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 Village Festival Village Day will take place on Saturday 17th July

Starting at 12:00 on the playing fields

Sarah Jane Honeywell of Cbeebies will be opening the fete and performing a short show

Produce Show

Stalls

Games

Food

Drink

Classic Cars

Chicken Splat

Please note – Dogs are not allowed to be bought onto the Playing Fields

An astonishing line up for this year’s Folk Night which kicks off the 2010 Rode Village Festival:

The Real Cheesemakers featuring the Revd. Philip Hawthorn – a mixture of traditional songs and ditties about trousers – defies description – just unbelievable!

Corryvrecken - A Mother and Daughter duo who have been singing traditional songs together for over 20 years – spellbinding!

Geoff Fry and Sue Walker - Acoustic Americana and Blues – They’ll take you deep into the heart of the U.S.

Captain Banana and his Selection of Vegetables – Raucous traditional irish tunes – expect foot-stomping and clapping!

Tickets are available in advance from Rode Post Office or £5 on the door – Bar and food – a great evening out.

This perfect example of a country house murder has inspired novels by many writers including Dickens, Wilkie Collins and Mary Elizabeth Braddon. 

The murder in 1860 of a 4 year old boy discovered at the bottom of a garden privy has continued to capture the imagination of the public and turned everyone into amateur detectives.  Such is the interest in this murder that yet a further book, Paul Chambers’ ‘Murder Most Foul’ has recently been published about the Rode murder.

Thought to be only the third time in 150 years that the gardens at Road Hill House (now called Langham House) have been opened to the public, this is therefore a rare chance to see the magnificent gardens.  The gardens of Langham House will be open by kind permission of Chris & Stephanie Lyons. 

A second Rode garden, Rivermead, is also going to be open on July 4th as part of Rode’s Open Gardens.  Described as ‘one of the remarkable small gardens in Somerset’, this garden is a series of miniature tableaux and are full of exotic plants. It is the result of over 50 years work by owner Micheal Sparey. 



The Rode Open Gardens Event is in aid of the Heart of Rode Appeal, an Appeal tasked to raise £60,000 to fund improvements to Rode’s ancient village church of St Lawrence.

Both gardens are open from 14:00 through to 17:00 on Sunday July 4th. Tickets are available in advance at £4 each from Rode Post Office or £5 on the Gate on July 4th.

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 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

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.

Barrow Farm track

The view down Lower Street first thing on the 6th January