Mendip Times
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VOLUME 17 ISSUE 11
FREE
Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas
APRIL 2022
WIN BATH & WEST SHOW TICKETS See page 114
IN THIS ISSUE: AID FOR UKRAINE • FOCUS ON CHEDDAR • POINT-TO-POINT • COMPTON DANDO WALK • CYCLING Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news
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MENDIP TIMES
CONTENTS
Welcome
THE terrible situation in Ukraine dominates the thoughts of most of us at the moment. We report on local families preparing to take refugees and groups raising funds to help with relief. On a happier note, preparations are well underway for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and we have news of some of them. We’ve a very busy riding section this month, including point-to-point photos, while Jane Paterson hails an octogenarian still pursuing long distance rides. Our local hedging matches were well supported – we have pictures from both – as well as from pancake races, lantern parades and many other events. We take a look at East Harptree History Society’s fascinating new website and meet volunteers who have saved a countryside camp, a retreat for inner city children. Sue Gearing’s walk takes us through the bluebell woods around Compton Dando while Chris Sperring goes in search of the elusive jay. We also report on a scheme to safeguard swifts. We meet the Springer Spaniels who collect golf balls for charity! And we have a spring Focus on Cheddar feature. With all of our regular features and contributors, let’s celebrate the clocks going forward! May 2022 deadline: Friday 15th April Published: Tuesday 26th April
Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Advertising: Ann Quinn advertising@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: news@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk
Design and origination by: 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: Mendip Farmers’ point-to-point at Ston Easton. Photo by Mark Adler. See page 100.
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Heavens above – join the jubilee abseil
Flipping lovely – East Harptree pancake races
98
Signs of spring – smiles at snowdrop festival
84
A winning wave – pony races are back Plus all our regular features Environment ...................................6 Farming Nick Green .....................10 Internet and Crossword ..............16 Food & Drink ...............................18 Arts & Antiques ...........................32 Business.........................................36 Health & Family ..........................52 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......57 Walking Sue Gearing ....................58
Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........60 Gardening Mary Payne MBE.......62 Property ........................................68 Charities........................................78 Community ...................................84 Riding Jane Paterson .....................96 Caving Phil Hendy ......................101 Sport ............................................102 What’s On...................................108 MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 3
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MENDIP TIMES
Town deal projects showcased
NEWS
Axbridge awards AXBRIDGE musicians, Barry and Louise Walsh, have received civic awards for their service to the community. Barry is also well known for litter picking daily along the Axbridge bypass, come rain or shine,
Interim board chair Lynne Sedgmore (centre) with representatives of some of the 12 Town Deal projects
MORE than 350 people attended an open day event at the end of February to find out more about Glastonbury’s 12 community-led Town Deal projects. Local residents who visited Glastonbury Town Hall were able to speak to the people behind the individual projects, asking questions and sharing their thoughts and suggestions, which will feed into the business case process that is currently underway. Glastonbury is one of 101 towns in the UK to receive investment as part of the government’s Towns Fund scheme. Set to bring £23.6m of investment into the town, it received the highest award in the South West and is one of the highest per capita in England. Projects in Glastonbury range from The Life Factory – a scheme to regenerate the
Interim board chair Lynne Sedgemore says she is overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown by the project teams
iconic Red Brick Building C to provide a vibrant, shared resource for young people, businesses, learning and community uses – to the Glastonbury Community Sports and Leisure Hub project, which aims to regenerate facilities at Tor Sports and Leisure Centre to provide a new multi-use centre of excellence in the heart of the town for sports, training, education and health and wellbeing support. Others include creating a new Glastonbury Abbey piazza, redeveloping the Baily’s Buildings, Glastonbury Clean Energy, a food and regenerative farming centre and the Robert Richards Initiative – named in honour of the board’s late chair Robert Richards – to deliver 2.5kms of paths connecting the town to the Somerset Levels and Moors. Tanya Dawson, part of The Life Factory project, said: “It’s been brilliant to see so many people come through the door today, asking questions and trying to find out how the projects fit in their world. This is really the first time we’ve had a chance to talk to everyone in person because this whole process started just before the first lockdown.” The comprehensive business cases required by the government for each of the projects are currently being developed by the Glastonbury Town Deal Board, individual project teams and Mendip District Council. Business cases must be submitted to the government by the end of June 2022, with funds being released as and when the individual business cases have been approved. l A similar open day event is planned for late April or early May. Details will be published on the Glastonbury Town Deal website www.glastonburytowndeal.co.uk and social media.
