Latest news with #WiltshireandBathAirAmbulance
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dumbledore and Dr Dre star at scarecrow festival
Straw versions of famous titled figures have been created as part of a village scarecrow festival. Thousands of people visited Urchfront in Wiltshire over the bank holiday weekend to see scarecrows in the shape of Prof Dumbledore from Harry Potter, Prof Stephen Hawking and rapper Dr Dre. The annual event has raised around £250,000 for organisations like the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance charity and Devizes Opendoors. Steve Osborne, chairman of the festival charity, said: "It's such a pleasure going around the festival incognito and listening to people trying to figure out the clues and just getting really positive reactions from them." The theme for the 26th festival was titles and about 55 scarecrows took part, each with a clue to help people guess who it resembled. "They could be a dame, a professor, a doctor, a sir, a princess," said Mr Osborne. "We have quite a big range - we've got Doctor Who, Professor Stephen Hawking, Dame Kelly Holmes and Dr Dre." More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire Previous themes have included icons of the silver screen, to mark the festival's 25th anniversary last year, as well as occupations and adverts. Many villagers took a sustainable approach this year, with old curtains used to craft Dumbledore's robes and a piece of straw plaited together to make his hair and beard. Sesame Street's Count von Count's organ was made using recycled items including carpet tubes and a pallet. The head for Prof Hawking had previously been used for scarecrows of Robocop, Sir Cliff Richard and Sir Michael Eavis. For the Marie Antoinette scarecrow, Parisian grain sacking was used to pay homage to the crop failure that led to the famine which triggered the French Revolution in the 18th century. Mr Osborne said the quirky event has a "positive" effect on villagers as well as people from further afield. "The festival's just grown and grown and grown," he added. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Scarecrows take over village for festival Sci-fi scarecrows on show in annual village event Thousands raised for charity from scarecrow event Urchfront Scarecrow Festival
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Dumbledore and Dr Dre star at Urchfront Scarecrow Festival
Straw versions of famous titled figures have been created as part of a village scarecrow festival. Thousands of people visited Urchfront in Wiltshire over the bank holiday weekend to see scarecrows in the shape of Prof Dumbledore from Harry Potter, Prof Stephen Hawking and rapper Dr annual event has raised around £250,000 for organisations like the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance charity and Devizes Osborne, chairman of the festival charity, said: "It's such a pleasure going around the festival incognito and listening to people trying to figure out the clues and just getting really positive reactions from them." The theme for the 26th festival was titles and about 55 scarecrows took part, each with a clue to help people guess who it resembled."They could be a dame, a professor, a doctor, a sir, a princess," said Mr Osborne. "We have quite a big range - we've got Doctor Who, Professor Stephen Hawking, Dame Kelly Holmes and Dr Dre." Previous themes have included icons of the silver screen, to mark the festival's 25th anniversary last year, as well as occupations and villagers took a sustainable approach this year, with old curtains used to craft Dumbledore's robes and a piece of straw plaited together to make his hair and beard. Sesame Street's Count von Count's organ was made using recycled items including carpet tubes and a pallet. The head for Prof Hawking had previously been used for scarecrows of Robocop, Sir Cliff Richard and Sir Michael Eavis. For the Marie Antoinette scarecrow, Parisian grain sacking was used to pay homage to the crop failure that led to the famine which triggered the French Revolution in the 18th Osborne said the quirky event has a "positive" effect on villagers as well as people from further afield."The festival's just grown and grown and grown," he added.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wiltshire in pictures: Sun, wonky roads and pigeons
We're almost a week into April and it's been a particularly bright start to the month with temperatures reaching 22C (71F) on Friday afternoon. With the warmer weather, gardens and outdoor attractions are opening to the public for the first time this year - or, in the case of the walled garden at Bowood, for the first time ever. Also this week we have had the news the B4069 Lyneham Banks has reopened three years after a devastating landslip, a charity marathon runner is raising money for the air ambulance and a pet pigeon has been getting some attention in Devizes. 270 year wait: Bowood House and Gardens, near Chippenham, has opened its walled garden to the public. The estate opened for the year on Tuesday, but for the first time is allowing access to its usually private garden. Reach for the skies: Charity marathon runner Gary MacAlister is looking to break a Guinness World Record when doing Bristol Half Marathon dressed as a helicopter next month. The Trowbridge native will be running to raise money for the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance while dressed in an outfit which has been dubbed the Garycopter. Hope for the future: A mural created by young people in Swindon has been unveiled across two sites in the town. The artwork, which appears on both a new youth centre and on a children's hospital ward, features a drawing of a whale guided by butterflies towards a light bulb to show hope for a brighter future for all youngsters in Swindon. Centre stage: Abbie Smith from Chippenham got a selfie with a 5,000-strong crowd at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday. The 24-year-old, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2023, was at a fundraising concert featuring rock band The Who. The event raised money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. It's a bird's life: Pam Welfare has been speaking to the BBC about her pet pigeon Pepper, who accompanies her everywhere she goes. Pepper travels with Pam, often on her shoulder and for journeys further afield, she even has her own car seat. Back in business: Lyneham Banks road has opened this week after a three year closure. Dubbed Britain's wonkiest road after a landslip during Storm Eunice, the reopening of the B4069 reconnects Chippenham and Lyneham, saving commuters a lengthy diversion to the south. Railway pioneer: A blue plaque has been unveiled in Swindon, celebrating the life of James Hurst, the first locomotive shunter for the Great Western Railway. The plaque has been placed above the front door of Hurst's final residence on Taunton Street. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Wiltshire in Pictures: Let the music play Wiltshire in pictures: Sunshine and Shrove Tuesday Wiltshire in pics: Spring equinox and indoor moon
