Issue
No:121-December
2015
m.larmborougb
IIYIJI
vourcommunitv
newspaper
reflecting
news,
views
andevents
S~~Greet'~to-~01.U'"
readeY~
Lorry driver in a tight spot!
THE driver of an articulated lorry needed
assistance to get out of a very tight spot
when it became stuck in Loves Lane on
Wednesday October 28.
The driver of the vehicle, which is owned
by a Southampton company, appreciated
the assistance given by a local resident,
Brian Bullock, who received a card a few
days later thanking him for his help.
A similar incident occurred days earlier
when a Dutch lorry driver was directed
into Loves Lane but on realising the
mistake managed to manoeuvre his
vehicle out of the lane before it was too
late!
Closure of Old Lane
The lorry alongside Westmead Cottages,
Loves Lane . Picture: Brian Bullock
It is believed the driver was following satnav directions to deliver solar panels to
the new Chelwood Solar Farm when he
got into difficulty . With no turning space
available he was forced to reverse his
vehicle back down the lane which resulted
in damage being caused to trees, banks
and a wall at Westmead Cottages.
OLD LANE remained closed days after
the expiration of a 12 month Traffic
Regulation Order which came into force
on November 10 2014 . A notice displayed
at the site incorrectly stated that the road
was closed until 'February 2016'
Although the temporary closure order
applied
to
vehicular
traffic
only,
pedestrians were constantly denied
access by means of a fence erected
across the highway - see picture below or refused right of way by members of the
on site work force.
Old Lane eventually
November 13.
;,& •.• ,.
- ~ -'
..·~
•
. .
.
.~ ,~
The reversing lorry negotiating a sharp
bend in Loves Lane . Picture : Emily Groves
re-opened
on
Our thanks to the Goodwill
Club for
sponsoring this edition of the Flyer. The
Flyer will NOT be published next month.
Copy deadline for the next issue is Tuesday
January
19 2016 for publication
on
Wednesday January 27.
Continued in next column
SOMETHING FOR THE FLYER? Contact Patrick on 01761471074
or 0797 5655 989 or send a text or email: farmborou [email protected]
Headteacher to retire
Monster pumpkin goes AWOL
IT has been announced that Mrs Anne
Hewett, who has been Headteacher at
Farmborough School since 2004, is to
retire on August 31 2016.
IT took five people and a forklift truck to
transport a 30 stone pumpkin to the
Butchers Arms in time for Halloween but
within 24 hours it was gone! Stolen by a
mean thief
In a letter addressed to Parents and
Carers the Chair of the Governing Body,
Mrs Michelle Darby, said, "She [Mrs
Hewett] has always demonstrated an
unwavering enthusiasm and dedication to
our school. This has given the children a
primary education that is not only effective
but also memorable because of all the fun
things they have been involved in.
The giant pumpkin was grown by
Farmborough villager Steve Bridges who
tendered, nurtured and harvested it and
then carved a scary face onto the
enormous fruit. But before many residents
had time to see it the pumpkin vanished
without trace!
"With exceptional and inspired leadership
Mrs Hewett has gathered around her a
committed and talented team. Together
they have nurtured and developed the
talents of our children and provided a first
class education for all Farmborough
pupils . Her commitment and passion is
reflected both in the popularity and pupil
numbers at the school and the
'outstanding'
OFSTED
and
SIAMS
(church) judgements.
"I would like to take this opportunity on
behalf of the Governing Body to thank Mrs
Hewett for her hard work, energy and
devotion to making school life the very
best experience for all and for her
exceptional contribution to the education
of hundreds of children who have been
through the school under her care.
"In the coming weeks the Governing Body
will be starting the recruitment process for
a full time Headteacher to build on past
and present successes for a fantastic
future at Farmborough".
Steve has been growing oversized
pumpkins for a number of years and takes
great pride in photographing his efforts
and showing anyone interested his
pictures and telling them how he grows
the fruit to such an impressive size.
The whopper which was on display
outside the pub for such a short time
weighed in at a massive 4201bs finishing
fourth in a pumpkin growing competition.
Get ReadyFor Winter
Kindling for sale
1 X Large bag £4 .00
2 X Large bags £7.00
3 x Large bags £10.00
Contact Ethan to place your order.
