Christmas in Melksham

Charity Christmas cards now on sale at Melksham Tourist Information Centre

Charity Christmas cards and Christmas cards and stamps are now on sale at Melksham Tourist Information Centre.  

Team leader, Andrea Smart says, “Come and have a look at the wonderful selection supporting a variety of charities. We also have the Scouts’ Christmas letterbox.  Post your local Christmas cards for the Scouts to deliver, 25p a card.

“See our selection of work/cards by local artists, along with Wiltshire bee honey and giftboxes, cards and prints.

“We sell tickets for local events and take  take booking the Santa Train – and take bookings for the Community Shopper Bus and Melksham coach trips.

“So pop in and see us, if you would like to help us and volunteer, speak to a member of staff at 23 Church Street, Melksham or call us on 01225 707424.

“Opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday 9.30am to 1pm (Christmas hours to be confirmed).”

Scouts’ Christmas fair

MELKSHAM Scout Group is hosting a Christmas fair next week packed full of festive cheer and goodies – the group’s biggest date in their fund-raising calendar.

All money raised will go towards the Beavers’, Cubs’ and Scouts’ annual camps. 

Visitors to the fair will be able to enjoy craft stalls, tombola, cakes and sweets, children’s crafts, games, and for those who have been nice this year, Santa will be paying a visit to take orders for the big day.

There will also be the hugely popular ‘Secret Santa’ stall, and a raffle offering great prizes like a family photo shoot, Boomerang tickets and fitness sessions.

Join the Scouts on Friday 30th November at the Scout Hut on Bath Road from 6pm to 8pm. Entry is free. Visits to Santa cost £4.50.

Christmas wreath-making workshop at Young Melksham

YOUNG Melksham will be hosting its popular Christmas wreath-making workshop on Saturday 1st December.

Organisers say, “This year we will be open between 10am and 2pm and you can come and make a Christmas wreath and, new for this year, you will also be able to try your hand at creating a willow sculpture.

“Tickets for this year’s workshop are available now and are priced at just £10 for a Christmas wreath and £10 for a willow sculpture, or if you are feeling particularly festive, you can save and do both for just £18.”

Tickets can be booked through the website: www.youngmelksham.org.uk/latest/other-events

Scouts to deliver festive cheer!

THE Scouts will deliver festive cheer in Melksham this Christmas, as they have now set up special postboxes to collect your Christmas cards for delivery around town.

All you have to do is write the address, clearly, on the envelope and drop it into one of the special postboxes that are in shops all across the town. There is no need to attach a stamp but you are asked to donate 25p per card – that’s less than half the price of a second class stamp.

The Scouts will then deliver your festive cards to any address within the Melksham, Bowerhill or Berryfield areas. The last posting date is Thursday 13th December. 

You can find a Scouts’ postbox at the following Melksham locations; Tops, Scissors, The Art House Café, Tourist Information, Card & News, The Cobbler’s Bench, Texaco Garage on Spa Road, and Robinsons Fish & Chip Shop in Bowerhill.

If you are not sure of the address on the front of the envelope, please put a return address on the back.

Claire Neal, group Scout leader said, “The children love delivering the post and we always have lovely comments from people when they’ve received their post.

“It’s brilliant for the community and also helps the elderly who can’t perhaps get around to post their own Christmas greetings.”

Melksham Music and Drama gear up for panto season

There is excitement in rehearsals at Melksham Music and Drama (MMAD) as they work together on their new pantomime, Romeo and Juliet.  

MMAD’s Linda Mence says, “This has been written and is being directed by Mandy Raikes-May (pictured) and is based around William Shakespeare’s play of the same name (but with a happy ending)! 

“It follows the story of two feuding families and is complete with a hero and heroine, a villain, a dame, and jam-packed with some interesting characters.  As usual, great singing and dancing and lots of laughs – this show is not to be missed.

“Romeo and Juliet will be performed in the New Year and the dates for your diary are Friday 8th – Saturday 9th February and Thursday 14th – Saturday 16th, with matinee performances on 9th and 16th.

“As well as rehearsing for the panto, MMAD are rehearing for their Christmas singing shows.  You will be able to see some of the members singing Christmas songs on stage at the Christmas lights switch-on in the Assembly Hall on Saturday 1st December or at the Conservative Club on Sunday 16th December.  

On Saturday 15th December they are performing an evening of Christmas songs and poems, with refreshments and a raffle, at the Rachel Fowler Centre and the proceeds will go to Samara’s Aid Appeal for relief of suffering through the provision of humanitarian aid in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Holt Christmas gift and craft fair

A CHRISTMAS gift and craft fair will be held at Holt Village Hall on Saturday 1st December.

Hosted by the village WI to raise funds, the event will have stalls packed full of goods, ideal for Christmas presents. There will be handcrafted items, sweets, children’s books and clothes, decorations, jewellery, candles and many more unique items. Tea and cakes will also be on offer.

The fair is open from 10.30am until 4pm and entry is free.

Seend playgroup Christmas fayre

SEEND Playgroup invite you along to their Christmas Fayre on Saturday 1st December from 2pm-4pm at Seend Community Centre. 

The fayre will have gift stalls for you to begin your Christmas shopping and a children’s corner to keep the children entertained! It’s a £1 entry with all proceeds going to Seend playgroup. 

