October 2010 Newsletter
Contents
Click on the item to go to the article. |
Editorial CommentEditing this newsletter is a bit like waiting for a London bus - you wait for ages and then a bunch of them arrive together. This month my appeal for articles has resulted in many responses and I am pleased to include them all in this edition. Thank you all. The Forthcoming Events listing is quite extensive too. This year the Trowbridge Carnival has secured a vacant spot in the South West Carnival season which means it will be much bigger and better. Being later in the year means the illuminated floats will look terrific. If you have a news item or event you would like to share in the next newsletter, please let me have your contribution by Wednesday 27th October and send 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 Nicola McMillan School of Dance would like to say a HUGE congratulations to all their pupils on passing their dance exams earlier this year. Yet again the school has received a 100% pass mark – Miss Nicola and Miss Daniiee are very proud of each and every one of you. All of your hard work and dedication has paid off.
WELL DONE EVERYONE!!!
The next big thing for the dance school is our Show which will be held at the Arc Theatre around May time 2011. Practice and rehearsals are going exceptionally well and the pupils seem to be having a ball with all the new fun routines they have to learn. Soon it will be time start talking costumes, glitter and sparkle so watch out.
There is always room for new pupils to come along join us, so please feel free to either pop along to one of the classes and see what goes on.
For class details, see our web page at www.paxcroftmead.org.uk/dancing.shtml.
Parking restrictions at District Centre
Following an appeal by the Community Centre Management Committee to Attivo, the owners of the District Centre car park, it has been agreed that the area next to the Community Centre will not be subject to the new parking restrictions (around the recycling point).
The scheme is being policed by UK Parking Control whose wardens will be conducting random patrols between the hours of 7am and 11pm, Monday to Sunday. They will ticket any vehicle remaining beyond the time limits - 20 minutes in front of the takeaway outlets and 3 hours in front of the Community Centre.
New Zumba Gold Classes for mature adults
New daytime classes will be starting on Wednesdays in January 2011. There will be an additional Zumba class from 10-11am and from 11:15-12noon, a new class - Zumba Gold.
Zumba Gold is a very gentle form of Zumba for Mature Adults of 55 and over. Zumba Gold is a brand-new system that is for anyone, any age and any ability level. This is the newest fitness dance routine created by Alberto Beto Perez. The program is designed for participants with very little exercise experience (real exercise beginners, so to speak), individuals that have physical limitations or inactive older adults. The system was created to be easier than the basic Zumba, but just as much fun. The moves have been carefully designed to be easy to follow by individuals of any size or age.
You will get a safe and effective total body workout ... guaranteed. And still maintaining a party atmosphere that is different, fun, easy to follow along and extremely effective. The music uses dance moves and rhythms from... Cumbia, Salsa, Merengue, Tango, Rumba, Cha Cha and many other exciting and fun rhythms and dances.
Active older people can enjoy Zumba!
With Zumba Gold older people can manage to do some body exercises. Also active older adult people can enjoy Zumba!
For people who are injured or have physical limitations such as arthritis or bad knees, Zumba Gold also offers chair exercises.
If you are 55 years old or older and you love to dance to Latin music, you too can enjoy Zumba Gold classes. They focus on your abilities and not your physical limitations. The Zumba Gold dance steps are very easy and you don't need a dancing partner.
A regular Zumba Gold class is usually a little shorter, approximately 30 to 45 minutes. It utilizes longer warm up and cool down. In the regular class (usually 10 to 15 minutes). The dance instructors for this class are trained to be more aware of any physical changes in their students or if they are suffering any discomfort during the workout.
For more details about Zumba Gold, have a look at the Zumba Gold website. For contact details, see our web page at www.paxcroftmead.org.uk/zumba.shtml.
A Big Thank you to all my customers who come to my Zumba classes, and for making them such a success - thank you for all your Support. Also a big thank you to Alan and Don from the Community Centre, who have been so supportive and kind.
Counting on physical fun with Tumble Tots and Peppa Pig
The 17th National Children's Activity Week (11th - 17th October) themed ‘Counting Games and Fun’, sees children across the UK encouraged to get physically active, whilst at the same time being sponsored to help other children. Monies raised in the Tumble Tots and Peppa Pig Countathon will go to ‘Tommy's’, the charity giving babies the best chance of being born healthy.
