Welcome
The thriving Widcombe Association was formed in 1981 and is the largest Residents' Association in Bath. It exists in order to protect and enhance Widcombe and Lyncombe; to act as a channel for local opinion on Widcombe matters; to encourage community spirit by holding social events and promoting and sponsoring clubs and activities, including the Garden Club , The Local History Society and the Widcombe Mummers.
We maintain a dialogue with the Council in members' interests. Major items of interest currently for the Association are the scheme to make Rossiter Rd in Widcombe two-way, and the plan by Sustrans to expand the UK cycle network through the Devonshire and Combe Down tunnels.
We monitor planning applications - not only local applications but also those which affect Bath as a whole. We strive not to be too 'nimby' in our attitudes, as we realize that there is no progress without change. However, we are determined to preserve and enhance the environment and features that give Widcombe its unique character. We will object to planning applications where we feel these features are under threat. It is not our policy to approach applicants prior to making an objection whether the applicants are members of the Association or not but we are happy to be consulted at the pre-application stage. To view a particular application, click here and enter the application reference.
We are passionate not only about Widcombe, but about our World Heritage City and its future. Our membership of the Federation of Bath Residents' Associations (FoBRA) provides a voice for Widcombe residents on matters that affect Bath as a whole.
We encourage local organizations to use the recently-erected WA Community noticeboard at Prior Park Garden centre, where it is viewed by 1000's weekly. We also encourage local businesses to advertise in our biannual newsletter. If you wish to put up a notice or take out an advertisement, contact us.
Widcombe Association members are eligible for discounts with many local traders.
Widcombe is a great place to live. For property in the Widcombe area, click here.
Find out more using the links under the banner at top of page.
What's new....
30th June: Widcombe Rising Photos (below)
18th June: Palladian Bridge Picnic 12th June (below)
16th June: Horse trough poem unveiling with photos (below)
14th Jun: photo-mosaic of Widcombe Parade (taken when road closed)
14th June: Committee Members updated
6th May: New web page 'Historical Widcombe' added
4th May: Report on 2010 AGM (below)
27th Mar: A Song for Widcombe CD now for sale! Details here
5th Mar: Local History Society programme for forthcoming year
31st Jan: Bingo! - report below
11th Jan: New Year's day mummers' performances - report below
5th Dec: The Widcombe Switch-on - report below
14th Oct: Advice re researching family history; info on Survey of old Bath
What's happening....
See What's On for full details.
What happened....
(For reports on less recent meetings & events, click here)
Widcombe Rising 2010 - a Natural Theatre production
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The Palladian Bridge Picnic 12th June 2010
The weather smiled upon happy picnickers at the Palladian Bridge on 12th June. On a tranquil evening, the Widcombe Wobblers wobbled pleasingly as swans glided over the Prior Park lake. The Handbags of Harmony, the ladies choir from Chester, wowed the assembly with hits old and new, and amazing multi-instrumentalist John Sampson -well - amazed us with his bravura performace and beautifully understated presentation. Monies raised went to next day's Widcombe Rising.
Unveiling of the Holloway Horse Trough Poem
The newly-restored Holloway horse trough was with great pomp and circumstance declared officially open by Lady Margaret on Saturday, June 5th 2010. Widcombe's mummers were in attendance to unveil and recite the newly-restored poem which had for many years been a feature of the horse trough and had been learnt by heart by generations of children passing on their way to school. Many people who had been instrumental in the restoration of this important piece of Widcombe's history had their efforts recognized by being asked to cut the ribbon (provided by the ever-obliging Lady M) to declare the trough open - alas not for passing horses, but for the delectation of passers-by with its new planting by B&NES Parks Department - planting which will be generously cared for by the Paradise House Hotel in Holloway. Amongst the VIP cutters were Margaret Burrows who with Doreen Collyer of the Widcombe & Lyncombe Local History Society organized the walk where the story of the horse trough was told, which so inspired Sarah Lewis of the Widcombe Association, another cutter, that she started the campaign to restore the trough. Neale Hatherell and Caroline Simper were on the walk and impressed all by being able to recite the poem from memory; they had learnt it as schoolchildren. Miles Barnes, the B&NES Property Service Manager was thanked for his enthusiastic assistance; also thanked whilst cutting the opening ribbon were David Beeton of the World Heritage enhancement fund and Geoffrey Lee and William Burman of St John's and the Magdalen Chapel. Numerous other private donors contributed to the restoration. More on the poem here.