Pictured (l to r) town crier Nigel Scott, BarryWalsh, Sergeant at the Mace John Hawkins and Mayor of Axbridge Kate Browne
Shepton’s new look
SHEPTON Mallet has new boundary signs, designed "to represent the town's industrial heritage, cultural vibrancy and communityfocused economy". Councillor Matt Harrison (pictured) chair of Shepton Mallet Town Council, said: "We've tried to draw together images that celebrate the many aspects of Shepton Mallet and make it such a special place. We wanted to give people a sense of arrival when they reach the town."
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MENDIP TIMES
Somerset Circle a step closer to completion A NEW section of a multi-user path in Dulcote, near Wells, has been declared officially open at a special celebration attended by Annie Maw, the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset. It marked the latest stage in a key section of the Strawberry Line which forms part of the Somerset Circle, now under construction. The path connects Wells to the Charlie Bigham’s food kitchen at Dulcote Quarry. When completed, the Somerset Circle will form a 76-mile, traffic-free circuit. Mendip District Council invested £70,000 towards the works which were commissioned by multi-user path developers Greenways and Cycleroutes, as well as a further £15,000 from Charlie Bigham’s S106 money. Preparatory clearance work was completed by Strawberry Line volunteers, who have taken on the responsibility for maintenance of the path as well as tree planting. Additional planting, landscaping and benches are to be installed shortly. The overall project was completed by local contractors, Goldings. As well as Mrs Maw – who is a wheelchair user – guests included council
Guests at the official opening of the path at Dulcote
chair Helen Sprawson-White and other council representatives, Mendip Hills AONB, Somerset County Council, Charlie Bigham’s and Strawberry Line volunteers. Ros Wyke, leader of Mendip District Council, welcomed everyone to the opening and presented the volunteer lead, Richard Jones, with a range of landscaping tools. Councillor Wyke said: “Connecting this section of path was an important milestone and is the result of commitment and collaboration over many years.
“The grand opening was an exciting opportunity for all stakeholders to meet and see the results of our hard work. “It has inspired us to continue with our goals of opening other sections of the Strawberry Line in Mendip and beyond.” Mrs Maw and John Grimshaw, founder of Sustrans and who now runs Greenways, planted a hornbeam tree at the site as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy and also to mark the 50th anniversary of the Mendip Hills AONB.
For details, visit: www.thestrawberryline.org.uk
Quarry protestors set up camp
A GROUP of people opposed to the reopening of Westdown Quarry, near Nunney, have entered their third month of living in a protest camp on the site.
Protestors gather for the walk to Westdown Quarry
Richard Mawer, one of the leading campaigners against the proposals
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The small group, which includes activists from the HS2 line, say they are also opposed to Hinkley C and the Stonehenge tunnel project. Hanson, which operates Whatley Quarry, wants to reopen Westdown to extract 160 million tonnes of limestone at a rate of two million tonnes a year.
It already has an existing planning consent to resume quarrying but needs to consolidate and update its proposals to meet current regulations. Around 100 people gathered at Asham Wood, next door to Westdown, for a second, peaceful march to the edge of the quarry. Next to Asham
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ENVIRONMENT
Guards of honour for tree legacy MEMBERS of the Glastonbury Conservation Society have planted 17 oak trees on farmland in memory of their late chairman John Brunsdon MBE. Money from John’s legacy was bequeathed to the society to carry out the work in fields below Wearyall Hill, next
The conservation society work party below Wearyall Hill
Using an earth auger to drill holes for the guards
to the A39. John, who died in January last year, was a committed conservationist and oak trees he helped to plant more than 20 years ago near Glastonbury Tor are thriving. As well as planting the trees, society members installed heavy duty steel guards around them to protect them from a herd of highland cattle which graze the land. The guards were made by nearby Bennell Engineering. John, a retired vet, was twice mayor of Glastonbury in the 44 years he served on the town council. He was also a National Trust warden for the tor and a bellringer.
