TimesMendip Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas VO LU ME 1 8 IS S UE 4 SEPTEMBER2022 Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news FREE I N T HI S I S S U E : • A RT S & A N TI Q U E S • HEALTH & FAMILY • U K R A I N E D I A RY • EDUCATION • B U S I N E S S • EVENTS
THEheatwave and drought have been on everyone’s minds this summer. How do we adapt to suit these new conditions?MaryPayne has advice on gardening; Nick Green reports on how farmers are coping; Chris Sperring assesses the effects on wildlife; while Dr Phil Hammond warns of the health dangers of too much sun. But the weather was enjoyed by fans at the Glastonbury Extravaganza and other events across the area – we have pictures from many of them and full details of what’s coming up. We preview Somerset Art Weeks, the tenth Wells Food Festival, the Chew Valley’s 20th Arts trail and Wells Festival of Literature. Did you know that trains once ran through The Triangle in WeClevedon?meetSomerset’s new Lord Lieutenant and have the next instalment of Catherine Grynova’s Ukraine diary. Jane Paterson reports on success for local riders, while also warning that the recent very hard ground might harm horses and ponies. features another
With all of our regular
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 3 MENDIP TIMES CONTENTS Welcome
packed summer issue. October 2022 deadline: Friday 16th September Published: Tuesday 27th September Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Advertising: advertising@mendiptimes.co.uk Steve Gooding stevegooding@mendiptimes.co.uk What’s On listings: Annie Egginton annie@mendiptimes.co.uk Accounts: accounts@mendiptimes.co.uk Publisher: Mendip Times Limited Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG Contacts: For all enquiries, telephone: 01761 463888 or email: Designwww.mendiptimes.co.uknews@mendiptimes.co.ukandoriginationby: Steve Henderson Printed by: William Gibbons & Sons Ltd, Willenhall, Wolverhampton WV13 3XA. Copyright of editorial content held by Mendip Times Ltd. and its contributors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the Publisher. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or its associates. Front cover: Dancing at Glastonbury Extravaganza. Photo by Mark Adler. See page 16. 81 Magic in the big top –a red letter weekend for children Plus all our regular features Environment .............................6 Farming Nick Green................10 Internet and Crossword ........12 Food & Drink..........................18 Arts & Antiques .....................30 Business ..................................40 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE..49 Walking Sue Gearing...............50 Outdoors Les Davies MBE......52 Gardening Mary Payne MBE...54 Property ...................................58 Health & Family .....................60 Community .............................70 Charities ..................................78 Riding Jane Paterson...............82 Caving Phil Hendy...................85 Sport ........................................86 What’s On ...............................93 16 Playing to the crowd –Paloma at the abbey 98 Heads up – Street Skate Park is back open 28 Carving out history –church spire restoration
and contributors, welcome to
1 WESTWAY FARM | BISHOP SUTTON | BRISTOL | BS39 5XP www.orientalrugsofbath.com | 01275 319950MattWill Ltd trading as Oriental Rugs of Bath
CAROL Paris, a former chief executive of a chain of garden centres, has taken over as the new chief executive of The Royal Bath and West Society. Carol, who lives in North Somerset, is a former chief executive of Rosebourne, a chain of garden centres in Hampshire, Berkshire and the Midlands. She will oversee all areas of the society, shows and showground with the support of its senior management team. Society chairman, Robert Drewett, said: “We are delighted that Carol will be leading the Bath & West team, and very much look forward to working with her as she brings both commercial and membership experience to the role.”
The book, written by journalists Fanny Charles and Gay Pirrie-Weir (pictured), has an introduction by the Prince of Wales and has been funded by Lord Rothermere’s RothermereContributorsFoundation.includesome of the county’s most creative and engaging residents including Michael Eavis, Cameron Mackintosh, and Alice, Julian and Matilda Temperley. Copies of the book, which retail at £25 each, can be purchased from many local book stockists or online.
Meanwhile, the current acting head of shows, Jess Chiplen, will take on the role on a permanent basis. Jess has worked for the society for five years, having initially been appointed as Show Team Administrator in January 2017.
“I know Mohammed thinks the same and I know he will do a tremendous job. I couldn’t be more delighted by his appointment. With his business background he will bring a new skillset to the role, which will be invaluable.” Garden centre boss takes over at society
DL, who is Executive Director of Operations at Wessex Water, will take over from Annie Maw CVO when she retires at the end of October. Mr Saddiq, 52, lives in Midford, near Bath, with his wife Paula and five children.
Mr Saddiq’s parents came to England in the late 1960s from a small village in Pakistan, setting up a new home in Leeds. He said: “They came here with virtually nothing but they had such a strong work ethic.
“I was born in Leeds and my parents were always encouraging me to do well at school, to help create a good life for myself. I became the first member of our family to go to Thatuniversity.”wastolead to a long and successful business career in the water, waste and renewables sectors. He has held a number of senior engineering and management positions in those sectors over the past 30 years.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 5 MENDIP TIMES NEWS
Mohammed Saddiq will succeed Annie Maw as Lord Lieutenant
Exploring Somerset Fanny and Gay
PROCEEDSfrom a recently-published book called Deepest Somerset –which explores the history, the characters, the stories and diversity of the county –have benefited three local charities, Somerset Community Foundation, Children’s Hospice South West and The Farming Community Network.
THE man who is taking over as Lord Lieutenant of Somerset in the autumn says he is: “greatly looking forward giving something back to the country which has given me so Mohammedmuch.”Saddiq
New Lord Lieutenant of Somerset announced
Details: www.deepestbooks.co.uk
Mrs Maw, who will have held the position for nearly eight years when she retires, said: “It’s been the greatest honour of my life to serve as Somerset’s Lord Lieutenant.
Over this weekend there will a range of different types of walk to show local people and those from further afield a sample of the town’s history, scenery and wildlife.
Details: www.bathscape.co.uk/events or look out for brochures in local shops, libraries etc
SHEPTON Mallet’s Collett Park has received a Green Flag Award – a quality mark for parks and open spaces in the UK.
PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES
Gary Martin (left) and Danny White with Collett Park’s flag
The park, named after benefactor John Kyte Collett, is a charity held and managed by Shepton Mallet Town Council.
JUST thought you might like to see a photo I took recently in my Chilcompton garden of white-tailed bumblebees on my alliums enjoying the sunshine.
I’m no photography expert but having recently retired I think it’s time to start enjoying the wildlife all around us, often right under our noses, and that so often gets overlooked during our busy lives. Maybe your readers would enjoy the photo.
THEsixth annual Somer Valley Walking Festival will be launched on Saturday, September 10th with a programme of walks on that day and Sunday, September 11th. The walks are free, will be led by experienced walkers, and aim to introduce people with a range of walking experience to the beautiful landscape, historical sites and industrial heritage of the Somer Valley.
SHEPTON Mallet’s Festival of Walking will take place from Friday, September 9th to Sunday, September 11th.
Green Flag for Shepton Mallet park
Thank you, and keep up the great work on your wonderful publication!
Details: Patric & Julie ffrench Devitt 07973 706586 sheptonwalks@gmail.com Discover Shepton
Best regards, Mike Caple, Chilcompton Reader’s picture
Just over 2,200 parks and green spaces achieved Green Flag status in this year’s awards scheme.
Shepton walks is a voluntary group with the aim of encouraging and facilitating people to walk in the area around Shepton Mallet. Co-chair, Patric ffrench Devitt, said: “We are looking forward to this weekend which will enable local people to take part in local walks and appreciate the different aspects of Shepton’s rich history and scenery!”
The Saturday programme includes a walk along the Coal Canal from Paulton to Limpley Stoke, town walks in Radstock and Westfield and a walk around the countryside of Paulton. There will also be a Nordic Walking taster session with poles provided.
Matt Harrison, council chair, said: “We are delighted. The news that Collett Park has achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that make this important green space a great place that everyone can enjoy. We hope to build on this success even further, with a programme of future improvements to the park.”
The Sunday programme based on Timsbury Conygre Hall consists of three morning walks and two in the afternoon with a repeat of the Nordic Walking taster. All the walks are free except for a small charge for Nordic Walking and there is no need to book except for the canal walk and Nordic Walking, through Eventbrite.
Walking festival launch
ENVIRONMENT
Jean said: “We are excited to be a part of this project and are looking forward to showcasing Ilene’s work in our beautiful Norman church. Through our involvement with the Bats in Churches project, we are learning about the bats and how we can live harmoniously with them. This installation will offer a unique opportunity to share this important message with our community and beyond.”
The installation has been commissioned by Bats in Churches, a five-year, £5m partnership between Bat Conservation Trust, Natural England, Church of England, The Churches Conservation Trust and Historic England.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund the project aims to help church communities find ways of co-existing in harmony with their resident bats.
The project has commissioned professional artist and Bats in Churches volunteer Ilene Sterns to create the bespoke artwork to highlight the relationship between bats and churches and to commemorate the project after it concludes in 2023.
First, a “topper” was used to cut the centre of the path to a manageable level. Then members and a few volunteers took on the brambles and hawthorn at the sides. It’s not overly tidy, with all the lumps and bumps you would expect, with the drove that becomes the Old River Axe running along the side.
A UNIQUEmultimedia art installation celebrating the longstanding connection between bats and churches is to be unveiled at the Grade I listed church of St Michael the Archangel, Compton Martin on September 24th.
Surveys carried out in 2021 discovered six bat species using St Michael’s, including Natterer’s bats, maternity roosts, Daubenton’s bats, common and soprano pipistrelles and brown long-eared bats.
Rotarians lead old path restoration
Clearing bramble and hawthorn
Working alongside St Michael’s volunteer Jean Luckett, and using comments and thoughts gathered from adults and children within the church community, Ilene has created On A Wing And A Prayer, an immersive and multi-layered artwork set to recordings of bats inside the church, edited to be audible to human ears.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 7
St Michael’s is one of more than 100 ancient churches across England to which Bats in Churches has provided help, support, community engagement and outreach whilst protecting the bats and preserving the heritage and fabric of the church.
AXBRIDGERotary members have restored Bailiffs Wall in the town, turning it into a pleasant country footpath again.
The easy bit using the "topper" Celebrating a job well done Bats welcome in this belfry
Ilene Sterns viewing the church
Ilene said: “As an artist I’ve always found inspiration in nature and history. And as a Bats in Churches volunteer I have spent many hours marvelling at the remarkable winged mammals that make these ancient buildings their homes.”
Bats have been associated with churches for centuries and in small numbers they can often go unnoticed, but larger populations can create problems for church communities.
Ben Raskin’s The Woodchip Handbook: A Complete Guide for Farmers, Gardeners and Landscapers can be found in all good bookshops. The 9trees organisation aims to get everyone to plant nine trees each year to balance an average household’s carbon use. Chew Valley Plants Trees will be at various events in September.
The farm was launched as a not-forprofit community benefit society in 2010 when shareholders raised £180,000 to get it started. Since then the number of shareholders has grown to more than 500. It’s become a rural oasis for hundreds of visitors and volunteers attending courses and events or helping to cultivate more than 100 different organic varieties. It’s also a haven for wildlife. But with rising costs, it’s finding it harder to compete against cheaper supermarket food. That’s hit both its trade in vegetable boxes and sales to its commercial customers. Yet during the pandemic, when supermarkets struggled, it demonstrated the value of local food supplies, delivering to almost 1,000 households a week, as well as providing meals at home to vulnerable people who were isolating.
“There is something for everyone, from family fun days, fossil and geo discovery walks, tours in working and disused quarries, an after dark tour of Wookey Hole caves, as well as specialist geology lectures and much, much more!” Mendip Rocks! festival is organised by the Somerset Earth Science Centre in partnership with the Mendip Hills AONB and The Mendip Society, with kind support from The Geological Society, Natural England, and Mendip Quarry Producers.
Details: www.thecommunityfarm.co.uk
Mendip Rocks! returns
While hundreds of people enjoyed tours of the farm during Valley Fest recently, behind the scenes staff were discussing how to reduce their hours to cut costs.
Kim Brooks, managing director since August 2020, started as a volunteer in 2016 and became the farm’s bookkeeper in She2018.said: “The whole organic sector is being hit by rising costs and the supermarkets’ promotion of cheap food. Organisations like ours are so important. “Together we can build a better local food system in response to the evergrowing climate, biodiversity and human health crisis.”
Details: www.chewvalleyplantstrees.co.ukwww.9trees.org
BEN Moss from Chew Valley Plants Trees, Ben Raskin from the Soil Association and Michael Cunningham from 9 Trees presented “More Trees Please” on the Regeneration Stage at Valley Fest. Their discussion explored the many ways trees and tree planting can nourish and enhance soil for agriculture. From ingenious uses for woodchip, the value of agroforestry and hedgerow rewilding, to utilising natural mycelium networks for soil fertility and balancing carbon use, this was a fascinating area to investigate.
For details, http://www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/events/visit: Community Farm appeals for support
Supporters are answering the call for help, but it’s appealing to the wider public to help avoid closure.
THE hugely popular Mendip Rocks! festival returns this year after a two-year absence due to the pandemic. It will be launched with “A Blast from The Past!” family open day at Westbury Quarry on Saturday, October 1st from 10.30am to 3.30pm. The quarry is a wonderful place for wildlife and was the film location for the BBC’s Deadly Dinosaur and Deadly Predator’s children’s programmes. Throughout the festival the team has planned a wide range of fun and inspiring events suitable for everyone from general interest level to specialist geology. Lou Sumbler, festival coordinator, said: “The Mendip’s have a unique and very special landscape. The festival provides great opportunities to get out and see some of the Mendip’s best kept geological secrets, with many events being held at sites not usually open to the public.
Promoting tree planting
PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES ENVIRONMENT
Pictured (l to r) Michael Cunningham, 9 Trees, Ben Raskin, Soil Association and Ben Moss and Jackie Head, Chew Valley Plants Trees
THECommunity Farm, overlooking Chew Valley Lake, says its future is on a knife-edge as it struggles financially.
PAGE 10• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
AT the time of writing, we are in the midst of a drought, temperaturesdaytimearein the mid-30s, grass for livestock is burning up and the media seem to be trying to cause panic about food shortages as a consequence. The positive from this is a raised awareness of food security. It is acknowledged over a third of food produced globally goes to waste.
is Farms Director for Alvis Bros Ltd based at Lye Cross Farm. He is responsible for the farming and estate business and is passionate about British food and farming. As well as the business, he is involved with a number of local and national farming charities.
MENDIP TIMES FARMING MENDIP PLOUGHING MATCH 152nd Meeting to be held on Wednesday 28th September 2022 on The "100 Acres" at Yoxter, Charterhouse, Near Priddy, BA5 3BS • Ploughing • Hedgelaying • Dry Stonewalling • Farm Produce Competitions • Trade Stands. Bar, luncheons and other refreshments. Further information available from the Joint Secretaries: Jim King 07958 475554 and Judith Ogborne 07783 709619
The media are rightly raising awareness of the weather situation farmers are working in and how they are managing around it but a lot more could be done to raise awareness of how best to make maximum use of the food we buy. Farmers are resilient. They can work their way around most things including hot weather. Nature plays a part. Some steady rain for a few days after a drought and before you know it the fields are green and as well as there being enough grass for the cows to graze there is surplus ready to be made into silage. What farmers find harder to swallow is all their hard work producing wholesome food going to waste. Take a vegetable grower who has tended their crop to perfection, sent them to the pack house, transported them to the supermarket and sold them only for them to get lost in the bottom of someone’s fridge until they have passed their best before date and they end up in the dustbin. Some 9.5 million tonnes of waste year after year usurps a couple of dry weeks. The problem is, a droopy carrot doesn’t have the same visual impact as a reservoir with no water in it.
With GREENNICKNickGreen
Although in the UK 8.4 million people are in food poverty, 9.5 million tonnes of food are thrown away each year; 4.5 million tonnes of this are edible.
Cutting back on food waste
Animal Feeds and Bedding Timber Supplies Tools | Hardware | Gardening Workwear | Logs and Gas Local Food | Home Essentials Open 7 days a week Mon-Sat 7.30am – 5.30pm | Sun 10am – 4pm 01963 440464 Fir Tree Business Park, High Road, Galhampton, Somerset, BA22 sales@galhamptoncountrystore.co.uk7BH GalhamptonShop&CountryStore Family-run, rural country store on A359 between Castle Cary and Sparkford
The Mendip Mindbender
Terrified –it4ttcvh@gmail.com
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IF you are looking to buy or upgrade a mobile device, particularly phones and tablets but also laptops and desktops, you will no doubt have come across the manufacturers extolling the features and specifications of camera(s) built into the device.Itisextraordinary to think that it was not until 2000 that phones with cameras started to appear. In the times since then quality of the images these tiny cameras can produce now often surpass their film “point and shoot” counterparts of the past especially in the new phones which often come with multiple lenses built in and will shoot video and stills which can be optimised from on-board software.Recent innovations include the use of Lidar which can allow the camera system, in the latest phones, to measure distances accurately by timing the reflection of light off an object. This should improve focusing and be able to create an in-depth map of your surroundings or even your face for identification purposes.Another innovation includes the use of a miniature periscope to provide for up to a 200x zoom feature. So do explore your device’s camera capabilities so you get the most out of its particular features.
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This month’s solution can be found on page 86 6ACROSS Burn from a short member of the chorus (5) 7 When Dr. Beeching cut the railways this town was included but they gained a bypass freeing it of through traffic. This is now celebrated with a Pageant enacted by the villagers every 10 years (8) 10 Drive the golf ball further than the green (7) 11 Writer of the hymn, ‘Rock-ofages’ after a rock of that name found at Burrington Combe (7) 12 Fencing warning angered doctor (2,5) 13 Deprecate or diminish the value of (7) 14 Going red in the face might show you are . . . (11) 19 Hotel porter-cum-lift attendant (7) 21 What a compositor does (7) 23 Walkway alongside canal or river (7) 25 Lush green vegetation (7) 26 Area of wood panelling at the lower part of a wall (8) Examination and appraisal of accounts (5) Wheedle and cajole (8) & 6 down Where to find Coleridge Cottage in care of The National Trust (6) The American equivalent of a boneshaker (10) Glastonbury does 18 down (4) Tropical American tree-living lizard that can be up to 6ft in length (6) See 2 down (6) Drive eccentric MEP to wearing silly suit (7) 9 City that was the capital of Japan and is now an anagram of the present capital (5) Render inoperative, switch off, defuse (10) Island Sheikdom off Saudi Arabia (7) Forged ID used as a way to change minds (8) Die down, subside (5) Town or city thoroughfare (6) The home of the Somerset Traction Engine Club (3,3) In India a person of low or no caste (6) Discourteous name for a journalist (4) Cluesgreendandelioninitalicsare
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The fast development of digital cameras, driven by the mobile phone industry, has seen the emergence of another aspect of photography coming into the province of the amateur. Not so many years ago the size of broadcast quality cameras and lenses needed a helicopter to get aerial shots. Now it is possible to buy a drone with a decent camera for a few hundred pounds in a localButstore.thishas not come without controversy. Although the Civil Aviation Authority has rules for the licencing and operation of drones many organisations, local authorities and the National Trust included, perhaps expecting a huge proliferation of drones, have tried to ban use over their property without permission.So,ifyou fancy a flying camera do research the subject first as you may need to register it and take an exam.
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With SPARKSNICKThisarticle is for guidance only, and
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 13 TRAVEL
Just launched –new exclusive cruises with a free pick-up from Wells in 2023
These escorted cruises are only available at Miles Morgan Travel and sell quickly, so early booking is essential. We have an amazing choice for 2023 with eight fantastic itineraries to choose from.
Prices start from only £1099pp, based on two sharing a cabin, but we also have singles available. Seats on the coach from Wells are limited and cabins are already selling fast. The feedback we receive about our cruise escorts is always fantastic. Here are some of our customer comments:
“From the moment we joined the coach we were able to relax and the drinks on the coach were even more welcome. Your warm and friendly service was reassuring and never overwhelming.”
“As a single passenger, I never felt alone on the ship as I met lots of friendly people and made friends with other single passengers. I also had the security of having a cruise escort, who was very helpful and always available if I needed her.”
THEdemand for our exclusive escorted cruises, with the ease of the transport from Wells, continues to increase and since the pandemic these cruises are now more popular than ever with customers looking for more reassurance.
We appreciate that your holiday starts the minute that you leave your front door and, with us, you can sit back and relax, safe in the knowledge that there’s someone on hand to take care of all your needs and assist you with the check-in process at the port.
There will also be someone on-board to help throughout your cruise. Our cruise escorts invite you to our exclusive, on board and hosted welcome party so you can meet your fellow passengers if you so wish – the choice is yours.
These exclusive cruises are always extremely popular and seats on the coach to the port fill very quickly, so early booking is strongly recommended. For more information, please contact us on 001749 671660 or call in and see us at 18, High Street, Wells. So, for all your travel needs, we look forward to seeing you soon.
Tribute to Nigel Taylor
Later Nigel’s commitment to the police, first as a special and then as a fully-fledged officer (and firearms specialist to boot) meant that he could devote less time to caving, although he was very active in the Mendip Rescue Organisation (now Mendip Cave Rescue). His 43 years of commitment to cave rescue was celebrated with a special award in 2018. As a boy, Nigel lived close to Washingpool, near East Horrington. Washingpool was home to Luke Devenish, another caver and an explosives engineer. Nigel (as any boy would be) was keen to assist Luke, and after leaving the police, he took over the business as Mendip Demrock.
New trustees for Bishop’s Barn and Recreation Ground
MUCHwas written in the July issue of Mendip Times about the late Nigel Taylor. I was privileged to have known him since the late 1960s, when he was a member of the Wessex Cave Club. Later he transferred to the Bristol Exploration Club.
This work took him (and his wife Vivi) to many far-flung places, including the Falkland Islands, but he did not forget his caving roots. For many years he supplied caver members of the Explosives Users Group with the necessary “bang”. I was lucky enough to have worked with Nigel on a few occasions, notably when he was tasked with blowing up an Exmoor hillside, so the farmer could level it to build a barn. I also assisted in making a Discovery Channel documentary on Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), under the auspices of the late Sidney Alford. It was great fun blowing up dummies and cars and watching Sidney demonstrate his “Boot Banger”, which renders boobytrapped cars harmless.
Handing over: Stewart Cursley and Ros Wyke outside the Bishop’s Barn in Wells
The city council will receive a dowry as Mendip passes across the Trust Fund of circa £525,000 solely for improving the Bishop’s Barn, as well as a one-off final payment of £30,000 to cover operational costs.
PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES NEWS
PHIL HENDY TRUSTEESHIP of the historic Bishop’s Barn in Wells has been handed to Wells City Council after almost 50 years of the building being run by Mendip District Council. The city council has also taken over control of the Recreation Ground next door in the deal worth a total of £555,000. The barn is a scheduled ancient monument and is Grade I listed. The Recreation Ground is a public open space with a bandstand, bowling green, toilet block, children's play area, and an informal kick-about area. It hosts events such as the annual Wells Food Festival.Mendip says it has now honoured a pledge made by the authority in 2019 to return the site to city control and says it has made significant investments over the years to maintain the site, including fully replacing the play area in 2016, refurbishing the bandstand and repairing the barn, including refreshing its existing kitchen and toilets.
The trip took longer than expected and when we eventually surfaced, we were met by an advance rescue party, who were looking forward to rescuing two local and experienced cavers. This would have cost us a lot of beer!
Nigel was active in both organisations, both as a sporting caver and as a digger. We enjoyed several trips together, including one down Manor Farm Swallet, where we used explosives to try to extend the end of the high-level NHASA Gallery.
Councillor Ros Wyke, leader of Mendip District Council, said: “I’m excited and pleased that this well-loved asset has been returned to the people of Wells. After many years of perseverance, Mendip has kept its promise and we are delighted to be transferring this monument to Wells City Council.”
43 years of service from Nigel Taylor
Stewart Cursley, said: “There is a lot of work to be done to the wonderful historic building, to enable it to be used for the benefit of the people of Wells, who will be fully consulted at every stage of the process.”
The site was gifted in two parts to the citizens of Wells for community activity in 1887 and 1897. Local government reorganisation in 1974 saw the newly created Mendip District Council handed responsibility for looking after the assets.
We have lost yet another of our great caving characters and cavers will be among those who will miss Nigel’s kindness, generosity, and his sense of humour and fair play. The attendance at his funeral at Priddy church, and afterwards at the Hunters’ Lodge Inn, showed how well he was regarded, and by so many.
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Dancing to Seasick Steve Lara Glencross, of Weston-super-Mare (front centre), celebrating her 50th birthday with friends SINGER Paloma Faith headlined this year’s Glastonbury Extravaganza in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey. The multi award-winning Black Dyke Brass Band opened the evening before American blues musician Seasick Steve took to the stage – and soon had people out of their picnic chairs and dancing. Juggling skills in time to Seasick Steve A unique style – Seasick Steve compereextravaganzaRegularDaveTichener Black Dyke Brass Band
PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
MENDIP TIMES
Young fans greet Paloma Faith on stage Paloma Faith drew fans of all ages SteveJuggling skills
Visitors were taken on a tour of the site to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association
Hedgedisplayslayers
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 17 EVENTS
Members of the Wyomings Western Society gathered from all over the country at Low Ham for a weekend of historical re-enactment
Clive Bethell and Marie Chalke with a “bonsai” version of a hedge laid in the Somerset style. They were also promoting a charity hedge laying event called The Big Lay #2 taking place in Hampshire in October Roy Gibbons, known as “Basil”, with his beast of a 1918 Fowler ploughing engine converted to diesel in the 1940s Steam Fair on full power
The show also featured an extensive car section
THE Somerset Steam and Country Fair made a welcome return to the diaries of heritage fans with a weekend of displays and attractions at Low Ham, near Langport.
