Village News for Bishopstone & Hinton Parva
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for Bishopstone & Hinton Parva March 2021
Village News
February Pictures
Lapwings, Linnets, Golden Plovers and Wrens - this Birdlife Heaven
While most of us are all stuck at home, how about taking a stroll within a mile or
two of Bishopstone and taking in some of the wonderful wildlife that calls this
place home at this time of the year?
Winter brings all kinds of visitors to the farm but, notably, we have welcomed
some noisy and beautiful residents to house-share with the pigs, about half a
mile along the Ridgeway from the Flying Pig itself. Those of you who have
taken a stroll may have spotted these charismatic, ground nesting birds feeding
amongst the pig arcs. With a stunning black and white pattern with metallic
sheen and a call that sometimes sounds robotic, the Lapwing is unmistakeable.
Watch them against a sharp winter
blue sky background, flashing white
and black as they whirl and turn.
These are a Red UK conservation sta-
tus bird, with a declining population
throughout the UK, though nobody
seems to have told the huge flocks that
visit us! If you have dogs, we always
ask that in our fields you keep them
Thanks to: Steven Ayres for two on leads, for the sake of our livestock
great pictures of Bishopstone; Lesley and the ground nesters that live here.
Coates for Sebastian with his snow- If you look closely, you may also spot
man; the wren by James Andrews and another bird among them, often in
Steve Bell for banner pictures. smaller numbers, but just as stunning Continued page 3
2 Village News March 2021
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s Microbalding filopugh@gmail.com
LVL Lashes Dreyden Cottage,
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- Microneedling Bishopstone,
*for a full list of treatments, Wiltshire,
visit our website SN6 8QB
Re-
Village News March 2021 3
continued from front page by the Ridgeway, is the stunning Lin-
net. A small finch that was once popu- you out on an explore! Call the pub
when you get a glance. The Golden and they’ll find me. 01793 790 481.
Plover (below) – on close inspection lar as a caged bird for its melodious
song, it can be spotted in huge flocks James Andrews
they look like they’ve been dusted
with gold. This bird is normally ter- at this time of year, with flocks of Wanborough Community Trust:
ritorial and coastal but, at this time of 200 or more twirling and swooping May Day Fayre & Scarecrow Trail
over the wildflower field just below
year, they decide to all just get along
and form flocks, often with lapwings, the Ridgeway crossroads, then stop- cancelled for 2021
ping briefly in the small trees lining It is with a heavy heart that Wanbor-
to last out the colder months.
the Ridgeway itself before going out ough Community Trust and the small
We’ve been considering ordering the
again to feed. This bird is another event organising group have made the
pigs some ear plugs for some of their
that’s found itself on the red list, with decision to cancel the Scarecrow Trail
other winter neighbours – the star-
population declines estimated to be and the May Day Fayre for 2021. We
lings! Huge flocks arrive on UK shores
around 57% between 1970 and 2014. desperately hope the pandemic situa-
as we go through winter, and several
It’s easy to overlook some of the more tion will allow these events to run in
thousand of them can often be seen up
common garden and farm birds at this full technicolour in 2022, and would
among the pigs, making use of the ex-
time of year as they scramble around welcome volunteers to step forward to
posed ground and foraging for food. If
looking for food, so keep an eye out help as part of the organising team for
you are lucky enough to be in the area
for birds such as the wren. These tiny next year’s events. I am moving out
towards the end of the day you may
little birds weigh between 9-10g and of the area this month, and although
even get to see one of the wonderful
have to work incredibly hard dur- I am happy to stay involved with
murmurations, large and small, that
ing winter months. Overnight, they these two great events into 2022, (and
we often witness during these win-
fluff out their plumage and form support the new organising group as
ter months.
communal roosts but, despite these much as they need), it would be im-
Another red
adaptations, by dawn the following practical for me to try to organise from
list bird—
day these little birds will have lost my new base in Shropshire!! Please
i.e. threat-
nearly all of the weight they put on would some new volunteers step up
ened—mak-
during the previous day’s foraging. to the plate and offer their services
ing the most
The farm is absolutely teeming with to keep these wonderful traditional
of organic,
wildlife, all year round, but at this events on the local calendar?
nature friend-
time of year it’s so much easier to see Please get in touch by email to:
ly farming.
with leafless hedgerows and (some) tessaannlanstein@gmail.com
One more to
clear winter days. I’d encourage you or respond to requests for help when
add to the list,
to explore, and, if you want to find they appear in the Autumn via Lyden
and in huge
out more look for me. I’m about from magazine / Facebook etc.
numbers at
time to time and will happily take Thank you,
the moment Tessa Lanstein
This is my friend Kirsten. In July 2020,
when she was wearing size 18 jeans,
she decided enough was enough and got
on the Herbalife Nutrition weight loss
programme. This February, she wears
size 8 jeans.