01761 568667
Parents and Carers have been assured
that school life will continue as normal and
that they will be kept informed as to the
progress and outcome of the recruitment
process,
Timsbury Theatre Group seeks a
FARMBOROUGH GOOD NEIGHBOURS
offer free lifts to villagers of all ages
(child seat available)
to local surgeries and hospitals
Contributions for lifts welcome
Contact: Maureen Fletcher 472168 or
Patience Barnes 470032
for its forthcominq pantomime
"CindereHa
No experience necessary but you must
be available from December&" -12th
Interested? CaHJo Whittock on 01761
472745, or Peter Crooke 01761 4:I4479
or Peter Buchanan 01761471818 or
Patrick on 01761 471074
I can deliver on weekends.
FOLLOW SPOT OPERA TOR
Farmborough School
Reception Class 2016
PARENTS and Carers of children who are
due to start school next year and hoping
for them to attend Farmborough School
are being urged to sign up quickly as a lot
of interest is being shown which may lead
to
the
reception
class
becoming
oversubscribed!
Until January 15 2016 applications may
be
made
on line
by
visiting
www.bathnes.gov.uk, and clicking on the
Schools, Colleges and Learning link,
followed by Admissions to Schools.
Farmborough WI November
2015
Jutta Steffens-Carter
WE held our Annual Meeting on 3
November and after all the business we
refined the plans for our Christmas
Meeting.
Our Halloween lunch as well as the meal
at La Campagna were hugely enjoyed by
all.
COMMUNITY LUNCHES
in the MEMORIAL HALL
on THURSDAY DECEMBER 3 and
THURSDAY JANUARY 7
12.30 for 12.45 pm. Cost just £3.50.
~W!W®OO~ ffl~~~®~~
Marksbury WI kindly invited us to their
Carol Service in December (see below).
Farmborough Goodwill Club
Next meeting: Tuesday December 1
7.30pm at Farnborough Memorial Hall:
Christmas Dinner
Pat Tiley
ON December 1O at the Memorial Hall
starting at 2.30pm it will be our Carol
Service after which there will be tea and
mince pies.
Our Christmas Party will be held on
December 17 with entertainment by Chris
Rainbow. This is to be held at the
Memorial Hall starting at 6.30pm for 7pm.
Due to Sally Davis lightening her work
load this will be her last time to cook our
Christmas Dinner and the members of the
Club thanks Sally for all her hard work and
wish her the very best for the future .
An update of our last coach trip for 2015
to Oakham Treasures will be in the next
edition of the Flyer .
All our meetings are held on the 2nd and
4th Thursday of each month starting at
2.30pm.
New members are always
welcome. For details ring Pat on 01761
470491 .
Finally we would like to wish David Childs
a happy retirement. David has given us
many afternoons of music and song.
Date for your diary: Friday December 4
7pm Marksbury WI Carol Service at
Marksbury Church
15% of electric blankets
failed test
DURING September and October B&NES
Trading Standards Team carried out free
electric blanket tests when a total of 120
blankets were tested and of these 18
failed.
The service which is offered annually
helps people to protect themselves
against an injury or fire in the home.
Electric blankets over three years old
should be tested every year and all
blankets should be tested if the wiring
within them has moved or if the electrical
connections look worn or damaged.
Cllr. Vic Pritchard (Conservative Chew
Valley South) Cabinet Member for Adult
Social Care and Health said, "We want
people to be safe in their homes and I
urge anyone who uses an electric blanket
to get it tested using our free service."
Parish Council News November 2015
Martin Carter - Council Chairman
chairman@farmboroughparishcouncil .org .uk
THE Parish Council met on November 10.
The Council began by welcoming Trudi
Gilbank as the new clerk. Contact can
now be made directly by email at
clerk@farmboroughparishcounci I.org.uk
The Council considered three planning
applications . Support was given to the
development of 14 houses at WT Burden
yard on Bath Road as well as a barn
conversion at the Old Inn farmhouse on
Bath Road. The Parish Council however
expressed strong objections to the choice
of external materials to be used on both
these applications ; it considered them
completely
out
of
character
for
Farmborough . The Council objected to the
development at Holly Farm, Bath Road for
two new dwellings in the grounds of the
Listed Building.
The Council noted that the Appeal for the
houses at Poplars, Old Lane had been
successful by the Developer and as a
consequence
the
B&NES Planning
Officers have no option but to approve the
recent application for a development on
the same land.