Members of the Road-Up Gang made a welcome return
A recent holiday to a Greek island has provided the inspiration for this month’s recipes. The pastitsio I tasted there was delicious; it’s quite like a lasagne, but much lighter and uses different flavourings. There’s no starter this month, instead a suggestion for a side dish which works with just about any main course. It’s all Greek to me CHEESE PUDDINGS GYPSY TART
INGREDIENTS (Serves five)
INGREDIENTS (Serves 10)
With PBEAUCHAMPKATYAGE18•MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES FOOD & DRINK INGREDIENTS (Makes 12 puddings) 2/3 thinly sliced courgettes 1 thinly sliced onion 150ml milk 2 10075geggsflourgms grated cheddar 6cheesecherry tomatoes COURGETTE &
PASTITSIO
Tsp salt
500g minced beef
Pastitsio: perfect with a Greek salad
150g Fusillata pasta (or any tubeshaped pasta)
An easy but tasty side dish using this season’s courgettes
Small diced onion
METHOD Make the bolognese. I used these quantities of meat, onions, tomatoes, puree and herbs. Simmer until very thick then set aside. Make a white sauce by whisking the butter into the flour and then add the milk, stir in the cheese and season well, I put more nutmeg in my sauce, then leave to cool. Cook the pasta according to the instructions. To assemble Stir the egg white and feta through the pasta and lay it in an ovenproof dish, trying to get the pasta tubes to lay the same way. Spread the meat mixture on top, and then beat the egg yolk into the cheese sauce and pour over the top. Bake in the oven at 160°C until heated through (20 mins). Leave to cool and firm up before serving as the layers will be more distinctive! Serve with a Greek salad (recipe in last month’s issue).
Heaped tsp each of: mixed herbs, cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic 400g tin chopped tomatoes
2 x 20cm ready-cooked tart 400mlcasestin evaporated milk
METHOD Gently fry the courgettes and onions until soft, season and set aside. Mix up the batter by whisking together the milk, eggs and flour. Stir in half the cheese. Oil a muffin tray and stack courgettestheup in a pile into each well, pour over the batter, sprinkle on the remaining cheese and decorate with a half tomato cut side up. Bake in an oven at 180°C for 20mins until puffed up and golden. Serve as a side to any main dish. I always thought this dish was a myth, not a real thing, so when I came across a recipe I had to try it! And it was delicious! Don’t overcook it though, as it can go a bit grainy. This makes two tarts using ready-cooked ones from a shop, or you could make your own pastry and make one big one.
1 tbs tomato purée
500gms dark brown muscovado sugar
Not a myth, but magical –Gypsy Tart
METHOD Whisk together the sugar, milk and salt, preferably using an electric whisk, otherwise you’ll have a sore arm! After about ten mins it should be light and Pourcreamy.itonto the pastry bases and bake for 12 mins at 160°C until just firm. Serve with some tangy berries and yoghurt.
50g butter 50g plain flour 100g Cheddar cheese (or Greek if you can find some!) 100g crumbled feta 1 egg (separated)
PAGE 20• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
MENDIP TIMES
The marquee celebrating English wine is returning for 2022. As well as representing vineyards from all over the country, Ben Franks from Novel Wines in Bath will be hosting exclusive wine tasting sessions. Tickets will be available fromThewellsfoodfestival.co.ukchildren’ssectionofthe festival is extending for the tenth anniversary, complete with street food stalls selling innovative hand-held meals for smaller appetites. Fun Kitchen, an award-winning pop-up cookery school, will be on hand providing free cookery sessions for children aged 3+. The popular Children’s Trail will also return, providing an interactive guide around the festival. This year there is also a “Ready, Steady, Cook” demonstration at lunchtime, putting two chefs through their culinary paces.
Celebrating a decade of Somerset’s finest produce
OCTOBER will see the tenth anniversary of Wells Food Festival and there’s loads on the menu to celebrate this milestone for all the family to enjoy.
The festival, on Sunday, October 9th (10.30am-4.30pm) once again offers free entry to visitors. The artisan market will once again take centre stage with 200 stalls stretching from the Market Square, along the Palace Moat and into the Recreation Ground.
For details, visit www.wellsfoodfestival.co.uk Crowds throng the stalls by the Palace Moat The Fun Kitchen will be back in action
Over the last decade, this key element of the festival has provided a fascinating insight into the trends and developments that have shaped the food and drink landscape, from plant-based foods to the gin explosion. Festival director, Jon Abbott, said: “But we are also so appreciative of the producers who have been with us from the very beginning.”
Flour corn
Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist, Wild Food Forager and Adventure Activity provider. You can visit his website: www.gowildactivities.co.uk to learn more about wild food foraging and activities you can do with him on the Mendip Hills. the
With BOOTSADRIAN
Our corn was planted in a hastily created bed that has become somewhat besieged by creeping buttercup, which may have resulted in the predominance of these tassel ears this year or it may be that this variety (which is new to us) has a tendency towards it.
The interesting part for us foragers is below ground (remember to get permission) where you will find a convoluted root system, from which one can make horseradish sauce.
When I take groups out foraging I always explain why the landscape looks the way it does from a historical, land management and ecological perspective so that one can begin to “read the landscape” and understand the best places to look for wild foods. It saves so much wild food plants are non-native and have been introduced intentionally (or otherwise) which is fantastic for us as it provides additional diversity, enriching the countryside. For example, horseradish was introduced from the eastern part of Europe during the Middle Ages and has found its wild home on marginal areas, the edge of fields where grassland meets hedgerow and where road meetsHorseradishverge. (Amoracia rusticana) is a large-leafed perennial plant growing between 60 and 120cm tall. The distinctive broad leaves are bright green (when young), with ribs and veins forming a “fish scale” like pattern and very obvious crinkly edges to the leaf. The flowers are white with four petals atop a tall stem. I love the Latin name, it just rolls off the tongue. The best time to collect horseradish root is the end of September through to the end of October when it is strongest.
Traditionally served with succulent roast beef it’s interesting to consider that this most British of accompaniments would not have been a feature of the Sunday roast if it hadn’t been introduced from Eastern Europe all those years ago!
Jacob Whitson is a chef, food writer and smallholder –he divides his time between the Mendips and Pembrokeshire.
Apparently these ears rarely ripen as without their protective husk the kernels are at the mercy of the weather and the birds. Luckily we have plenty of normal ears ripening so hopefully we’ll be able to report the back with recipes and experiments in a future issue!
FOOD & DRINK
time.Many
I HAVE discussed the benefits of “edges” many times in my articles but it is always worth emphasising their importance. The edge of a habitat where it joins another tends to be more diverse in terms of plant species than the middle of a habitat which often can be a bit, erm, dull.
WILDedgeFOOD
“Tassel ears” like the one pictured form when the female part fails to abort on the tassels. The reasons why this happens are unclear, but it is almost always on tillers rather than the main stem of the corn and is probably precipitated by stress of some sort, be it compacted soil, heavy rain, hail damage or drought.
With WHITSONJAKE
Life on
GARDEN FOOD THIS year we are experimenting with growing a special kind of corn from the States called “Magic Manna”. Rather than being a sweetcorn of the kind we are familiar with, or a fodder maize for feeding to animals, this is a kind of corn once more common in the past, bred for its ability to produce kernels that grind into a fluffy, powdery flour with ease, perfect for baking with. We’ve yet to see if they ripen properly in our climate (at the time of writing) but the cobs are already well developed in mid-August and we are optimistic. If we get a decent crop I’ll write about our experiments with it in the next couple of issues, but in the meantime I thought I’d write about the botanical curiosity pictured, which has been quite common in our patch of corn this year and which I’ve never seen before. These are “tassel ears”, essentially a cob of corn that forms in the wrong place, on the male tassel flowers on the top of the plant. Apparently, both the male and female parts of the plant start out as “perfect” or bisexual flowers, but in normal development the female parts abort on the tassels and the male parts will abort on the ears.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 21
Beware, it’s easy to confuse horseradish leaves with the similar looking large leaved dock. However these inedible plants are not poisonous and unsurprisingly do not smell of, you guessed it, horseradish – a key ID feature.
CIC 11537595 Our
Jill and Jonny with some of the team
SomersetAvonCommissionerpraisedrecoveryandhelpConnectionscompanyandinterestcommunityworkPIONEERINGbythevegetableflowerRoottothehomelesspeopleinhasbeenbytheforandPolice.Ona
Mark Sheldon is presented with a Root Connections veg box by manager Sue CrossBourton watched by project founders and Home Farm tenants Rob and Suzanne Addicott Root Connections new farm shop café The Middlewick is now open Somerset BA6 8JW. 832351
JonnyinlatestCaféFarmshopMiddlewickTor,GlastonburybeneathNESTLEDthenewandisthechapterJillandBarker’slifeatthe
You
hello@themiddlewick.co.uk 01458
our
Middlewick, Wick, Glastonbury,
Open seven days a week offering coffee, cakes, snacks, produce and much, much more. Serving cooked breakfasts and lunch specials. Our cafe has seating for 45 indoors with another 40 on patio. are always welcome to park here to walk up Glastonbury Tor. Call in on the way out or on the way back for a bite to eat and a drink.
PAGE 22• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
at
community “engagement day” visit to the market garden project at Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Mark Sheldon met workers, volunteers and residents of the Dairy House community house next door. Root Connections, based at Duchy of Cornwall-owned Manor Farm, offers veg box and cut flower delivery services and recently opened its own farm shop in a building funded by wellwishers.
www.themiddlewick.co.uk
former farm. First opening a small shop to offer some essential supplies to guests at the holiday cottages complex, the couple had little idea how popular it would become, especially during lockdown. Now they have built a bespoke shop and café with plenty of seating inside and out and shelves full of locally produced foodstuffs. The café and shop is open seven days a week and serves everything from cooked breakfasts to cakes. The couple say: “We love supporting local businesses, and in Somerset there are so many great producers we want to shout as loud as we can about them. From cheese to cider to ales to chocolate.“Glastonbury and the surrounding towns here in Mendip have a huge array of producers. By shopping with us you help these small businesses get a foot into the market.”
and
MENDIP TIMES
A perfect location
Fruits of their labours wins praise
THEninth annual Sand TealhamoverlookingbeautifulWedmoreFarm,placeFestivalCidertakesatAshgroveSand,nearinaorchardMoor and Glastonbury Tor. It’s back better than ever this year on September 2nd and 3rd with a focus on family fun, music and arts! A donation from the profits from the festival will be made to the Wedmore Play Area Association. As well as a great selection of music, there will be cooking demos, wellness activities, family fun and lots, lots more throughout the weekend with pop-up food vendors, a fully-stocked bar serving a wide range of spirits and locally produced beers and ciders, including of course, their very own Old Jollop! Don't be put off by the Great British weather as they have a large marquee if it rains! Somerset’s “other” festival MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 23 Details: tickets at www.OLDJOLLOP.com or Wedmore Village Store FOOD & DRINK
MENDIP TIMES
ARTHURDavid Food with Service celebrated 60 years in business in style at Bishop Sutton Football Club with a fun day for all their staff and their families to enjoy free food, fun and games for the day, allowing them to enjoy what they have helped create and be part of. In 60 years they have grown from a very small, fruit and vegetable supplier to a £46million business, employing over 400 local people and selling over 3,000 products. Over the years many fresh produce suppliers have come and gone, but founder, Arthur David, has always held the strong core value of exceptional customer service dear to his heart and has weaved this throughout the business.
60
PAGE 24• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
Celebrating years
Details: #Leaveitwithus
Arthur is by definition a true entrepreneur and always looked for the next product or service he could offer. He was the very first person in the region to offer prepared vegetables. Many members of the David family are still involved. Phil David, Arthur’s eldest son, now runs the business on a day-to-day basis and can always be seen around the farm making sure everything is running smoothly. A spokesman said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved as a business even with significant ups and downs over recent years but we have come out stronger and ready for the next 60 years.”
makes a comeback WHITE HART The Est.
THEwinner of our competition to win a meal for two is Mr Trevor Chatelier from Chelmsford, Essex. He picked up his copy of the Mendip Times whilst on holiday in the Chew Valley.
THE WHITE HART COMPETITION MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 25 FOOD & DRINK
–
Winners Chris McMillan and Naomi Eaton Peak fitness running up the hill
AFTER a two-year absence the Crook Peak Cake Fell Race made a welcome return. Raced over three miles with nearly 800 feet of ascent, the race is not for the faint-hearted. Maybe it’s the attraction of the prize of a large chocolate cake that encouraged 101 runners to take on the challenge. In its 29th running, a time of 19 minutes 14 seconds was good enough for Chris McMillan to win the men’s race whilst Naomi Eaton took the honours in the ladies’ race.The White Hart in Cross played host to the event where the winners received their rewards. In the 30-year tradition of the event there has only been one rule –no cake is to be taken home but has to be shared amongst competitors!
Crook Peak cake race 1690
“Putting the heart back into The Hart” e White Hart | Old Coach Road Cross | Somerset BS26 2EE 01934 Wednesday,www.whitehartcross.co.uk733108Openinghours:ursday,Friday.Saturday 12-11pm Saturday 12-7pm Serving fresh, homemade food at lunchtime –12pm until 2.30pm CrookHostsofthePeakCakeRace
As well as helping to reduce food waste – the Tesco store in Shepton Mallet – is a supporter, the community fridge will be available to anyone in need. Derek, Ken and Steve at work
SHEPTON Men’s Shed members have been putting the finishing touches to their biggest commission to date – building a wooden structure to house the town’s new community fridge.Work to install the fridge, freezer and larder unit on land next to Haskins Retail Centre was due to begin as Mendip Times went to press.
There is always a spectacular choice of starters, main courses from a full English breakfast to steak au poivre, local trout, authentic curries (Paul and Lynda learnt to cook curries on many Indian trips). And don’t forget the takeaway fish and chips on Friday evenings. Match all this with a comprehensive wine list, local ciders and beers and a very friendly welcoming team and that is Hartley’s.
HARTLEY’S Café Bistro, open on the Mendips for more than 14 years, has expanded.Thenew area, up two small stone steps and through an arch, seats another 25 people. Perfect for gatherings and parties with friends. Outside, it’s dining al fresco on new garden tables.
The menu changes every month to follow the seasons so, when Lynda and her kitchen team plan great dishes for you, you’ll know the food will be sourced locally and fresh. Fish comes up from the coast, lots of meat, fruit and vegetables come from local farms and growers.
Volunteers are still needed to help maintain and clean the fridge. For details, find @SheptonFridge on Facebook
Great food in a lovely cool atmosphere
PAGE 26• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES FOOD & DRINK Hartley’s Café Bistro The Fully Licensed Café Bistro on the Mendips Hartley’s Kitchen, Rookery Farm, Binegar BA3 4UL • Tel: 01749 Breakfastwww.hartleyskitchen.cominfo@hartleyskitchen.com841718 from 9am – all day except Sunday (until 11.15am) Lunch with an array of local and classical dishes Open Wednesday–Sunday 9am–4pm Hartley’s Take-Away Fish & Chips Friday from 5–7pm Tea, Coffee, great drinks range, cakes and sandwiches Champagne Breakfast & luxury Afternoon Tea
A shed load of goodwill
Volunteers have been fundraising for several months to buy the equipment needed for the new facility, which is due to be opened officially on Saturday, September 10th. Local companies such as Timbersource, CRS and Tool Station have helped with materials for the project.
MENDIP TIMES NEWS
David Osmond, from the trust, added: “It was great to see so many people enjoying the festival this year. We welcome this generous donation which will be put to good use.”
THE top of a church spire destroyed by Storm Eunice in February was being replaced by stone masonry experts as this issue of Mendip Times was being published.
Video footage of the spire of St Thomas’ Church, in Wells, first wobbling then collapsing, was watched by millions on television and social media. Since then, masons from Sally Strachey Conservation, have been painstakingly recreating the top section of the spire at a barn nearDoultingPriddy.Stone has been used to match the original stonework and it will be lifted by crane in separate blocks. A seven-metre steel pole will be bolted into place inside the hollow spire to hold a new weathervane.
ORGANISERS of the Somerton and Music Arts Festival, which includes the Somerstock one-day music event, have donated £1,000 from funds raised this year to the town’s Recreation Ground Trust.
Carving out a name for restoration work: (l:r) James Preston, Rob Head and Adam Lavorgna James Preston and Paul Silk take a selfie as they make the spire weatherproof after Storm Eunice Repair work is an in-spire-ation
Cliff Bassett (left) presents the cheque to David Osmond
Cliff Bassett, chairman of the festival – a community interest company – said: “We are very pleased to make this donation to help the trust continue its work in supporting sport and activities for all in Somerton.”
The spire before the storm . . . . . . and after Boost for RecreationSomertonGround
PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
Unfortunately,underneath.many hedgerows were lost after the war, but since 1993 the rate of hedgerow planting has outstripped the rate of hedgerow loss, thanks to concerted efforts from farmers across the country. Restoring and managing hedgerows is a straightforward way to help nature thrive on your land, contribute to preserving the feel of the countryside, mitigate against the impacts of climate change, and add resilience to your holding.
Rachael Fickweiler, Head of Nature Reserves and Land Management, Somerset Wildlife Trust
Managing hedgerows sustainably can lock away that carbon indefinitely, so where there are established hedges on your land, managing them by laying (in the Somerset style of course), or giving them a haircut every few years will encourage new growth to soak up more carbon and preserve the carbon stored in the soil
hedgerow plants, but even more is stored in the soil underneath – in the second year after planting, soils under hedgerows can store 3.3% more than the soils in the middle of the same field, and the soils underneath a 100year-old hedge can store 57% more CO¬2!
For more information, or to make an application enquiry, head to the Mendip Hills AONB website: mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/farming-in-protected-landscapes MENDIP HILLS AONB MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 29 The benefit of a hedge Mega n G od ley Fa rm ing En ga gem ent O fficer Fa rm ing in Pr ot ect ed Lan dsca pes Mend ip Hills A ON B Cha rt erh ou se Cen tr e, B S40 7XR Of fice telepho ne: 01 7 61 46 23 3 8 Em a il: m eg an @m end iphillsa o nb.o r g.uk ww w.m endip hillsa on b.o rg .uk
'It is the variety and diversity of the landscape in the Mendip Hills that I love – dramatic geology, fantastic flower-rich grasslands, broadleaf woodlands supporting rare bats and a fascinating cultural heritage.'
THEMendip Hills AONB Service wants to help farmers fund hedgerow planting and management across the AONB. The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme has already supported the planting of 2398 metres of new mixed-species native hedgerow, and the management of a further 440 metres of existing native hedgerow. Nine farms in Cheddar, Hutton, West Harptree, Blagdon, and Priddy have already benefited from support with hedgerows through the fund, with more projects in the pipeline. Hedgerows are evocative of the Somerset countryside. Mingled with drystone walls and laid in the traditional Somerset fashion, they don’t just define a single field, they define the feel of a whole landscape. There is a wonderful book by John Wright; A Natural History of the Hedgerow, and stiches, dykes, and dry stone walls – absolutely to be recommended for any bookshelf – which delves into the history of how hedges came to be such an integral part of the English landscape. He writes at length about the way different people over time divided up the land, how they manged their boundaries, and the various uses they had for hedgerows outside of containing stock. Nowadays, foraging in hedgerows is a fun pastime rather than a recognised source of food, but hedges still provide us with many more benefits than the obvious.Mitigation of the impacts of climate change is a huge benefit of planting or maintaining a hedge. Hedges buffer extreme weather conditions and provide vital shelter for livestock and crops. They also capture and store hundreds of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Some of this is trapped in the growing leaves and stems of the
A special place for wildlife Rich in wildflowers, plant and insect life the flower-rich limestone grasslands on the steep south-facing slopes are very rare and internationally important, supporting some of the scarcest species. Many people and organisations over the last 50 years have helped make this such an important place for wildlife.
If you have hedges that need managing, or empty spaces that need hedges, please get in touch with Megan from the Mendip Hills AONB Service to see if you can apply for advice or financial support. Hedges are a great asset for a farm looking to enhance its Natural Capital – if you want to develop your understanding of Natural Capital management, the NFU and the Mendip Hills AONB Service are running a information workshop in October as part of a series of free workshops in partnership with Mendip DC, Somerset Wildlife Trust, and FWAG SouthWest – in next month’s edition we will be sharing more details of the events programme, but give us a ring or an email to pre-register your interest.
A section of beautifully laid hedge on a farm above Ubley, funded through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme
The club meets regularly summerduringsketchingwithMemorialDraycottThursdaysonatHallweeklytripstheholidays.
Now in its tenth year, they are very excited to be holding their first exhibition for a number of years at the museum. The exhibition will show a great variety of subjects by longtime members and newcomers. There will be framed pictures, mounted work in browsers and reproduction prints and cards for sale at affordable prices. Members of the club will be on duty at the show to talk about the pictures and the work of the club.
Draycott life class Details: 01458 273008 www.acearts.co.ukhello@acearts.co.uk Somerton exhibition Me n d i p Ti m es re d u c e s t r a v e l c o s t s 100,000 customerspotentialwithinashortdistanceofyourbusiness
The club had a long lay-off due to Covid but many of the members remained busy and the club started back last September.
Like many other small charities, they have been hit first by the pandemic and latterly the cost of living crisis. The fundraising exhibition, entitled ALL RISE, will feature works donated by many of ACEarts supporting artists.
It is a small charity that provides art and creative activity to inspire, empower and enable people to develop and grow. They engage with all ages and abilities, schools and community groups whilst continuing to be passionate about showcasing work by local artists.
MENDIP TIMES PAGE 30• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 Shetland series by Janette Kerr
Details: draycottartclub.mendip@gmail.com
ACEarts are holding a exhibitionfundraisingin their gallery in the Old Town Hall, Market Place, Somerton from Tuesday, 12th,Monday,opening13th–17th,SeptemberwithaneventonSeptember6–8pm.
Draycott art exhibition
DRAYCOTT Art Club will be having an exhibition at Wells and Mendip Museum from Wednesday, August 31st until Saturday, September 17th, 10am-4pm.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 31 ARTS & ANTIQUES The value
Please the www.clevedonsalerooms.com for more details
Chris Yeo is a valuer at Clevedon Salerooms and regular expert on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow
website
CHRISWith YEO
visit
WE might think the “throwaway society” is a recent phenomenon but we’d be wrong. Coloured glass medicine bottles, ceramic pot lids were all beautifully made and then thrown away as soon as their contents were used up. Our Victorian and Edwardian forebears were the culprits for starting today’s huge landfill problem. What they regarded as rubbish, however, can provide a fertile hunting ground for today’s collectors. Following the Industrial Revolution, working people found they had more money in their pockets to spend on life’s luxuries and necessities. A whole industry emerged packaging the many patent products that were appearing on the shelves of the chemist and grocer’s shop – from toothpaste to fish paste. It was the Victorians who spotted the commercial possibilities of using new printing technology to decorate the lids of containers for popular products with sophisticated designs. They are often miniature works of art with their fairground style lettering extolling the virtues of long-forgotten products such as “Areca Nut Toothpaste”. Most are worth a few pounds. However, particularly decorative examples can make substantially more. A pot lid advertising “Dr Dosteel’s Cherry Toothpaste” printed with a particularly fearsome portrait of Queen Victoria will routinely sell for over £1,000 in goodDangerouscondition.liquids were originally sold in exactly the same design of bottle as any other substance but, following a number of inevitable deaths, a law was passed which said that all bottles containing noxious substances should be easily identifiable by being made of distinctive green or blue glass, as well as being textured in a way that would make them easily identifiable by sight and touch. One of the rarest and most coveted by collectors is in the shape of a skull emblazoned with the word “POISON”. This grisly apparition must have sent a shiver down the spine and kept curious fingers at bay. Should you be lucky enough to unearth one of these in your back garden you would be looking at around a very healthy £2,000. of long forgotten products
PAGE 32• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
Details: www.chewvalleyartstrail.co.uk
tintinna@aol.com 01275 333128 Chew Valley’s 20 years MENDIP TIMES Probate | Insurance | Auction Family & Matrimonial | CGT | General Inventory
Sandy Bell
THEYsay time flies when you’re having fun and indeed it seems no time at all since our first Chew Valley Arts Trail. But here we are preparing for the 20th anniversary of a hugely successful event which is taking place on Saturday, October 8th and Sunday, October 9th 10am-6pm.
The trail started off as an affordable way for artists to show off their talents and market their work and it is still achieving that aim today. Some exhibitors have taken part since the beginning, but there has always been a lot of new talent joining in each year. Visitors have told us they have enjoyed the amazing variety of quality work they have seen, making purchases and chatting about techniques and materials, in many cases being spurred on to take up a craft themselves.