Losing weight does not have to be
a struggle full of sacrifices, it can
be an exciting journey, discovering
how well you actually can feel!
Give me a call or send an email to
discuss if this could be something
for you to try this spring.
Peter 07832 193 362
peter@swepan.com
4 Village News March 2021
Hinton Village Hall and dormant (haven’t we all) which
needs re-establishing. Basically, an
ings a year providing a governance
overview and grant application re-
excuse for a decent party! City lights view panel are the main responsi-
has received a suggestion to stream bilities, so please volunteer your
The Prisoner all 17 episodes back to services, or make enquiries via
back, probably so we can find the I’m the Secretary, David Halfhead:
not a number, I’m a free man part and halfhead@btinternet.com
put this section on loop - thanks Mr The Trust covers the Benefice of Lid-
H! We’re going to overhaul the kitch- dington, Wanborough, Hinton Parva
en ready for those wild village parties and Bishopstone so you don’t have to
(children’s birthday type of course).
Pandemic restrictions continue, but live in Wanborough to volunteer!!
Finally, we do have a few bookings
we all hope for some benefit from the Tessa Lanstein
rapid vaccination programme that
in the future so do drop a line if you
would like to pencil something in, or
Recycling Matters
might allow some return to normality. Did you see the shock-
have any other suggestions to kick ing statistics in the news
The Village Hall is in fine fettle, and start village life post Covid.
ready to operate when the Covid situ- recently about food
For forward booking please contact: waste? Over 1/3 of all
ation allows. Luiza and Colin are hop- Richard Walker 791 913
ing to open their Community Café in food produced globally
richardw@eddingtons.co.uk goes to waste. The value of this is
the Hall, on behalf of the Sounds Like
Women Charity, on 27th March, but, $1 trillion and, if food waste were
of course, it all depends on the pan- Wanborough Farmers' Market a country, it would be the 3rd largest
emitter of greenhouse gases (after
demic rules in force. (Please see sepa-
rate advertisement in this Newslet-
Should be on China and the USA). The one billion
ter and the poster update on the Hall 9.00am - noon people in the world that go hungry
Noticeboard). could be fed on less than a quarter
Saturday 20th March of the food that is wasted in the US,
We will post any changes via the Vil-
lage website, on the Hall Noticeboard, Wanborough Village Hall, UK, and Europe. An area larger than
and, subsequent Village News entries. High Street, SN4 0AD China, and 25% of the world’s fresh
In the meantime; keep the faith, keep water supply, is used to grow food
We cancelled January and we’re can-
safe, and keep well. that is never eaten. Reducing food
celling February, so goodness knows
Rod and Ken, waste is now cited as the number
what will happen about 20th March.
On behalf of the Committee one solution to the climate crisis.
To find out, see the village website
17.7% of the food we buy gets
The Village Hall, Bishopstone www.wanborough.info
thrown away, costing the average
or contact Sue or David Birley
Planning for when lockdown ends UK household £60 a month. Every
:
01793 790 438
and more convivial, socially dis- day, 20 million slices of bread, 3.1
sbirley@gn.apc.org
tanced activities are permitted, we million glasses of milk and 4.4 mil-
have a number of delightful events lion potatoes are thrown away in the
in the melting pot. Any further sen-
sible suggestions ( or less), are wel- The Wanborough Community UK, despite 8 million of our citizens
struggling to put food on the table.
comed. So far received; a paint your Trust grant application process What can we do to reduce these hor-
own village hall day BYO brushes This is still in operation and has some rifying figures? The Love Food Hate
but paint provided! Think Lawrence funds still in the pot so if, as we emerge Waste website is a great place to start.
Llewellyn-Bowen meets Grand De- from social distancing, there are groups It has an A-Z of food items detailing
signs! Fast Piano Racing (the new, or projects (from across the Benefice: how best to store and freeze them.
greener, lawnmower racing equiva- Wanborough, Liddington, Bishop- There’s a portion calculator and a
lent, sponsor revenue deals waiting stone & Hinton Parva) that could be search facility in the recipe section
to be signed) Mr Tom G has offered (part) funded by the Trust please do where you can type the ingredients
to run the Tote. We’ve had a few sug- not hesitate to review the grant crite- that you want to use (up).
gestions on a party to celebrate the ria via Wanborough.info/Information/ Being organised could help – menu
erection of Old Father Time…well Wanborough Community Trust. If plans, shopping lists, a list of what’s
we’ve been a long time in lock down! you think your idea meets the criteria in your freezer and the occasional
For those who are not yet acquainted please forward an initial email to: audit of food cupboards, followed
with OFT, we have a magnificent wanboroughCT@gmail.com. by getting creative with any ingredi-
weather-vane that used to reside atop Finally, the Trust is seeking 1-3 new ents approaching their Use By date.
the hall which has been refurbished Trustees to join the team: 3-4 meet- Frozen or freezing food is fabulous
Village News March 2021 5
for eliminating waste. You can ‘open
freeze’ any fresh fruit or vegetables that
you have over (or harvest in the summer
on
months) and then bag up so you can use
just what you need. Think ahead about
be
what you will actually eat – if no one
ll
pm wi
ever eats the salad garnish or dressing
included in your take-away or restaurant
30 e
4. n
meal (sigh!!), ask for it to be omitted.
