Edition 579 May 2025
Printed courtesy of Mrs Annette Haynes as a service to the community
Please email your entries for the June 2025 issue to: ThePennant@mail.com by 21st May 2025
ST MARY’S CHURCH, BRADFORD ABBAS
LAST MONTH…
Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April - ART EXHIBITION The art exhibition at The Old Mill House in Mill Lane was a great success, showcasing art by more than 20 local artists. Thanks to the generosity of the artists, a proportion of all sales were retained and as a result, together with raffle monies and other donations, more than £1600 was raised for the church heating fund. Thanks to everybody involved in staging the event and to those who came.
COMING SOON…
Saturday 10th May - CAR SHOW in conjunction with Yeovil Car Club - along Church Road, featuring classic and vintage cars. The road will be closed to through traffic for the day. We will charge you a few pounds to access the cars. Please bring cash. If you own a car which you would like to bring to the show, please contact Graham White who will be happy to give you details (07724 720398). We will also need help to man barriers at each end of the site and to collect donations / entry fees. If you would like to volunteer, please speak to Graham or Jenny Thomas or Gary Siggins.
Wednesday 14th May 1:30pm - MEET THE RECTOR
Our newly installed Rector, George Moody, is embarking on a tour of the 16 parishes in the Three Valleys Benefice to get to know more people and better understand local issues. Please come along to the Bradford Abbas visitation and get to know the man behind the job title. Please tell your friends too. Everyone is welcome – not just regular churchgoers.
Sunday 15th June - SHERBORNE MARKET
We have a stall at the Sherborne Sunday market, selling items made by Bradford Abbas folk. Find us on Half Moon Street, just in front of the Abbey. Please come along to the market that day and buy something from us.
UPCOMING SERVICES - EVERYBODY IS WELCOME
SUNDAY 4TH MAY 10am Morning Worship (lay-led)
SUNDAY 18TH MAY 10am Holy Communion (led by David Dunning)
This service is followed at 11:15 by our church’s Annual Parochial Church Meeting.
This is basically an AGM of the local church. All parishioners are invited to attend.
SUNDAY 1ST JUNE 10am Morning Worship (lay-led)
SUNDAY 15TH JUNE 10am Holy Communion (service leader TBC)
On Sundays when we are without a service here in Bradford Abbas, we encourage villagers to take in a service at one of our neighbouring churches. There is always a list of these on display in the church porch.
CALLING ALL CHRISTIANS – The Followers
There are many people in our village who go to churches of different dominations and many other Christians who don’t regularly go to any church. We are calling out to all of you to see if there is an appetite for an occasional get-together in the village for like-minded people to maybe pray together or read a little from the Bible or simply to talk about issues concerning us all. It has been suggested that we call this group The Followers. We are planning our first gathering for Tuesday 20th May at 7:30pm. If you would like to join us, please contact Gary Siggins (07799 430400) for venue details.
ST MARY’S COMMUNITY TRUST
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday 25th May – THE CHURCH THAT ROCKABILLIES
Doors open 6:30 pm. Music from 7:00 pm.
Pull on your jeans and check shirts and join us for an exciting evening of entertainment in the church, including live music from the Moonshine Hillbillies. Yee haw! There will be a bar and hot food. Reserve the date in your diary now and tell your friends.
See you soon, Jo, Alan, Rob, Ruth, Trevor and Gary, The ST MARY’S COMMUNITY TRUST team
VE Day at the Telephone Box
This year VE Day takes place on Thursday 8th May when we will be marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War. Do come along to the Telephone Box to see the display, you never know you may be able to meet one of the famous corgis again!
We continue to have a fabulous selection of fiction and nonfiction books thanks to you all.
The Telephone Box Team
St. Mary's Bradford Abbas Heritage Fund: Annual General Meeting
Help preserve our cherished St. Mary's Church, a peaceful retreat and historic landmark at the heart of our village. Since 1995, the Heritage Fund has supported the maintenance of this gem for future generations. Join us by attending our Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 26th June at 8:00 PM in the village hall.
Support our cause with an annual subscription or one-time donation. Membership forms are available in the church.
Let's ensure St. Mary's continues to be a pillar of our community!
Bradford Abbas Sports and Recreational Club
Our current opening hours are: Sundays 2:30pm - 6pm, Mondays 7pm – Closing, Wednesdays 7pm – Closing, Fridays 7pm - Closing
We are pleased to announce local band Gen X will be playing here on Saturday 3rd May - The club will be open from 7pm, all welcome - bring along family and friends.
