Category: Community (Warminster)

Topics about organisations and activities in Warminster.

Pongo, The Much-Loved Mascot Of The 7th Wiltshire Regiment

Tuesday 25th June 2019

Danny Howell writes –

For all the dog-lovers out there, here’s a photograph taken about 104 years ago by S.J. Vowles whose images of military scenes in Warminster and in the army camps around the district during the First World War appeared on many (now very collectable) postcards. But the subject of this photograph is not a soldier, at least not a human one. It portrays Pongo, the much-loved mascot of the 7th Wiltshire Regiment, recorded by the camera outside some of the wooden huts in one of the army camps at Sutton Veny. I love this photograph and I consider myself lucky to have it among my collection. Thought I would like to share it here. Enjoy!

Casper – The Much-Loved Cat At Warminster Railway Station Cat

Tuesday 25th June 2019

Earlier I featured a photo of Pongo for all the dog-lovers who visit my Facebook page. So I guess I had better feature on my Facebook page a feline pic too for all the cat-lovers. And the photograph I’ve chosen, which I made on Saturday 16th May 2015, is of a cat who was very well-known. He was much-loved by not only his owner but just about everyone who used Warminster Railway Station at that time.

It’s Casper, pictured outside Casper’s Cafe (where else!) run by Casper’s owner Jane Ham. Sadly, Casper used up all of his nine lives when he died peacefully on Sunday 13th March 2016. He was 22 years old.

And you can read more about Casper, including how he quickly recovered after being hit by a taxi on 11th November 2013, by clicking on the same link above to Danny Howell’s website. Following the accident with the taxi, Casper and his owner Jane received many good wishes (mainly via the Spotted In Warminster Town facebook page).

Casper was also mentioned on the Purr ‘n’ Fur website, in the section on Rail Station Cats 4.

www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/featuring/wk-rail04a.html

They noted how Casper had been keeping his eyes on the comings and goings at Warminster Railway Station since at least 2010. “In 2010 and certainly as recently as 2012, Warminster station in Wiltshire had a cat called Casper, who although he didn’t live there but in a nearby home, seemed to spend a lot of time there and enjoyed ‘meeting and greeting’ travellers.”

(The last time I looked the Purr ‘n’ Fur website was “temporarily unavailable).

But there are also photos and a few more details about Casper featured on the Cat Party website:

http://miaowmix.blogspot.co.uk/…/cat-pap-warminster…

Among the comments received on my Facebook page when I shared the news that Caspar had died, were the following:

Rachel Lee: “My buddy who would talk to me one day and totally ignore me the next . . . . . unless I had cheese.”

Joanne Thompson: “Loved Casper.”

Jenny Firth: “Oh bless Casper, miss seeing him xxx.”

Maz Levy: “So loved Casper. Used to greet me everyday when I got off the train from work and would run to meet me if he saw me coming towards the station.”

Pavilion At Warminster Cricket Club Re-Named ‘The Brian Short Pavilion’

Sunday 26th May 2019

At Warminster Cricket Club on Sunday 26th May 2019 ~ renaming the pavilion ‘The Brian Short Pavilion’ and the first Brian Short & Tony Bateman Memorial Match (old boys versus the current crop of players) was played. Brian’s widow Betty was guest of honour with her family.

Photographs taken by Danny Howell.

New Mayor And Deputy Mayor For Warminster

Wednesday 22nd May 2019

The new Mayor of Warminster, Paul Macfarlane (left) and the new Deputy Mayor Chris Robbins.

At Warminster Town Council’s annual meeting on Monday 20th May 2019, following a unanimous vote in favour, Councillor Paul Macfarlane was appointed Mayor of Warminster for the ensuing municipal year. Councillor Chris Robbins was unanimously voted in as Deputy Mayor.

Speaking after his appointment, Councillor Macfarlane said “I thank my fellow councillors for their vote of confidence in me, and it is an honour to be representing the town again in the coming year.”

Councillor Macfarlane previously served as Mayor of Warminster in 2016-2017. Paul has lived in the town since he was four and attended Minster Primary School before moving on to Kingdown School. Councillor Macfarlane lives in Highbury Park with his wife Michelle and two children. 
According to the Wiltshire Council Register of Interests, Paul is a Member of the South Wiltshire Conservative Party and a Sales Director with Jaymart Rubber & Plastics, Crusader Park, Warminster.

 

The Mayor of Warminster Paul Macfarlane with his wife Michelle.

 The new Mayor will announce his chosen charity for the coming year at a future date.

Chris Robbins, a former employee of Lloyd’s Bank and now the long-standing (35 years) proprietor of C.J. Robbins Butchers, Market Place, Warminster, was very pleased to accept the office of Deputy Mayor. He was pleased to pledge his support for the new mayor and Warminster Town Council in general. Chris lives in Warminster, is married to Debra and has four children and so far, three grandchildren. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather Frank Whitmarsh, twice a former Chairman of the Warminster Urban District Council (1952/1953 and 1963/1964). According to the Wiltshire Council Register of Interests, Chris is a Member of the South Wiltshire Conservative Association, a Trustee of Warminster Masonic Hall and the landlord of 1-6 Butcher’s Court, Warminster.

Disabled Ramblers – National Ramble – Shearwater to Heaven’s Gate

Sunday 19th May 2019

Paula writes –

Disabled Ramblers, National Ramble. Shearwater to Heavens Gate – May 19th 2019.

Day 2 of the Wiltshire tour took us to Shearwater Lake on the Longleat Estate.  We had once again a good turnout of 17 scooters and 12 walkers. We also had beautiful weather and the sun made the lake and surrounding area look very pretty.

The ramble started by the lake and we then went up into the woods, where we found a nice spot for coffee. This was interrupted by a very large lorry carrying lots of logs.  We were all amazed at how the lorry managed to get down the small paths of the woods. After coffee we carried on up to the car park at Heavens Gate.

We carried on across the road into the start of the Capability Brown designed arboretum.  We stopped for a brief talk on Heavens Gate and the stone sculptures.  The sculptures were designed by Paul Norris for the Millennium.  Heavens Gate is the view point.  It shows amazing views over Longleat House and gardens as well as on a good day across to Somerset.  We were not disappointed.  We stopped there for lunch and to give everyone a chance to take photos.  After group photos and food, we headed back down through the woods.  Finishing up at the café, for coffees and cakes.  Thank you to all who helped to make this a fabulous day.

https://disabledramblers.co.uk/2019/05/30/may19-national-ramble-shearwater-to-heavens-gate/ 

Warminster U3A – Country Dancing

Wednesday 1st May 2019

The Warminster U3A Newsletter, May 2019, includes the following report by Bob Wright:

Country Dancing
We continue to enjoy Music & Dance on two Friday afternoons each month, with increased numbers of dancers over previous years. We continually try out new dances and our members particularly enjoy Fun and Party Dances. These are often discussed, with hilarity, during our break for tea and biscuits. Visiting dancers from Bath and Exmouth have recently been warmly welcomed by all our members. We still have room for more dancers should anyone want to join us – just pop along one Friday and see us in action.

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