Wood – a SSSI since 1963 and open to the public – are disused workings called Asham Void, which Hanson also owns and wants to reopen to store waste materials from Westdown whilst at the same time carrying out a gradual restoration of the area to encourage wildlife. No date has yet been set for Somerset County Council to consider Hanson’s application. Members of the Stop Westdown Quarry Expansion Campaign say the plan will breach the council’s climate emergency plan to be zero carbon by 2030 and is being “rushed through” ahead of the introduction of the Environment Bill in the House of Commons.
A former quarry building – nicknamed The Toblerone – in Asham Void
The guards are so heavy they require three or four people to install
Members of the Frome Blackbirds environmental group
Heading towards Westdown MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 7
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MENDIP TIMES
ENVIRONMENT
Saving swifts for future generations
I WAS astonished to hear in 2019 that swifts still nested naturally in East Harptree, south of Chew Valley Lake. Seeing them was a revelation and a call to arms. We used to see and hear our summer visitors regularly screaming as they hurtled low along Chew Magna High Street and in other villages and I realised what we had lost. The swifts nesting sites were disappearing, their lives ebbing away. I sought help and advice; the resulting project led to 17 nest boxes being put up in Chew Magna and surrounding villages through our 2021 Swift Project. Last year this iconic bird was added to the red list for endangered species. So, what is so extraordinary about Apus Apus? They live on the wing; never landing on the ground. Juveniles spend their first years in non-stop flight, migrating north from Africa each year, prospecting for a nesting place in Britain. They never touch down and will only set foot in a place to nest, when they reach breeding age at three to four years old. Swifts live in colonies that can be used by successive generations for years, even hundreds of years, usually pairing for life and returning to the same nesting place every year. Because their legs are set far back in their bodies they can only crawl up and waddle in an ungainly fashion into their nests for the time it takes to fledge their young. Then they are off again, back to their aerial lives. Swifts fly 6,000 miles twice each year on migration, flying up to 500 miles a day, following the rains for insects on which to feed. They drink by swooping low, skimming the water surface before powering up again into the heavens. They preen on the wing, mate on the wing and rise between 3-6,000 metres into the clouds to sleep on the wing. When sleeping, one half of their brain remains awake, possibly at these heights also sampling atmospheric and weather conditions for miles around. They are masters of the sky, flying at speeds of up to 69mph, the quickest recorded bird
in horizontal flight. There are accounts of pilots in low-flying early planes seeing flocks of swifts below their aircraft in the dead of night. A swift may fly the distance to the moon and back, some say three times, others up to eight times – four million miles in a lifetime. Science still does not know everything about swifts – they are truly the bird of legends. Predators cannot outfly them – they are safe in their aerial kingdom, living often to a ripe old age, so why are they on the red list? There are many factors, the most apparent being nest loss. Their homes are being destroyed. They nest in tiny cracks in stone or brickwork under the eaves or gable ends of tall buildings, often invisible to the naked eye until a bird is seen entering or leaving. But now we believe our houses should be sealed. Any hole is a defect and needs to be repaired. So the swift loses its long-term nesting site and we lose more of the world’s natural wonders. Local projects which seek to reverse these losses by encouraging swifts back to their neighbourhoods are beginning to show some success. Come the end of April we will begin to look skyward again to spot returning swifts and we will continue with our attempts to help these iconic birds by providing nest boxes. Seeing a wild creature in reality is a sight that takes the breath away. We have had a lot of advice and support from Mark Glanville, of Bristol Swifts. He and his wife Jane occasionally open their garden for the NGS, giving visitors the opportunity to see some of the swifts who regularly return there to nest. Anne-Marie Morris Chew Valley Swift Project
For more information see: www.bristolswifts.co.uk
Nightingale project is right on song WORK is underway at Carymoor Environmental Centre, in Castle Cary to encourage rare and elusive nightingales to become a resident bird on the reserve. The centre was last year awarded £96,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its Nightingale Project to create the ideal habitat for the birds, which are on the conservation Red List for endangered species. Part of the work involves laying hedges and planting eight-ten thousand blackthorn – and other scrub species – which are attractive to nightingales because the thorny ground cover acts as a deterrent to other animals that might prey on their
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eggs and young. They also like to be close to water so a nearby stretch of water called Ron’s Pond is also being restored as part of the scheme. Local farmer David Bowyer – whose family owns the Carymarsh nature reserve next to the environment centre – reported hearing a male nightingale singing in 2019 and part of the 100-acre site includes the aptly-named Nightingale Wood. Carymoor, which is approaching its 25th anniversary, is a well-established outdoor learning centre and welcomes prebooked visits by schools and other groups. New volunteers are always welcome.