Over those two decades the event has drawn literally thousands of people to the area. Many people turn a visit to the trail into a fun family day out, driving or cycling around the valley and stopping off for lunch or a cup of tea and a piece of cake.Brochures are widely available and all the details are on the website.
AS we face ever increasing economic uncertainty, auctions provide a great opportunity to sell unwanted items to raise funds or to buy needed items at good value. Upcycling is becoming increasing popular and this involves taking old objects and putting them to a new creative use.
Buying or selling at auction doesn’t have to be scary and the team at Killens are very welcoming and can readily guide you through the process. To buy you can either attend an auction in person, arrange a telephone bid or bid online.
Quality furniture and other items can be purchased at prices which represent excellent value compared to well-known retail outlets. If you are purchasing your first home or upsizing, then do visit the auction rooms on viewing days to see if there is anything that may help you furnish your new home – it is very likely there will be!If you are seeking contemporary and modern furniture then Killens also stage sales of modern design furniture and other items often with well-known labels.
ARTS & ANTIQUES
Auctions provide great opportunities for upcycling
Contact the team at Killens on 01749 840770 or email enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk for furtherQualityassistanceitems at good value can be found at the Mendip AuctionRooms
Viewing days are held before sale days and extend into the evenings making it easy to contemplate a purchase. If you want to see what is in forthcoming auctions, keep an eye on the auction rooms website – mendipauctionrooms.co.uk – or email the team enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.ukat to join the mailing list.
Are you looking to sell items? Valuations can be undertaken on a drop-in basis at the auction rooms between 10am and 3pm each weekday and Killens have professional valuers and experts on hand to advise. Alternatively, valuers are able to conduct free home visits.
At the Mendip Auction Rooms, in addition to their monthly sales of Fine Art, Antiques, Silver and Jewellery, the team stage regular Interiors and Collectables sales at which a range of furniture, collectables, ceramics and interesting objects are sold.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 33
A SERIES of free workshops have been held in Shepton Mallet as part of a collaborative community arts project celebrating diversity, connectivity and the environment.TheGleaning is being cocurated by the Rev Gill Sakakini, the arts pioneer for the Bath and Wells Diocese, and environmental sculptor Fiona Campbell with support from writer Polly Hall. The centrepieces of the project will be large-scale translucent textile artworks which will be suspended in front of clear glass windows in Shepton Mallet’s SS Peter and Paul church as part of Somerset Art Weeks. The exhibition will be supported by events including a jazz concert, film, interpretive dance, and dramatic presentation of the Book of Ruth. l The artworks will be on show from September 22nd until October 9th. The church is open from 10am-6pm daily.
A horse pulling a hay cart at Abbey Farm c1945
PAGE 34• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES
Horsepower: central to Somerset’s rural heritage
ARTIST and metalworker Jacky Oliver has been commissioned to create a large-scale kinetic contemporary artwork, inspired by the history of the horse in agriculture, as part of Somerset Art Weeks and to coincide with a new exhibition at the Rural Life Museum in Co-commissionedGlastonbury.with SAW organisers Somerset Art Works, Jacky will seek inspiration from research undertaken at the museum which looks at different ways that horses have been central to Somerset’s rural heritage. The history of Abbey Farm, of which the Abbey Barn formed a part, and home to the museum, will also be an important source of inspiration. Elements of the commissioned artwork have been produced in leather by Jessie White, a multidisciplinary designer and maker. For centuries horses played a central role in the everyday lives of Somerset people. The exhibition, Horse Power: The Story of Horses in Rural Somerset, will feature a rich display of paintings, photographs, museum objects and oral histories from the Somerset Voices archive to tell the story of how horses helped shape the rural landscape of the county. It will also consider the wider use of the horse at key moments in history, including during different conflicts. The artwork will be on display in the Abbey Barn, from September 17th to October 30th, as part of the Somerset Art Weeks festival.
One of the workshops in Shepton Mallet’s Collett Park Arts workshops
The Somerset Art Weeks Guide is now available in print and online at: www.somersetartworks.org.uk
In Muchelney – the name means “great island” – the church there provided sanctuary. To reflect this, Jane Mowat has created an installation of embroidery that floods, from the font and down the church nave, sewn with images of native plants. A full event programme includes talks, walks and workshops focussing on making art, wellbeing and a return to nature. Each weekend will be family friendly, with arts activities for families of all shapes and sizes, encouraging everyone to join in.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 35 ARTS & ANTIQUES
Contributing artist Georgina Towler who will be exhibiting in C-Wing in Shepton Mallet Prison
ARTISTS across Somerset will be responding to the theme of “Sanctuary” for this year’s Somerset Art Weeks taking place between September 24th and October 9th.More than 300 artists will be hosting exhibitions and events in more than 100 venues, including loft spaces, tithe barns, stables, museums, churches, farms, libraries and a prison. Members of Somerset Art Works and commissioned artists will be showcasing their work, giving local people and visitors to the county the opportunity to discover high quality shows and exhibitions in unique and inspiring locations across the county.SAW recently declared a Climate Emergency and, reflecting this, the event has a focus on sustainability. Many of the artists have been inspired by their relationship to the natural world. Others have responded to shared experiences of the pandemic, often highlighting positive changes or allowing visitors to contemplate.Sixartistshave taken over C-Wing at Shepton Mallet Prison to create immersive and interactive artworks using a variety of artforms and techniques, including creative computer coding, an installation exploring light and colour, painting and mark making as a practice of mindfulness and participatory installations considering themes of Penelopewellbeing.O'Gara,of The Itinerant Bizarrium, has created figurative textile works exploring the theme of sanctuary within the setting of the 14th century church of St Peter in Evercreech.
Seeking sanctuary in art
PAGE 36• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 The perfect place to stock up on those hard-to-find crafting supplies! The Bath & West Showground Thursday 29th Sept. –Saturday 1st Oct. 2022 10am –5pm (4pm Saturday) Door Admission: £10 / Disabled £9 / Under 16’s go free Quilting | Card Making | Felting | Fabrics | Needle Crafts | Make & Takes | Over 200 Workshops | Hobby | Paper Crafts | Live Demos and many other crafts Save £2 on all ticketsadvanceusingdiscountcodeC4CMEN For Online Tickets, Special Coach Trips, Workshop Times, Show Features and Exhibitor List visit: THE Craft4Crafters show returns this September at The Bath & West Showground. Whether you’re passionate about felting, quilting, embroidery, or you’re in love with needlecraft and textiles, these, along with glasswork, papercraft, card making, stamping and more, will be in abundance at the show. It will have over 65 workshops every day, special crafting guests, textile displays, live demonstrations, make & takes, and much more. Book now for craft show Details: www.craft4crafters.co.uk MENDIP TIMES GUARANTEE YOUR COPY –SUBSCRIBE TODAY! SUBSCRIPTION FORM Your Details: (Complete in clear capital letters please) First name:Address:Surname:Title: Postcode: Telephone (in case of query): I enclose a cheque (made payable to Mendip Times Limited) to the value of: £ subscriptions @ £35.00 each. Email address (in case of query): Name:Title:Address: Postcode: If a gift, recipient details: Name:Title:Address: Postcode: Signature: Date: Please complete and return payment to: Mendip Times, Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG. Telephone: 01761 463888 • www.mendiptimes.co.uk MendipTimes Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas FREE JULY 2022 VOLUME 18 ISSUE 2 MendipTimes FREE Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas AUGUST 2022 VOLUME 18 ISSUE 3 N MMAN •• SUMMER FOOD & DRINK £35 for 12 deliveredissuestoyourdoor MendipTimes Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas OLUME 8 IISSUE SEPTEMBER2022 Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news FREE IIN TTHIS IISSUE • ARTS && AANTIQUES HEALTH & FAMILY • UKRA NE EDUCATIONDDIARY • BBUS EVENTSNESS
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 37 ARTS & ANTIQUES
Under Marc’s direction, Dore & Rees are launching an exciting new department Curious and Collectable. Marc brings the concept of this new department to life: “Collecting is part of the human condition and our propensity for accumulation is as old as time itself.
Jewellery and Asian Art valuation days are being held on September 12th and 13th. Susan Rumfitt, Head of Jewellery, and Lee Young, Head of Asian Art, are in your area and available to provide valuations at your home or at Dore & Rees auction salerooms in Frome. Contact enquiries@doreandrees.com or call 01373 462257 to book your appointment.
“It is our inherent obsession with mortality, art, literature, religion and psychology that has driven man to some of his greatest creations and the ‘Curious and Collectable’ auction caters for that aspect of our psyche. Be it the mechanical, the musical, the cult of personality, ethnographic or even the macabre, there is something here to pique the curiosity of the collector in all of us.”
The first Curious and Collectable auction takes place on Wednesday, September 21st at 10.30am and includes a private collection of maritime models and tribal artefacts along with coins, antiquities, film posters, music and film ephemera, militaria and mechanical models and more. Viewing September 17th–20th at Dore & Rees auction salerooms in Frome. Visit www.doreandrees.com for more information.
Meet Marc Allum –a familiar face
MARC Allum has been a well-known face on the BBC Antiques Roadshow for 25 years with his eclectic and broad knowledge stemming from an inherent and exacting interest across a wide spectrum of the art and antiques business. With over 30 years’ experience, his areas of expertise range from prehistory to modern design. Marc has been working with Dore & Rees during the last year on collection auctions. Of particular note was his “Guitars That Made History” auction in March, where a 1959 Gibson Les Paul “Burst” electric guitar sold for £171,600 with 100% of the lots selling for a total of £260,000.
“The sophisticated nature of that trait has changed through history and has absorbed some of the greatest minds because the very nature of collecting has also advanced all aspects of science and philosophy through the ages.
A DOUBLEpage from a bible written by monks at Glastonbury Abbey has returned to its home 800 years after it wasThewritten.historical artefact has been loaned to the abbey by Bristol University, which bought the double-sided page two years ago at auction. The university has been using the fragment –measuring 197mm x 15mm –as a teaching resource. It is described as a “strikingly beautiful” example of 13th century illumination. Abbey bible
The Triangle, Clevedon
THISyear sees the 125th anniversary of the original opening of the Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Light Railway between Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon and the 115th anniversary of its completion to ThePortishead.WC&PR was an unusual independent light railway linking the three North Somerset coastal towns. It opened in 1897 and closed in 1940. It was quaint and colourful and was operated on a shoestring, which gave it great character. The railway ran through the streets in the centre of Clevedon. Because of its leisurely speed (25mph max) and numerous small halts it became the butt of jokes such as that there were cowcatchers fitted to the rear to protect against overtaking cattle! But it was a much-loved railway amongst the locals. To commemorate the anniversary, the WC&P Railway Group has organised an exhibition to be held on Sunday, October 2nd in the Parish Wharf Leisure Centre next to Portishead Marina. Original artefacts from the railway will be on display, together with some of the best model railways in the country. There will be a total of 14 layouts, several being award winners, appearing in national magazines. No less than four superb model layouts of the WC&P Railway itself – Weston-super-Mare (Ashcombe Road), Clevedon, River Yeo Bridge, and Portishead – are being shown together for the first time. The Portishead one is brand new and having its first showing.Colonel Stephens ran the WC&P Railway for many years and was known as the Light Railway King, managing a total of 16 light railways around the country. Several other layouts are models of his railways from around the country. One new small mystery layout is all about recycling carbon footprints! A range of models will be on display –locomotives, coaches, wagons and even a Weston horse-bus. Slide shows of historic photos will be running all day and demonstrations of kit building will be given.Eight societies will have stands including Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways, Colonel Stephens Society, Portishead Railway Group and the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. There will be trade stands including local artist Stuart Booth with his superb oil paintings for sale. Light refreshments will be available. There will be something for everyone at this unique exhibition and it’s an event not to be missed!
Details: www.wcprgroup.org.uk
Local history talks
The talks will be on the history of All Saints Church in Publow, "Mills Coal and Glass from Stanton Drew to Publow”, finishing with a talk entitled "Bedminster coal, blood sweat and tears".
The bible page remains on public display at Glastonbury Abbey until October 2nd
Details: pensfordhistorygroup@gmail.com
PENSFORDLocal History Group is to re-commence its programme of talks in October after a break of several years. Lyndsay Cooper, from the group, said: “We hope you will find the programme of interest as we need to generate as much interest and attendance as possible as well as boost membership which will in turn enable and secure the future of these talks.”
PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
PAUL GREGORY Secretary WC&P Railway Group
Remembering the old WC&P railway
The first meeting in October will be held at All Saints’ in Publow. November and December will be at Pensford Memorial Hall.
Family of thatchers
PleaseHOLIDAYwww.avocetpoducts.co.uk/banwell/emailinfo@avocetproducts.co.ukTel01934824092HOMEOFFICE•STUDIOSPACELEISUREANDENTERTAINMENTACCOMMODATION•ADDITIONALLIVINGSPACEcalloremailforano-obligationdiscussionofyourrequirements Bespoke garden buildings in traditional or contemporary style MOLECATCHERNOMOLENOFEETelephone01761417100www.mendipmolecatcher.co.uk MENDIP TIMES
IT was in 1781 that the Wright family set up their business, restoring and repairing thatched roofs. Eight generations later, they are still in business as R J Wright & Son, Family Thatchers.
There are currently three generations of Wrights working together to create beautiful thatched roofs, such as this recent restoration, The Cross at Compton Dundon, which had been thatched almost 50 years ago by Richard’s father, Harold Wright.
In the photo, left to right, Andrew Wright (son), Shaun Wright (grandson), Adrian Dunster (related by marriage) and Richard Wright (father) all worked on thatching The Cross, owned by Gareth and Gill Williams.
PAGE 40• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
The current law states that married couples have until the end of the tax year in which they separate to transfer assets between themselves at ‘no gain no loss’ meaning that there would be no immediate tax payable on transfer and each party takes over ownership of the asset at the original base cost. Once the tax year is over any transfers taking place between the couple are done at market value. If Mr and Mrs A have been separated for over a tax year and Mr A transfers a property to Mrs A, Mr A will be assessed to capital gains tax on the gain on transfer. He will have been deemed to sell the asset to Mrs A for the market value at the time of transfer.
Current law
(d) Providing additional relief for individuals who enter into a deferred charge over the main home. At the moment when a party enters into a deferred charge over the main home the charge is a new asset for CGT and when the charge is paid the increase in value is subject to CGT. The new rules allow that party to claim PPR relief on that gain and thereby reduce the liability to nil. You should take professional advice on these issues- misunderstandings could be costly.
(c) Allowing non occupying spouses of the family home to benefit from PPR relief on sale. At the moment when one party moves out of the family home, if they are out for more than 9 months they will face a CGT charge when they sell or transfer the property. These new rules allow for that individual to claim PPR on the sale even for the periods that they have been absent from the home providing that the sale and absence is due to divorce.
Changes
Email:Website:enquiries@lyonslaw.co.ukwww.lyonslaw.co.ukTelephone:01275332168 An established and progressive law firm providing
Major tax changes for couples a individual
divorcing
personal and cost-effective legal service for commercial and
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 41
The proposed changes are: (a) Extending the ‘no gain no loss’ for the whole period providing that couples are transferring assets pursuant to a court order. (b) Allowing non occupying spouses of the family home to benefit from Principal Place of Residence relief (“PPR”) on sale. (c) Providing additional relief for individuals who enter into a deferred charge arrangement over the main home. The changes will enable many couples who are going through divorce to transfer their assets between each other without incurring an immediate capital gains tax liability which often comes at a time when neither party has sufficient cash to settle the liability. These changes relating to the family home will also enable those who have the left the home to be able to benefit from PPR relief on sale. The current rules penalise those that have left the property as they can no longer benefit from full main home (PPR) relief.The changes will not impact any assets that are sold as part of proceedings. The capital gains tax position on sale will remain the same (CGT payable within 60 days of sale).
clients. OFFICES AT: Chew Magna 01275 332168Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506Kingswood 0117 967 5252 BUSINESS
22
ON July 2022 the government released draft legislation which will change the capital gains tax position for divorcing couples. The proposed implementation date is 6 April 2023.
Taking each in turn:
EDWARD LYONS
(a) Extending the ‘no gain no loss’ window to three years from the point of separation or for any period provided the assets are transferred pursuant to a court order. The legislation says that the no gain no loss window is granted to individuals in cases where the transfer takes place Before the earlier of— (i) the last day of the third year of assessment after the year of assessment in which A and B ceased to live together, or (ii) the day on which a court grants an order or decree for A and B’s divorce, the annulment of their marriage, the dissolution or annulment of their civil partnership, their judicial separation or, as the case may be, their separation in accordance with a separation order. Therefore, there is an unlimited period of time for couples divorcing to transfer assets between themselves providing the transfer is pursuant to a court order.
PAGE 42• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES
When thinking about drafting your Will it is important to ensure that what you think will happen when you die, does happen. We are lucky to live in a society where all sorts of relationships and blended families are commonplace but things that might require some extra consideration when it comes to drafting your own Will include second marriages, living together but with no civil partnership or marriage, young children and ownership of property.
Listen to the full conversation between Sarah and David here https://dhpodcast.podbean.com and start getting your affairs in order today.
David Hill
To make that conversation a little easier Dorothy House and Mogers Drewett Solicitors have joined forces to create a series of four podcasts to tackle the topics we avoid discussing.
The importance of getting your affairs in order
TALKINGabout what would happen if we were no longer around or diagnosed with a life limiting illness is not an easy conversation to have but taking the time now to get your affairs in order will help your family and loved ones in the future.
A blank sheet of paper! Often just writing a list of assets, pensions, properties, bank accounts and savings is a good place to start. It can help us to understand exactly what we have and, in many cases, highlight the need for guidance on minimising our tax liability to ensure loved one’s benefit.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 43 BUSINESS
Is drafting your own Will a good idea?
LPAs are quite daunting to most of us, so who do we talk to? A Private Client lawyer, who specialises in these matters is best placed to give you advice concerning LPAs and other documents to get your affairs in order. We understand that having these conversations can be daunting and emotional, but we often find that after these discussions families feel a huge sense of relief that wishes are known and plans have been made.
Where to start?
In the first episode
Sarah Dodd, Head of Legacies at Dorothy House chats to David Hill a partner in the Private Client team at Mogers Drewett Solicitors about what “getting your affairs in order” actually means and why it is so important.
What do Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA’s) help us with? LPAs are like insurance policies. In the event you are no longer able to manage things for yourself (for whatever reason), you have ensured that a person who you trust will step in to ensure important decisions are made and invariably this saves time, costs and emotional upset at a difficult time.
Free9TREV’SLOCALMarketStreetHighbridgeTA93BW01278767667Celebratingourfirstyearservingthecommunitydeliveryserviceavailablesoon
Established in 2009, the company is run by husband-and-wife team, Andy and Sam Brindle who live in Portishead. They opened the new offices and showroom in Wick St Lawrence during the summer of 2021 to share the range of natural stone products with clients across the South West. They aim to offer an ever-evolving array of modern, contemporary, aged and rustic stone flooring, tiles, flagstone and paving options which remain affordable for homeowner and trade customers alike. These can be viewed at their Somerset base as well as a previously-established showroom in Newbury, Berkshire.
Materials supplied include limestone, slate, marble and terracotta. Natural Stone Consulting has a showroom in Wick St Lawrence, North Somerset, just off of M5 Junction 21. Its Berkshire showroom is based in Newbury, just off M4 junction 13. Both are operated by appointment. call 0333 444 8899 has celebrated its first anniversary. Owner Martin George has increased floor space and launched a free service within two miles. The store is named after his late grandfather. Martin said: “I know he would be very proud of what have achieved in such a short space of time.”
BENCH JOINER VACANCY Please apply through our Office or Website Experienced in all aspects of traditional joinery and woodworking machinery. Ability to work alone and as a team. Keen, motivated, punctual and eye for detail. Full time, Immediatedependentfitting.(Wincanton),workshop-basedemployed,positionoccasionalsitePaidweekly(payonexperience).startavailable. P & C Logs C a l l P h i l o n 0 77 34 098 32 3, o r Co l l e e n o n 0 77 85 25 003 3 o r o n E v e n i n g s 01 93 4 7 419 41 Friendly prompt service from Phil & Colleen at their farm in Charterhouse Quality seasoned beech and ash hardwood, chopped and split into a variety of load options (with free delivery). ALSO GUNS SOLD GUNSFORWANTEDCASH Any condition. SOS to all air rifles and pistols, any make or model. We collect in any area. Top prices paid in cash 07970 742471 DiamondbriteImprovementsHome Unit 5, Three Winds Business Park Downside, Shepton Mallet BA4 4FH 01761 email:www.diamondbrite4u.co.uk417170enquiries@diamondbrite4u.co.uk Call for a no-obligationfreequote Trev’s Local TREV’S Local in Highbridge
delivery
Natural Stone Consulting is a specialist supplier of natural stone flooring, tiles and paving to both residential and trade clients including architects, designers, landscapers and home-builders.
“Our products include something to suit any setting and if you can’t find what you are looking for, we will use our expertise and industry contacts to create or source it directly for you.
we
“Natural stone offers the ultimate combination of beauty, integrity, history and individuality. For anyone considering it for their next project, we would encourage them to get in touch.”
PAGE 44• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES BUSINESS Enhancing your home naturally Details: www.naturalstoneconsulting.co.uk
A LOVEof natural materials is at the core of a family-run business which is celebrating its first year of welcoming clients to its Somerset showroom near Weston-super-Mare.
“We offer showroom visits by appointment to ensure each client gets our undivided attention.
Andy said: “The unique characteristics you find in natural stone, including fossils and veins, as well as the many ways one material can be used, are why we are so passionate about what we do.
MENDIP TIMES SUPPORTING UKRAINE PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
Catherine Grynova continues her diary of her escape from Ukraine, via Poland to the Chew Valley. Next: Adapting to life in the UK
Diary of the war in Ukraine
It was very difficult to find a job. I had no transport and in the village where I lived, public transport was very, very rare. In addition, I wanted to use my advantage of knowing the English language and continue working in my profession. It would also give me an opportunity to help my country back home with more experience and be more useful. I was able to shift my focus to helping others. It helped me not to think about all this horror. Also, talking to people helps me keep my unhappy feelings at bay. I don't like to show people that something is wrong with me. So, usually, if I was asked: “if everything is fine?”and “how am I?” The answer was always one: “Fine”. Switching attention to work is very important for me. Why restrain emotions? I brought myself up like that, I'm used to it like that. Of course everyone says that you can't keep everything to yourself, you need to speak up and let people know if something is wrong with you. But what will be the impression about people, about me, if we complain for most of the time? Will helpers want to communicate with such people? I do not think so. One needs the closest person, or a psychologist, to pour out one’s soul. People who help us want to see the result of their efforts – gratitude and joy, a smile. Agree. I understand that and I want everyone to be happy and satisfied.
SLEEP. . . if only. Sleeping is still very difficult and scary. I couldn't sleep without light. I woke up many times at night. Fell asleep late, woke up early. Night is the hardest. In Poland, sometimes alarms would go off at local plants to check the system and my heart would skip a beat and my hands shake violently. Helicopters and airplanes flew by, sometimes military ones, and in my head: "If he shoots, will I be able to hide and where?" I jumped up and shuddered every time there was a sound. All this has remained with me to this day. I could not sit still. I felt and still feel the responsibility and the need to help my country and our people. I directed at least 50 people fleeing the war to my apartment in Lviv. It is small, but it once accommodated 12 people. I am sincerely grateful to my fiancé for picking people up from the station, helping them settle in, then sending them to the border.Butif you would just know how my heart ached for him when I heard about threats of bombing or explosions. He worked as an ambulance driver and rescued people who needed help. I was so afraid for him because many roads were mined by the the invaders, many ambulances were blown up. Valeri is my hero.Inaddition, we were looking for everything we could to help our military and send everything to Lviv, from where Valeri transported ammunition to the military. I missed our vyshyvankas (see photo) and embroidered a small one to send a patriotic one to our soldiers. I sewed it day and night, at home and on the go, just to have time to send it with the next ammunition parcel. I embroidered Ukraine covered in blood from bullets and bombs.Meanwhile, we applied for a visa to England. Our friends and my grandmother applied first, but they waited for almost two months. I applied last and got a visa before everyone else, in just a week. My cousin Nastya and I were quite far from each other in Poland, so I went to meet her in Krakow. We spent a night in a hotel there and left for the flight early in the morning. My cousin has never flown or been abroad before and doesn’t speak English. So I was with her to help and guide her. We arrived at Bristol Airport and the first person to meet us was a police officer. He politely asked us if we were from Ukraine and if everything was fine with us and asked if we or our acquaintances had seen the political crime of Russia. Of course the answer is obvious, but we were very tired, so he showed us where to write about it. Then we were met by our sponsors and we parted ways. Since then my cousin and I have met just twice. She is fine now, she has a good sponsor, but it is very difficult for her to find a job. She is studying English and trying to find something. As for me... I was surrounded by many pets that distracted me from bad thoughts. I spent all my time working with documents. There are so many new things here, everything is completely different and I had no idea what to do. Little by little, I figured everything out, and later I learned to do everything quite quickly, so I helped with documents to everyone who needed it: friends, acquaintances, family, etc.
