‘Devizes & Beyond’ is a collection of original poems in traditional forms and digital photography, inspired by life in Devizes and the occasional foray into the world outside. The exhibition covers eight areas of life from shopping to spirituality and is a colourful and poignant snapshot of what it is to be human in this beautiful place and brief moment of time, and the physical and metaphysical journeys we take on different forms of transport and through life itself. (Gail Foster)
Those are Gail’s own words in her description of her exhibition this week at St. Mary’s; she has become a well known poet and photographic artist in our town, and it is a joy to behold this body of work on public display. There are various sections to peruse and ponder over, smile, weep and reflect upon, from “Shopping” and “Spirituality”, as Gail mentions already, to “Community”, “People”, “Transport”, “Creatures” and “Landscapes”. And the eponymous section “Devizes & Beyond”.
Some areas unsurprisingly cross over … “Community” and “People”, “Devizes & Beyond” and “Landscapes”, but that is no criticism… such is the breadth of Gail’s work and interests this is probably to be expected. What is presented is certainly worthy of at least thirty minutes of anybody’s time, and the calm, serene surroundings of St. Mary’s permits us all to take a while to sit and reflect on what we are witnessing and cerebrally imbibing.
We are treated to some two hundred and eighty two photographs, and eight poems within those eight sections. In the vein of the crossovers mentioned above, some poems lend themselves to being a sisterhood together : The beautiful, heart rendingly poignant “Children of the Avenues” reflecting upon the lives past and future of the offspring of The Avenues, especially the September 2019, immediately pre-Covid, schools’ intakes holds the same gentle and reflective space as “Blink ~ Seven Stanzas for the Seven Ages of Man” harnessing the concepts within Shakespeare’s monologue in “As You Like It”. Similarly “Singing River” and “This Barrow Strewn Land“ share a love for the Wiltshire great outdoors and its magical and wistfully timeless beauty.
Treat yourself to an indulgence with the exhibition of photographs of all sections and you’ll undoubtedly spot someone you know, a beloved place, something or somewhere to make you laugh, smile, weep – or even halt you with a jolt. Gail is not shy to show warts and all either… we live in such a beautiful part of the world and her wonderful photographic eye captures so many shots that are truly stunning, worthy of any great exhibition… but she also grabs the mundane parts of everyday life that are the reality of living in a small town. For every framed shot of a church yard entrance, a shaft of light in the Ginnel, there’s the kebab shop building site, a hearse, a crowded bus.
All of these display Gail’s wonderful eye, and patience, and her lifetime of living in, and love of, Devizes, but if there is one section that truly encapsulates the author and artist that is Gail Foster it is that of spirituality… her inner peace and connections with an ancient land, and organised religion, of ancient chalk-lands, stones and timeless vistas, and pagan and church ceremonies.
This exhibition covers so much, it is impossible to encapsulate it all in mere words. One will still be taking it all in for some while afterwards – I’ve been mulling over this piece for almost two days and I should probably take longer but I am mindful that we need to all experience this display so its imperative I publish this as soon as possible. To paraphrase Peter Quince, a Shakespearean character from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”….
I entreat you, desire you, and require you to visit Gail’s exhibition this week. Entry is free, open daily 10.00am to 3 p.m. until Sunday 26th April, plus an evening opening opn Friday 24th April from 6pm to 8pm.
And finally… to enjoy Gail’s eight poems from this exhibition in perpetuity, they are included in her next book, “”Singing River – a book of poetry”, which can be bought from Devizes Books from Friday 24th. Get it early on Friday and you may be able to meet the author over the weekend to have it signed!
“It’s not all that glitter is gold,” Bob Marley sung, “half the story has never been told.” Okay, he was referring to 400 years of institutionalised slave trading on an international and industrial scale, whereas we’re on about a Trowbridge multistorey carpark…..
And anyway, the story is there for all to see; Wiltshire Council meetings are videoed and published on YouTube. If you’ve not the time to lodge two matchsticks into your eyes and strain for an epic four hours, you might rely on wonky social media opinion, where I’d favour it’s not really about a carpark, rather political point-scoring from some still bitter that they lost their control of County Hall.
If we were positively peddling towards fresh notions from a LibDem headed Wiltshire Council, a full council meeting on Tuesday 7th January jabbed a stick into the spokes. Despite both Conservatives and Reform nationally criticising each other, when they locally gang up they can sway the vote. The meeting took on two major issues, the first was increasing council tax on second homes, where Conservative and Reform councillors voted against, and, in his oversized suit, ex-Wiltshire Council leader Richard Clewer contemptuously scoffed at the poor on a Marie Antoinette level.
Using the analogy, “if you’ve got one car, and you buy another, should you pay extra tax because you’ve got two cars?” Councillor Clewer arrogantly justified voting it down. Not in a financially stable economy, no, but our reality differs, and who’s fault is that?!
If you want a car analogy, Richard, try this sucker for size; “if I buy a car from a mate I thought was trustworthy, and it broke down three miles down the road, should he pay for the repair?!” Fourteen years of Conservative austerity focussed entirely on the working class; they did this, they caused the deficit, and refuse to contribute to fix it.
Taylor Wright, Wiltshire Councillor for Devizes East called the meeting “a deeply disappointing moment for Wiltshire.” I love this guy- not like that, you filthy sort; he’s a young family man with fresh ideas of equality! In voting it down, Taylor stated, “they chose to prioritise, in their own words, ‘the 0.5% of households’ in Wiltshire who can afford a second property over the needs of the remaining 99.5% of residents.”
Taylor mentioned struggling families, the cost of living, “young people locked out of the housing market,” and “communities crying out for investment in services,” hailing the decision swayed by this Conservative and Reform swarming “a missed opportunity to make a small but meaningful step towards fairness.” Tempting me to originally concentrate on this issue rather than the second major issue raised, the future of a dilapidating Trowbridge carpark, because that felt like a storm in a teacup, I needed a bath, and what’s that got do with Devizes anyway?!
Cue Devizes town councillor and ex-Wiltshire one, Iain Wallis, who posted on his dubiously bias Facebook group Devizes Issues that “Lib Dem administration plan to gift a developer and carpark and £2.5m of our money defeated,” in glorious jubilation. In it he stated “this overturns the cabinet’s wishes which were largely discussed in secret and once again prioritises us in the rest of Wiltshire rather than subsiding Trowbridge.”
While deliberately newspeak, it’s not entirely false, save it being far from a “gift,” and I don’t get how it was all secret if videos are published, but again, Taylor Wright explained “plainly” why he voted in favour of disposing of the asset, even though, he said, “I know the headline figure of £2.5 million sounds shocking at first glance.” Through this source we see how misleading Mr Wallis’s post is; bearing in mind he lost his county council seat, it’s a shame there’s a bitterness projected in his tone, persuading him to miss half the story.
“The car park itself is in serious disrepair. Independent assessments show that within the next ten years it is highly likely to require full demolition and rebuild. The estimated cost of that work is up to £8 million,” Taylor fills in the gaps. “If Wiltshire Council keeps the car park, that £8 million bill will fall on all Wiltshire taxpayers – including residents in Devizes, who gain no benefit from free parking in Trowbridge.”
So yeah, the price tag to solve this might be £2.5m, but the option suggested by the Cons and Reform would be significantly higher, something Mr Wallis omitted from his post. I think a chat with Taylor is as overdue as my bath……
Our chat didn’t dwell on Mr Wallis’s post, it only serves to illustrate how bending the truth to suit a narrative is misleading. I wanted to discover the options presented to the councillors, and why some favoured dishing out £8million of taxpayer’s dosh to save a dysfunctional and dilapidated carpark. “I cannot believe it’s as controversial as it is,” Taylor agreed, and with a heavy sigh explained how Iain had posted again, accusing him of lying.
I put this concept to Taylor, that rather than it being about a carpark, it was bitterness or even a punishment for the change in control of the council. “Yeah, there’s a lot of that,” he concurred. You may recall a day when St Stephen’s free carpark fed into a busy shopping centre, but that era is sadly all gone. “Because of a legal covenant tied to the shopping centre, parking must remain free. That means the site cannot generate any income, now or in the future, no matter who owns it,” Taylor explained.
“it’s dilapidated,” he said, “so the benefits of having free parking for it are slim. I think people are frustrated, in Trowbridge specifically, of the ability to park free, but that doesn’t benefit anyone in Devizes, unless you occasionally visit Trowbridge, but it shouldn’t come from our council tax. Calne has free parking, but the town council pay that, as do other town’s councils pay for their parking, so if Trowbridge are willing to pay to continue that is beside the point. It’s Trowbridge paying for Trowbridge, and I don’t have a problem with that.”
“But my logic on paying the £2.5 million to dispose of that asset, I understand the headline ‘Councillors Giving half a million and a carpark to a developer’ sounds horrendous, but when look into the detail, which I don’t believe some of my Conservative colleagues have, they’ve heard Lib Dems are proposing something, let’s oppose it; the building is coming down, it’s crumbling, we’re doing patchwork jobs, including one for half a million recently to try to keep it going for a few more years and for safety concerns, but we need to get rid of this asset, because it’s not an asset, it’s a major liability. Commercial properties can have a negative value, in this case it’s been assessed independently, and it has negative value because of the liability. The only value it has to anyone would be the owner of the other half of the covenant, which is the shop centre owner.”
“There are other options,” Taylor expressed, “but not good ones. The other would be to fully develop the site at a cost, estimated to be in the region of £8 million. I’m not suggesting the Conservatives are pushing for that, but if the building gets to a point where it’s so dilapidated we’re instructed to rebuild it, which we could be, that will be the cost. The other option is to find another developer to take on the site and pay us, but they’d be paying us for a site which is falling apart and in need of a rebuild, and by law cannot make any money. So, why anyone would buy it from us…commercially it makes no sense.”