For details, visit: www.carymoor.org.uk
Volunteers at work laying hedges
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MENDIP TIMES
Days of cheap food may be over
SUCCESSIVE governments have realised the value in keeping food prices low to help control inflation. With the increased global With NICK movement of food and GREEN a more concentrated group of retailers, this has aided each government. Food spend per household as a percentage of income in the UK in 1961 was 28.20%. In 2021 this had dropped to 10.80%. The cost of food has reduced in significance to almost being a disposable element. Three issues are coming which will take off whatever brake food has had on inflation. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will impact on global grain supplies. On its own, this will affect the price of anything which uses grain whether to feed animals or produce any human food which
uses flour. Russia produces a huge amount of the world’s fertiliser which won’t be available to use on various crops (including grass) around the world. This will impact on yields and mean less to go around. The public concern over global warming is influencing consumer habits and farmers are being encouraged to farm the environment rather than produce food which has the potential to reduce what is available to shoppers. In a perfect storm these three issues have the potential to disrupt global supplies to the extent those who can’t afford the food will go hungry. As a relatively wealthy nation we will see food prices increase quite quickly. The days of cheap food will disappear and I think as consumers we will need to think more about our own food security and, dare I say it, go back to how our predecessors shopped in the 1960s, local and seasonal. On a more positive note the North Somerset Show is being held on the first
May Bank Holiday. As well as it being an event which welcomes anyone with an interest in farming, food and the environment, it is part of many farmers’ “social season”. Global pandemics allowing, these agricultural shows are fixtures in the farming calendar and a date when farmers know they can have a day away from the farm and enjoy the fruits of theirs and others labours.
Nick Green 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.
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FARMING
Various positions available: Parts and Service Personnel • Technician/Engineer. No previous experience required as full training will be provided. To apply or for more information please contact James 07740 179725 MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 11
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MENDIP TIMES
RECO JCB – where great minds think alike
FARMING
Two of the South West’s most successful farm machinery companies have joined forces to establish the country’s first dedicated JCB agricultural dealership.
RECO JBC, based on the A37 near Gurney Slade, is the result of a long-standing friendship between Nick Heal of Redlynch Tractors, of Bruton, and the owners of Compass Tractors, of Bridgwater, Justin Nichols and Richard Parris. They decided to join forces when the JCB dealership franchise became available last year and realised the former car showroom and garage offered the ideal location for the new venture’s HQ. The site is run by Nick’s son, Louis, and boasts extensive workshop facilities and parts storage, with a 15-strong team, some of whom work out of either Redlynch’s depots or Compass’s base to serve area. Both companies continue to offer an extensive range of machinery by other manufacturers such as Fendt, Valtra and Krone, as well as parts and servicing, with RECO JCB managing JCB for both. RECO JCB covers all of Somerset and Dorset as well as a large part of Wiltshire, with five depots accessible to JCB customers. Louis said: “Around this time last year, the dealership became available and JCB approached us to see if we were interested in taking it on. “Although Redlynch and Compass might be seen to be neighbouring competing dealers, there is an historic working relationship and it was decided to form a stand-alone company, RECO JCB from the get-go. Being a sole manufacturer dealer, it allows us to concentrate on providing the best JCB has to offer without any distractions, almost as a specialist status.” There are some familiar faces at the Gurney Slade site. Rob Uphill, who used to run Uphill Machinery at Chewton Mendip, is involved and others include his sister Claire, who is the office manager, Alice Tucker, who is a parts adviser, and service engineer Steve Gibbs; the latter three both used to work for Smart Agri. The first machine to leave the RECO site went to the Pennys Group who acquired a TM420S telescopic wheel loader for their plant at Green Ore. Louis said: “The response from customers has been very positive and this is an ideal location. We’ve still got some more work to do here, but JCB is a brand known worldwide and that is a real bonus. It’s easily recognisable and there is no mistaking what we do. We’re hoping to organise an