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photos by John Willets
A man of kindness to his beast is kind, But brutal actions show a brutal mind. Remember! He who made thee, made the brute. Who gave thee speech and reason formed him mute. He can't complain – but God's all-seeing eye Beholds thy cruelty and hears his cry. He was designed thy servant, not thy drudge. Remember! His Creator is thy judge. |
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Annual General Meeting 29th April 2010
The 2010 AGM took place at Widcombe C 0f E Junior School on 29th April. In his welcome speech Chairman Richard Wales thanked Paddy Doyle for his work on the Association Newsletter and expressed a great debt of gratitude to Sarah Lewis for her extraordinary efforts in organizing events - one of the great attractions of the Widcombe Association. Richard pointed out that in the absence of a Parish Council, the Association did its best to represent the views of Widcombe people to B&NES, and with our local councillors Ian Gilchrist and Brook Whelan, lobbied on issues that affect us, not least the Rossiter Road scheme where it seems after 30 years success might be in sight. He also talked about highways issues (handled for the Committee by Julian Williams) and planning, where we were fortunate to have Andrew Gordon-Duff to navigate us through this difficult minefield. The Two Tunnels scheme was another difficult area for the Association as the views of various sectors of the Widcombe community differed. The debate on the Two Tunnels continued.
Finally, Richard appealed to members to ensure that their subscriptions were up to date, and to sign a direct debit form to ease the 'nightmare' job of membership secretary Mayveen Blackwell. He concluded by asking for new volunteers to serve on the Committee - 'even those who claim to detest committees' he said 'find our gatherings relatively painless'.
Full text of the Chairman's address here.
We then had a short presentation from Lorinda Coombes, Campaigns Manager for Waste Services in B&NES, on the new weekly food waste collection from October 4th this year.
Adrienne Baptiste then asked members to sign the Widcombe 20 on-line petition to lower the speed limit in Widcombe to 20mph. She is a mother of two young children who has become involved with Safe Routes to School. She asked people to sign the petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/widcombe20/
Sam Holliday, Editor of the Bath Chronicle, gave an informative and entertaining talk on the subject of newspapers in general and the Chronicle in particular, and the meeting concluded with wine, nibbles and conversation.
2010 AGM Minutes available here.
Statement of Accounts at 31 Dec 2009 here.
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A Full House for Bingo
From our entertainments reporter. On 29th January St Matthew's Church provided yet again the ideal venue for another unique Widcombe Association entertainment, on this occasion a night of Bingo in aid of the refurbishment of the Widcombe Institute - home of the Natural Theatre Company. The event was sold out, and at 8pm over 120 players sat in eager anticipation, pencils poised, to play the first game. It being a Widcombe Association do, the caller was not of the every-day variety - no, resplendent in a wonderful new shocking pink millinery creation - artfully reflecting the colour of the balloons festooning the hall - was our own dear Lady Margaret, her beautifully-sculpted tones enunciating each number, giving what in other hands could be a rather tawdry experience a whole new depth of meaning. There are indeed those among the audience who now firmly hold that a reading of the telephone directory by her ladyship would reduce grown men to tears. And not for Lady M the murky non-PC utterances of 'Two fat ladies' or 'Was she worth it?' (for explanation, contact me - ed) ; none of her readings was subjected to this needless embroidery. Our peerless peeress was ably assisted by her faithful ladies-in-waiting, the immaculately-coiffured Doreen and Maureen, who delivered each prize to its lucky recipient in a dignified scuttle.
A delicious fish & chip supper for all was provided by Manhattan of Widcombe Parade. The event was another triumph for Sarah Lewis' events committee, this time ably master-minded by Leslie Baker. More photos here.
