May News 2018

The Feoffees and Thirteen of Tetbury

With the summer approaching, our town will start to burst into flower, with our flower beds and hanging baskets being prepared and displayed.  It has been a busy spring for us, as custodians to a number of Open Spaces in the town which include – The Millennium Green, Preston Park and the Railway Line, The Knapp, Scavenge Lane and Cutwell.  We are pleased to have been able to replace the tree, which previously had to be removed for safety, at Cutwell and I must thank Dave Norris, John Latter and John Price for arranging the planting of this tree.  They were pleased to be joined by the children from Puddleducks, who we hope will watch this tree grow big and strong, as they do.

If you want to know more about us and the work that we do within the town and grants available, please speak to any member of The Feoffee or Thirteen, or check out our website  www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk and we would be pleased to hear from you if you have any projects which you feel may be of interest to us. We hope to meet you at one of our events over the summer months, the dates of which are given below:

29th June                     - Community BBQ at the Millennium Green

8th September             - Beating of the Bounds

15th/16th September   - Heritage Weekend

Finally, I am pleased to confirm that we have recently given three grants for equipment to students at Cirencester College, University and Teacher Training.

 Lance Vick – Chairman

The Feoffees and Thirteen Summer BBQ

April News 2018

The Feoffees and Thirteen of Tetbury

Happy Easter to you all, hopefully by the time you read this, the ‘Big Freeze’ which we experienced at the beginning of March, has given way to more spring like weather and we can look forward to planning events in our town.  This year the Feoffee and Thirteen are planning to hold their Annual Town Community BBQ on the Millennium Green on 29th June at 6pm.  For those of you who are new to the town or have never attended before, this is a ‘free of charge’ community event, an opportunity to meet your friends old and new and enjoy a burger or hotdog – just bring a blanket, chair, drinks and yourselves – everyone is welcome and we look forward to meeting you all there!

Dates for your Diary

29th June                     - Community BBQ at the Millennium Green

8th September               - Beating of the Bounds

15th/16th September   - Heritage Weekend

We are planning some more work at our open space area in Cutwell this spring, with a new Oak Tree due to be planted to replace the tree which had to be removed for safety a year or so ago.

Grants approved recently have included support for an Expedition to India, an Expedition to Borneo and support for software for a college course.

If you think we may be able to help you or your group with an education or training grant, please visit our website – www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk -  or speak to one of our members.

Lance Vick – Chairman

March News 2018

The Feoffees and Thirteen of Tetbury

As Spring arrives and the young people of our town start to prepare for their GCSE’s and A Levels in the Summer, I thought this would be a great opportunity to highlight the availability of education and training grants, as they move forward from school.  

Our charity is able to make grants towards equipment for people undertaking apprenticeships for a trade or those entering into further education. 

In addition, we can also award grants to local schools, groups and clubs and this month we have been able to provide a grant to Tetbury Rugby Club towards their Under 11 boys Rugby Tour.

If you think we may be able to help you or your group with an education or training grant, please visit our website – www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk -  or speak to one of our members.

Lance Vick – Chairman

January News 2018

The Feoffees and Thirteen of Tetbury

Firstly, whilst Christmas seems a long time ago, I wanted to send a thank you to Amanda and the team at Hobbs House Bakery, who kindly supplied bacon sandwiches and Peter Powell and the Creative team, who kindly supplied coffee, for all our volunteers who decorated The Market Hall and the Christmas trees. We would also like to thank the Dormers Close residents – Caron, James, Alex and Alison - who supplied and decorated the Christmas Tree in Berkeley Wood and ensured that the letters in the Post Box reached Santa safely.

I would like to start the new year, by looking back at 2017 and letting you know that we were very pleased to make grants to 30th September 2017 of over £25,000 to both Community Groups and individuals, these grants were:

Fixed Grants

Advowson (Town Council)- £70

Lecturers Grant - £30

St Marys Primary School - £3000

Millennium Green - £2500

British Legion – £150

Flower Show – £300

Tetbury in Bloom - £1500

Holiday at Home - £1500

Library - £1500

Tetbury Relief in Need - £6000

Tetbury Youth Pod - £3,000 (subject to them confirming their future plans with the Treasurer) 

Individual Grants

£300 grant support for plumbing course apprenticeship

£230 support for a course at Kings College

£360 support for an individual to undertake a talking and drawing therapy course

In addition, in November we supported St Mary’s Playgroup with some additional funding, which included a £300 training grant and in December we supported the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme at Sir William Romney’s with a grant of £3,000.

