Nestled down a hidden track in Malmesbury is a local club you may never have heard about, or even set eyes on: The Malmesbury Tennis Club.

A long-established club just off Tetbury Hill, it boasts five full-sized courts (4 hard, 1 carpet) as well as a mini court and practice wall. Their hard courts offer floodlights; meaning members can play all year-round. Additionally, the fifth court is open to registered community members allowing them to book the court and try out tennis for free. 

Anyone visiting can instantly notice that the club has a vibrant feel and active social element. Members range from 4 to 87 years old, all of which enjoy tennis at different levels. There are club sessions every Tuesday evening and Sunday morning plus social events, internal tournaments and competitive league teams. Their clubhouse has recently been renovated, so members and visitors can enjoy the facilities.

Malmesbury Tennis Club also supports those wanting to improve their skills through James Wescott, their professional and welcoming coach. James runs a year-round coaching programme for both junior and adult players and membership is not necessary if you wanted some dedicated coaching sessions. There are also group coaching lessons for all standards, including ladies-only coaching sessions, cardio drills and improver sessions; everyone is catered for.

So whether you are new to tennis, or are an advanced player, this club can offer so much. From social tennis sessions, friendly competitions, junior and adult coaching, plus there’s the opportunity to take part in local league matches for the more competitive players.

With the summer season approaching and the tennis season well underway, why not visit Malmesbury Tennis Club or better still why not give their membership a go. To learn more visit www.malmesburytennisclub.com 

The Last Baguette touring Pandora’s Box – open air theatre around Wiltshire this summer

The Last Baguette theatre company are bringing their riotous and ridiculous outdoor family theatre show Pandora’s Box to venues around Wiltshire and the Southwest this summer.

Written by Sunday Times award-winning playwright Tiff Woodsmith, Pandora’s Box is a gallop through Greek mythology featuring goofy gods, hilarious heroines & daft deities.  Expect a plethora of costume changes, a pantheon of Gods and a prohibited peek into a pithos, as The Last Baguette retell the preposterous and problematic story of Pandora.

Bring a blanket and some cushions and enjoy some high quality silliness. A show for anyone aged 6 to 126 who’s ever asked why.

The Last Baguette make entertaining, accessible and eccentric work for family audiences, and are company-in-residence at Pound Arts, Corsham. 

★★★★ “Funny, Charming and thought-provoking” CreativeReviewsUK on The Bird Show

The company are also leading a free Carnival Arts Workshop in partnership with Malmesbury Carnival. Children & adults are invited to have fun creating Carnival sculptures for the procession based on the theme of Our Forest World.

“Everyone is welcome” says Sidney Robb, workshop leader. “Get creative using recycled materials and willow withies to make sculptures big and small for Malmesbury Carnival Procession.”

“I grew up in Malmesbury and have always loved the Carnival, and am passionate getting people involved” continues Sidney. “This is the second year of the Carnival Arts Project. This year it’s going to be even bigger & more spectacular and we are delighted to be working with Fruitful Malmesbury again!”

This is part of The Last Baguette’s outreach programme, which includes workshops for early years, children and teenagers, and has been kindly supported by Malmesbury Local Youth Network, the Jack Lane Charitable Trust, the Dyson Foundation, Malmesbury Area Community Trust and Malmesbury Carnival.

Workshop at St Mary’s Hall on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th August, 10am – 4pm 

Preparation for the Procession on Saturday 2nd September from 4pm onwards

For everyone 5+.  Join the workshop for the whole time or drop in for an hour or two. 

