Local Talk Back Dec 2013

DECEMBER 2013 ISSUE 436
LOCAL
TALK BACK
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE WITH NEWS, VIEWS AND REPORTS
FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ACTON TURVILLE, BADMINTON & LITTLE BADMINTON

CONGRATULATIONS TO THREE LITTLE GIRLS
Darcey Rose Morgan daughter of Darren & Carolyn of Badminton
Grand-daughter of Pete & Heather Morgan
and to twin girls Grace & Isobel daughters of Belinda Harford & Andy Trudgian
Grand-daughters to Ian & May Harford of Burton
Condolences to the Dave Bright and family on their recent loss of Vera.
Vera was very much involved with in many clubs and organisations, always
raising money for charities. She was well liked and respected as could be
seen from the number of people who attended her funeral at Badminton.
Her story is told elsewhere in the Talkback.

______________________________________________________________________________
_DECEMBER 2013 LOCAL TALKBACK ISSUE 436__
EDITORIAL
Our thoughts are turning to what is on locally to brighten those long days until
Christmas.
One idea is to visit the Enchanted Illuminated Trail at Westonbirt
Arboretum. Fri,Sat,Sun 5 – 8.30pm (last entry 7.15pm) Nov
29 th – Dec 22 nd .
Or perhaps visit the Frampton-on-Severn Christmas Craft Fair Dec 7 th
10am – 2pm. at The Wool Barn.
Or wander around the Bath Christmas market between the Roman
Baths and Bath Abbey. There are over 150 stalls selling unusual gifts, decorations and food.
Mon-Wed 10 – 7pm; Thur-Sat 10-8pm; Sun 10-6pm. Ends 15 th December.
The three of us wanted to go somewhere ‘Christmassy’ to put
us in the festive mood and Whitehall Garden Centre in
Lacock certainly fitted the bill. Sitting in the Lavender
Lodge Tea room/Bistro, a tastefully decorated, calm and
spacious area compared to the busy main restaurant, we
reflected on what we had just experienced. Take the first step
through the door and you are in a winter wonderland as you
walk through a grotto full of displays of snowy scenes, a
giant gingerbread house and a life size Santa. The main ones
are of a deer under a tree of white fairy lights and an almost
life size snowy garden scene complete with wooden bridge
and life-size geese swimming in the ‘icy stream’.
Step out through the back door and you are overlooking the
outdoor 300 sq. metre ice-skating rink and Alpine Cafe with
terrace overlooking the ice. Another surprise were the two
live reindeer Starlight and Moonbeam and Pickle and Gurkin
the two Pygmy goats. Well worth taking children to look
around. Santa is also in his Grotto. The Ice-skating
Spectacular is open seven days a week until 7 th January. 45
minute sessions are for adults: £7.99 –£9.99, children £1.99 -
£7.99. Ride-on bananas and penguins for children and
beginners are available, as are double-bladed skates for
toddlers

Have you noticed the huge number of ash trees laden with dark brown seed
pod bunches (keys)? The Forestry Commission has been inundated with
false reports as concerned members of the public ring in, confused that the
‘dead’ seedpods are a sign of the deadly disease Chalara Ash Dieback. The
disease has ravaged ash trees across Europe. But this time the very cold
frosty temperatures are to blame for the blackened seedpods, as well as the
exceptionally productive fruiting season, or mast year. This autumn has
seen a spectacular show of fruits and seeds because of one of nature’s
mysterious events known as ‘masting’. The ash die-back is recognised by
elongated, diamond shaped lesions in the bark of stems and branches.
As Christmas will soon be upon us and the end of the year, we would like to wish all Local Talkback
readers a Very Happy Christmas and New Year. We would like to thank everyone who has helped
with the production and distribution of LTB, especially to Liz who prints the magazine and organises
a lot behind the scenes and to Dick and Belinda Elford for their continuing support in collating and
stapling all 400 copies together. The distributers in each area do a wonderful job in getting the paper
to all the households. We also thank those who have contributed to the content of the magazine and
ask that maybe more of you could write for us in the coming year.
Since the donation page was printed we have received a generous donation of £20 from one reader
who lives outside of the parishes but has been associated with the community and wants to remain
anonymous. Thank you so much. To bring the magazine free to your door we do rely on donations
and advertising to keep it going and we appreciate those that have helped this year.
There will not be a Talkback in January due to the holidays through Christmas and New Year.
Until Next Time -The Three Country Girls
Sally Smith, Sandra Broomsgrove & Yvonne Nettles
Send articles to Liz, c/o The Estate Office, Badminton, South Glos, GL9 1DD, or ring Liz
(mornings only) on 01454 218379 e-mail lizbarnesbpc@googlemail.com
COPY DATE 20 TH JANUARY for the February issue
THE LUNCHEON CLUB
It was two years since we had seen Dave Dean, who entertained us on 13 th
November. He is best described as a ‘crooner’ and is also good at telling a tale to
keep everyone entertained. All the year’s entertainers have been enjoyed my
Luncheon Club members and we look forward to a variety of visitors in the new
year.
DEC 11 th is our Christmas Party and singers ‘Mac and Son’ will be along to get us all
into the Christmas spirit. There will be lots of presents and prizes.
JAN 8 TH 2014 will be the first Luncheon Club of the new year. Entertainment yet
to be arranged.
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR MEMBERS AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN THE NEW YEAR