Reminiscing over lunch Last barbecue
The peak.5,000employersGlastonbury’shadthelargestreputedGlastonburyNorthover,tanneriesandthe1800sdatessheepskinMorlandsfactorybacktotheandthroughout1900sthewoolsheepskininweretobetheinEurope.ByendWW2,theybecomeoneoflargestwithoverworkersatits
The new grant scheme was launched by Historic England earlier this year to support community-led projects and further the nation’s collective understanding of the past.
The heritage project will research and gather stories from those people connected to the buildings. There will be a trail between Glastonbury’s historic sites and an exhibition with practical wool demonstrations at The Red Brick Building over two days. The exhibition will form the foundation of the Glastonbury Industrial Heritage Museum at the Bailys Building once fully restored, as well as a digital exhibition.
Beverley Smith, Enterprise Officer, Red Brick Building, said: “The funding will enable us to engage the community that recall working in the factories gathering those voices and stories that we don’t want to lose, as we nearly did the buildings. We want to celebrate our heritage and enable it to be accessible for generations to come.”
Community and heritage organisations were invited to apply for grants to unlock untold local stories and hidden histories.
FUNDINGhas been awarded to a heritage project in Glastonbury which will explore the history of the Morlands and Bailys buildings, as part of Historic England’s Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class History.
Remembering the wool trade
MEMBERSof the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) Association met up for lunch at the Castle of Comfort to reminisce about the years they spent on watch in a bunker behind the Wellsway Inn. They used to hold an annual barbeque there, but decided to call it a day last October when they had their last meeting at the bunker.Theoutpost, numbered 12/66, was stood down in 1991 but continued to be looked after by a small team led by Chief Observer Mike Parfitt. He said: “We decided to close it as it was getting into a sad state of repair and most of us found it difficult to visit regularly as we are all aging and most of us live a fair distance away. Many members have also passed away.”
HISTORY MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 47
By the 1980s the company folded and the buildings fell into disrepair but thankfully they were saved from demolition in 2008 by local young people who recognised their historic and community value. The Red Brick Community Benefit Society was formed and part of the factory is now a vibrant social enterprise servicing the community through arts, education and enterprise.
Details: enterprise@redbrickbuilding.co.uk
Cold war memories
The Red Brick Building in Glastonbury has been awarded £25,000 to run a project called Morlands and Baily’s: Celebrating Glastonbury’s Working Class Heritage.
In July we paid our annual visit to the London University led Gully Cave dig in Ebbor Gorge, a new experience for many members who were really impressed by the hard work and good progress of the small team of diggers led by Professor Danielle Schreve.Thisyear we also invited our rota of families who host the weary diggers for an evening meal; not having our own premises we were very grateful to Kate Lawrence of Chancellor’s Farm, Priddy, for letting us use the farm classroom for our Diggers’ Supper. A little bit squashed – but very cosy!
On Wednesday, September 28th it is the annual Mendip Ploughing Society match and as at last year’s match, we will be sponsoring the printing of the various class schedules. A visit to the match is a great day out, do give it a go.
oninValleywalksdigitisationpreservingSeptemberNovemberMendipisMediawithalike.providingflying29th,outlets.programmesWebeautifulledincludingfascinatinggeologicalEarthpartnershipRocksOctober,www.mendipploughingsociety.co.uk/next-matchSaturday1stwillseetheopeningofTheMendipFestival2022,thefirsttimeforthreeyears.AgaininwiththeMendipHillsAONB,andalsotheSomersetScienceCentre(SESC),wewillhostaseriesofeventsduringthemonthofOctobertocelebratethe450-million-yearhistoryoftheMendipHills,aguidedwalkatRadstockCoalfieldonOctober23rdbyourwalksleadercoordinatorRichardFrost.ThefestivalinvolvesthelocalcommunityinexperiencingourlandscapeandunderstandingthestoryoftheMendips.arepleasedtosponsortheprintingofthefestivalandpostersavailableacrossallmannerofMendipTheclosingdayofthefestivalthisyear,Saturday,OctoberwillbeinCheddarGorgeandourbannerwillagainbeoverthegazebo,whereweandothergroupswillbearangeoffunactivitiesforparentsandchildrenWearebusyrightintothemonthofNovember,againjointlytheAONB,butthistimepartneringwithWindroseRuralTrust,which,withagrantfromtheMendipHillsFund,planningalivestageshowentitled“50Yearsandmoreofinfilmwithsongsandmusic”.ThevenueisShiphamVillageHall,7-9pmonSaturday,19thandticketswillgoonsalewithEventbritefrom1st.WindroseisanactivegroupdedicatedtocollectingandthememoriesofthefolkofMendipbytheofcinefilmandphotographs.Finally,fornow,youcanstillenjoyamorningstrollwithleaderPeterJanesonSunday,September4thintheChewvisitingourTania’sWoodNatureReserveontheway.Allthedetailsareonwww.themendipsociety.org.uk/walksandtheWhat’sOnguideofthisMendipTimesorcontactPeter01761221995
AFTER what has been a fabulous summer, with everything in our two reserves growing beautifully and profusely, unaided by ourselves, a busy autumn lies ahead of the society; very soon, the vast volumes of flowers will have gone to seed and the scything of Slader’s Leigh will begin. It cannot have escaped anyone’s notice that the Mendip Hills
Bath and Judith Tranter MENDIP TIMES THE MENDIP SOCIETY PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 For details, visit www.themendipsociety.org.uk/walks Sheena with the 50th anniversary AONB tree she helped plant earlier this year A busy autumn on the horizon Diggers supper
AONB turns 50 this year and an extensive celebration programme is in place, including the planting of 50 sizable trees all over Mendip. We are privileged to now have three of them in Tania’s Wood LNR near Ubley and two in Slader’s Leigh Meadow; all are also part of the Queen’s Jubilee Green Canopy. The wood has had the main paths kept open for the Blagdon Primary Forest School, but with enough wilderness-like jungle left for the final visit of the senior class before their big move up to a secondary school.What better way to cement friendships than exploring hidden corners of a thick wood? The photo shows one of our 50th anniversary trees with Sheena who helped to plant the Hornbeam.
You will see our society banner flying over our gazebo and some of our dry stone walling trainees competing in the beginners’ walling classes; all the details will be on their website
Tina
Climate change modelling predicted times like this, the times of extremes, where the UK pulls in the continental summer heat and, of course, if long periods or dry come, then as sure as cows are sheep the floods must come next, along with extreme cold, from time to time. So, I suppose the question for us is: “Are we ready?” The answer appears to be a huge However,“NO”.itis
Moisture retention in short grass is poor because of the direct and penetrating heat; in longer grass and thicker vegetation it’s much better. Yes, it’s still drying out but not as much.
The painted lady butterfly; insects are suffering from the hot and dry weather also Damping down after fire from a faulty combine harvester spread to a field of crops
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 49 WILDLIFE
worth looking at how nature responds to these extremes and how, of course, we can imitate or use nature as a way of easing our path through these times.
you wish to contact me it’s Chris.Sperring@btinternet.com call 07799 413918, or message me via my Facebook Walks and Talks page @ChrisSperringwildlife
Feeling the effects of the dry weather
By MBESPERRINGCHRISIf
AS I write this in mid-August with the temperature outside now at 34°C, I think it’s fair to say that we really haven’t had any substantial rain since March. The fields now are brown and parched and so dangerously dry that the fire risk is very high. Of course, by the time you read this, we could be under flood alerts but the here and now story is one of heat and water shortages (although we have escaped the official “drought” category so far).
Not surprising that so many birds seek shelter in the heat of the day in the coolness of the scrub layer or trees.
Also during drought and heatwave, flowering plants will become stressed, which will mean they aren’t producing the amount of nectar for the insects, so of course that knock-on effect hits shrews and Safeguardingbirds.against these extreme weather events will take a lot of cooperation between many interest groups, with the trouble being that some of these are already divided, but this is where “small government” can help by encouraging these different points of view to come together in one room and plan, instead of constantly just reacting to each crisis.
The Next Hawk and Owl Trust walk is on Friday, September 9th and is an evening event. Hopefully, in addition to seeing daytime species going to roost or burrow we will get some nocturnal species waking. Booking is essential through www.hawkandowltrust.org.uk For all Mendip walks and events please contact me directly. Have a great, wild September!
It’s interesting that blackbirds and thrushes are going into these areas looking for food and the reason is because what they want to eat needs a moister environment. Not surprising that so many birds in the heat of the day seek out shelter, the shelter they seek is the coolness within the scrub layer, or trees. So, what can clearly help is making more ground available that should include scrubland and trees. Not just birds, but mammals will also feel the drought; on a one-hour walk in my local woodland I found eight dead common shrews. These shrews need to eat frequently and also must drink but, with both depleted insect food and not even droplets of water for them.
The trick will be juggling our need to produce food and build more houses alongside protecting and enhancing the natural environment. So come on leaders, lead…
THISis a glorious, short and easy circle from Uphill along the sandy beach though the salt marshes and open grassland to several nature reserves following the Brean Down Way and the newly established Tidal Trail for some of the way. It is more or less flat and has no stiles. It’s an ideal afternoon or early evening walk when parking might be easier and if you can come when the tide is not far out it is more attractive to see the river with water rather than mud. There’s a popular café at the Marina.
START: At Uphill beach. If you parked at the marina just walk along the road to Uphill beach and then you don’t have to do this at the end. NB. If you want to cut out the beach and make the walk almost a mile shorter, start at the marina.
1. MARINA Pass the Boathouse Café and go straight on alongside a preserved lime kiln with an interesting information board. Take the gate ahead into Uphill Nature Reserve. Pass Uphill Quarry. This was in operation from the 1800s to the 1940s. In 1826 three caves were discovered used by Neanderthal people during the Ice Age. Tools and bones were discovered including those from a cave lion and woolly mammoth. On your right is a lake and campsite and further on reach a 19th century explosives store on the left used for blasting out stone for the quarry.
3. WALBOROUGH This is a beautiful limestone grassland area and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with exceptionally rich plants including a number of nationally
A circular walk from Uphill
With
Sue Gearing
PARK: Uphill beach (£6 for four hours) at the end of Links Road, or somewhere nearby on a side road; or Uphill Marina (free but very limited spaces) or park nearby.
2. LARGE GATE Go through another wooden gate and immediately fork slightly right across the grass. You are following the West Mendip Way which will get you off the Tarmac for a while. On the far side go through a gate and turn right up steps into Walborough Nature Reserve.
PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES
From Uphill beach car park follow the Tidal Trail coast path left along the beach towards the River Axe and Brean. Come alongside the River Axe and continue on. Pass a jetty and at a wooden pole turn left heading towards Uphill church on the cliff in the distance. The tower on the hill to the right of the church is the remains of Uphill Windmill dating back to 1729. By 1829 only the walls remained and in 1863 it was used as a beacon. It later became an observation point and then an observatory. Maintain direction, go down a dip and continue on. At a bank ahead, go up on to it and turn left. Go on, through a gate and follow the path out to the road. Turn right and right again into the marina.
Turn right on the path alongside the lane, entering Bleadon Levels Nature Reserve and go through a car park. On the right is a disabled access bird hide to view the lagoons. This reserve was established by Wessex Water when it built the nearby sewage works in the 1990s. It includes saltmarsh, tidal creek habitat and rough grassland, reed bed and open fresh water lagoons.
4. BLEADON LEVELS RESERVE
5. SEA WALL
OS Explorer 153 Weston-super-Mare,Uphill beach car park, grid ref: 312587. Uphill Marina grid ref: 314586. Postcode for both BS23 4XY.
Go through a metal kissing gate onto the flat land. Turn right. Soon come close to the River Axe and just by a jetty take the higher path up along a bank. Head back towards the marina. Go through a gate ahead and immediately another on the left. Go along and round, along by the river passing the campsite. After one more gate, the path takes you past boats and back to the marina and café. If parked on or near the beach, simply go left along Links Road to the end. 3.75 miles from Uphill beach. About 2 – 2.5 hours walking.
WALKING
We are now heading back towards Uphill. Continue all the way along the sea wall to reach the Bristol Gate you were at earlier and Walborough Hill. Retrace your steps left, climbing slightly, and after a few minutes take the small path which drops down left.
6. SMALL PATH
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 51
Continue on, passing a sign for another hide. Go ahead ignoring the crossing Tidal Trail and go up steps or up the ramp onto the sea wall permissive path and turn right.
rare species. The best areas of grassland are on the steeper slopes, where you will find dozens of butterfly species in summer. Follow the narrow path around the edge of the hill with great views across the river and to Brean Down and Brean. Drop down gently. Pass a gate at the foot and a yard or two further on reach a raised crossing track with a Bristol Gate on the right. We return to this later, but it’s not for now. Meanwhile drop down ahead off the bank and cross the field to a kissing gate/footbridge/kissing gate. Maintain direction across the next field and return to the Tarmac track again. Turn right through a gate. Keep straight on (soon leaving the West Mendip Way which goes left). Pass the metal sculptured No. 3 for the Brean Down Way and stay on the track for about half a mile until reaching a Tjunction with a lane.
As Wordsworth relates at the end of his “daffodils” poem: I gazed and gazed but little thought the wealth to me the show had Whenbrought.oft upon my couch I lie in vacant or in pensive mood, They flash across that inner eye that is the bliss of solitude. Then my heart with pleasure fills and dances with the daffodils.
With PDAVIESLESMBEAGE52•MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES OUTDOORS West Countryman’s diary
The changed objectives on the study tour now involved issues surrounding tourism and in many cases the over-tourism that many popular areas are facing, including the Mendip Hills. I had to join the group in Cambridge on the evening of July 7th, so all that day was spent travelling on National Express coaches to get there via Bristol and Birmingham. At 7.30pm I arrived in Cambridge, a lovely city almost completely owned by the university, and attempted to find a taxi to get me to Sidney Sussex College. Help can come from the most unexpected of places and I was to find this a couple of times on myThetrip.first was from a man walking across the park. I asked if he knew where I could get a taxi. He “Googled” a company for me to get the number and pointed me to a large hotel close by. When I rang for a taxi, the women on the phone told me there was a considerable wait. The good news was I could walk from where I was and she gave me directions.
The following year was the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and the AONB’s fifth anniversary. The Queen came to Bristol and I was on Bristol City Centre as part of the military presence to pay tribute. My daughter Elizabeth was born on the Queen Mother’s birthday, August 4th. All in all it was a pretty memorable time for me – and 2022 is no less memorable either! As I mentioned in my last column, I was going out of my comfort zone in July with the arrival of a group of students from the University of Georgia, USA. This is the first time they have come over since 2019 because of Covid. The programme had changed, with the removal of many previously visited sites, including Mendip, from the itinerary. So, I am asked what is being out of my comfort zone? My answer to this question is simple and straightforward, it’s anywhere north of Bristol and being without my Land Rover. Both of these things were to happen on this trip!
On to Fort William in Scotland with a short break at Loch Lomond in the picturesque village of Luss, where I saw one of the worst cases of litter and neglect. A waterside bin filled and overflowing with picnic rubbish the likes of which I hope I never see again! Here was an example of over-tourism at its worst.
I finally staggered into the college porters’ office and was given the keys to a guest room. Opening the door I found a suite of rooms designated for visiting VIPs. Had they already heard of me? Everything was straight out of Goodbye Mr Chips. I even went out and tried the key in the door again to be quite sure. My impression of a quiet university city where students with long flowing scarves rode ancient bicycles, was shattered by the reality of young people riding electric scooters and e-bikes on the pavements, along the road and anywhere else they could get through. Every “nutter” in town seemed to be out that night!
The following day was spent moving by coach to the Lakes. At least I knew where I was there, but already the first Covid case of six had struck the group. The Lakes were much as they always are, glorious in fine weather.
The Lakes always fill by heart with pleasure, but are an area under pressure.
Fort William was to be the end of the tour for me and I went down as the fifth case of Covid. In doing so I had to isolate as the group moved off to Skye, the Cairngorms and finally down to Edinburgh, where I hoped to catch them up before I returned home.That isolation so far from home was a feeling of abandonment and the need for survival. Any thoughts I had ever had of living in a log cabin were destroyed by my time in that lodge below Ben Nevis. Much of my time was spent sleeping and resting. Luckily I was well stocked up with Yorkshire tea and Muller Yoghurt. I lost weight but didn’t starve.
WOWit’s hot! As ever, be careful what you wish for. It wasn’t all that long ago I was bemoaning the British summer and the damp cold weather it brought . . . now it’s so hot I couldn’t even pick up a pair of secateurs off the bench. Reflections of 1976 and 1977 indeed! Then as now the countryside was scorched up and tinder dry. I think it was 1976 when Black Down went up in flames, taking just about every available fire pump in the then County of Avon to bring it under control. If I have got the date wrong will someone please let me know?
Once clear of isolation I travelled down to Edinburgh on the West Coast Railway, possibly the most spectacular train journey in Britain as it winds through some wonderful mountain scenery. On arrival in Edinburgh I needed a taxi and again help would come from another unexpected direction.
A parking officer offered to walk with me to York Place where I would be staying and so escorted me right to the doorstep. I will now look on parking officers in a kinder light! My flight back home the following day was delayed but I finally arrived at Bristol late in the afternoon. I had booked a taxi to take me from the airport to Green Ore on Mendip where my Land Rover was waiting after repairs. That journey cost me £60! Was I truly back home surrounded by familiar and comforting things? I began to question where my comfort zone really was.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 53 ALL MAKES SERVICING –VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS, AIR CONDITIONING, MECHANICAL & BODY REPAIRS Collection/Loan Car by arrangement MOT TESTING STATION COMPETITIVE PRICES ON TYRES, BATTERIES AND EXHAUSTS ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRE BREAKDOWN & RECOVERY SERVICE QUALITY USED CARS Your peace of mind is our priority CLEEVE HILL, UBLEY. TEL: 01761 462275 (24hrs) www.ubleymotors.co.uk UBLEY MOTOR SERVICES Sales –Service –Parts –Repairs Flying the flag Members of Norton Radstock Classic Vehicle Club are pictured having a short break on Widcombe Common during their Queen’s Jubilee drive around Chew Valley Lake MOTORING
Which plants can tolerate dry conditions? Many plants have evolved with natural adaptations to enable them to cope with drought. Plants that store water in their leaves, such as succulents, e.g. Ice plants (now called Hylotelephium!) but sedums to you and me) are a classic example. There are many succulents used as house plants that are ideal for those who are prone to forget to water.
Plants with silver foliage e.g. cotton lavender (Santolina) and lamb’s ears (Stachys lanata) love the sun and tolerate dry conditions by coating the surface of their foliage with densely packed hairs that trap moisture, while the silver effect bounces off some of the intense light levels.Plants native to Mediterranean regions e.g. lavender, broom, Genista, rosemary and thyme have small leaves, and often rely on green stems for photosynthesis.
Potatoes need water when the tubers are the size of marbles. Sweet corn needs water when the tassels on the cobs are developing. The one vegetable that rarely requires water is the humble beetroot. Shading vulnerable plants with fleece will alsoThehelp.golden rule when watering is to water thoroughly, do not just damp the surface. Ensure you keep the original root ball of newly planted trees and shrubs moist and only apply water at a rate that it can be absorbed, as run-off water is wasted water. By the time you are reading this I sincerely hope it has rained, but it could all happen again next year!
Various vegetables have a critical stage when water is required. Leafy crops e.g. lettuce, leeks, cabbage, and spinach need a constant supply. Runner beans need water when they are flowering and when the beans are developing. The varieties Firestorm, Snowstorm and Moonlight have French bean “blood” in them and are more tolerant of drier conditions.
Others, like bearded iris, revel in summer heat, surviving on the water stored in their horizontal fleshy rhizomes. Other cunning tricks include having the ability to roll their leaves lengthwise to trap moisture and reduce water loss, as in the grass family, while most evergreen plants have a thick waxy surface to their leaves.How can we adapt our garden management? Ideally, plant in the autumn when the soil is moist and still warm, followed by a good layer of mulch. Choose plants carefully for each position. Line terracotta pots with a bottomless plastic bag to prevent water loss through the sides and stand them in saucers for the summer so that surplus water is sucked back up. Water in the evening to avoid excess evaporation. Do not rely on rain to water pots, the foliage sheds the water over the edge. There is no need to water established lawns, but if dry conditions are imminent leave the grass longer. Using a mulch mower or leaving the clippings on the lawn will add valuable organic matter.
theirgardenerstemperatures,unprecedentedlymanywallsummerwillHOLIDAY-makershaveenjoyedthiswithwall-to-sunshineondaysamidsthighbutforithasbeenworstnightmare, especially for those who kindly open their gardens for others to visit. By the time you are reading this I hope it will have rained. Trying to keep precious plants alive has been a real challenge. As this is undoubtedly a taste of what is to come with climate change, a few thoughts on how to protect your plants and gardens might not come amiss for future years. What makes a garden dry? Obviously, a lack of rainfall, but it also depends on your soil texture. A sandy soil will dry out quicker than one with a higher clay content, although the latter may crack alarmingly. Whereas we have no control on when rain will fall nor how much, we do have some control over our soil and improving the structure will help enormously, both on the extremes of a sandy and a clay soil. Ideally, we ought to be adding a large bucket of organic matter to a square yard of ground every year. This can be in the form of garden compost, well-rotted farmyard manure, mushroom compost, or even old potting compost. It all helps to improve the soil structure, enabling sandy soils to retain more moisture and helping clay-based soils to drain better in winter and have better aeration. How is water lost from the soil? Plants draw up water in their roots and it then evaporates from the surface of their leaves, thus “pulling” more water up to replace it. The rate of water loss from leaves is also affected by different factors. Plants in an exposed windy site will lose more water than those in a sheltered site. In a humid environment, water loss slows down, but increases as the atmosphere dries on a sunny day. We cannot easily affect the relative humidity around our plants outdoors but damping down the floor of your glasshouse in summer will help raise the humidity and also deters red spider mite. The wasteful way water is lost from the soil is by evaporation from the soil surface and this is easily rectified by the application of a surface mulch immediately when the soil is moist. A minimum of 5cm (2”) is required and this has the added bonus of preventing the germination of weed seeds, indeed any seeds.Garden compost, unless you are an expert composter, is probably full of weed seeds, so not suitable for this purpose. A wood chip product is ideal. It breaks down slowly, lasting about three years, adding valuable organic matter.
PAGE 54• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
Underground storage organs, such as bulbs, tubers, corms, and rhizomes store water enabling them to survive summer drought.Allour spring flowering bulbs are well adapted and die down for the summer.
How to cope with drought
With PAYNEMARYMBE
Sedum Herbstfreude
MENDIP TIMES
NEWCOMPETITIVEBRICKQUALITYPAVINGVERYPRICESCOLOURS OPENING HOURS:Weekdays 7.30am-4.30pm • Sat 9am-2pm • Sun 10am-2pm GARDENING YOUAREWELCOMETOVISITUSANDSEEOURSHOWMODELS – OPEN 7 DAYSAWEEK THE TIMBERYARD • SHUTE SHELVE • CROSS • NEAR AXBRIDGE Tel: 01934 732 396 • www.timberworkbuildings.co.uk e.mail: timberbuildings@aol.com We specialise in the manufacture of quality standard and bespoke garden buildings to suit your individual needs including:Let our dedicated team assist you in your choice whatever your budget . . . Full design, installation and delivery service available –customise your shed to suit your needs Timberwork Buildings Bespoke buildings to suit you We also do: Chicken Houses Dog Kennels • Bin & Log Stores WORKSHOPS/GARAGESSHELTERS&STABLESGARDENSHEDSPLAYHOUSES NORTON GREEN GARDEN CENTRE WELLS ROAD, Telephone:RADSTOCKCHILCOMPTON,BA34RR01761232137 Open Mon–Sat 10am to 4pm • Closed Sundays SPRING FLOWERING BULBS AVAILABLE FROM THE END OF AUGUST FANTASTIC SELECTION OF HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL PLANTS AVAILABLE NOW! GREAT CHOICE OF GLAZED, TERRACOTTA AND FIBRE-CLAY POTS, TROUGHS ANDTHOMPSONPLANTERS&MORGAN 2023 FLOWER & VEGETABLE SEED COLLECTION NOW IN STOCK! Includes: GREEN MANURE, HERBS, SWEET PEAS & WILD FLOWERS COMPOST, TOPSOIL, MULCH, AQUATIC SOIL, FARMYARD MANURE, SOIL IMPROVER, DECORATIVE BARK, GRAVELS, GRITS, SAND & SLATE
• This is the perfect time to plant a new hedge (or place an order for bare root plants for later).
•
• Cut back early flowering herbaceous perennials close to ground level unless they produce attractive seed heads.
•
•
• Sow easy-to-grow hardy annuals directly into well prepared soil.
tine rake and put the old dead grass and moss that you rake out onto the compost heap. This is the best month for establishing new lawns. Sow new seed or turf, both after careful soil preparation. Don’t skimp on this as it is the one chance to get it right!
• September is the beginning of the traditional autumn planting season and is in fact the best time to plant hardy plants, and garlic, winter onion sets and spring cabbages.
•
Scarify your lawn to remove old dead grass. Use a spring
• Replant pots and hanging baskets with autumn, winter and spring flowering and foliage plants. Make sure that any lavender plants not pruned earlier are done now. Cut off faded flowers with about 2-3 cm of leaf shoots.