Finally, we are working with the town council and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust on a project to look at clearing the stream from Preston Park to Wiltshire Bridge.

If you think we may be able to help you with an education or training grant or your group, please visit our website -www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk -  or speak to one of our members.

Lance Vick – Chairman

December News

The Feoffees and Thirteen of Tetbury

Once again this year, The Market Hall will be the focal point in the centre of town, decorated with lights and two beautiful trees. Once again, I would like to thank the Lowsley-Williams family for their donation of the trees and to Tetbury Plumbing & Heating and Lloyd Avis for all their assistance to The Thirteen in the erection and decoration this year.  Without our members and this support from our community we would be unable to have such a wonderful display.

Should we be lucky enough to experience a ‘White Christmas’ this year and you have an opportunity to get your sledges out from the garage to enjoy Preston Park, please be aware that you use this recreation area at your own risk, be safe and have fun. 

I am pleased to confirm that we have made grants this month to Holiday at Home, Tetbury Relief In Need, the Youth Club, Tetbury in Bloom, St Mary’s School and £900 for apprenticeships and students.  We also continue with the work on Chipping Steps to maintain and improve this area.

If you would like to know more about the type of grants and support available, please do not hesitate to contact us. Educational or Training Grants, as well as discretionary Grants to the town’s clubs and societies are available by application to the Feoffees at www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk

Finally, may I take this opportunity to wish you and your families all a very Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year.

Lance Vick – Chairman

November News

The Feoffees and Thirteen of Tetbury

It has been a time of change for our group in the last month, with our Treasurer, Campbell Higgins, retiring from his position after 16 years and we welcome Kara Hassett, who will be taking on this very important role.  The Thirteen welcome Mike Avis, who has been elected to join them in the important work of supporting the Feoffee with our work in the town.

Tony Walsh and Jim Pearce of the Thirteen have recently been very busy with historic talks on The Feoffee and Thirteen and guided tours of The Market Hall for groups which have included, visitors from America and our German twin town of Zwingenberg – there are more planned for the new year, so if you know a group who would be interested please contact us.

With Christmas approaching this month you will see a lot of activity in the town and particularly The Market Hall, members of the Thirteen will be organising the installation of the Christmas lights around the building and the Christmas trees either side of the steps – do stop to say hello if you are passing by.

This month we have been pleased to support 3 local people with grants, which totalled £900

If you would like to know more about the type of grants and support available, please do not hesitate to contact us. Educational or Training Grants, as well as discretionary Grants to the town’s clubs and societies are available by application to the Feoffees at www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk -  Lance Vick – Chairman

October News

The Feoffees and Thirteen of Tetbury

 September started off busy, with the traditional annual Beating of the Bounds, followed by the presentation of The Feoffees accounts on the first weekend and the opening of The Market Hall and Committee Room on the second weekend, as part of the national Heritage Weekend celebrations. Over the Heritage Weekend we welcomed over 300 visitors to The Market Hall, where there was not only our display, but a wonderful display of local history from the History of Tetbury Society. If you missed either of these events, please look out for them next year, when the Beating of the Bounds will take place on 8th September and Heritage Weekend on 15th/16th September and come and join us.

Over the summer there has been some maintenance and repair work being undertaken on Chipping Steps and this will continue into the autumn, as weather permits. 

Finally, I am pleased to advise that this month we have been able to award an Education grant to Millie Ludlow.

If you would like to know more about the type of grants and support available, please do not hesitate to contact us. Educational or Training Grants, as well as discretionary Grants to the town’s clubs and societies are available by application to the Feoffees at www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk -  Lance Vick

September News

The Feoffees and Thirteen of Tetbury

It has been a very busy summer for us all, it started with some ground preparation in Cutwell ready for the planting of a new tree.  This involved removing a large number of old roots and thanks go to Dave Hicks, Dave Norris, John Price, John Sharp and Trolley Wood for all of their hard work in completing this.  At the Market House we have also been busy, installing a new alarm system and smoke detector.

The Feoffees also supported an art day for 21 students as part of SWR enrichment week. Working from the pod the students looked at the different techniques of graffiti art, a popular art format with young people. A Tetbury graffiti artist lead the session supported by youth workers. The local Police Officer and Police Community Support Officer also came along to the event to discuss the legalities of graffiti, so the students were fully informed about what is lawful and what is not.

