Quidhampton Village Newsletter

May 2015

Whats On in May 2015 Quidhampton events in bold

Monday 4: Bank Holiday: schools closed
Thursday 7: Monthly Charity Quiz: 20.00. 25 voucher prize
Saturday 9: VE Day 70th anniversary tea party for over 70s The White Horse
14.30 16.00
Saturday 9: VE Day 70th anniversary Dinner Dance see page 3
Sunday 10: Celebration service for Clarrie Price and blessing of headstone 12.30 at
St Johns and then village hall see page 2
Sunday 10 May: the Cycle Wiltshire Grand Prix, an Elite Cycle Road Race
on circuits of a route from Wilton, 10.00-16.00
Monday 11 Friday 15 SATS exam week Year 6
Wednesday 13: Bemerton Film Society : Tell No One 19.30, details on page 8
Saturday 16 May: Back to Netball Free event at Sarum Academy 14.30 16.00.
Encouragement to get fit you know it makes sense. No special kit needed, just
comfortable clothes and trainers.
Saturday 16 May: Quiz Evening with Sausage and Mash and cake St Michaels Com-
munity centre. Teams can be made up on the night. Entry 5 per person. 18.00 start.
Thursday 21: Bemerton Local History Society Hedley Davis Court 19.00
Friday 22: end of term 5 all local schools. Return to school 1 June
Tuesday 26: The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council 19.30 Village Hall,
preceeded by the Annual Parish Meeting at 19.00. This is a chance to talk to
councillors and to have your say about village matters. It usually lasts no longer
than half an hour
Saturday 30: RDA summer fete Wilton 12.00 16.00, entry 2.50, children free. Pony
rides, craft tent, dog displays, archery, African drums and more.
Future dates: 4 July is the fete at St Johns Primary School, Bemerton. There will be a
USA theme including a bucking bronco, and a Junior Bemerton Bake-off.

It is with great sadness that we report the news of the death of Peg Thornton of
Coronation Square who passed away on 12 April, aged 89. Peg was much loved in the
village and countless thoughts and prayers have been winging their way to her family,
especially Ted, her husband of 64 years, and Sarah and Amber, her daughter and grand
daughter, who live here too. The crematorium was packed for her funeral: standing
room only and not much of that. What a tribute.
There will be an appreciation of Peg and the story of her life in a future newsletter.

March 100 Club winners April 100 Club winners

1st 61 Ken Taylor 1st 59 Joy Wagstaff
2nd 140 G Evans 2nd 22 Brian Bass
3rd 40 Peter Edge 3rd 75 Howard Rowley

100 Club numbers are drawn on the last Friday in the month in The White Horse at lunchtime.
If you want to join the 100 Club contact Viv Bass 742483
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Monthly charity quiz in The White Clarrie Price memorial event:
Horse Sunday 10 May
Howard Rowley, quizmaster writes: Everything is in place to commemorate
Different charities continue to benefit as the long life of Clarrie Price, who died
the winning team choose who will aged 105 in 1996, and to remember her
receive the evenings profits. In March it three sisters who died in the early 1900s.
was Radio Odstock. Two of them tragically drowned in the
The quiz is now slightly shorter so there Nadder one June day while collecting
can be an earlier finish. wood for the fire after a windy night. All
The prizes, generously donated by the lie in unmarked graves at St Johns.
pub, are a bottle of wine for the team 12.30 short service at St Johns and
with the most points and a 25 meal blessing of the headstone followed by
voucher for the team with the highest buffet and display in the Village Hall.
average score per person. That means Everyone with an interest in
the total score is divided by the number community and local history is wel-
of team members to give an average come but please let Bea Tilbrook
score. It allows almost any sized team know you are coming. (details on the
to win, but a team of 2 or 3 has the best back page)
chance. Clarrie lived in Quidhampton for the first
25 years of her life and did not travel
outside England but relatives and friends
Walk for Wards the sponsored walk in from three continents have contributed to
aid of the Breast Cancer Unit. the commemoration.
Jane Taylor, who moved to 4 Alexandra
Cottages last year, is taking part in this
and would love some more sponsorship. Relief Comes to Quidhampton! John
Perhaps you know someone who has Cater, Village Hall Committee, writes:
had breast cancer and can support her. Villagers will be relieved to know that we
She writes: now have two loos in the Village Hall
I plan to take part in the 10K sponsored which do not make their users shudder!
walk as I have had breast cancer twice Indeed, the refurbished loos are
and am currently receiving follow-up positively welcoming. The thanks for
care from Salisbury District Hospital. The paying for this notable convenience must
walk takes place on 21 June and if go to grants from Wiltshire Council and
anyone would like to sponsor me please the Parish Council, but most particularly
phone me on 744534. Many thanks. to Alan Dutfield, builder of this Parish,
who carried out the work at cost (i.e.
double mate's-rates). Well done, Alan;
Praise for the Parish Council you are only thanked now but you will be
A villager wrote to the newsletter in rewarded in the hereafter; and possibly
praise of the lovely bluebell patch in the in the pub!
playground where the rough area was Editors comment: In the interest of
cleared by parish councillors. There are decorum this welcome news is not
cheery yellow tulips there too. Thank illustrated with a photograph but they are
you, parish councillors. worth seeing!