- to
Don’t be shy about asking for a doggy
0 rs
bag (or better still, go prepared!) and use
.0 fi
any left-overs for another meal or
12 he
freeze.
h t
rc t
a ha
Finally, the Olio website and app con-
nects local people with each other and
M Gt
with local businesses so surplus food,
th N
27 PI
such as items nearing their sell-by date
O
in local stores or spare home-grown
H
vegetables, can be shared and not
re
thrown away. It can also be used for
a
non-food household items too – like a
e
W
local Ebay – but all free of charge.
Karen Walker
Pete's Puzzle - BISCUITS – For Beginners? Across
As last month’s crossword was quite difficult, I’ve gone 1 Is this Italian General what Mr Lineker
back to something that should be fairly easy this month. may become? (9)
Please submit your completed crosswords to the Editor so 7 & 9 This Spice Girl should be careful of
that we can gauge the popularily of this feature. broken bones (6) & (4).
The clue for the shaded squares – could be to mix with 10 & 2 down Is this crazy clown getting into the boxing
aristocracy. arena? (7) & (4).
12 see 15 down (3).
13 see 13 down (5).
16 Take a whirl with these Austrians (8).
17 & 18 One of Fagin’s crew sounds lucky (6) & (6).
Down
2 see 10 across (4).
3 American whiskey (7).
4 This biscuit may go down well (9).
5 Would you eat this fruit in a bap? (3)
6 You’ll be fighting down under for this biscuit (5).
8 It’s pleasant in southern France (4).
11 Sounds like a Strictly dancer (4).
13 & 13 across You’re unlikely to have both with your
pudding (7).
14 Might a leopard take extra dairy with milk initially? (6)
15 & 12 across Wealthy beverage (4).
February winners
Sadly we had no winning entries
Answers to February Crossword
Across: (2) dry; (5) verge; (7) wheel; (9) spyhole;
(13) uni; (14) fly; (16) craft; (17) kayak; (19) igloo;
(22) mystery; (23) queue; (24) bound; (25) jet.
Down: (1) xenon; (3) right; (4) teach; (6) gas; (8) hue;
(10) prickly; (11) loftier; (12) yak; (15) zoo; (18) avenue;
(20) orient; (21) etude.
6 Village News March 2021
Helen Browning's Bishopstone Stores
Organic Essentials Order Form
Name:
Phone Number:
Address:
Dairy Price Quantity Tuesday Quantity Friday
Semi Skimmed Milk - 1 lt £1.25
Whole Milk - 1 lt £1.25
Lightly Salted Butter - 250g £2.55
Unsalted Butter - 250g £2.55
Natural Yoghurt - 450g £2.00
Fruit Yoghurt - 150g £1.10
Double Cream - 250ml £1.60
Double Cream - 500ml £3.00
Essential Meats
Back Bacon - 184 g £4.50
Streaky Bacon - 184g £4.00
Speedy Sausages x 12 £3.75
Dry Cured Ham - 130g £5.00
Bread
Sourdough Boule - 400g £2.80
White Farmhouse Loaf - 400g £2.40
White Farmhouse Loaf - 800g £3.70
Wholemeal Stoneground - 400g £2.40
Wholemeal Stoneground - 800g £3.70
Eggs
1/2 Dozen £2.60
1 Dozen £4.90
Call us on 07453 243976 or email shop@helenbrowningsorganic.co.uk to place your order and we will deliver each
week. Payment by credit card either over the phone or pop into the shop.
Bishopstone Stores ered to your door twice a week (or ferent home…and when you’ve read
just once if you prefer). There is a that one? Well, you know what to do!
9.00am - 5.00pm Monday - Saturday copy of our order form above. Just I’m also very pleased to say that we
10.00am - 2.00pm - Sunday pop into the shop or give me a call have become a drop off point for the
Spring is upon us! My favourite sea- to let me know what you would like, Swindon Food Collective. They are
son – the first flowers in the garden, and when, and I’ll do the rest! We’ll our local food bank, an independent
hedgerows beginning to look greener, keep a tab of what you have ordered charity that rely on donations to be
evenings becoming lighter and - best and payment can be made either over able to help local people who are strug-
of all - baby animals arriving into the 'phone, or in person, every four gling to provide food for themselves
the world! The piglets and calves at weeks. There’s no delivery charge or their families. They are looking for
Eastbrook Farm are just the cutest! and if you wish to add to or amend donations of non-perishable foods -
New things in the shop too…I’m your order you can do at anytime! tinned items, long life juice, squash,
sure you’ve seen the ever growing Our fabulous Bishopstone Stores Book sugar, etc, along with toiletries and
range of products that are steadily Swap is now in full swing – thanks to household goods. If you have any-
creeping onto the shelves and into everyone who kindly donated books thing spare in the cupboards at home,
the fridges!? We are now also offer- to us. So, if you’ve read everything or are able to add something to your
ing you a great new regular delivery on your own bookshelf, come and weekly shop, pop it into our basket
service – get all your organic essen- have a browse through mine! Bring and we will ensure it gets there.
