The day the cows escaped

Great website.  I remember your village very well.  As a family we lived there many years ago and lived in The Maltings. We had many happy memories of our life there.  Our kids loved the village school as this gave them an advantage from other schools when we left to go back to Kent.

Give our best wishes to all who remember us and especially to the Woolford’s who were great friends.  We moved to the United States in 1984. Of course I have now retired but have a very small business in the print trade. Don’t want to get too stagnent!

Kevin rides a horse

Unfortunately I didn’t take many photos during our time in Yatton Keynell. Here are three that has given us great memories of the “village life”. These were taken in the early seventies. School sports day / our son in the white tee. Our other son, Kevin (since passed) riding a horse, can’t remember whose it was. The first one shows “The day the cows escaped”. I hope some of the villagers remember us.

Sports day

We also loved Castle Combe. I still remember the first time they had caravan racing at Castle’s race track. Many more great memories.

Kindest regards,

Dave & Carol Trutzenbach

You can contact Claire on 07889 995302 or by filling in the form below.

This is a part time position taking up 10 – 15 hrs a month including attending the monthly parish council meeting on the first Monday night of the month.

The Christmas Market

Christmas Carols at the Market Cross

Christmas 2011

This year’s Carols at the Market Cross event will be held on Wednesday 21st December from 6pm – 7pm.

Join popular group “End of the Track” and Church group “Reflections” for Carols at the village’s beautiful Market Cross, in the centre of the village.

Christmas 2011

Hot mince pies and sausage rolls will be served afterwards, and at 5:30pm Santa’s sleigh will depart from the school heading for the market cross. Children are invited to join him – please bring a parent and a torch!

The market will be formally opened by Cllr. David Powell, Mayor of Chippenham.

Come along for homemade fare including Christmas cakes & puddings, roast chestnuts, mulled wine, mince pies and soups, artisan crafts including decorations, welcome garlands, candles, wood-turning, gifts and cards, as well as the popular Santa’s Grotto and Calne Silver Band.

CERTIFICATES & AWARDS CEREMONY

The crowd gathers

In mid-June, over 130 local people from Yatton Keynell , Biddestone, Allington, Castle Combe and other surrounding villages took part in the Wrong Way Round bike ride. In late-September many of them gathered again at the Bell Inn in Yatton Keynell to re-live the great day, as well as to receive certificates and other awards marking their achievement.

Hannah Ryan receives the Golden Sprocket

The crowd was welcomed by Steve Beavan and David Else, two of the Wrong Way Round organisers. In his opening speech, Steve reminded everyone of the weather conditions in June, when cyclists surely suffered one of the wettest days of the so-called summer. Steve also recalled the day in 2008 when the bike ride was first mooted, jointly inspired by the iconic Yatton Keynell milestone that says ‘Hyde Park Corner 97 miles’ and the enthusiasm of another Wrong Way Round organiser and Yatton Keynell icon, Bob Penny.

Unfortunately, due to a date-clash, Bob could not be at this year’s award ceremony, but without his original encouragement ,the event might have remained a pipe-dream. Instead, thanks to the hard work and support of local residents, the Wrong Way Round is now firmly established as a regular date on the calendar, inspiring many people to dust off their bikes and join in – for charity, for a personal challenge or just for fun.

The Chairman's Cup

In addition, several special prizes were handed out. Most prestigious of these is the Chairman’s Cup, awarded each year to the participant that best epitomises the spirit of the event. This prize was initiated by former Parish Council Chairman Chris Dash, and presented this year by current chairman Julian Davies. The worthy recipient was Stephen Wright for his self-less support and encouragement to another rider for much of the distance, even at one point handing over his own rain jacket when the inclement conditions seemed likely to bring on a case of genuine hypothermia.

The Golden Stabiliser

The famous Golden Stabiliser Award – for the most spectacular, but harmless, accident – was presented to Sheni Jiwa of Biddestone for an unfortunate brush with the tarmac resulting from a misplaced fit of enthusiasm on a slippery roundabout.