Fast growing hedges such as leylandii may need trimming again and will look better for it throughout winter. Don’t leave this too late as that might result in brown patches. Give evergreen hedges a final trim.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 55 S E P T E M B E R G A R D E N T I P S
OTHER GARDENS OPEN FOR THE NGS
Clutton Flower Show
PAGE 56• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
Members of Temple Cloud in Bloom (l to r) Diane Turner, Doris Gentle, Lyn Paul and Lins Herbert
Serving teas (l to r) Catharine Szabo, Elaine Hazell, Anne McDermott and Jan Parke
To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Yellow Book, or Local County Leaflet, available from local Garden Centres, or go https://www.ngs.org.ukto: Coleford House NGS GARDENS OF THE MONTH MENDIP TIMES
HUGEcrowds flocked to Clutton for the annual flower show, which featured a host of attractions including a medieval reenactment group.
Contact: James Alexandroff.
THEriver Mells flows through this picturesque garden with large lawns abutting the river bank and a section given over to wild flowers and a well-planted ornamental lily pond. The Georgian house and outbuildings are surrounded by vibrant herbaceous borders and lead into an orchard cum arboretum also on the river bank and into a walled garden planted in hot colours with an underfloor heated orangery. At the back of the walled garden is a substantial bat house. On the other side of the house sits a kitchen garden and beyond that a rose cutting cum vegetable garden. Some art work will be on sale.
Members of Historia Normannis re-enactment group (l to r) Talia, Yarrow and Matilda
Opening date and time: Sunday, September 11th, 10am4pm. Admission: £5, children free. Booking tickets: Tickets can be reserved through the NGS website: https://www.ngs.org.uk or by paying at the gate.
Address: Underhill, Coleford, Radstock BA3 5LU.
Saturday September 10th and Sunday 11th, 2-5pm. Newton St Loe, Bath BA2 9BU. Admission: £6, children free, homemade teas. The Hayes
Saturday September 3rd and Sunday 4th, 10am-5pm. Admission: £5, children free, homemade teas. 165, Newbridge Hill BA1 3PX
The Rev Richard Greatrex, Rector of the Benefice of Chew Valley East, said: “The team of helpers at the church and Chew Valley Flower Club excelled themselves in transforming the cool stone interior of this ancient building into a technicolour cavalcade through each decade of the Queen’s record-breaking reign.”
Details:
Successful festival
ANamazing amount of £2,328 was raised for Holy Trinity Church in Norton Malreward, thanks to a flower festival held there by members of Chew Valley Flower Club and church members.
Matthew
GARDENING guru Matthew Biggs will be the guest of Henton and District Gardening Club at Henton Village Hall on Wednesday, October 19th (7.30pm) talking about the wonder of plants and how they survive in extreme climates.
Coral, who lives in Tunley, said: “I felt deeply honoured to have been chosen and when I was asked to help with designs for the flower festival at Holy Trinity Church, I thought this would be a good opportunity to recreate the pedestal.”
Showroom open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12noon Sat Perfect Pave, based on the Valley Line industrial estate, in Cheddar, has built an enviable reputation over the last 16 years for the quality of its work installing block paving and other landscaping products. Now founders Alex Howley and Simon Bethell have set up a new service run by James Starmer supplying these products to both the trade and public, as well as continuing to expand their installation team. e company now has contracts all over the South West and offers a wide choice of projects.
Margaret Hasell and Caroline Sweet
It’s not only friendly, professional service that sets us apart, we can’t be beaten on price and ensure our prices beat those of builders’ merchants and garden centres.
In pride of place stood a magnificent flower pedestal near the altar, which was a copy of one of six, which had been picked for a memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey last spring. It was the work of Coral Gardiner, head of Chew Valley Flower Club and also a flower demonstrator.
Coral Gardiner adjusting her pedestal display 0174 9 84 1014 01 749 8
FAX:
PERFECT PAVE
TEL:
41055 ROCKYwww.rockymountainnurseries.co.ukMOUNTAINNURSERYCOME&SEEOURFINERANGEOFFRUITTREES,SHRUBS,GERANIUMS&FUCHSIAS Visit our MASBURY’S CAFE Open Mon-Sat 9am-4pm (Sun 10am-4pm) Serving breakfasts until 11.30am; lunch 12-2.30pm; afternoon teas Tel: 01749 841155 SEE OUR WEBSI TE F OR MORE DETAI LS W WW. ROCKYMO UNTAINNURSERI ES.C O. UK
A familiar voice on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners Question Time, he writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and BBC Countryfile. Tickets are £10 members/£15 visitors. Biggs in Henton thomassya@gmail.com 01749 674767
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 57 GARDENING
THE market has calmed, along with the recent high temperatures. Prices however, are 20% higher than 2019. Asking prices increased by nearly 13% year-on-year in Somerset but we have seen a typical slowdown in August, resulting in a 1.3% fall this month, which is on a par with the seasonal average over the last ten years*.Lodestone Property colleagues Francoise Jackson, manager of the Bruton office, and Alistair Burchett, deputy manager, concur with the recent softening of demand in general terms, but conclude that this is inevitable after the frenzy of the last two years.Even prospective home buyers need a summer break, but there are still plenty of buyers in strong positions waiting to find their Somerset homes.
Modern demands are met with innovative and sustainable building techniques and a sympathetic approach to the landscape and biodiversity on the site. The initial launch of three properties this month will be followed by further releases towards the end of the year and into 2023.
“New stock is continuing to come through and we expect a steady, healthy market through Autumn with good buyers looking to move before Christmas” says Alistair.Newhomes performed well during the pandemic and are gearing up again with small, independent Somerset-based company Galion Homes launching their second development in as many years in Baltonsborough this month. Faithful to their core values, the homes are centred within a thriving community with thoughtful design and craftsmanship.
*All figures provided by Rightmove –August Insights
Lodestone Property colleagues Francoise Jackson and Alistair Burchett assess the current levels of demand for homes
MENDIP TIMES St Dunstan’s Mede PAGE 58• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 Property prices relax after the heat For more information on St Dunstan’s Mede Development in Baltonsborough, please email bruton@lodestoneproperty.co.uk or call 01749 605099
House market as hot as ever one team
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 59 PROPERTY IMAGINATION | DEDICATION | DELIVERY 01275 333311 • 4Bwww.joannatiley.cominfo@joannatiley.comFairseat,StokeHill,ChewStoke,BS40 8XF If you are thinking about Buying or Selling, now or in the future, please speak to
It’s interesting to see a current trend of people wanting to move from suburbs like Keynsham or Longwell Green. Many of those may be second or third time buyers who have long held the aspiration of living in our lovely area and have worked their way up the housing ladder to do so. We have also seen examples of people who were brought up here wanting to return to the Valley with their families and we are always happy to help them fulfil that ambition.
RECENT figures have revealed that no fewer than 99.4% of house sales nationally were completed either at or above the price guide. That is an astounding statistic which supports what we have been finding over the last few months in our area where we have regularly seen properties fetch substantially over the asking price. But let me offer a word of warning. Do not be seduced into thinking you can just put a “For Sale” sign up in your garden and offer your house for any price you fancy. Demand may be high, but buyers are still looking for value for money and they will veer away from a property which looks to have an overinflated price tag. Our unrivalled experience and knowledge of the local property market means we are perfectly placed to provide the best realistic advice on the value of your property in order to attract a number of potential buyers. We employ dedication and creativity to present your property at its very best so that we can deliver the outcome you want.My team focus on what I call the window of opportunity, the two to three weeks following a property going onto the market. That is the time a house is the new kid on the block, getting attention and making an impact. It’s vital to offer it at the right price. If you set it too high you will not generate the right level of interest in this important period. We work hard to ensure you will have multiple bidders which will lead to a best and final offer at the price you desire.
of our friendly
Joanna Tiley
Those buyers continue to come from a variety of areas, some people wanting to move within the Chew Valley and others from cities like Bristol or further afield.
Sun sense –how to avoid harmPlop the Raindrop
I’ve been called “snot” before, but never “contaminated” though anyone who occasionally lives in toilets probably deserves the description. So she threw the ice cream onto the ground and demanded another one. The man said no. The woman screamed. The kids screamed. Inevitably the ice cream got eaten by a seagull, with me on top of it. So that’s how I ended up at the seaside for the summer. Inside a seagull. Not the most glamorous of holiday places. Seagulls tend to be a much maligned bird because they’re noisy, steal chips off people and make pooh like glue that won’t come off cars. I’ve been there. But this one turned out to be a wanderer, sticking mainly to the coast or island hopping. We popped over to Lundy for a few days, which upset a couple of puffins, before heading up to Steep Holm in the Bristol Channel. Seagulls rule the place there, dive-bombing anyone who moves. So I’ve been having a bit of a grand tour, generally enjoying the sights and taking it easy, while the rest of the world baked in sweltering heat.Ido feel guilty about one thing though: Did the kiddy get an ice cream? MENDIP GRANDAD
PAGE 60• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
It’s a fast track to winning best of show in a prune competition. But sunshine isn’t all bad. A little bit of time in the sun could actually be good for us. It elevates the mood and can improve skin conditions such as psoriasis and acne. You also need some sun exposure, say 5-10 minutes three times a week, to get your body making vitamin D.
By HAMMONDDrPHIL
It involved a swim in a local swimming pool. It’s just something that happens to us water droplets. At the moment he handed one of the ice creams to the woman, I dropped off his nose on to one of them. Splat! The woman said: “I’m not having that, it’s contaminated.”
This lady came up with two small children and asked for two cornets. They’d been waiting a while and the kids were a bit grumpy. Actually they were screaming their heads off.
Lack of vitamin D leads to osteomalacia in adults and rickets in kids and it’s making a comeback not just in the elderly, who can’t get outside, but the young, who refuse to be dragged away from their screens. Lockdowns didn’t help.
If you live somewhere sunny, you soon learn to wear long sleeve cotton shirts and trousers, which actually keep you cooler by avoiding direct exposure of the skin. The idiot Brits aren’t used to the sun (although global warming seems to be changing all that), so too many of us go for total burn-out.
I’ve seen patients so badly burned that they’re easily confused for giant peeled plum tomatoes, both in appearance and intellect. Adults can make their own mind up about the sun, but letting your kids burn is tantamount to child abuse.Children who burn badly not only have very unhappy holiday memories but they drastically increase their risk of melanoma, the most aggressive of the skin cancers, in later life. The pattern of burning on holiday interspersed with scant sun exposure for the rest of the year, seems to be the riskiest.
Yet every news bulletin about the British heatwave, or any shot of Brits abroad on the beach, shows naked toddlers scalding in the sun. Sunbeds are no better, although some claim to be safer than others. We’ve all seen people who’ve either fallen asleep or over-done it, ending up with the panda effect of a beetroot face surrounding white circles where the goggles were.
Sunbed tans look artificial too and are no more convincing than the tans you can get out of a bottle without the smell of burning flesh. Better still, just be happy in your skin. We all laugh at celebrities when they overdo the fake tan and look like Tango man, so why subject ourselves to it? Just find some shade, a good book, a cold beer/wine/low risk beverage –and water –and chill. Enough rays will still find you to keep your bones straight, but you won’t end up the colour of Barbara Cartland’s negligee.
AS a child, I was so freckly I was accused of sunbathing under a sieve. No matter how much I lie in the sun, I’m never going to be a bronzed Adonis. The best I can hope for is a mottled beige. I did try sunbathing once, most notably on a roof in Jerusalem without any sun-tan lotion. Instead, I used baby oil – the equivalent of basting a human turkey – and in no time I was bright pink and going by the nickname of Salmon Hammond. I was brought up in Australia so it’s no surprise that, at 60, I’ve had one skin cancer (thankfully completely removed) and I’m sure to get more as I age on our over-heated planet. But the main reason I avoid the rays is that I find the whole culture of sun worship vacuous in the extreme. Far better to be pale and interesting. For many doctors, sunshine has become the new tobacco. Yes, it can give you skin cancer but worse still, it gives you the kind of skin that wouldn’t look out of place on John Wayne’s cowboy boots. But if you really want to look 40 years older than you are, smoke while you’re sunbathing.
HAVEyou missed me? I’ve sort of been on holiday, quite by accident, after seeing a bit of an altercation with a man selling ice cream. You know how hot it’s been. Well I was at the seaside where this man had set up his stall and he was doing a roaring trade, with customers queuing up for him.
Dr Phil is doing two shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and will be bringing them to Ubley on October 22nd (tickets via Valley Arts).
“Two cornets please,” the lady said. “What sort?” said the man. “Anything cold,” said the woman. Then I got involved. Because of the heat I’d ended up as a drip of sweat on this man’s nose. I won’t bore you with the details of how I got into his body in the first place.
MENDIP TIMES
Saying farewell when finances might be tight
RISING prices, low wage increases and concerns about a recession may impact our lives in more ways than might be expected says Rod Major, owner of Wells Funeral Services.
THEnew doctors’ surgery project in Wedmore has been put on hold by Axbridge & Wedmore Community Health Fund, which has been supporting it.
It follows a decision by NHS England to review future medical provision across all primary care networks.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 61
Rod – his motto is “making a funeral less of an undertaking” –says that at one extreme is the so-called “direct to cremation”, without flowers, minister or celebrant and no congregation, which can cost as little as £997; Wells Funeral Services has delivered just eight of these since the business launched.
They include having to weigh up the costs of a “traditional” funeral with cheaper options, yet still providing a dignified and caring farewell to a loved one.
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Instead, 95% of their funerals have been traditional ones with a hearse, limousine, flowers and order of service. The cost of this can be anywhere from £3,695. Rod said: “Lack of available finance can sometimes be an important factor. However, given the choice, I still believe that most people see a final farewell as a way to recognise and honour someone’s life and the difference they made in ours.”
Increasing use of webcams and live streaming in churches and crematoria also make funeral services accessible to mourners who might be unable to attend a service in person. Rod added: “Surely this is a good thing if it allows relatives who cannot be there for health reasons, perhaps, or friends who live elsewhere in the world to attend and pay their respects? “Maybe the trend towards ‘direct to cremation’ will increase here in Somerset if finances tighten. The jury is still out. What I am sure of is that our departure from this world will be just as it has always been. Respectful and with love.”
is an articulate brain injury guest speaker that can inform, educate and entertain about living with a brain injury. Whether you are: l Someone suffering from brain injury l A family member of a brain injury victim l A colleague l A healthcare worker l A Legal professional dealing with brain injury victims l GP Practice All can benefit from hearing Tim’s story. To arrange Tim to present at your event, training day or conference please email tim.richens@icloud.com
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Weston Hospicecare’s retail income plays a key role in supporting the delivery of expert care and support to people in Weston, North Somerset and Sedgemoor areas with a life-limiting condition.
A SUMMER holiday conjures up images of sunshine, relaxation, fun and friendship. But what if you also need to add “care and support” to that list of criteria?Ifyou are worried about making sure your personal care needs are met away from home, or are a carer who is concerned about who will look after your loved one while you take a much needed break, it is worth considering respite.
A respite stay offers the perfect balance of a refreshing change of scenery in a safe environment where all of your care needs can be taken care of. This offers you the opportunity to relax, recharge and make new friends, while those who usually support your care needs can also enjoy a break of their own. It can also serve as a “taster” if you are considering longer-term residential care in the Somersetfuture.Care is currently offering special offer summer respite breaks at some of its specialist residential care homes in Williton, Minehead, Taunton, Bridgwater and Wells – the ideal opportunity to experience the food, the atmosphere and activities on offer. When you stay for a week or more at these selected homes before the end of September 2022, you will receive two days of your stay completely free.
New location for hospice store
visit www.somersetcare.co.uk Meeting your care needs on holiday
Tim Richens
To check respite break availability and T&Cs, ask any questions you may have, and claim your two free days, please call 0800 8174 990, email enquiries@somersetcare.co.uk or
PAGE 62• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES HEALTH & FAMILY
Emma King, Director of Retail for the hospice, said: “This move will mark a significant improvement in the standard of space we have in our shop portfolio.
Fletcher House manager Megan Cleal WESTON Hospicecare has moved from its Worle Homeware charity store on the High Street to a unit by Sainsbury’s Worle. The hospice has taken over the former Store 21 shop and was due to open the new store on Wednesday, August 24. The charity’s Worle Fashion store, which is also on Worle High Street, will remain where it is.
A respite stay includes everything that you would expect from a longer-term stay in a specialist residential home. You will have the privacy of your own highquality, fully-furnished room; full access to all of the home’s amenities, facilities and communal spaces; the option to participate in the home’s packed events and activities programme; and all of your food and drink, prepared in-house to meet your dietary requirements and preferences.Mostimportantly of all, you will have all of the 24/7 individual care and support you need to live the life you choose.
“Our aim is to create the best series of charity shops in our area, and with the recent opening of our superstore, this next move signals our intent.
“We cannot wait to welcome our fabulous customers to our new charity shop. It is nearly twice the size of our superstore and is fully stocked with some superb fashion and furniture bargains.”
RUH Will Month is something our entire team is passionate about because the campaign not only raises awareness of the importance of writing a Will, but also raises money for our local hospital that will benefit so many families in the years to come.”
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Solicitor firms across the region are taking part in RUH Will Month and are donating their fees to our hospital. One participating firm, Mogers Drewett, has branches in Bath, Frome, Wells and Sherborne. David Hill, Private Client Partner said: “We believe in supporting the communities in which we live and work.
RUHX, the official NHS charity for the Royal United Hospitals Bath, is offering families the chance to make or update their Will for a reduced fee, so that the charity can continue to provide extra extraordinary care for everyone in Bath and beyond.
The costs for a professional Will writing service are £195 for a standard single Will, or £295 for a standard Joint Will.
MENDIP TIMES HEALTH & FAMILY RUHX launches RUH Will Month David Hill e Manager – Chris Dando • 01934 742131 • chriscourthouse@gmail.com Court House Retirement Home, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RA www.courthouseretirementhome.co.uk COURT HOUSE e Care Home with a difference. We offer all that you would expect from a high quality, family run Care Home set in a Georgian House in the lovely village of Cheddar, Somerset. You can live your life to the full and choice is our favourite word. Rooms now available with full en-suite facilities and total personal care is offered. Rated by the CQC as good in all areas WINNINGAWARDCAREHOME
Details: www.ruhx.org.uk
As
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 65 EDUCATION
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Putting children’s health and happiness to the forefront at Healthy Happy Kidz, we’re ready to support you with your Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. We can help by delivering an amazing experience, adding value and reducing your costs to operate the programme across most of the UK. have identified that “School Partnerships” are the key to increasing the number of spaces available at each of our venues, our team are experienced in building relationships with key stake holders within schools. well as looking for new school partnerships we are keen to hear from anyone who: Has worked in education. Either teaching or administration Can add extra value to children’s lives Would like to launch a career working with children Is available to work during the Summer Holidays
PAGE 66• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 Nursery’s top award Young Film Makers Competition Further details from Peter Brownlee Email: chewvalleyfilms@gmail.com • 07816 030906 YouTube: Chew Valley Films • Instagram: @chew_valley_films Facebook: @chew_valley_films GREAT FREEVARIOUSPRIZES!CATEGORIESTOENTER•U16s Who will win this inaugural competition? Shortlisted entries will be broadcast by Chew Valley Films with details in Mendip Times Sponsored by: THENursery at New Manor Farm near Bishop Sutton has been awarded a prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag award for its work on improving environmental awareness. Eco-Schools, which operates in 70 countries, said: “It is wonderful to see that your children are keen to protect the environment, and this is in large part due to the actions and attitudes of your staff in regards to setting an example in raising the importance of taking care of our planet.” Contact 01761 206197, Facebook @outlook.comenquiry.thenurseryatnewmanororformoreinformation Outstanding nursery achieves first “Green Flag” status from Eco Schools in the Chew Valley MENDIP TIMES EDUCATION M e n d i p Ti m e s re d u c e s tr a v e l c o s t s 100,000 customerspotentialwithinashortdistanceofyourbusiness
STREETSTRATTONSTONESTOKESTANTONSTANTONSTANDERWICKSOMERTONSHIPHAMSHEPTONSANDFORDROWBERROWROOKSBRIDGERODNEYRODERICKFORDSTOKEMALLETDREWWICKSTMICHAELALLERTONONTHEFOSSE WELLSWELLOWWEDMOREWEAREWATCHFIELDWANSTROWWALTONVOBSTERUPHILLUBLEYTYTHERINGTONTRUDOXHILLTIMSBURYTICKENHAMTEMPLETARNOCKCLOUD
PAGE 68• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES CLAVERHAMCHURCHILLCHILTONCHILCOMPTONCHEWTONCHEWCHEWCHELYNCHCHEDDARCHARTERHOUSECATCOTTCASTLECAMERTONBUTLEIGHBURTLEBURRINGTONBURNHAM-ON-SEABURCOTTBRUTONBROCKLEYBRENTBLEADONBLAGDONBLACKFORDBISHOPBECKINGTONBAWDRIPBASONBARTONBARROWBANWELLBADGWORTHBACKWELLBALTONSBOROUGHAXBRIDGEASHCOTTALHAMPTONGURNEYST.DAVIDBRIDGESUTTONKNOLLCARYMAGNASTOKEMENDIPPOLDEN HIGHBRIDGEHINTONHIGHHALLATROWGURNEYGREENGLASTONBURYFROMEFLAXFELTONFAULKLANDFARRINGTONFARMBOROUGHEVERCREECHEMBOROUGHEDITHMEADEDINGTONEASTONEASTEASTDUNDRYDUNBALLDRAYCOTTDITCHEATCROSSCROSCOMBECRANMORECOXLEYCOSSINGTONCONGRESBURYCOMPTONCOMPTONCOMPTONCOLEFORDCOCKLAKECLUTTONCLEEVEDANDODUNDONMARTINHARPTREEHUNTSPILLGURNEYBOURTONORESLADELITTLETONBLEWETT REGILREDHILLRADSTOCKPYLLEPURITONPRIDDYPOLSHAMPILTONPENSFORDPAWLETTPAULTONOAKHILLNUNNEYNORTONNORTONNORTHNETTLEBRIDGENAILSEAMIDSOMERMELLSMASBURYMARKSBURYMARKLYMPSHAMLYDFORDLONGLOCKINGLITTONLEIGHLANGFORDKNOWLEKILMERSDONKEINTONHUTTONHUNSTRETEHOLCOMBEHEWISHMANDEVILLEonMENDIPASHTONONFOSSENORTONWOOTTONMALREWARDSTPHILIP
WEST YATTONWRITHLINGTONWRINGTONWOOLAVINGTONWOOKEYWOOKEYWITHAMWINSCOMBEWINFORDWHITCHURCHWESTWESTBURYWESTWESTONZOYLANDWESTHAYHARPTREEPENNARDSUBMENDIPHUNTSPILLFRIARYHOLE We’ve got it covered Mendip Times Distribution Points Mendip Times is available from over 900 outlets across the Mendips from superstores to village stores and post offices, farm shops, supermarkets, garden centres, pubs, inns, hotels and restaurants, doctors’ surgeries, libraries and tourist information centres. Coverage = catchment area
www.danmagness.comDanMagnessfootballfreestyler EDUCATION
The holiday programme also includes emergency services visits, art and craft sessions and visits to local attractions.
The key aim of the HAF programme is to allow children from five to 14 years of age the opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge as well as seeking out new experiences.
He said: “We have worked with North Somerset and Devon Councils for the last two years and all the partners involved are convinced that HAF is vital for so many families across the region.”Aswell as providing a wide range of activities the programme also ensures that each participant receives nutritional education that emphasises the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Matt said: “All the evidence shows that by educating people at an early age about healthy eating makes it far more likely they will maintain those habits later in life.”
Details: www.healthyhappyappetiteandactivites.co.uk
Football skills masterclass for all ages from 8 x record-holderGuinnessDanMagness. To book your session or exhibition from the worlds leading football freestyler, contact him through Facebook or website.
THEchildren taking part in the summer HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme in Weston-super-Mare were treated to a surprise visit from eight times Guinness World Record holder Dan Magness. He was there to share his footballing freestyle talents and it wasn’t long before the participants were captivated. He said: “It’s been a real privilege to travel around the country and spend time with children who are enrolled on the course. Being in Weston is no different.”
The scheme has been given a high-profile boost thanks to the campaigning of Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford. His commitment to seeing children being properly fed has seen numbers taking part in programmes such as HAF increase substantially.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE ??
Matt Zadel, owner of Healthy Appetite and Activities, the company behind the project, is in no doubt that they provide an invaluable service.
Staying active and healthy
SUNDAY, September 11th has been declared “Cycle Sunday” in
At Welshmill Park, FROGS will be joined by Fusion Extreme, showcasing their bike stunts; there’ll also be a penny-farthing demonstration. In the Cheese and Grain car park, people can try pedal powering a disco or making a smoothie. The Frome Community Bike Project’s bike jumble will be there.
Pictured (l to r) Nita Wendover, Cherryl Taylor, Alison Ewins, Jenny Harris and Liz McDowall
Michael used to attend services at the church
Chatting to the Rev Tina Swire, minister at Wells Methodist Church
MEMBERSof Bishop Sutton and Stowey WI didn’t let the latest heatwave stop them from enjoying their monthly walk.