tials, milk, butter, bread, etc deliv- one of yours and take something dif- Lynne Muir
Village News March 2021 7
Well Hung Framing
I am Kate Herbert and am here for all your bespoke
framing requirements
I have a passion for framing a wide variety of items, and enjoy
working collaboratively with my clients in selecting the best
mounts and frames for a unique framed object - from box
framing, medals and memorabilia to paintings, prints and certifi-
cates. I stock a wide range of supplies to suit all budgetsand also
offer frame repairs and reglazing.
Please call or email to arrange a visit to my studio in Watchfield
to discuss your requirements, with no time pressure to make
hurried decisions.
07710 348 263
bykateherbert@gmail.com
wellhungframing
www.wellhungframing.co
Est. 1986
Tea ◊ Coffee ◊ Cake ◊ Sweets ◊ Lunch ◊ Essentials ◊ Gifts
Chappells
ESTATE AGENTS
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Tuesday: 10.30 - 4.30 SELLING VILLAGE PROPERTIES FOR
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Saturday: 10.30 - 4.30
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Whether you're here for a coffee, a spot of lunch
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8 Village News March 2021
Church Services in the Benefice
Sunday 7th March 10.30am Holy Communion Lyddington
3rd Sunday of Lent
Sunday 14th March 10.30am Holy Communion Bishopstone
4 Sunday of Lent
th
Mothering Sunday
Sunday 21st March 10.30am Holy Communion Wanborough
5 Sunday of Lent
th
Sunday 28th March 10.30am Holy Communion Hinton Parva
6 Sunday of Lent
th
All dates and times printed are as submitted to the Editor.
All church services are cancelled during lockdown, please keep a look out on social media or email:
villagechurches@gmail.com for an update as to when services can resume
The Vicar's Letter Diocese, will be looking after you. tower in Wanborough, and I prefer not
Dear Friends, We plan to have a short Zoom serv- to have them at home any longer.
It has been a difficult time for many ice every Sunday at 10.30am during If I'm in luck, the piece of furnture
reasons – the Covid lockdown, re- lockdown and will endeavour to get can be collected.
strictions on seeing family and details to you in due course. There Thank you
friends, anxious waits for vaccination. will be an order of service which you Myra
It has also been a difficult time for the can print – and, if you know someone myrabinks@hotmail.com
Church – our Churches are closed be- who cannot access Zoom, perhaps
cause of the Covid restrictions, there you can print them a copy so they St Mary’s Bishopstone
are difficulties keeping in touch with can follow the service at home. Cleaning Rota
parishioners, and Bill’s departure. We hope that our Churches will be March Jill White &
A bleak time all round, but as I look able to reopen soon. In the meantime, Karen MacGregor
out of a window I see signs of new please feel free to contact myself or April Fran Shishton &
life; snowdrops and crocuses in Phil on the numbers below. Karen Stevens
bloom, daffodils pushing up green Please be assured of our prayers May Chris Thomas & Gill May
stems from the dark earth – a remind- for the Benefice during this time June Jane Golding
er that spring is on its way. Let us of change. We are prepared to July Sarah Best & Jenny Isles
take hope from the miracle of nature. help in any way that we can. August Liz Warwick &
We are in the middle of Lent, a time With love & prayers Jane Manktelow
when we often give up something for Sandy September Rachel Blunt &
six weeks, but maybe this year we Revd Sandy Railton: Caryn Greenhalgh
should take something up instead. We 01793 814 162 07867 525 641 October Lorna Ford &
could 'phone a lonely person, offer to Email: sandyrailton@icloud.com Linda Matthews
help in some way. Or we can make Revd Phil Ashby: November Jill White
extra time for prayer, remembering 01793 978 528 07807 789 649 & Karen MacGregor
those who have died from Covid, Email: revphilashby@gmail.com December Fran Shishton &
and their family and friends, those in Karen Stevens
hospital and all NHS staff, together Spring Cleaning or Clearing Out Mary Darling, 790 700, is volunteer-
with all key workers. They need our Garages etc? ing to stand in for anyone needing
prayers for protection, for renewed I'm looking for a cupboard or, prefer- cover for holidays/illness etc.
strength in times of acute tiredness, ably, a double wardrobe with shelves, Many thanks to you all for your hard
for hope in their bleak times. to house choir robes and anthem work keeping the church clean.
