October 2009 Newsletter
Contents
Click on the item to go to the article. |
Editorial CommentOctober was a particularly busy month. I have been working on a re–vamped website for the Community Centre and that explains the late publication of the newsletter. In future subscribers will receive a link to the newsletter rather than the newsletter itself. The new Community Forum is now up and running – more details in the news section. My thanks to all our contributors this month. Jack Pope, has sent news of the onset of winter in upstate New York and sends his best wishes to everyone. If you have a news item or event you would like to share in the next newsletter, please send your contribution via email 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 - |
Paxcroft Mead News
The financial status of the Club remains sound but the net profit is down which means barrels will rise 10p a pint from 1st November. The meeting decided that the membership fees will remain at £8 full and £4 concessions per annum.
The ABBA night was very successful and made a profit and we expect to stage something on a similar scale next year
Ron Watkins, the chair for the last two years had decided to stand down. Teresa O'Toole was elected as the new Chair, with Paul Shepherd carrying on as secretary and Joolz remaining as treasurer.
It's Mead Club Membership renewal time. Individual membership is still £8 per annum (October to September) with a £4 concessionary rate for Senior Citizens. New members are always welcome.
paxcroft mead community forum: the work begins…
A new residents' association to focus on community issues was launched at the Community Centre on Wednesday 15th October. The Paxcroft Mead Community Forum aims to represent the interests of residents and improve life on Paxcroft Mead for everyone. Local residents heard a presentation outlining the vision for the Forum and shared their own concerns and ideas. The newly elected committee have already started work on the issues raised.
Membership of the Forum is by free registration and is open to all residents of Paxcroft Mead over 16 years of age. You can register your membership by visiting the Community Centre website and clicking on the orange Forum button. Members will be kept up to date with regular e–mails, with newsletters for members who are off–line. Other residents can follow progress on the Forum website and in the newly launched Trowbridge Buddy magazine. Membership is steadily growing, and the more residents who register as members, the more influence the Forum can bring to bear.
For further information, to get more involved or to raise an issue, you can contact the Forum online at www.paxcroftmead.org.uk/forum
Many Paxcroft Mead residents have contacted us expressing their concern that the 20 mph speed limit on estate roads is being ignored by large numbers of drivers.
Clearly with many small children and older people living on the estate, and a network of footpaths crossing estate roads, the speed limit is there for a good reason.
PC Mark Hough, one of our Neighbourhood Beat Managers, is trained to use a speed gun and has informed us that he will consider checking speeds on estate roads.
The newly formed Community Forum is also looking at ways to encourage motorists to stick to the limits
Jack Pope's Letter from America
It is hard to believe another month has gone by yet here it is the first of November.
We can tell that winter will soon be with us. We woke up to a below freezing temperature this morning and a serious frost on the ground. It is a glorious sunny day, however, and looks to be a beautiful Fall day.
Last weekend Susan and I accompanied my daughter and her husband to Biddeford Maine for Family and Friends Weekend at the University of New England. UNE is a small college with a lovely campus. We are so happy that my granddaughter is happy there and is enjoying her first semester. We had a great time, found a great restaurant and, as an added bonus, we met up with an old friend who is now living in Maine. I hadn't seen her in 25 years so we had a lot of catching up to do.
Saturday night we turned our clocks back so we are now, once again, five hours behind you folks.
November is election month here in the US. It is an off year so mostly it is only local offices that are being voted on. Our local member of the Federal House of Representatives (similar to a member of parliament) was appointed by President Obama to be the Secretary of the Army so we are in the midst of the only congressional election this year. As you might expect, it has garnered lots of attention from everyone from the President on down. I plan to vote as I always do since I believe that if you don't vote then you have no right to complain about how things are. It will be nice to see all the campaign signs disappear from along the roads and from people's lawns.