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 TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE

VE DAY
DINNER & DANCE
AT THE WHITE HORSE

SATURDAY 9TH MAY

7:00PM

LIVE MUSIC FROM THE FABULOUS

GERSHWIN GANG

HOG ROAST SUPPER

OPTIONAL 40S THEME FANCY DRESS

PRIZE FOR BEST MALE / BEST FEMALE

TICKETS 20.00

3
Experiences in Kabul
Hugh Baker of Blenheim House has kindly written a two part article for the newsletter
about his experiences in Kabul. For the last fourteen years Kabul has been mentioned
regularly on the news but how many of us understand what life is like there? Hugh
gives us a first hand account of what its like for ISAF the NATO International
Security Assistance Force.
Last year I spent 12 months in Kabul, capital city of Afghanistan, with ISAF. I was
commanding a team of 360 personnel from 15 nations. We were there to train, advise
and assist the Afghan National Army (ANA) to build their institutional training capability
so they can train their own army on a sustainable basis.
For most of my tour I was based in
central Kabul in a US operating
base just outside the Green Zone
which houses the government and
diplomatic missions. I spent a lot
of time moving around the city in
land vehicles and by helicopter so I
became quite familiar with it. Kabul
is an ancient city over 3000 years
old, dramatically set on a plateau
surrounded by snow-capped
mountains. As the city has ex-
panded over the years buildings
have climbed the slopes of the
lower hills in a cascade of houses With 3 officers from my Training and Advisory Group,
and alleys. including a French Special Forces officer (left) and
mountains surrounding Kabul in the background.
Most of the buildings in Kabul are
single-storey and flat-roofed, but there are some higher rise buildings in the city centre,
including a complex of flats built during the Soviet era in true Soviet-style and known
as District 9. There is an encouraging amount of new building going on in the city.
The smaller hills are often topped with security posts, including old forts from the
British occupation in the 19th century, and elegant palaces and residences with
carefully laid-out ornamental gardens, often only visible when you fly over them.
As you might expect from a society and economy based for so long on farming in a
challenging environment, the Afghan people have the capacity to grow almost anything
if they have access to water. In spite of the dust that covers everything for most of the
year, there are always brightly-coloured displays of fruit and vegetables on wooden
barrows by the roadside or in the markets. Less appealing is the meat hung outside
the butchers shops, exposed to the extra flavouring of vehicle exhaust, road spray and
the weather. Having said that, I frequently had the privilege of eating meals with my
ANA colleagues, and Afghan food is very tasty. The sight of herds of goats clearing
rotting rubbish that had accumulated on the pavements, however, did slightly dampen
my enthusiasm for goat meat.
Hardware shopkeepers create elaborate displays of their wares outside their shops
every day: coils of rope and cord hang from shop fronts, and cooking pots and metal
bowls of every conceivable size are stacked in pyramids. Even humble bricks are
stacked in eye-catching piles, like Jenga blocks. Much of the citys heating and
4
cooking is done with gas or fossil fuel,
so there are yards selling stacks of
firewood ready to be weighed for sale
using enormous cantilevered scales.
My favourite shops are the bakeries,
which display flatbreads with elaborate
patterns hanging by their corners in the
shop windows. Customers dont go
into the shop, but make purchases
through a small open window at the
front, behind which the cross-legged My base in central Kabul, Spring 2014.
baker sits and hands out the goods.
In spite of security requirements and the occasional terrorist attack, there is a rhythm
of life to Kabul, and everyday business carries on as much as possible. The chaotic
traffic (one million cars and one set of traffic lights) is an eclectic mixture of cars,
buses, lorries, armoured security vehicles, handcarts, bicycles, donkeys and carts, and
even the occasional horseback rider. They converge on chokepoints, particularly
roundabouts where traffic comes at you from every conceivable direction. But
somehow it works: eventually, through a combination of patience, traffic police, and
weary acceptance, everyone gets where they need to go, even in the rush hour.
As a member of the International Security Assistance Force a real lift and the most
positive sight for me was seeing children going to school: the girls, on foot and smart in
black raincoats, black trousers and sparkling white hijab headdresses, look like a flock
of birds as small groups grow into a concentration at the school entrance; the boys,
less tidy but no less clean in their
long blue trousers and light blue
shirts, larking around, occasionally
waving at security vehicles. Large
scale cricket or football games
spring up wherever there is space
once school has ended, at least for
those without chores or homework.
Sometimes in the humdrum rhythm
of a city going about its daily
business, there are incongruities:
vendors carrying a bunch of
brightly coloured balloons or selling
paddling pools by the sides of the
road, and Las Vegas-style
Balloons were banned under the Taliban wedding-halls with vivid light
displays for the Afghan weddings
that involve hundreds of guests from tribal and village groups, as well as family and
work colleagues.
In my next article I will talk about the progress of the Afghan National Security Forces
that has enabled the Afghan people to enjoy some of these more relaxed
opportunities, and what home means when you are deployed on operations so far
away.
5
LGVs in the village road. Areas to consider would be along
Our hard working P C Pete Jung, who Brunel Rd, Stephenson Rd and Farm
writes letters to the owners of all the LGVs Lane to give as much notice as possible
we report seeing in the village**, has long that all LGV's must turn right onto
believed that one of the reasons we get Churchfields Rd.
these large vehicles driving down our Perhaps also painted indication on the
narrow road is inadequate signage. mini roundabout at the junction of Brunel
Drivers who come out of side roads into Rd and Churchfields Rd.
Churchfields ready to drive away from What a sensible approach. Thank you,
Salisbury often do not see the signs that Pete. Like all the best ideas you think:
instruct them to turn right, not left. Why did no-one think of that before?
Well, no longer! Pete submitted a request **What do you mean you dont bother?!
to the Salisbury Area Board for 1500 to Drivers need to have the offence pointed
provide better signage. It was agreed and out and the statistics are vital. In his
passed on to the Community Area request Pete was able to refer to the
Transport Group who approved it. Pete hundreds of letters he has written over the
recommended that police and Highways last eight years. And a second offence
personnel visit the site together. can mean court action. So next time you
The signage he asked for is: see an LGV dont just moan: make a note
Existing signage possibly illuminated to of the number and let Pete know (details
attract attention of LGV drivers. on back page).
Consideration of painted signage on the