During the vacancy in the Benefice books etc. where they can all be kept We always welcome new volunteers
myself and Revd Phil Ashby, together in one place. The choir can no longer on the rota, please join us!
with support from the Deanery and hang them on the pegs under the bell Sarah Best 791 121
Village News March 2021 9
Parish Contacts we have various guides including
Walking the North Wessex Downs.
rules, exercise should be limited to
once per day, and you should not
The Vicar: The Parish is in vacancy.
Parish service cover and pastoral care The Devil’s Punchbowl above travel outside your local area.
is being provided by the Rev Sandy Sparsholt is another force of nature. The Editor
Railton. Please contact her through Lynch Wood, close to Lambourn,
is notable for the profusion of box
1 Wanborough Scout Group
st
the new Benefice email New Joiners / Waiting List Open
villagechurches@gmail.com and snowdrops amongst the trees. It
Despite the pandemic, 1st Wanbor-
was part of the Lambourn Place es-
PCC Vice Chair – Alan Taylor ough Scouts has managed to continue
tate, the gothic revival mansion was
01793 791 666 some form of scouting throughout
pulled down in 1938 after a seri-
R2attayloralan@aol.com last year: some via zoom and virtual
ous fire. Towards Marlborough, with
Church wardens: camps and other sessions face to face
views over the Pewsey Vale, start near
St Mary's which was lovely. The start of 2021
West Woods when the blue bells are
John Lowry 01793 790 271 has seen us back on zoom again al-
out, pass through Gopher Wood to
St. Swithun's though we appreciate that this is not
Knap Hill nature reserve, and head
Tom Cripwell 01793 791 148 everyone’s favourite, especially af-
back along the Wansdyke; good clean
tomcripwell@gmail.com ter a day of online home schooling!
walking. Also near Marlborough and
PCC members: However, we are keen to get back up
starting at Fyfield before soon cross-
Roz Boot 01793 790 508 and running with normal scouting as
ing the A4 to Pigglesdene, are Stony
Doug Stevens soon as conditions / legislation al-
Valley and Devil’s Den. This walk
07899 791 833 lows and, to this end, we are open-
takes in massive sarsen stones similar
dougstevens1966@gmail.com ing our doors for more new starters
to those at Ashdown Park, and is near
Karen Stevens 01793 791 107 / waiting list joiners to get in touch
Fyfield Down, a world heritage site.
kschurchview@gmail.com now, so we have your details ready
Beyond Marlborough, with views
Penny Green 01793 791 310 for when normal service resumes.
over Pewsey Vale, Martinsel Hill and a
Tom Sargeant 07517 145 051 The following sections are available:
walk down to Oare is very pretty.
tom@yeoldeforge.co.uk Beavers: Tuesday 6.00 - 7.00pm for
Then there are walks round Avebury
6-8 year olds
Dickie's Diary and further along, turning north off
the Devizes road and starting at the
Cubs: Thursday 6.30 - 8.00pm for
8-10½ year olds
car park near Morgan’s Hill nature re-
Biking and walking have never been Scouts: Wednesday 7.00 - 9.00pm
serve, (great for butterflies). The walk
more popular. They tick a lot of boxes for 10½-14 year olds
up to the Lansdown Memorial above
during the lockdown. There is a say- 1st Wanborough Scouts does not just
Cherhill, with the White Horse and
ing that is not quite true these days cover Wanborough; families from
Oldbury Camp approached through
you never see a farmer on a bike. Liddington, Hinton Parva, Bishop-
the hamlet of Calstone Wellington is
Anyway, I am a walker. With Penny, stone, Badbury Park, Liden and Cov
very special. The rolling undulations
or my dog, for company there are a ingham are all welcome to join us…
of downland are most attractive.
good number of options close to home The scouts website:
In the Cotswolds, and best in summer,
without getting too muddy. During www.scouts.org.uk
the walk along the Windrush taking in
this February, stonechats and larks has lots of information for parents to
the isolated decommissioned church
also feature for company, sometimes find out more about what scouting of-
at Widford and on to the Mitford’s
with a passing raven or kite. Ashbury fers. The programme of activity in-
has its Kingstone Coombes above the former manor at Astall with refresh- cludes indoor and outdoor activities
allotments. Bishopstone has its Lyn- ment at the Swan at Swinbrook is all aimed at providing fun and learn-
chets, with a wonderful view from lovely. So too is a walk along the Coln ing that help to deliver skills for life.
