It’s Cheltenham Festival week, and if for some reason you can’t visit the course during this classic event you can always come and watch as all the excitement unfolds at the Fisherman’s Rest today as they welcome race fans to the pub for a special Gold Cup event. The first race is at 1.30 pm with the Gold Cup starting at 3.20 pm, to be watched on the big screen t.v.
The village shop is getting into the Mothering Sunday groove by offering a specially decorated cup-cake for the occasion. They are priced at £2.25 each – please call at the shop for your special one! Also Dinah thanks everyone who contributed carrier bags during her recent appeal; she now has plenty, but please keep saving them for the village shop, they are most useful and she prefers not to buy them as she would have to charge 5p each.
Talented local resident Astrid Kemble will be joining the cast of K.A.T.S once again this month as they put on their version of classic musical ‘Oliver ‘. The cast has been working hard on the production since September, an immense commitment as always. Tickets are available from T.I.C in Kingsbridge, the performances start on March 24th until the 28th, in the hall at Malborough.Â
Its a big week for St Andrew’s this week as the church celebrates Mothering Sunday. There will be a special service for the day and invitations have been sent out to the school and pre-school, so hopefully there will be lots of youngsters. Jo Smith will have activities in church during the service for the children to enjoy. All the hymns and songs have been chosen to be appropriate for the day, so all of you young or young-at-heart folk please consider yourself invited to this great opportunity to sing and have fun! The service starts at 11.0 am as usual and will be led by yours truly, and there will be coffee and tea after the service.
It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of one of our most lovely Aveton Gifford locals this week. David Balkwill passed away on Saturday morning. He was well known in the village and in the farming community, having lived all his long and fascinating life in the parish. David wrote a memoir of his early life last year and the book was very popular, giving a very personal and detailed veiw of what it was like living on the land before and during the world war. David was of course an avid member of St Andrew’s church, singing in the choir for many years, and up until recently David grew plants to sell to raise money for his beloved Church. He was a unique and kind man who will be much missed, and I offer sincere condolences to David’s family.Â
Our intrepid ladies of the W.I met this week, and although we enjoy the company of the members we have, we would like to see more members join us as we have had some bereavements and some members moving away from the parish to live elsewhere. The group meet on the second Thursday in the month in the village hall at 7.30 pm; there is always a talk and we have some diverse subjects during the year, including an earlier talk on bee keeping, which was very interesting. The W.I also have coffee mornings etc., and have trips out. The next event for them is on Saturday March 14th at 10.30 am, so if you would like to know more about the W.I why not come along and talk to the ladies?