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Book Recycling Scheme
The
83rd donation of £50 from this scheme, goes to our community-owned village shop. The scheme is run from the shop foyer and books are only 50p
each. Village organisations that would like to be considered for a
donation should contact Linda Durno via kingtonstmichael@btinternet.com.
~*~*~*~News from St Michael & All Angels Church The church and church yard are open every day for you to enjoy.
Batteries, ink cartridges and medication packets (the foil & plastic part) can be left in the porch for recycling.
We are looking to do a census of the plants and wildlife in the churchyard with the aim of making it a richer and more diverse habitat. If you would like to help or have any knowledge of plants, birds, insects or small mammals we would love to hear from you. Please contact Alison on (01249) 750742 or 07748 759661.
The church has been given a £500 grant to hold a Choral Evensong followed by refreshments at 6pm on Sunday 28th September, to celebrate our Patronal Day, St Michael.
The church is planning a day to celebrate the church’s part in village life and history, so if you have any memories or photographs which you would like to share, or have any ideas for the day, please do get in touch with Alison Greenhalgh - email alison.mulley@btinternet.com or Chris Laskey chris.laskey@outlook.com.
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QE2 Field News
KSM Bonfire and Fireworks night – save the date for Saturday 1st November.
- BBQ
Hire – summer has arrived and the BBQ is available to hire at the QE2
field! Just £15 to hire (water facility access included). For more
details or to book your BBQ, please email ksmqe2fieldgroup@gmail.com.
- Children's
playground – playground upgrades are in progress. Replacement swings
are on order and these will be installed by Merv Singer and team as soon
as they arrive. A tree has been planted in the play area, major
repairs/upgrades to the large climbing frame are scheduled for 16th June
(although this remains safe to use until then) and other enhancements,
including repairs to wear and tear on swing safety surfaces, are also
underway.
- Kick Wall area –
this area has been resurfaced and completely re-fenced and basketball
hoops have been added at each end. Court/line markings are being agreed
and will be delivered soon.
- Orchard and trees – maintenance has been ongoing for the orchard and for other trees on the field.
- Storage – container options are being investigated to enable necessary equipment to be stored at the recreation field.
Volunteers
wanted – we are a VERY small group of volunteers (all of whom also
have busy day jobs). If you can help in any way with special projects
or at specific events, please get in touch – ksmqe2fieldgroup@gmail.com.
You do NOT need to join an official committee – we are a friendly,
voluntary group and members are always welcome BUT we really need some
extra hands to make things happen.
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Wood Carving Group
Cilla Labouchere will be running another of her wood carving groups in the village
- if you are interested in joining, please give her a call on 01249 750222
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Village Shop Banana Competition
The competition to guess how many bananas were sold in March
was won by 8 year-old Xanthe, who was closest to the answer of 105.
She was delighted with her prize of a bunch of bananas and an Easter egg.
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KSM School Summer Fete
The school will be holding its summer fete on Saturday 12th July.
A fun day for everyone! The school is looking for local businesses to
support this event and in return they will feature in the fête’s
promotional material. Donations of raffle prizes and items for the
silent auction will be gratefully received. Volunteers to help with the
fête are most welcome.
Raffle tickets will be on sale in the café and village shop for villagers to purchase. The main prize is a Dyson V15. There is also an afternoon tea at The Bell Hotel and many more prizes to be won.
.
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Parish CouncilAt May's Annual Meeting Peter Macdonald was elected as
Chair and Alex Hall was elected as Vice-chair; Fiona Twisse was co-opted on to
the council, bringing it up to its full contingent of nine. New
Councillors, Ollie Mead and Tim Mead were welcomed on to the council and it's
believed that Ollie (who is in his twenties) is the youngest councillor we have
ever had.
Here's a full list of our Parish Councillors:
- Peter Macdonald (Chair)
- Alex Hall (Vice-chair)
- Gerry Gamble
- Ollie Mead
- Tim Mead
- John Newton
- Will Roe
- Fiona Twisse
- Steven Woodhead
If you have something that you wish to bring to the Parish Council’s attention, please contact the Clerk, Viv Vines, on 01249 657695 / 07785 717665, ksmparishclerk@gmail.com.
