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Paxcroft Mead News – August 2008 |
Contents
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Editorial CommentAgain I am pleased to include the second of Jack Pope's Letters from America. Jack, who recently returned to the USA from Paxcroft Mead, has kindly agreed to provide us with a series of commentaries about life in the USA. As the Presidential elections reach their climax, it will be interesting getting an “insider” view of events. Over the Bank Holiday weekend, The Mead Club celebrated its birthday with a Party and Fun Day. I was involved with the event and think it was a major success – more in the news item below If you have a news item or event you would like to share in the next newsletter, please send your contribution via email to editor@paxcroftmead.org.uk or post it to, or drop it in to:- To ensure we have the largest possible distribution, please would you forward this newsletter on to friends and neighbours and encourage them sign up to the emailing list via our website - http://www.paxcroftmead.org.uk/contact_form.htm |
Mead Club Birthday Party and Fun Day
Last Saturday the Mead Club celebrated its 7th birthday with a Party and Fun Day at the Paxcroft Mead Community Centre. The celebration was blessed with a warm afternoon and whilst it was cloudy, we didn't get any rain until the outdoor activities were finished.
In the afternoon a wide range of amusements were provided for children. Down in the field there were bouncy castles, quad bikes, a bar-fly, a huge slide and gladiator combat and a smaller bouncy castle and ball pond were provided inside the Community Centre for the younger children.
A number of Committee members took their “punishment” in the stocks.
Face painting was also available and that proved particularly popular with some wonderful results.
A barbecue served the usual fare all afternoon, but especially popular were the hot pork rolls. This was provided by Robinsons Fish Shop.
All afternoon, in the Community Centre, members of the Tuesday Coffee Club supplied copious cups of tea and coffee as well as a great spread of home-made cakes and biscuits, and of course, the Mead Club bar was open all afternoon offering drinks at reduced "Party" prices together with special membership deals.
In the evening the entertainment was provided by two live bands, Inconvenient Truth and Legacy with a magical interlude provided by Magic Pete. Paul Shepherd provided the disco.
The Party proved to be a great success and was well attended. Thanks to all the organisers and helpers who made the day a success. Hopefully it will become a regular summer event.
The next major event at the Mead Social Club will be the Halloween party which, this year, has a family entertainer and live music plus disco – more details will be advertised shortly on the Paxcroft Mead website and noticeboards.
More pictures of the party are available on the Paxcroft Mead Community Centre website. Follow the link on the home page.
Vandalism at the Community Centre
Over the summer holidays we have experienced an increase of wanton vandalism around the Community Centre. Examples include damage to the building signage, removal of drain pipes, two instances of small fires being set around the Centre, a couple of lads using a can of hair spray as a flame thrower against one of the fire exits as well a numerous examples of graffitti on walls and doors.
Hopefully the situation will improve once the kids are back in school, but the Management Committee is left with quite a job to put things right. As you all know, the Centre is run entirely by volunteers and where possible, we do the work to keep the costs down and the building well maintained. However with the cost of graffitti removal compounds being in the order of £60 per can, and perhaps having to use professional help, this is an expensive business.
To stop things getting any worse, please can you do your bit by keeping an eye on the Centre and making kids aware that the Centre is there for the Community and that there is simply no point in spoiling the Centre as its loss would be a blow to the whole of the Paxcroft Mead Community.
Community Centre Maintenance Team
The Maintenance Team is now up and running and the results are starting to show.
All the taps in the washrooms have been changed out for lever taps, so they are much easier for young children and older members to use. Not least, they should result in less taps being left running. Once we have fixed all the shower units, the washrooms will be back in full working order. In a previous edition of the newsletter I featured the monumental task of changing all the fluorescent tubes in the Main Hall. In addition, lots of small jobs are being completed which result in the Centre being a more safe an pleasant place to be.
Another month gone. It's hard to believe that summer will be over soon. The first Monday in September is a holiday here and then kids go back to school. The presidential election has just over two months to go before we vote. I haven't made up my mind yet whether to vote for McCain or Obama. Both tell us how things will change and that they will make everything better. Easy to say but I have not heard either of them explain how they are going to actually make the promised changes. With the US facing a $500 billion deficit it is difficult to see how they can do much. New York State is also facing a deficit and – can you believe it – there is actually talk of cutting spending. Everyone is all for that until it is their favorite program or benefit that is cut.
Our weather has been hot and humid for most of July and the first three weeks of August were more of the same. Lots of thunderstorms. The grass grows fast and is staying nice and green but I do have to mow about every 5 or 6 days. We know this won't last, however. Next January, when there is 6–8 feet of snow on the ground and the temperature is down around
–30°C, we will want some of this heat.
Susan and I wanted to move to a small town so we could become involved in the community as we were in Trowbridge. We are already doing so. Susan is going to do some volunteer work for the local public radio station and I have been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the local Library which is in the local Community Center. I guess I can't get away from community center involvement. We are very pleased with how friendly everyone is and how easy it is to get to know folk. There have been lots of outdoor concerts, festivals, fairs and the like. Every time we go to one of these, people come up to us and ask if we're the couple that just moved here. It's still a very small world though: our next–door neighbor's brother–in–law lives in Swindon!
