Edition 586 December 2025/January 2026
Printed courtesy of Mrs Annette Haynes as a service to the community
Please email your entries for the February 2026 issue to: ThePennant@mail.com by 21st January 2026
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
On behalf of all villagers, I would like to express our deep gratitude to Mrs Annette Haynes for her continuing support for The Pennant. It is thanks to her we are able to provide printed copies for all households. Huge thanks Annette! (Editor)
COME AND BUY YOUR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS from OUR STALL
in aid of
St Mary the Virgin, Bradford Abbas Church Heating Fund
….we have nearly reached our target,
you can help us get there!
INDOOR MARKET
THE DIGBY HALL, HOUND STREET, SATURDAY 6th DECEMBER
10.00AM - 3.00PM
Christmas Post Box
The post box will be in the Church from the 5th of December until the last collection at 2.00 p.m
on the 18th. As before, the service is free, but if you feel that you would like to make a donation, please place it in the Fabric Fund box just inside the Church door. If you are able to help with delivery please contact Sue, email : gully.susan@yahoo.co.uk or mobile number: 07812430092. Volunteers always needed. Thank you for your continued support.
Chatty Crafters
The December Chatty Crafters meeting will be held at The Rose & Crown pub on Friday 19th December and Friday 16th January between 2-4pm. Everyone is welcome to join us for an informal couple of hours of chatting and crafting. For further information please call Brenda on 07970159093 or Sue on 07812430092.
Bradford Abbas Variety Club
A huge thank you to everyone who was able to join us at one of the performances. The feedback has been very positive, affirmed by the audience participation during the shows (and heckling!!). Our thanks also for the generous raffle donations from local organisations, residents and friends of the village.
There’s a huge amount of planning, time and effort that goes into producing a Show, so to have such a great attendance and support, really does make it worthwhile and rewarding for the Variety Club members and in turn the community as beneficiaries. Watch this space for our future plans!
Finally, may we take this opportunity to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2026.
Kind regards, The Variety Show Team.
ST MARY’S CHURCH, BRADFORD ABBAS
HAPPY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!
DECEMBER MARKET – SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER
Our fantastically gifted team of nimble-fingered makers will have a stall at the Digby Hall market (next to Sherborne Library). There will be lots of Christmassy fare to buy in the market and we hope you’ll find something for yourself or a loved one on our stall. The market is open from 10am to 3pm. Please come along and bring your friends.
SHAKE OFF THE JANUARY BLUES
Everyone gets a bit blue in January, so why not join us for a little oasis of pleasure on Saturday 17th January. We are organizing an evening of home-grown entertainment in the village hall. Buy a ticket from us for £7 and then bring your own food and nibbles and your own favourite drinks and settle down for a load of fun. Phone or text us to reserve your tickets (contact Alan Fall on 07895 348360 or Gary Siggins on 07799 430400).
CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SALE
We have packs of Christmas cards for sale this year. Local artist Sam Dodd has produced a beautiful painting of a Christmas robin in front of a snow fringed Bradford Abbas church and has agreed to us using this image on our Christmas cards. You can buy these from us on Saturday mornings or after our Sunday services. Alternatively, pop into church and pick up an order form (they are on the table in the middle of the church). Please note that the church is going to be open between 10am and 1pm most days in December.
UPCOMING SERVICES - EVERYBODY IS WELCOME
SUNDAY 7TH DECEMBER 10am Morning Worship (lay-led)
SUNDAY 14TH DECEMBER 4pm Carol Service (led by Gill Thomas)
CHRISTMAS EVE 5:30pm Outdoor Carol Service (in front of the church)
CHRISTMAS DAY 10am Christmas Eucharist (led by David Dunning)
SUNDAY 4TH JANUARY 10am Morning Worship (lay-led)
SUNDAY 18TH JANUARY 10am Holy Communion (led by David Dunning)
On Sundays when we are without a service here in Bradford Abbas, we encourage villagers to take in a service at one of our neighbouring churches. There is always a list of these on display in the church porch.