On the idea of the council buying the site despite it’s negative value , Taylor explained, “we did explore the possibility of changeling the convent in court, but were given a 60% chance of success and a highly placed judge in this field recommended we don’t do this, because if we lose the shopping centre owner could counteract us, claiming because it’s in such a shoddy state, we do need to completely rebuild it. So, whilst the initial cost for the legal action might be low, what follows from it could be extremely expensive, and us being immediately forced to demolish and rebuild the carpark, hence we saw that option as too high risk.”
So, once the free parking scheme was an asset, and we all thought we were parking for free, now whimpering it’s unfair for one town to have free parking when others don’t seems superfluous; it’s a burden or curse, we’re paying for in the end. The issue only remaining is how to solve it cost effectively; an issue not caused by the new council, but one they inherited. Leaving me confused still as to the opposition to demolish it.
“It was their business to pursue the other two options,” Taylor explained, “they wanted to seek other developers who might be interested in purchasing the property, but as I said, they’re going to come with the same caveats, the covenant prevents it making money, and it needs to be rebuilt, so the idea of another developer paying us for something which is a liability is laughable from a commercial sense. They might find a another developer who will take it for the £2.5 million contribution to redevelopment, but again, they’ll still be subject to the covenant so we’d be paying for it to be redeveloped for a developer who’s not going to make any money from it. So, again, it doesn’t make commercial sense, but the large proportion of conservative councillors were looking at challenging it in court, and yes, it’s possible it could win, but is unlikely. And also, if we lose we face our costs and the other side’s too, and, potentially, accountancy on the basis of dilapidation and having to rebuild the whole thing immediately. All options are risky. As much as £2.5 million is a huge amount, and I take no pleasure in signing off on spending it, for this purpose I think it’s a terrible way to spend money, but, at least to my mind, we don’t have any other sensible option.”
Not to end this on a sour note, I did joke the Reform councillors probably wanted to keep it to hang flags off of, and Taylor expressed the opinion of one, Chris Brautigam, who has been “really pushing to hold onto the site, as he’s a Trowbridge councillor, and I can understand his reasoning. It’s based on wanting to keep the carpark free for the residents of Trowbridge, which is a valid objective, and one of the most respectable reasons to want to hold onto it; he’s doing it for his residents, and has campaigned hard and respectfully for that, and I congratulate him, but I don’t think it’s the right move, for my residents.”
How what seemed like an open and shut case became such a major issue is concerning evidence petty bitterness and political point-scoring is consuming the council, where time could be better spent on solving issues. “We were floored when this became controversial,” Taylor said, “we’d a pre-meeting, where this was one where we said this will be fine, it’s obvious this is right path, and there was no way to disagree with it. There might be a couple of Trowbridge councillors who might disagree, but all in, it’s probably go through quite easily. And then, all of a sudden, Armageddon kicked off! It took us all by surprise.”
It all left me pondering more generally, on if the objections was driven by traditionalism, that there was hope high street shopping would return in a trend rebelling from internet shopping. “There was an option to buy the shopping centre,” Taylor revealed, “which as we’ve seen with other councils up and down the country,” and he exampled his hometown of Woking, who’s council purchased the shopping centre and “are now in a billion pounds worth of debt over the building costs and lack of revenue it generates. I don’t think councils have an business owning shopping centres.”
The biting reality is that all towns are unfortunately losing shops, but if you visit a town like Devizes, where many will complain we’re losing shops, it’s still relatively busy because the trend has changed and we adopt now a café culture where visiting town is a treat; you buy a light lunch or coffee, and browse, less everyday functionally for goods, but more ascetically, and a crumbling seventies Bauhaus carpark, once functional, is not ascetically pleasing, perhaps more an eyesore, and discouraging people to visit.
I thank Taylor Wright for his time, and enlightening us. It’s best to take social media posts with a pinch of salt, especially when they come with political bias; it’s been reported comments with opinions differing from that given by the admin on the aforementioned Devizes Issues one, have been deleted and persons have faced being banned from the group. We always must dig a little deeper to find the truth.
We are saddened to hear Westbury Town Council had to make the difficult decision to postpone the Westbury White Horse Soap Box Derby this week. Planned for May, the decision follows careful and detailed consideration of public safety, regulatory obligations, and the long-term sustainability of this much-valued community event….
Since the first Soap Box Derby in 2022, visitor numbers have increased year on year by approximately 1,000 to 2,000 people. While this growth reflects the event’s popularity and success, the scale now projected for 2026 has outpaced the capacity of its current location and supporting infrastructure. The existing site, while offering an exceptional setting for the racing itself, presents significant challenges in safely managing pedestrian and visitor access, alongside transport and traffic flow. Protecting the safety of pedestrians, visitors, participants, volunteers, and residents remains paramount for the Council.
Following discussions with the Highways Authority and Wiltshire Police, the Town Council has been advised that a licence for the 2026 event cannot be issued without fundamental changes to address these safety concerns.
Based on this advice, the Council accepts that the Soap Box Derby cannot be delivered safely or lawfully in its current format in 2026. Attempting to proceed under the existing arrangements would create unacceptable levels of risk for the Town Council, volunteers and the wider community.
The Council has therefore designated 2026 as a fallow year. This will provide officers with the necessary time to undertake a full and careful review of alternative options, including potential new locations and revised event management arrangements, to support the planned relaunch of the Soap Box Derby in 2027 in a way that is safe, sustainable, and fit for the future. We hope this is successful and we will see the return of this popular event.
Westbury Town Council remains committed to the Soap Box Derby and the value it brings to the town. Working with partners, stakeholders and the community, the Council will focus over the coming year on ensuring the event is well placed to return in a safe and sustainable manner.
In thanking everyone who supported this year’s Wiltshire Music Awards, Eddie Prestidge of Stone Circle Music Events revealed his intentions of continuing with the awards into next year…
“Firstly, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported and got involved in our very first Wiltshire Music Awards,” he said. “The enthusiasm, energy, and community spirit were incredible to see.”
Reflecting on this year’s inaugural awards, he said, “we want to be open, honest, and transparent about the journey. Did we get everything right? No, and we’re happy to learn and grow. Did we realise how big this celebration would become? No, your support surpassed all expectations!”
Looking ahead to 2026 Eddie explained, “we are excited about continuing the Stone Circle Wiltshire Music Awards into 2026. However, we recognise that this celebration now belongs to the wider community, not just to us.”
“To help it grow in the right way, we are exploring bringing together a small group of local volunteers to form a community committee, encouraging fair representation across Wiltshire.”
If you feel you have something positive to contribute and would like to help shape the 2026 awards, please email Eddie here: hello@stonecirclemusicevents.uk
Patrick O’Sullivan of Stone Circle Music Events said, “while we could continue running the awards on our own, this event is a celebration of Wiltshire’s music community — driven by local voices, talent, and passion. That’s why we feel a community-based team would help make 2026 stronger and more exciting. Together we can continue to build the Wiltshire Music Awards in order to recognise and celebrate the amazing talent we have in Wiltshire.”
“Thank you for supporting the Wiltshire Music Awards! We’re so grateful to everyone who got involved. Together, we’re growing something amazing for Wiltshire’s music community!”
“We’d really love to hear your feedback, what you enjoyed, and what you think we could improve for next time. Your thoughts will genuinely help us make next year’s Wiltshire Music Awards 2026 event better.”
Stone Circle Music Events state feedback should be by email, as they won’t be responding to feedback posted on Facebook, promising to reply to every email politely and respectfully.
Send your feedback to: patrick@stonecirclemusicevents.uk
by Ian Diddamsimages by Gail Foster ‘Devizes & Beyond’ is a collection of original poems in traditional forms and digital photography, inspired by life in…
Some four years since his last release under his own name, Lavington’s electronica composer Moray McDonald presents a soundtrack; the music he wrote and produced…
Can we please draw a red line under Pewsey’s Moonrakers St George’s Cross facade fiasco now Wiltshire Council has u-turned on a proposal forcing landlord…
Local people can find out more about a brand new state of the art Integrated Care Centre opening in the town in early 2026 at an evening information event on Thursday 11 September from 6.30- 8.30pm at the Holy Trinity Church in Trowbridge.….
The event will be a great opportunity for local people to find out more about the new centre, meet local NHS representatives behind the project, as well as local councillors.
They will also have an opportunity to hear more about the services that will be provided in the new building, see photos, plans, models, and ask questions.
The £16 million centre will replace the nearby Trowbridge Community Hospital and deliver BSW ICB’s long-term strategic vision of putting more services in the heart of local communities.
Tea and coffee will be available.
This event is part of wider engagement, with more drop-in sessions planned at local venues:
Fri 19 Sept, 09.30–13.30 – Trowbridge Library Fri 3 Oct, 11.00–15.00 – Shires Shopping Centre Fri 24 Oct, 11.00–15.00 – Asda, The Shires Sat 8 Nov, 10.00–15.00 – Weavers Market, Town Hall Wed 10 Dec, 08.00–13.30 – Trowbridge Market
The premise is really quite simple, the prospect is positively glowing with brilliance, the result remains to be seen, but on Sunday the 4th May Devizes will know for sure where the future of events in the town rests ….. No pressure Devizes Yea team!!
It was never a nice thing to have to announce our beloved Street Festival had to be cancelled due to arts funding cuts, but being as the Market Place was booked for an event on the date, Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts are determined to put on a show regardless.
The fantastic part to all this is that DOCA has brought together teenage volunteers to create a new annual festival in Devizes Market Place, under the name Yea Devizes. The most important thing for all to note about this is, this is not the street festival, nor a replacement for it, it should not be compared to it, and most important of all, it is NOT just for teenagers. Even if the committee of organisers are youths, this event welcomes everyone, of all ages.
