Anne Gregson opens our new season of talks on Wednesday 16 November, at 7.30 for 8pm in the Priory Barn.

A personal reminiscence by Rosie MacGregor about dodgy land deals and even dodgier information technology sell-offs at West Wiltshire District Council.

Are there lilac blooms in the heart of town? Maybe not, but the living green wall has transformed an eyesore.

Our 2022 Members’ Open Forum will be held at the Priory Barn, Newtown, at 7.30pm on Thursday 6 October.

About a year ago the Preservation Trust approached the Town Council to seek help in restoring the pennant surface of the lovely and well-used footpath between the top of Church Street and Barton Orchard

“... our traditional ceremonies of wassailing the trees took place, pouring cider on their roots and hanging toast on the branches to attract robins – guardians of the trees”

An old picture postcard prompted Geoff Andrews to search for the real story behind a life-long estrangement in the mid-19th century

West Barn Artsian Christmas Market on 4th and 5th December, plus Sing Around the Christmas Tree on 18th December.

Our housing and the way we live has changed dramatically and continues to change in the 21st century. The housing development known as Southway Park is typical in many ways of estates built during the 1970s and 80s.

Andrew and Vibeke Jenkins have very kindly had several of the pictures in their collection photographed for reproduction so that we can all enjoy them.

A warm welcome to our new treasurer. Daniel Wiltshire is an independent financial adviser with offices in Silver Street. We also welcome Joceline Bury as our new Membership and Admin Secretary.

A question overheard on a wet autumn day in the TIC led to a family reunion and the discovery of a musical tradition, as Geoff Andrews recounts.

As he and his family prepare to leave Bradford on Avon, Gerald Milward-Oliver reflects on more than a quarter of a century in the town – and looks forward to a future of continuing non-conformity.

Barton Farm Country Park is due to be transferred from Wiltshire Council to the Town Council. This seemed to be an appropriate time to look back on our 10 years of involvement with the meadow. Kate Nicholls reports

Geoff Andrews recalls the particular charm of the Kennet and Avon Canal and its environs during the post-war years.

During January and February, while observing Covid 19 rules, we managed to plant six new trees, all donated by Trust members or Friends of the Orchard. We also replaced one which had failed last year.

In an ancient town half built on a hillside, collapsing walls are a hazard – and the fallout can be unexpectedly contentious, as Geoff Andrews recalls.

Local volunteers, and community resilience charity Serve-on, have moved more than 4,000 sandbags weighing over 60 tonnes for the repair of Avoncliff Weir.

During the golden age of cinema, Geoff Andrews’ parents were the projectionists at the Alexander Picture Palace – housed in the old dye works that eventually became St Margaret’s Hall.

Roger Jones takes a look at the West Wilts Directory of 1940.