RECIPE - SAFFRON PEARS WITH AN ORANGE AND RUM SAUCE
An easy tried and tested recipe especially nice around Christmas time
Serves 4
Prep time 15 mins, Cooking time 30 mins
115g (4 oz) granulated sugar
For Orange Sauce
Generous pinch saffron strands (for colour) 50g (2 oz) granulated sugar
15mil lemon juice
15ml (1 tbsp) cornflour
4 firm desert pears 200ml orange juice
30 ml (2 tbsp) rum
Choose a saucepan large enough for the pears to lie in a single layer, they need to be under syrup.
Put the sugar and saffron in the pan, using the back of a spoon crush the saffron to break up.
Add 1 pint cold water and lemon juice, bring to a simmer to dissolve the sugar.
Peel the pears, leaving them whole (this still works if cut in half), place in the pan of syrup, poach
for about 30 minutes until tender. Leave to cool.
For the orange sauce, combine the sugar and cornflour in a saucepan and stir in the orange juice,
bring to the boil and stir until thickened, remove from the heat and stir in the rum.
Lift pears from the syrup, and spoon over the orange sauce.
Serve with amaretti biscuits. THIS CAN BE MADE SEVERAL DAYS AHEAD.
10 TH December
7 th & 21 st January 2014
JUBILEE ROOM, BADMINTON HALL
7.30-9.30pm every other Tuesday
throughout the winter and spring
Our fourth season of Craft evenings started on 3rd September after a summer break. We
are an informal group where we have the space for everyone to do their own craft – cardmaking,
lacemaking, scrapbooking, beading, quilling, doll-making, knitting, crochet etc. – share ideas and get
inspiration.
No membership fees, just £2 on the night - 7.30 – 9.30pm
We also arrange professional demonstrations and will go out on visits of interest.
Ring for information : Yvonne ( 01454) 218267 L/BADMINTON – Heather 218617 BADMINTON - Helen
218792 ACTON TURVILLE

MY ROYAL CONNECTIONS
By Phyllis Salmon (nee Brown) autobiography written 1989
This is about her childhood in Badminton from 1926. In this part of her story Phyllis tells
of her memories of the year’s special times following on from Show Day that we read
about last month.
PART 5 THE YEAR’S SPECIAL TIMES
After four weeks summer holiday it was September and we went back to school. Time
passed slowly until the end of October when we had the lovely evening of Halloween. An evening
of fun and laughter with mother and father. There would be apple ducking, roasting of chestnuts,
and a sings-song. To us, it was a happy evening, we never heard of witches and ghosts, they were
never spoken of. There was a tin bath with water and apples floating in it. We all had to get one
out without using our hands, what fun we all had cheering one another on. It was only a few days
later when it was bonfire night, but I have a sad tale to tell about that. We always had a bonfire and
some fireworks including some sparklers for us to hold. It was about a week before bonfire night.
My brother, Leonard, was with a friend of his, and they were in front of the house. Mother and
father had gone to Bristol to do some shopping and told the boys not to let fireworks off, but this
day they had one called a jack-in-the-box. They lit it, but thought it had gone out, Leonard got
down to blow it out, it went off in his face. He was very lucky he didn’t lose his eye sight. I put a
bandage over his eyes, and when our parents came home they were very cross. They sent me with
him to the District Nurse, all the way he was crying and lifting the bandage to let cold air get to it.
The nurse could do very little for him so the doctor had to call the next day. He came and treated
him. It was almost two months before he could see. He had lost his eyebrows and lashes and there
was a film over his eyes. His face was burnt badly, but I’m glad to say it left no scars. On bonfire
night my youngest sister, but one, Doreen burned her hand on a sparkler.
I am at the year’s special times, and the last is Christmas. I have told you of the wonderful
time we had every year, but I will tell of all the things that stand out in my mind most. First there
was all the preparations and mother made her Christmas puddings, mincemeat and Christmas cake
which she iced and decorated. When the puddings were made we all had to give it a stir and mother
would put lucky charms in it, one for each of us. There would also be a sixpence, but when we had
the pudding father would always be the lucky one to have the sixpence. From the age of nine I
would have to help clean fruit, stone the raisins, grease the tins and sometimes mother would let me
cut the pastry. She taught me a great deal long before I left school. I certainly learned my domestic
science for I had to help with washing, ironing, baby minding and most household jobs. Then at 14
I was out to work in service. They go to college today to learn all I learned in my young days.
Leading up to Christmas Day there were the decorations to be put up, with tinsel, bells, not
forgetting our paper chains we made, and holly and mistletoe. We would all hang our stockings up,
have something to eat and drink, then off to bed. After a while we would hear Father Christmas
coming up the stairs to have a word with us. Little did we know it was father with mother’s red
dressing gown on and the best red tea cosy on his head decorated with cotton wool and with a beard
of the same. We were overwhelmed and a little afraid, until we were older and guessed it was
father. He would ask us if we had been good and say that we must behave ourselves and help
mother all we could. If not, he would not come again and see us again. He hoped we liked what he
had left us for Christmas and if he didn’t leave all we asked for, it was because he didn’t have
enough to go around and he had to leave something for everyone.