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Accessibility Along Pavements
A repeat of a previous request, to help our disabled and visally impaired residents (and those with children in buggies):
~ Please do not block lowered pavements with parked cars.
~ Please do not park on pavements, partially or otherwise.
~ Please don't block the pavement with wheelie bins or black boxes.
~
If
your property is next to the pavement or footpath, please trim back any
overhanging branches, shrubs, etc. Of a dark evening, and with the new
lower lighting, it's no fun walking into prickly or wet overgrowth!
Please trim
back lower shrubs too, as these affect children. Thank you.
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New Thursday Morning Pilates Class

If you would like to join this class, please book here.
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Advance Notice of The Annual Flower & Produce Show 
This year's show will take place on Saturday 2nd August in
the village hall.
Details to follow, but more information can be found
in the entry schedule,
which is available from the village shop.
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Tom's 100km Run For Alzheimer's Race To The Stones
12th to 13th July 2025
Tom Kimberley and his wife Nancy moved to our lovely village in October last
year. Here is Tom’s story….
"Every 3 minutes dementia steals a happily ever after. Research is our only chance of changing the
ending for people affected by dementia.
In July I will be running (with
probably quite a lot of walking) the 100km Race to the Stones (Avebury standing stones) event to fundraise for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Dementia is something that has
affected, and is still present, on both sides of my family and I would like to
do a small part in aiding research into the disease. Those that suffer have their memories and who
they are gradually erased until they find themselves living in a world where
everyone around them becomes a stranger. It is not only those who are diagnosed who
suffer but also the husbands, wives, children and grandchildren, who continue
to care for those they love long after the person they once knew has faded
away.
If you are able to give or donate anything it
would be greatly appreciated - you can donate via this Just Giving link.
Thank you."
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Progressive Supper Results
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.
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Community Pub Project's January Update
Many thanks to everyone who bought our Christmas cards, tankards and mugs
and to those who visited us at the village Christmas Fayre and bought from our
stall – our Christmas cards quickly sold out.
Our tankards (£25) and mugs (£10) continue to sell well and will make
great gifts, with Father's Day soon upon us. To get
yours please contact Alex Hall on 01249 750602, alex.hall@kington-st-michael.com,
or Linda Durno on 01249 750514, kingtonstmichael@btinternet.com.
Unfortunately, just before Christmas, we received the
news that the Community Ownership Fund had closed and that there will be no
further application windows on the COF programme. The current government “…took
this difficult decision due to the challenging inheritance left by the previous
government”. Whilst the Community
Ownership Fund has closed, the government states that it “…remains committed to
the communities’ sector and community empowerment. The government will deliver on its manifesto
commitment to replace the community ‘Right to Bid’ with a strengthened ‘Right
to Buy’ Assets of Community Value, creating a more robust pathway to community
asset ownership”.
We had hoped to have been successful with an application to COF, which would
have provided a large grant, and so this is a blow to our fundraising. However we are fortunate to have your pledges
of shares and are seeking further advice on future grants.
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Dog Fouling and Dog Walking
Recently there have been multiple incidents of dog fouling on pavements throughout the village, especially regularly along the main street towards the café. 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.
Now that it is lambing season, please keep your dogs on leads when walking in fields with sheep in, as well as when walking on the footpath that leads through the farmyard, as there are sheep and lambs about.
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Environment Agency Flood Recovery Guide
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Poppy Appeal 2024
This year's Poppy appeal in the village raised £258.75.
Joan Gilbert, who co-ordinates the collection, would like to thank all who donated.
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Teddy Bear Parachute Day
Despite a very
soggy afternoon and a delayed start, 35 brave bears took to the skies on 22nd September. Enormous thanks to all who came, to all the
helpers who contributed their time, to everyone who contributed to the
hugely successful tombola, and raffle, and those who so kindly made
delicious scones and cakes for the tea.
We are grateful too to Julian
Frost who brought the ever-popular Yoda, the owl, who once more swooped
around the church, to the delight of all. The event raised a wonderful
£605.20 which will go to the church funds.
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"The Kingtons" Book - Available Now!

Get your copy of "The Kingtons" now - available from the village shop or Kington Café at only £14.95. Commissioned by the parish council, this book gives an interesting history of the ancient parish of Kington St Michael with Kington Langley,
written by Louise Ryland-Epton.