Cherhill White Horse

Brace yourself, Yatton Keynell! The village is about to become the epicentre of a national cycling rally called the WHITE HORSE WEEKEND. Cyclists from all over the UK will come together for two days of sociable cycle-touring in the South Cotswolds area. And local cyclists from Yatton Keynell and other nearby villages are invited to join the fun.

The dates are Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th April. On each day, there are rides of varying distances, all starting and ending at Yatton Keynell Village Hall.

On the Saturday, your options are 35 miles, 45 miles or 60 miles. These cycle rides are designed to take all day, and include stops for lunch and afternoon tea, so there’s no rush. It’s all about taking your time and enjoying the scenery in the company of like-minded people.

On the Sunday, the distance options are similar, with a late-morning coffee stop, and the rides designed to finish late lunch-time back at Yatton Keynell.

To take part in the rides, you need to register (in advance or on the day) and pay a small fee. Hot drinks and snacks are available at Yatton Keynell Village Hall before the rides depart. Hot meals are also available after the rides, but these need to be booked in advance (the closing date is 20 March).

The event is promoted by our local cycling club, Chippenham & District Wheelers. Further details are available on their website.

Sevington Victorian School

It is visited by scores of schools every year but, till now, has rarely been open to the public. So we are delighted that a recent grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund has enabled us to open our doors to the public every Sunday from 2.00 to 5.00 from April 14th to September 15th. Admission is free and we will be offering tours of the schoolroom and school house, children’s activities and home made teas. On some Sundays Miss Squire will be in residence and she has kindly agreed to demonstrate her teaching methods.

We are looking for people to volunteer their services to make tea and act as stewards. Victorian costume and a taste for role play is desirable but not essential. If you have any time to spare on Sunday afternoons this summer, please contact Dinah Starkey on 01225 755713 or visit our website and leave a message for Miss Squire.

Howard Strawford

Howard Strawford, the man who rescued the Castle Combe Circuit from oblivion and built it in to the most successful venue of its kind, sadly passed away in the early hours of Saturday 23 February, aged 77, following a stroke.

Howard took the brave decision to purchase the circuit in 1976, and with his stalwart wife Pat providing constant support and encouragement, saved it from closure, going on to secure its future for the pleasure and satisfaction of innumerable drivers, riders, employees and spectators.

The rich legacy of motorsport created by Howard will continue for the benefit of motorsport enthusiasts both locally, nationally and internationally.

Many village groups, including YKRA, Yatton Keynell Under 5s and Bybrook Valley School have benefited from the support of Howard’s circuit, as well as many other local businesses including the village stores and The Bell Inn.

Wrong Way Round 2012

After four years of great success for riders, spectators and good causes, the organisers wish to announce that the Wrong Way Round cycle ride will be taking a year off in 2013.

Over the next few months, discussions will be held to develop the event into something new and even more fun in 2014.

When originally conceived during a late night discussion five years ago in The Bell Inn, the aims of the event were to:

• introduce people from Yatton Keynell and surrounding villages to the hobby of cycling, for its fitness and companionship benefits
• give the village an annual event to catch the imagination of participants and spectators alike
• offer participants the opportunity to train for and meet their individual challenges
• raise funds for local good causes and provide a platform for riders to support their own favorite charity

We are delighted that the previous four events have been so well supported, with up to 130 riders taking part, but the Wrong Way Round cycle ride has evolved and is now attracting more riders of better ability, with not as many cycling newcomers as originally intended.

We are also seeing more participants from outside our area, and not so many from (or with a connection to) Yatton Keynell and the surrounding villages.

So, for 2014, we plan to return the Wrong Way Round to its roots and original aims with a new format. We hope this will encourage more local people to take up regular cycling in groups, for simple enjoyment and to ‘get in trim’ for our new village cycling event.

Our thanks go to everyone involved in the four Wrong Way Round cycle rides since 2009 – riders, supporters, helpers, friends and families. During this ‘fallow year’ we would also appreciate all your ideas and thoughts on revitalising the event for years to come.