Frome Recreation and Open Ground Supporters, along with Frome Town Council, will be providing an array of free fun. Between midday and 3pm, they will be hosting an afternoon of bike-related activities including assault courses, ebike trials, a bike jumble and more.
A TREE planting ceremony at the Methodist church in Wells brought back childhood memories for Michael Eavis. Michael, who was invited to plant an acer to mark both the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the completion of the restoration of the garden at the front of the church in Southover, used to attend services there whilst a pupil at Wells Cathedral School.
Michael steps back in time
Frome gearing up for “Cycle Sunday”
From the ancient standing stones at Stanton Drew, they walked to Pensford and back under the imposing railway viaduct. Pensford walk
Cycle Sunday is part of Frome Town Council’s Great Big Green Week. Frome town councillor, Nick Dove, said: “Cycling is a great way to stay healthy and protect the planet, all whilst having fun! I’m so glad that we’re once again demonstrating the full potential of bikes at Cycle Sunday. This is a chance for everyone to find out just how easy, safe and fun cycling can be.”
Frome with an afternoon of events for all the family.
For details, visit:great-big-green-week/www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/
Some of the congregation and guests at the ceremony
MENDIP TIMES PAGE 70• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
For details, call into Crispin Community Centre, phone 01458 656248 or volunteerdriverservice@crispinhall.org.ukemail
“It is run by the Rotary Club of Nusa Dua on the island of Bali, and since 1994 the Indonesian Club had successfully managed a series of cleft lip/palate projects, supported by overseas funding, resulting in more than 2,000 children aged between three and 12 years having corrective surgery.”
The service, based at the Crispin Community Centre, is now looking for volunteer drivers with an hour or two to spare each week. The journeys would all be within the Street area and a mileage allowance will be paid.
Club member, Colin Robinson, said: “In line with our Rotary mission to provide ‘service’ to those in need worldwide, the club’s international committee agreed to join 17 other Rotary clubs in Bali, Germany, Luxembourg, and the United States, to help fund this project.
CHELWOODBridge Rotary Club is supporting an international project providing cleft lip/cleft palate surgery in Indonesia.
“I’m delighted we’ll once again be able to hold a special event for our deserving winners and one which reflects the council’s priorities to tackle the Climate and Nature Emergency and ‘Give People a Bigger Say’.”
ALL Saints Church in Publow decided to have a picnic instead of its annual barbecue, held in the beautiful woodland gardens of Parsonage Farm, home of Charlie Tricks and Julie Parker. Woodland picnic Julie Parker and Charlie Tricks with some of the picnickers
The closing date for nominations is 5pm, Thursday, September 29th. Community awards
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 71 COMMUNITY Details: www.bathnes.gov.uk
Tiara, the 2,000th patient, before the operation . . . . . . and after BATH& North East Somerset Council has launched its 2022 community awards and is encouraging residents to start nominating.Thisyear there are seven categories and the winners will be invited to a special event hosted by the chair of the council, Councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall. A tree will be planted at a special ceremony this autumn in recognition of their achievements.
STREET Volunteer Drivers Service is being launched in September for people wanting transport for local trips ranging from doctor and hair appointments to community centre visits and church activities.
A sign-up morning – with coffee and cake – will be held at the centre on Monday, September 12th from 10am-midday.
Creating
Councillor McGall said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to recognise unsung heroes who make a real difference in their communities, from volunteering to caring, to tackling some of the biggest challenges society faces.
WRINGTON Vale Rotary Club raised £320 for charities and its extensive youth programme with a jazz in the orchard event held at Thatchers.
The club’s donation of £2,700 was further boosted by £5,000 from their Rotary District, which covers Somerset and the western parts of Dorset and Wiltshire. smiles
Volunteer driver service
Cider and jazz
Pictured (l to r) Rosemary Tucker, Michelle Henderson and Jane Allen
NEMPNETT Thrubwell resident, Jim Everett, is planning a sponsored walk on Sunday, September 11th, raising funds for the five churches in the Chew Valley west benefice. He will be leaving St Mary’s, St3.45pm,2.30pm,Katharine’sWinford,MaryChewwalkingThrubwellNempnettat10.15am,toStAndrew’s,Stoke,11.30am,StandStPeter’s,12.45pm,StatFelton,StJames’,Regil,arrivingbackatMary’sat4.45pm.Parishionersarebeing
A cheque for £1,450 was presented to Anita Townsend, a volunteer, by Lyn Jackson and Paul Bateman
Burtle Harvest Home
MENDIP TIMES PAGE 72• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER
AXBRIDGEDistrict Rotary, a small but growing satellite group, has been busy raising money for good causes. It held an evening where they presented cheques to some of these and found out more about them. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance received £1,450; Banwell School £100 for equipment for a new quiet space and Wrington Vale Rotary £250 for their young carers charity.
Details:2022 Paul Bateman 07973 784635 or Lesley Watts 07828 153390
The last cheque £3,481 was given to them by the Rotary disaster relief fund to support Ukrainian refugees. The club meets on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at the Lamb at Weare, 7.30pm. Support for Ukrainian refugees, Ric Canham, main coordinator of this operation, with Paul Bateman the chairman of Axbridge District Rotary
Church challenge
A cheque for £100 was presented to Jo Arnold from Banwell School by Anthony Edmondson and Paul Bateman
asked to support Jim as he reaches each church along his route. Sponsorship forms can be found in each of the churches.
Details: Jamesteach_55@yahoo.co.uk
James Everett
Sam Bateman presented a cheque for £250 to Gary Carr and Bob Preedy of Wrington Vale Rotary Rotary cheque presentations
with Lisa Baines and Neil Drejer, co-owners of Debbie Fortune estate agents, which hosts it, the cafe has raised a total of £7,962 in the last three years.
Details: chelwoodbridge.rotary@gmail.com or Rob Taylor 07983 720405
“We would not able to do this without the generosity and continued support of Debbie Fortune Estate Agents. Working together we are looking at options for improving the cafe.”
Café supports charities
Ian said: “The café is a popular community facility where people can meet up in a safe environment. Our volunteers who bake cakes and/or help run sessions get something back from helping their community.
THE Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge is holding a charity night at Stanton Drew village hall on Friday, October 7th, to help support local charities.
Appearing will be The Two of Clubs, who are a local singing guitar duo, with comedian Andy Oakley. Tickets are £12.50 including snacks and there will be a fully licensed bar.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 73 COMMUNITY
Recently £1,013 was donated to Great Western Air Ambulance and £500 to Clevedon district foodbank. Neil and Ian Sheppard, who manages the café, are pictured at the ambulance’s base in Almondsbury.
Details: www.congresburycoffee.org and Facebook
Restoration team
The group will soon be ready to move on to their next project in Pensford village where a full refurbishment of the old Church Room in Church Street awaits.
Details: Paul Cooper 01761 490418
Pictured (l to r) Richard Stevenson, Charles Wookey, Mike Paul, Charlie Tricks, Paul Cooper and Peter Owen CONGRESBURY’S thriving community café, run entirely by volunteers for the benefit of the community, has been supporting local charities, as well as providing delicious homemade cakes and scones and a variety of freshly brewed hotWorkingdrinks.
Charity cabaret
A TEAMof volunteers led by Paul Cooper have spent over 100 hours of their time refurbishing the toilet and store room at All Saints Church in Publow. The facilities were adapted from the old boiler house back in the 1970s with the second toilet being added in the 1990s. Little had been done to the building since. Andrew Hillman, church warden, said: “The churchyard at All Saints’ is much loved by both local families honouring relatives and friends and casual visitors enjoying the beautiful surroundings.“Thebuilding is a central and important feature and this refurbishment work really enhances the feeling of serenity. The PCC is hugely grateful to the team of volunteers.
Cafe volunteers
“Attention now moves to enhancement plans for the interior of this historic church building, which is increasingly used for community activities.”
The café is open on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9am-1pm and alternate Saturdays, 10am-3pm. It also runs a Glut Market where villagers can donate surplus vegetables and plants which are available for a donation. They are in the process of installing some raised beds to increase the produce available.
Some of the members of the CRG gather outside the legion hall
Local instrumental group the Sax Pistols, who opened the music day
AFTERa break of two months, the recent morning market at All Saints’ Church in Publow exceeded all expectations, raising £555.05 for the upkeep and maintenance of the church.Oneof the organisers, Judith Hillman, said: “A truly beautiful summer’s day encouraged a large number of people to sample the offerings on display in the church.”
Their last event was a free, family-friendly music day with plenty of fun and games outside for children to enjoy. The headliners were This is Queen, a professional Queen tribute band. Fun on the ABC and Glitter bouncy castle
This popular morning market is held on the first Saturday of each month, 10-11.30am. The next one will held on Saturday, September 3rd, featuring photographs by Cheryl Brewin. Busy market
COLEFORD Revival Group has disbanded after eight years of fundraising and organising events in the village. The group was launched eight years ago by a group of residents who wanted to encourage more community spirit in Coleford.Aswell as organising an annual music festival, the CRG hosted a free Christmas lunch in the Royal British Legion Hall for older residents and distributed hampers when the pandemic put the parties on hold.
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Covers trio Marty’s Fake Family, from West Wiltshire
Yvonne Phillips(left) buying a cake from Janet Smith
Signing off in style
St Andrew’s is part of the Street and Walton Benefice which, under the leadership of rector the Rev. Ana Lawrence, is promoting the appeal.
Judy Skelding, who is leading the appeal, said personal stories or anyone knowing the history of the bells, would bolster this applications for funding. Judy said: “We want to be able to show that the church and the bells are much-loved by the“Wecommunity.knowtwo of the bells were cast by the Austen family in the village – and other bells cast by them are in neighbouring churches – but no-one knows the precise location of their foundry.“Thebells have not been rung full circle (i.e swung with ropes pulled by bellringers) since about 1930. At that time, probably for safety and financial reasons, they were “clocked” or “hung dead” and have been rung ever since by using the Ellacombe frame which strikes the stationary bells with hammers. This method can cause serious damage and we have been advised that the bells must now be made safe to prevent future cracking.“Wewant to demonstrate the community-wide enthusiasm for hearing our bells ring properly again.” As well as removing and repairing the bells, a sixth bell would create a full ringing set. Appeal organisers also want to build a ringing gallery above the back of the church and also reconfigure the layout to open up the church to outside events.
Mr Connolly is due to visit the school and talk to pupils on Thursday, September 22nd before dedicating the plaque and garden.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 75 COMMUNITY
Evacuees with John’s father (centre)
School garden will remember wartime evacuees
St Andrew’s Church in Compton Dundon
Church bells appeal will ring the changes
The bell appeal logo A SECOND World War schoolboy who was evacuated to Evercreech with his family from the East End of London is to return in September for a special ceremony to recognise the kindness they received fromJohnvillagers.Connolly, who now lives in Kent, was six years old when he arrived in Evercreech in September 1939 with his parents and five siblings. His father was a teacher at St Margaret’s Roman Catholic School in the East End, which was at a high risk of being bombed. In all, 215 children, 18 teachers and six helpers from St Margaret’s arrived at the primary school in Evercreech which acted as the village billeting office. By the end of the day all the arrivals had temporary homes to go to and over the next weeks the school devised a rota to educate both the local children and the large number of evacuees.MrConnolly, who has never forgotten his time in Evercreech and the warmth of the welcome they received, wanted to donate something to mark the evacuation and wrote to Evercreech Parish Council in October last year. Council clerk Lynn Crisp passed the letter to Evercreech History Society who took over the correspondence and contacted Evercreech Primary School headteacher Jacqueline Jefferies. It was decided to dedicate a large flower bed by the school’s main entrance as the Evacuees Garden bearing a plaque paid for by Mr Connolly which reads: “This garden is dedicated with gratitude on behalf of those evacuees who sought and received shelter and hospitality from the villagers of Evercreech during WW2.”
tofundraising£150,000toareComptonparishringingstoriesmemorieswithandaboutbellatthechurchinDundonbeinginvitedhelpwithaappealrestorethem.Thefivebells–two of which were cast in Compton Dundon in the 17th Century – need urgent repairs. Organisers of the appeal also want to add a further bell and to carry out other work inside St Andrew’s Church. They are holding an open event at the church on Wednesday, September 7th when anyone with memories or memorabilia is invited to attend.
l The open event runs from 3-7pm and all are welcome. For details, comptondundonbellappeal@outlook.comemail:
PEOPLE
PAGE 76• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
Winscombe have been close to promotion on a number of occasions in recent seasons. To achieve that goal during their centenary season would make it extra special for the North Somerset club.
WINSCOMBE Football Club have a number of reasons to celebrate as the new football season gets underway. Most importantly, it’s their centenary season with plenty of celebratory events planned. Secondly, hopes are high for promotion from Division One to the Premier League of the Uhlsport Somerset County League. And they have also agreed a new sponsorship deal with local company KingfisherWinscombeWindows.FCchairman, Andy Flint, said: “Quite simply without companies such as Kingfisher supporting us it would be impossible for clubs such as ours to survive.”Kingfisher directors, Angie and Peter Hicks were special guests at the team’s opening game of the season where they entertained Castle Cary. Angie said: “We’ve always looked to support local sporting teams. When we discovered it was Winscombe FC’s centenary season we were only too pleased to get involved.”
sponsors Winscombe FC MENDIP TIMES HOMES & INTERIORS
The game itself was played in searing heat and both teams did well to serve up an entertaining match despite the game ending 0-0, so both sides were happy to take a point from a game played in such difficult conditions.
Kingfisher
Pictured l to r: Angie Hicks, Peter Hicks, (both Kingfisher directors) Andrew Flint (club chairman), Mike Hosey (first team captain) and Steve Barker (club president)
Charity ride Tony Tanner
The 10K is open to anyone aged 15 and over and the route –which includes rare access to the Mells Park Estate – can be run, walked or cycled; it is not a race. It starts and finishes at Mells Recreation Ground.
For details and to enter, visit: www.mells10k.com or find them on Facebook Nige and Su (front, centre) at the start of the last Mells 10K event
ENTRIES are now open for the Mells 10K charity event held each year in memory of a young boy who lost his battle against cancer. Around 250 places are available for the event, on Saturday, October 8th, which raises funds for Young Lives vs Cancer (formerly CLIC Sargent).
10K to fight cancer
TONY Tanner from Clutton celebratedhashis 60th birthday by cycling from Land’s End to John O’ Groats raising money for the health charity Mind.The trip took him 17 days and he’s raised £2,800. His wife, Lee, and dog Alfie were in their support vehicle, their VW T6. Tony said: “I was very nervous at the start cycling through areas which were new to me but after a few days got into a rhythm. Day two and three cycling through Devon/Exmoor was quite tough due to the elevation of the rolling hills.
SEPTEMBER 10th is the last chance to book up for the Langport Red Cross trip to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Bristol Hippodrome.Theirlatest reservations are for The King and I and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2023. The trips start from Curry Rivel, pick up in Langport and Somerton, then either along the route through Wells or else through Shepton Mallet.
A FOUR-strong team called the Wedmore Wizards triumphed at the 26th Annual Weston Rotary Charity Golf Day. With a score of 99, John and Linda Rogers and fellow golfers Ken Lohmann and Brad Speller, beat 29 other teams. The charity day is the club’s biggest single fundraiser.
NORTH Somerset Council, the Independent Food Aid Network and the Trussell Trust have worked together to produce a leaflet to help people who are worried about money. It is available at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/worryingaboutmoneyleaflet and copies can be picked up in North Somerset libraries.
Money worries leaflet
Details: Stewart, 07776 216304 Club president Ken Salter with the Wedmore Wizards
Details: CharityTheatreTrips.com, CharityTheatreTrips@btinternet.com,e-mailortelephone01458273085
Wizards conjure up some golf magic
It is organised by Nige and Su Crutchley, who live near Vobster, in memory of their son Ben, who died from an inoperable brain tumour a few weeks short of his tenth birthday in 2002. Since then, the couple have been fundraising tirelessly for the charity as a thank you to the nurses who cared for Ben and supported the family. Their aim is to raise £1m.
“Every day I had to push myself and the last day seemed the toughest as it was 82 miles to John O’ Groats but when I finished I was buzzing but very tired.”
Charity theatre trips
PAGE 78• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES
A CHEQUEfor £10,000 was presented to the Billy Chip homeless charity in memory of Jennifer Rose Sell of Clutton, who was the innocent victim of a road traffic accident caused by a drunk driver in July 2019. We reported last month that a new rose was launched in her name at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, with £2.50 from each sale going to Billy Chip.
OCTOGENARIANbell
ringer Barrie Hendry has come up with a novel way of joining in a charity fundraiser.
The local branch, based at 137, High Street in Weston, currently has a team of 65 volunteers who each year deal with around 15,000 calls – helping to save lives and prevent suicide. It costs around £30,000 a year to run the centre and with no public funding, other than occasional grants, fundraising events such as Samarathon are vital to its survival.
Details: www.samaritans.org/branches/weston-super-mare
Rose supports homeless charity
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 79 CHARITIES
Organiser Jinny Phipps presenting the cheque to Jon Hope, with Janice , Colin and Sarah
The cheque was presented by Jenny’s parents, Colin and Janice, at a special rose launch garden party held at the Soap Bar in Clutton. It was presented to Billy Abertbethy-Hope’s parents, Jon and Sarah, who set up the charity with their daughter Meg in memory of their son, who was killed while back packing in Thailand in 2018. The 20-year-old ambulance driver had suggested creating a token that could be given out to those living rough to buy themselves a hot drink or something to eat. The charity’s work is spreading fast.
Anyone can contact Samaritans for free any time from any phone on 116 123, which won’t show up on a phone bill.
While fellow Samaritans have pledged to run, walk or cycle a marathon in a month for the annual Samarathon, Barrie, a volunteer listener with the Weston-superMare and North Somerset branch, has taken to bell towers around Somerset to complete a marathon bell-ringing challenge.Barrie,from Wedmore, said: “I knew I couldn’t walk 26.5 miles but I wanted to take part so thought I would adapt the challenge to something I was interested in.”During July he completed five peals and a quarter peal. Each peal has to be more than 5,000 “changes” – the technical term for a full peal. Barrie said: “In total I rang 26,720 changes, which took me 13 hours and 10 minutes of ringing time.” To achieve his target he joined bellringing teams at the churches at Durleigh, East Huntspill, North Wootton, Marston Bigot, Holcombe and Wells Cathedral. And he is hoping his efforts will boost the total for the Weston Samarathon team aiming to raise as much money as possible to help keep the branch open for people struggling to Barriecope. is no novice when it comes to ringing bells. He started when he was just ten years old, following a family tradition. He was tower keeper at Wedmore parish church for 30 years and is a regular in the team at Chilcompton. He is now close to having rung 3,000 peals over the years – an achievement reached by only 60 people in theDirectorworld. of Weston Samaritans, Paul Slade said: “Barrie’s ingenuity is an example to us all and his efforts just go to show that this Samarathon challenge is open to everyone. Our volunteers have spent the last month walking, running, indoor rowing and cycling to raise vital funds and we are very grateful to them and to everyone who has supported them to ensure Samaritans volunteers are there to support others in need of our help.”
Towering achievement
Janice said: “We are so pleased to have been able to do this. Out of two tragedies come good deeds. Our children’s names will live on with Jenny’s ‘Jennifer Rose Sell’ rose gracing people’s gardens and Billy’s Billy Chip helping the homeless.
Pictured (l to r) Ukes and co Pete Airy, Richard Spence, Maggie Haines, Katrina McMahon, Bob Lang and Alison Evans
The vehicle is a white MG3 Excite supplied at cost price by Howards Motor Group. Tickets are £5 per entry and the draw will take place on Christmas Eve, guaranteeing someone a special Christmas present.Thecharity raffles started earlier this year when Tony Hutchins donated a 1952 vintage Panther motorcycle raising more than £9,000. This was followed by Shirley Wederell of the Wedmore friends group with a Mulberry handbag which raised a further £600.
“I would also like to thank Ukes and Co who created such a lovely atmosphere with their ukuleles, and, of course, thank you to everyone who came and supported us.”
WESTON Hospicecare has been given a £15,000 car as a raffle prize to raise funds. It’s been donated by the Axentis Michael Charitable Trust, in association with REVO and David Plaister Ltd.
Details: https://raffleforgood.co.uk/ PAGE 80• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES
Janet said: “We were very lucky with the weather as it rained all morning but the sun came out for our event. I am overjoyed with the amount we raised and know every penny will be put to good use by Safe Haven for Donkeys.
Win a car
“A huge thank you to everyone who made things to sell, grew plants for us, made delicious cakes and worked tirelessly serving teas and washing up!
BATH Cats and Dogs Home are hosting their annual fundraising Wag Walk on Sunday, September 4th. Starting from the rescue centre in Claverton, Bath the walking routes feature beautiful countryside with a choice of a two-mile flat route staying close to the home or a five-mile route along the National Trust Bath Skyline.
Details: www.bcdh.org.uk/wagwalk Walkies –for charity
AFTER appearing in Mendip Times last month when she attended a lunch at Kensington Palace for supporters of Safe Haven for Donkeys, Janet Parsons held another very successful garden party, raising £1,304 for the charity.
Pictured (l to r) Bev Combs, Barbara Pyle, Janet Parsons and Jenny Taylor
NOAH Holthius has been named the first recipient of the Kit Kettel Achiever of the Year award by Mencap.KeynshamKit was among foundingthetrustees of Keynsham Mencap nearly 45 years ago and right up until his death was an active trustee and advocate of the charity. The award was presented to Noah in front of his friends by Kit’s widow Margie at Keynsham Mencap’s Go Explore club, a social club for young adults. Kath Dawson, the charity’s recently voted-in chairperson, said: “Noah is someone who has shown tremendous courage in never giving up and is always trying; growing in confidence as he has attempted and managed new challenges.”MargieKettel said: “Kit, having achieved so much in his lifetime, would be very proud to know an achievement award has been set up in his name. I am equally as proud to have had him as my husband and to present the award today on his behalf. His was a life well lived.”
Annual garden party for donkey charity
New award
Ozmoses magic show Enjoying a ride on the hand-powered merry-go-round
CHARITIES MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 81
Festival is a sell-out
A TWO-day family festival organised by Glastonbury-based charity Children’s World and partner Paddington Farm Trust was a complete sell-out. Held on the trust’s organic farm at the foot of Glastonbury Tor, the event featured live music, circus performers, arts and crafts and many other activities.
Same, Same but Different’s flea circus
Balloon modelling with Mr Lemon Plenty of room upstairs The Yoko Mainwaring Experience –they are also circus performers Making their own fun in the sun
Meanwhile, Children’s World’s youth committee is hard at work alongside local artist Mark Noble creating a mural on one side of a barn at the farm. Once completed, it will be added to the Glastonbury Mural Trail.
For details about Children’s World and Paddington Farm Trust, visit: www.childrensworldcharity.org and www.paddingtonfarm.co.uk
PAGE 82• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 The A team about to nail it for Mendip! Tom Sloper on Do Remember Me
There was some nail biting and nervousness mixed with despondency as the competition neared the finish, because it was so difficult to keep tabs on the scores with so much going on.
Magic Millions is a thoroughbred auction house on Australia’s Gold coast, which is the current sponsor of the Gatcombe event where this year there were five championships taking place. Hosted by the Princess Royal, the course for all the classes is very undulating and varied, with a spectacular viewing area for visitors who can sit around the natural “bowl” below the lovely home of HRH, allowing them to watch quite a few jumps and gallops, without moving.
The Magic Millions Festival of Eventing held at Gatcombe was a great weekend of mixed classes to please amateur and professional riders alike. In case you are wondering, there aren’t millions of pounds in prize money to be had at the event.
The steep gradient means no-one is in your way if you are watching in the bowl, but if you prefer the other end of the course, there are again many viewing points alongside the tracks which allow great viewing whilst having your picnic.
It wasn’t until the final results were announced that we could be sure our little stars had won. Cheers and roars went up as Mendip were declared the winners, as well as sighs of relief from the parents who had feared the odd strop on the journey home if they hadSolost!much credit should go to the mums who train the team, sort the ponies out, wipe the tears when things go wrong… and so it goes on. This year’s team members were Isabella Penfold, Charlotte Smith, William Falango, and Edward and Eloise Dredge. Congratulations to them all. Mendip Farmers Pony Club camps are being held. One mum had brought along some pony rugs to sell and as she laid them out for display, a sleepy hedgehog was found inside having a quiet nap. It transpired that when they got home, two hedgehoglets had
The main arena has plenty of free seating around it from which
MENDIP TIMES
With PATERSONJANE Fun, games and Magic Millions at Gatcombe
Fortunately most venues have all-weather surfaces on their arenas, but there’s nothing quite like setting off on the cross country, out there alone enjoying a challenging course of obstacles, but hey-ho, we can’t control the weather, so we just have to get on with it. After all, it’s a “First World Problem” when you consider what some people are going through…
BYthe time you read this let’s hope we’ve had some serious rain, and lots of it. The ground is hard enough to cause some longlasting injuries to horses’ and ponies’ feet and legs if they cross the country at speed. As well as being right in the midst of competition time, Pony Club camps are takingActivitiesplace.will have to be more sedate than usual if riders are planning to do autumn Hunter trials, fun rides and maybe some autumn hunting, and keep their ponies sound.
