Sheila Smith

Sheila Smith, widow of Les Smith, passed peacefully from this life at the age of 85, on 19th February 2014 at Goatacre Manor Care Centre, where she has lived for several years. She was much loved and will be sadly missed by her daughter Carol and her many family and friends. Her funeral service will take place on Tuesday 4th March at St Swithins church here in Compton Bassett at 1:00 pm.

It is asked that there are family flowers only but those wishing to mark her passing with a token of their rememberance for her are asked to send donations in her memory to 'Parkinsons UK' c/o the undertakers Wootten & Son in North Street Calne.

Reunited with her devoted husband Les, may she rest in peace.

Briar Leaze Pothole Fundraiser

There was a wonderful turn out for this fundraiser in aid of the pothole fund for Briar Leaze in the Benson Hall on Saturday night 25th January, with twelve teams of up to six people.

The road outside the Village Hall is unadopted, so it’s the Village Hall responsibility – it is planned to carry out the work after April when its drier and warmer, for the Tarmac to be laid properly – we may be back to ask for some manpower to help lay it.

Peter Alberry, who organised the event together with his team of willing helpers were pleased to be able to announce that the evening raised over £1200 towards the fund. Peter has asked for his thanks to be given to Steve & Judy Izatt; Dave & Marion Coward; Peter Barnett and his wife Nicky for their help on the night and to everyone for their generous raffle prize donations, particularly Robert & Sarah Buttle (Rare breed Pork dinner) and Libby Barnett (amazing cake).

A duplicate first prize was given to the lady who missed out in the raffle due to the organisers colour blindness – we thought it only fair.

And of course all congratulations to the winning team 'Apathy' for their impressive win for which they were presented with the Compton Bassett cup which is theirs to keep..... for now!

Compton Bassett Village Plan

Last Year Compton Bassett Parish Council (CBPC) initiated the preparation of a formal Village Plan following Wiltshire Council guidance. Around 100 questionnaires were issued to Compton Bassett households and over 50 responses were received.

A very well attended public meeting was held on 14 December 2013 at which the overall results were presented – the main points being that 77% of people in the village are over 50 and the main concerns were over potholes; broadband (particularly speed); traffic speed through the village; Hills’ proposed giant permanent MRF/WTS facility at Lower Compton; path/verge damage and better communication of Village issues and events. In general the majority liked the “whole” village – particularly its rural character and community spirit – and thought that the main aspects to be preserved were the White Horse, the Church; Benson Village Hall and the War Memorial. The full questionnaire results will be used to formulate a draft Village Plan over the next few weeks with the help of our recently appointed advisor from Wiltshire Council, followed by a further round of public consultation, independent scrutiny and approval which may even involve a referendum.

The CBPC did a pot hole survey last autumn and, as a result, some (but not all) of the worst potholes in the main road were filled in by Wiltshire Council. Since the Briar Leaze roads (and potholes) have not been adopted by Wiltshire Council, a series of fund raising events are being organised in the Benson Village Hall – all proceeds will go towards repairing the Briar Leaze potholes. In addition, two working groups have been set up to tackle the broadband and speeding issues with both BT/Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Council respectively and a team of Compton Bassett villagers have been active around the War Memorial.

Hills’ Lower Compton application is likely to be considered on 12th February 2014 at the earliest.

Fraud Alert

Ann Seymour writes: Check that you are receiving your post. There have been at least 2 cases recently where someone has attempted to set up “Mail Collection” with the Royal Mail local Sorting Office in Calne. This allows an individual to collect post rather than have it delivered. It required 2 pieces of identification from the usual list of A and B documents. In one recent case a building society book was presented along with a photo-card driving license. Both of these were counterfeit documents. If you are concerned you should contact the Sorting Office and Action Fraud, the UK’s new national fraud and internet crime reporting centre.
www.actionfraud.police.uk Tel: 03001232050

A Special Little Boy

Mason Haley is a very special little boy who lives at Briar Leaze. His parents must be so thrilled that he has been given a trike to help his mobility and so deeply grateful that the charity which Jemima Prees’s family set up in memory of their ten year old daughter, who sadly died in a skiing accident only a few weeks ago, have found it in their grieving hearts to give Mason this specialised tricycle.
In gratitude for all the specialised care Mason received when he was born and looked after for the first months of his life, his parents continue to raise money for the special baby care unit at the Great Western Hospital.

Congratulations to Jenny Brook who took part in the Devizes Open Door - Sleepout 2013 on Friday 1st March. Just a few miles away there are people sleeping rough in weeds and church porches, people who find themselves isolated with no friends or family and others who do not have the means to feed themselves adequately. For many, the meals and fellowship offered by Open Door will be the only hot food they eat and the only companionship they experience.

Jenny herself raised £290 by sleeping out on a freezing cold night with fifteen others ranging in age from 14 to 75, well done all of them.

The Villages Magazine

Once again we offer our sincere congratulations to Paul and the sub-editors of The Villages Magazine for putting together an award winning parish magazine. For the second year in a row, The Villages has come in the top ten parish magazines in the Country. It's a huge achievement and testiment to all the work that goes into it.

With the season of good will soon upon us our thoughts are turning to perhaps our families, or our friends, those with whom we enjoy our time.

Maybe we can cast the odd thought in a different direction, to those who may seem to many to have so much and yet have nothing. There are many, even within our own village, who may be facing a Christmas that is not how they would like it to be.

The New Non Emergency Number is now live in our area!

101 is the number to call when you want to contact your local police - when it’s less urgent than a 999 call. 101 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.