Bradford Abbas Village Shop –
A Farewell Message from Alan and Wendy
Dear villagers of Bradford Abbas
This will be our final message in the Pennant as the shop will be closing its doors for the last time soon after Easter.
At the time of writing Easter Monday will be our last day for newspapers and the previous week for magazines. During our last week there will be deals galore to clear all the stock. We are due to move out by 13th April.
So, this is a sad goodbye. Although we should perhaps have closed the shop a while ago and have been paying to keep it open for some time now, the upside is that we have met many amazing people who we will miss, and we are glad we have been able to keep it open during the lockdowns of the past year.
Thank you to all those people who have supported us and made each day special. We wish you all well and hope that life will soon improve for us all with the easing of lockdown and, hopefully, a return to normal life.
Farewell and all best wishes, Wendy and Alan.
PS The grand clearance sale of all stock starts on Thursday 1st April!!
The Village Shop Steering Group
We are an active group of villagers who have been meeting to support the ongoing presence of a Village Shop or Community Enterprise within Bradford Abbas. We would welcome new members so do get in touch (please contact hayleywright1@hotmail.co.uk).
Also, please ‘Watch This Space’ as we plan to gauge the level of village support for such a future venture.
We are so grateful to Alan and Wendy for their commitment and hard work during lockdown and wish them every success in the future.
Sherborne Bradford Abbas Camera Club
We are continuing as a very successful virtual camera club.
Tuesday 13th April 2021: Joint meeting with Dorchester and Shaftesbury Clubs on Zoom. Alas, only virtual cakes at half time, but no calories!
Tuesday 20th April 2021: An evening with Joe Houghton. Joe is a Lightroom Beta tester and will process members’ raw images, comparing his edits with the photographers and opening this for discussion. An opportunity to learn more about the programme.
Tuesday 27th April 2021: Talk by club member March Tatchel.
Once the lockdown restrictions are lifted we will consider outdoor photoshoots; our meetings will resume in September. See our website sbacameraclub.co.uk for further information.
Yeovil Railway Centre at Yeovil Junction
After a very successful but brief Santa Specials in December we entered lockdown again. If things go to plan, and fingers crossed, we may be able to resume our Steam Train Days in May.
Further information at www.yeovilrailway.freeservers.com and on our Facebook page.
The Rose and Crown
During the first two weeks of April we will be continuing with our takeaways and deliveries as normal.
From Friday the 16th we will be opening up the garden for drinks and meals. A new menu will be available with table-service only and bookings should be made. Where possible please observe social distancing as before and access to the inside will be for use of the toilets only.
Meanwhile, don’t forget to order your takeaways and deliveries!
Keep safe, Mary and the staff at the pub. Tel 01935 474506.
Bradford Abbas Parish Council News
Village Shop: On behalf of the Parish Council and the residents of Bradford Abbas we would like to express our best wishes to Wendy and Alan for their future adventures and to thank them for supporting the village so magnificently during this difficult time.
Climate Change Action: The Parish Council found several dead elm trees in the Westbury boundary hedge of the playing field. It was decided to source disease resistant elm trees. Six were placed on order. The three larger of the trees were planted in the playing field on the Westbury boundary and one at the bottom of Fannybrook’s Lane. We also received five small elm trees “free of charge” and these with the other two were offered to Manor Farm as the Loxton family have commenced a substantial tree planting programme.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY!! Sunday, 4th July 2021. The Telephone Box Team is cautiously organising an Open Garden Day in order to raise funds for equipment in the playing field. More details next month.
Pennant Delivery: I am looking for someone to temporarily deliver The Pennant in Clifton Maybank. If you wish to volunteer, please contact Tricia Chapman bradfordpc@hotmail.co.uk or 01935 473833.
Bradford Abbas Parish Clerk
St. Mary’s Church – A Poem for Easter
Easter Presence
In the silence of eternity a presence made itself known to me
I am the truth, I am knowledge
And I will show you all things.
You are blind now
But it will not always be so.
Do not strive to see, you have not the power.
It is I who will grant you sight.
In the darkness of my prison a thought came to me
I am freedom; I am the breaker of chains
And you shall be set free.
You are bound now
but it will not always be so.
Do not fight on your own, for you are too weak
It is I who will be your strength.
In the roar of a rising sun I heard a voice
I am the dawn, I am the morning light
And I will come quickly
You are in darkness now
but it will not always be so
Do not seek after me, for I am not to be found.
It is I who will come to you.
Reverend Tony Gilbert