An update was given by the Councillors
and Clerk on the recent attendance at
B&NES seminars on various planning
matters which provided a welcome insight
into the workings of the planning process.
A reminder is given to any organisation
who wishes to apply for a Parish Council
grant that submissions need to be on the
Grant Application form and received by
the Clerk or Chair before December 31 if
they are to be considered for inclusion in
the budget.
The Council is pushing B&NES with
regard to traffic calming in the area and it
would be helpful to back up this cause. If
anyone knows of or witnesses an accident
on the roads, even serious near misses,
that they let the Chair know and it will be
added to the list. As many accidents are
not officially reported it is hard to back up
claims of an 'unsafe' road if there is no
data to demonstrate it.
The Council received information from
B&NES with regard to the responsibilities
of Riparian Ownership. If you have a river
running through or alongside your
property or land, the details for you to be
aware of will be posted on the Council's
website or you can request them directly
from the Clerk.
The next meeting will be held at
7:30pm on Tuesday December 8 2015
in the Memorial Hall.
50th ANNIVERSARY DAY
MEMORIAL HALL
Little Lane, Farmborough
Celebrating the opening of the hall
and its history
on SATURDAY 12 MARCH 2016
Between 8:30 am & 9:00 pm
Refreshments served throughout the day
Come and enjoy
For more information contact Jean Rogers
on 470361
Quizzers get quizzical on
January 30!
Nicky Stone
THE annual Quiz and Curry evening at
the Farmborough Memorial Hall will be on
Saturday 30th January 2016, starting at
7.30pm.
There will be a 2 course meal with
accompaniments , a licensed bar selling
beers, including Bath Ales, cider, lager
and a selection of wines and soft drinks,
and a raffle.
Tickets are available priced at £8.50
(£10.50 on the night) and doors will open
at 7.00pm. For further information or to
book ahead , please contact Nicky or Dave
on 470158. We look forward to seeing
you!
Order your Christmas
wreaths now!
Sally Davis
WE are planning to make wreaths for
Christmas. We are making a limited
number so it is important you order your
wreath as soon as possible ; deadline
December 14.
The wreaths costing £6 each will be made
from the beginning of December and can
be collected or delivered (if not too far
away) up until December 21. All proceeds
are for the funds of All Saints' Church.
If your wreath is to be hung on a door
please put the word 'door' by the number
of wreaths required.
To order your wreath contact Sally Davis
on 01761 472356 or drop your order in the
letterbox at 1 Church Lane, Farmborough.
All SAINTS' CHRISTMAS
BAZ4AR
Saturday December 5 at 2pm
in the Memorial Hall.
Come and enjoy our traditional
Christmas Bazaar with Santa's
Grotto, toys, qames, crafts ,
Christmas trees , home-made
cakes, excellent refreshments and
much more
Hall Committee gears up to
celebrate 5dh anniversary
READERS of the Flyer are reminded that
the 501h anniversary of the hall's opening
is to be celebrated on Saturday March 12
when many hall users will be present and
its history displayed.
The hall will be open from 8.30am until
9pm when refreshments will be available
throughout the day including breakfasts,
lunches, teas and a wine and cheese
party in the evening.
Please make a note of the date in your
diary and come along and see how the
hall has developed from 1946, the year of
the initial proposal to build a village hall,
to the present day.
Wow!! Help Us Give Support
[HUGS} Charity Shop - RUH
Bath raises over £40,000!
Danni Jones
I WOULD like to thank everyone in the
village for their continued support in our
first two busy years of trading . The shop is
going from strength to strength and to
date we have made a profit of over
£40,000.
The sole beneficiary is Forever Friends at
the Royal United Hospital who are raising
money to build a state of the arts Cancer
Care Unit. I know a number of people in
Farmborough, myself included , have
benefited from the excellent care at the
RUH and HUGS provides an opportunity
to "put something back."
The shop is situated in Chelsea Road,
BATH (BA1 3DU), and is an Aladdin 's
Cave, so come along, have a browse or
maybe pick up a bargain.
We are totally reliant on donations so if
you have anything you no longer have a
use for I'm sure we can make use of it.
You can either drop them at the house (11
Manor Gardens) or give me a call on
4 72667 and I am more than happy to
collect.