Dates in & around Wiltshire

Thu 20th July, 7pm – Manor Farm, Upton Cheyney 

Fri 21st July, 4pm – Tetbury Goods Shed Arts Centre 

Sat 22nd July, 5.30pm – Sherston Village Hall Field 

Sun 23rd July, 5pm – Calne Pocket Park 

Sat 29th July, 7pm – Pound Arts, Corsham Almshouses

Fri 11th August, 6.30pm – Malmesbury Cloister Gardens

Booking and more info at thelastbaguette.com

Email thelastbaguette@gmail.com 

Social media: @thelastbaguette

Athelstan Museum Evening Talk

The Rausing Building

7pm Wednesday 9th February

MOD War Detectives – the Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre Commemorations Team 

The Commemorations Team is responsible for undertaking work to identify and bury the remains of recently discovered British service personnel killed in historic campaigns from WW1 onwards. Tracey & Nicola will explain the work of the JCCC supported with case evidence and recovered artefacts to illustrate their work. They will reference the use of DNA and anthropology, their attempts to trace surviving relatives and arranging the final ceremonies.

This event will be live, subject to covid regulations.

Tickets £10 (fully refunded in case of cancellation) available from the Athelstan Museum shop and  athelstanmuseum.org.uk 

Athelstan Museum Teatime Talks

The Rausing Building

2:30pm Wednesday 16th February 

Malmesbury Pubs

Susan Mockler launches our teatime talks with an entertaining account of the pubs of Malmesbury.

Tea will be served from 2:30pm and the talks will begin at 3pm.

This event will be live, subject to covid regulations.

Tickets £10 to include refreshments(fully refunded in case of cancellation) available from the Athelstan Museum shop and  athelstanmuseum.org.uk

Malmesbury & District u3a 

Retired? Semi-retired? Looking for new interests? Why not join us? Many of our interest groups are now meeting once again.

We have over 450 members and 40 different interest groups including history, gardening, dancing, languages, walking, book groups etc. Check our website for an up –to-date list of groups and other information: www.malmesburyu3a.org.uk. 

For more information e-mail membership@malmesburyu3a.org.uk

Monthly meetings take place on the 4th Thursday of the month (10.00- 12.00) at Malmesbury Town Hall and/or Zoom, depending upon the Covid situation. Non -members welcome. 50p donation.  

Our February meetings are as follows:

Thursday 10th February (additional meeting) Julia Bowen will talk to us about Malmesbury’s Twinning arrangements  with Niebüll in Germany and Gien in France.

Thursday 24th February.  Alfred Williams and the Folk Songs of the Upper Thames – Martin Graebe will talk to us about Alfred Williams life and work, with particular reference to his folk songs.  The talk will be illustrated by photographs and performances of some of the songs that Williams discovered.

Wiltshire Council will be using a Government grant to help ensure as many vulnerable people as possible in the county are safe, warm and fed this winter.

The Government’s £421 million national Household Support Grant Scheme was made available in early October 2021 to support those most in need across England with the cost of food, energy (heating, cooking, lighting), water bills and other essential costs. 

The council was awarded £2,728,656 as part of the scheme and has liaised with partner agencies to agree how the money should be allocated.

The aim of the scheme is to give vulnerable households peace of mind in the run up to Christmas and over the winter months by helping to make sure they have food other essentials, such as heat and electric.

The money will be used for the following initiatives delivered by Wiltshire Council; there is no need for people to apply to Wiltshire Council for any funding from the Household Support Grant Scheme. Eligible people will be identified and contacted individually via:

• Food payments during the school holidays from last month’s half term up to and including Easter for families who are eligible for free school meals/ Better2Gether Funding (free childcare for two-year olds) and Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).
• Providing financial contribution to low-income households with children who are not eligible for the above food payments as well as to low-income households without children. These one-off payments will be made directly to working age low-income residents who are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction at the relevant times. Eligible people will be contacted directly.
• Support for rough sleepers with money for food, and energy set-up costs at new accommodation as well as support for those at risk of homelessness; this support will be administered by the council’s Housing Department
• Supporting Wiltshire Council tenants with fuel and food costs; this will be administered by the council’s Housing Department
• Financial support for Food Banks and linked projects to ensure they are able to purchase and provide food to those most in need

More information can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/benefits/household-support-grant-winter.