MY ROYAL CONNECTIONS cont......
On Christmas morning there was the thrill of opening our stockings to see what we had. Apart from
our stockings there was a present. There were new clothes such as jumpers and socks sent by the
Duchess of Beaufort, and the Dowager; we had a parcel from them both. We would get some cards
and parcels from the relations who could afford to send, but there was not many who did, and the
present would be for mother.
A week before Christmas we would go carol singing; we always did well for we called at all
the big houses. First we would sing at the servants quarters, then we were shown through to sing to
the people of the house. At Badminton House we were shown through into the great hall, and had
to sing whatever carol their Graces chose, so we learned them all. We got a lot of money this way,
and I expect it helped to buy our Christmas fare.
One of the wonderful things we looked forward to was the children’s party at the Big House.
No, on that day we had to have a bath, hair washed and then put on our best clothes. All those who
were of school age set off to the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort’s house; we would be shown into
the servants big dining hall. The table was laden with good things; the room was very ancient and
all around the walls hung stags heads that were bagged by the Beauforts generations before. We all
had plenty to eat and drink and the servants waited on us, they were so kind looking after the little
ones and coaxing the shy ones to eat. When we could eat no more, we were taken into the great
hall, and there before us stood a magnificent Christmas tree. It almost reached to the ceiling, and
was beautifully decorated. Beneath it were dozens of gaily wrapped presents. The Duke and
Duchess were there to greet us, and asked us if we all had a good tea. We then had some games to
play, then came the grand present giving. It was a thrill when our name was called. The presents
were lovely. I remember having a lovely doll one year, and another time a sewing box. A great deal
of thought must have gone into the presents as each present was suitable for each child. Afterwards
we had carol singing, and before we went home we were given an orange and an apple. We were
also given a present to take home for the younger children at home so no-one was left out.
They were lovely people; never too proud to stop and chat with us, or take a cup of tea with
the tenants, and always visited when one or the other was ill. So I have stood up for these good
people when I hear anyone speak ill of them, for they were very good to my parents, and were the
means of keeping our family together when father and my brother were out of work. Well that was
our Christmas, and it was mother and father who made them so happy with all their hard work and
saving where they could. They made it a time to remember for the rest of our lives.
To be continued
RECIPE: FRUIT KEBABS
A nice fresh desert for any time of the year – so simple to make
CHUNKS OF FRUIT OF YOUR CHOICE – about 2-3 on small
kebab/cocktail sticks.
i.e. strawberry, melon, banana, orange, peach, kiwi etc.
A DISH OF DIP:
Mix together
1 CUP CREAM (SOUR) OR CREME FRAICH OR YOGHURT
1 CUP THICK CREAM,
2 Tablespoons HONEY & CHOPPED FRESH MINT