DOCA say they “noticed very few young adults attended traditional local events and therefore sought out youth ambassadors eventually creating Devizes Youth Event Area (Devizes Yea). The youth volunteers wanted to represent their own interests, making local events appeal to our young adults. They’re using their skills and collaboration to create this festival, with an aim of bringing together all generations of our community.”
I met up with the team at their weekly planning meeting, and over a massive map of the Market Place, plastered with sticky notes highlighting all the great ideas they’ve collectively worked on, I was mightily impressed. Under the direction of DOCA expert Annabel, Elsie, Bea, Jo, and Sam are the Devizes Yea core ambassadors, learning the tricks of the events trade, and likely how much hard work goes on behind the scenes to create large scale events…. and there’s more than you imagine.
Jess, my daughter, just joined as press officer, (which puts us ahead of the game of telling you about it!) But Devizes YEA are still looking for teenage volunteers to help in the build-up to and the event itself. So, if you are a young person living in the local area and want to get involved contact: yeadevizes@docadevizes.org.uk or find out more on the DOCA website or Instagram.
“There will be something for everyone at this outdoor event,” Devizes Yea promises, “with a range of live music, circus acts, poetry open mics, plot35 Devizes community gardening, cooking demonstrations, food traders and more. There are also chances for teenagers to get involved on the day with sound tech and learn from professional sound engineers who will be setting up the main stage.”
We think this is a great idea, and look forward to seeing the results. Oh, and wish them all the best of luck with the first event on 4th May, obviously. This could be the start of something amazing, and I must stress the point once again, that this day is designed and intended to be for everyone, not just our younger residents. Even middle-aged young-at hearts, duty bound to show them how it’s done on the dancefloor; Dad-dancing mode switched to crazy legs… and I’m off, nobody attempt to stop me!!
While world leaders have a slagging match over world war three, let’s have a Sunday roast about the state of our roads, shall we?! Because, let’s face facts, if any roads get a plaster on their war wound it’s not for your safety, it’s for political point scoring. Not a council election coming up by any chance, is there; asking for a friend?!
It’s the hot topic for the public, fed up to the back teeth of bouncing along a lunar landscape, wheel trims flying off in random directions, and deciding whether to shave a wind-mirror from oncoming traffic or delve into a bottomless pit of hell. As a result it’s also one which candidates with or without a seat have focussed on. The problem remains, sorting the reality of humble promises from prospective councillors, from the hyperbole spewing from the desperation of existing ones. But either way, their dedication to national political parties encourages them to fight this out with the same gusto and ethos as national politics, and that’s usually dirty and dishonest.
Hopeful candidates like Taylor Wright, Liberal Democrat candidate for Devizes East was bang on the money when he said, “we heard that potholes were just part of pothole season, as if dangerous roads are something we should simply expect. Now, the explanation has shifted to residents being confused about the works taking place. But the reality is clear, people aren’t confused, they’re frustrated. Windsor Drive has been in an unacceptable state for far too long, with potholes making it a daily challenge for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. Calling this frustration “confusion” risks downplaying a very real and serious issue. Rather than shifting explanations, we should be asking why roads like this are allowed to deteriorate so badly in the first place. Devizes deserve safe, well maintained roads, not short-term fixes and new excuses.”
Declan Boore, Liberal Democrat candidate for Devizes South added, “residents have told us loud and clear; roads in disrepair, housing challenges, and the need for stronger local services. We’re not just taking notes, we’re taking action. This campaign is about delivering real change for our communities.”
Such posts on their individual Facebook pages were indirectly criticised by Devizes North Conservative Councillor Iain Wallis, who uses his more general Facebook group, Devizes Issues, strictly censored by himself to keep atop the discussion and delete any opposing views. He lambasted such pledges, stating, “We know the roads aren’t perfect, they never will be. Any candidate in the upcoming election who says otherwise either doesn’t understand the issues, or is trying to mislead. While candidates can say what they like to pull at heartstrings and play on legitimate concerns we have, I will keep doing my best to get to the bottom of the real issues and bring you answers from Highways.” He continued to compare the immense cost needed to repair the roads to the funds available as a justification, and praised the recent investment. He said “bottom” too, tee-hee.
This Conservative claptrap is all a bit Theresa May’s “magic money tree,” isn’t it? The county can find £2.5 billion to propose building a completely unnecessary and permanently damaging tunnel underneath Stonehenge, but ask them to please cover up a few holes in Windsor Drive and they’re suddenly brassic!
Lavington Conservative Councillor Dominic Munnsalsogot wet knickers about the new bobcats, declaring, “Lasting repairs brought about by Wiltshire Council’s £22 million extra investment in our road network and the machinations of our bobcat machines are making a big and visible difference across the county. Bobcats are capable of repairing up to 200 square metres a day – that’s a lot of potholes!”
Humm, that is, lots of potholes; Bobcat the Builder! Can he fix it? Yes, apparently he can, and not a minute too late (election is May.) But surely The Munnster cued that the time is overdue to address the elephant in the room; why are there so many potholes in the first sodding place?! Who’s job is it to highlight the issues to Highways and push things forward?!
We sang the Munnster’s praises upon announcing improvements to the dire and dangerous Black Dog crossroads, seven months ago, yet absolutely nothing has been physically done; just you know, an example to his dedication. If hardworking Munns concentrated on the issue rather than weaponizing the declaration to fire at his opposition we may be some way into carrying the work out by now. The campaign has been ongoing for decades; face it, he simply signed it off and claimed the credit, true Tory stylee. Stating it wouldn’t have been done if the councillor was of any opposition party is hearsay he portrayed as fact, and his downside; no one can say for sure unless the opposing councillor is given an opportunity to.
If I’ve used this analogy before it seems to get directed to a brick wall; if you leave the washing up in the sink, you eventually run out of plates, and you have a much bigger task to address, or eat off the floor like a dog! For the existing councillors can patronise their assurances, they can waffle on social media each time a pothole is shabbily pasted over, but the fact remains the same, Wiltshire Council have seriously neglected road repairs for so many years, the slight problem has amounted to a county-wide embarrassment, and we are the plateless, being treated like dogs.
I’ve been to other counties, some worse than others, but none seem as bad as here. How do they do it? Maybe they didn’t neglect them to begin with, just, you know, a thought. In a 2023 National FOI request into road maintenance repair times, out of the bottom ten, Wiltshire ranked five. 5,565 potholes were reported, the longest fix time was 453 days. The long term damage to vehicles is incalculable and unreportable. Report a pothole on my wilts app they hail their triumph, in the singular! There’s a multitude of ‘em every damn ten centimetres down every single road in the county, and you expect me to fill out a form for each one individually?! Ain’t nobody time fer ‘dat!!
Councillors gather around a repaired pothole to take credit, generally one they live nearby. The only way to live on a pothole-free road in Wiltshire is to move to a house neighbouring a Wiltshire Councillor! It’s a photo-opportunity to post to social media, expecting praise for their drop in the ocean, like showing mummy a picture they drew. They don’t need a medal or flattery, and don’t be manipulated by their propaganda. That. Is. Their. Job! We pay them for this, and if they’d been proactive it wouldn’t have amounted to such the momentous disaster they’re expecting gold stars for patching up.
“The blight of potholes and crumbling road surfaces in Devizes has become untenable, not only is it having an effect on road safety, it is hitting road-users in the pocket,” head of Devizes Guardians, Jonathan Hunter expressed. “The Devizes community expects a far better deal, as opposed to the haphazard and reactive approach to repairs, which is having a crippling impact on the town.”
“Residents want to see Wiltshire Council demonstrate clear leadership with a targeted and sustainable roads programme, as opposed to blaming the state of the roads on the so-called pothole season and relying on road users to pull-up in their vehicles and report every pothole, as a primary solution,” Jonathan continued; he goes on worse than I, but stick with it!
“Devizes expects and deserves a better deal for the town, with Wiltshire Council listening to the community, in harmony with a repair programme that uses quality and sustainable materials, alongside a rolling maintenance program. Instead, and unfortunately, we have local Wiltshire councillors taking to social media to suggest that the good folk of Devizes ‘believe in unicorns’ when it comes to road quality expectations, this approach completely trivialises the pothole epidemic that has sadly become a reality in Devizes.” In which Jonathan is referring to an outrageous post (few of them aren’t) made by our omnipresent hero Councillor Iain Wallis, whereby he slammed the voting population of Devizes for their complaints, and for any who might take heed of the pledges of the opposition, in favour of praising Wiltshire Councillors for their efforts, and said, “believing in unicorns isn’t going to do it.”
Neither is believing in Tory councillors, Boss Hogg. I reserve my freedom of speech, not to provoke, merely to add for satirical effect, you understand?! “Roscoe, arrest them there Duke boys, yeee hawlll!”
If I take the issue out of context, and place it within my own labour, you’ll see how ludicrous it is. Imagine I hadn’t delivered any milk for a whole year, and suddenly I drop two pints of out-of-date sludge off at old Mrs Perkins’ house, take a selfie at said location, post it on social media declaring how I’m delivering the milk, ban anyone who dares to point out my hypocrisy, and delete their comment so I get the final say; I delivered the milk, here I am doing it, if Keir Starmer was delivering the milk, you’d get nothing but rainbow oatmilk and think yourself lucky!!
You wouldn’t stand for it, would you? You’d tell me, sorry, but you’ve found another supplier. Yeah, he might not be as sexy and brash as me, that’s understandable, but at least he’s doing what you paid him to do. Maybe that’s what you must also do come election time.