Once again, the Year 6 leavers at St Mary’s School were all awarded a Bronze Feoffee Medallion as they move on to the next stage in their education.

Tony Walsh has continued with his historical talks for local groups and he has recently given another talk to the Westonbirt Society, if you are part of a group or organisation who would be interested in a talk, please contact us either by speaking to a member of the Feoffee or Thirteen or via our website.

Dates for your Diary

Beating of the Bounds - 2nd September – meet under Bath Bridge at 9.30am

Heritage Weekend 9th/10th September

Finally, we are still trying to locate a Romney Coat so that we can display it in The Market Hall, if anyone knows where one is please let us know.

If you would like to know more about the type of grants and support available, please do not hesitate to contact us. Educational or Training Grants, as well as discretionary Grants to the town’s clubs and societies are available by application to the Feoffees at www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk -  Lance Vick – Chairman

Beating of the Bounds

Thank you to all that came along to the Beating of the Bounds this year.  Please find some photos of the event. 

En route around Tetbury during the Beating of the Bounds - Millenium Green

The Beating of the Bounds start place - Bath Bridge

July News 2017

The Feoffees and Thirteen of Tetbury

Since my last article, members have attended a number of events in our community and this included the Lions Club organised Tetbury Care Day, which brought organisations from within our community together with professional bodies, to look at how we can provide the best care for all our residents.  This was a really useful day and I am sure that we will all benefit from this initial meeting and its findings in the future.

Dr Tony Walsh gave a very successful talk to the Malmesbury Probus Club on our history and another talk is planned for Westonbirt Ladies this month.  If you are part of a group who would welcome an interesting, historic talk, please contact us directly via our website.

We are planning to bring The Market Hall into the 21st Century by installing Wi-Fi, however, as you can imagine getting this in an historic, listed building is proving to be a challenge, however we will be shortly testing systems and look forward to updating you in the near future.

Dates for your diary:

• 9th/10th September – Heritage Weekend in The Market Hall
• Beating of the Bounds – Date to be confirmed

This month we have been pleased to support the following groups/individuals with grants:

• Christmas in Tetbury – support for lights
• Tetbury Town FC Under 12’s trip to France
• Harriet Dove – support for studies
• Repairs to The Feoffee Clock, which is sited at St Mary’s School

June News 2017

 After jointly giving over 45 years of service to The Feoffees and Thirteen, I am sad to report that we have to say goodbye to two of our hard working group.  Firstly, after 30 years of service to both the Thirteen and the Feoffees, John Sheppard has retired.  His expertise in the management and repairs of The Market House has been invaluable to the group and his hard work and commitment to keeping this building in such a wonderful condition has allowed it to become the ‘jewel in the centre of town’.  We are grateful to him for his service and will miss his support and commitment.  His vacancy on The Feoffees will be filled by Thirteen – Dave Norris – we welcome him and look forward to working with him, a new member of the Thirteen will be appointed in due course.  Secondly, Campbell Higgins who has been our clerk for 15 years will be standing down as Treasurer at the end of September.  Campbell undertook the role of Clerk and Treasurer initially and more recently has acted as our Treasurer, following the appointment of a new clerk.  Our group has benefitted greatly from his professionalism and experience and we are grateful for his commitment to our group.  The Feoffees and Thirteen would like to publicly acknowledge and thank both John and Campbell for their service to the town.

On another note, we have received a number of complaints from the residents at the bottom of Gumstool Hill and the Millennium Green regarding dog fouling on the grass.  This is a public space which we voluntarily provide and maintain for the benefit of the entire town and we respectfully ask that all dog owners are responsible and remove any fouling which occurs – thank you.

By the time you read this, Tony Walsh will have given a further historical talk on The Feoffees our history to the Malmesbury Probus Club – if you have a club who would be interested in a talk or tour of The Market House, please contact us.

Finally, this month we have been able to support Tetbury Hospital with the funding to purchase a new Video Lryngoscope and we have been pleased to see that our grants to Sir William Romney’s School and St Mary’s School has resulted in a successful Field Trip for Yearpupils to Shropshire and new tables for the Primary School.

If you would like to know more about the type of grants and support available, please do not hesitate to contact us. Educational or Training Grants, as well as discretionary Grants to the town’s clubs and societies are available by application to the Feoffees at www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk -  Lance Vick – Chairman