Printed courtesy of Mrs Annette Haynes as a service to the community
Please email your entries for the December/January 2025-6 issue to: ThePennant@mail.com by
21st November 2025
Bradford Abbas Variety Club – Christmas Special Show
Friday 21st & Saturday 22nd November - Village Hall - 7.30pm
With only three weeks to go, rehearsals are going very well and the plans are all falling into place!
Tickets (£8) are selling fast, available from:
Lou Silk - 07786 626402 Lou.silk@hotmail.com or Greystones, Church Road,
Merys Hopkins - 07834 547578 meryshopkins@btinternet.com,
Sports & Social Club on Tuesday & Wednesday evenings,
The Rose & Crown.
Come and join us for an evening of light-hearted fun and laughter and support the village!
Look forward to welcoming you.
Bradford Abbas and Clifton Maybank Neighbourhood Plan
A reminder that the deadline for submitting any comments you may have regarding the pre-submission draft of the Neighbourhood Plan is Monday 1st December 2025. You can submit your comments via the online survey on the Parish Council website https://bradford-abbas.uk or if you prefer to submit them in writing please call 01935 602279.
ST MARY’S CHURCH, BRADFORD ABBAS
Our ANTIQUES EVENING on Friday 10th October was a great success, with two auctioneers from Duke’s in Dorchester giving their thoughts and valuations on items brought from home. Our thanks go to everybody who came along and to the army or helpers who helped make it run so smoothly. Overall, the evening raised another £1000+ for the church’s heating project.
CHRISTMAS CARDS We have packs of Christmas cards for sale this year. Local artist Sam Dodd has produced a beautiful painting of a Christmas robin in front of a snow fringed Bradford Abbas church and has agreed to us using this image on our Christmas cards. You can buy these from us on Saturday mornings or after our Sunday services. Alternatively, pop into church at any other time and pick up an order form (they are on the table in the middle of the church).
CHRISTMAS CHOIR We are again putting together a choir for our Carol Service at 4pm on Sunday 14th December. If you would like to join us, please contact Anne Hurrell or Gary Siggins for details (01935 472543 or 07799 430400). Rehearsals will be on Wednesdays, starting on 19th November at 7pm at Mill Farm Music Studio.
UPCOMING SERVICES - EVERYBODY IS WELCOME
SUNDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 10am Morning Worship (ley-led)
SUNDAY 9TH NOVEMBER 10:50am Remembrance Sunday (starting at the War Memorial, then continuing in the church)
TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 10:50am Act Of Remembrance (at the War Memorial)
SUNDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 10am Holy Communion (led by David Dunning)
SUNDAY 7TH DECEMBER 10am Morning Worship (lay-led)
SUNDAY 14TH DECEMBER 4pm Carol Service (led by Gill Thomas)
CHRISTMAS EVE 5:30pm Outdoor Carol Service (in front of the church)
CHRISTMAS DAY 10am Christmas Eucharist (led by David Dunning)
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.
A message from the Rector
Now here’s a confession — I am not really a winter person. My wife loves frosty mornings and bright winter sunshine, but I get cold when it is 20 degrees out, and my feet turn to blocks of ice at the nearest hint that summer may have turned into autumn. What I do like are those warm blustery winds you get as the year fades. You know the ones. Where the warmth is still in the air because the wind is from the south, but it is dark at 4 o’clock, and when it rains the water seems to be falling up not down.
I’m not sure if it is because I am October born, so I associate it with birthdays. Or it may be because I love fires, the dancing light, the warm front and cool back, the challenge of keeping it burning bright, and fires I always associate with darker days. My sense though is that it is about cosiness, the hygge of Denmark and Norway, the need to snuggle and cuddle. Somehow hunkering down makes me feel safe, protected, comfortable, at ease. And boy do we need some of that at the moment. And a bit of cosiness goes a long way.
So as autumn goes to winter, do not be afraid to hunker down, to cover yourself up with layers of baggy clothes. Put on the thick socks, wrap up in the fluffy blanket, pick up the hot toddy and snuggle. As the old writers have it: You, O God, have set eternity in our hearts, and we are restless until we find our rest in thee. And eternity is rest. The seventh day of Genesis. The final vision of Revelation. We are, as I may have mentioned before, made for rest. And sometimes it is really good to get in some practice.