With around one million children in the UK being obese and a third of children aged two to 11 having less than 60 minutes of moderate activity each day, it is more important than ever to introduce children to physical activity from as early an age as possible. “Children are never too young to get active. Right from the word go, activity should be a way of life and the inspiration must come from us the parents. The ‘Counting Fun and Games’ Wall Chart that Tumble Tots and Peppa Pig have produced is really great, with many activities to try at home and one of my all time favourites is Hide and Seek”, said Olympic Gold Medallist Sally Gunnell OBE and ambassador for Tumble Tots.
Throughout the week children attending their Tumble Tots classes across the UK will be sponsored to carry out 10 different counting activities. The fun classes will be themed around Peppa Pig and as well as encouraging the children to get physically active, they'll be raising funds for a great cause. More than 4,000 babies are stillborn and another 2,500 die within the first four weeks and this has not changed within a decade. Tumble Tots and Peppa Pig are proud to support the fabulous research work that Tommy's do, which is helping towards ‘giving babies the best chance of being born healthy’.
“Peppa Pig is a favourite with our Tumble Tots members. They simply love the antics she gets up to particularly jumping in the muddy puddles and all the different physical activities she does. Our fun and exciting classes and annual campaign of National Children's Activity Week play an important part in encouraging physical activity from an early age.” said Debbie Bensley of Tumble Tots Bath.
The sponsored ‘Countathon’ sessions at Tumble Tots Centres during National Children's Activity Week will help to build a healthier nation; parents will be encouraged to continue the physical activity at home. A free copy of the ‘Counting Fun & Games’ Wall Chart can be obtained through your local Tumble Tots centres across the UK or from Tumble Tots (UK) Limited. Parents or schools just need to ring 0121 585 7003 to request a copy. As part of the campaign Tumble Tots are also excited to offer the chance to win some amazing Peppa Pig and Tumble Tots prizes, so visit tumbletots.com to find out how to enter.
The children at Paxcroft Mead will be invited to come in Peppa Pig themed fancy dress. A parent is making a Pig cake to raffle and pink cakes to sell on Friday 15th October. For more information on National Children's Activity Week, or to find out more about Tumble Tots @ Paxcroft Mead please call Debbie Bensley on 01225 811579 email debbie.bensley@gmail.com.
As usual, our local Neighbourhood Police Teams continue to hold surgeries where members of the public can have an informal chat with a member of the NPT team.
The scheduled dates are as follows:
| Street Visit 7/10/2010 - 18:00 | A member of your local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be available on foot patrol in Hilperton. Between 1800-1845 you will see a team member in the Towpath Road, Navigator Close and Tudor Drive area. A perfect opportunity for you to meet one of the team and bring up any issues that you may have in your local area. |
| Further dates will be added as soon as they become available. |
Current Priorities
The current priorities in the Trowbridge Rural and Adcroft and Paxcroft NPT areas do not highlight anything directly involved with Paxcroft Mead. The current priorities close to us are:–
DRUGS - SEYMOUR ESTATE
Police and partnership activity is being planned and undertaken on this priority and a full update will be provided in due course.
ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR - TROWBRIDGE HOSPITAL
Police and partnership activity is being planned and undertaken on this priority and a full update will be provided in due course.
SPEEDING - VILLAGES
The parish councils of West Ashton, North Bradley, Hilperton and Southwick have raised concerns about speeding on roads in their area and asked for police to increase both patrols and enforcement. The local beat team will lead campaign of speed enforcement with intention of reassuring the community.
Security improvements at the Centre
The Community Centre still suffers from bouts of minor (and mindless) vandalism so it is hoped the programme to roll out new external cameras will act as a deterent.
The new cameras, some of which are covert, are postioned to catch activity in the ‘hidden’ areas at the back and side of the building. The picture quality is excellent and we are confident that anyone causing further damage to these parts of the building will be caught on camera and easily identified.
All the video images are stored on a specialist digital video recorder so we can access footage very rapidly.
Children from the Mead School have teamed up with people from Kingfisher Church to make meals for the town's homeless. A group of children from the Paxcroft Mead school made sandwiches as part of a citizenship programme called Workshops on Wednesdays (WOW). The children are learning to be good citizens within their community. The sandwiches will be given to people who live on the streets in Trowbridge as part of the church-led initiative the ‘Soup Run’.