For the latest in this verbal battle goes beyond debate and into the spread of misinformation, and surely acts as justification for my last paragraph, with perhaps the exception of declaring myself sexier than my successor. On Road repairs, Councillor Iain Wallis threw the teddies from his pram, calling out opposition candidates for “irresponsible posting trying to wind people up and get a few votes!”
Ah, anotherscathing post in which Mr Wallis lambasted who he claimed are the ringleaders as “parties who don’t even stand for Wiltshire Council or do stand but don’t live in Devizes and are not part of the community!” It was a shocking Facebook post implying if you do not stand for Wiltshire Council or you do not live here your view is void and invalid; way to go to win over popular opinion; right out of the Royston Vasey political rulebook.
Shame anyone who dares criticise it on his biassed platform akin to the Daily Express on steroids, will be axed and left complaining to uncaring gammons on the alternative Devizes Issues (but better) group, which exists only for spreading hateful prejudice anyway.
“This type of electioneering does nothing for good community relations and unity, it completely trivialises the dire road situation in Devizes,” Jonathan Hunter reacted, Devizes Guardian not standing therefore with a invalid opinion according to Mr Wallis! “Community campaigners are not ‘ring leaders,’ they are local people who are prepared to stand up for residents. It’s very disappointing that candidates are prepared to stoop to these levels and spread misinformation.”
“I take full responsibility for standing up for residents, and will always own my efforts as we support and work alongside the many local people for a better roads deal for Devizes.This is not electioneering, it’s simply standing up for our community, by calling out years of under investment and lack of listening from those who are elected to represent the folk of Wiltshire.”
“I have been campaigning for a better roads deal for many years, therefore to read a widely shared politically motivated statement, describing all those who are standing up for residents as “ring leaders” is completely unfair, patently wrong, and is an absolute disgrace. This type of behaviour completely trivialises local issues, seeks to drive division and puts the personal interests and ambitions of those seeking election above what really matters, which is community unity and respect for each other.” And you’ve got to admit if you follow the Devizes Issues Facebook group or you’ve been kicked out, Jonathan has a point, and what they are being fed there really is one-sided, opinionated and quite frankly, Trump ethics within a local community, and do we really need this?
I urge all standing councillors to quit backstabbing and get on with the job we pay you to do. Else, urge voters to take heed and give a chance to, not those with broken promises being spiteful at those airing popular opinion, but rather those fresh-faced candidates willing to take them on. That, to me, makes more sense than flogging a dead horse which clearly hasn’t delivered, and of whom occupy most of their time playing the blame game, insulting and censoring anyone who feels it necessary to express their frustrations on the issue, because clearly it is frustrating and counterproductive; all the council has to do is fix a darn pothole, storm in a teacup!!
I caught up with an excited Jonathan Hunter, leader of Devizes Town Council’s independent party The Guardians, and local loyal youth worker Steve Dewar to rap about an imminent youth centre coming to Sidmouth Street in Devizes….
I was aware Jonathan swore to create a youth project in town some years ago and was engaging with teenagers, researching what their expectations of such a place might contain.
“This is all part of a speech I made in council years ago,” he told me, “Asking the council to support three objectives, which were civic recognition for young people, to put them on equal standing to all the other recognitions we do in the annual civic awards, which we now do and that’s brilliant. The second was a street engagement program where we work with disenfranchised young people, on the streets, through an outreach team.”
“It’s taken four years to get the premises,” he continued. “The council have decided to redeploy what was an old bed shop. What it does is gets to the youth right in the middle of town, gives them their own café.”
If like me, your memories of youth clubs are dubious, based on the out of touch approach of our elders at the time, I was keen to discover how much of the project will be created by youths themselves. “The vison is that they get to run it and be integral rather than a bunch of older people meaning well but not necessarily understanding all the issues and concerns young people have,” Jonathan replied. “It’s going to be brilliant!”
He used the word “brilliant” numerous times, our own version of Paul Whitehouse’s Fast Show character, Brilliant Kid, right here on our town council!! But are we to overcome the stigma of said youth clubs of the past which tended to not engage the youth who might need it most?
“Absolutely,” Jonathan responded with his constant air of enthusiasm, “I’m really focussed on that, taking a collaborative approach with different people, with Steve Dewar, who inspired me five years ago to stand. Steve spoke of a ‘missing piece in a jigsaw’ with youth provision. I just wanted to go and bat for young people, and doing what’s right for the community rather than a political party or any ideological stuff, and make things happen that way, which I’m glad we can.”
I couldn’t think of a better local youth worker than Steve Dewar to be involved in this project, but as the sole-creator of a mobile youth charity and his mobile Youth Pop-Up Café travelling the county providing leisure facilities to youth, I was concerned his involvement with the youth centre would reduce usage of the pop-up café project. “We, as a charity haven’t had any financial provision for staffing the centre, that would be perhaps an independent youth worker,” Steve explained, “or someone employed by the council, to man it. The challenge we have as a small charity is we’re also committed to supporting young people in schools, through detached youth work, and there’s only me in this area and a few volunteers.”
“It is a constant battle and challenge, and is nationally, to reinvest back into youth workers as a vocation, to give it the time and professionalism that we think it deserves,” Steve expressed. “Unfortunately cuts to services has removed a lot of that peoplepower, to be able to commit to it. As much as I would love to give more time to it, as I certainly have a heart and vision for it, that needs to align with our other projects.”
“For me the challenge will always be an applicate to Wiltshire council, town councils that a centre-based provision isn’t a quick fix and isn’t a one-size fits all. It must compliment and work alongside with detached youth work, such as our pop-up van, schools-based work, and uniformed organisations, other charities. It must be a part of that. The Pop-Up Youth Cafe has had its busiest year, and we’re in the process of converting another van, to be able to respond to more needs across the county. Obviously, I want to see all these elements of youth work flourish.”
Jonathan informed me there would be three floors, the ground floor as a youth space “where they can congregate with a coffee bar or whatever they want to put in. They can hang out and discuss things in a safe space and enjoy each other’s company, without the cost of a coffee in a regular place.”
Plans for the first floor is “an aspirational hub, where different youth agencies can come together and work direct and deliver their visions. The top floor we’d love to se it going to an external educational provider which works with young people who might be disenfranchised from normal education, that are getting bused or taxied around the county access basic maths and English, to have something more local, which is sits far better for these local young people who have slipped through.”
Current town Mayor and councillor Ian Hopkins has also been working towards the project. Jonathan furthered, “also, what we’ve done in conjunction with this is, Ian Hopkins and I, are building a relationship with Devizes School, which is going well. We had a forum last week with the head and a selection of students. They’re really interested in this; they want to be involved and take a lead and be part of it.”
“What was brilliant was, when we met with the school, one of the students… these young people are so eloquent, articulate and knowledgeable, I was massively inspired by them… one of them said, ‘we need to help the parents too,’ because there are parents out there who are looking after and struggling to help teenagers growing up. It’s not an easy task, and some parents out there could probably do with some support; that came from the young people, that wasn’t our suggestion, so there’s possibilities on the top floor to develop a meeting place for parents to come together and share ideas and concerns.”
On youth engaging with the project, Steve added, “if we were doing it without them, we’ve missed the point. That’s why I’ve advocated several our local councillors to engage with young people and working in better partnerships with school staff so young people are involved, on the grounds on training.” He exampled a girl today who had been helping him create posters to go up in the youth space as they develop it, to let people know to ‘watch this space.’ “And we spoke about what she thinks the teenagers need and want.”
“Results of the school survey was young people would like safe places to go,” Steve explained, “and safe people to be able to speak to, and that’s nothing new, it’s been the case for years, and is certainly true in Devizes. Yet we’ve not been able to respond to them. That’s why I’m so chuffed, pleased, stoked, that hopefully Devizes… well, that this is the start of the journey which is starting to respond to that.”
“I’m really encouraged,” Jonathan said, “and we’ve got some seeds running through the area board, but I want to attract some funders to be able to run it, and for it to be successful and sustainable for years to come.”
I thought out loud, that the previous youth club in Devizes being attached to the school may have been viewed a hindrance and rather off-putting to the youth, whereas this, regardless of the school’s keen involvement, is geographically separate from it.
“Yes,” Jonathan agreed, “Bang in the centre of town! And what we’re looking at next is a brand, there’s a provisional name that we’ve given it, but young people are examining different kind branding and names, to give it the right kind of profile as well, and that’s with them. I think they should be the architects of that, and how they want it to develop. It’s just a great breakthrough, more to do, and talking with Steve and Ian, we want this to be super sustainable, and we want it to run itself.”
“I’m looking for this to have a halo effect,” Jonathan said, “maybe the minority of young people who find themselves disenfranchised and don’t have the infrastructure that some can enjoy, or maybe they don’t have good role models, they might look at this place and think I’d rather be there in a positive environment than be caught up in anti-social behaviour.”
Steve spoke fondly of a new national youth program, discussing a coloration of a lack of youth services has resulted in a trend of anti-social behaviour, “and those links as to how we, as communities, invest in our young people positively, goes in line with those elements to society which will take advantage of our young people,” he explained. “So, doing nothing, to me, isn’t an option, and that’s why I’m pleased the town and county council and other local organisations, hopefully local businesses as well, will get onboard with insuring that Devizes has the pullies to develop youth work provision.”
On the matter of a prospective opening date, Jonathan estimated, “the work is underway, we’re aiming for spring, an aspirational date. It’s all about working together, and I was really encouraged by MP Brian Matthew’s support, he recognises there’s a void of this kind of activity, which we’re aiming to fill.”
It all sounds amazing, certainly far better than my memories of a youth club, where you’d discover the most diluted orange squash known to mankind, in a drafty scout hall, and two kids playing on an undersized snooker table, while an aged vicar snored on a broken wooden chair in the corner! It’s all too late to save me, but good news for those just slightly younger than me! That, thanks to the organisers of this project, the youth are positively encouraged to engage with inputting what they want to get from the project.
