The Barge Inn Community Project Group
The group formed to save the pub are all locals keen on retaining the Barge Inn as a community hub and attraction.
Should you have any further questions or queries all would be very happy answer where possible.
Meet the Team
A project like this only works with the committment of the individuals involved. Each were asked for a statement about themselves to reveal this level of committment.
Not all have done it yet but here is a few:
John Brewin
John Brewin joined the BICP at the first public meeting held in September 2008. Having lived in Woodborough for the past 20 years, he has become a frequent patron of The Barge, and specifically of its 'Wiltshire Ham & Eggs'!
Born and educated in Bath, John spent 10 years in the Royal Navy as a seaman officer ending up in command of the minesweeper, HMS Aveley - the smallest fully commissioned vessel in the fleet! Since then, he has worked for a number of large (and very large) companies in sales, marketing and quasi-finance roles in the industrial and commercial sectors, including five glorious years with Bass Charrington based in Yeovil.
John believes in the basic tenet that change is inevitable, but should be managed for the good of the local communities, especially when those communities are rural. In this respect he honed his skills (?) leading the community group that made the concept of the 'Wigglybus' a reality some 10 years ago. He strongly believes that 'saving' the Barge Inn for the community, both local and international, is a crusade well worth undertaking."
Bev McEnaney
Bev McEnaney has lived the in the Pewsey Vale since December 1987 having moved from Swindon to Hilcot. She now lives in Wilcot. She said ,'Both my children attended Woodborough School.I have worked at the Barge in the past and have met and made lots of good friends.
I have always felt that the Barge has huge potential to expand at last we have this opportunity. The Pewsey Vale in which it is situated is and will always be a very special place for me. Personally, to be involved in this project is very exciting and I feel passionate about environmental and community issues, hopefully this idea will manifest and we will have an established community project to hand over to our children's children.
Polly Carson
Polly Carson born and bred a Lancastrian, has lived in Wiltshire since 1977 and in the Altons since the early 1980s. She says with pride ,' I was married to the local farmer for many years and have 2 children who attended Woodborough Primary and Pewsey Comprehensive. I have always been involved in local affairs, being a Governor at Woodborough for 12 years and I still am a Parish Councillor and member of the Alton Village Hall committee. I was also a member of the committee set up to attempt to get a new village shop for the area.
I’ve also always tried to encourage social events locally - I started a tap dancing troupe, taught rock ‘n roll in the village hall, started a choir for women who can’t sing, was involved in every entry into Pewsey Carnival from Woodborough School whilst my kids were there (my stilt walking is legendary!!), organised New Year’s Eve parties in Alton for many years and still write and perform pantomimes in Alton Village Hall.
So - helping to secure The Barge Inn as a community resource is very much up my street - and I think I have got the experience and enthusiasm necessary to be part of the team that’s trying to do so.'
Emma Byrne
Emma Byrne is a relative newcomer to Wiltshire, just 9 years ago she arrived from London and it was a massive change to her life and that of her family. She says 'The Barge Inn was the first place I ever visited in Wiltshire and it made an impact on me that hasn't left. This pub is very special to many people, unique in that it has a real sense of community among people from many walks of life and from many places around the globe. I have met what have turned out to be very good friends here and every year they return for a reunion. It is also a meeting place for local folk, to meet, chew the fat and put the world to rights! I feel comfortable in its surroundings and can walk in on my own and feel welcomed and always spot a familiar face. It would be terrible if the Barge was purchased by someone who wanted to turn it into any other rural public house because it isnt just a pub, it is a meeting place for people who have a connection with this beautiful part of the world.'
Perry Chesser
Aiden Johnson -Hugill
Terry Kemp