Internet and Crossword

Development of cameras

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 With NICK SPARKS device. It is extraordinary 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.

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 local store.

But this has 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, if you fancy a flying camera do research the subject first as you may need to register it and take an exam.

This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. I.T. for the Terrified –it4ttcvh@gmail.com

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS

6 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) 27 Examination and appraisal of accounts (5)

DOWN

1 Wheedle and cajole (8) 2 & 6 down Where to find

Coleridge Cottage in care of

The National Trust (6) 3 The American equivalent of a boneshaker (10) 4 Glastonbury does 18 down (4) 5 Tropical American tree-living lizard that can be up to 6ft in length (6) 6 See 2 down (6) 8 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) 13 Render inoperative, switch off, defuse (10) 15 Island Sheikdom off Saudi

Arabia (7) 16 Forged ID used as a way to change minds (8) 17 Die down, subside (5) 18 Town or city thoroughfare (6) 20 The home of the Somerset

Traction Engine Club (3,3) 22 In India a person of low or no caste (6) 24 Discourteous name for a journalist (4)

By greendandelion

Clues in italics are cryptic

Just launched –new exclusive cruises with a free pick-up from Wells in 2023

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 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.”

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

This work took him (and his wife Vivi) to many far-flung

43 years of service from Nigel Taylor

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.

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.

PHIL HENDY

New trustees for Bishop’s Barn and Recreation Ground

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 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.

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

Handing over: Stewart Cursley and Ros Wyke outside the Bishop’s Barn in Wells

transferring this monument to Wells City Council.”

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.