the stile at the top towards Faringdon from Quenington to Bibury. We like We are happy for youngsters to at-
Folly and the Cotswolds. With White to explore the churches on our walks; tend for a trial period before commit-
Horse Hill and the manger, these land- it’s a shame that most have had to be ting to the Group, so why not get in
scapes are great forces of nature. But closed lately, but we did find another touch and sign up for getting involved
I have to confess I get bored with the decommissioned one open recently in the summer (hopefully!). To reg-
local, and want to reach out for new at East Shefford up the Lambourn ister your interest please head to
experiences with circular routes to Valley, with a key to be returned to 1st Wanborough Scouts website:
lift the spirits. This pandemic will a box at the gate after sanitising! 1stwanborough.org.uk
soon have been with us for a year Dickie Green and complete the join form. Alterna-
and, with almost an obsessional fo- Please Note tively send an email to
cus and being mostly retired, we have As of going to press the newslet- tessaannlanstein@gmail.com
explored far and wide. For new ideas ter understands that under Covid with child’s details.
10 Village News March 2021
Covid News from Around the to be a long-term life changing event.
To Be Continued…
doing business.
Then came the new South Afri-
World - part 2 Hazel, British Columbia can variant and BoJo and Priti
The West Coast of Canada South Africa have insisted we spend 10 days at a
Personally, in the beginning I was ob- The first lockdown here was very Heathrow Hotel on arrival in UK
livious to the threat to all mankind. Not strict and effective...in parts. No al- Indeed a very uncertain and unsettling
the A-bomb, the H-bomb, not even the cohol sales allowed anywhere... time for all the world.... Personally I'm
red button in the Oval Office in Wash- so what did people do? ...I heard so thankful for my home which has
ing, D.C., but a virus. Covid, first im- that some establishments served become my castle. Hoping to return to
pinged upon our personal world with wine in teapots, poured into glass- the UK in the next few months to see
an email from Princess Cruises telling es with an empty, non-alcoholic, my family and good friends again!
us that our trip from Sydney, Austral- bottle placed in front of patron. Val in Jo’burg
ia to Vancouver, had been cancelled. Cigarette sales were banned... desper- India
WHAT??? I was packed! We were ate people found ways and means of We all know disasters happen, wheth-
flying to Tasmania to see my brother obtaining them. Carried over the bor- er it be natural disasters or global
in 5 days!! From there, flying to Syd- der from Lesotho,down the Draken- pandemics, but nothing has hit us as
ney for the cruise home. My world sberg mountain passes by pack don- hard and close as COVID-19.
stopped. That was just the first of keys! From Mozambique,through the Work from home provided us
many cancellations in our future. Kruger Park...never mind the animals. an opportunity to work from
The whole world was in shock and, Smokers are an enterprising bunch! the luxury of our homes.
for a short period of time, no-one in Nine provinces had their borders With SBWS* in place, I am sav-
the world was fighting each other. The closed A police pass had to be pro- ing around 3 and half hours of trav-
TV showed us locked-down Italians duced and was only provided in el time that I am spending with my
bursting into song from their balco- emergency cases.The latest lock- family. The smile on my 2 yearsold
nies. In our small town, we, in apart- down, was announced on 29th Decem- daughter’s face when she wakes up
ments and neighbourhoods, stopped ber at 8.00pm and came into effect and finds me around is priceless.
whatever we were doing at 7.00 pm to at 12.00 midnight...4 hours later!! But I do miss meeting my friends
go outside or to our balconies to clap Curfew between 9.00pm and 6.00am; and colleagues at my work place.
and cheer, bang pots and pans, blow again, all alcohol sales forbid- Initially, handling both office work
whistles or play an instrument. All den, very strictly enforced second and household chores was a bit of a
in thanks to the first responders and time round. It's not permissible to challenge. But with time and sup-
medical personnel who were putting even carry a bottle to your neigh- port from my family I learnt how
their lives on hold and on the line to bour's home or transport one in your to schedule my daily routine. Flex-
battle the worldwide common foe, a car.... I was given a lovely gin pack ible working hours have also brought
Coronavirus called Covid-19. Heart for Chritmas. Had to make sure it an increase in efficiency and have
shaped pictures drawn by children was finished before returning home! given me time to rediscover myself.
hung in windows, and hand painted Height of summer here, and it's been re- Each one of us is indebted to all
rocks with inspirational messages ally hot. All beaches are closed, dams, the healthcare workers, police of-
turned up in the oddest places. Signs river picnic sites, parks are no go are- ficials, sanitization workers, and
for distancing and little footprints as. Totally alien to a South African not others who have been risking their
appeared overnight to guide every- to be allowed on to the beach!! This lives for the greater good of society.
one’s feet. Posters urging us to wash has been so devastating to the tourism They are the real heroes in life.
our hands and not touch our faces industry, as thousands of bookings As all times pass, this phase will also
were everywhere. We were united. were cancelled over New Year. pass and we should make sure to
Then people started dying in long-term No furlough payouts here, and the evolve as better individuals.
care homes, the numbers growing day economy cannot close as people will Shipra Jain, Delhi
by day, and it sank in that this was going starve, so restaurants and shops are * Small Business Wage SubsidyVillage News March 2021 11
12 Village News March 2021
ing for a bit more piety. Good luck in
your well-timed retirement, Mr Bill.