open day very soon, so watch this space. “It’s also a new venture for JBC too; we’re the only dedicated JCB agricultural dealer in the UK!” RECO JCB’s first public “appearance” was at last year’s Frome Cheese Show and RECO plans to have stands at all the major agricultural shows in 2022, including next month’s North Somerset Show, the Mid-Somerset (they were one of the sponsors of the show society’s recent hedge laying competition), Frome Cheese Show and the Dairy Show. Louis says it’s an exciting time for the dealership, with JCB – being the market leader which has been making agricultural equipment since 1945 – launching a series of electric-powered machines such as the 525-60E Loadall Telehandler and an electric dumpster as well as investing £100 million in hydrogen technology. He added: “JCB are a very progressive company, always looking to the future. There are many pioneering products within the range and it’s great to represent them. “With so much emphasis on becoming carbon neutral, electric technology is the ‘here, now and available’, but longer-term, hydrogen is going to become the fuel of the future for the agricultural industry, with them being able to farm the fuel they use.”
Reco hand over their first machine to the Pennys Group
Claire Uphill at work in the offices
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Louis Heal at the RECO JCB base at Gurney Slade
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MENDIP TIMES
North Somerset Show is nearly here
IT is roughly a month until the return of the North Somerset Show, which will welcome traders, exhibitors, society members and the general public to their beautiful showground in Flax Bourton on Monday, May 2nd. The organisation of the show is nearly completed and they are getting ready to send out the exhibitor passes and all the further information about the attractions. Show secretary, Tim Ledbury, said: “For me the excitement is building, I have missed the anticipation of the show and the challenges that it brings. “Having missed the last two years I am pleased to say that we can once again offer a fantastic day out for all the family. With the livestock, horses, tractor pulling and the countryside area all returning as well as the fantastic local produce in our food hall. “A must-watch is the North Somerset Strongman competition. We have a good number of competitors so watch out for their profiles on our Facebook page.” Advance tickets are available and are selling really well so take advantage of the discounted prices by going to their website. Details: www.nsas.org.uk
Young farmers support Ukraine
NORTH Somerset Young Farmers held a tractor run which raised £1,594.57 split between the Farming Community Network and refugee aid in Ukraine. It was organised by Jay Alvis, Sam Webb, Eleanor Thatcher and Alice Joyner, and all of the North Somerset young farmers’ members.
NEWS
Rose’s gift to the homeless
A SPECIAL rose has been created in memory of Jennifer Rose Sell and will be launched at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show with the proceeds of each sale going to the BillyChip foundation for the homeless. The former Norton Hill student died in a car crash in 2019 at the age of 20. Friends, together with her family, Janice, Colin and brother Sam, decided a rose would be a fitting tribute to someone who was so gifted, creative and a keen lover of nature. Much of the money raised came from the sale of knitted roses that were made by hundreds of people across the country. Covid put a stop to any further fundraising but by then the target had already been exceeded. Despite the pandemic, the family continued liaising with David White at Harkness Roses to cultivate and grow the special rose in Jenny’s name. It will be launched at the Chelsea Flower Show which runs from May 24th-28th. The rose will then go on sale nationwide. Jenny’s mum said: “A few ladies have recently sent me ‘bunches’ of spare knitted and crocheted roses left over from the fundraising campaign. I have been pinning them to tape to make Rose bunting in readiness for our local Rose launch events which we are planning for this summer. “Thank you to all who made just one or many. You have helped make this wonderful idea and tribute to our lovely Jenny into a reality.” The BillyChip foundation is a local charity created by the family of Billy Abernethy-Hope, from Bishop Sutton, who died in a motorcycle accident in Thailand, also aged 20. It is expanding rapidly across the country. It was Billy’s idea before he died to find a way to support homeless people by giving them tokens to exchange for food and drink to overcome the reluctance of people to give them money. Both families says they believe both Jenny and Billy would wholeheartedly approve.
