Welcome back to the BUZZ Roundup – keeping you in touch with happenings in Keevil village come rain or shine…
Today Saturday 23rd September the RAF KEEVIL Annual Service of Remembrance will be held at noon at Stocks Green, led by our Rector Jake Eggertsen. The continuation of this simple service is important to the heritage of our village, and remembers the casualties of Operation Market Garden who left RAF Keevil for the Battle of Arnhem in 1944, and crashed at Double Hills in Somerset. (see here for more information on this significant event in our village history).
And a word from the church flower team: next Saturday 30th September ‘Come Ye Thankful People Come!’ Everyone, one and all, young and old, is very welcome to come along to ST LEONARD’S from 10am (until around 11.30) – for the decoration of our beautiful church for Harvest. Bring along any flowers in jars, pots, arrangements or cut flowers and foliage and try your hand at arranging them – help will be on hand for those who don’t feel confident in doing a design, but you’ll be surprised what you can achieve! Donations of flowers and foliage are most welcome, tea/coffee and biscuits will be served and you’ll be assured of a warm welcome. For further information please contact either Rachel Howe (870661) or Pat Bartholomew (870443).
Also coming up…
- … On Saturday 30th September 7pm our traditional annual HARVEST SUPPER in the village hall
- And on Sunday 1st October 6.30pm its the Harvest Festival Service at ST LEONARD’S CHURCH;
- 1st TUESDAY CLUB is back on Tuesday (who knew, lol) 3rd October – there will be cake! 2.30-4pm in the village hall;
- The ART GROUP will be in the village hall at 10am on Wednesday 4th & 18th October, all welcome!
- Sausages, bacon and a cuppa will of course be the only order of service for BREAKFAST IN CHURCH on Saturday 7th October 9-11am at St Leonards;
- The MOBILE LIBRARY will be outside Rose & Crown Cottages at Stocks Green 10.35 – 10.55 on Monday 9th October;
- On Wednesday 11th October Keevil’s WI would love you to join them at 7.30 in the village hall for Simon Gough’s talk about his experience with Wiltshire Air Ambulance, and don’t forget to add Saturday November 4th to your diaries, it’s the WI Autumn Tea and Cakes in the village hall 3pm until 4.30pm;
- On Thursday 19th October, the WALKING GROUP are heading out on a fabulous circular ramble of about 5 miles from The Royal Oak in Easterton through Urchfont and parts of Salisbury Plain: varied terrain – bridleways, the Wessex Ridgeway, quiet lanes and some woodland – no stiles, one hill up to the Plain. If you’d like to join the walk, contact Isobel, deets on the page;
- Articles for the November edition of the VILLAGE MAGAZINE should be with Pat by 5pm on Thursday 19th October;
- Love a Quiz? Make sure you have your tickets for the Annual Quiz & Fish’n’Chip Supper Night on Saturday 28th October 7 for 7.30pm in the village hall << deets on the page;
And a diary date for all you folkies, the 2024 Keevil Folk Night will be back on SATURDAY 9TH MARCH with an exceptional line-up, see page for full deets and booking info.
Other Parish and Community Matters
The next Ordinary meeting of the Parish Council will be Monday 6th November in the village hall at 7.30pm. Draft minutes of the last meeting here: Minutes 2023-09-04 Ordinary Meeting_DRAFT.
If the thought of joining our team of Parish Councillors has crossed your mind, full details are on the councils website here. Note there’s a FREE online event available on Tuesday 14 November 12.00 – 13.15, run by the LGA and NALC, for anyone who’s thinking of getting involved with their local Council – hear how you can be the voice of your community, learn about the work and role of councillors and the huge difference you could make. Claim your free place here.
S137 Grants & Donations: One of the ways small Parish Councils can support and invest in our community is through donations made under what’s known as S137 expenditure. The amounts are not fixed (although there is a limit), but they must be for initiatives directly relevant to the interests and benefit of the Keevil area or any part of it and some or all of its inhabitants. The budget for donations in the current financial year is £800, and the Parish Council will start discussing how it is spent at the next meeting, so now is the time to send suggestions to the Clerk.
Also at Novembers meeting, Councillors will discuss the draft budget for the next financial year (2024-25) and would welcome thoughts on new projects that may benefit from S137 grant support, including, for example, next year’s D-Day80 commemorations. So whether as part of an established village group or you have a new village project in mind, send suggestions to the Clerk by October 31st so they can be considered.
Redundant BT Phone Box: The Parish Council would still welcome any other views on the future of the redundant BT phone box near Stocks Green (an unsealed modern unit, not a traditional red kiosk) before they make a decision – get in touch with the Clerk with any thoughts.
And finally…
Consultation for the LOCAL PLAN begins next week on Wednesday 27 September: there is a drop-in event for our area on Wednesday 04 October 3-7pm at Melksham Community Campus, and a live webinar on Tuesday 10th October 6.30-8pm.
The Local Plan sets out the vision and framework for housing, land and infrastructure for the next 15 years. This sounds broad – and it is – but once adopted, all planning applications will be determined against the Plan, making it the most important place-shaping document for Wiltshire… and for Keevil, so the more people who respond to the consultation the better.
The Parish Council will discuss a response at its November meeting, so in order that we can be as representative as possible, please send your views to the Clerk, Sarah Dow, before November 6th. Consultation ends on 22 November – more at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/local-plan
That’s all for now folks – find us on Facebook for real-time discussions on Keevil Village, marketplace on For Sale, Free or Wanted in Keevil, or wander down memory lane on Keevil Memories… thank you for all your support, and if you have any news, pictures or stories to share, don’t hesitate to get in touch
Andie, Bob and Sarah #lovevillagelife #lovewherewelive 🙂
KEEVIL VILLAGE 