Our Community Shed is open to all residents of Keevil, both men and women, and we’re always looking for new members so if you are able to spare some time to help with village maintenance we’d love to hear from you. We generally meet Monday mornings at 9.30am and our main priority at the moment is keeping the surface water drains and ditches in good condition. We also maintain the playing field – mowing the grass, cutting hedges and keeping the small garden looking nice.
Give Paul Lenaerts a shout if you’d like to know more: 01380 870186, 07855 887547 or paul@lenaerts.co.uk
Some of the things we do/have done:
- Painting railings, strimming Main Street banks and verges
- Clearing the ditches and helping Flood Wardens with maintenance
- Trim overgrowth back from footpaths
- Mow the Recreation Ground, planting and maintaining flower beds at the Banfield Memorial and Coronation Bench
- Litter picking
- Painting village hall walls and steps
- Various general repairs on the Recreation Ground and elsewhere
- Installed new noticeboard at the Recreation Ground and replace the goalposts
If you’d like to help with the flower border on the Recreation Ground, we’re always glad of an extra pair of hands – contact Geoff West 01380 870425 g.west3@pobroadband.co.uk.
Here’s a gallery of some of our adventures! Keep scrolling down the page for more news and activities…
LATEST NEWS
LITTERPICK 2025
Twenty-one happy Keevilites reported for the briefing and issue of picks, hoops, Hi-Viz and bags at 9.30 on Saturday 22nd March for the annual litter pick.
This was the seventh successive year we have joined in with the Great British Spring Clean event supported by Wiltshire Council and for once the weather was very kind – dry, and even spring-like !
Nothing exciting to report unlike previous years where Novichock and Covid added an element of danger to the proceedings, and only one unusual ‘find’ – a whole tray of untouched cans of Coke, still well within sell-by date !
The volume collected was about the same as last year and on the following Monday, Wiltshire Council’s bin lorry duly collected the 40 odd black bags we deposited at Cold Harbour cross-roads.
Many thanks to all volunteers – it’s good to know people really do care about keeping our environs looking good. Just a pity that the minority of litterers still keep doing their thing !
And if anyone would like to join our merry band of Monday morning ‘shedders’, give me a shout. There’s still some cans of Coke in the shed ! Paul Lenaerts (870186)
FEBRUARY – trim hedges and shrubbery bordering footpaths and pavements
Many of the paths in our village are historically old and narrow, so any overhanging hedges or shrubbery can quickly make them even narrower, making a big difference to how easily or safely people can navigate them – and new spring growth is on the way. If your garden borders a footpath or pavement, do check and do what you can to help maintain accessibility around the village
FEBRUARY is the time to trim hedges, trees, shrubs – and indeed do any work to your pond – before the nesting season starts in March and also when ponds start hosting breeding frogs, toads, newts and more.
The Community Shed doesn’t get involved with private garden work, but will be very happy to offer advice if you need it.
Litterpick 2024
The chilly March wind and the threat of showers didn’t deter the hardy 27 folks who met outside the village hall to be issued with hi-viz, litter picks, hoops and bags to give our lanes the tidy-up as part of the Great British Spring Clean event supported by Wiltshire Council.
After getting fully kitted out and a safety briefing, teams organised themselves and set off in different directions on the hunt for discarded rubbish and anything else of interest. John Tucker and I hitched up the trailer and started patrolling the ‘support circuit’ to take full bags, and help out when needed.
As in previous years the Great Hinton Pickers were out as well and made use of our trailer to take bags down to Cold Harbour crossroads for Wiltshire Council to take away after the weekend. In fact, this stretch of road to Cold Harbour provided the most bizarre items of the day. The first was a trailer wheel with a half-decent tyre and part of a suspension unit. This was much too big to go in a black bag, and therefore wouldn’t get taken away by the council. We were scratching our heads when a big 4×4 drew up. The driver hopped out and asked if he could have it – problem solved!
The second challenge was a pair of big plastic containers part full of liquids. The label on one suggested it was agricultural cleaning fluid containing Phosphoric Acid but it turned out to be dirty paraffin (don’t ask about our analysis technique !). The other was hydraulic oil. Fortunately, the ‘Shed’ can find a safe use for both. We do say any donations greatly appreciated, but these were different to say the least!
The showers held off, only catching out the last hardy groups of pickers, and a final run to Cold Harbour saw us dump the last bags. There was probably less rubbish than in previous years (are we winning ?) but still a very worthwhile exercise.
Many thanks to all who took part…. Paul Lenaerts, 27th March 2024
January 2024 New Finger Post at the Great Hinton Crossroads
After many hours of diligent carpentry, physical exhaustion, and copious cups of coffee, John Tucker, Paul Lenaerts, ably assisted by Mick Abraham, are pleased to say the new road sign at the Great Hinton crossroads is in place. Having sort all necessary permission, and adhered to all safety regulations, and having waited for an improvement in the weather conditions, Saturday 6th January 2024 was the designated day. It was greatly admired by all who passed by that morning, and has hopefully encouraged others to carry out a similar project, Well done lads!!