George Moody, Team Rector, Three Valleys Benefice, www.threevalleysteam.org.uk
Mixed Ability Yoga
Saturdays 8.30am-9.30am Bradford Abbas Village Hall
Come along and join us! These are friendly and fun classes, suitable for most. Start your weekend with movement and relaxation. £9 per session.
- November classes: 1st / 8th / 15th / 29th. (No class on 22nd)
- December classes: 6th / 13th / 20th
- No classes 27th December or 3rd January
- Classes restart 10th January 2026
Email emmarileyoga@gmail.com for further details
Chatty Crafters
Come and join us for an afternoon of chatting and crafting on Friday, 21st November at The Rose & Crown, Bradford Abbas between 2-4. We are a very informal group who like to craft and of course have a cup of tea/coffee with lots of chatting. New members will be made very welcome.
ST MARY’S COMMUNITY TRUST
Friday 5th December 7:30pm– CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING with Prosecco and puds
Come and make a Christmas wreath (or a rustic window) for your front door or to put up inside your house. We will provide everything to need (but it’s a good idea to bring your own secateurs). We will provide Prosecco and other drinks and a variety of yummy puddings for you. Ticket price is £25 pp. Please call or text Gary (07799 430400) to book. Or email us on StMarysCommunityTrust@gmail.com. Payment will be needed to secure your place.
CHRISTMAS WINDOW DECORATION
This Christmas we are asking you all to consider decorating one window of your house to be enjoyed by people walking past your home. We hope this will cheer up everyone’s evening walks in December. Please have your window decorated by Sunday 14th December at the latest and leave it until after Christmas. We will give a prize to the home that comes up with our favourite design.
CHRISTMAS EVE OUTDOOR CAROL SERVICE 5:30pm
SMCT will again be helping to get your Christmas started with a warm glow as we light up the church and support the staging of the village’s outdoor carol service. This service regularly attracts 200+ into Church Road. Bring your friends and family and let’s make it bigger than ever! And once you’ve got that Christmassy feeling, it’s just a short walk to the Rose and Crown.
See you soon, Jo, Alan, Rob, Ruth, Trevor and Gary, The ST MARY’S COMMUNITY TRUST team
The Friendship Club
Our next meeting is at 2.00pm, Tuesday 4th November 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.
Telephone Box News
Thank you all for your continued support, your donations of books are appreciated by so many of our residents both young and old.
We are now looking forward to re-planting the troughs ready for a good spring display after the winter months and would appreciate your help.
We are planning to apply a new coat of wood preserver to the troughs, replace the compost, plant tete a tete daffodils bulbs and short tulips etc etc. If you feel that you could help us with this project we would be very grateful.
Please let Jenny Thomas, Kitty, Doone or Jo Barber know, or put a note through the cottage next to the phone box (Gardener’s Cottage).
Thank you, The telephone Box Team
Rose and Crown, Bradford Abbas
Opening hours: Tuesday 5- close; Wednesday - Thursday 12-3 & 5-close; Friday 12-close; Saturday 10am – close; Sundays 12 noon – 6pm.
Restaurant: Wed – Fri 12pm-2pm & 5.30pm-8.30pm; Sat 10am - 2pm and 5.30-8.30pm, Sun12-4pm
New menu is launched (all food is available as a takeaway):
- Lunchtime Specials: Pop in to see our specials board! Served Wednesday - Saturday 12pm - 2pm
- Tuesday Evenings: Pizza & a Pint £15 Served from 5.30pm - 8pm
- Wednesday & Thursday from 5.30pm Join us for Grill Night!
- Fish & Chip Friday: Served every Friday lunchtime 12pm - 2pm
- Join us for breakfast, every Saturday served 10am - 12pm
- Sunday Carvery - Limited availability, please contact us to book
- Meat Draw every Sunday at 4.30pm
November events:
- Live Music: Olly Howard Saturday 15th November
- Quiz Night: Thursday 20th November. Come and test your knowledge! Teams of 4-6, £2pp. From 8pm.