On Saturday 6th September the Carnival Extravaganza begins, offering entertainment in Trowbridge Park throughout the day.
Starting at 8.00am, the day begins with a Boot sale. From 10am to 4pm there will be a wide variety of entertainment including Dancers, sideshows, stall etc.
The Carnival Procession leaves Canal Road at 7pm and finishes at Cradle Bridge. A map of the route is available HERE.
The procession will be followed by a Family disco at the Civic Hall. Tickets are available at the Civic Hall and cost £2 each. All ages are welcome.
Full details of the Carnival are on the Town Council website. Click HERE for full details
Each year, the Heritage Open Days scheme arranges for a number of properties across the U.K. that are either generally closed to the public, to open their doors and for others to waive their admission charges for the day.
In previous years, buildings that opened in the Trowbridge area included Trowbridge Town Hall and the Blind House on the Town Bridge.
You can find further details in the local press or visit the Heritage Open Days Website.
The local programme of Heritage Open Day events for 2008 is shown below.
| Date | Opening Time(s) |
Town | Property |
| Sat 13th Sept | 1000–1600 | Trowbridge | Holy Trinity Church, Stallard St - on the roundabout, close to Trowbridge Station. Small car park and on street parking nearby. |
| Sat 13th Sept | 1000–1600 | Trowbridge | St Thomas's Church, St Thomas Road |
| Sat 13th Sept | 1000–1600 | Trowbridge | The Blind House, Wicker Hill, BA14 8JU. From town centre, walk down Fore Street to town bridge. Use town centre car parks. |
| Sat 13th Sept Sun 14th Sept |
1000–1600 1000–1600 |
Bradford | Lock Up, Town Bridge |
| Sun 14th Sept | 1000–1500 | Bradford | Masonic Hall, Church Street. BA15 1LN |
| Sat 13th Sept Sun 14th Sept |
1000–1600 1000–1600 |
Bradford | The West Barn, Pound Lane. On west side of B3109, approaching B0A from the south, near Tithe Barn, adjacent to canal. |
| Sat 13th Sept Sun 14th Sept |
1000-1300 1400–1600 1100–1215 1830–1945 |
Bradford | Old Baptist Chapel, St Margarets Street. Opposite railway station approach. 264 and 265 buses pass the door. N.B. Sunday opening for services. |
| Sun 14th Sept | 1200–1700 | Bradford | Priory Steps – Mrs Victor Bruce Memorabillia. Newtown, BA15 1NQ. Collection of Memorabilia and Ephemera relating to the Hon Mrs Victor Bruce – a pioneering Aviatrix, motor racer and speedboat driver. She was the first woman to fly solo around the world and the 1st winner of the ‘Coupe des Dames’ at the Monte Carlo Rally. She held over 20 world records. |
| Sat 13th Sept Sun 14th Sept |
1400–1600 1400–1600 |
Melksham | Melksham Town Hall Market Place Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 6ES The Melksham Market Company, formed in 1847, acquired an orchard from the owners of Place House, and erected a cheese market which eventually became the Town Hall. This will form part of a Town Trail highlighting all the interesting buildings in Melksham Town. |
| Sat 13th Sept Sun 14th Sept |
1400–1600 1400–1600 |
Melksham | St Michael's and All Angels' Church Cannons Square Melksham, SN12 6LX St Michael's and All Angels' Church is a parish church dating from 1127 with many restorations, extensions and changes, and is probably the oldest building in Melksham. This will form part of a Town Trail to highlight other interesting buildings in Melksham Town. |
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From now until 1st November, Trowbridge Museum is hosting the Trowbridge Festival of Textile and Weaving.
There is an exhibition of contemporary textile work in the museum and other events will be held as part of the festival. Have a look at the museum website - http://www.trowbridgemuseum.co.uk for further details
The exhibition also includes demonstrations of the restored Dobcross (Old Dobby) Loom. These will take place from 18:00 – 19:30 on Monday 1st and Wednesday 3rd September at the museum which is located in the Shires Shopping Centre. There is also a chance to buy a rug made on the loom.
Ken Rogers, an expert on the history of Trowbridge, has been leading a series of Weaving Walks. The walks visit some of the notable woollen industry venues around the town. Ken's vast knowledge of Trowbridge's industrial past will ensure a memorable event. The remaining walk is on Thursday 4th September from 19:00 – 21:00. Meet at the Tourist Information Centre in Trowbridge Park.
On Saturday 27th September between 10:00 and 16:00, St. Thomas Church (located off Timbrell Street, Trowbridge) will be open for the public to have a look around. This is a wonderful Victorian church with an unusual layout – definitely worth a visit. Coffee, tea and light refreshments will be available in the Church Rooms.
The church can also be accessed via the footpath off St. Thomas Road, close to its junction with The Halve.
Event contact details: Telephone: 01225 754826 or Email: office@stthomastrowbridge.org
If you know of any events that would be of interest to the community, please drop me an email to – editor@paxcroftmead.org.uk.
Previous newsletters are available via the Paxcroft Mead Newsletter archive. To access the archive click here
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