Come and join us!

A Beavers and Cubs Pack meet every Friday in Lacock Village Hall, 6.15pm - 7.45pm.
For more details contact Islay Roberts 01249 654254.

About First Steps

Lacock First Steps for Parents & Toddlers
Monday afternoons 2pm-3pm (ish!)
Stories, songs, toys and time for tea and chat
Lacock Vicarage, Folly Lane

Contacts

Chairperson - Rev. Sally Wheeler
Secretary - Ms J Poyton 012249 730662
Treasurer - Mrs K Self

News & Events

Click to read more about Friends of Lacock Churches and forthcoming fundraising events.

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Committee

Chairman Mr. Alan Davis
Vice Chairman Mr.Rodney Satchell
Secretary Mr. Martin Doughty
Treasurer Mr.Frank Galley

Members Mrs R Satchell, Mrs C Sugg, Mrs K George.

President Mr C Self

Andrew Davis - Email

Museum Curator

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LACKHAM MUSEUM OF AGRICULTURE & RURAL LIFE TRUST

The Trust exists to safeguard the objects which form the collections of Lackham Museum of Agriculture and Rural Life based at Wiltshire College - Lackham. The Museum has been in existence since the original Lackham School of Agriculture first opened its doors to students in 1946. Over the years it has grown in size and function with many of the Museum displays now presented within historic farm buildings.
Become a member of the Trust and enjoy social events, volunteer and fundraising activities, a newsletter, programme of topical lectures, an annual outing, free admission to the Museum and gardens and inclusive membership of the Trust's Friends Group. Details of membership from the Museum's Curator, Andrew Davies In addition, he is always looking for garden volunteers as well as people to help in the museum.

About the Group

I haven’t painted in years
Don’t know if I’m any good?

It matters not a jot!!
We’re just a friendly group who get together.

If anyone has a particular subject they feel may be of interest to the group, why not discuss it with one of your committee members. Ideas for projects welcomed.

Because in most cases, a problem shared is a problem halved, if you have any queries regarding any aspect of art, the following members will be only too pleased to see if they can assist:
Vivien, Margaret - Watercolour
Jenni, Peter - Pastels
Drawing - Mike

More details from June Moore 01249 654011

Meetings

The Lacock Evergreens meet every 2nd and 4th Monday in the month and new members are cordially invited to join.

For further details contact:
Joyce Bigwood - (01249 730371)

Musical Talent Required

On behalf of Lacock Evergreens, may I ask if in our area there is anyone who plays a musical instrument, keyboard or accordion etc. who would occasionally be willing to give us an hour of their time for a small remuneration on a Monday afternoon.

Please if anyone is interested, telephone Joyce Bigwood on (01249) 730371.

Thank you

100 Years Ago - April 1908

From the Parish Magazine for April 1908

Burials
February 15th - Jane Tanner aged 84 years
February 22nd - Mary White, aged 38 years
March 6th - Frederick Farmer, aged 49 years
March 9th - Sarah Jane Hunt, aged 84 years .
March 12th - Edith Ethel Fennell, aged 33 years
March 12th - Frank Ernest Fennell, aged 2 days
March 12th - Thomas Henry Fennell, aged 2 days
March 19th - James Selman, aged 84 years

OBITUARY. During the three months of this year we have lost many, and among them some oft he oldest and best known in the parish - we trust that they will find ‘mercy of the Lord in that thy’ and be ‘numbered with His saints in life everlasting.’ Much sympathy was felt by all with Mr. Fennell in the peculiarly sad circumstances attending the loss of his wife and little ones.

Holy Week and Easter
The solemn days of our Lord’s Passion are once more calling us to the foot of the Cross, that we may be moved to greater sorrow for our sins which nailed Him there. Let us try and keep this Holy Week with greater devotion than we have yet done. The contemplation of all He did and suffered for us should show us more of His great love, more of our unworthiness, and lead us to make Good Friday not a day for pleasure, but of ‘watching with Him’ by the Cross and on Easter Day, remembering his dying wish and command – ‘Do this in remembrance of Me’, let us draw near to the Altar of God in full assurance of Faith, and celebrate the memorial of His love, that by the Sacred Food the chilled devotion of our souls may be renewed, and strengthened by this divine food we ma)1 rejoice with our risen Lord in His triumph over sin and death.

