The tug-of-war took place at the traditional fete on Rode Village Day. The rain held off enough for a good time to be had by all, with plenty of activities and stalls for young and old alike. There were tractor rides, magic shows, swingball, lucky dips, yucky dips, a soaking stocks and cream teas. Activities included skittles, welly-wanging, the gun run, beat the keeper (football and netball), splat the rat, giant snakes and ladders to name but a few.

In the evening, three bands played at Rode Memorial Hall in a ‘Blues and Booze’ night.

Friday June 24^th.  Butcombe Bike Ride (no further information)

July events:

Sat July 2^nd.  School Summer Fete.  Details TBC.

Sun July 3^rd.  Rode Run (fun run).  Organised by & profits to Memorial Hall & Heart of Rode charities

Fri July 8^th.  Pop-up restaurant at The Memorial Hall.  Organised by & profits to Rode Pre-School

Sat July 9^th.  Table top sale at The Memorial Hall.  Organised by & profits to Rode Pre-School

Sat July 16^th. Village Fete at The Playing Field.  Rocking Rode at The Memorial Hall.  All profits to village charities

The Rode Fun Run

5km – Run/jog/walk

11:30 Sunday 3rd July – details to follow

Rocking Rode

July 16th Village Memorial Hall

19:30 – Blues, rock, music, bar

3rd Annual Rode Folk Night

1st October Village Memorial Hall

19:30 Live folk music, bar, food, bunting

Monday 10th May from 10am – 12pm

Come and enjoy a typical session at Rode Pre-School.  It will be a fun time for parents and children.

We are delighted to say that Ofsted inspected the pre-school in March and found that the children “benefit from accessing a stimulating play environment”  and that the “children are well cared for in a secure environment.”

Come and meet the staff and members of the committee

Refreshments will be available

NEARLY NEW SALE

Pre -School are also hosting a nearly new sale of childrens’ clothes, toys and equipment for all ages

Saturday 8th May,  10am – 12pm

Memorial Hall, High Street, Rode

£1 on the door

refreshments will be available

Why not book at table for £7 and have a clear out!

For further information regarding the open morning or the sale, please call Sarah Coumbe 831045

The Link is available from Rode village Post Office for 60p (there’s a stand on the windowsill), and while we’re on the subject of recipes, it’s worth remembering that every recipe featured in The Link wins the sender a bottle of Fussel’s rapeseed oil.

If you put Rode, Somerset into Google maps you can drag the little orange man on the toolbar into the map of Rode, and you will find yourself looking at Rode from summer 2009.

There were quite a few people out and about  in the village then, are you one of them?

“The PCC has plans approved to convert the existing vestry area of the church to a small meeting room equipped with a loo and facilities to allow us to make and serve drinks and wash up afterwards. (At the moment someone takes the dirty cups home in a bucket). The plans are quite straightforward but as you would expect with a listed building it still comes to a considerable amount of money- £60,000. More information can be found here.” says Revd Nigel Done.

There is a very special Family Service on February 14th (Valentine’s Day) to celebrate and give thanks for the love in your life. It might be someone you have recently fallen for, or been married to for twenty years or an elderly parent you appreciate anew. At this service the congregation will be building a big heart to signify the love that is shared in our community and receive donations towards securing the future of the village church.

The service starts at 10:45am, Sunday 14th February.

It’s packed with local news, reports on community activities and information, as well as being a great local directory for local businesses. It’s not just for Rode, it covers Tellisford, Woolverton and Farleigh Hungerford too. There’s even a puzzle page now.

Pop into the post office and pick up a copy, or even better, subscribe to the monthly magazine. email link@rodevillage.com for details of how to subscribe.

Did you spot the ‘deliberate’ mistake in this month’s Link?

Just in case you didn’t, here it is:

It was deliberate, honestly

Reports abound of locals gnashing their teeth in despair after being told there are no tickets left.

As half the fun of the show is audience participation, three sell-out nights will make for a terrific evening of entertainment, no matter which night you attend if you are lucky enough to have a ticket.

If you are going to miss out through not having a ticket, you can at least console yourself by picking up a copy of the February edition of the Link, where pantoman Gary Holloway reveals the music that makes him tick in a desert island discs interview.

With plenty of audience participation required, and the prospect of your friends and neighbours belting out some Abba classics, you will be kicking yourself if you miss it.