The Widcombe Mummers ride again!
From our drama correspondent . Where would we be without the magical mystery show that each year delights those of Widcombe's populace who flock to see the Mummers' latest offering? The gripping drama unfolds under our very eyes; the costumes and the superlative acting (topped on this occasion by the painful, prolonged death-agony of Turkey Snipe) transport us to a land of fairytale and make-believe. Between performances at Widcombe Manor, the Garden Centre, and Widcombe Crescent, we can promenade through the streets of Widcombe protected by our own fearsome lollypop lady. The traffic stops and drivers and passengers gape respectfully at the passing spectacle. We are enrapured by the handsome Kind Bladud and his glamorous consort; we gaze in awe at the thunderous majesty of King George and we urge him on in his battle with the invader, Turkey Snipe; we pray that the NHS will never be like Doctor Spinney, and we are drawn to the seductive beauty of Busommeta and her accompanying shops. And then we raise our voices lustily in song for the first truly public performance of the newly-appointed Widcombe song: Widcombe you're a Jewel. And as we make our way home in the new year sunshine, we find ourselves believing it.
More photos here and see the complete (Widcombe Crescent) performance here
Note: The Mummers provided a play on the theme of St George and the Dragon in central Bath on St George's day. Photos here.
The Widcombe Switch-on
From our cub reporter. At 6pm on Thursday, 3rd Dec on a cold but mercifully dry evening an excited crowd assembled outside the White Hart in Widcombe to await the arrival of Lady Margaret to switch on Widcombe Parade's exotic Christmas lights. Excitement rose as the Widcombe Wobblers whipped Lady M's waiting acolytes into near frenzy as the moment of the appearance of their beloved patroness drew near. A ragged cheer arose from the assembled throng when at 6.22pm precisely the doughty dowager appeared in the doorway of the White Hart (her official city residence) accompanied as ever in the festive season by her faithful good fairy.
As promised, the most opulent of new outfits adorned her svelte figure as she mounted the regal dais to address her adoring subjects. The crowd, however, were aghast to see, not the beloved countenance of the peoples' princessling, but the saturnine features of Mr Nicholas Cage, who had performed a similar feat in Bath City centre (albeit with less natural regality). But clever, playful Lady Margaret! She was merely toying with her loyal subjects; such joy and relief as the mask was removed to reveal the regal features of our beloved royal! After a short speech she plunged her plunger and the oohs and aahs of the crowd briefly eclipsed the traffic noise as the assembled throng voiced their appreciation of the attractive mingling of fairy light, tail light and brake light in the Parade.
Then, showing the sort of great leadership for which her class is renowned, Her Ladyship conjured up a lollipop man from apparently nowhere who stopped the traffic, and the crowd surged after her as she strode across the road to carols outside the Baptist Church where her beautiful soprano was heard to good effect, particularly on the high bit in 'Oh Come all ye Faithful'.
Later she officially opened Lennie's Gift Shop, A Balanced Approach beauty therapists and the Hon Fusion Chinese restaurant. Then, it being time for her medication, she made her fond good-byes to her assembled loyal subjects and retired to her official residence.
Also featured in the switch-on festivities were the Widcombe Junior School Choir who sang for the delight of all present.
More photos here.
The 2009 Autumn Meeting
The Widcombe Association's Autumn Meeting was held on Wednesday, 21st October 2009 at St Matthews Church. Minutes of the meeting are available here. During the meeting Mayveen Blackwell paid tribute to past chairman and secretary of the Widcombe Association and indefatigable campaigner for Widcombe, the late Don Lovell. The text of her tribute is here.
A Song for Widcombe
The Autumn Meeting was followed by the Grand Final of the competition to find a Song for Widcombe.
All the songs featured in the final and the Beechen Cliff School Folk Band's ‘Widcombe Suite' are on a CD sold in aid of the Widcombe Rising street festival. If you would like to order a copy, send a cheque for £10 (incl P&P) made out to 'The Widcombe Association' to Paddy Doyle, 86 Greenway Lane, BA2 4LN or email BJ.Doyle@btinternet.com.