St Johns Place: the latest from Simon Someone suggested we contact wedding
Woodley, rector of Bemerton and chair couples (which we're hoping to do this
of Bemerton Community Ltd week)
When I told the bishop we needed The Romanos are offering to donate the
100,000 he said, "Is that all?"! Meaning, first months delivery charges for anyone
I think - we've come this far and is that all who starts having their newspapers and
that is between us and our dream? Its magazines delivered (excellent service
not so big. ring them on 414700: editor)
Especially when you realise how much And the After School Club is making its
support is out there. Since our publicity in applications to Ofsted and others in
the Journal, Valley News, Spire FM, and readiness for opening in the Autumn.
BBC Radio Wilts (going out Sunday 3 May Because we didn't have enough money to
07:15 and 08:15) lots of people have start building work in April, our timetable
come forward to offer help, including has slipped a little, but we do need to
personal donations from all over, including make a final decision by the end of May.
Hereford, and 2 anonymous donations for If you pledged money to be donated when
10,000. building work began could you consider
Peartree Serviced Apartments in Mill pledging a little more?
Road have made a charitable donation to Contact Simon if you can help in any way
us. or make a new pledge: 333750 or
Our twelve collection boxes are out in revwoodley@me.com
shops and places in Salisbury and Wilton

6
 Richard Augustine Crockett 1891 1915
Rifleman 2nd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Richard Crockett died of wounds at the base hospital at Boulogne, on 22 May 1915, age
24 and was buried in the Commonwealth section of Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, the first
of our servicemen on active service to have a named grave.
Richard was the younger brother of Stephen Crockett, killed in October 1914; their family
history was described in the October newsletter.
Richard was born in Quidhampton, the youngest of a family of seven children. His father,
Thomas was a shoemaker and housepainter. He attended Bemerton school and was a
member of the Church Lads Brigade, in 1904 becoming band corporal. That year they
had a summer camp in Quidhampton with a Brigade from St Michaels, Portsmouth.
In 1911 Richard was a labourer at the whiting factory, still living at home in Temperance
Cottages with his parents and Stephen. He enlisted almost as soon as the war began, on
4 September 1914, the weekend when more men signed up than any other. He chose the
Kings Royal Rifle Corps and went to Winchester for training.
This information is from his service records which survived though
damaged by fire. (see photo) They tell us he was 5 feet 9.5 inches tall,
weighed 130 pounds, had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and light
brown hair. His chest was nearly 36 inches fully expanded. His sight
was perfect but his teeth defective. He had been vaccinated as a
child and his physical condition was good.
He was posted to France on 23 February 1915, four months after the
death of his brother in Flanders.
Richard Crocketts casualty form shows he was wounded on 9 May
and admitted to hospital at Boulogne on the eleventh, where he died
eleven days later. His battalion took part in the Battle of Aubers Ridge
on 9 May, part of a vigorous offensive to break through German lines as it was believed