Special events coming up include:
- Remembrance Sunday service, Sun 14th November, 10.30am at The Mead Primary School. Revd Allan Coutts speaking with family-friendly service for all ages. Refreshments served after service. Everyone welcome.
- Community Carol Singing service, Sunday 19th December, 10.30am at the Mead Primary School. Theme is ‘Christmas Past, Christmas present, Christmas future.' Family-friendly service for all ages. Everyone welcome.
- Carol singing with the Impax youth group outside Budgens - Saturday 18th December, lunch time.
IMPAX is a youth group for 11 to 15 year-olds. We are part of the national Urban Saints national organisation and we meet on Wednesday evenings at the Paxcroft Mead Community Centre. Regular activities include a variety of games, a tuck shop and a talk/discussion. We have leaders from St Thomas', Maranatha and Kingfisher churches and run a variety of activities throughout the year including an adventure weekend and camping weekend. The photo was taken at a recent Impax Adventure Weekend in the Forest of Dean.
Here is what our young people are saying about Impax:
“A warm busy atmosphere and a good chance to see your friends that go to different schools. I enjoy the games, fun, laughter and sweets.”
“Impax is awesome! It's really fun - we get to play games, be with friends and go on outings. We also have a talk each week to help us learn about important issues.”
Please ring Richard Butler (01225 782149) or Adrian Isaac (01225 760624) if you want to know more or better still, come along and see for yourself.
Biodiversity in Trowbridge Open Spaces
Dr. John Austin, the former chairman of the Wiltshire Ornithological Society has asked if Paxcroft Mead residents would be willing to help in a bird survey for the area.
John says, “Birds are recognised as the best indicators of the health of the environment. High numbers of species and individuals can only mean a rich array of insects, other invertebrates and wildflowers and other plants. That birds are relatively easy to identify and count is also very significant. With its Paxcroft Brook valley park and other open spaces, relic hedgerows and mature trees, Paxcroft Mead is certain to produce a good bird list”.
John would be pleased to take part in and/or coordinate an on-going bird survey of sites of interest in the area, i.e. the parishes of Trowbridge, Hilperton, West Ashton, North Bradley and Southwick.
Any groups that would like help in setting up such programmes can contact me on 01225 760139 or johnkay.austin@homecall.co.uk
Jack Pope's Letter from America
I am pleased to announce that Jack Pope will be resuming his ‘Letter from America’ in the next issue. After a very busy Summer, he and Susan are currently on a three week road trip around the Great Lakes, so I am sure he will have some interesting comments, and hopefully a few pictures to illustrate his letter.
Forthcoming Events
Paxcroft Mead Community Forum Coffee Morning
The Paxcroft Mead Community Forum is holding a coffee morning on Saturday 9th October from 10.30am at Paxcroft Mead Community Centre.
This will be an opportunity for Paxcroft Mead residents to come and talk about their problems and concerns. The coffee morning will also mark the launch of the consultation about the Forum's plans for a BMX track for older children on the estate. These are still in an early stage and we want to hear the ideas and concerns of as many residents as possible.
Residents who are not already members of the Forum are also very welcome - they can sign up for free membership on the day.
As well as light refreshments, there will also be locally grown plants on sale.
For more details about the Forum, click here for the website.
Trowbridge Carnival Quiz Night
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Trowbridge Museum Exhibitions
20 Terrific Years of Trowbridge Museum...
Still running is an exhibition that features the first 20 years of Trowbridge Musueum. Experience the highlights of some of the many fantastic exhibitions we've held over the last twenty years and see photos of our early beginnings and staff old and new...
‘Dancing Days’ exhibition
Building upon the success of the Thrive event in May this year, Museum staff will be putting on the exhibition celebrating dance and with a distinctly Trowbridge slant.
Themes will include: music, multicultural Trowbridge, dance etiquette, costume, dance venues and dance in Trowbridge today. There will be children's interactives too.
“It should be a fascinating exhibition, very vibrant and colourful” says Museum
Curator Clare Lyall, “I'm really looking forward to the opening” says Clare, “As we're
having live music from a five piece band called Saxology from 12noon -1.00pm and belly dancing demonstrations by Wafaa Powell”.
