Here is our usual monthly round up of some issues and points arising from our last committee meeting:
1. Rev Tim Buckley Tim attended our committee meeting on July 5th to share his vision for St. Matthew’s and St Thomas a Becket churches. The organ at St Thomas a Becket needs replacing and that at St Matthews needs improving and maintaining. The Organ Fund already stands at about half of the £15,000 to £20,000 needed. In order to ensure that St Matthew’s continues to be a valuable community asset, it is planned to replace the toilets and kitchen, to change the heating system and to improve the entrance. In addition, the roof needs replacing. To do all of this will be a long-term project spread over the next three years or so and involving an estimated cost of about £400,000. Plans are being drawn up and some funding is already in place.
2. Opera at Widcombe Manor Despite the mixed weather, ‘Madame Butterfly’ at Widcombe Manor was a tremendous success. Both evenings were sell-out events. Huge thanks are due to Denise and Chris Rogers, as well as their band of volunteers, who worked so hard to make this the great success that it was. As agreed at our previous committee meeting, we will be donating half the profits from this event to the following local good causes: Threeways School in Odd Down; Peggy Dodd Centre in Combe Down; The Genesis Trust in Bath, and Dorothy House.
3. Forthcoming Events Still to come this month is “Widcombe Hill Open Gardens”, a WA members only event, from 3-5pm on Sunday July 18th. The Widcombe Wayfarers walking group will meet on Wednesday July 13th at 10am and the Widcombe Wobblers cycling group will be offering an evening ride to the Jolly Sailor at Saltford on July 14th, 6.30pm. For details of these and other local events see our website:
4. Sort Our Subway (SOS) This group has been very active, looking at the options for either improving the subway or providing an alternative. There is a building consensus for an above ground crossing going across the gyratory at the bottom of Wells Road.
5. Art in the Arches Steve Bradley’s initiative to improve the look and feel of the viaduct by using the arches as art spaces is getting off the ground. A steering group is being formed and a meeting for stakeholders will be arranged.
4. WA Autumn Magazine. Can I remind you that the Editor and her team are looking for news, stories and photographs of all things ‘Widcombe’ for our second edition of the Widcombe Magazine. Copy should be between 200 and 600 words. The Editor reserves the right to edit articles depending on space available. Send your contributions to: magazine@widcombeassociation.org
Please do send me your thoughts, ideas and comments on these or any other issues
Liz Littlewood (Secretary)