A Christmas message from the Rector
My favourite bit of Christmas Day has always been the morning, before the place has become strewn with wrapping paper, before the work of getting a grand meal on the table gets under way. I awake a little weary after midnight mass these days, but it is nevertheless a sunny moment in all its senses. So my thought is this. When it happens, when you awake on Christmas morning, say a little prayer of thanks. It maybe you can give thanks for family and friends, it maybe you can give thanks for food and fun, for new adventures or for old pets, even for the preparations for Christmas being done. But spare a thanks for the other sun, the Son of God who came that we might know the extraordinary power of forgiveness, the great life-changing event of freedom from guilt and shame, from anger and malice, from fear and isolation. This is the day the Lord has made - and he has made it new - so let us rejoice and be glad in it.
As a church we will soon be welcoming James Clark who will be joining us as Team Vicar. We are thrilled to have him coming to live and minister among us. Officially it is from early February but you will see him around before then. Do say hello. George Moody, Team Rector, Three Valleys Benefice, www.threevalleysteam.org.uk
Mixed Ability Yoga
Saturdays 8.30am-9.30am Bradford Abbas Village Hall
Come along and join us! These are friendly and fun classes, suitable for most. Start your weekend with movement and relaxation. £9 per session. Email emmarileyoga@gmail.com for further details
- December classes: 6th / 13th / 20th
- No classes 27th December or 3rd January
- Classes restart 10th January 2026
ST MARY’S COMMUNITY TRUST
Friday 5th December 7:30pm– CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING with Prosecco and puds
Come and make a Christmas wreath (or a rustic window) for your front door or to put up inside your house. We will provide everything to need (but it’s a good idea to bring your own secateurs). We will provide Prosecco and other drinks and a variety of yummy puddings for you. Ticket price is £25 pp. Please call or text Gary (07799 430400) to book. Or email us on StMarysCommunityTrust@gmail.com .Payment will be needed to secure your place.
CHRISTMAS WINDOW DECORATION
This Christmas we are asking you all to consider decorating one window of your house to be enjoyed by people walking past your home. We hope this will cheer up everyone’s evening walks in December. Please have your window decorated by Sunday 14th December at the latest and leave it until after Christmas. We will give a prize to the home that comes up with our favourite design.
CHRISTMAS EVE OUTDOOR CAROL SERVICE 5:30pm
SMCT will again be helping to get your Christmas started with a warm glow as we light up the church and support the staging of the village’s outdoor carol service. This service regularly attracts 200+ into Church Road. Bring your friends and family and let’s make it bigger than ever! And once you’ve got that Christmassy feeling, it’s just a short walk to the Rose and Crown.
THE FUTURE
Is there anybody out there who would like to get involved with us in helping to plan and run events? We are very keen to add a few new names to the SMCT team, people who can bring a sense of fun, fresh ideas and a desire to help produce memorable events for our friends and neighbours. If that might be you, please get in touch with us.
See you soon, Jo, Alan, Rob, Ruth, Trevor and Gary, The ST MARY’S COMMUNITY TRUST team
The Friendship Club
Our next meetings are at 2.00pm, Tuesday 2nd December and Tuesday 6th January at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club. There is Bingo, a small draw, Tea & Biscuits and a chance to have a chat and laugh with fellow villagers. New members will be warmly welcome. Our meetings are always on the first Tuesday afternoon of the month.
Rose and Crown, Bradford Abbas
- Opening hours: Tuesday 5- close; Wednesday - Thursday 12-3 & 5-close; Friday 12-close; Saturday 10am – close; Sundays 12 noon – 6pm. Please note we will be closed on Sunday 28th and Monday 29th December.
Restaurant: Wed – Fri 12pm-2pm & 5.30pm-8.30pm; Sat 10am - 2pm and 5.30-8.30pm, Sun12-4pm
- Lunchtime Specials: Pop in to see our specials board! Served Wednesday - Saturday 12pm - 2pm
- Tuesday Evenings: Pizza & a Pint £15 Served from 5.30pm - 8pm
- Wednesday & Thursday from 5.30pm Join us for Grill Night!
- Fish & Chip Friday: Served every Friday lunchtime 12pm - 2pm
- Sunday Carvery - Limited availability, please contact us to book (please note, our carverys are extremely popular and we cannot guarantee all table requests, therefore you might be seated in the skittle alley).
- Meat Draw every Sunday at 4.30pm
Christmas:
- Letters to Santa: We have a letter box in our festive doorway! Post your letter to Santa before the 19th December and Santa’s elves will hand deliver a reply to village children [please include a return address if you would like a reply.