Experience the Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival, a vibrant, family-friendly community gathering featuring traditional dance, music, song, and folklore throughout the town centre on Saturday 10th May 2025 (9.30am to 6pm). And the best part is, it’s free!
Witness over 50 dance groups, including 500 dancers and 120 musicians, featuring Morris dancing and diverse European styles.
Join the whimsical journey of our 10ft tall Jack in the Green and Jill in the Green, visiting 12 town centre venues with bands and fantasy beasts.
You’ll also discover the kid’s zone, artisan market, community hub, pagan arts and crafts.
Groove to a samba band, mummers’ play, Folk Club stage, Wiltshire Music Centre stage at Holy Trinity Church, a great venue with fantastic acoustics, Blues @ The Shoes stage, live pub music with English folk music in The Canal Tavern organised by the regular BoA session players, The Dandy Lion hosting an Appalachian session, French music outside in the sun at Timbrell’s Yard, buskers and more!
A Friday night launch party at the Wiltshire Music Centre is always a great start to the festival. This year it is on Friday 9th May, and they’ve booked the fantastic John Martyn Project.
The full programme is available on the BoA Green Man Festival website: boagreenmanfest.org
The BoA Green Man Festival has something for everyone – so dress up for the day and really get into the swing of things.
If options for urbanites seeking experiential or themed dining experiences are boundless, they’re lesser so in our rural backwaters. Yet, we’ve returned from a delicious…
There’s a cold remote ambience of burrowing doubt in the opening of Westbury’s singer-songwriter Seren’s debut song, in which, as the title suggests, she uses…
The biggest risk for any media reporting negatively on illegal raves is that, in their youth, their fifty-plus target audience probably attended illegal raves themselves!…
Devizes Music Academy is set to bring joy, energy and a whole lot of sparkle to the stage with its latest musical theatre production, Sister Act later…
Thimbles on standby, Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts are calling all creative craftspeople and makers to their new project, The Makers Exchange. It’s a new craft…
Remember, remember, we’re moving into November; leaves, loads of ‘em! Being as we are no longer doing weekly roundups, here’s some highlights of events in Devizes during November, but do pay attention, there’s lots more listed on our event calendar, from all over our county, and it’s always updating, so keep checking in HERE too!
Dave’s birthday beer festival at the Southgate, for the entire weekend and into Monday. Find Sammi Evans, Josh Oldfield & Gordon Thompson there on Friday 1st, and Courting Ghosts, I believe, are there on Saturday; not sure about the rest, but I think the focus is on the beer; if you can focus on beer! Happy birthday, Dave!
Talking taps, we send our best of luck to The Pour House, taking over the old Vaults in St John’s Street, Devizes. It’s their grand opening on Friday 1st.
On Saturday 2nd, there’s a tap top sale in Couch Lane, we have the Lions Club Arts Coaching Day, and Quakers Walk Community Biodiversity Group are bulb planting and preparing wildflower beds. Sunflower Events host a Christmas Market at the Corn Exchange from 11am to 6 on Saturday, 11am to 4 on Sunday.
While those Roughcut Rebels return to the Three Crowns, and Dave’s birthday beer fest continues at the Southgate, Mississippi MacDonald Band kicks off a long month of gigs at Long Street Blues Club, with Sons of the Delta in support. Isosceles Theatre Company are at the Wharf Theatre on Saturday, with a performance of Murder; Just What the Doctor Ordered. In aid of Swindon & Devizes Sands, there’s a Back to School disco at the Wyvern Club.
Sunday 3rd, it’s Devizes Fireworks at the Football Club. Jon Amor Trio residency at the Southgate. A concert in Chirton too, see poster below!
Monday 4th, The Opening of the Garden of Remembrance at the War Memorial, 10.45hrs.
Wednesday 6th, the regular acoustic jam night at the Southgate, of course!
Thursday 7th, Devizes Film Club is at The Wharf, with a screening of Finnish film Fallen Leaves.
Friday 8th, Muck & Dunder have a DJ set from Dub Pistol Barry Ashworth. Devizes Arts Festival presents a night of comedy at the Corn Exchange. And The Devizes Eisteddfod opens for Music, Speech & Drama, and runs until 17th November 2024.
Saturday 9th has the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association’s Book Fair at the Corn Exchange from 10am. Stone’s Throw are at The Three Crowns. And while Swindon’s amazing folk ensemble SGO are at the Southgate, The Ian Siegal Band are at Long Street Blues Club with Ruby Darbyshire in support, both unmissable!
Sunday 10th: Remembrance in Devizes. 09.15hrs Muster in the Marketplace. 10.00hrs Church Service at St John’s Church. After service Reform in Long Street. 11.00hrs Last Post-Two Minutes Silence- reveille Wreath Laying and Parade Marches Back to Marketplace.
Mr Griff & The Grifters play The Southgate, Devizes, from 5pm.
Monday 11th: Remembrance in Devizes. At the War Memorial: 10.45hrs for The National Two Minutes silence.
Wednesday 13th, sees the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate.
Friday 15th find the brilliant Siren at the Three Crowns.
Saturday 16th there’s a Mynt Image Craft Fair at the Corn Exchange, from 10am. Free entry and a great range of superb quality products.
John Otway makes a welcome return to Devizes, at the Long Street Blues Club, and Billy and the Lowground in support; a different night for the club, highly recommended this one!
Wednesday 20th, sees the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate. Devizes Flower Club is jingling all the way to the Corn Exchange.
Thursday 21st and there’s an Evening of Mediumship with Psychic Medium Nikki Kitt at the Corn Exchange.
Friday 22nd Queen tribute act, Qween UK at the Corn Exchange, no excuses for spellings from us, that is what it is, lets hope they will rowk you!
Saturday 23rd you can find The Sylvertones at The Three Crowns, but not a lot else I’ve heard about as of yet. Time maybe to pop over to Lavington for this….
Wednesday 27th, sees the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate.
Thursday 28th head down to the Pelican, where Fantasy Radio presents a Live Lounge with Ruby Darbyshire. Also, it’s open mic night at The Cellar Bar, Bear Hotel from 7:30pm.
Friday 29th is DOCA Winter Festival, lights switching on, lantern parade, mulled wine, Devizes Town Band playing Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and all the gubbings; and that’s when I’m officially in the Christmas mode! Window Wanderland runs from here until 2nd Dec, and the fun continues into Saturday too!
Double-whammy, the Hazel & Gretel panto opens at the Wharf Theatre on Friday too. Note, due to popularity they’ve added dates, and it runs until the 7th December now. I will be going to see it long before you, and I’ll be here to tell you about it; what? Perks of the job!!
Also on Saturday 30th, ever popular covers unique trio People Like Us will be at the Three Crowns. White Horse Opera at Market Lavington Community Hall.
That’s all for now, folks! Did I miss something out? Did you tell us about it?! We update all the time, so, rest assured more will be added when they come in, and if you cannot find something to entertain you here, you can leave town! In a nice way, you understand, we do have roads and Devizine lists events within range of Devizes as well as in Devizes; so remember, remember, to check the EVENT CALENDER!!
The simple answer is yes, very concerned. Following the publication of an article in Melksham News’s last issue questioning the council’s public notice policy, Wiltshire Council has refused to engage with Melksham News, effectively censoring the newspaper. This disgraceful decision could undermine local press freedom, accountability and local democracy…..
Melksham News, part of the Wiltshire Publications Group, has served their community with integrity, providing factual reporting and holding public institutions accountable for over forty years. However, when recently it reported on criticism of the council for its policy of only using paid-for newspapers to advertise public notices, including the concerns raised by some councillors and the local MP after a motion to debate the issue was denied, Wiltshire Council halted all communications with the newspaper, declining to send press releases or respond to any enquiries. Is this Wiltshire, or North Korea?!
Melksham News claims it has received written confirmation from Wiltshire Council stating they do not feel able to engage with the publication. In a statement from Wiltshire Publications on behalf of Melksham News, they stated, “We are aware of a statement from Cllr Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council, in the press that raises concerns about our reporting and our supposed ‘campaign’ against Wiltshire Council.”
“In his statement, Cllr Clewer accuses Wiltshire Publications of running an ongoing campaign over the past two years to pressure the council into advertising statutory notices with us. He also claims that we have continued to present a negative narrative because the council has chosen not to advertise with us.”
“We feel these accusations are inaccurate and misrepresent our intentions. We have written only one article on the matter of public notices, published in our issue on 10th October. This followed the council chair’s decision not to consider a motion from Cllr Jon Hubbard. We categorically deny the claims of an ongoing campaign lasting over two years. The issue of public notices was first raised with the council in September 2023, and we have published only this one article on the subject since then. To characterise this as an ongoing campaign is both misleading and unfounded.”
“The matter of public notice policy concerns taxpayers’ money and public access to information. Our role is to ensure that the public is well-informed, especially on issues of transparency and public spending. Any suggestion that we are highlighting these issues for personal gain is not only inaccurate but entirely inappropriate.”
The statement from Melksham News continues, claiming Cllr Clewer stated their reporting has not been impartial. “It is unfair to accuse us of impartiality based on a single article, especially one that was grounded in data obtained via Freedom of Information requests and included a response from the council,” they said. “We do not feel it is the role of a statutory body to judge our editorial decisions. Editorial independence is essential to a free press, and it allows us to hold public institutions accountable. Our responsibility is to the public and presenting information based on fact. By refusing to engage with local media over a single article, the council’s actions undermine the principles of press freedom and open dialogue, which are essential to ensuring accountability and transparency in public institutions.”