In addition to this support, Wiltshire Council has also provided funding for the following initiatives, and people are asked to contact the relevant partner organisations for any more information they may need:

• Support for older and vulnerable people with underlying health conditions – Wiltshire Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter campaign provides practical and financial help for people living in fuel poverty.  From 1 November, people who are in receipt of means-tested benefit and are aged over 65 or suffer from a long-term health condition, may be eligible for assistance including fuel vouchers and a range of advice.  For more information about eligibility and help available contact Warm and Safe Wiltshire on 0800 038 5722.
• Providing financial assistance to elderly residents affected by food poverty and rural isolation who are registered for Age UK’s warm meals service; for further information contact Age UK Community Meals on 01793 279606
• Providing fuel poverty support for those most in need – for households of working age earning less than the Real Living Wage and suffering with isolation, anxiety and mental health or from a hard-to-reach community like visually impaired, hard of hearing and the Boater and Travellers. Eligible residents can contact Warm and Safe Wiltshire on 0800 038 5722 or email warmandsafe@cse.org.uk or visit www.warmandsafewiltshire.org.uk

If people do not have internet access and have no family member, friend or neighbour that can assist, they can contact the council by phone on 0300 456 0100 who will be able to view the information for them.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “We welcome this extra support as we’re expecting winter to be a challenging time for some of our residents, so we hope this can ease the pressure they may be feeling

“We’re pleased to be working with local organisations to help get this money out to those who need it most, and we hope it gives those eligible a little bit of comfort and peace of mind.”

The Wellbeing Hub at Wiltshire Council remains available in order to provide support and signposting for all residents across Wiltshire, as part of the response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The hub can be contacted by telephoning 0300 003 4576 or via e mail at Wellbeinghub@wiltshire.gov.uk.

A Mental health guide to coping with a winter lockdown

I recently saw a very helpful infographic from Believe Perform, the world’s leading source of performance psychology, well-being and mental health content and it really resonated with me.   We all know that lockdown isn’t easy but lockdown in winter is tougher.  

Here’s a few tips that might help us all during these next few months.

• Lighting – on dark mornings, try wake up gradually with a slowly increasing light or try out a SAD light.
• Limit the news – we all know how bad it can be for us to have constant news bombarding us and checking social media.
• Taking time for yourself – plan your week – it is easy to lose the boundaries between work and home when you are not going anywhere.  Plan time when you can engage in activities that are relaxing and where you have time for you and for some self-care.
• Stay connected – write a letter, send someone a card, do a zoom family call or play a game online with a friend.  Some of us are feeling “zoomed” out after constantly being online but see if there are some fun ways to interact with others.
• Positive habits – write down a list of 5 to 10 positive mental health habits you can engage with to maintain your own mental fitness, listen to a podcast or learn a new recipe.
• Stay active – it’s harder in the winter but take a break from work and get out for a walk. Find a new way to be active. 
• Help others –supporting a neighbour or a friend, volunteering locally, helping with the chores can really boost your positive emotions
• Ask for help – if you are struggling, reach out to family, friends, your doctor or a local mental health charity.  There is always someone to help.

Wiltshire Mind – www.wiltshiremind.co.uk 

Samaritans – www.samaritans.org Call 116 123

Shout – text SHOUT to 85258 

Kellie runs Dunwoody HR, a local HR Consultancy providing outsourced HR support and solutions to small and medium sized business.   

MALMESBURY CHARITY APPEAL DOUBLES ITS COVID-19 EMERGENCY FUND TARGET 

Malmesbury charity HEALS is thanking local people and businesses for helping it double  its Covid 19 Emergency Hardship Fund target to support local vulnerable individuals and families.  The appeal has had the backing of the town’s 17 current and former Mayors and four church leaders.

“We had hoped to raise £10,000, but were simply amazed by the generosity of local people, organisations and charities. As a result, we have more than doubled our original target and the fund now stands at just over £20,000” said Heals Chair of Trustees Gavin Grant.