Susan and I are fighting colds (not HINI thank goodness) but are recovering. We had a wonderful program at Beaver Lake Nature Center. Over 500 pumpkins were carved into jack–o–lanterns and placed along two of the woodland trails. It was a true fantasy world once it was dark. My great–granddaughter, who is 2½, loved it. I continue to spend several hours a week at Beaver Lake. My walking program continues and I only lack about 10 miles to reach a total of 400 miles walked.
November is the month we have our Thanksgiving Holiday. I'll have more about that next time. Our regards to all of you at Paxcroft Mead. Take care of yourselves.
Editor's Note: For our newer readers, Jack Pope was a leading light for many years at the Community Centre – at one time he was treasurer and chairman at the same time. A couple of years ago, Jack went back to the USA and has sent us a “Letter from America” each month since, giving us a real insight into life in upstate New York.
Are you a Carer –
Perhaps the Carers Information & Support Service can help?
Carers do not necessarily see themselves as carers; they are mums and dads, husbands, wives, partners, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbours. They are simply doing what anyone would; providing unpaid care for a loved one or friend, helping them through when they are able to do things for themselves.
The fact is they are also carers. No one likes to be labelled, but recognising yourself as a carer can be the gateway to getting a range of help and support including information on having a break from your caring role.
Carers Support has set-up a brand new service for unpaid carers across the whole of Wiltshire. The Carers Breaks Information & Support Service is completely free and aims to help carers access information on where and how they can take some time out.
Whether the break is for a few hours or a longer holiday period; we can advise from a variety of options best suited to the carer's needs and interests. Our database holds details of hundreds of organisations and companies relating to specialist holiday providers, respite, care homes, products and services, day care, transportation and social activities including local clubs and groups.
A break for a carer could be following up a hobby at an evening social group. It may be going on holiday with those that they care for at a place that provides good access and respite care. Or it may be as simple as having someone come to help with the housework.
Whether the carer is in receipt of a direct payment or self-funding, we will do our best to research something that will suit you.
| Freephone: | 0800 9173562 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) |
| Email: | breaks@csww.co.uk |
| Write: | Carers Information Service Carers Support West Wilts Independent Living Centre St George's Road Semington Trowbridge BA14 6JQ |
Forthcoming Events
Mead Club Events
Christmas Raffle
Tickets for the Christmas Raffle will be available soon. This year the proceeds will go to Dorothy House and Multiple Schlerosis. Tickets are now available from the Mead Club bar during opening hours.
Christmas Events
Planning of the Christmas and New Year events will are well under way and will be posted on the website shortly.
Trowbridge Walking Forum – November/December 2009
The Trowbridge Walking Forum walks are designed to provide gentle and sociable exercise and are suitable for all ages and abilities.
Wednesday walks are approximately 2 to 3 miles and there is usually a choice of an easy, level walk and one that may include fields and stiles. On Mondays, walks alternate between a longer route of 4 to 5 miles with stiles and some hills, and shorter walks of less that 1½ miles that are mostly on paved paths.
