22 February
Correction
Please note that the next Hungerford Historical Association meeting will be on 28th March (not 12th as previously shown on the Out & About page.
20 February
Shalbourne Website
Microsoft support for the software used to create this site ends after April. Transferring information to the new replacement software is a lengthy process and inevitably means some of the older material, particularly pictures, will have to be dropped.
Most of the transition task is now complete and the final stage looms. Please be patient if you experience any difficulty in accessing the site over the next few days.
18 February
New Church Sign
The recently erected sign at the entrance to the drive leading to the church has prompted plenty of discussion within the village. Click here to read an explanation of why it was put up.
9 February
Threat to Shalbourne River
River Kennet water-keeper Rob Starr today warned that Thames Water’s latest abstraction plans would have dire consequences for our local river, a tributary of the River Kennet. Addressing a WI meeting he urged everyone to help counter the threat by joining Action for the River Kennet (ARK). Although the 31st January closing date for registering objections to the plans (to Mark.Jordan@atkinsglobal.com) has passed, the fight to have them shelved would continue, he stressed.
27 January
Road Closure
From Monday, 5 March, the A338 Shalbourne to Burbage road will be closed nightly, from 7pm until 6am, for re-surfacing and other operations to take place. The work is expected to take 10 days. Click here for alternative routes and further details.
25 January
Shalbourne Prayer
The PCC has adopted a new 'village' prayer. To read it click here and scroll down.
14 January
Change of service
Please note that tomorrow's 9.30am service at the church will be lay-led Matins - (not Holy Communion as advertised).
12 January 2012
Online Police Chat
Want to have your say on what the local police force should be doing in the coming year? There will be a chance to do so via an online chat on Monday, 23rd January from 7 to 8pm. See here for details.
17 December
Carol Service Parking
Unfortunately the field beside the church will not be available for car parking during tomorrow evening's carol service - it is too wet.
Please also consider bringing a change of footwear to avoid carrying mud into the church.
13 December
Choir Practice
Please note that this evening's practice for the Carol Service will be in the church, NOT the school, at 7.30pm.
3rd December
WI Christmas Bazaar
There was an unexpected but welcome visitor to this year's event, see here.
28th November
1980s May Day Fair
Click here to view some pictures of the Shalbourne May Day Fair taken in the early 1980s and send any comments.
19th November
Victorian church works
A leaflet on the restoration of the church in 1875 has recently come to light. Click here and scroll down to read it.
18th November
Church services time changes
Please note that the Holy Communion services on 20th & 27th November will start at 11am.
Carol Service Choir
Calling all singers. The first practice for this year's Carol by Candlelight service in the church will be held in the school from 7.30-8.30pm, next Tuesday, 22 November. Click here for the other dates and details of the service.
14th November
Remembrance poppies
Click here and scroll down to view a slide show of this year's displays at the church.
8th November
Shalbourne's Got Talent
Don't forget this Friday's event in aid of the School.
31st October
School projects near completion
Click here and scroll down to view a slide show of the latest developments at the school.
28th October
Clocks change reminder
The clocks will go back by one hour at 2.00am on Sunday 30 October. At 2.00am, the clocks will return to 1.00am as British Summer Time ends for another year. Click here for more information.
22nd October
Another footpath walk
Click here and scroll down to view a new slide show of a footpath walk. (Note - you may need to wait a few seconds for the files to load while the page states 'image is missing'.)
21st October
More footpath walks
Click here and scroll down to view two new slide shows of footpath walks.
20th October
Footpath walks
Click here to view new slide shows of village footpath walks.
School projects
Click here and scroll down to view a slide show of the latest developments at the school.
19th October
Save a Space for Me - your chance to shape Diamond Jubilee legacy
The Shalbourne Sportsfield is now listed on the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge website and can be
voted for in a show of support for its designation as a QEII field.
To vote click here.
10th October
Despite the recent Indian summer this field in the village remains to be harvested
9th October
Quorum concert
Yesterday's autumn-themed presentation by the Cotswolds-based eight-member choir raised £145 for church funds.
The round Shalbourne Ale gave the audience a chance to join in, and there was an unexpected appearance by
two ladies, said to be "in the autumn of their lives", dancing to a piece entitled Bust to bust.
2nd October
Church Harvest Festival
To view more pictures click here and scroll down for a slide show.
28th September
Free Logs & Woodchips
Following the tree pollarding in the churchyard (see below), free logs & woodchips are available for collection. Please help yourselves from the churchyard - First come first served.
Rich Barker
Churchwarden
27th September
Pollarding of overgrown lime trees at the the Church to let in more light and reduce leaf-fall damage to the tarmac drive is well underway.
26th September
Classic Car Show
Richard Banks, the driving force behind the Show, said "We had 3,000 people here yesterday, 320 Classic Cars and we took well over £15,000 on the day which will go towards funds for Shalbourne Church and the village School.