Look out for the new event in 2014. Dust off those bikes, build those muscles and develop your stamina.

We’ll Be Back!!

Bob Penny, David Else & Steve Beavan – Wrong Way Round organisers

Angus Macpherson

Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson wants your views on his draft Police and Crime Plan.

From now until Sunday 10 March 2013 members of the public can read the draft plan and give their views on the Commissioner’s website – www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk

Mr Macpherson said: “It is very important to me to gain the views of as many people in Wiltshire and Swindon as possible on my draft Police and Crime Plan. The final version of this document will set the strategic direction of policing in Wiltshire and Swindon for the next four years. This includes the key initiatives I will implement during my term in office.”

“It is an important document and I strongly encourage people to log on to www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk to read the draft plan and leave comments.”

The Police and Crime Plan is a much wider reaching document than the previous Policing Plan produced jointly by Wiltshire Police Authority and Wiltshire Police. As well as working with the police, it will include working with partners, such as local authorities and voluntary community sector organisations.

As part of the consultation process, Mr Macpherson held three workshops with the voluntary and community sector about the plan in Swindon, Salisbury and Trowbridge in January and February. He has also met with chamber of commerce groups.

Mr Macpherson, and representatives from his office, have also attended Wiltshire Council Area Board and Swindon Locality meetings to talk to people about the forthcoming plan.
Mr Macpherson’s draft Police and Crime Plan focuses on working with communities and partners and is divided into six main sections:

• Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour
• Protect the most vulnerable in society
• Put victims and witnesses first
• Reduce offending and re-offending
• Drive up standards of customer service
• Ensure unfailing and timely response to calls for assistance

Key initiatives within the plan include:

• Strengthening neighbourhood policing by creating Safer Neighbourhood Teams, involving not just the police but other agencies, such as local authorities, and communities themselves
• Greater police officer visibility, including more foot patrols, within our communities
• Launching a £1 million innovation fund – organisations that help reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and re-offending in Wiltshire and Swindon will be able to apply for funds
• Setting up quarterly victim forums and victims panels to ‘test check’ services
• Enhancing the quality of service people receive when they contact Wiltshire Police
• Reducing the current re-offending rate by commissioning services which support thse leaving prison

There is also an underlying theme throughout the draft plan – partnership, pro-activity, prevention. This is key to Mr Macpherson’s plan in helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in Wiltshire and Swindon.
You can read the draft plan and give your feedback from now until Sunday 10 March on the Commissioner’s website www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk<http://www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk>. All feedback will then be considered before the final plan is published at the end of March.
As well as the draft plan itself being published on the website, members of the public can read an executive summary of the draft plan and download each section of the plan separately.
Printed copies of the draft Police and Crime Plan are available on request by contacting the Office of the PCC on 01380 734022.
ends

Celebrate Valentine’s Day 2013 with a meal at The Bell Inn.

A special Valentine’s menu is available – early booking is advised!

Forthcoming Services & Events – February – April

Village Hall

Did you know that there are weekly activities 4 nights every week at the Village Hall, for a range of ages? The hall hosts two fitness groups, three youth groups, the village Table Tennis team and the Under 5s pre-school, before and after school club and toddler group.

Take a look at the full list of activities

Your views about your area really do count, and Wiltshire Council would like to invite you to comment on a range of topics including:

1. Consumer protection
2. Community safety
3. Fire safety
4. 2012 Legacy
5. Health and wellbeing
6. Budget planning

Once all the responses have been analysed we will produce a full report. This will be used by the council and our partners, including NHS Wiltshire, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service and Wilshire Police, to develop policies that meet the needs of local communities. The report will also be publicly available on the council website www.wiltshire.gov.uk.

You can complete the survey by visiting the Consultations page of the Wiltshire Council website.

This Christmas we both wish you a time in which to find again God’s peace and love in your life, a time which moves you to rediscover wide-eyed wonder in the gifts and blessings he gives you.

Sarah Evans, Team Vicar
Jonathan Philpott, Priest-in-Charge