New for 2011 was the Golden Sprockets Award, for the unluckiest mechanical breakdown, presented to Hannah Ryan for dealing with a serious gearing problem before the ride even started, and then continuing on the route even as her bike imploded and weather conditions got steadily worse.

Also mentioned in dispatches were several other riders: Ian Bannister for managing to collide with a stationary bollard in Monkton Park; Brian Mathew for using the ride as part of his training for the five-day Tour de Timor endurance race; Harry Long and the Midnight Posse for sticking together after their impressively early start.

Julian Davies presents the Chairman's Cup

Although the Wrong Way Round bike ride is not specifically for charity, all profits go to local good causes. This year, £800 was given to Yatton Keynell Under-5s pre-school, Yatton Keynell Youth Club, the Friends of By Brook Valley School (FOBBVS) and St Margaret’s Church Remodelling Fund.

In addition, several participants raised money for their own favourite charity. These included: Gareth Hare – £400 for Help for Heroes; Paul & Chris Leonard – £600 for Hammer Out, the brain tumour charity; Nick Parsons and the KB team – £850 for Cancer Relief; Karen Faulkner-Davies £200 for Support Dogs UK; Nicola Dolman – £700 for PROPS (Providing Opportunities and Support) for young disabled children.

To close the awards ceremony, David and Steve thanked the many people that helped make the Wrong Way Round bike ride such a big success: Mark and the staff at The Bell for providing the venue and supporting the event so generously; the ladies at Yatton Keynell village shop for taking the entry forms; Will Lawton for providing the PA system; Kevin Worlock and James Skinner for driving the vans, and James for handling our on-line presence ; Vernon Hughes for crafting and engraving the prizes; Stephen Slade for being head steward, and all the stewards from FOBBVS, YKu5s and the church for helping to ensure cars drove through the village at a sensible pace; Mark Tedds for the communications equipment; Catie Dash and Charlotte Rogers-Jones for being excellent Clerks of the Course. Special thanks also went to Charlotte and Rosemary Penny for providing emergency towels for all the riders. And boy, did they need it.

A big thank-you also went to the event’s commercial sponsors: Hatt’s Coaches and Norman Webb Transport Services for the vehicles; Phillips Car Bodywork for bollards and barriers; Campack for protective transit material; Andy Cook Cycling for the warning signs; RipeDigital for the posters and publicity material; Schweppes Abbey Well for the water (in case the skies hadn’t provided enough).

The Wrong Way Round awards evening ended with another round of applause, with everyone promising to be back for more next year – whatever the weather.

There are more photos, courtesy of Mike King, in our gallery.

The Market Cross Lighting

The lighting at the Market Cross has been replaced by the Parish Council. Hopefully you will have noticed the new perimeter lights as the evenings draw in, which replaced the previous rope light which had started to deteriorate. In addition, the floodlights which illuminate the underside of the Market Cross roof have been changed.

Underside illumination

Environmentally friendly, low-energy LED lights have been selected to reduce running costs and heat generated whilst reducing the village’s carbon footprint. The existing floodlights consumed 400W between them whereas the new LED floodlights consume a total of just 20W – a 95% saving. The total consumption for the Market Cross is now only 100W and the products selected were chosen for their quality and longevity meaning that they should operate for many years without the need for maintenance or repair.

The lighting operates from dusk until 11pm. If you are running an event at the Market Cross during the winter months and would like the lights to be switched on earlier, this can be arranged with prior notice. Don’t forget that use of the Market Cross can be booked by village groups and individuals and you can book online.

There are more photographs of the new lighting in the Village Gallery.

ecoLED Lighting kindly supplied by Cadisch GIGB Ltd. Lighting Design.

This year The Bell Inn will be offering both a lunchtime and evening menu for Christmas parties and other events & meals. As usual, advance booking is essential as tables are snapped up fast. A small deposit is taken upon booking, and you’re requested to provide your menu selections with your booking or at least 10 days prior to your meal.

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