Many village residents are members of the Beckford and District Gardening Club, a friendly, thriving and lively club which draws its members from a number of local villages.

The Club holds monthly evening meetings throughout the autumn and winter, with talks or demonstrations about a wide range of subjects of interest to gardeners.

During the summer a number of day-trips are organised to gardens throughout the country. Additionally a number of visits to local gardens are organised for the long summer evenings.

If you would like to join, or would just like more information about the club, contact Roger Umpelby (01386 881449) and he will be pleased to speak to you.

Please click here for the 2020 Programme

We have 26 Brownies who work in small groups, called sixes. Each six contributed to this web page.

What are Brownies? – By the Kelpies

• Brownies are a helpful, kind and caring group for girls aged 7-10.
• Brownies meet every week
• Brownies have fun doing arts and crafts
• A Brownie gets lots of badges when she achieves things
• Every Brownie belongs to a six. Our sixes are called the Kelpies, the Gnomes, the Pixies, the Imps and the Elves.
• New brownies have a ‘Brownie Buddy’ who helps them

Things that we like about Brownies – By the Elves

• Playing games
• Making friends and seeing our Brownie Buddies
• Drawing and Making things that we don’t make at home or school
• Singing
• Reading and working from our new Brownie books and working together
• Wearing the new uniform
• We like most things about Brownies – that’s why we come!

Things that we don’t like about Brownies – By the pixies

• Singing
• When the other Brownies misbehave
• We wish we could go on more camps and days out
• I like it all – I can’t think of a reason!

The kinds of things the Brownies do – By the Imps

• Making games for our pumpkin party
• Planting bulbs and decorating plant pots for them
• Baking cookies
• Using our Brownie books
• Playing games
• Harvest festival
• Getting new badges

The kind of things we do – By the Gnomes

• Bring and buy sale
• Christmas trip
• Pumpkin party

Contact us

If you are interested in becoming a Brownie or a Brownie leader please contact Jemima Barnett  at  jemmimaob@gmail.com

Ashton guides meet weekly during term time in the Village Hall. We are a lively unit of around 24 girls aged 10 – 14, several young leaders and adult leaders.

Together we plan a full and varied programme of activities which have recently included visiting the cinema, canoeing, night hikes and wide games, candlelit three course meals and cooking on open fires, a hockey competition, swimming gala, crafts, working for badges and service in the community.

We also have a lot of fun taking part in residential activities including a week long annual summer camp, sleepovers and weekend breaks.

If you enjoy making friends, learning new skills, meeting challenges and having fun and are interested in joining us, either as a guide or as a leader or helper then please contact Ali 01386 882052 for more details.

For girls age 5 – 7 years Arts and crafts, games, singing, making new friends and having fun!

We meet on Wednesdays in Ashton under Hill Village Hall.

For more details or to reserve a place please contact Charlotte Nicklin on 07714 783545

Ashton under Hill WI was formed in 1941, and is still as strong and vibrant as ever. We celebrated our 70th anniversary in 2011.  Nowadays, the WI tends to attract the more mature ladies, as young mums seem too busy or perhaps see the WI in a different light. (The ‘Jam and Jerusalem’ image seems hard to dismiss!).

However, in some areas there exists very youthful and adventurous membership (see picture!) and the National Federation are working hard to dispel the ‘old’ image and encourage younger women to join. 

Nationally the WI endeavour to raise awareness in issues such as excess packaging, better deals for dairy farmers, carbon emissions and each  Federation gets involved with problems local to their area. 

Worcestershire Federation has its own Science Club with a varied programme which includes talks and visits to sites of interest.  Fun and friendship is the WI motto, so our social activities are numerous and include murder mystery evenings, concerts, quizzes, skittles, theatre trips and visits to garden & historical homes.

In Ashton we try to encourage membership by including in our programme a varied and interesting mixture of learning and entertainment.

Learning and Skills

The Womens Institute in Britain is lucky to have their own Denman College, in Marcham, Oxfordshire, where students have the opportunity to learn or improve on skills old and modern – from bridge to car maintenance.  Members and even family members are allowed to attend can enjoy three to four day courses.  Professional and very experienced tutors run the courses in modern well-equipped studios. The ensuite accommodation is also up to date and very comfortable.  Several of Ashton`s members have attended and a bursary is given every year, giving one lucky lady a chance to attend a course of her choice.

So you see, the WI is not just about making jam and singing ‘Jerusalem’, it is part of the social history of Britain in our times.  It is democratic, non-party, non-sectarian and has remained true to its original beliefs: that ordinary people in traditional villages and small estates are important and that they have something to contribute to our national life.