If you would like to see the projects
Forever Friends are supporting take a
look at www.foreverfriends .co.uk
Wishing you all A Very Merry Christmas
and A Happy New Year.
With thanks from everyone at HUGS
Talent & Trading Scheme
[T&TJ raises over£1,000
Members of the T& T Group
WE are a small charity fund raising group
and our chosen charity this year has been
Brain Tumour Research/Charity , and we
have worked hard to raise a total of
£1,055 .
We are thrilled with this result and would
like to thank all those who have helped
and supported us in so many ways to
reach this grand total.
£800 raised by Craft Fayre
FARMBOROUGH'S Memorial Hall has
benefited to the tune of £800 as a result of
the Craft and Gift Fayre held in October
Organisers, Anita Eatherden and Sally
Davis, would again like to thank everyone
who helped make the event a social and
financial success.
~frO"Wl/~'R,ea;ory
The Midwife's Tale
SHE was so very young and so very tired
after all the journeying . We'd no room to
give them, her and her man. We took
them round the back, moved the beasts to
one side and spread fresh straw in the
corner. Her time was very near so I stayed
put. Men never cope in a birthing room. It
was hard; she was so very young and
seemed bewildered by it all. Even babbled
of angels but I told her all would be well.
She cried out, oh, she cried out' Would
the child ever turn towards birth?
'©ccrntbcr$cn,kcG
at 2\ll $ainto' ~hurch
5th
131h
181h
201h
241h
251h
2ih
11am Friends & Family Service Collection of Gifts for the
Women's Refuge
6.30pm Alternative Communion.
11am Parish Communion
9.30am School Christmas Service
8am Holy Communion (BCP)
6.30pm Carols by Candlelight with
mince pies and mulled wine.
Christmas Eve:
4pm Children's Service - Come in
your Christmas Jumper you don't
need a child to come!!!
11.30pm The Midnight Mass of
Christmas.
Christmas Day:
11am A short Friends and Family
Celebration followed by fizz &
nibbles.
11am Benefice Communion
Service with Carols
Suddenly, and it's often like that, the
corner was turned. The darkness of the
night was pierced by a different cry - the
cry of a new born child - a boy - a fine
boy! I lay him in her arms. There was still
work to be done . She was exhausted and
she was so very young . Her man came
over; he half hugged them, his voice
choking with emotion.
Please see the diary in the church porch;
notice board or 'Trio' for full details of all
services and activities within the Benefice.
She needed to rest, so we swaddled the
baby and I lifted him into my arms and
went to place him in the manger.
December 2015
25 - Christmas until the Epiphany
January 2016
1 - Naming of Christ
6 - Epiphany
9 - Duchess of Cambridge born 1982
20 - Countess of Wessex born 1965
25 - Conversion of Saint Paul
Believe me ... . I have held many babies,
many... ... but this one? You'll think me
crazy, perhaps, but with this one, it was as
if I was holding the very essence of Love
in my arms. Can you imagine that.. ... the
very essence of Love? Love come down
from heaven in my arms .... and just think
.... it was me ..... me who welcomed into
the world!
So what now of you, you who have read
my tale? You know, you can welcome him,
too. Will you? Will you gather him into
yourselves? If you should .... if you do ....
you, yes, you will find yourself cradling the
very Love of God.
with love and Christmas Blessing
J(Mv7(Y\..Ott
Flag Days for December and
January
What will you do with your
2015 Farmboro' calendar?
DID you know that at the end of every
year local businessman, Paul Evans of
Apollo Picture Framing, frequently frames
pictures from old calendars? If you have a
favourite picture from the 2015 edition of
the Farmborough calendar - or the 2014 if
it's still knocking around - and you would
like it framed, why not give Paul a call on
471816 email info@apolloframing .com or
www.apolloframing .com?
Hundreds turn out for small
village firework display!
Phil Gray
ON Friday 6 November, Farmborough
reaffirmed its claim to be the small village
with a big firework display. Hundreds
turned out to witness the fantastic display
put on by FireMagic UK and enjoyed the
really BIG bonfire built that morning by a
band of volunteers who braved the
elements.
I'd like to thank all those who volunteered
their time to help me during the day to
prepare and run the event, the Parish
Council for supporting the event by
covering the insurance and everyone who
turned up and gave so generously . We
look forward to doing it again next year!
