Batcombe

REP & DISTRIBUTOR: Paul Attwell pcattwell@gmail.com

Sir Andrew Graham starts the Jubilee celebrations

Batcombe Jubilee celebrations

Like most towns and villages across the UK, Batcombe people came together to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We were welcomed by Sir Andrew Graham, who raised a toast to The Queen and played the bagpipes to start the celebration. A magnificent array of food was assembled as a bring-and-share lunch and spirits were not dampened by the onset of rain as everyone was already inside the marquee eating and drinking. Thanks to the Grahams for hosting such an enjoyable event.

Many people think the name Batcombe has a reference to bats; however, research suggests the name derives from the Old English Bata, a man’s name, and cumb, meaning valley. In 1201 it was known as Batecumbe. Whatever the origins, we can officially confirm there are bats at Batcombe church, and not just on the church gate sign.

On 31 May, Abbas Ecology completed the fourth in a series of bat surveys. These inspections are an essential precursor to an application for a Bat License from Natural England which will allow the roof repair work to be undertaken. There is evidence (droppings, food debris, some flying bats) of brown long eared, common pipistrelle and serotine bats using the church as a roost. The application to Natural England will be made by 15 June and, all being well, approval for the work to start with consideration for the bats will be achieved by 31 August. If you would like to be included in the Batcombe Church lottery for the next 12 months, now is the time to buy your tickets. The lottery is open to anyone across the benefice and helps to keep the church open and maintained. Tickets are £12 each per year and you can buy as many as you wish. Three winners are drawn each month.

Although prizes might be smaller than the National Lottery, the probability of you getting more back than you put in is considerably higher.

For more details and to buy your tickets before the end of July please contact Bridget by email: bridgetgordge@ hotmail.com

Prize winners May 2022

1st Lou Gordge 2nd Johnny Gibbs 3rd Louisa Macpherson

Prize winners June 2022

1st Georgia Macpherson 2nd Hugh Vere Nicholl 3rd Hilary Brocklehurst

Paul Attwell