The Mendip Minis kept us in suspense at the Mounted Games Competition held at Frome, courtesy of Mrs Yeoman with the Wylie Valley Pony Club once again hosting. The fields became a battleground for the prestigious shield, sashes, and enormous rosettes, with tents, trailers and horse boxes all being used as sleeping quarters for the numerous parents, ponies, dogs and children who attended. At least this year they didn’t get rained on, although a shower or two would have been welcomed, it was so relentlessly hot. At the end of day one, Mendip led by two points, so on day two, it was all to play for.
Each different game required accuracy, skill, and perfect timing, placing flags into slots in a bucket, putting pots on top of poles, all at speed while astride a bouncy pony, getting off and on again quickly if the object dropped or the pole was missed.
the show jumping can be enjoyed, as well as the ever popular Shetland pony Grand National which always draws a good crowd who gasp and cheer as the tiny ponies and young jockeys hurtle round the small steeplechase course at an alarming speed.
It’s a labour of love which is not very well paid, but if the lifestyle suits, then it can be an exciting summer. We won’t mention the winter… it will be here soon enough!
The Mendip area was well represented this year by riders who achieved very respectable results in a highly competitive field of national champions. We had Jason Hobbs and Tom Sloper, both from Ham Farm, Yatton, and 4* Eventer Dani Evans from Pensford all showcasing the results of their hard work.
Me (we will, Tom) in the British Novice Championship. After a great Dressage which scored 30.7, he went clear in both the Show Jumping and Cross Country, just picking up a handful of time penalties.Theground was very well prepared and had obviously been aerovated and watered in the days leading up to the event, but it was still an arid sight to behold away from the tracks. Tom was very exhilarated and pleased with his results and has great hopes for the future with his top horse. Watch this space!
Dani Evans competed on three horses in different classes, coming 3rd and 6th in the Open Novice class and 18th in her section in the Open Intermediate. Dani has a very established career history having been selected for the British junior and Young Rider teams in the past. She was part of a Gold medal winning Young Rider team at Blair Castle in 2011 and a year later won an individual Bronze at the Young Rider Championships in Malmö, Sweden. Dani also gained an individual Silver medal at the junior championships in Belgium in 2009, so she is used to being in the spotlight and is always one to watch. The competition season for these professional riders is fast and furious. No sooner are they back from one event, either celebrating or licking wounds, than they’re getting ready for the next weekend for another round. None of this would be possible without their amazing grooms and yard staff who keep everything and everybody looking spotless and have everything ready at the right moment as well as making sure the yard at home runs smoothly while they are away.
Edward and Eloise with their tired mum Izzy and Edward achieving a slick handover
Nancy and Frankie Knight with their prickly guest been discovered nearby and they were soon reunited. Mum clearly thought she’d have a sneaky day away from the kids, and who could blame her? It’s a tiring job being a mum/groom/driver/cook/keeper of the diary… but the rewards of having tired, happy, rosy-cheeked children who have spent the summer outside with their friends makes it all worth it, doesn’t it?!
RIDING MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 83
Both Jason and Tom had entries in some of the other classes as well, making it a very busy weekend.
Jason came 14th in the Open Intermediate on Gillie Bulmer’s Rusticoats. He produced a lovely dressage test, followed by an almost faultless Show Jumping round, unfortunately incurring just four penalties for giving one pole a tiny whisper of a touch knockedwhichitto the ground. Aarrgh! Then a
owncompetitorsoutheat.penalties,justlookwhichridefluentimpressivereallyandcrosscountryroundtheparkmadeitallsoeasy...afewtimeinallthatAwesome.Tomcame20thof80onhisDoRemember
l Festival Ride booking are being made through horseevents.co.uk Unlimited numbers but no booking on the day. Festival fun ride is back
PAGE 84• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 Toby Priest An ridingaward-winningschoolintheheartofMendip Divoky Riding School, Manor Farm, Downhead, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4LG www.divoky.co.uk • Email: info@divoky.co.uk T: 01749 880233 • M: 07971 207037 H Daily weekday and evening rides along leafy bridle paths and through woodland. H Riders must have full control in walk and trot H All rides to be booked in advance H Riders who are not up to the standard required will be put onto lead rein (please be honest about your abilities so as not to spoil the experience for other members of the ride) Come hacking this autumn Call or email us for more details
This visit was especially important for Pat Bishop at Divoky Riding School as she uses the route frequently for her rides, so it had to be super safe. The diversion, which should be in use in 2024, will be longer, quieter, wider, with safe fencing and have a better surface.
“But Toby has a quiet determination and focus, and after only a handful of sessions his position and style changed dramatically, and he became effective, confident and stylish – a proper rider!”
It will run through newly planted woods and wildflower banks. It also avoids having to mix with quarry trucks as there will be an underpass!TheMBBA said: “Full marks to Aggregate Industries for planning this so sympathetically and involving users at the early stage rather than when it has all been constructed. A thumbs up from MBBA.”
Competitors came from all over the UK to compete in the final of the 138 Bronze League.
Toby shines at national championships
Fifty two competitors started with 15 going clear and going through to the jump off. His mum, Sarah Priest, said: “Toby did some amazing turns and kept his cool to jump clear with his pony, Glenvar Sparky, known as Sparks to his friends, and came fourth in an incredibly competitive class.”
MENDIP TIMES RIDING
“He was previously riding a bit of a ‘point and go’ pony, and whilst Sparky is a much better jumper he is also cheeky, and in the early days Toby could regularly be seen hanging off his neck cantering past fences!
It adds: “This is an iconic ride and enjoyed by many every time. Suitable for riders who are able to ride at a decent speed across country. Unsuitable for beginners.”
The MBBA says many riders may be uncertain about taking part in fun rides as the ground is so hard but believes the farm will be in good shape for a: “super ride and sound horses.”
ADVANCE bookings are open for the iconic Glastonbury Festival Ride on Sunday, October 2nd. Worthy Farm at Pilton will once again host the 11-mile ride organised by Mendip Bridleways and Byways Association.
TOBY Priest of Marksbury is over the moon after his recent achievement at the British Showjumping National Championships at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.
Toby, aged 11, who lives at home in Marksbury with his mum and dad, Sarah and Jamie, and his 14-year-old brother Joshua, has been riding since he was four and is trained by Toni Warren from Hunstrete. He is busy competing most weekends and rides every day after school. Toni Warren said: “I am so thrilled for Toby to have done so well at his first trip to the National Championships, as he has been on quite a steep learning curve since he began riding Sparky.
Just as importantly, the farm offers good all-weather parking. Meanwhile, the association has carried out a recceat Torr Works of the new proposed diversion of part of the bridleway which runs from Downhead to the brick works.
Tony Jarratt in his element
Happy Hour Highway, Hunters’ Lodge Inn Sink
caving for more than 50 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in producing several caving publications and until his retirement was a caving instructor at Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves
In Renascence Series the explorers, Pete and Alison Moody, named the seven-metre-high Rum Aven, not after the spirit, but to commemorate the spoof mountaineering novel “The Ascent of Rum Doodle” by W.E. Bowman. Other nearby features recall locations named in the book. The cave with the most pub-related features is Hunters’ Lodge Inn Sink, dug open by Mendip’s digging supremo Tony Jarratt during the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001. Names include Barmaids’ Bedrooms, Bar Steward Passage, Broon Ale Boulevard, Guinness Head Rift (where there is a white flowstone cascade), Hair of the Dog sump, Inn-let, Old Nick Aven, Old Peculier Aven, Pewter Pot, Pub Crawl, The Slops, Spile Dump and Stillage Sump. A particularly large and imposing stalagmite was named “TheNamingLandlord”.caves and their features is accorded to the diggers and discoverers. This privilege has been taken abroad as well. In the late 1970s a team of cavers from the University of Cambridge were exploring the Lapiaz high in the Austrian Alps. They discovered and explored a cave which descended for several hundred metres via a series of shafts up to 60 metres deep. One such roomy void was named the Hall of the Greene King, that beer being a favourite of the students at that time and a takeoff was intended for the Hall of the Mountain King, recently discovered in a Yorkshire pothole. Other chambers were named the Tap Room and Keg Series, and also The Gents (best not to ask).Cavers are always searching for quirky names for their discoveries and no doubt pubs and beer will cause further inspiration in the future. Tribute to Nigel Taylor, see page 14.
Priddy Green Sink has a Barrel Passage and in Swildon’s Hole we have Butcombe Chamber, dug into at the upper end of the Oxbows by the Wessex in 1984. It is high and undecorated, with some precarious-looking boulders near the top.
Nearby Withybrook Slocker has a feature named “WTF” after a guest beer at the Oakhill Inn. Over at Banwell, Alco-hole is an old ochre mine where many bottles, mostly gin, were dumped. There are some caves which appear to be named after beer, but this can be misleading.
Here’s to beery caves!
Stout Slocker at Oakhill was named after the eponymous dark beer brewed there until the trade collapsed after WWI. The locally based Cerberus Speleological Society continues the trend, with digs named G&T, Lady of the Lake (Glastonbury Ales) and Bibble (brewed at Gurney Slade).
Burrington, Cow Hole, was later renamed Drunkard’s Hole, after it was visited by a group of Bristol University students after a trip to the Swan Inn at Rowberrow. The university cavers had previously found cow bones when digging the cave open in 1923.Hangover Hole in Velvet Bottom was first dug in 1952 but was given its present name in 1979 when it was investigated again by a group of Wessex Cave Club members on a Sunday morning after a heavy session the previous night.
Anyone who has tried drinking cider from a pewter tankard soon realises that the beverage leaches metal from the vessel, making it unpleasant to drink and possibly a source of lead poisoning.Adigat
Hendy)Philby(Photograph
ITis not surprising, given their taste for alcoholic refreshment after a caving trip, that beer or pub-related names have been given by cavers to various caves or features. Perhaps the first of these was Tankard Hole at Priddy, although according to the song: “With the occasional draught of cider the diggers had quite a heap, to the envy of the weegees (novices) and the puzzlement of the sheep.”
Taviner)Robby(Photograph CAVING
Hobgoblin Hole in Fairy Cave Quarry recalls the “little people”, Oakhill Swallet is close to the village (although it is said that it was used to bury horses from the brewery).
And of course, Beer Quarry Caves are near the village of that name in Devon.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 85
With HENDYPHILIPPhilhasbeen
Cave passages and features are not commonly given alcoholrelated names. Honeymead Hole at Maesbury has a chamber named Slab House, a pub on the B3139 near Whitnell Corner which closed some years ago.
WITHthe rising cost of living and inflation affecting most people’s lives, many will be looking at how to save money and consider whether it is still financially viable to have a car. Aside from the high cost of petrol there are car leasing costs etc that can add up to a significant amount each month. From a financial point of view there is no doubt that not having a car will save money. But on a practical basis, can we realistically do without a car? And is using a bicycle a viable alternative?
Let’s first look at why we use cars. According to the National Traffic Survey (before Covid), the main purpose of car trips was for leisure 30%, followed by shopping 20%, commuting 15%, escorting children to school 12% and personal business 10%. This is surprising as needing a car to get to work is often quoted as the main reason to have a car especially when no public transport alternatives are available. The lockdowns during Covid brought about a cultural shift in employment when many people had to work from home. Although things are getting back to normal, working from home with just occasional visits to the office seems to be the way forward. Consequently, this should reduce the need for and number of car trips. Even where travelling to work is necessary, cycling represents a healthier choice. It’s well known that there are health and wellbeing benefits from everyday exercise and that is more likely to happen if you have to cycle to work each day. It’s also a nice way to start and end the day. When you pedal to work each morning, you’re aware of the slow turn of the seasons. You are part of the change and summer is your reward for riding to work the rest of the year.
The most telling statistic in the survey is that 59% of car trips were under five miles, the equivalent of a short bike ride. The evidence can often be seen at primary schools when cars congregate at the start and end of the day to take the “local” children home.
PAGE 86• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES Four wheels or two LODITEwithCYCLINGEDMUNDACROSS:6.Singe 7. Axbridge 10. Overhit 11. Toplady 12. En garde 13. Detract 14. Embarrassed 19. Bellhop 21. Typeset 23. Towpath 25. Verdure 26. Wainscot 27. Audit DOWN:1. Inveigle 2. Nether 3. Rattletrap 4. Abut 5. Iguana 6. Stowey 9. Kyoto 13. Deactivate 15. Bahrain 16. Dissuade 17. Abate 18. Street 20. Low ham 22. Pariah 24. Hack SEPTEMBERCROSSWORDSOLUTION
To completely give up owning a car is a big step and I think a lot depends on where you live, and how committed you are about the environment. Some people have successfully done it.
In large urban areas it’s easier to do. Things are closer together and trips are shorter. With good transport links and safe cycling infrastructure it’s possible to get by on a bicycle most of the time or use public transport. For longer trips like holidays a car can be hired. However, in a rural area like Mendip things are different. Public transport is limited and trips are longer. Although there are some good cycle paths connecting a few of our towns, most cycling is likely to take place on roads shared with cars. It is not that easy being without a car unless you accept some lifestyle changes So, maybe if we can’t ditch the car the next best thing would be to use it less. Back in 2019 more than 60% of trips between one and two miles were by car! In response, the government has set a target for half of all short trips to be walked or cycled by 2030 in England. Active travel is good for the environment, our economy and public health. It’s emission-free, which reduces toxins in our air and makes our towns and cities nicer places to live. It eases congestion, which is a drag on our economy. And it makes us healthier, helping to keep us fit and preventing thousands of premature deaths from physical inactivity and poor air quality while saving our NHS billions of pounds each year.
Deal agreed to save football ground
The men’s first team plays in Southern League Division One South, with the club also boasting a strong women’s team, a development academy and a powerchair football team. Additionally, Badgers Hill provides playing opportunities for 600 children and adults of all ages. The club is also very active with a range of local charities, community activities and events.Town councillor Mel Usher said: “The land at Badgers Hill, home of Frome Town Football Club, was mortgaged to an outof-town lender. There was an immediate risk to the site, which could have led to the club becoming homeless and going out of“Theexistence.clubdirectors asked Frome Town Council for its support to secure the land as an asset for the community whilst also giving the football club some breathing space to explore future options collaboratively with the town council.”
Councillor Usher added: “Let me be crystal clear, Frome Town Council does not want to own or run a football club. This is a holding situation on the land and ground and sometime in the not-too-distant future we would anticipate our investment being returned. However, for the moment, we are able to secure the site from immediate threat and will continue to work with the club in partnership to explore all options moving forward.”
“There’s been a definite buzz in the air thanks to the brilliant success of the Lionesses, we’re absolutely delighted for them and the impact their Euro 2022 win will have on the future of the game.”
Women’s soccer sponsorship enters fourth year
THERotary Club of Nailsea and Backwell held its annual charity golf day at Mendip Springs Golf Club. More than 100 people took part and almost £3,000 was raised for Prostate Cancer UK. The winning team was the Snomads D consisting of John Shaw, Julian Sharp, Gary Crews and Kevin Grinstead, all Mendip Springs members with a total of 92 Stableford points.
Both parties say the site as a football ground requires investment with many of the buildings and structures needing renovation or replacement. Possibilities for the future include a community buy-out, maximising the site usage and significant grant applications for improvements.
Derek Graham, chairman of Frome Town Football Club said: “We are grateful for the council’s support, as we look to build the foundations of the club to be here for another 100 years. From the moment we approached the council they have been very open and constructive in all our exploratory discussions. With so many football clubs in difficult financial positions across the country it’s our responsibility to make sure the club minimises its risk, continues to grow and remains at the heart of our wonderful community for a long time to come.”
AT an historic time for women’s football with the Lionesses’ Euro success, the Bristol City team visited shirt sponsor Thatchers Cider to mark the start of the fourth season of their partnership.Managing director, Martin Thatcher, said: “Through our long-standing relationship with Bristol Sport, we’re so proud to be entering our fourth year of backing Bristol City Women and Bristol Bears Women.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 87 SPORT
FROME Town Council and Frome Town Football Club have signed a deal to help secure the Badgers Hill football ground as a community asset. The deal, worth just over £300,000, pays off a third-party lender. In return, the council will have the option to buy the ground for £1 at any point over the next twelve months. The next step will be for the council to work with the club to explore how a new business plan can be put in place that will benefit both the club and the wider community.
Rotary’s charity golf day
The weekly sessions are due to take place outside the Sainsburys store on Saturdays from 11am-1pm until the end of September, depending on supply and demand.
Rotarians with Somervale School student Aeron Kingman, 13, wearing his new boots
These boots are made for swapping
FLORA and their volunteers have installed ten bat boxes around the course, sown seeds and planted wildflowers in various locations, started a wildflower meadow and planted a copse of 20 mainly fruit-bearing trees.
Winners of the best headwear (l to r) Jane Richardson, Jill Holland, Jenny Howarth and Lesley Stone
For details, find the club on Facebook Jake and Jess with their new boots
They have set up a weekly “boot swap” in Midsomer Norton, offering new and used pairs of boots –including ones suitable for playing on astroturf. Families can exchange boots which are in good condition but outgrown for a replacement pair. The scheme was the idea of club member John Dando, who was delighted when Paulton Rovers FC donated more than 100 pairs of brand new boots. John said: “I thought we might be able to do something to help families in these difficult economic times and put it to the club committee who agreed we should give it a go.”
THEladies helping to encourage wildlife at Farrington Golf Club raised £585 with their second fundraising golf day.
FLORA, Farrington Ladies Organising Rewilding Activities, Pat Roscow, Elaine Davidson, Sue Forshaw and Jane Ball were inspired in 2020 by the native wildflower seeds sown under the tee box on the 12th hole by head greenkeeper Andy Grabham and hisThisteam.year
Showground sponsors young players Team Black in their new kit
Pat Roscow said: “More wildflower seed has already been purchased and tree whips will be ordered shortly for planting this winter.”
Encouraging wildlife
MEMBERS of the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Rotary Club have launched a pioneering project to ease the costs facing parents of buying new football and rugby boots for youngsters.
SHEPTON Mallet’s Team Black under-12s football team is being supported by the Bath & West Showground which is sponsoring their kit for this season. Zoe Purcell, from the showground, said: “We are so pleased to have the opportunity to continue supporting the Shepton Mallet ‘Team Black’ U12s Football Team. Their new kit looks amazing and we are really excited to see what this young team achieve over the season!”
PAGE 88• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES
Jeremy Watch, Team Black’s coach, added: “We are so grateful for our new kit sponsored by Bath & West Showground, they have been so supportive of our team. The young players look absolutely fantastic in their new football kit and they can’t wait to play their games in them this season.”
MEMBERS of Pensford Tennis Club turned out in a good numbers for the club’s Wimbles Tourni, their version of Wimbledon.Clubchair, Sue Grimes, said: “We had a most enjoyable evening with ample Pimm’s and strawberries and cream. The winners received a bottle of either non-alcoholic or alcoholic Prosecco.”Thenext event is their annual duck race on Sunday, September 11th at the Rising Sun, Pensford at 11am, raising funds for a new clubhouse.
Frome College student Izzy Neale
THESomerset Playing Fields’ Association, a registered charity, has funds available for loans to parish councils, sports clubs and playing fields associations who are members of the organisation, which costs £15 a year.
Details: www.pensfordtennisclub.co.uk
Details: Somersetpfa@gmail.com
Competing against the best Off to a flyer
Sports loan available
YOUNG motocross rider Izzy Neale, from Frome, was the best placed Great British competitor in a European competition in Belgium. Izzy, 17, was one of seven British riders who faced teams from Germany, Holland, Austria and Belgium in round two of the IMBA European Ladies Championship event on the Warsage circuit. Competitors included a former world champion and current European champion. All the GB team were facing European competition for the first time. Izzy, a member of the Rikki Priest MX Academy Race Team, had targeted a top ten finish but had to settle for 12th place overall. Izzy said: “I was absolutely chuffed to bits with the position I achieved.” Round three was due to take place in France on August 28th.
MEMBERS of Bishop Sutton and Stowey WI won their semi-final against Dunkerton in the Avon Federation WI Skittles tournament and now go through to the final on September 15th. They are (l to r top) Liz McDowall, Julia Young, Clair Brooks, Wendy Bird, bottom Jenny Harris, Heather Pool and Alison Ewin. Skittles winners
Tennis tournament
Loan amounts are from £1,000 up to £10,000 and repayment terms are from one to five years. Interest is zero on the first year up to a maximum of two percent during the third to fifth years.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 89 SPORT
The band has also been rehearsing the Snowman to be performed in the Merlin Theatre in Frome in December. It would welcome any existing brass players to join them.
The band held its first-ever summer school over two days offering members the opportunity to try the different brass and percussion instruments. Novices, some beginners and intermediate players from the band took part, learning how to play five different pieces on different instruments to put a concert on for family members.
PAGE 90• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
For details, visit: www.frometownband.com email: contactfrometownband@gmail.com or find them on Facebook
Meanwhile, music lovers can see them perform at Frome Cheese Show on Saturday, September 10th.
Timo, Greta and Emilee
MENDIP TIMES
Frome Town Band is growing in numbers WITH most Covid ofautumntoit’sSocietyYattonnowrestrictionsvenuelifted,Musicsaysdelightedhostitsserieslivequality music at St Mary’s Church. For their first concert they have engaged the awardwinning flute and piano duo Meera Maharaj and Dominic Degavino.Theirconcert is on September 24th, 7.30pm. Ticket prices are £10. Details: www.yms.org.uk David Ford daford220@gmail.com 01934 830255
The summer school
For details, visit: www.mendipmen.co.uk or turn up at a rehearsal on a Monday
Mendip Male Voice Choir made their return to the stage at Midsomer Norton Methodist Church
Choir back in full voice
Autumn concerts
SEVERAL new members have been welcomed to Frome Town Band’s beginners’ section since its concerts over the Queen’s Jubilee. The band has also bought brand new cornets for some of lockdownthroughoutallcontinuedGretaplayers.intermediateitsTimo,andEmileeplayingthewayandhave made great progress.
MENDIP Male Voice Choir performed their annual summer concert at Midsomer Norton Methodist Church to a nearcapacity audience – it’s first public performance in 948 days. Caused by the pandemic, it was the longest gap between concerts since the choir was formed as Timsbury Male Voice Choir in Rehearsals1919.restart on Monday, September 12th at St Mary’s School Timsbury at 7.30pm. With the first planned concert at St Mary’s Church, Timsbury on Monday, November 29th with a further four concerts are also planned up to Christmas. The choir has a new chairman, Richard Luscombe, who succeeds PeterMusicalBradshaw.director, Jamie Knights, said: “There is no audition to join the choir, no need to be able to read music and the first term is free.”
Ringing the changes
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 91 MUSIC & THEATRE
A Scottish dance tradition in Wells Corryvrechan will be performing in Wells in September
THE Tabor Ringers amused members of Tabor Independent Methodist Church, Timsbury and villagers alike when they appeared at the recent summer fair held at Tabor. As it was the Scarecrow Trail weekend, organised by St Mary’s Church, and Tabor had just completed the first phase of major renovations, the ringers decided to go along looking as they have never looked before. Well, maybe that’s open to a comment from family andTabor’sfriends.members would like to thank everyone for going along and for their generosity in helping to raise funds for the church’s refurbishment.
CORRYVRECHAN, a locally-based Scottish dance display team with an international reputation, will be performing in Wells in September. The team’s displays, which combine Scottish Country, Highland and Hebridean dances, draws dancers and musicians from across the UK. They’ve performed at festivals in 11 countries and were finalists at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 2017.
The first formal rehearsal of the autumn term will be in the hall on Wednesday, September 7th, at 7.30pm and then every Wednesday evening, in preparation for the autumn concert in St John the Baptist Church, Axbridge on Saturday, November 26th.New members are welcome with fees £55 for the autumn term.
Details: Tabor Ringers Barb Spalding 01761 752177 Tabor Mr and Mrs G Shute 01761 568524
Details: www.somersetchoralsociety.com
Society’s new patron
The concerts, at Cedars Hall on Saturday, September 24th and Sunday, September 25th, will feature special guest band, The Schmoozenbergs Trio, who conjure up the mood of 1930s Paris, fused with flavours of Eastern Europe and high energy folk. For tickets, visit: cedarshallwells.co.uk or call 01749 834483. Find out more about the team at corryvrechan.org.uk
workingwhereatsubjectLondon.Collegeperformancehavingperformancemusicianitsthenewpatron.honoraryTomSocietySOMERSETChoralhasappointedWorleyasitsnextpresidentandHewillstarthisroleinSeptemberassocietyresumesforautumnterm.HeisaneducatorandwithabackgroundstudiedpianoatTrinityofMusic,HeiscurrentlyleaderformusicBathSpaUniversityhehasbeensince2011.
The society begins this term with a Come & Sing Faure Requiem on Saturday, September 3rd, 10am, in the new Cheddar Catholic Church Community Hall, Tweentown, Cheddar BS27 3HU. Cost £10.