Saturday December 19
Marksbury Village Hall
Start 10.30
Praise at 12.00
followed by festive lunch
The fireworks and bonfire attracted crowds
from Farmborough and beyond
[Picture : Sam Ross]
Despite the weather's best attempts to
turn The Ree into a Glastonburyesk bog,
one of the biggest crowds to date
gathered , consumed all the food and
drink , and gave very generously to the
bucket shakers. As a result, the event
made a surplus of over £400 which
Farmborough Sports & Social will plough
back into our village facility .
MESSY Church has now been running for
over a year! At our most recent meeting
over forty adults and youngsters joined
together for a time of activities , worship
and a meal. This way of providing
Christian fellowship is proving to be
popular for those who find they can't get to
church on Sundays. Up to now Messy
Church has been held in Farmborough
Church but as it is organised by
volunteers from not just the church here in
Farmborough but also Marksbury and
Stanton Prior there is a change of venue
for our Christmas session and this will be
in Marksbury at the village hall. You are
warmly invited to jo in us. If you would like
more information please contact Preb. Jan
Knott 01761479311.
Farmborough Memorial Hall
Bingo Dates 2016
Bonfire builders : Basil Pavey, Steve
Hands, Nick Barnett, Martyn Hart and
Graham Dall. [Picture: Phil Gray]
Continued in next column
January 16
February 20
March 19 (Easter Special)
April 30
June 11
July 23
September 10
October 22
November 26 (Christmas Special)
"Eyes down 2.30pm" Entrance £1
(under 14's free)
Farmborough Christmas
Lights
Saturday opening @
Timsbury Surgery
Farmborough Sports and Social
Everyone is invited to the official
illumination of Farmborough's Christmas
tree lights on Saturday 12 December.
ST MARY'S SURGERY will open from
8.30am to 10.30am on December 5th and
191h and on January 9thand 23rd.
This is a family-friendly event and a great
opportunity for both new and existing
residents to meet with friends and
neighbours , while raising some funds for
The Ree and Pavilion. So come and join
us for some festive fun and Christmas
cheer!
Meet inside All Saints' Church at 6.00pm.
The official tree lighting ceremony will
start at 6.15pm with a procession to the
Batch, followed by a dedication from the
Rev. Preb. Jan Knott, and the switching
on of the lights.
If the weather is kind, a couple of carols
may be sung before processing back to
the church for some festive nibbles, hot
drinks, mulled wine and cider, additio nal
carols
and
possibly
some
light
entertainment.
If you can provide
some short
entertainment for the event - story, song,
dance or theatrical sketch, please contact
Sam and Phil on: 07849 055 339 or email:
therec@farmborough .org.uk
The next Saturday a~emoon
BINGO SESSION
(Christmas Special)
is on November 28 at 2.30 pm
in the Memorial Hall
Entrance fee £1 (under 14's free)
West of England
Joint
Spatial Plan and Transport
Study
Martin Carter, Parish Council Chairman
THE West of England's Joint Spatial Plan
and Transport Study will set out a
prospectus for sustainable growth that will
help the area meet its housing and
transport needs for the next 20 years.
There is a full public consultation on these
areas, during which they want to hear the
thoughts of people throughout the area.
Estimates state that to maintain its current
prosperity , the area needs at least 85,000
new homes by 2036 , nearly 30,000 more
than the number already planned , as well
as the transport and other infrastructure
needed to support this level of growth.
Handmade preserves
for sale
Lookin g for locally mad e gifts for Christma s?
Want to support your local communi ty?
Jams and marmalade
made in Farmborough
Mad e wi th h omegr own ras pb err ies ,
blackberri es, ap ples, rhub arb an d cherries , plu s
blueberri es, plum s, Seville oran ges and mo re!
Only £3 per jar or two for £5
All proc eeds go to Seedy Saturd ay 2016
Contact Sam on 01 761 4 70 690
The four West of England Council areas
are BaNES along with Bristol, North
Somerset and South Gloucester.
Further
details
and
the
relevant
documents can be viewed and comments
made at www.jointplann ingwofe.org.uk
copies are also available at libraries and
Council offices.
Comments need to be received by Friday
29th January 2016 .
If you think you would like to speak at any
future public hearing on the outcome you
will have to have registered a comment at
this stage.