There will also be a special visit from Father Christmas, as well as a raffle. Prizes include a £50 Boden voucher, meal vouchers, butchers’ vouchers and more!

Get in the Christmas spirit with Melksham Town FC

Melksham Town Football Club is gearing up for the festive season and the whole town is invited to come and join in the celebrations.

On Saturday 22nd December, the club will be hosting their Christmas party and disco in the Sky Bar at Oakfields from 7.30pm.

Chair of Melksham Town FC, Darren Perrin said, “All sponsors, supporters, players and staff are welcome to the evening as a ‘thank you’ for their continued support and help in 2018. It’s been a fantastic year for the club, and a Christmas party is a great way to celebrate all our fantastic achievements.

“Come and have a dance to some Christmas music, relax and enjoy the atmosphere and get into the Christmas spirit, ready for when Santa comes!”

Entry is free and everyone is welcome.

Christmas cards in aid of Melksham Christmas Lights

Nettl of Melksham (formerly Zoomi Print) will be producing Christmas cards in aid of the Melksham Christmas lights again this year.

Phil Martin, general manager said, “The Melksham Christmas lights team always do a fantastic job, year on year producing the best display around.

The Christmas cards always sell really well, and any profits made will go straight to the Melksham Christmas Lights Appeal.”

The Christmas cards are priced at £1 each and will be available to purchase from the Nettl studio on Lowbourne Road.

Free Christmas Day Dinner at Melksham Assembly Hall

JOIN other local residents and members of the Core Church this Christmas Day for a free Christmas dinner at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Gavin Owen, the organiser of the event said, “This free festive feast has been held every year since 2007 by Core Church and it has become something of a local tradition. As long as there are people who want to join us, we will continue to host this event year after year. Following the success of last year’s trial, we will once again be offering two sittings for dinner. The first sitting will be at 12pm, followed by our carol service at 2pm, with the second sitting at 3pm. 

“As far as possible we will offer guests the choice of which sitting to attend, but if either sitting becomes overly full, we will stop taking bookings for it.  

“As usual, we will be serving a three-course meal of soup, followed by roast dinner with all the trimmings, and finishing with a selection of puddings plus tea, coffee and mince pies.

“All are welcome and there is no charge, though anyone who wants to make a donation is welcome to do so. A vegetarian option is available and if you have other dietary requirements, we will do our best to cater for you.

“Please let us know if you need help getting to the Assembly Hall. We want to do whatever we can to make it possible for people to be here, so don’t let anything put you off. The invitation really is for everyone – old or young, rich or poor, on your own or with family and friends.

“If you or anyone would like to join Core Church on Christmas Day at Melksham Assembly Hall, you can book your place by calling or texting 07788 446567. Alternatively, pop into Newman’s butchers and let them have your name and contact number and they will pass your details on to me.”

If you would like to help with the event, there are opportunities for volunteers to help set up the Assembly Hall; to serve dinner on Christmas Day; to provide transport on Christmas Day (for which you need to already have a CRB or DBS check) and to help with the packing up afterwards. If you would like to help, please be sure to contact Gavin on 07788 446567 to register as a volunteer.

Christmas craft fair at Shaw School

A CHRISTMAS craft fair, run by the benefice of Atworth with Shaw and Whitley, will take place in Shaw School hall on Saturday 24th November from 10am-3pm. 

There will be lots of stalls selling interesting hand-made articles that would make great Christmas presents and also a chance to win some great prizes in the raffle.

Refreshments will be available and Father Christmas himself will be visiting at midday with gifts for the children. 

For further details email maggie.1956@live.com

Concert in aid of young musicians’ charity

CON BRIO, a mixed voice choir, are holding their annual Christmas concert on Saturday 8th December at the United Church from 7.30pm. 

The choir, alongside local young musicians, will be raising funds for local charity Harmony, who have a shop on Melksham High Street, who work to inspire, guide and support local young musicians.  Tickets are £8 for adults and £4 for children and are available from Harmony at 24 High Street or on 01225 700284 or from Alison Wrigglesworth on 07505 000132.

There will be refreshments available and a raffle, with all proceeds going to Harmony. 

Melksham Lions Club Father Christmas is coming to Melksham!

Once again Christmas is upon us and Melksham Lions will be out and about.

Melksham Lions say, “Unfortunately we will not be able to come around the streets but Santa and his reindeer will be at supermarkets around Melksham from 10am to 4pm on the following dates;

 December 2nd – Leekes; December 8th and 9th -Asda; December 15th and 16th – Sainsbury’s; December 23rd – Co-op; December 24th – Lidl.

“Look out for us at the Christmas Fayre in the Assembly Hall on December 1st and try and win a Lion!

“Melksham Lions have been busy over the past year supporting the Melksham community by providing equipment and essentials to many and giving donations to various organisations, and helping young people to achieve their ambitions. 

“Our main commitment is to the people of Melksham, but we also support Lions International with help with disaster relief worldwide.  You won’t see Lions on the news, but Lions will be there, usually first, to assess the situation and decide, prioritise requirements and supplying water purifying equipment etc.

“Every penny donated to Lions’ charities is used for charity.  

“Melksham Lions would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

“If you want to know more about Melksham Lions Club come and talk to us, (we promise not to bite!) or ring 0845 8337401.”  You can also follow on Facebook, website and email president@melkshamlions.org