When I lived in the Malmesbury I took for granted all of the history, the buildings and much of the surroundings and it is not until you move away that you really begin to see what is there. We walked the river walk almost every evening and it was a joy to look at the patterns created by the roof lines of the old buildings and the dominance of the Abbey. Walking around the town we tend only to look in front just to see where we are going but just for a change stop and look up. There are so many small lane ways to explore, so many foot paths to take advantage of and the people we encountered were all so friendly. The daily visit to Michaels shop in the Triangle will always be remembered for the friendly welcome and the smell of the food on the shelves as we entered through the chain mail doorway. We made many visits to the museum which we found to be interesting and the staff most helpful. I managed a tour of the "new" school and was impressed with what I saw. I had hoped that Bremilham School that was would have had a fifty year celebration but alas it was pulled down! No room for sentiment there.
During our stay I was made an honorary member of the Malmesbury motorcycle club and took part in their display at Stafford. What a weekend that turned out to be with the Malmesbury club winning the trophy for the best club stand at the show and this is probably the largest show of its type in Europe!
The explosion in the Horse Fair happened while we were in north Wales and on our return the day after it happened we could see the devastation that had occurred. I did hear a story of a lady who dressed in a night gown, slippers and over coat crept down early in the morning hoping to take a photograph of what was left of the building. In stead she was confronted by a man waving a microphone in front of her who asked "would you like to make a comment on the BBC TV madam?" Needless to say there was a rapid with draw from the scene and muttering "No I wouldn't my kids will kill me if they see dressed like this on TV". It's the sort of scene you expect from a TV comedy type show but this was real life and the English unintended humour. I did also appreciate the humour shown in the "Jackdaw" which we received a few weeks ago.
We made visits to Rodbourne where we did the circular walk around the village and also up Field Lane. A visit to see all the ancestors in the church yard was a must and a look in the church to see the old chair with the date of 1471 carved in the back. When I sat in the chair I tried to think of all those who had used it before - what history that chair could tell! (This was 300 years before Cook even reached Australia). A walk such as this brings back so many happy memories of village life as a child but that's what they are just memories.
Malmesbury has so much to offer. It is friendly, historic, clean and tidy and devoid of that curse of many other places have to suffer namely graffiti. It was so nice to see hanging flower baskets by the Silk Mills, the flower boxes or pots out side some of the houses and the gardens behind the Abbey. I hope they never get vandalized and that people do appreciate the efforts that others make to beautify the place. We did enjoy our stay and thanks to all those who helped in any way.
George and Catherine Punter.
Bundaberg,
Queensland,
Australia.
