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       Skylark Meadow         Across to the Wibberley Way

The view this Sunday evening in Skylark Meadow and looking across to the Wibberley Way was one of high contrast, with a dramatic black sky and  brilliant sunshine. This effect lasted for only five minutes as passing clouds blotted out the sun and all went dull and flat.

              Wye Races 1950. Does anyone recognise anyone?

    The Wye Races have been mentioned on more than one occassion on Wye web. The races were originally held at the Franscombe Valley behind the Crown. Later it was relocated  to Harville Road onto Long’s Farmland.

Whilst searching a very interesting website ‘Reflections past & present’ I came upon this photograph of the races taken in 1950.

The website is a collection of photoghraphs taken by a family business of various events in and around the Ashford area including Wye. Wyeweb thank Reflections for giving us the permission to reproduce this photograph on our site.

Today we said goodbye to Spanner. Old age having finally caught up with her. She spent seventeen years dodging the traffic in Bridge Street. I am pleased to say she won her life long challenge against Buses, Lorries and Speeding Cars . Spanner became part of the Bridge Street scene walking across the road in her measured way, never hurrying or scurrying, defying everything on not only four wheels but also two! Many a Bus has had to come to a halt for Spanner whilst she crossed Bridge Street in her own time.

This feline local legend with her white coat, tabby ear and tail looked as if the cat factory had run out of white ears and tails during her creation. Well, thats the answer we gave to many a small child when questioned as to why Spanner had an odd ear and tail. Over the years there must be many a youngster who will carry the memory of Spanner waiting by our gates as they went to and fro from Lady Joanna Primary School. She was part of their every day life.

 Spanner started life off in a student house at the back of Bridge Street. At an early age she decided student life was not for her and left home. She spent her days visiting the then businesses in Bridge Street. First she would call in at Calcutt Mc Clean Estate agents (Based then ,where Mary Hemsley’s shop is now) Then onto Taylor’s Garage where Twysden Court is  and back across the road to Sutherland Stores our fruit and veg shop.Each time Spanner would meow pitifully determined that one of us would take her in. We all held out for some time knowing that she had a home. Later we had reports from other houses in the area including Luckley House in Little Chequers. It appeared that Spanner had made many homes. Finally she chose our shed to settle down in and as time passed it became obvious that this streetwise cat had chosen us.

Spanner diced with death every day crossing Bridge Street, remained in good health all of her life without a single visit to the vet until today. She simply wore out but left us peacefully with a signing off vetinary bill for sixty three pounds.

Bridge Street won’t seem the same without Spanner who made many friends both young and old. Rest in peace Spanner. Oh, and the one and only vet bill in your life? Have that one on us bless you, you deserve it!

Cost-Cutting in extrema

We all know that the village has a history of Royalist conformity; at least that’s what my friends in the Wye Historical Society tell me. We also know that the Parish Council is working hard to constrain its costs by maintaining the total precept at last year’s level. It has been of little surprise that Ashford Borough Council, with its need to save millions, has been looking into all of the services that it provides. So there has been only a small shock registered when we heard that the cost of maintaining the public toilets on Churchfield Way are being scrutinised. It has taken years to gain a commitment to paint lines on the Gregory Court Cart Park so imagine our surprise when, no sooner said than done, this new toilet is now at large at the end of Cherry Garden Lane. Our lords do, indeed, move in mysterious ways.