http://aldbourne.net/news/ en rupert@aldbournewebsitegroup.net Copyright 2012 2012-05-15T23:16:10+00:00 http://aldbourne.net/news/aldbourne-band-great-result/ http://aldbourne.net/news/aldbourne-band-great-result/#When:23:16:10Z Great result for Aldbourne Band at prestigious Blackpool contest! In their first year playing in the middle section of this contest Aldbourne Band came a magnificent second out of twenty bands to win immediate promotion to the top section. Their playing was described as “highly musical” with “lots of quality on show.” To top the day Richard Hughes who plays first cornet was named “Best Soloist” with “Angelic” playing. As a result his wife Claudia bought him a pair of wings which he wore during the more informal celebrations. 2012-05-15T23:16:10+00:00 http://aldbourne.net/news/folding-glasses-found/ http://aldbourne.net/news/folding-glasses-found/#When:14:09:24Z A pair of folding spectacles has been found on Back Lane, near to the entrance to the school. See picture below for details. If you have lost them, or you know who the owner is, please ring 541700 or email us via this link. Thank you! 2012-05-14T14:09:24+00:00 http://aldbourne.net/news/forge-open-for-business/ http://aldbourne.net/news/forge-open-for-business/#When:15:13:09Z Following on from recent openings of the forge, and other related events, Marc and Kate Hart are pleased to announce the opening for business of the Alan Liddiard Forge. I’m sure you’ll join us in wishing them every success with this original and interesting venture. They are planning an official opening sometime soon, and we will pass on further details when known. For some background information on the forge please see this previous news article. 2012-05-09T15:13:09+00:00 http://aldbourne.net/news/last-orders-for-jubilee-mug/ http://aldbourne.net/news/last-orders-for-jubilee-mug/#When:15:59:19Z Stop Press! Due to further requests more jubilee mugs have been ordered. They are still free to those aged 16 years and under, otherwise the price is now £4.50 (extra 50p is due to increase in P&P which is more on smaller quantities). For those who could not collect their Jubilee Mugs from Alison Edmonds at either the Post Office or the Library, please contact her directly, see details below. 2012-05-08T15:59:19+00:00 http://aldbourne.net/news/aldbourne-photo-quiz-4/ http://aldbourne.net/news/aldbourne-photo-quiz-4/#When:14:33:09Z Photo Quiz Questions: The photo below is one of three passed to the website group. The photographer is Donald Ashley Birkinshaw, who was well known for his photos of rural England. For more details about him see the text below. Any guesses for the exact year this photo was taken? Can you help us with any other details? Please contact us if you know! © Donald Ashley Birkinshaw The “Ashley Series” archive of photographs were produced between 1938 and 1956 by photographer Donald Birkinshaw. The Archive lay undiscovered for many years until 1997, when it was purchased from the Birkinshaw family, and has proved to be a very rare archive covering a period when photographic film and equipment was expensive and hard to find. Donald Ashley Birkinshaw was born on August 29th 1922 and attended Nottingham High School and Whitgift Grammar School, Croydon. From an early age the countryside, photography and classical music were his hobbies. His photographs were accepted for county magazines as early as 1938. He joined the civil service in 1939 working for the Home office, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Agriculture until 1946, the following year he produced his “Ashley Series” of postcards and calendars. He stopped production in about 1953 as purchase tax made his profit margin too small to continue. From 1953 onwards he only took photographs for his own pleasure. Donald never married, living with his mother on the Hog’s back near Farnham Surrey until 1970 when she died, he later moved to Wiltshire, Somerset and Cornwall where he died on June 25th 1988. 2012-05-08T14:33:09+00:00 http://aldbourne.net/news/aldbourne-to-paris-cycle-ride/ http://aldbourne.net/news/aldbourne-to-paris-cycle-ride/#When:12:24:37Z Update – If you’d like to sponsor the “Old Bourne Boys” you can do so via this link to the Virgin Money Giving website. Matt Reynolds, Matt Phillips, Ashley Smith, Eddie Murray, Adam Elkins, Dave Newham, Tim Farrow, Tom Connelly & Steve Morris are cycling roughly 400 miles from Aldbourne to Paris. They will depart Aldbourne at 9:30am on Wednesday 8th August, arriving in Paris on Saturday 11th August. Matt Reynolds writes: We have picked 3 charitable organisations that will benefit from the journey. Aldbourne PSA, most of us attended St. Michael’s School and or have children that attend the school and giving a little back felt right. Alzheimer’s support, some of us have been lucky enough to benefit from the support that they give. Naomi’s House near Winchester, they provide support to children and young adults, with life-limiting conditions, and their families from across the Wiltshire/Berkshire/Hampshire & East Sussex. We are looking for companies who would be willing to assist the Team get to Paris, we have calculated we can get to Paris as a team for roughly £1500. An organised trip for 8 of us would cost roughly £5000. We will have a website and facebook page to publicise any company that helps our adventure as well as logos on team jerseys. Your generous contribution would go towards the journey, helping us raise as much money as possible