“That help is much needed. It has meant we have been able to provide free meals three times a week to those that really need them, recycle and upgrade 50 laptops for children to do school work at home, replace broken household appliances and meet household bills for people without the means to pay,” Cllr Grant added.

Heals has organised the provision of more than 4,300 free meals, two to three times a week, for more than 100 local people since lockdown. The charity was supported by Calcot Hotel & Spa, Waitrose Malmesbury, Tesco Tetbury and since May, by the Red Bull Inn in Malmesbury which has served up more than 2,000 meals at cost.  The meals service will continue until the schools return in September and the charity is looking at what it can do to continue to support people who continue to need help.

Applications for help from the Emergency Fund are still open.  To apply email heals.malmesbury@gmail.com, or complete the Contact Us online form at www.healsmalmesbury.co.uk.  Applicants will need to provide confidential details about their current finances. The Fund will help pay bills or make essential purchases, rather than hand out money direct to applicants.

Although the online appeal is now closed, donations can still be made by cheque or by bank transfer to the Malmesbury Area Covid-19 Emergency Hardship Fund, account number 21527088, sort code 40 31-07, or by cheque made payable to ‘Heals’ send to Heals, Malmesbury Town Hall, Cross Hayes, Malmesbury, SN16 ‎9BZ

Malmesbury Mayor Campbell Ritchie and BBC Radio Wiltshire presenter Ben Prater ceremonially cut a ribbon of toilet paper to declare Malmesbury’s new public toilets open on last week (Friday 14 August.), celebrated by an enthusiastic and socially distanced crowd.

The two unisex toilets, one specially designed for people with disabilities and including baby changing facilities, are behind the Town Hall in Malmesbury town centre and will initially be open from 7am to 7pm seven days a week. They are free to use and replace the old public conveniences which closed 11 years ago.

Campbell said: ‘We have known for a long time that we should have modern, accessible toilet facilities in the heart of the town. The new toilets add to a long list of Malmesbury firsts. 

“We are not only England’s oldest borough and the place where the first human flight took place; we now have the first public toilets in the country designed with COVID-19 in mind. They are as touch free as possible. 

“This has been a challenging project. We have succeeded in converting a redundant part of a listed building into a really useful asset. 

“We owe thanks to those who have helped fund the project; the European Union Fund in support of the Rural Economy, which we accessed through Vale Action and the Area Board of Wiltshire Council, our build team from Hi-Tec Washroom Solutions Ltd, led by Managing Director, Ramon Bunce and our Town Clerk, Richard Spencer-Williams, who managed the works on behalf of Malmesbury Town Council.

“Very importantly, our new toilets will encourage more residents and visitors to come and stay longer in the town centre, which is important for our community and economy,” the Mayor added.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT 

• Cllr Campbell Ritchie, Mayor of Malmesbury 0780 2638424 campbellrmtc@gmail.com.

Wiltshire Council has set up a dedicated hub to support the most vulnerable residents during the ongoing COVID-19 situation.   The Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub is available to anyone who is struggling during this difficult time, such as people who are shielding or self-isolating and don’t have a support network around them or know where to get help.

Wiltshire Council’s team can help provide support but also signpost them to where additional help is available in their local area – with hundreds of community groups set-up across the county providing invaluable assistance  People can get in touch with the hub via email at wellbeinghub@wiltshire.gov.uk  or by calling 0300 003 4576.  It’s available from 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday.

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “We have seen communities up and down the county supporting one another and that resilience and comradery has been inspiring.  hopefully our hub can provide a friendly voice and reassurance to ensure people get the support they need.”

Wiltshire’s dedicated COVID-19 page can be found at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/public-health-coronavirus which include information such a Communities Group Directory, COVID-19 Community Pack and the COVID-19 Volunteer Pack as well as a host of other guidance and information.