Martinstown Village News

  • MANY event organisers must have been plunged into the depths of despair when the first day of a recent weekend produced grey skies and torrential rain.

In Martinstown the owners of gardens to be opened to the public retreated to the shelter of their garden sheds or wisely stayed indoors since a mere couple of dozen visitors soon vanished. Probably the only one to benefit was Fern whose resulting silky coat would not have disgraced Crufts.

  • IN typical fashion the Sunday was blessed with wall to wall sunshine and the village buzzed with activities, which included hand bell ringing in the village hall amidst an exhibition from those highly talented botanic artists.

A wonderful display of photographs resulted in many a 'do you remember?' anecdote about well-loved inhabitants.

More talents were on show with the Flower Festival in St Martin's church where their peaceful beauty gave visitors a respite from the cares of the outside world against the background of an organ and recorder recital, thanks to the Power family.

The flocks of the Valley villages are being well tended with the advent of their own shepherd in the shape of John Good, which must be a great comfort to all who live in the Winterbourne villages and Compton Valence.

Stevens Farm was the location of a well attended Beer Festival carried out in quiet enjoyment by all concerned, so that most of the village were completely unaware that it had ever taken place!

  • ANN and Ron Matthews, who had worked so very hard in organising the Open Gardens Weekend, wish to thank everybody for their support and co-operation, for a rewarding sum of £1,300 will boost the costs of refurbishing the village hall kitchen.

This is a very wise and necessary investment, which will boost future bookings.

  • AT their recent meeting WI members and visitors were treated to a most interesting talk by Mrs Jill Bryant on the subject of Lawrence, Lawrence and Moreton Church.

Probably the best known would be Lawrence of Arabia who lived at Clouds Hill until his death in that mysterious motor cycle accident. His grave lies in Moreton churchyard.

Lawrence Whistler was blessed with talents that can be seen within Moreton Church in the form of those most beautifully engraved windows which would never have been commissioned if the church had not received bomb damage in WW2.

After such an interesting talk members unanimously agreed that a visit to the church was a top priority and a special meeting would take place in August.

Naturally this would be open to non members too and include tea at the nearby tea rooms plus a visit to that unusually long footbridge over the River Frome. Make a note of August 12

  • FUTURE events in Martinstown include Brazilian Samba Drumming with Felix Gibbons at 10.20am on July 30 for ages 7 plus. Also, on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31, the traditional Oddfellows Fete takes place on the Martinstown Cricket Club ground on the road to Monckton and Maiden Castle.
  • OUR Community Support Officer, Sarah Pilcher, will be at the Stevens Farm shop on Wednesdays July 22, August 5 and 19 from 1.30-3pm, and, as they say, subject to operational commitments.