- Christmas Advent: A gift from us to you to say thank you for all your support! Join us at 7pm daily (5pm on Sundays) for your chance of winning! Prizes include free drinks, snacks and a carvery for 2!
- Christmas Parties: We are still taking bookings for Christmas parties, please note there is limited availability, Book yours Now!
- Christmas Raffle: £1 p/square. Raffle drawn Sat 20th 7.30pm!
- Live Music: Daryll Rushby; Saturday 6th, 8.30pm.
- Christmas Quiz Night: Thursday 11th, Come and test your knowledge! Teams of 4-6, £2pp. From 8pm.
- Breakfast with Santa: Saturday 13th December. £10 p/child, includes a gift from Santa. Bookings Only.
- Skittle for a Turkey and Christmas Karaoke, Saturday 13th December, from 7pm.
- Christmas Eve: Come and enjoy a Chilli and Jacket Potato for £5, before heading over to the Christmas Eve Carols at the church. Served from 4pm- 8pm.
- Christmas Day: Open from 11-1 for drinks, we will then close to the public for our pre-booked Christmas Day Carvery.
- Boxing Day: Landlord’s Birthday. Live Music from Karla Oaks from 2-5. Bring your own Food.
- New Years Eve: Live DJ from our very own Emma, 8.00pm – late.
- New Years Day: Carvery served 12-4! Book now to avoid disappointment.
Follow our social media for our full list of festive events and festive opening times. You can hire our skittle alley - please pop in or contact us to discuss further, Contact us on: 01935 423199, email info@therosecrownbradfordabbas.co.uk. Visit our website https://www.therosecrownbradfordabbas.co.uk
Yeovil Railway Centre
- Wednesday 3rd December; Main Line Steam, planned for 35028 Clan Line - times to be advised
- Saturday 6th December: Santa Special with one of our diesel engines. Admission £12 adult/child
- Other Santa Specials with our steam engine Pectin: Sunday 7th, Saturday 13th, Sunday 14th, Saturday 20th, Sunday 21st and Tuesday 23rd. Adult/child £15, babies under 1 are free. 10% discount for Groups of 5 booked at the same time. Note that the Saturday 13th December Santa Specials runs in the afternoon and evening. Book early to avoid disappointment.
There are no public events in January, but behind the scenes it’s a hive of activity carrying out essential maintenance in preparation for when running is resumed.
See our website yeovilrailway.freeservers.com, or our Facebook page for more details.
Bradford Abbas and Clifton Maybank Village Hall
To book the village hall please visit the parish council website to check availability, https://bradford-abbas.uk/hall, and complete the booking form. If you are unable to complete the form online please email bacmvh@gmail.com or ring 01935 602279 and a form can be printed off for you. A form must be completed to finalise booking the hall for insurance purposes. Thank you for supporting your village hall.
Monday Night Bingo
Every Monday at 6.30pm with eyes down at 7.00pm. 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 and a chance to win the SNOW BALL and of course a laugh and chat, we finish at about 8.30pm.
Sherborne Bradford Abbas Camera Club
- Tuesday 9th December: A celebration of the year - My Favourite digital images of 2025. It’s not a competition, just a celebration of your favourite ones to round off the year. In the second half it will be a social gathering, perhaps with cake! 7.30pm in the village hall
- Tuesday 13th January 2026; Shoot a Theme Competition ‘Sign of the Times’
- Wednesday 21st January 2026; Wincanton Camera Club Challenge, an open competition with each club submitting 25 images for judging. More details to follow.
- Tuesday 27th January: Bradford Abbas Shield, images for discussion by Club members who have submitted their images for consideration, from which 5 prints and 5 digital images will be selected. This year’s theme is farmers and farming.
We meet on the second and fourth Tuesday evening, 7.30pm in the village hall. We are a friendly club, why not come along and see what we do.
See our website sbacameraclub.co.uk for further details or follow our Facebook page.
Mixed Ability Pilates at the Village Hall, Mondays 6-9pm
Come and join this friendly class, all abilities and ages welcome. Equipment supplied. (mats excluded)
- DECEMBER DATES 1st/8th/15th
- JANUARY 5th/12th/19th/26th
All sessions £10 pay as you go.
If you need any more information, please contact Lisa Brett 07760-169707 befitbewellwithlisa@gmail.com