Tractors take to the road
WELLS and Glastonbury Young Farmers Club is organising its first tractor run to raise money for research into Motor Neurone Disease and club funds. The run takes place on Sunday, April 3rd, from Melsbury Farm at Polsham, near Wells. All are welcome to take part. Tractors should arrive at 11am for an 11.30am start. l It costs £10 per tractor. For details, find Wells and Glastonbury Young Farmers on Facebook.
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Some of those left over
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INTERNET
Making the most of phones
WE are spending more and more time on our phones or perhaps it is more accurate to call them mobile computers - although sometimes they feel more like advertising billboards! The latest ones are as powerful as the desk top computers of a few years ago. Prices have risen dramatically yet many With NICK get limited use from them and to some they SPARKS are still just used as phones. So maybe we should make an effort to ensure we are getting our money’s worth from them. A collection of useful apps come with the new phone. Contacts, email, calender/diary, camera, gallery, news, weather, navigation (GPS) etc., but do we use them? And these are only the tip of the iceberg. In the App Store there are literally tens of thousands more. It takes a quick search within the store to find ones relating to all manner of subjects and countless hobbies, from knitting to bell ringing, gardening to amateur radio. Many are free, some you have to pay for. And arguably the most important feature on your device is the search facility which appears in many guises in many apps. Just the four ones outlined below highlight the extraordinary amount of information almost instantly accessible to us via that small device in our pocket. The Wikipedia app gives search access to an online open source encyclopaedia currently approximately equivalent to over 3,000 volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica and still growing. It has been estimated that the YouTube app gives you access to 149 billion videos ranging from full feature films to self-help and DIY videos, not to mention games, and shorts from up and coming film makers, with some four billion being added each month. Great if you need to be shown how to change a tap washer or repair a diesel fuel pump for example. The IMDb app gives access to the Internet Movie database, which aims to list details of every movie and TV show ever made. It currently has details from about eight million titles. Originally started by a movie enthusiast it is now accepted as the go-to reference on the subject worldwide. The Shazam app is capable of recognising Songs and Music via the device’s microphone supplying the name of the artist, title and other details from its database of 15 billion songs. The figures above are estimates drawn from various sources via Google searches. The amount of data available to us is truly staggering, so happy searching and just as a reminder, if you only add one app to your phone make it’s the St John First Aid manual, you may never use it but… This article is for guidance only and the opinion of the writer. I.T. for the Terrified it4ttcvh@gmail.com Submitted for IT for the Terrified by Nick Sparks. Although we have now ceased our one to one tuition, a number of us will continue with this column under the heading "IT for the Terrified" to keep the name alive for the time being.