Melksham News stated it stands by their reporting, remaining committed, “to informing our readers in an accurate and fair manner, ensuring that the community has access to the information it needs to hold its elected officials to account.” And here at Devizine, we stand by them too, believing we all should. On the last few occasions we’ve published anything about Wiltshire Council it was in support of their recent actions; the extension of the bus timetables, permission for a graffiti wall in Melksham; all pragmatic motions which proves when the council get it right it will be reported positively, even by us!! It is a shame then, to have to spoil the run with this, but silencing constructive criticism is deeply concerning to democracy.
In the midst of the past government’s ‘circus of thievery,’ we are surely all aware of press corruption, undermining press freedom at Conservative conferences and refusing entry to them, and the manipulation of the media to promote their ethos and obliterate opposing opinions. Most of us studied modern history and what happened in 1920’s Germany, don’t make me spell it out. And we’ve even seen this on a local level via unscrupulous control of social media groups by power-tripping councillors, but we’ve yet to realise this is happening to official media groups channelled by the county council, until now.
The shocking fact one lone keyboard warrior’s comment on Melksham News’ original Facebook post ludicrously pointed the finger at Prime Minister Keir Starmer, suggesting, “they are doing what Kier Starmer has told them to do as he doesn’t want the truth coming out so he is censoring all news and negative comments and newspapers telling the truth,” is proof enough, I believe, of how deeply the effect of misinformation is ingrained into forming public opinion and causing hysteria with a false narrative; that an a better education system!
How anyone could link this issue with the new Labour government when there’s not a red tie in sight at Wiltshire Council is beyond belief. It retains a Conservative majority and the leader of Wiltshire Council, Richard Clewer, the councillor enforcing this infringement of the common law of freedom of expression is a Conservative too. Yet it is worrying evidence that we need a rebalance in media bias; people believe this shit!! Hey, I stubbed my toe on the wheel of my sofa this morning. It’s blatantly obvious what’s happened here; Keir Starmer broke into my house, and moved my sofa a quarter of an inch to the left!
I shouldn’t joke, this would be propaganda on an Orwellian level if it wasn’t laughably from a Council boasting being named as the seventh-best council in England in the latest IMPOWER Index, judged by how efficiently it delivers core services in relation to their budgets, as I dangerously bounce over the umpteenth pothole pondering if I should follow up on bias and braggart press releases like this! Someone needs to inform Cllr Clewer we have only left the European Union, Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights still stands in British law, giving us the right to freedom of expression. A right I will exercise, cheers me dears!
The newspaper’s operations manager, Joe McCann said, “local newspapers like ours are essential for holding public bodies to account and ensuring transparency in local government. By cutting off communication, the council is evading scrutiny and potentially controlling the flow of information, which is not just a concern for us as journalists but for the public as well.” Melksham News’s statement suggests similar; “This sets a dangerous precedent, where councils can silence critical voices instead of addressing legitimate concerns, ultimately undermining local democracy. This is an unprecedented move for a local council.”
Wiltshire Councillor Jon Hubbard, who represents Melksham South ward said, “I am deeply concerned and disappointed by the recent correspondence sent to Melksham Independent News, stating that Wiltshire Council will no longer correspond with the newspaper until they approve of the coverage provided. This kind of stance sets a dangerous precedent and threatens the principles of a free and independent press, which plays a vital role in holding local government to account. I sincerely hope that this decision is not politically motivated, as it would undermine the trust between the council and the residents it serves.”
“The press should never be expected to tailor their coverage to meet the approval of those in power—it is their duty to provide fair and accurate reporting to the community. I call on Wiltshire Council to explain why such a step has been deemed necessary and to reaffirm its commitment to transparency, openness, and constructive engagement with all media outlets. Our community deserves nothing less.”
Emma Meese, director at the Independent Community News Network (ICNN), who represents the independent press community, added, “The role of a journalist has always been to scrutinise and provide news that is in the public interest. It is concerning when a local authority decides it will not engage with the largest news provider in the area, for calling it out on its actions. We have to question the motive behind this decision by Wiltshire Council to try and control the narrative.”
Allow me then to speculate, we are, quite simply, face-to-face with a county council desperately clinging onto a dying Conservative philosophy and running scared till the point it fears constructive criticism. Yet by attempting to silence it makes the dangerous assumption we are foolish enough not to conclude from this that they’ve something to hide, and are doing so via manipulation of the media. Either that, or they really did send Keir Starmer to stealthily shift my sofa quarter of an inch to the right causing me to be unnecessarily tetchy this afternoon. Now, excuse me while I go shout at some Gen Zers vaping in the park like the level-headed indoctrinated boomer the mainstream media has convinced me to be!!!
David slew Goliath with a sling and a stone. Bishop’s Cannings Parish Council used evidence, against a group of Devizes Town councillors’ more circumstantial land…
Retrieved footage from a stolen drone of the Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs reveals the Beaufont Hunt making a fox kill earlier this month, and it’s undeniable…
Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts announced their upcoming project, YEA Devizes today. Made possible by a grant from National Grid Electricity Transmission’s Community Grant Programme, the Youth Event Activity Devizes will be a youth festival area within the International Street Festival….
Working with the incredible young adults we have in our community, DOCA will support them to plan and run their own outdoor event, putting all the decisions in their hands and enabling them to show everyone their interests and capabilities. All along the way they will be able to learn and develop the skills needed to put on outdoor events and arts management.
The flyer was designed by their youth advisor, who also helped to develop this fantastic opportunity from the start. If you are between the age of 16 – 21 (up to 25 with SEND) then please use this form – https://tinyurl.com/5xnsrk4p – to let them know if you are interested in being a part of this, whether as part of the core Youth Event Management Panel or further along the line.
Trust me to question the SEND element to this, as it is often the case SEND people will shy away from events due to sensory overload. But Annabel of DOCA is addressing this, and enlightened us, “we understand that it can be confronting for some people. There are behind the scenes roles where we can help them avoid most of the madness if they wish, although as you say it may be too much for some. We are happy to work with anyone to make the experience work for them if possible – and in fact having someone with lived experience of SEND on the team could help us develop more SEND-friendly event spaces.” Ah, I like this answer!
The difference between punk and goth is that as a punk you reject society, as a goth society rejects you. Being society lives mostly online today, that’s probably why my spam filter assumes proposals from exiled middle eastern princes to deposit bitcoin into my bank, and machines to extend one’s manhood are of interest to…
You’re young, stars in your eyes, and you live in Swindon; you are not alone, but you are, unfortunately, up against Kate X! Kate is independently producing contemporary pop RnB of international quality, and she’s riding it. Kate X should, and I hope and strongly predict she will be, a global success story….. James Threlfall…
Just who is Theodore Thump? A wise pet rabbit? The mysterious sixth Beach Boy? This album newly released from Shedric, Swindon soloist and groovist of Thud, reveals nothing, but makes for a diverse and interesting listen…. The Misadventures of Theodore Thump was unwittingly released unto the cosmos earlier this month, and through title and cover…
Buzzwords, like “turbo,” or “sonic” are cliche, overused trends which gain popularity because they sound impressive, even if they are empty of meaning. I avoid them, but you cannot call Chandra’s releases just plain indie-pop; they’re turbo-charged sonic boom spearheaded empowerments of synergy indie-pop songs which prolifically arrive with an explosive boom! And, coincidentally, Boom…
It’s always nice to hear when an inaugural local event is successful, especially one as unique and original as Marlborough School of Languages’ annual Fiesta. Triple so when being bilingual to me means I can switch between English and gibberish! Marlborough School of Languages offers a range of services to suit language development at any…
I dropped into the new(ish) home of Devizes Opendoors today to meet Mitch, poke my nose in, chat about the work they do and how they need more volunteers. Based at the Southbroom Centre on Victoria Road now, it’s a huge improvement from the last time I visited them at the St John’s Parish Room some years ago…
Supporting anyone with homelessness, in sheltered accommodation, or dealing with vulnerability issues, Opendoors is as the name suggests, open for drop-ins and providing cooked meals and food bank vouchers, offering a laundry and showers, and helpful advice when dealing with support agencies. It is, in short, an invaluable asset to anyone who falls upon challenging times in our town. And face it, no one knows what’s around the next corner, it could happen to any of us.
Whenever I spark up a conversation with someone that I see in town who appears to be on the road, I ask them if they’re aware of the facility, and I guess through word-of-mouth, all seem to know of it. Mitch spoke positively about changes to government policies regarding homelessness, such as the proactive Homelessness Reduction Act, and Trowbridge’s mental health, drug and alcohol support service Turning Point. Angie added how they provided breakfast before they got the bus to Turning Point, ‘cos they’re nice like that!
And that’s what we need to focus on, the local, day-to-day aspect of Opendoors, and quash preconceptions if you were to volunteer, you’d be slaving away in a Victorian workhouse or dingy inner-city soup kitchen. The team were finishing up when I rocked up, Thursday the session runs from 11am-1pm, same on a Monday, and Wednesday it’s open for breakfast at 9.30am, running until 11:30. Friday is an afternoon session from 1-3pm, a roast dinner I believe. The cook was busy cleaning the kitchen, others gathered to collapse the tables down because the centre is hired out, and a kid’s karate club is tonight.
Everyone mucked in, and I sensed a real community spirit about the place. Mitch suggested very rarely was their aggravation with users of the facilities. As you’d imagine, most are too appreciative of it to bring any grievance with them, despite the understandable frustration of their individual situations. In fact, one fellow strode in too late, but they accommodated him, nonetheless, chatted with him, and gave him a bag of food to take away, he was grateful and passive; we are not beyond Thunderdome, just beyond the bridge by the sports club!