BBC News
05-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Wiltshire in Pictures: Sunshine, wonky roads and pigeons
We're almost a week into April and it's been a particularly bright start to the month with temperatures reaching 22C (71F) on Friday the warmer weather, gardens and outdoor attractions are opening to the public for the first time this year - or, in the case of the walled garden at Bowood, for the first time this week we have had the news the B4069 Lyneham Banks has reopened three years after a devastating landslip, a charity marathon runner is raising money for the air ambulance and a pet pigeon has been getting some attention in Devizes. 270 year wait: Bowood House and Gardens, near Chippenham, has opened its walled garden to the public. The estate opened for the year on Tuesday, but for the first time is allowing access to its usually private garden. Reach for the skies: Charity marathon runner Gary MacAlister is looking to break a Guinness World Record when doing Bristol Half Marathon dressed as a helicopter next Trowbridge native will be running to raise money for the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance while dressed in an outfit which has been dubbed the Garycopter. Hope for the future: A mural created by young people in Swindon has been unveiled across two sites in the artwork, which appears on both a new youth centre and on a children's hospital ward, features a drawing of a whale guided by butterflies towards a light bulb to show hope for a brighter future for all youngsters in Swindon. Centre stage: Abbie Smith from Chippenham got a selfie with a 5,000-strong crowd at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday. The 24-year-old, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2023, was at a fundraising concert featuring rock band The Who. The event raised money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. It's a bird's life: Pam Welfare has been speaking to the BBC about her pet pigeon Pepper, who accompanies her everywhere she travels with Pam, often on her shoulder and for journeys further afield, she even has her own car seat. Back in business: Lyneham Banks road has opened this week after a three year closure. Dubbed Britain's wonkiest road after a landslip during Storm Eunice, the reopening of the B4069 reconnects Chippenham and Lyneham, saving commuters a lengthy diversion to the south. Railway pioneer: A blue plaque has been unveiled in Swindon, celebrating the life of James Hurst, the first locomotive shunter for the Great Western plaque has been placed above the front door of Hurst's final residence on Taunton Street.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Air Ambulance charity needs £5m each year to maintain 'lifesaving service'
The Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance charity has revealed it needs more than £5m each year to maintain its "lifesaving service." Last year, the charity responded to a record 1,343 missions, showing the crucial need for its critical care. Doctors were present on over half of these missions, significantly enhancing the medical care provided. However, this increased presence of doctors comes with additional costs, putting more pressure on the charity's finances at a time when it is already feeling the strain of rising utility bills, fuel costs and National Insurance contributions. READ MORE: Wiltshire College creates realistic medical teaching centre Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance needs £5 million annually to operate (Image: Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance) Chief executive David Philpott said: "We know the demand for our medical expertise has never been greater and that puts understandable pressures upon the charity. "Just like people across the country, we have been experiencing sharp rises in our utility bills, as well as fuel for our helicopter. "To be able to attend the majority of our missions with doctors on board is amazing for the people of Wiltshire and Bath. "However, that adds further cost pressures to deliver the enhanced clinical care a doctor brings." Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance has included doctors in its crew since 2019, allowing them to perform critical procedures like repairing heart wounds, conducting caesarean sections and anaesthetising patients. SEE MORE: NHS staff plant dozens of trees at Salisbury area practices Record 1,343 missions highlight rising demand for air ambulance service (Image: Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance) Medical director Maria Smith said: "Having doctors on board massively enhances the level of critical care we can provide, enabling us to carry out complex surgical procedures, advanced pain management and lifesaving interventions directly at the scene. "Essentially, we can bring the hospital to the patient and every mission we undertake represents someone's loved one - a parent, child, sibling or friend. "Ensuring we have the resources to deliver the best possible care is our priority." The charity, which has been operating since 1990, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this month. Mr Philpott expressed his gratitude for the community's support over the years, stating: "We are very fortunate that the people of Wiltshire and Bath have supported our charity for 35 years, digging deep to donate the necessary funds needed so we can continue to be there for those people who need us most." However, he emphasised that the charity now needs the community's support more than ever to sustain its vital service.