Chatty Craft
Another successful meeting of the Chatty Crafters was held on Good Friday, with the bonus of having Hot Cross Buns with our tea and coffee. It was lovely to meet and welcome new like-minded crafters. A big thank you to The Rose & Crown for providing us with wonderful refreshment facilities. The next meeting will be held on Friday, 16th May between 2-4 pm, new members always welcome.
Rose and Crown, Bradford Abbas
Thank-you to everyone who visited us over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Opening hours: Tuesday 5- close; Wednesday - Thursday 12-3 & 5-close; Friday 12-close; Saturday 10am – close.
Restaurant:
- 12pm-2pm & 5.30pm-8.30pm Wednesday- Friday, Saturday 10am - 2pm
- Join us for breakfast, every Saturday served 10am - 12pm
- Grill night- Wednesday & Thursday from 5.30pm
- Sunday Carvery - these are very popular, please book to avoid disappointment.
- Meat Draw every Sunday at 4.30pm. £1 a ticket
- OAP menu launching this week
- Look out for our lunch time and evening specials board
- All food is available as a takeaway
Upcoming events:
- Saturday 3rd May - Music & Bingo - join us from 8pm, £2pp. Please contact us to book your table
- Quiz Night Thursday 8th May - CASH prize for the winning team
- Spring bank Holiday - join us for live music on the evening of Saturday 24th May
Summer Skittles: Rose and Crown in house, mixed 4-a-side Summer Skittles. Running from June - August.
£16 per team entry fee. £2pp per game. CASH prize for the winning team. Please contact us to enter your team. You can hire our skittle alley - please pop in or contact us to discuss further
Contact us on: 01935 423199, email info@therosecrownbradfordabbas.co.uk
Visit our website https://www.therosecrownbradfordabbas.co.uk
The Friendship Club
Our next meeting is at 2.00pm, Tuesday 6th May at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club. There is Bingo, a small draw, Tea & Biscuits and a chance to have a chat and laugh with fellow villagers. New members will be warmly welcome. Our meetings are always on the first Tuesday afternoon of the month.
Monday Night Bingo
Every Monday at 6.45pm with eyes down at 7.15pm. at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club. Everyone 18 and over are welcome to our weekly light-hearted evening which also includes a small draw and a chance to win the SNOW BALL and of course a laugh and chat, we finish just before 9.00pm.
Variety Show BBQ – Date for your diary!
Sunday 29th June, 2 – 6pm at the Bradford Abbas Sport and Social Club. This will be an opportunity to meet, chat and share your ideas and enthusiasm and be involved in our Christmas Special Show (November 2025).
Look forward to seeing you there! Lou Silk 07786 626402
Sherborne Bradford Abbas Camera Club
- Tuesday 13th May: SBACC Annual Open Competition judged by Sara Harpley
- Tuesday 27th May: End of season Social and Exhibition of Prints
We meet on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of the Month at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. In July and August we are on our summer break though we will be organising Photoshoots in order to have images ready for the new Season in September.
See our website sbacameraclub.co.uk for further details, or follow our Facebook page.
Yeovil Railway Centre at Yeovil Junction
Steam Train Days are being held on:
- Sunday 4th May
- Sunday 11th May with a spin on the Turntable as well
On the 24/25th May weekend there is a Model Railway Weekend with optional diesel train rides.
Further information www.yeovilrailway.freeservers.com
Bradford Abbas Parish Council
Please note, the minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 1st April can be found on the Parish Council website, https://bradford-abbas.uk/
Road closure
We have received notification from Dorset Highways that Underdown Hollow will be closed on 12th May, 9.00am – 3.30pm in order to carry out ‘targeted and localised repairs’ to the roadside. Any queries, please contact Dave Stone, Site Agent, Dorset Highways, Tel: 01305 228100.
News from Wriggle Valley Plus Bus….
“Starting on Friday 25th April we will be adding the Bradford Abbas to Sherborne leg to our route (leaving Bradford Abbas at 10.10 am). From Wednesday 30th April we will start the trial of a once-a-month bus to Dorchester (leaving Bradford Abbas at 9.30 am). Given the extra distance the return fare will be £7.00. New timetables will be produced as soon as we can put it into our diary and tell your friends! We are also hoping to introduce slightly bigger buses to allow more space for trolleys and shopping.”
Update on East Farm Public Right of Way (at Saxon Maybank)
We have received notification from the Definitive Map Team Manager at Dorset Council, that there have been no appeals lodged against the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to confirm the order to re-open the public footpath at East Farm.
The Public Rights of Way Officer is aware of the requirements to obtain access at the East Lane end and the removal of unnecessary signage there. He will also address the locked gate at the east end of the holiday lets. He has noted the signage at the Compton Lane end and has stated that his team have a ride on strimmer that will clear the brambles in the overgrown sections in no time. Work will proceed once the bird breeding season has lapsed.