together and to build together all that includes rather than excludes, which heralds renewal in belonging and reflects all that our communities generated through Covid and the challenging period following the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
When we join together as neighbours and communities we serve together, to become places of loving service, which lifts all of our spirits! Thank you for all you do in communities and churches, now and in the future. Prayers and blessings with you and all those you love, from the Three Valleys Benefice Team.