The Dancing Days exhibition opens on Saturday 23rd October at 12.00 noon and runs until Saturday 5th March 2011.
Trowbridge Carnival - Saturday, 23rd October
The Annual Trowbridge Carnival procession will take place on Saturday, 23rd October.
The Carnival Procession starts at 7pm from Canal Road and runs along the Down, Islington, Timbrell Street, Union Street, Church Street, Silver Street, Market Street, Castle Street and finishes at Cradle Bridge just before the big Longfield roundabout.
Later in the year than previous events, this year's procession aims to be bigger and better than before. The darker nights should give a more spectacular display. Come along and join in the fun!
There will be a charity collection along the way.
More details will be added as they are published.
Maryrose Mantle, the Carnival Committee Chair is still looking for helpers to act as marshalls and to collect the charity donations. If you would like to help out, you can contact Maryrose by email at maryrose.mantle@trowbridge.gov.uk or give her a call on 07866 698278.
Children's Events at Trowbridge Museum
To view the complete programme of events for the Autumn Half Term holiday, please click here.
We have reorganised our autumn/winter History Days and added some to the list.
The sessions cost £3.00 or £2.50 for Stumpy Members and run from 10.30 - 12.00. Places are limited so call us on 01225 751339 or email education@trowbridge.gov.uk to book a place. There will be a linked craft workshop on Saturday afternoons as well, costing £1.50.
Full details of all the workshops later in the year.
Saturday 9th October - Famous Victorians
Who they were, what they did, why they did it. As well as finding out about all those famous Victorians, we'll be enjoying a civilised Victorian tea party complete with proper tea and cake.
The afternoon craft workshop will be making Victorian silhouettes.
Saturday 23rd October - Edwardian Life
Find out how they lived and dress up in Edwardian Clothes
The afternoon craft workshop will be making moving sports pictures.
Saturday 13th November - World War 2
Dress in 1950s clothes, learn about POW and spectacular Spitfires.
The afternoon craft workshop will be making a gas mask and case.
Saturday 27th November - The Swinging 60s
The clothes, flower power, the space race and more!
The afternoon craft workshop will be making a space race rocket.
Saturday 4th December - Christmas
The what, when, why and wherefore of Christmas
The afternoon craft workshop will be making Christmas decorations.
Trowbridge Walking Forum - October 2010
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 October 2010 is shown below:
| Day | Date | Type | Route Options | Starting Point | Grade |
| Mon | 4-Oct | Longer Walk | Bishops Cannings | Park in the layby outside the school, or nearby | S M 5½m |
| Wed | 6-Oct | Moderate walk | Keevil to Steeple Ashton | Keevil, by the church | E 3m |
| Mon | 11-Oct | Short walk | Seend | Village Hall, Rusty Lane, Seend | E 1½m |
| Wed | 13-Oct | Moderate walk | Poulshot to Worton | Park outside the Village Hall on the south side of the common | S M P 3.6m |
| Mon | 18-Oct | Longer walk | Semington, Whaddon Lane and Canal | By tennis courts in St Georges Road, Semington | E M 4m |
| Wed | 20-Oct | Moderate walk | Bradford on Avon, Rowden Lane and Canal | Canal Car Park (down Baileys Barn, off Moulton Drive, next to canal bridge near Sainsburys) | S M s/c 3m |
| Mon | 25-Oct | Short walk | Barton Farm Country Park | Canal Car Park (in Baileys Barn, off Moulton Dr, near Sainsburys) | E 1½m |
| Mon | 27-Oct | Longer walk | Westwood to Avoncliff | Westwood Manor NT Car park | S M H 3½m |
| Mon | 1-Nov | Longer walk | Poulshot & Caen Hill | Park outside the Village Hall on the south side of the common | S M P 5.1m |
| Wed | 3-Nov | 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 | 8-Nov | Short walk | Broadmead | Studley Green Community Hall | E S 1½m |
| 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 http://sites.google.com/site/trowbridgewf/ or contact Alan & Anne on 01225 760492, David on 01225 755639, Mike on 01225 766668 or Pat & Charles on 01225 753735.