Relaxation and Fun!

So ladies, join the WI for relaxation, learning, and most of all fun!  Please come as a visitor any month you choose – you will be made most welcome.

Jenny Creese, Publicity Secretary. Tel 01386 881266

Overview

The cricket club was originally founded in 1907. At present the club has two teams in the Cotswold Hills League as well as playing friendly matches on Sundays and running its own midweek league. The club also runs kwik cricket sessions for local children.

Want to find out more?

For further information and fixtures please visit our website:

www.auhcc.play-cricket.com

Ashton 88 Football Club reformed in June 2015 and incorporates its name from the original formation of the club in 1988.

Based in Ashton under Hill in Worcestershire the club now boasts a healthy Senior Section and an ever growing Junior Section.

The Senior Team compete in Division 3 of The Birdseye Sports Evesham Sunday League. The Junior Sections were formed in April 2016 with an Under 9s team that entered in The Ambassador Evesham Saturday League. In September 2017 the club aims to enter an Under 8s, Under 9s and Under 10s team into the same competition.

The Juniors train on a Thursday evening between 6pm and 7pm. This takes place at Ashton-under-Hill Playing Fields, just off Elmley Road, during the summer. Training moves to Bredon Hill Academy, under the floodlights, during the winter months from September.

The Senior team train at the same locations as the Junior Sections but training takes place between 7pm and 8pm.  

The club was awarded FA Chartered Standard Status in March 2017 recognising that the club is run well and is sustainable, with child protection and safety being paramount. It also recognises the club’s commitment to coach and player development, as well as showing steps are being taken to raise standards of behaviour in the game.

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You can find more information on our website 

Or follow us on facebook 

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St Barbara’s Church is part of the Beckford Group Parish, in the Bredon Hill Group of Churches.

Reverend Allison Davies, Vicar of Eckington with Defford and Besford, is Associate Priest to our church. She can be contacted on 01386 750203  or eckingtonvicarage@hotmail.com

March 2020

It is with sadness that in accordance with Government instruction our church must now be kept closed through these difficult days; services have already been suspended until further notice by order of the Archbishop of Canterbury and York. 

We look forward to the day when the present crisis is over, and our ancient church can resume the pattern of worship which has been its custom for hundreds of years, and when we will be able to return to keeping its doors open for all visitors.

We pray for all those engaged in the fight against the virus which threatens us all – and for those who suffer from it.

Charitable Giving

St Barbara’s Church aims to support a number of charities throughout the year, with special collections at various services and events, or by donating the collection from the United Parish Worship service which takes place in our village twice a year. Churches in The Beckford Group have committed to support the CATCH Project in Mzamomhle, East London, South Africa.

Thanks to the generosity of all those who supported our fundraising efforts in 2019, a total of £2684 including Gift Aid, was raised by St Barbara’s Church for several good causes, including the CATCH Project in South Africa, the Worcester and Dudley Historic Churches Trust, DEC Cyclone IDAI appeal, Christian Aid,  The Children’s Society, St Richard’s Hospice, Practical Action and Winston’s Wish.

Thank you to everyone who supported our fundraising efforts during 2019.

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There’s more information about our parish on the A Church Near You website

         Services in St Barbara’s Church

opens in a new windowFor details of services in St Barbara’s and the other churches in the Beckford Group, please click here to view or download the current Parish Magazine

Location

The approach to St Barbara’s Church is from the village cross through the lychgate at the junction of Beckford Road, Elmley Road and The Groaten.

If you are using a satellite navigation system, the post code WR11 7SW will bring you to the village cross in front of the lychgate. Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: SO 9937

History

The villagers of Ashton have worshipped here in St Barbara’s for almost 1000 years and the churches of Ashton and nearby Beckford have been linked since the 8th Century; Ashton church was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The dedication to St Barbara, patron saint of armourers, gunners and blacksmiths, is an unusual one and first appears in the 18th Century. Over the centuries, St Barbara’s has evolved into the church you see today. The oldest parts date from Norman times, represented by the South doorway with its characteristic rounded arch. The Tower, which houses a fine ring of six bells, was begun in the 13th century. The Chancel was rebuilt in 1624 by Sir John Franklin, then Lord of the Manor. The striking Arts and Crafts stained glass windows at the East end of the church date from the late 19th/early 20th Centuries.

St Barbara’s Day is 4 December.  opens in a new windowThere’s more information about the legend of St Barbara in Wikipedia

There is a useful booklet The History of St Barbara’s Church.