BAND OF HOPE. The anniversary Tea and Meeting took place on the 19th and was in all respects a success. The hall was packed to overflowing and 200 sat down to tea. Excellent Addresses were given by Messrs. Thomas and Churchill and at the close of the subjoined programme, the carrying our of which reflected the greatest credit on all concerned in it, the meeting closed with a Hymn and the Benediction pronounced by the Rev. E.G. Hodgson, Curate-in-charge.

Hatchments

Have you ever noticed the hatchment at Bowden Hill? It is a diamond shaped coat of arms on the wall near the main door. If you did see it, do you wonder what on earth it is?

Here is some information about hatchments (collected by Janet Doel)

Funeral Hatchments
"It was the custom up to the end of the 19th century on the death of an armiger (someone entitled to a coat of arms) to prepare a funeral hatchment which would be hung on the door of his residence and another in his Church.
This generally consisted of an extremely decorative achievement on a diamond shape on which the armiger's arms appeared impaled with those of his wife.
If it was the armiger himself who had died then the dexter half of the hatchment would be given a black background and if the wife was still alive the sinister half would have a white background. If it was the wife who had died and the armiger was still living the colours of the background would be reversed, and if both partners were dead, the whole background would be black"

Bowden Hill, near Chippenham
All black background
Argent a savage's head couped affronte distilling drops of blood proper, about the temples a wreath of holly vert, within an orle of eight martlets sable (Gladstone) impaling, Argent three bats wings erect couped sable, on a chief gules a lion passant guardant argent (Bateson)

Crest: Issuant from a wreath of holly a demi-griffin proper supporting between the claws a sword argent hilted or the blade enfiled with a wreath of oak proper. No mantling. Motto: Fide et virtute.

For John Neilson Gladstone , of Bowden Park, who m. 1839m Elizabeth Honoria, dau. Of Sir Robert Bateson Bt. And d.7 Feb. 1863.

Have fun looking up the heraldic terms!: No room here!

Whos Who

Chairman - John Tayler 01249 730466

Secretary - Sue West 01249 730930

Keep Fit Classes

Keep Fit classes for all standards of fitness. Everyone welcome. £2.50 per session. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a rug or towel. Classes in the village hall at 7.30pm.
For more information call Jennie on 01249 730303 or email her by clicking the picture or more information.

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School News

One or two items of interest from the latest newsletter.

The Scarecrow Trail was once again a great success and will probably have at least equalled last year’s total. Money raised will go towards updating the ICT suite and equipment.

The School now has two international links: Ecole Primaire St. Joseph / St. Anne, Pace, Brittany; and Nansana Town School, Kampala, Uganda

Reading Helpers Required

Lacock School is pleased to have helpers come in to hear children read on a regular basis whether weekly or daily, for a short while, or longer. Would you enjoy helping with this? If so, please contact the school, on 730271.

There is also a need for a new Governor who is not a parent of a child at the school.

Fundraising

If you would like to become involved in fundraising for the School, in however small a way, it would be enormously appreciated. Perhaps you are retired or you are at home looking after a young family - everyone is welcome to help us make the FLS fundraising a success. Don't worry - you won't be forced into anything you don't want to! Meetings usually last for less than an hour and only take place every 6-8 weeks. We have a vacancy for a secrretary - this involves taking notes of the meetings, writing a couple of letters and producing an informal newsletter for parents. If interested, please contact Alison Thake via the School.

Lacock Tenants Association and TANT News

Many thanks to all residents who attended our meeting with the locations team of Wolf Man Productions Ltd., Pinewood Studios, in the Village Hall Manor Room on 8th January to discuss the possibility of filming part of ‘The Wolfman’ in Lacock in March or April. The community is glad to be involved in the consultation and is therefore as usual pleased for the plans to go ahead. There may be a requirement for local extras, when we hope that those residents who are affected and interested may get the chance to appear on screen before their own homes. A further meeting is anticipated nearer the time.

