Page 12 - link magazine

12 The Link Magazine • April 200 4
Haydon Wick village still a strong community
When a lost drayman trying to locate her pub was told by four different people in the vicinity of Safeway that there was no High Street in
this part of Swindon, Fox and Hounds licensee, Ellen Lee, thought the world should know that Haydon village is still a vibrant community.
Ellen, who has lived in the area seded in 1875 by a new building
for many years, told The Link that further along High Street, which
there is always a welcoming and in turn was replaced in 1974 by the
friendly atmosphere in her pub. current Haydon Wick Primary
"We feel very much part of the School.
community. We are a sort of drop- Like the Emmanuel Church, a
in centre where people come for Wesleyan Methodist Chapel lo-
help and support, to make friends cated on The Brow was built in the
and even to find an obliging local middle years of the 19th Century.
tradesman. In fact the main reason This building is now used by the
I took over as licencee a year ago 1st Swindon Sea Scout Group who
was that I felt it important that this play their part within the commu-
community spirit be maintained." nity, joining in the parade service
She was at the time a regular at Emmanuel Church, helping the
customer at the pub, living close- parish council to deliver Christ-
by. She is proud of the real ale and mas parcels to the Haydon Wick
home cooked food which can be elderly and collecting litter and
found there and the sense of com- assisting with the Scouts' Christ-
munity is enhanced by the regular mas postal service. Youngsters
Tuesday quiz nights and occa- from 8 to 16 take part in the activi-
sional karaoke sessions. The two ties organised in the hall, known
hundred year old Fox and Hound locally as 'the Wick'. Summer finds
boasts five darts teams, a golf soci- them at Lechlade practising their
ety and cricket and football teams. skills with kayaks and various
Customers frequently raise funds out such back-up. She says there is boasts a skittle alley and puts on types of sailing craft. Further de-
for the Prospect Hospice and local a good relationship between the entertainment. tails of their activities can be found
charities. various organisations in the vil- At the Greenmeadow end of the on www.wiltshirescouts.org.uk/
Ellen is assisted by another regu- lage, and cites as an example the High Street lies the United Re- lstswindon.
lar, Annie Gardiner who has served Christmas carol service organised formed Church. Minister Andrew More local youngsters could
y
behind the bar for ten ears and with the local church. Francis has lived in Haydon Wick benefit if there were more leaders:
local volunteer Richard Walker The village has another purveyor for less than a year, but appreci- anyone interested in becoming in-
helps out in the cellar. Other vol- of alcoholic beverages further ates the village atmosphere. "Over volved can contact Bryan McGaw
unteers put in time and Ellen says along the High Street- the Haydon the generations, those attending on 340702.
she couldn' trunthebusinesswith- Wick Working Men's Club - which Emmanuel Church
have seen many
changes. But High
Swindon's Street is still busy
with both 'locals'
carpet and schoolchildren
going on their daily
cleaning journeys, giving it
professional a feeling of a vil-
lage community
is ready WI^TS^^4 still."
The church and
ass .
to help V UPHOlS1EA ,LEANINGSP- its hall host several
I
CgRPET ^q3^ 87^') activities such as
• Fully trained & e1 • ^^^' EFCIat ids U Rp'C coffee mornings, a lunch club, par- Since the 1960's Haydon Wick
ent and toddlers, Guides, Brown- has seen housing development
insured operators CoMM
^ ies and Rainbows. There are Sis- grow up around it, but has man-
Dom
* Commercial rates terhood meetings for more reli- aged to retain its identity. It has
available gious reflections and a Thursday lost its Post Office - much regret-
* Professional spotting Group of ladies with guest speak- ted, particularly since the closing
kits available ers, demonstrations and trips out of the Post Office at Safeway - and
and fund raising for local chari- a number of other traders over the
Stain removal made easy Alan Trask of Ultra Clean
ties. Details of all these activities years, but keeps its enthusiasm to
• Deodorising treatment can be obtained from Sue Martin act as a community.
Leaves carpets & Anti allergy treatment on 722446. In the past, The Link has featured
fabric smelling fresh For asthma & allergy Hidden away between Green- the memories of local farmers
• Leather suites cleaned sufferers meadow and Haydon Leigh it may DougCliffordofHaydonFarm and
& treated Satisfaction guaranteed be, but the hamlet of Haydon Wick Alan and Valerie Trotman, for-
has existed for a few more centu- merly of the Grange Farm Nurs-
Phone now for free no obligation estimate on ries than Abbey Meads and Priory ery: it would be interesting to hear
Vale. In the 13th Century, it formed from readers with memories of the
01793 - 870756 part of the land of the manorial village itself before Greenmeadow
lords of Lydiard Tregoze.
appeared on its doorstep.
Its best remembered resident is
ULTRA CLEAN ( WILTSHIRE) • , Catherine Wayte who endowed the My community
If Alan Bushell's article on Haydon
village's first school house in 1806
Open: Mon - Fri 9am - 7pm • Sat 9am - 1pm • Wick has inspired you to write a
and has a close, a school and a
piece on the neighbourhood you
www.ultraclean-wiltshire.com room in the Haydon Centre named live in, call The Link on 872282.
after her. That school was super-