Support accommodation is the most common situation in Devizes, and a recently opened Wiltshire Council seven-bedroom property, though this is for those with priority needs, like disabilities or children. Mitch estimated only three people are currently sleeping rough here, “but a lot of the people we support are either sofa surfing, or boaters.” The latter can vasty range in needs, some were “simply living a tin can,” whereas others were self-sufficient yet came in to use the showers. While everyone is an individual case, all needs are catered for and welcomed here without discrimination; the centre refer to them as “guests.” It’s this, which despite any presumptions you may have, makes it congenial, seemingly a happy place. There’s even nice sofas and a bookcase, I could’ve made myself quite at home!
Opendoors operates with around fifty to sixty volunteers, there are many varied roles you could help with, managing food or the clothes bank, helping guests with problems, cooking or serving meals. Mitch stressed the flexibility of both the roles available, and the rota, which she draws up weekly on a spreadsheet. You would be free to decide what shifts you can do, and the minimum, Mitch said, was an hour a month, which is dandy for the busiest of us to accommodate into our schedule, surely?
Guided tour was brief but effective, showers, then an office where guests can get online, and further on, a room where dried or tinned food bags are prepared, working in coordination with the Devizes Food Bank, and a surplus of donated goods from Morrisons and Marks & Spencer. So, a guest at Opendoors can expect four meals a week, and a food bag on Thursdays, as well as use of the facilities, access to warm clothes and donated food. I’d imagine the kettle is always on, and there’s other factors I admit I didn’t consider, things like toiletries.
A typical shift operates with a team of six. They run with two cooks, level two trained, and Mitch suggested they could put anyone interested on the necessary courses, which included things like first aid too, and there was scope for progressing with a scheme called “befriending,” individual case support training. They usually have a receptionist, someone to coordinate the provisions, and someone floating between needed tasks. With holidays and illnesses, Mitch explained how sadly they were forced to close some sessions, and a lack of volunteers meant the teams were feeling pushed to take on more than they wanted to. She felt sorrowful about the situation and often has to step in herself.
“Four sessions a week,” Mitch emphasised, “but people are more than welcome to do one a week, one a month, whatever they’re comfortable with.” She continued to say she was sure there were people willing to help but might not know about them.
That’s why I was there, to let people know about it, encourage people to help in any way they can. Because I’ve been that sofa-surfer, I’ve camped in the forest, slept on the wheelarch of a van. And, you know, you can raise funds and even self-awareness doing a big sleep out, and that’s all good, but remain safe in the knowledge you’ll be returning home as soon as it’s done. You cannot fully extract from this the daily psychological disinclination and stress of being unsettled, wondering where the next meal is coming from, and the humiliation for some, of having to endure this with no silver lining in sight.
Opendoors is invaluable. Like many similar organisations across the world, it offers local folk in need, valuable help and advice, and of course, food, clothes, and hope of shelter, those simple things we all need, and often take for granted. I was honoured to meet up with them once more, to see their new premises and how the organisation has progressed, and I remain grateful and astounded by the challenging work put into it from volunteers, staff and trustees. And hope some reading this will say, you know what, Worrow is right for once in his silly life, I can spare some time to help!
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Have you had “the visit” yet? Your local councillor house-calling hand-in-hand with Conservative candidate Michelle Donelan? I have. At least it broke up my busy day with lighthearted banter! You know, by publishing their adventures in pestering on Facebook, they’re verging on breaking electoral rules, right?
Despite my pacifism means my assault would only have been verbal, I had to get the better half to face the candidate who cost the taxpayer £34,000 for her personal court case whilst using her position to insure her partner and their father profited from the pandemic, because I couldn’t be trusted, holding an electric hedge trimmer and all!
The leaflet was refused with an expression of surprise. It was surprising all round, in fact. I was surprised at the audacity to shamelessly parade the streets begging for votes; canvassing they call it, desperation I call it!
They were surprised upon my reply to their comment that it was “a nice day for it,” which was, “yes, when you get back perhaps you could pay back some of the money you stole!” Michelle’s expression was one of sucking a lemon, as she hurried to harass the next-door neighbour instead, without much fortune. And I, in turn, was surprised the backup was our own councillor who I like and trusted. But, if they come to your house begging for votes in this way, they are possibly breaking electoral rules, when such ventures are published, as they have been on Michelle Donelan’s own Facebook page. (It’s all cool, I was booted off her page for appealing against genocide, ages ago!)
On “prohibition of political publicity,” a Government Act 1986, which you can view for yourself at Legislation.gov.uk, it states “(1)A local authority shall not publish[F1, or arrange for the publication of,] any material which, in whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party.”
Yet, here they are, doing it. “Reels” are the deal, short videos to you or me, and Michelle has smattered her Facebook page with Wiltshire Conservative Councillor and Conservative Town Councillor endorsements. It doesn’t matter how many emojis you use to make it feel fun, this is still published matter, it is undemocratic and it borders on breaking electoral law.
Those who we know of who rallied the cause, at least those reels currently active online are Cllr Maria Hoult, Devizes South Town Councillor, Cllr Laura Mayes Wiltshire Councillor for Bromham & Rowde, Cllr Jack Oatley Wiltshire Councillor for Melksham Forest, Cllr Brian Burchfield of Colerne, Cllr Johnny Kidney Wiltshire Councillor for Winsley & Westwood, and Cllr Nick Holder for Bowerhill.
UPDATE: Our sources though have been informed by a spokesperson for Wiltshire Police, and after a thorough investigation with senior people in the electoral commission they have found “no wrongdoing.” This is because it was not published on a Wiltshire Council platform. The conclusion of their investigation is that we must apologise for our mistake when stating it was unlawful, and we have edited this out with fairness. Still, to us the internal ethics of attempting to influence the electorate is unfair on opposition parties.
It seems they are so confident they will not be exposed by local media for flaunting electoral law in this way, they will brazenly publish such material unashamedly. We will be chatting to the candidates for alternative options over the coming weeks, so you can make your own mind up without the persuasion of “your local councillors,” so stay tuned!
Oh, and the hedge looks great now, thanks for asking; just shaved a little off the top and sides!
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In recognition of his selfless ministry and leadership of St James Church, where the community and residents are at the core of everything, birthday boy Keith Brindle was honoured on Thursday as a Canon of Salisbury Cathedral, double whammy! I caught up with Keith to find out why, what it means for St James, and to unexpectedly throw down a gauntlet for a backgammon tournament….
I’ve been prewarned of Keith’s bashfulness by Councillor Jonathan Hunter, who told me, “In typical Keith style he has bestowed this honour on the church as opposed to himself.” As a team were tiding the church after a toddler group, Keith excused himself, and we trundled to the courtyard of this landmark church, and amidst the headstones of yore with the Crammer as a backdrop. I asked Keith about the honour and what it signifies for him and Saint James. The volunteers tiding would not be left out of his musings though.
“So it’s a kind of honour, thing, that the Church of England do,” the modest vicar explained. “A recognition of the work that… I mean, they say it’s for me, but actually in reality it’s for the church. We’ve got lots of volunteers. There’s a team of people involved in everything we do. So even though I’m the one that gets this, you know, acknowledgement and the Canon of the cathedral, it’s very much all the different things that the church does, and all the volunteers, a huge number of people.”
Referring to the toddler club, he continued, “all are volunteers and we’ve had about thirty families in there, and it’s one of the things that we do. So it’s that kind of thing. It’s about being a church involved in talking about, Christianity and faith. Talking about what it means to live as a follower of Jesus and being out there in the community, doing things like the youth action groups gig night, you know, and everything in between.”
One significant element which St James earned this honour for, was its welcoming of Ukraine families, but between the church and the St James Centre, there’s too much going on to cover in detail. Keith was keen to tell me about the Centre, across the road from the Church.
“This used to be the Saint James’s School,” he clarified, “which was owned by the diocese and for years and rented out to Wiltshire Council who used to do a lot of youth work out of there. And then it was empty.” Unable to gain permission to sell and renovate into flats, St James bought it from the diocese, “and we’ve turned it into our community centre,” Keith delightfully expressed. “It’s the focus of a lot of the youth work that we do, the Food Bank operate out of there, and our old parish is where OpenDoors operates out of, our CAP debt centre, the Money Debt Centre that supports people and helps them out of out of out of trouble financially. Citizens Advice operate out there too.”
My attention was recently drawn to the fact they had showers, aimed at boaters or rough sleepers unable to bathe.
“Yeah,” Keith said, “all those sorts of things, the honour of being a cannon, it’s recognising all that sort of stuff. We have a shower Tuesday, a fully accessible shower downstairs on the ground floor, and we’ve got waterways, chaplains that operate along the Kennet & Avon, pastorally just checking in and supporting people. But it’s not just that, it’s an opportunity to meet up with other people.”
We spoke about the importance of community hubs, post lockdown; larger towns have great facilities, St James is ours.
“St James’s Church has always been a church, it’s part of its DNA, to get out there and be in the community. I’ve been here eight years and we’ve built on, getting the St James Centre has really, really helped. You know, we were involved in getting the COVID support grouped together quickly. And that was like, three-hundred volunteers registered over a weekend before the first lockdown. And when the first lockdown came, Devizes was ready to go because of that. And that actually came from my son. That was Joseph’s idea. He said, why don’t we do something. And he set up the processes, the WhatsApp group, and how people could register. And then there’s loads of other people like at the town council; Simon Fisher is brilliant. St James has been really good at working with other partners and other people.”
Keith reeled off nearly every organisation doing good in Devizes, and St James’ connection to them, and through all this we can see why the honour was worthy. We spoke of DOCA, Sustainable Devizes, and he foretold of a second youth gig at the Corn Exchange after the success of the last one. “We’re gonna have the whole of the downstairs this time. But, I think we’ll fill it. I mean, the first one sold out and that was good thing. We had so many young people say, oh, this is what Devizes needs.”
But what more will the honour of being a canon of Salisbury Cathedral mean for St James, what more can they possibly do to help in the community which they are not already doing so?!