- Christmas Music Bingo: 29th November: 8.30pm.
Christmas:
- Christmas Parties: Our Menu is now available. Book Now for your Christmas party.
- Christmas Raffle: £1 p/square, available from November 11th.
- Live Music: Darryl Rushby, Saturday 6th December 8.30pm
- Breakfast with Santa: Saturday 13th December. £10 p/child, includes a gift from Santa. Bookings Only.
- Skittle for a Turkey
- Jo and Christmas Karaoke, Saturday 13th December, from 7pm.
- Christmas Eve: Come and enjoy a Chilli and Jacket Potato, before heading over to the Christmas Eve Carols at the church. Served from 4pm- 8pm.
- Christmas Day: Open from 11-1 for drinks, we will then close to the public for our pre-booked Christmas Day Carvery’s.
- Boxing Day: Landlords Birthday. Live Music from Karla Oaks from 2-5. Bring your own Food.
- New Years Eve: Live Music from our very own local Band; Gen X, 8.30pm.
Follow our social media for our full list of festive events.
Don’t forget, 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
Yeovil Railway Centre
There are no public events this month. With Halloween out of the way it’s full steam ahead preparing for the Santa Specials starting on Saturday 6th December.
Advance notice of Main Line Steam on Wednesday 3rd December. Planned to be hauled by 35028 Clan Line. Admission by donation, minimum of £2 per adult suggested. The cafe and shop will be open.
See our website yeovilrailway.freeservers.com, or our Facebook page for more details.
Bradford Abbas and Clifton Maybank Village Hall
The Village Hall will be holding its AGM on 06th Nov at 7.30pm. Anyone wishing to attend would be most welcome. We are always looking for new ideas and opportunities.
To book the village hall please visit the parish council website to check availability, https://bradford-abbas.uk/hall, and complete the booking form. If you are unable to complete the form online please email bacmvh@gmail.com or ring 01935 602279 and a form can be printed off for you. A form must be completed to finalise booking the hall for insurance purposes. Thank you for supporting your village hall.
Monday Night Bingo
Every Monday at 6.30pm with eyes down at 7.00pm. 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 at about 8.30pm.
Sherborne Bradford Abbas Camera Club
Tuesday 11th November: The Keith Lane Lecture 2025. David Boag - The World of a Wildlife Photographer.
Those of you who have seen his work in the past will know we are in for a treat. This talk is intended to be an inspirational one for photographers at every level
Tuesday 25th November: Postproduction Challenge
A fun evening where members are invited to take one of their out of camera images and post process it. This will give the member the opportunity to experiment and develop many avantgarde techniques perhaps turning the image into a drawing or cartoon, changing colours in light channels, creating a mono conversion, or perhaps even employing an Infrared technique. On the evening the before and after digital images will be shared, and the techniques used discussed.
All meetings are in the Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm, all are welcome
See our website sbacameraclub.co.uk for further details or follow our Facebook page.
Dorset Council Survey of Older People
‘Dorset is on a journey to become an Age-friendly county. Imagine a Dorset where growing older means living better, and where every generation, disability and background enjoys life as we age. The first step will be to survey people from across Dorset, and understand what life is like for older people in the community.
The survey is for all adults 50 years and older. It covers 8 key areas of life, from health and housing to social life and employment. It will provide us with a well-rounded picture of what life is like for people, as they grow older in Dorset.’
You can access the survey online through the following link until 19th December 2025:
https://consultation.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/adults/age-friendly-dorset-2025. Paper copies are available from the Parish Clerk, Sandra Hillier, email: bradfordabbas@dorset-aptc.gov.uk or phone Clr Jo Barber, 07789 863957.
Pennant Delivery Person Needed
The Pennant is distributed 11 months a year and we have a great team that puts the printed copies through your door. We could use one more person to help distribute to one side of Queens Road. Please ring Tricia Chapman 01935 602279 if you think you can help. Many thanks