VERA BRIGHT 1944 - 2013
Dave, Jackie and Simon would like to thank the many
family and friends who came along to pay tribute to one
of life’s true characters, Vera Mary Bright, also known as
Hyacinth, or Lady Bucket. The family appreciated that
many travelled from far and wide to support the family
and pay tribute to Vera’s life.
Vera Maggs was born in Hambrook in 1944 where she
lived with her parents Lillian and Sydney for many happy years. She was educated at the
local primary school, Winterbourne Secondary Modern, now known as The Ridings and later
at Downed school where she excelled at needlework. She had one brother, Ronny, but he
was tragically killed in a motor cycle accident at the age of 17.
On leaving school she followed her interest in needlework by gaining employment at
Waltham Gardeners, a fabric and materials sewing company in Staple Hill, and as a home
help. She married Garnet Stevens in 1963 and they moved to Filton where she worked at
Ataburies petrol station and lived in a caravan at the rear of the garage. It was here that Jackie
was born the following year and in 1965 Simon arrived. Vera used to say that he was a little
angel until he learnt to walk and then all hell let loose! Later that year she took a job with a
successful car accessories business with whom she stayed for a number of years.
In 1975 Vera moved to Mark in Somerset where she made many good friends. After a split
in her marriage she moved back to a flat in Clifton in 1980
and later to Fishponds. It was whilst living if Fishponds
that one evening she went on a skittle night out to
Badminton Club where, during the course of the night, she
looked through into the bar and said to a total stranger, “Can
you play skittles.” “Aaagh I can” was the reply in a broad
Gloucestershire accent. The stranger of course was Dave
and this was the spark that lit their fire and ignited their
relationship.
By now Vera had a job at Patco where she was eventually
promoted to transport manager, but it wasn’t long before she
found her niche at Hazel Bushel Florists where her passion
for flowers developed and expanded.
1n 1986 Dave moved in with Vera at Fishponds, but they
spent a lot of the time in the Badminton area where Vera
soon became part of the furniture, so it was almost inevitable that eventually they would
move back to the area and were married 9 years ago.
Vera together with Dave mostly, enjoyed a range of sporting interests, including horse racing,
Gloucester rugby, Bristol City, Manchester United and Gloucestershire cricket. She enjoyed
flower arranging, gardening, sewing and travelling. She had an addiction for hats for all
occasions, but her favourite had to be the Aunty Doris hat.
She was a woman with a huge heart, she was honoured with life membership of Hambrook
social club, a member of Badminton club where she arranged whist drives, a voluntary
cleaner at the two Badminton churches and she loved pub games having captained the Fox
and Hounds crib team and the skittles team at the Sandringham in Downend and she played
dominos for the Cross Keys in Yate.

well enough for the presentation.
VERA BRIGHT
Her fund raising activities are legendary, particularly her
bread and butter puddings, pickles, all manner of cakes and
her famous harvest home ploughman’s which she did for
the Beaufort, the Fox and Hounds and the Evergroans. She
and Dave spent many hours slaving over the BBQ for fun
runs, cricket matches, bike rides, the Long John Silver trust
and recently the Grommit appeal. Mark from the Beaufort
estimates that over the years she has helped raise tens of
thousands of pounds through her efforts. A special
certificate was created by the Grommit appeal for Lady
Hyacinth and the BBQ team, but unfortunately she was not
Vera was hard working, thoughtful and compassionate and as quoted by Mandy and many
other kind cards sent to Dave and the family, she was kind, generous, supportive, funny, a
great fund raiser and if raffle tickets were snow she’d sell out to the Eskimos every time. She
was one in a million. She lived by the motto, “It’s more blessed to give than receive” – apart
from the offer of a gin and tonic with ice and lemon as influenced by her friend Pauline from
Somerset, and she had a wicked sense of humour.
She lived life to the full, making every minute count, usually the first to arrive and the last to
leave. Typically she was late leaving her local one night when she slipped and fell,
fortunately with no injuries other than her pride, but she insisted that she’d slipped on ice –
but it was September and there was certainly no sign of any ice!
Poor Dave bore the brunt of her tricks, he used to call her the ‘stinger’. One day he was at
home watching cricket when unbeknown to him Vera swapped one of his shoes. It wasn’t
until they were out later that night and everyone was looking at him that he realised that he
was wearing one brown and one black shoe. On another occasion he was asleep in the chair
one evening only to wake up and find one of his arms in bandages!
We say a big thank you for the way Vera brightened our lives and to use her words, “bugger
it “if she made a mistake. The family are all very grateful for her being there for them in the
time she had and would like to
say a big thank you to Mandy,
Marlene, Liz and Dave for all
their dedication and help and to
everyone that made her feel
someone special. One thing that
Simon says is that she was
never a stranger in a crowded
place and had a very infectious
personality. As her friend Tony
Harcourt said to him, “Your
Mum was a freak of naturethere
will only ever be one!”
So we must say goodbye to
Mum, Lady Hyacinth, Vera –
rest in peace.
Dave, Jackie & Simon