“It’s a recognition of what Saint James has done,” Keith said, “an opportunity to see what the Cathedral has and how the Cathedral operates, and they do magnificent work in the community in Salisbury. They’re a massive tourist attraction, but they also try and do loads of outreach stuff to connect different kinds of groups. The kinds of groups that you wouldn’t always expect to relate to the Cathedral.”
“The nice thing about Devizes is there’s a lot of good people that want to see people flourish, but at the same time what you don’t see are levels of poverty and levels of isolation. We saw that a lot during COVID. Isolation still exists, and we’ve groups that come together to support that. So, we have a games night on the Thursday. It’s not a massive number of people, but for those that come it’s absolutely brilliant and great fun.” It was at this point, we found our mutual love of backgammon, and I laid my cards on the table. It serves to illustrate what a charismatic and approachable chap Keith is, and now I understand why he’s been so aptly honoured.
“My leadership of the church in doing what the church does but I do feel very much like a small part of it. This is what God’s love looks like, in real practical terms, there’s a group of this church that have been making meals for years before I came here. They’ll make homemade meals, stick them in the freezer and then and then distribute them to people. Like if you’ve just had a baby, they’ll go around and dump a load of really nice homemade meals, just so that you can cope. And they’ve been doing that for years, you know, quietly getting on with it. So, it’s in recognition for my leadership but it’s for the community.”
Well done to all St James. Keith’s support and practical help for marginalised communities in Devizes have inspired many people and continue to do the outstanding work they do; what a guy, still I reckon I could take him at backgammon!
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Central at The Parade, Swindon Hub, an accessible, friendly community space which opened in October are aiming to host regular Saturday jamming sessions, to promote local artists and give them a platform where they can perform……
The Hub is a comfortable volunteer-led centre trying to bring the community together. They’ve an affordable café where they invite you to relax in their “snug,” read and share books in their bookshop, browse items for sale from local retailers and upcycled furniture by Renew Men’s Shed. The profits of any surplus of stock items donated from shops for sale go to Swindon Night Shelter.
They are currently building a calendar of regular events including a monthly craft market, weekly knitting circle and writer’s club, as well as art workshops and regular music jams on the weekends. They’ve just hosted Swindon ZineFest, which I’m sorry to hear I missed, and from a Women’s History Month exhibition or a Ukraine fundraising jumble sale to Dub in the Hub sessions, the last one by Suitcase Sound System, there’s something for everyone here, especially those who like cake!
Music last Saturday came from The Thieving Magpies, but it was far from the be-all-and-end-all of activities at the Swindon Hub, as well as the aforementioned zine festival, there was a kid’s comic workshop too; it really caters for all.
“The Jam is a Community project as much as a Music one,” organiser Claire told me.
“It focuses on confidence building, teamwork, social interaction and collaboration.
The Jam has been running already since September last year and there have been hundreds of people who have taken part.
There are loads of people who take part who have no background in music or performing to an audience and it creates an opportunity for people to get involved with music without the traditional barriers that stop so many people from taking the first step.
That said there are also many talented musicians who take part and it creates a wonderful mix of experience and enthusiasm that allows people of all experience levels to have a meaningful musical and emotional experience.
The key to creating a successful jam is building a relaxed atmosphere with little pressure or expectation that allows people to share without fear of criticism, ridicule or humiliation.
The Hub has a great atmosphere for this kind of activity due to the warm, friendly and supportive nature of the volunteers and visitors to the space.
There are already some fantastic success stories of people who have had their confidence built up by attending the event.“
Post lockdown has seen a real boost in community spirit, and such volunteer-based projects like this are a lifeline, in rural areas and debatably more crucial in urban areas too; the larger the population doesn’t necessarily mean the large scope for friendships to occur, in fact it can be harder. So, a massive congratulations to the good folk at Swindon Hub, this looks like an amazing space doing some amazing work, and I might add for a wide-spanning age demographic.
They always need volunteers, if you want to join and help shape the future of communities in Swindon, and any musicians interested in performing for their day sessions should contact them. Facebook Page here.
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The pandemic has pulled us into a time of change for everyone, we find methods and ways around restrictions to try to continue, best we can, the way of life we’re used to living. Historically eras like these see great innovations and ideas which now have become commonplace. Online meetings through Zoom, drive-in concerts and many new-fangled concepts are falling into place, but sometimes, the best ideas are the simpler ones. Devizes resident Laura Johns had such an idea, the kind that if she was a cartoon character it would be represented by a lightbulb above the head!
Laura has created a Facebook group dedicated to holding a town-wide, community yard sale and intends to run the first one on Sunday August 16th, running from 8am-5pm. Anyone is free to host a yard sale in their garden or close green space on that date, and the group are hoping it’ll turn the town into a whopping great car booty, without the cars; kinder on the environment too, Laura!
I reckon this is a great idea, and something which has the potential to be a regular event. Many of us undoubtedly have been having a clear-out during lockdown, made some home improvements, and now have “stuff,” for want of a better word, clogging up space in their homes. The obvious banning of car boot and jumble sales means you’re restricted to donating to charity shops, dumping them at the recycling centre if you get a slot, but selling via Facebook pages is the only way you’re going to make a little money back. Of course, you could hold a yard sale at any time, but with this clever scheme, we will all know when and where.
All participates are invited to set their own yard sale up, freely, and they will be included on a map of the town, so buyers are free to roam the town and browse. Last count, 16 people wish to set up their own yard sale, and more are joining. My work is done notifying you and hoping you’ll join in on the day, setting up your own, or browsing the yard sales on offer. Laura and the team hope to extend the idea to neighbouring villages, where an alternative day will be set for each village. Who knows how far this idea will catch on?
So, join the group for more information and updates as they develop, and support this ingeniously simple idea. Oh, and there’s a Facebook event page you can respond to; great if you wish to attend as a buyer but not participate in the selling part. I like it so much it’s my pleasure to donated a little poster/header for the group, and you can be sure Devizine will be supporting the event as best we can, provided there’s not too many pubs en-route!!
For the many years I spent living in flats and shared houses with no garden, I longed for one, especially on a summer’s evening such as this. Now I do, I frustratedly scratch my chin and scrutinise the darn thing; it’s like Day of Triffids strikes back, again.
As we’ve children I need not create something all Gardeners World, for far from being Charlie Dimmock, aligned beds of chrysanthemums, pruned rose bushes, a summer house or Chinese water garden is a level or twenty too far for me, and would be crushed and smashed with incoming footballs and frisbees anyhow.
So simplicity is the key; a lawn, some bushes, a tree and a patio of slabs; job done. But while I start gardening with good intentions, and the first ten minutes enthusiastically plough through the task with the vigour of Conan the Barbarian on a promise, I end up more like Colin the Librarian, and before the task is half complete I’m a chiropractor’s dream come true, with fingers like Marvel Comic’s The Thing.
I don’t how some do it, really, I feel a hundred and five after a tiny stint at gardening, yet my patch insignificant compared to what those CUDs volunteers are scrubbing, pruning and tidying, all across Devizes. You’ve got to hand it to them.
So, okay CUDS, thanks and all that, but if you’re reading this, I ask you to stop right here and read no more; I’m talking about you, not to you, okay?! Everyone else please bear with, bear with….. Schhh, keep it under your hat.
On the Devizes Issue another person posts, how those CUDS have saved the day again, how brilliant and tidy the town now looks, what a bunch of gardening superheroes, example: isn’t Zena a known princess warrior, or is that Xena? All I know is Zena Robson is the uncertified chief CUD, who after an exhausting day cleaning up this town, finds it satisfying to blog their progress online and press for contributors to the Devizes in Bloom contest.
Does she know no bounds, does she ever slump on the sofa and go, “bugger this for the price of fish, I’m sitting here with a giant bag of cheesy puffs and can of lager balanced on my belly, watching the footie till I drop?” I’m not sure it’s even occurred to her.
Last post I’ve seen was about the roundabout on Brickley Lane/Jump Farm, “full of deep purple tulips, and then the last couple of weeks an amazing show of Aliums.” Prior to this it was weeding the wall along the barracks on London Road, most of us contemplate getting the bus rather than walk that length, and there are these awesome, super-duper people, out there weeding the lot of it. It makes me tired just typing about it for crying out loud.
Now, though I’ve written about them before, back in the early days of No Surprises on Index: Wiltshire, this is where this article differs from my usual waffle, it’s interactive! I reckon we simply MUST show these guys and girls our appreciation, people of Devizes, surely? Can we club together and get them a gift, something to say thank you from the entire town? Who’s with me?
I don’t mean a commemorative plaque, although some may think it’s a plan and I’m open to suggestions, I was thinking they’d rather something more personal, some flowers if they haven’t had enough of flowers at the end of a day, box of chocolates each maybe, vouchers for a meal at Times Square, something simple like that, just a token to show our appreciation.
Now I’ve not notified Zena or any other of the CUDs about this post, although we have the blessing of Simon Fisher at the Devizes Town Council, that this suggestion is “a wonderful idea,” and while I’d like to make it a surprise to as many of the CUDS as possible, I have to share this article and get it out there. So although some are bound to see it, not taken heed of the warning, but c’est la vie – let’s pretend they haven’t!
So, I’ve opened one of these Just Giving thingy-me-jigs, just to ask for some donations, and feel free to suggest a gift idea, I’m all ears. Click here to give it some dosh, not a lot, just a coin or two, whatever you can spare. Yeah? Please help, it’s no good me just giving them all a big cuddle, despite my cuddles internationally recognised as the best cuddles in the world; they don’t want that, really, so put your hand in your pocket! Thank you!
Oh, oh, oh, yeah, nearly forgot – Don’t forget to share this article, thank you!
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