Christmas at Kington St Michael Community Shop
The volunteer team would like to thank everyone in the village who has supported the shop during this year, and wish you all a very Happy Christmas!
The shop will be taking orders for turkeys and other Christmas meats from Allington Farm. The last date for orders is Friday 12th December, for collection on Tuesday 23rd December. Prices are the same as buying directly from Allington Farm Shop. Placing an order for Christmas is a good way to support the shop and it’s very convenient too. Please call in to complete an order form.
In addition to some interesting small gift ideas, this year the shop is stocking locally made, crocheted hats and head warmers in adult and children’s sizes, that come in a variety of designs and colours.
Return of a favourite! Taylors of Bruton have been craft bakers in Somerset since 1945 using quality local ingredients. The shop will be stocking a range of their delicious fresh bread; a large wholemeal loaf costs £3.10 and a small white farmhouse £1.95. Deliveries on Mondays and Thursdays.
Bespoke Christmas hampers are available -choose what you would like to put in a hamper, or just name a price and the hamper will be prepared for you (minimum £10).
The shop will be open until 4pm on Christmas Eve, and New Years Eve and closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
If you’d like to chat about what it’s like volunteering, either serving behind the counter, or helping with background tasks, please ring: Diane on 07768 053116, or email the shop on hello@kingtonstmichaelvillageshop.co.uk.
Kington St Michael Shop is open 8.45am-5pm, Monday-Saturday and until 6pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Follow us at: Instagram @ksmvillageshop and Facebook @Kington St Michael Village Shop Limited.
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Village Hall Christmas Fayre
Saturday 6th December, 10am - 1pm
The
village hall Christmas Fayre is the perfect place to get into the
Christmas spirit. There will be a mix of community and small business
stalls – perfect for those stocking fillers! It’s also a great place to
catch up with friends and family over a cup of tea, hot chocolate or a
mince pie.
Don’t forget to bring plenty of cash to spend at the stalls and for raffle tickets.
You could even pop into the shop and order your Christmas turkey, beef or ham!
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Race Night
Kington St Michael WI is holding a Race Night for everyone on Saturday 31st January 2026. Tickets are £15, which includes a chilli supper and your race card. This is to fundraise for our chosen charities, Doorway & Air Ambulance. Doors will open at 7pm and the first race is at 7.30pm. Bring your own drinks. Dress code is 'Fancy Hat or Flat Cap'. This promises to be a fun evening. Tickets from Chris at 9 The Close or call Denise on 07851 458400.
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QE2 Field News (Bonfire Night)
The annual village bonfire night took
place on Saturday 1st November, complete with a fantastic fireworks
display. Attendance was down compared to normal so the takings are
expected to be down, but the group still hope to make a small profit
(final amount to be confrimed).
This event could not happen without help from
the volunteers, support from village groups and local organisations.
Thank you to everyone who gave up their time to help before, on the
night, and after the event. Well done also to the fireworks team,
including the newest members who recently completed their fireworks
training! They put on a safe and spectacular show that has become a
village tradition.
Special thanks to the Parish Council and Viv Vines
(PC Clerk), Kington St Michael Village Shop Limited, Kington Café, KSM
Club, Chippenham Pallet Company,
MJ Church Recycling, and Merv Singer and team. This simply could not run without your support.
As
well as an annual fund-raiser for the QE2 Field, this is very much a
community event designed to bring together all ages and, despite the
weather this year, it was great to see that spirit still very much in
evidence on the night!
New Storage Facility & Paths
The
QE2 group was delighted that the new wooden-clad storage container was
installed just in time for bonfire night! Thanks to the Parish Council
for its support with this facility.
There are new paths from the
field down to the Nymph Hay, making walking easier. Thanks to Merv
Singer and his team for the continued work at the field, to help make
these improvements.
If you are interested in getting involved, email ksmqe2fieldgroup@gmail.com to register your interest.