for the 3 charities. Thanks for taking the time to read this and if you feel that you are able to help please contact me (details below). Many thanks, Matt Reynolds 2012-05-08T12:24:37+00:00 http://aldbourne.net/news/working-smoke-alarms/ http://aldbourne.net/news/working-smoke-alarms/#When:12:20:51Z The national Fire Kills campaign is focusing on the importance of working smoke alarms throughout May. A smoke alarm is the easiest way to alert you to the danger of fire, giving you time to escape from your home. They are cheap, easy to get hold of and easy to fit. Station Manager Kathy Collis, from Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service’s community safety department, said: “You are more than twice as likely to die in a fire at home if you haven’t got a working smoke alarm. The more alarms you have, the safer you’ll be – as long as they are working – so make sure you test them weekly. You should have a minimum of one alarm on each floor. However, if you have only one alarm and two floors, put it somewhere you’ll be able to hear it when you’re asleep.” It usually takes a few minutes to install your smoke alarm yourself – just follow the manufacturer’s instructions that come with it. The best place for your smoke alarm is on the ceiling, near or at the middle of the room or hall. The alarm should be at least 30cm (one foot) away from a wall or light. To keep your smoke alarm in good working order, you should: Test it once a week, by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds Change the battery on the low warning signal or once a year (unless it’s a ten-year alarm) Replace the whole unit every ten years Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service can fit smoke alarms free of charge in households that meet certain criteria. To see if you qualify for a home fire safety check, call 0800 389 7849 or visit http://www.wiltsfire.gov.uk. 2012-05-08T12:20:51+00:00 http://aldbourne.net/news/may-nature-notes2/ http://aldbourne.net/news/may-nature-notes2/#When:09:50:25Z Thanks again to the Ramsbury Amenity Group for access to their excellent “Nature Notes”. To access a pdf copy of the notes for May please use the download link below. To read the notes online please click here, and then click on the “view diary” link. © Tim Beattie 2012-05-01T09:50:25+00:00 http://aldbourne.net/news/may-church-services1/ http://aldbourne.net/news/may-church-services1/#When:09:30:27Z Click on the download link below to see Church Services throughout the Whitton Team Benefice for May 2012. Once the community section of this site is ready there will be a dedicated section within it for the services for each month and other related information. © David Parmiter 2012-05-01T09:30:27+00:00 http://aldbourne.net/news/whittonditch-sewage-spillage/ http://aldbourne.net/news/whittonditch-sewage-spillage/#When:13:04:34Z Liquid sewage escaped into the dry bed of the River Aldbourne near Ramsbury at the weekend from a Thames Water pumping station. It was exactly the same location at Whittonditch where sewage spilled into the river bed four years ago resulting in a hefty fine for Thames Water. Edward Starr, who is river keeper for wealthy businessman and landowner Sir Martyn Arbib, who lives at Howe Mill, discovered the pollution and informed both Thames Water, which is responsible for drains and sewers, and the Environment Agency, which is the monitoring group for rivers and waterways. Sir Martyn has a small herd of Belted Galloway cattle – which one villager described as his pride and joy – in the field at the side of the B4192 Aldbourne-Chilton Foliat road at Whittonditch into which the sewage poured on Saturday. Sir Martyn made his money from fund management and is regarded locally and nationally as a benefactor. He was a major benefactor in the River and Rowing Museum in Henley, has a financial interest in Swindon Town FC. He was knighted in 2003. Mr Starr, who lives in Ramsbury, said: “I suspect the heavy rain we had on Saturday morning overloaded the pumps and blew the fuses. Without the pumps the pressure of the sewage built up until it erupted from a manhole in the field. There has not been any water in the Aldbourne for months and what you can now see is the sewage that formed a lagoon here on Sunday.” Later on Sunday Thames Water repaired the pumps, but did nothing to clear away the sewage or put up temporary fencing to keep Sir Martyn’s cattle out of it. A sizeable area of the field in which the cattle were grazing was left covered with sewage sludge. Liquid sewage could still be seen in the river bed on Monday with no apparent attempt to clean it up. Thames Water spokeswoman Natalie Slater said: “Any pollution incident is deeply regrettable and we are working hard to try and minimise the impact of the sewage spill at Whittonditch. This was caused by a failure at a pumping station over the weekend, which has now been resolved. We are working with the Environment Agency to make sure the area is back to normal as soon as possible.” The spokeswoman said there had been previous problems at this location caused by blocked sewer pipes but this was remedied in 2009. A spokesman at the Environment Agency offices in Reading confirmed there had been a complaint about the sewage spilling into the Aldbourne River at the weekend and that it was being investigated. He said: “Until we know the results of the investigation we will not know what action, if any, will be taken.” © The Gazette & Herald 2012-04-23T13:04:34+00:00