The Royal Oak Diary If Boris ever lets us out again (and
we expect May, with restrictions
on what any of us can do) we’ll be
looking for staff at HB’s Royal Oak.
Full and part time housekeeper/s;
front of house staff. IF it’s likely to
be of interest, let us know. Most of
you know where we are.
Bon chance, as our French customs
agent giggles over the 'phone
to us.
TF
Photograph by James Andrews
Nothing stirs here at Bishopstone’s ably high (90% of pre Christmas lev-
worst pub and luxury hotel, except my els), it seems most of them are car-
thin blood when I see our neighbour- rying fresh air and not much else on
ing farmer Dickie Green giving me a their way out. The hauliers reckon
mention in his February column, sug- that 60 percent of their space on the
gesting I’d be relieved that the Brexit way out is empty. We’ve had to hire a
deal was now sorted and we could 40 foot trailer to get our 10 tonnes of Anna Dillon
continue, easily and without barri- pork to Germany; this takes up about
ers, to export organic pork to hungry 20% of the space. No one will carry Regrettably, it does not seem safe
Germans (and others). Nothing could mixed loads because the French can and sensible to hold a physical exhi-
be further from the truth, but hey ho, take days to check and then reject the bition for the Swire Ridgeway Arts
it’s what most of us voted for so let’s paperwork because the registration prize this year. Hence, the 2021 Arts
get on with it. Our hard-earned cash number of the lorry (which we pay a Prize will be an online exhibition.
is now going to French Government UK VET -from Spain or Romania - The exhibition will be open on line at
coffers (via the export/import agent £100 to write down - a vet, for heaven’s our website:
we have hired en France) and to Ger- sake) has been written in the wrong https://ridgewayfriends.org.uk/swire-
man business (a freezer store in Ger- ink. Don’t get me started! Oven-ready ridgeway-arts-prize/
many where we can store the prod- my you know what. Mr Green, we are from Sunday 18th April with the prize
uct when it eventually gets there), prepared to offer export tutorials at giving online via Zoom on Sunday
rather than to hard working Brits. £500/hour. You’ll need several hours. 25th April. Entries should be photo-
Less a case now of them coming over And another thing I don’t think the graphs of the original art work and
here and stealing all of our jobs....more, vicar gets enough credit for the job accompanied by an entry form.
as the recent shenanigans might indi- he’s done in these parts over the past Full details are available on our
cate, we’re going over there and steal- seven years. I’m not chairman of website:
ing all of their jabs. But that might be his fan club, by any means, and I’ve http://www.ridgewayfriends.org.uk/
beyond some of our readers....I don’t heard funny stories about him forget- We hope that it will again be a suc-
need to dwell on this, but the oven- ting to turn up for the odd christening, cessful event celebrating the artistic
ready hassle-free trading environment and irritating the PCC from time to inspiration of the Ridgeway, albeit
that was promised to the 51.5 per cent time, but Rev Bill has always seemed not in the form we would like.
making up Brexit voters (most of to me to be a very human man, with I shall of course be glad to respond to
whom never trade and who can’t quite an occasionally wicked sense of fun any questions.
see what the fuss is all about) isn’t coupled with a decent, and practi- Anthony Burdall, Chairman
as advertised, on the side of buses cal, notion of charity. Can be a bit 2 Fernham Road
or anywhere else. It’s laughable. lazy, I’ve heard, but so are lots of Faringdon
And something else—it’s environ- us men from week to week. Could Oxfordshire SN7 7JY
mentally appalling, which you don’t we expect perfection? Not sure what Tel: 01367 240 713
often read about. While lorry traffic more we could ask for from a man Mob: 0784 1352 938
over to Calais and beyond is remark- of the cloth, unless we’re all look- Email: anthony.burdall@burdall.netVillage News March 2021 13
14 Village News March 2021
Exhausted of Hinton Parva
Teeny Weeny Trade Deals
A few days ago, we rushed home from a dog-walk, full of excitement. Surely lockdown must have ended, we thought,
and we’d missed the announcement. The number of cars on the road, speeding back and forth with a blatant disregard
for the 30 mph signs surely betokened a sudden cataclysmic change in The Rules. Either that, or the impending arrival
of something large and earth-shattering from outer space. We scoured the News once we got home, only to be disap-
pointed to learn that the former wasn’t the case. There again, there was some cause for celebration that we weren’t
about to star in Asteroid III - The Demise of Humanity.