2023 Litter Pick
There was all-round village enthusiasm for joining in with the Great British Spring Clean again this year, supported by Wiltshire Council who promised to ‘pick up the pieces’ after we collected it all.
This year we planned for Saturday 1st April but the weather forecast was very wet so we postponed until Sunday. Sadly this clashed with the Palm Sunday service in Church so a number of stalwarts couldn’t make it and we were wondering how many would join the muster outside the Village Hall at 9.30am.
We needn’t have worried however because there were 15 of us which was just about right for the task in hand. Suitably briefed and equipped with litterpicks, hoops, bags and Hi-Viz, we spread out in small groups to cover the designated roads having agreed limits with Great Hinton and Steeple Ashton teams who were ‘picking’ the same week-end.
John and I supported the groups with car and trailer dishing out fresh bags and making encouraging noises, but more importantly collecting full bags and taking them to the agreed dumping point at Cold Harbour crossroads.
‘Pick’ of the day went to Ali who found a Grecian Urn! (See second photo) True, it was only 6” tall and was probably bought for 5 Euros in Athens, but it smacked of discarded swag! I took it to the Police Station but sadly there was no reward (apart from a strange look!).
By midday, around 30 bags were dumped at Cold Harbour – less than previous years, which prompts the question “Are we winning?” Possibly – but it could also be that these days quite a few residents take a pick + bag when they go out for a walk. Well done to them and to those that joined our merry band this year!
Paul Lenaerts 5th April 2023
KEEVIL WI raise £300 for Shed funds
A massive thank you to everyone that baked, helped, gave raffle prizes and spent money at the WI Coffee Morning on Saturday 18th February. So far £278.50 has been raised, with a few extra donations expected. We are hugely grateful – the money will go towards maintenance of the ride-on mower and new equipment.
2022 Litter Pick
Keevil once again supported the Great British Spring Clean 2022 with a community litter pick on the morning of Saturday 2nd April… well done everyone!
October 2020 Reinstalling the Coronation Bench after repair and refurbishment…
2020 Litter Pick
25 willing volunteers turned out on the morning of Saturday 14th March to clean up the lanes in and around Keevil as part of the Great British Spring Clean. The forecast was dry – we did have a few light showers but they didn’t spoil the fun, and the general consensus was that there was less rubbish around than previous years – maybe people are getting the message ??
September 2019: Horsa Glider Project
You don’t have to have lived in Keevil long to understand the importance the village places on the Airfield – both its history and its current operations. Any initial concern felt by new residents about noise and disturbance is soon replaced by a deep respect for the role played by RAF Keevil in the 1940’s and as a training venue for the armed forces ever since.
Keevil Airfield played its part in the two 1944 operations Overlord in June, and Market Garden in September. In both these operations, Horsa gliders towed by Stirling bombers and Dakotas took off from Keevil, each glider carrying troops and equipment on a ‘one-way’ trip to the continent.
When Keevil-born joiner and war historian Robin Blackmore suggested to the Shed that a fitting memorial to the Horsa glider could be a 1/10th size model displayed in the village, we didn’t have to think too long before agreeing it was a great idea. Rob had seen such a model on the village green at Wroughton and supplied us with photos. Armed with the photos, drawings from Wikipedia and with the enthusiastic support of the Parish Council, we determined to build the model as a seat, and site it on the Playing Field within a stone’s throw of the airfield dispersal pads, where 75 years ago, a real Horsa probably stood.
Sourcing the timber for a fuselage was the first challenge and by a stroke of good fortune, Peter Dixon (notable resident and active Shed member) offered us the trunk of a walnut which had been felled a number of years previously. Peter had visions of it becoming a nice piece of furniture one day but selflessly donated it “as long as we didn’t waste it” !
Whilst being reasonably cylindrical and of the right length, we concluded that it would need to be ‘machined’ to improve its shape. The ‘machining’ process consisted of Bryan Banfield with a chainsaw, plus Mick Abraham, John Tucker and I spending quite a few hours operating a make-shift lathe and a belt sander. Fortunately, it turned out well and we didn’t waste it !
Having solved the fuselage challenge, we set about making the tailplane with some green oak that Robin had put to one side for us, using templates scaled up from the Wikipedia drawings. That worked out fine so then we turned our attention to the wings. We couldn’t find anyone with a spare bit of timber big enough, so much against our principles, we concluded we would have to buy some ! Fortunately, the Parish Council provided the funds and we got some more green oak from a local sawmill.
The final assembly was heavily dependent on John Tucker’s joinery skills (and dowel kit) together with lots more man-hours with chisel and mallet. We needed an artistic input for the cockpit detailing and Pat Tucker, Queen of the Village Art Group, was commissioned to add the final touch.
We installed our Horsa screwed down to concreted-in posts (see images below) with a few days to spare before the 75th anniversary of Market Garden, and there was just time for a final coat of wood treatment.