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New Community Defibrillators
Good news - the two new community defibrillators have arrived, which means
that we are back up and running at both the school and The Jolly Huntsman.
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Dog Fouling
Recently there
have been multiple incidents of dog fouling on pavements throughout the
village, especially regularly along the main street by the telephone box and up by the school.
Wherever
you are walking your dog in the village - street, public footpath, QE2
Field, Nymph Hay Wood or the surrounding fields - picking up after your
dog still applies! If anyone sees an owner letting their dog foul in a
public place please report it to Wiltshire Council, either by 'phoning
01249 706111 and asking for the Dog Warden, or email publicprotectionnorth@wiltshire.gov.uk
or via an on-line form on Wiltshire Council's website. Photographic
evidence of the owner neglecting to pick up is always a help. Your
personal details will be treated in strict confidence and you will be
informed of the outcome of the complaint. Please note that complaints
regarding aggressive dogs should be made to the police.
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Nigel Farr's Sponsored Bike Ride
On Saturday 13th September, Nigel Farr and Warren Burgess started out on their journey to London to raise funds for Dorothy House Hospice.
Following the death of his sister, Kathryn, whose last days were spent being cared for in Dorothy House Hospice, Nigel decided to undertake a ride in her memory, in order to raise as much money as possible for the charity.
Nigel and Warren took the train from Chippenham station early on Saturday morning, heading for London, where they took to the saddle for the two-day cycle ride back to
Kington St Michael; Clive Dury, Harvey Bull and Martin Casey joining them at Newbury for the final leg of the ride.
Typically of the English climate, after a long, dry summer, they had to contend with heavy downpours of rain, and wind, but undeterred they arrived back safely in the village on Sunday 14th, to a joyous crowd of villagers who had come out to greet them.
Kington Club opened its doors at 4pm for people to join them in congratulating Nigel and Warren on their successful fundraising challenge.
Nigel’s ride was made more challenging for him following his recent health problems. In 2002 he contracted meningitis and septicaemia; last year he suffered two strokes. In addition to this Nigel has only one kidney, and a pacemaker.
Nigel’s family has lived in the village since1625 when the first Farr family appeared on the church registry.
Nigel’s grandparents lived in Honey Knob cottage and his parents, June and Brian Farr, moved into the village when they got married. They lived in a cottage in Sebastopol terrace for a while then moved to Mayfield Cottage at the end of Stubbs Lane, where Kathryn Nigel and Richard were born. All three children attended the old village school before it was converted into the new village hall and shop. Afterwards Nigel went to Chippenham boys’ school which later became Sheldon School. After leaving school he went to Lackham College where he obtained a City and Guilds diploma in gardening. His passion had always been farming so he went to work for various farms in the area. When farming work dried up, he was employed at the Jolly Huntsman, which led to him being employed by other hostelries over a period of 26 years.
After his parents passed away Nigel moved out of the family home into an Alms House on the main village street, and by a quirk of fate ended up in the same Alms House that his great grandfather had lived in many years ago.
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KSM QE2 Field News
The committee was delighted to have received approval from the Parish Council to go ahead with plans for a storage facility at the field. This will be a huge help in storing equipment required for events, including bonfire night. Thanks go to the PC for its support.
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Teddy Bear Parachute Day Results
The Parochial Church Council and organising team from this year’s village teddy parachuting and family fun event at the church, would like to thank everyone who was involved with or supported this event - an amazing £1,028.19 was raised, which will go towards the upkeep of our beautiful church. In fourteen years of running this event, these are the most funds ever raised.
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Book Recycling Scheme
The recent progressive supper, held in the village in aid of the restoration of the church’s Saxon porch, raised an amazing £2,923.81.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and supported this wonderful event. Special thanks to the organisers, all the starter and main course hosts, everyone who kindly donated desserts and auction prizes, KSM club, Kington St Michael village Shop for selling tickets, and Gavin Aplin, as our wonderful auctioneer.
This event has been a village tradition for decades and it is heartening to see what a wonderful community event this continues to be.