Also a cause for celebration is the recently announced Bank Holiday on 32nd January, to be known as Nation-
al Daytime Telly Day (NDTD), in honour of this lockdown’s switch from exercise to binge watching. Janu-
ary, as it used to be known, will now be known as Interminable January. NDTD will be immediately followed
by February Fool’s Day, because we’re all so fed up we can’t wait until April for something to cheer us up. And
I think we’ll all agree that the extension of Pancake Day into Pancake Month will be very welcome indeed.
The other suggested innovation, Bunged-upXit, suggested to overcome the
lack of fresh vegetables in the national diet since 1st January, is seen as un-
likely to catch on. Already, the wheels of government are grinding on this
front, however, as the arrival of a minuscule cauliflower and an itsy bitsy
carrot with last week’s shopping showed (no - that’s not some new exotic
vegetable - it’s just a tennis ball that I included for scale).
Anyway - hurrah - we clearly now have a trade deal with Lilliput; I must
have missed Liz Truss’s exuberant announcement, as there surely was one. A
woman who can get so excited over cheese would hardly let a coup of such
magnitude pass quietly. Maybe there’s scope for more tiny trade deals; the
fairies at the bottom of the garden might be prevailed upon to deliver not
just babies to gooseberry bushes, but the gooseberries themselves, neatly packaged, to supermarkets (or Village Stores).
The recent freezing weather brought more veg-related developments. Our Esteemed Editor, on inspecting her first
flooded, then frozen, vegetable patch realised that she was going to be able fill her freezer with ready-frozen produce,
neatly side-stepping all that blanching malarkey. We could all take a spinach leaf out of Ed’s book.
Mrs Mantelpiece
And Almost I'm also thoroughly over-excited about
swapping books at Lynne's Bishop- mcanespief@gmail.com
Finally... stone stores. I hope we'll meet there, 1 Little Hinton Farm Cottages, Hinton.
As we go to and also swap bird stories. Please note that names and contact
press, Valen- mogs X details must accompany these letters,
tine's Day has re- Finally but, of course, we will not publish your
cently occurred. The views of individual writers details unless requested to do so.
Anybody get a expressed in this magazine do not Advertising
card and even, perhaps, a present? I necessarily reflect those of the edi- This newsletter is produced monthly
got a card one year, addressed to the tor, the parish council, or the church. and is delivered free of charge to all
editor. No idea who sent it, but I was ri- If you have any feedback, ques- households in the parish. Advertis-
diculously pleased. One of my friends tions, or would like to submit a story ing pays for the printing and other
on Facebook posted that the world di- for inclusion in the Village News, expenses involved. It is a cost ef-
vides into two groups, those who look please contact one of the editorial fective way for businesses to reach
forward to Valentine's Day and those staff listed below: this local audience, and to demon-
who look forward to Pancake Day. I Editor: strate support for the community.
fall into the latter category and I don't mogsboon@hotmail.com If you would like to advertise or to
even particularly like pancakes. Subject: newsletter (in case my com- enquire about cost, advert sizes and
In the routine of this strange little, puter rather rudely thinks you are availability, please send an email to:
new world we all inhabit, I am keep- junk mail) or deliver to: admin@bishopstoneand
ing a keen eye on the birds in my Brock Cottage, Hinton Parva, SN4 hintonparva.org
garden. Yesterday, there was a new 0DH, telephone 01793 790 626. or go to:
one. Research suggested that it was a Sub-Editor: bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/
marsh tit, or could it be a willow tit? Sheila Collins newsletter
They both look the same to me; I must admin2.collins@icloud.com for details.
ask Mr Andrews. But it was the most Features Editor: Please note there is no longer any com-
exciting thing that happened all day. Fiona McAnespie mercial advertising on the website.Village News March 2021 15
Heritage
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www.heritage-treecare.co.uk16 Village News March 2021
Hinton Marsh Farm Shop
CHARLOTTE BENTLEY
HAIR / LASHES BISHOPSTONE
A professional, experienced Ladies
& Gents Hair Stylist & Colour Tech-
nician, based in a private salon in
Bishopstone. Also offering Semi
Permanent Eyelash Extensions for
thicker, longer lashes.
Please see website for more information
Winter Opening Times
Monday 8.30am - 5.30pm
Tuesday 8.30am - 5.30pm
Wednesday 8.30am - 4.00pm
Thursday 8.30am - 5.30pm
Friday 8.30am - 5.50pm
Saturday 8.30am - 4.00pm
Sunday 10.00am - 2.00pm
52 High Street, Shrivenham 07786 992 598
01792 633 716 info@charlottebentley.co.uk
info@hintonmarshfarm.co.uk www.charlottebentley.co.uk
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School Clubs
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Holiday club runs during every school holiday
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Bishopstone, SN6 8PW www.alfrescochildcare.co.uk
01793 790 263 enquiries@alfrescochildcare.co.ukYou can also read