TANT, the national Tenants Association of the National Trust, has made a formal objection to Post Office Limited to the proposal to close Lacock Branch Post Office. TANT has always expressed its strong opposition to any nationally decided schemes which have a local detrimental effect on the community.

TANT is at present endeavouring to arrange a National Trust Cottage Gardens competition in the summer, in which it hopes this interest will be shared by local gardens groups.

The TANT AGM is on Sunday 27th April at Kingston Lacy by cordial agreement with the National Trust. All tenants are warmly invited to attend. This is an opportunity for a day out at a very interesting property and to meet fellow National Trust tenants from other areas. Travel arrangements will be funded by the compensation which Lacock Tenants Association received from the ‘Harry Potter’ producers for the use of its residents’ vehicle identification windscreen discs.

Leo Stevens

Tenants as Custodians

National Trust tenants are in effect custodians on behalf of the National Trust of their homes of history ic interest. As such, tenants have a responsibility in the interests of public safety to report to the National Trust any property defects they notice which may affect the safety of the public. These would include structural faults such as roofs, and also trees. Following a tragic accident at another National Trust property, it is important that anything of this nature coming to notice is reported to the Estate Office without delay.

The Repair Reports in the Tenants Handbook kept in every property are provided to ensure documentary proof and immediate attention. Lacock people are well aware of the nature of stone roof tiles, which are formed in the ground by weathering and splitting, a process which can continue on the roofs, causing tiles to split and slip into the street. This is why East Street will be closed imminently to traffic for a lengthy period while the Tithe Barn is re-roofed.

The Tenants Association works with and is valued by the National Trust in its conservation role.
Another potential safety hazard and prosecutable offence which some residents have complained to be increasing is the leaving of large piles of dogs droppings on the footways by anti-social owners, apparently after dark. Apart from the health aspect, this could cause pedestrians to slip and fall in less well lit areas and should be reported to be removed.

L. Stevens

Meetings

Meetings of Lacock Tenants Association take place every six months.

Contact
Mr Graham Heard, ARICS,

01249 73014.
Estate Office, The Granary,
Manor Farm Yard, High Street
Lacock SN15 2LG.

Fox Talbot Museum

01249 730459

NT Shop

01249 730302 - High Street, Lacock

A Note From Wiltshire Constabulary

Prevent those walk-in burglars:
Remember to:
- Close and lock all accessible doors and windows when you are not in the vicinity.
- Make sure side gates are locked and not scaled easily
- Don't leave bag/wallet/ keys/phone conveniently near the phone.
- Make sure valuables are hidden from view.
- Always remove valuables from cars, locking all doors every time you leave it.
- Use your security devices.

Say No to all unexpected callers:
- Ask to see identification
- Check if uncertain (find number from phone book.
- If doubtful, check details and car registration and contact the police. Have a spyhole and strong chain fitted to your door.

Bowden Hill

Bowden Hill Watch Co-ordinators are Keith Hiller and Peter Glen. Do contact them there if you have any questions. Please keep an eye out for your older neighbours. There is still a problem around this area with bogus callers.

House Insurance

If you haven't already contacted your house insurer to let them know you are in a Watch scheme, do so. You should get a reduction in your premium. Try Morgans of Bath (0800 298399). Keith found them cheaper than Direct Line.

The Firs

Quarriers are a leading social care charity established in 1870. We have 100 projects in Scotland and two years ago established the first of several in the South West of England.

In early 2007 we opened a new project currently called The Firs, for profoundly disabled children on behalf of Wiltshire County Council. We want to be a full part of the community as well as good neighbours.

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Wise Owls, Lacock

Please click for our website with details about Wise Owls

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Wiltshire WIs

All WIs in Wiltshire are listed on the Wiltsthire Federation of WIs website.

Visit the website for

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WI Website

Visit the National Federation of Women's Institutes website

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Lacock Youth Club - for 9 to 16 year olds