See also details of  opens in a new windowMemorial Inscriptions in St Barbara’s

More details about the  opens in a new windowhistory of St Barbara’s from this website

Download a short illustrated Tour and History of St Barbara’s Church (Please note this is a large 10MB PDF file)

St Barbara’s Ashton under Hill is Grade II* listed –  opens in a new windowmore details here from the British Listed Buildings website

Visit the website of  opens in a new windowSt Barbara’s at Earlsdon in Coventry

A church in  opens in a new windowDeepcut, Surrey is also dedicated to St Barbara

There’s a  opens in a new windowredundant Anglican Church dedicated to St Barbara at Haceby in Linconshire

Today

Since 1985 Ashton has been a member of the wider Beckford Group Parish (Church of England) which also includes Beckford, Overbury, Teddington, Alstone and Little Washbourne. The church is open every day from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm (or dusk in winter) and all are welcome to come in and enjoy the atmosphere of peace and centuries of worship. In November 2008 the Beckford Group became part of the  opens in a new windowBredon Hill Group of Churches. As well as regular services at which everyone is welcome, there are special services for Festivals and other significant events in Ashton’s year. St Barbara’s also serves the community for Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals. The church is fortunate to have a regular organist and choir. There are refreshments and a friendly chat after morning services.

St Barbara’s relies on your support for its worship and its fabric. If you would like to be involved in the activities of the church in any way, please contact the churchwardens. The most effective means of donating to the church is by Regular Giving, and our Regular Giving Secretary would be very glad to hear from anyone who would like to contribute.

Getting Married?

Are you interested in getting married in St Barbara’s? Or perhaps arranging for a baptism? Then why not take the first step by talking to Revd Allison Davies on 01386 750203  or eckingtonvicarage@hotmail.com

There’s more information about our parish on the  opens in a new windowA Church Near You website

Parish Magazine

opens in a new windowView or download June’s Beckford Group Parish Magazine.

Please note, the Parish magazine is temporarily suspended, but will return soon.

Contact Doreen on 881656

Luncheon Club takes place on the first Friday of every month at 12.30pm in the Chapel Hall.

We are always pleased to welcome new visitors and new helpers. 

Please contact Joy on 881145 for more information.

Traditional village Fete and Produce Show is held biennially at the Playing Fields in Ashton under Hill. It is a wonderful village event, thanks to all who get involved but especially our hard-working organisers:

Andy Cooke 07803 259666

Sheila Cooke 881715

Rob Smith 882640

Sarah Hewitt  07770 942144

Jane Swindells 07557 022839

Simon Hague 882812

Karen Rowley 07976 906653

 Please see the gallery for lots of photos of past Fetes or click here to visit the facebook page. 

See you in 2020!        

Second weekend in June every year

from 1.00pm to 6.00pm both days

For more information, please visit the website below. 

About the Ashton Social Centre

Known as the ASC, the Social Centre is a charity originally set up in 1949 ‘for the provision and maintenance of a recreation ground and community centre for the use of the inhabitants of the Parish of Ashton under Hill and the immediate vicinity with the object of improving conditions of life for the said inhabitants.’ (from the Charity Schedule).

The Committee

Jane Swindells (chairman)

Richard Close (secretary/treasurer)

Other committee members: Gerry Barnett, Doreen Cope, Charles Archer, Ruth Barnett, Graham Begley, Matt Cyphus, Tom Archer, Dave Rose, John Davis and Clare Lock. 

We’re responsible for:

• Playground
• Football pitch
• Tennis courts and surrounding areas. 
• We share use, responsibility and maintenance of the Village Hall with the First School. 
• We share use, responsibility and maintenance of the Green Room and its outside play area.

In recent years we have replaced tennis court nets, installed new rubbish bins, added a couple of new benches and picnic bench. We purchased the storage container and a couple of new high quality gazebos for village event use. 

We maintain the area within the playing field with weeding/ pruning and grass cutting. 

We usually hold an autumn cleanup with any dead trees or branches being removed by volunteers and committee members. 

The Village Hall

The Village Hall is occupied by the school during school days until 5.30pm. Out of school hours it is available for the use of village residents and organisations. It has a large stage and adjoining kitchen. Adjoining the Hall is a smaller meeting room called the Green Room which is for the sole use of the village. This is used by the playgroup currently two mornings a week. It is also used for Parish Council and other smaller meetings.

The Playing Fields

The Playing Fields are located in the centre of the village and consist of a cricket ground, a football pitch and two tennis courts all occupied by thriving clubs. There is a popular children’s playground, which was completed as a millennium project in 2000.

CONTACT US

For any information about availability, or to book the Hall or Green Room, or to hire equipment, please contact Doreen Cope 01386 881656.