The programme for November and December 2009 is shown below:
| Day | Date | Type | Route Options | Starting Point | Grade |
| Mon | 2-Nov | Longer walk | Heytesbury and Wylie Valley | In the cul-de-sac at the end of Heytesbury | E S M 4½ m |
| Wed | 4-Nov | Moderate walk | Keevil to Steeple Ashton | Keevil, by the church | E 1½m |
| Mon | 9-Nov | Short walk | White Horse Business Park | B & Q car park, Bradley Road, Trowbridge | E 1½m |
| Wed | 11-Nov | Moderate walk | Norton St. Phillip | Near the church | S M P 3m |
| Mon | 16-Nov | Longer walk | Steeple Ashton “Coffin Trail” | Church Lane, or nearby. Steeple Ashton | S M 4½ m |
| Wed | 18-Nov | Moderate walk | Southwick to Wingfield | Southwick Country Park CP | S M 3½m |
| Mon | 23-Nov | Short walk | Barton Farm Country Park | Canal Car Park (in Baileys Barn, off Moulton Dr, near Sainsburys) | E 1½m |
| Wed | 25-Nov | Moderate walk | Steeple Ashton and Mudmead Lane | Church Lane, or nearby. Steeple Ashton | S M 3½m |
| Mon | 30-Nov | Longer walk | Poulshot | Park off the edge of the track on the left just past "the Raven" | P S M 3½ m |
| Wed | 2-Dec | Moderate walk | St Margarets and Canal | Canal Car Park (down Baileys Barn, off Moulton Drive, next to canal bridge near Sainsburys) | S M 4m |
| Mon | 7-Dec | Short walk | White Horse Business Park followed by mince pies at Silver Street Lane | B & Q car park, Bradley Road, Trowbridge | E 2m |
| Wed | 9-Dec | Xmas Lunch at the Mill at Rode NO WALK |
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| Mon | 14-Dec | Longer walk | Seend canal walk | Three Magpies, Sells Green | P M S 4m |
| Wed | 16-Dec | Moderate walk | Beckington and Orchardleigh | Park on street near The Woolpack, Beckington | S M 3½m |
| Mon | 21-Dec | Short walk | Southwick Country Park | Southwick Country Park CP | E 1½m |
| Wed | 23-Dec | Moderate walk | White Row Farm, Beckington | Park in road outside White Row Farm. Road leads off of A36 Beckington Roundabout | E S 2½m |
| Mon | 28-Dec | Longer walk | Westwood to Wingfield | Westwood Manor NT Car park | S M 4½m |
| Wed | 30-Dec | Moderate walk | Rode and Tellisford | By the church in Rode Hill, Rode | E 2½m |
| Walks start at 10:30AM Bus timetables are at www.traveline.org.uk | |||||
| Short Walks: approx 45 mins, no stiles, mostly paved paths. Moderate Walks: approx 60 to 75 mins, mostly field paths, usually stiles. Longer Walks: up to 2 hours, stiles, some hills. | |||||
| Key: E: Easy walking. H: Moderate hills. S: Stiles. M: Can be muddy. P: Pub lunch possible. s/c: shorter route possible. | |||||
For more information visit www.whi.org.uk/trowbridge or contact Alan & Anne on 01225 760492, David on 01225 755639, Mike on 01225 766668 or Pat & Charles on 01225 753735.
St James' Church – Autumn and Christmas Events
Saturday November 28th – Christmas Sale
10 am – 12 noon – with coffee, home made cakes, and christmas goodies including large raffle, in the Church Hall Union Street
Sunday November 29th – Advent Carol Service
at St James Church 6.30 pm.
Sunday December 13th – Communion with Nativity Play
at St James Church 10.30 am.
Thursday December 17th – Dorothy House Service of Light
at St James Church 6 pm. A service in commemoration of the work done by the Hospice and in memory of loved ones lost to cancer.
Sunday December 20th – Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
at St James 6.30 pm.
Thursday December 24th – Crib Service
at 5.30 p.m. when the children bring the holy family to the crib.
Thursday December 24th – Midnight Christmas Eucharist
where the celebrant will be Right Reverend Stephen Conway, the Bishop of Ramsbury.
Victorian Trowbridge
Starting on November 28th, Trowbridge Museum will be opening a new exhibition entitled, “Victorian Trowbridge”.
The exhibition which runs through to April 24th, 2010, features Important People, Terrible Crime (including the Notorious Rode Murder - as featured in the novel, ‘The Suspicions of Mr Witcher’) and many social and religious topics relating to Victorian Trowbridge.
Throughout the exhibition there will be a programme of activities for the children.
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE Normal opening Tue–Fri 10.00–4.00, Sat 10.00–4.30. Disabled Access is available.
For further details on any of our exhibitions ring the Museum on (01225) 751 339 or email c.lyall@trowbridge.gov.uk