the Germans had taken troops away to fight in the east. At Aubers, however, the German
defences had been strengthened, the attack was unsuccessful and 246 men of Richards
battalion were killed or died of wounds. Aubers is about ten kilometres away from where
his brother had been killed seven months earlier.
Bessie, Richards mother, chose the words for his grave: In
memory of our beloved son at rest in the lord, his duty nobly
done. No doubt she wished she could have chosen words
for Stephen too but his body was never found.
The rest of Richards service record deals with his effects
and delivery and receipt of his medals, two scrolls and a
plaque. The first form, a detailed account of his relatives,
was filled in and witnessed by the Rector, M Alderson, and
dated April 1919. He also signed it for Thomas who was
unable to write but receipts signed in 1921 show a faltering
signature, suggesting Thomas learned to sign his name.
There were many people with the name of Crockett in the
area, and Richard and Stephen had five surviving siblings,
but we have been unable to trace any family with
photographs or personal information of either brother.
Richard will be remembered at the morning service in
St Andrews on 24 May. Research by Bea tilbrook and Wendy Lawrence
7
 Bemerton
Contributors & Contacts
Film
Society Police non emergency no.: 101
PC Pete Jung and Wilton Police
Wednesday Station: 01722 438981
13 May Peter.Jung@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk
St Johns Primary School: 322848
St Johns The White Horse : 744448
school Quidhampton Mill : 741171
Footshill B&B: 743587
Wiltshire Good Neighbours:
Val OKeefe 07557 922034
Wilton and District Link
Scheme :01722 741241
Parish Council clerk:
Tell No One : 2006 subtitles Clare Churchill 743027
15 certificate quidhamptonpc@btinternet.com
Doors open 19.00 Film begins 19.30 1 Tower Farm Cottages, Skew Rd.
Entrance 5 Website:
parishcouncil.quidhampton.org.uk/
Tell No One is a terrific thriller.
Wiltshire Council 0300 456 0100
A wife goes missing in mysterious
Area Councillor, Peter Edge
circumstances after a row with her
01722 742667 peter@pedge.net
husband. Eight years later two bodies
Rector of Bemerton
are discovered and evidence which
Rev Simon Woodley 333750
incriminates the husband, who flees,
Parish Office 328031
pursued by the police. Meanwhile he
Problems with HGVs: contact PC
has been receives emails that
Jung or leave a note in the black box.
seemingly could have come only from
Village Hall bookings: Sabine
his wife.
Dawson 742843 (not Sundays)
Immaculately plotted, brilliantly acted,
Community Emergency Volunteer:
this is what a thriller should be.
John Cater 744079
Floodwarden:
Two changes to recycling provisions Ken Taylor 742456
in June Waste and recycling dates
- Watch out for revised opening hours 4 May: Household & garden waste
at the recycling centre from 8 June. 11 May: Recycling
Details in the next newsletter. 18 May: Household & garden waste
- No garden waste collection 25 May: Recycling
advertised on the Wiltshire Council 1 June: Household & final free
website from 15 June. Leaflets were garden waste collection
received by mail asking for 40 p.a. 8 June: Recycling
payment 15 June: Household waste

Newsletter editor: Bea Tilbrook 742456

This newsletter has been paid for
bjtis@hotmail.co.uk Meadow Barn
by the Parish Council
Fishermans Reach SP2 9BG.
Cy-
Printed locally by Spectrum Design and 8Print of North Street Wilton Tel:742678
clin