The party of Sappers duly arrived on Saturday 7th September for the mid-day wreath-laying service at Stocks Green plaque, and after their traditional bike ride returned to the village to check out the Horsa and test its seating capacity! I am happy to report that they were mightily impressed by the model and it stood the test of being sat-upon by eight Sappers !
Paul Lenaerts 9th September 2019
Shed members install the Horsa seat on the playing field:
2019 & 2018 Litterpick
2019 – We forgot to take a picture when everyone was around! Thanks to the many villagers who turned up to help, full report will follow from Paul in due course 🙂
2018 – After being postponed from snow, the Keevil Litter Pick finally got underway under cloudy skies and drizzle with 21 villagers signing up to attack the roadside rubbish that we all drive by regularly.
Ride-on Mower Grant
See here for an update on the Community Shed grant for the ride-on mower.
October 2017
The Keevil “Shedders” have been busy around the Village most Monday mornings through this year, plus mowing the playing field when the weather permitted. Now winter is approaching, it seems a good time to report on the year’s activities.
We started 2017 with a grant from the Melksham Area Board which enabled us to purchase the ride-on mower for the playing field. We had to modify the storage shed to take the mower, and gave it a ‘face-lift’ at the same time.
The mower arrived in February and we started mowing in March. So far this year we have cut the grass on the playing field 24 times and by the time you read this we hope the grass will have stopped growing! Also the border by the entrance has been much improved by Geoff West assisted by Sarah Dow.
Meanwhile, other “non-shed” activities on the playing field have been the construction of the wonderful new WI bench by Gerry Vaughan, together with the new path to it and improved surface to the path from Martins Road.
All in all, we hope you agree that the playing field is now looking ten times better than a year ago!
Elsewhere, we have strimmed the Main Street bank from The Old Bakery to Manor Farm entrance every month since the snowdrops finished, painted more railings, refurbished the light over the Church gate, painted the outside of the Village Hall and completed many smaller jobs too numerous to mention.
Since we started in April 2016, we have clocked up over 80 sessions, putting in over 1,200 hours of voluntary labour. This financial year, we have received donations of £600 as well as £510 from the Parish Council for mowing the playing field, and £56 for insurance. The money goes towards our equipment and running costs, as well as a fund to replace the mowers etc, in the future.
None of this work would be possible without a “Shed” to base ourselves in and we would particularly like to thank Pat and Bryan Banfield for providing this. Bryan is also a regular “shedder” so extra thanks to him and all the other volunteers who make our sessions productive, sociable and fun – not to mention the hard work!
Paul Lenaerts
Origins of the Keevil Community Shed
The original Keevil Society was formed on 20th July 1987 by residents, with the founding aim of “stimulating interest and care for the beauty and character of the village among those who live here, a collective desire to keep Keevil unique in its own small way”.
In 1990 members published the first edition of the famous Book of Keevil; three more publications followed culminating in Book IV which was published in 2002. These remarkable books are the result of dedicated work by many people most of whom are past or present residents of the village. These volumes tell the history of the village together with stories of the interesting people and buildings which formed the community. In addition, a Village Design Statement was drawn up and agreed, to provide a guide for those that considered planning applications for new buildings and modifications to existing properties. The Keevil Society also organised talks on subjects of local interest, and promoted many social events to bring residents together for the betterment of the community.
Whilst the Society was unquestionably successful in achieving its original aims, by the end of the “noughties”, other village groups had formed and grown, and it was finally decided, in 2015, to ‘wind up’ the Keevil Society. It was agreed to use its not inconsiderable bank balance to fund other promising projects in the village, and one of these was the Keevil Shed.
Inspiration for the Shed came from Bob Ayres, a “newcomer from Oz” who had experience of Mens Sheds in Australia. His enthusiasm struck a chord with villagers who were getting increasingly frustrated by government cuts which were reducing the amount of maintenance work on things that made the village look nice and function properly. There were a couple of inconsistencies in the “Shed” concept however: an all male group didn’t seem right, and the need was not for therapeutic personal projects in a workshop, more a band of volunteers to get stuck into outside jobs that needed doing.
So early in 2016, the Keevil Community Shed was born with a £1,500 grant from the Keevil Society’s coffers, plus other donations from supportive residents. Further crucial help came from Bryan Banfield, retired farmer, who offered his barn as a ‘Shed’ to store equipment and as space to work inside when needed. Bryan also became one of the mainstays of the volunteer workforce with his valuable experience gained on the farm.
Word of the new Shed spread with the help of the Keevil Parish News and before long a couple of dozen residents had signed up for active duty. Equipment was purchased and Monday morning became the regular slot for strimming the banks, clearing drains, painting railings, litter picking and lots of other jobs. One rule needed to be made clear, however. The work of the Shed was clearly to maintain the communal parts of the village and not “Garden SOS” !
KEEVIL VILLAGE 