The cooking of the hog roast was started at 4am and by mid-afternoon we had sold out of food: over 1,100 rolls and 266 scones were eaten: 14 pints of milk were drunk before we ran out and had to stop selling teas!
There were some very fine Classic Cars at the show including a model T Ford which was the first car Henry Ford ever mass produced. And, there was a 1966 Citroen fire engine to name a few. Many of the Classic Car owners were fulsome in their praise and said it was the friendliest and best Classic Car Show in the South of England."
Alistair Cameron, who didn't even have time to go round the show as he was overseeing the takings and too busy counting the money raised, said "The Show took more money this year than last, even donations were more and the commercial stalls were 60% up. The various stalls run by the villagers to raise money for Charity increased their takings this year - the Antiques stall took £1,358 and the cake stall took £1,267. It was a very successful fund raising day - and a fun day all round."
Click here for pictures.
Click here for a further report*
* Please note that the Maharajah of Jaipur's black Rolls Royce did not actually appear.
21st September
WILTSHIRE POLICE has a new non emergency number - 101.
The emergency number remains 999.
The 101 number is being introduced nationally in phases and on 19
September it was launched across forces in the South West, including
Wiltshire.
Although 999 is a well recognised number to report emergencies, the 2010
British Crime Survey found that only half of the public knew which
number to call if they wanted to speak to their local police about
policing, non-urgent crime and anti-social behaviour.
Wiltshire Police's Head of Contact Management, Chief Inspector Charlie
Armstrong, said: "Changing our non emergency contact number to 101 makes
it much easier for people to contact us. It is easy to remember and will
be used by all forces across the country by the beginning of 2012.
"We are constantly looking for ways to build on and improve our service
to the public and this change is a positive one that we are confident
will be welcomed by our communities."
Wiltshire Police Authority Chairman, Christopher Hoare, said: "The
introduction of 101 provides the public of Wiltshire and Swindon with an
easier number to remember for contacting Wiltshire Police.
"Calls to 101 are automatically directed to the nearest police force, so
I can assure the public that calls from Wiltshire will be answered by
Wiltshire Police staff."
Calls to 101 cost 15p per call, irrespective of how long that call may
last. This applies to landlines and mobile phones.
People with hearing or speech impairments are able to use the non
emergency textphone number 18001 101.
The 101 number replaces the existing non emergency number (0845 408
7000) for Wiltshire Police. The 101 number should be used for all non
emergencies such as: reporting a crime, contacting local officers,
getting crime prevention advice, making an appointment with a police
officer or making us aware of policing issues in your area.
It does not replace 999, which should be used in an emergency, such as
when a crime is in progress, when there is danger to life or when
violence is being used or threatened.
To find out more about 101, visit the Wiltshire Police website
www.wiltshire.police.uk or look out for posters and flyers that have
been distributed countywide.
13th September
GREAT BEDWYN STATION PARKING
The following has been issued by Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group:
Extensive double yellow lines and restricted parking, in The Knapp and onto adjacent streets, have been proposed by Wiltshire Council.
Is this the parking solution for the village or the cause of further problems for villagers, visitors and station users?
Please attend the Parish Council meeting on Wednesday 14th September 7.30pm, at the [Great Bedwyn] village hall, to make your views heard. The traffic engineer from Wiltshire Council will be there to present plans for significant parking restrictions.
13th September
In connection with Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee, The Parish Council is keen to determine the number of children of primary school age living in the village. If you feel you can help please contact us.
5th September
Mr Chad (scroll to bottom) must be pleased.
16th August
The flags have gone.
9th August
'Heavy lifting gear' ('cranes' in plain English) in action as building work hots up at the Ropewind site where the flags still fly.
29th July
A week after Wiltshire Council's decision (see 22nd July below) the signs and flags at the entrance to Ropewind are still on display.
22nd July
Wiltshire Council has refused Bellway's application (see picture below) to display signs and flags at the Ropewind Farm development. The reason given is:
The proposed signage and flags, by virtue of the number of advertisements as well as the size, height and location of each of these, would appear unduly prominent and out of keeping in this sensitive village location, the site lying within both Shalbourne Conservation Area and the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The proposal is therefore harmful to visual amenity, contrary to government guidance contained in PPG19: 'Outdoor Advertisement Control'.
Presumably Mr Chad wishes to know when Bellway intends to remove the signs and flags for which it it does not have consent.
19th July
Further adjustments to the boundary of the Bellway development as the tall boarded fence is replaced by a lower one. The orange posts were installed after the newly laid turf was tyre-rutted .
23rd June
Villagers who object to Bellway's choice of "The Ridings" as the name for the development and wish to see it kept as "Ropewind" are urged to make their feelings known by writing and/or emailing:
Bellway House
Embankment Way
Castleman Business Centre
Ringwood
Hampshire
BH24 1EU
01425 477666
wessex-sales@bellway.co.uk