Tom Worley
DUNDRYWI celebrated its centenary by planting a tree and enjoying lunch in the village hall which it helped to build in 1988. Centenary celebration
“For sure it’s a lot of work; this 36 has taken its toll to get her out there but we achieved it and I was very proud sat up in her cutting the crops as I have been on every other one I’ve owned.
Damping down after the blaze
MENDIP TIMES NEWS See Wildlife, page 49
“Perhaps now it’s time for me after this event to think of taking it a bit easier and leaving the harvest fields in the capable hands of others to get the job done.”
A CLASSIC combine harvester which had been restored to full working order as a labour of love was destroyed in a blaze whilst gathering in wheat.
Labour
PAGE 92 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
Toasting the centenary tree, president Ann Gleave (left) and federation representative Sue MurphyCentenary lunch
The fire in the 1981 Massey Ferguson 36RS, owned by contractor Colin Cloude of Pylle, was in a field on the edge of Binegar. He initially tried fighting the fire with three extinguishers on board.
The smouldering wreck of the combine harvester of love destroyed
Fire crews from Wells, Shepton Mallet and Castle Cary were joined by local farmers as they tried to prevent the blaze spreading from the field.
There was no chance of saving the machine
Colin, who is a frequent guest on the Jeremy Vine lunchtime show on BBC radio 2, saved the combine from the scrapyard several months ago. It’s the latest in a number of harvesters he has restored over the years. He said: “Looking back on my life and my love of these machines I’ve enjoyed every single minute of getting them and bringing them back to the harvest fields every minute!
West Woodlands, Frome BA11 5ES S a t u r d a y A u c t i o n Steam Engines H Commercials H Cars H Motorcycles H Tractors H Stationary H Engines H Plus much more Dog Show H 1940’s Teamroom H Catering H Fairground Rides H Tractors H Stationary Amusements H Trade Stands H Crafts H Models H Toy Fair Adults £6, OAPs £5, children free Free vintage bus ser vice from From e town centre to show site Bridge Tuition October 2022 Learn to play bridge with an English Bridge Union qualified teacher 10 weekly lessons £60 (includes weekly notes plus EBU literature) Choice of morning or evening courses starting on: Monday 5th October OR Wednesday 7th October at Winscombe Community Centre Contact Janet 01934 253889 Email: obrien-jm@outlook.com for a chat and more details WINSCOMBE BRIDGE CLUB
WHAT’S ON
More names for festival
Events all take place in Cedars Hall, the performing arts venue.
A recently-added name to the lively line-up is that of science writer Gaia Vince. The presenter of Radio 4’s Inside Science programme, and winner of a Royal Society of Science Book Prize, will be talking about her latest book Nomad – How to Survive the Climate Upheaval. Gaia joins a host of writers and speakers that include BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen, Radio 4 Today presenter Justin Webb and broadcaster Michael Crick. Whether your interest lies in fiction or feminism, science or politics, there is something for everyone – and even the opportunity at a special poetry event to receive a personal prescription from Poetry Pharmacy author William Sieghart. Booking for the festival, which runs from October 14th-22nd, is now open. Brochures are available in numerous local venues.
Historian Robert Lacey will serve up his recent biography on the lives of Princes William and Harry in Battle of Brothers, at another of the festival's popular literary lunch events.
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 93
CAMPAIGNERKate Humble is set to dish up an exciting menu of recipe ideas when she appears at Wells Festival of Literature in October.TheTV presenter of Springwatch and Autumnwatch will introduce her latest book Home Cooked: Recipes from the Farm. A literary lunch at Cedars Hall in Wells precedes her talk and booking is available for one or both events.
Frome Carnival is a charity and ploughs back any surplus funds into the area. It’s main fundraising event was in June at its carnival fun day and dog show in the town’s Victoria Park. Its duck race takes place on Sunday, October 2nd at 2pm from the Button Bridge in the Market Place car park. The afternoon procession starts in Victoria Park at 2.30pm. The evening procession starts from the Marston Trading Estate at 7pm. Frome is one of eight towns in the Wessex Grand Prix Carnival Circuit. Castle Cary is also on the circuit. It’s children’s carnival takes place on Saturday, October 8th with the main procession on Saturday, October 15th. Carnival is back!
CARNIVAL returns to the Mendip Times area on Saturday, September 24th with Frome’s afternoon children’s procession followed by the main displays in the evening. Organisers say carnival promises to be a wonderful evening, supporting local good causes at the same time.
For details about Frome Carnival visit: www.fromecarnival.org.uk
This year’s reunion will take the form of an open afternoon at the Museum. There will be time to have a good look around the Museum and enjoy a beer or tea and cake with former colleagues and friends. by the Somerset Miners’ Welfare Trust
ReunionMiners’Annual Sponsored
RadstockatMuseum For all former employees of the Somerset Mines Monday September5th202214:00–16:00 MENDIP TIMES
A carnival cart makes its way to the town centre in 2019 Carnival chairman Jill Barnes (far right) at the judging of the baby competition at the family fun day
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For more information , contact Br yn Hawkin s on 07 877 907 963
A core group of around 25 people has been involved with the society from its pre-Netflix beginnings. The society has won several national awards and prides itself on sourcing films which have not been screened in local cinemas.
Screenings are free for members with guests charged £5 per film. For details, visit: www.reelpeople.org.uk
THE Kilmersdon-based reel people film society is appealing for more volunteers to join its committee as it prepares to celebrate its 25th season of screenings. Since 1997, the society has shown more than 300 films from every corner of the world on its big screen with surround sound in Kilmersdon Village Hall. There have even been some outside screenings, with picnics.
Film society’s silver screen jubilee appeal
A society spokesman said: “As we approach our 25th season, we are asking ‘will it be our last?’.
“It has been increasingly difficult to get a committee together to do all the work in selecting the programme each year, then organising the setting up and running each film night with the bar and refreshments. We need people to come forward now to work with the current committee during this season so that they can take reel people forward through the next few years.
The season opens with The Duke Big in Kilmersdon Village Hall
Proudly presenting our 25th season of films 25 years of films with reel people
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 95 WHAT’S ON
“All past and present committee members who have worked so hard over the 25 years must be congratulated for bringing so many films to local people. Some of these films hadn’t even been shown in local cinemas.”The2022/23 season kicks off on Friday, September 9th with The Duke, starring reel people favourites Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren. Based on a true story, this “understated and completely enjoyable frolic” tracks developments following the theft of the Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington.
screen with surround sound
Screenings (all Fridays, except April 22nd): 2022 2023 9th September6th January 7th October 27th January 28th October 17th February 18th November10th March 9th December 21st 22ndAprilApril Bar with a selection of drinks and nibbles Visit our website for full details Season is FREE to anyone who has been a past member of reel people. Join us for £20 for the entire season (guests £5 per film) Website: www.reelpeople.org.uk • Email: reelpeoplefilms@outlook.com • Tel: 07947 325950
Other highlights include Belfast – Kenneth Branagh’s autobiographical film of his home town during the “Troubles”, Parasite – (Korean) the first foreign language film to win Best Motion Picture of the Year at the Oscars in 2020, The Father – an intense, powerful and Oscar-winning performance by Anthony Hopkins illustrating the development of dementia and The Worst Person in the World – a light-hearted Norwegian romp through four years in the life of a woman juggling her love life with her career.
We kick off on September 9th with The Duke (12)
Wednesday August 31st to Sun September 4th Hutton Festival “Taste of Somerset” showcase, horticultural show and many other events. Details: clerk@huttonsomerset.org.uk 01934 813871
Thursday September 1st Congresbury Gardening Club talk on Propagation by Sally Gregson, 7.30pm Congresbury Methodist Hall. Visitors welcome, £2. Cheddar Valley u3a meeting talk: “The fifty gems of Somerset”, 2pm Catholic Hall, Cheddar, BS27 3HX. Concert by organ and choral scholars of St John's, Glastonbury, 1pm. Friday September 2nd Trio Paradis, pieces for piano and strings, 2.30pm St Giles church Leigh on Mendip. Free entry, refreshments.
Save the Children lunches served 12.30pm alt. Fridays, Shipham village hall, BS25 1SG. £4.50. Friday September 9th to Sun September 11th Shepton walking festival, see P6. Email: sheptonwalks@gmail.com
Saturday September 3rd Bath Marches: 4, 9 & 15 mile walks. Open to all charities: www.bathmarches.co.uk Stanton Drew Flower Show from 1.30pm. Church Tower open. Theale Show, from 2.30pm, homemade produce & craft stalls, kids’ activities, the Chris Jagger Band. Details: www.thealeflowershow.com
Thursday August 25th Wells & Mendip Museum free family activities day. Drop-in 10am-3.30. Workshop for 8+, other activities for younger kids.
Thursday September 8th Wells Garden Club meeting 7.30pm Wells Town Hall. Details: www.wellsgarden.club “Judge Jeffreys” – a talk by John Jefferies, 7pm Christ Church, Henton. Reservations: rosie.inge@gmail.com Tickets £10 on door. Pilates Classes for Seniors – osteoporosis-safe exercises, £60 for a course of six weekly sessions, 10.30-11.30am Croscombe village hall. All kit provided. For details & to book please email: ali@thepilatesroomwells.com
Friday September 9th Community Café, East Somerset Railway 10.30am-12 – come along for a natter & wander around! £2pp for hot drink & cake. Please book: contact.bistrocatering@gmail.com
Deadline for Mendip Young Film-Makers
Saturday August 27th High Littleton & Hallatrow village day from 12. Brass band, dog show & agility, stalls, car boot. Barn dance 4.30-6pm. Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books etc. Meet the Sikhs 12-4pm Cathedral Green, Wells. Free. Organised by Wells Rotary & KhalsaAid. Storytelling, chapatti workshop, Rotary projects, music, food, turbans and more! Selwood Horticultural Society annual show from 1pm Selwood Academy Frome. Prizes 4pm. Details: 0777 6208531 or jane.norris9@gmail.com
Winscombe Village Show 1.30pm-4, Community Centre & field. All the fun of the Michaelmas fair!
Friday August 26th East Brent Harvest Home: lunch followed at 3pm by kids’ sports, stalls, hog roast, live music, bar. Jarvis Lane, East Brent.
We’re happy to list entries for community groups and charity fundraisers free of charge, but please send them as a succinct single paragraph, in the format below, to annie@mendiptimes.co.uk • Entries that take time to re-write may have to be charged for at the commercial rate, £25.
PAGE 96• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 MENDIP TIMES T HE M ENDIP T IMES W HAT ’ S O N
Somer Valley Walking Festival free walks of varying lengths. See walking-festivalwww.somervalleyramblers.org.uk/somer-valley-P56. Gardens open for the NGS. See P56. Sunday September 11th Doulting car boot & table-top sale 12-4pm. Refreshments. £10/pitch, £5 half table. Details: 01749 880731 / 880219 doultingsocialgroup@gmail.comor Frome Cycle Sunday 12-3pm. See P70. Stratton Village Fun Day & Dog Show, 12-4pm. Stratton-on-the-Fosse village hall and football field. Free. Details: 07801 721162. Burrington Fete and Rickford Dash, Bourne House, Bourne Lane. 12.30pm. Monday September 12th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with bingo, 8pm War Memorial Hall. Visitors welcome. ACEarts Fundraising Exhibition opens, Somerton. See P30. Tuesday September 13th Fosseway Gardening Club talk: “Fuschias my way” by Derek Dexter, 7.30pm Pylle Village Hall. Visitors welcome. Details: 07772 008594. Frome Selwood Horticultural Society talk: “Putting your garden to bed” 7.30pm Critchill School, BA11 4LD. Details: 0777 6208531 or jane.norris9@gmail.com
Wednesday September 7th Somerset Choral Society first rehearsal for Fauré’s Requiem 7:30pm –9:30pm. Cheddar Catholic Church Hall. See P91. www.somersetchoralsociety.comDetails: Backwell & Nailsea support group for carers 2pm-3.30, Backwell WI Hall: “Great British Summer”: dress, eat, drink, celebrate! Compton Dundon Bell Appeal Open Day. See P75.
Mendip Ramblers Walking Festival: a variety of free, led walks from Stratton-on-the-Fosse village hall. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Bank Holiday Monday, August 29th City of Wells Lions Club Moat Race, Bishop’s Palace. Details on Lions’ Facebook page.
Saturday August 27th to Monday August 29th Axbridge Pageant: www.axbridgepageant.com “The way we were” railway nostalgia weekend, Cranmore. Details: www.eastsomersetrailway.com
Wednesday August 31st to Sat September 17th Draycott Art Club exhibition Wells & Mendip Museum. 10am–4pm Tues to Sat. See P30. Details: draycottartclub.mendip@gmail.com
Tuesday September 6th Congresbury Singers new term, 7.45pm Memorial Hall. All welcome, particularly tenor/bass, no audition. Details: 07833 456524. Miners Reunion, 2pm-4pm, Radstock Museum, see P94. The Arts Society Mendip talk by James Ludlow on Netherland Art & the Italian Renaissance 11am Croscombe village hall and Zoom. Guests welcome, £6: tasmendip.comm@gmail.com
Saturday September 10th Brent Knoll bazaar & farmers’ market 10am12, parish hall. Details: 01278 760308. Frome Cheese Show www.fromecheeseshow.co.ukDetails:
Wednesday September 14th Congresbury Cameo opens with Cliff White on Behind the scenes of Antiques Roadshow, 7.30pm Congresbury Methodist Hall. £1. All welcome. Mendip Storytelling Circle 7.30- 9.30pm Ston Easton Village Hall, BA3 4DA. An evening of folk
Martin Coppell T20 Memorial Cricket Tournament, 11am-late, Horrington, nr Wells. Bar, food, live music, bouncy castle etc. All funds raised for St Margaret’s Hospice. All welcome. Free. Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books etc. Street Chrysanthemum Dahlia & Vegetable Society Annual Show 12-5.30pm, Victoria Club, BA16 0HB. Details: www.streetcdvs.org.uk Associate Societies Day hosted by SANHS (Somerset Archaeology & Natural History Society). 10-4.30pm Tintinhull village hall, BA22 8PY. An opportunity for members of other groups to meet. All welcome. Free, but please book: 01823 272429 or office@sanhs.org Weston Light Orchestra ‘Last Night of the Proms’ 12noon All Saints church, WSM, BS23 2NL. £10 on the door includes light lunch and glass of wine or juice. Saturday September 10th and Sunday Sept 11th
“Come & Sing Fauré’s Requiem” Cheddar Catholic Church Hall, BS27 3HU. Reg: 10am, workshop 10:30am to 3:30pm short performance 4pm. £10 incl music. See www.somersetchoralsociety.com.P91. Merriman Park Fun Day, Street: 1pm-10pm. Family entertainment, face painting, music & refreshments from local businesses. BA16 0JE. Pilton Fete & Flower Show 2-5pm. Barn dance with Rapscallion 7pm. Barn dance tickets £5, U16s free, Details: www.piltonflowershow.org.uk Evercreech Village Show from 12, flower marquee 2.30pm. www.evercreechshowsociety.ukDetails: Sunday September 4th Wag Walk, Bath. See P80. www.bathcatsanddogshome.org.ukDetails: North Somerset Ploughing Match Lower Claverham. See P10. Morning stroll with the Mendip Society; 10.30am from the lay-by on the B3114 by Chew Valley Lake BS40 8XI / ST 554593. No need to book, dogs welcome, details: 01761 221995. Monday September 5th RAFA mid-Somerset Branch Lunch 12:45pm Wells Golf Club, BA5 3DS. Details: 01458 224057 or rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com
Competition! open to anyone U16 in the MT distribution area. See P66. Ubley Village Fete: teas, stalls, music, traditional games for all, BBQ. 12-5pm at The Old Manor, BS40 6PJ. Chew Stoke Harvest Home: www.chewstokeharvesthome.org.uk
Tuesday September 27th Winscombe Folk Club 7.30-10.30 £2. Winscombe Club BS25 1HD. All acoustic –performers & audience welcome. Details: 07551 197685 winscombefolkclub@gmail.com
Friday September 16th Valley Arts Music Club: Gabriel Moreno, alternative folk. £12.50 + booking, 8pm, Old School Rooms, Chew Magna, BS40 8SH www.valleyartscentre.co.uk Jenny Peplow singers, free concert, 7pm Norton Down Methodist Church. Tea & cakes. Donations in aid of new church heating. All welcome.
Saturday September 17th to Sun October 23rd A Vocabulary of Making Revealed: work by Cath Bloomfield. Black Swan Arts, BA11 1BB. Details: www.blackswanarts.org.uk
Sunday September 18th Battle of Britain Service 10.30 am St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Shepton Mallet followed by wreath-laying at Shepton cenotaph. Details: 01458 224057 or rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com Oxfam Quiz Night at the Tramways, Wells. Teams up to six, £4pp. 8pm start. Raffle prizes welcomed. To book, call 07909 665813. Garden party and fete in aid of Harvey Hext, A Sibling’s Wish, Hollowtree House, Folly Lane, BS39 4DW, Entry by donation, please. Monday September 19th Chew Valley u3a monthly meeting, Ubley parish hall, 10am, Cedric Pryce-Thomas illustrated talk about humming birds. Mendip Postcard Club new season meeting and talk, 7.30pm Wells Town Hall. Details: www.mendippcc.org
Frome Carnival children’s procession 2.30pm. Evening procession 7pm. See P94. Details: www.fromecarnival.org.uk
Thursday September 29th to Sat October 1st Craft4Crafters Show Royal Bath & West Showground. See P36.
Sunday October 2nd Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Railway Group Exhibition – see P**** Frome Carnival duck race 2pm. Button Bridge, Market Place. Details: www.fromecarnival.org.uk
Saturday Sept 24th to Sun October 9th Somerset Art Weeks. See P34 and P35. Details: www.somersetartworks.org.uk Somerset Festival of Transport, Frome Showground. See P93.
Saturday October 1st St Bridget’s Church Chelvey, harvest weekend concert 3pm followed by tea. Donations. Harvest festival Sunday, 9.15am. Details: 01275 853138 463469 or 853879. “A blast from the past” launches Mendip Rocks! Festival: fun family activities 10.30am3.30pm Westbury Quarry, Westbury-sub-Mendip, BA5 1HT. On-site parking must be booked in advance. See P8 and P48. Also www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/events/2022-09see: Aquinas Piano Trio 7.30pm St. John the Baptist church, Churchill BS25 5QW. Details: tickets@churchillmusic.org.uk Valley Arts: The Packhouse Ceildh, music, dancing, organic supper. £20pp + booking. 7.30pm. The Community Farm, Chew Magna, BS40 8SZ www.valleyartscentre.co.uk Bold Brass perform a selection of light classics, swing, big band, 7pm Christ Church, Nailsea BS48 1RT. Advance tickets £10 (£5): 01275 859210. £12 on door. Compton Martin’s Got Talent and harvest supper, village hall. Details: 01761 221702.
Saturday September 17th Big Avon Paddle from The Boathouse, Newbridge: involved/events/the-big-avon-paddlewww.dorothyhouse.org.uk/getBleadon village market, 9.30-12, Coronation Halls, BS24 0PG. 30+ stalls, see Facebook. Valley Arts presents: Dinosaurs & all that rubbish, for ages 3+. Free. 2.30pm St Andrew’s church Hall, Chew Magna. See: www.valleyartscentre.co.uk Claverham Market 10am-12pm village hall. Butcher, veg. crafts etc. 01934 830553. East Harptree Flower & Craft Show 2.30-5pm, playing field. Free trees from Chew Valley Plants Trees. Pre-loved garden & crafts items needed. For entries or to have a stall ehflowercraftshow@gmail.comemail: The Rose Concert, 7.30pm St John’s, Glastonbury. Thatchers Family Open Day. See P19.
tales and more… £5. mendipstorycircle@gmail.comDetails: Kilmersdon Gardeners talk by Fiona Haser Bizony “How to set up an organic flower farm from scratch” 7.30pm village Hall BA3 5TD. Visitors welcome £3, incl www.kilmersdongardeners.orgtea/coffee.
Henton & District Gardening club talk on Seasonal hanging baskets, 7.30pm Henton village hall, BA5 1PD. Matt Biggs of GQT will be speaking in October! See P57. All welcome. Details: www.hentongardenclub.weebly.com
Monday September 26th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with bingo, 8pm War Memorial Hall. Visitors welcome. Wessex Stationary Engine Club meeting 8pm Old Down Inn, Emborough. All welcome.
Sunday October 2nd and Monday October 3rd Sand Cider Festival See P23. Monday October 3rd RAFA general branch meeting & presentation, 11:15am at the Street Inn, Street, BA16 0DR. Optional lunch. Details: 01458-224057 or rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com
Thursday September 22nd to Sun Sept 25th Railway Rev-up, Railway Inn, Meare. Live music Fri & Sat evenings, auction 1pm Sat, car boot sale 10am Sun, sellers £4. Vintage vehicle displays Sat/Sun. In aid of Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. Details: 07891 939055. Saturday September 24th Weston Moonlight Beach Walk: www.westonhospicecare.org.uk/event/ Male Voice Choirs in Concert: both Cheddar & Pembroke choirs, doors 7pm Draycott Memorial Hall. Tickets £10 from Deane’s of Cheddar, choir members or on the door. contactcheddarmalechoir@gmail.comDetails: Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books etc. Flute and Piano Duo, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Yatton. See P90. Tickets £10: www.yms.org.uk Cats in Distress fundraiser 10am-5pm Bramley Farm, Bath Rd, Oakhill. Stalls, cattery tours. Adults £1 (cash please) Details: 07589 8058219 www.cats-in-distress.org
Thursday September 15th Yatton & District Horticultural Society talk by Ian Parsons on Begonias, 8pm Hangstones Pavilion, BS49 4HS. Rotary Nailsea & Backwell Whist Drive, Tithe Barn, Nailsea, 2-5pm, £3 inc tea coffee, cake, then monthly until December. Cheddar Valley u3a Coffee Morning 10am Cheddar village hall, BS27 3RF.
Friday September 16th to Sun September 18th Priston Music Festival, a weekend of live music, village green and church, BA2 9EE. Free. Car park £5 all day from 10.30am. Details: www.priston.org.uk
Chilcompton Gardening Club 7.30pm village hall BA3 4EX. A talk on Fungi in Fact and Fiction by Mark Bullen. Wednesday September 28th Harptrees History Society: agm 6.30pm then Prof Richard Coates on local place names, 7.30pm West Harptree Memorial Hall BS40 6EG. Please book: Visitorsinfo@harptreeshistorysociety.orgwelcome,£3. Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support meeting, 1:30pm Backwell WI Hall. Details, Sheila: 01275 462107. Mendip Ploughing Match, Yoxter, BA5 3BS. See P10. www.mendipploughingsociety.co.uk
MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022 • PAGE 97 WHAT’S ON N G UIDEFOR S EPTEMBER 2022
Tuesday October 4th Pensford Local History Group, Paul Cooper on the history of All Saints’ Church, Publow, 7.30pm, £3, at the church. pensfordhistorygroup@gmail.comDetails: The Arts Society Mendip talk by Adam Busiakiewicz ‘George Romney: painter, 17341802’ 11am Croscombe village hall and zoom. Guests welcome, tasmendip.comm@gmail.com£6: Friday October 7th Save the Children lunches served 12.30pm alternate Fridays, Shipham village hall, BS25 1SG. £4.50. Rotary Charity Night, Stanton Drew, see P73. Saturday October 8th Cossington Village Hall, TA7 8JN, Gypsy & Swing Jazz from Paris. Reserved seats £12.50. Details: Roger Collett 07726 911484. Brent Knoll bazaar & farmers’ market 10am12, parish hall. Details: 01278 760308. Mells 10k for charity, see P78. Saturday October 8th and Sunday 9th Chew Valley Arts Trail. See P32. Sunday October 9th Wells Food Festival 10.30am-4.30pm. See P20. Wednesday October 12th Kilmersdon Gardeners talk by Sally Morgan "Climate change garden" 7.30pm village hall BA3 5TD. Visitors welcome £3, incl tea/coffee www.kilmersdongardeners.org
Wednesday September 21st “Songs of Somerset” by Timothy Dean, 7.30pm Princes Theatre, Burnham-on-Sea. Tickets £13 for the Somerset Crisis Fund. somersetwww.theprincesstheatre.co.uk/events/songs-of-Details:
displays, fascinating information and beautiful birds! Displays will take place at 12pm and 3pm. Aimed at all ages, displays will illustrate how these birds would have been used in medieval times and why. Visitors can also have the chance to handle some of the birds. Before then, the August Bank Holiday weekend sees the palace welcome medieval re-enactors and combat specialists Bowlore Medieval.Entrance to the events is included with general admission to the palace. Pay once and visit all year! Full price tickets include 12 months re-entry (some event days excluded).
PAGE 98• MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2022
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MENDIP TIMES WHAT’S ON
STREET Skatepark, which was closed for more than eight months due to fire damage, has been reopened after repairs.TheHigh Sheriff of Somerset, Jennifer Duke, was amongst the guests who attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony organised by Street Parish Council, which also attracted youngsters keen to get back on their boards, scooters and bikes. Playtime for Josh, aged threeM e n d i p Ti m e s re d u c e s t r a v el c o s t s 100,000 customerspotentialwithinashortdistanceofyourbusiness
Parish council chair Laura Wolfers prepares to cut the ribbon