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CROSSWORD
The Mendip Mindbender
ACROSS 1 Remove the covering of a present (6) 5 Name of a palace given to 1st Duke of Marlborough for his success in battle (8) 9 Capital of India (3,5) 10 Light, porous form of solidified lava (6) 11 Rearranging what you have already done (12) 13 Latin word for water (4) 14 A portable, leather container for Rioja say (8) 17 Knock about and stir meat stew (8) 18 Tributary of the R.Parrett partly lending its name to a railway station at the Heart of the Wessex line (4) 20 Seaport and capital of Haiti (4-2-6) 23 23a & 22d Name of the Member of Parliament for Yeovil (6,) 24 Homeric, epic journeys (8) 25 Throw overboard (8) 26 Rude, lewd, or crude (6)
DOWN 2 Desideratum, indigence (4) 3 Informal name for a robin (9) 4 All residents of this village receive a free ticket to Glastonbury Festival (6) 5 Which football team (with added “e”) play at Fairfax Park? (11,4) 6 Train next open champion (8) 7 The organic component of soil (5) 8 Pyromaniac, fire raiser (10) 12 Use ambiguous or evasive language (10) 15 Heir apparent, next in line (9) 16 Solicits, pleads for, adjures (8) 19 A protein that promotes chemical change without being affected in the reaction (6) 21 Inside Calcutta City agreement was taken as read (5) 22 See 23 across (4) Clues in italics are cryptic
This month’s solution can be found on page 102
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Funding access for the future SOME 5.5km of new multi-user access has just been created to plug a huge gap in the access network between Charterhouse and Priddy! Once opened, this wonderful new route will link these two communities together and provide safe, quiet recreation for the people who choose to visit this part of the Mendip Hills AONB: walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, and those with limited mobility or visual impairments. This permissive route will connect not just the communities of Charterhouse and Priddy with each other, but will also allow users to go on to Cheddar, Westbury, Chewton Mendip, Blagdon, and Winscombe. Once upon a time, there were no cars, no tractors, and no roads. The communities of the Mendip Hills were dominated by agriculture and lead mining, and the spider’s web of paths across the farmland was a vital lifeline for people and communities. Many of these historic paths and tracks are still in existence and although the commute to work may have changed, they are a valuable resource for local communities and visitors to the Mendip Hills AONB. There are 440km of public rights of way across the AONB, and they are a huge draw for visitors who want to enjoy this nationally important landscape. These networks also support local families and communities, allowing people to explore and learn about their local heritage, and giving members of the community freedom to enjoy the landscape around their homes. The pandemic taught us all how important access to the outdoors was to our mental and physical wellbeing, and this legacy left by generations past is a huge gift to us now. That isn’t to say that there aren’t some problems with the network. Stiles that were a quick way to cross stone walls for farm workers can now be barriers to accessing a path for those with restricted mobility; routes that
50 Trees for 50 Years
MENDIP HILLS AONB
cut straight though fields now sometimes cause conflict between landowner and user and in some places there is no access at all. Navigating the responsibilities of maintaining public rights of way can be challenging. Through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, the Mendip Hills AONB Unit has been working with landowners to identify gaps in the rights of way network and places where access can be improved for all members of the local community. Working with landowners and the relevant authorities it is trying to identify and resolve issues to ensure the rights off way network works for landowners and provides an enjoyable way for all users to access the landscape. Funding for projects to create new strategic access multi-user routes is available through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme. For those with existing rights of way on their land, funding is also available for enhancements above and beyond any statutory requirements – this can include upgrading access furniture to allow more people to use the route, putting biodiversity loss mitigation in place along the route, or corridoring the route off in some instances. If you are a landowner with rights of way across your land and want more information on how to manage the access route, contact your local council’s Public Rights of Way team, or look at their website to see if they have a guide. If you are walking/cycling/horse-riding in the Mendip Hills AONB, familiarise yourself with the Countryside Code and your responsibilities to look after the landscape. The Mendip Hills AONB website has guidance available for dog walkers and other users, a link to the green traveller guide for the area, and a few suggestions for incredible routes if you are looking to branch out from your usual haunts.
TO mark the 50th anniversary of the Mendip Hills being designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the Mendip Hills AONB Unit is working with local people and landowners to plant 50 special trees, thanks to funding from Network Rail and support from The Tree Council. A range of native species are being planted at suitable locations across the area. Field Maple and Hornbeam are being planted in Sandford with the Parish Council and Mendip Activity Centre, whilst English Oak has been planted in Bleadon, Churchill, and East Harptree by the local Environment Group. Common Beech and Rowan are two species that have been planted on the exposed top of the Mendip Plateau, as well as two sites managed by The Mendip Society. In addition, a Scots Pine has been planted near Shipham, with Sweet Chestnut trees planted in Priddy, Cheddar, and Burrington C of E Primary School. Some of the 50 trees have also been planted along public rights of way on farmland, on Wildlife Trust nature reserves, and at Chew Valley Lake visitor centre with Bristol Water.
50th anniversary
Fifty years ago, on February 14th, 1972, the announcement was made that the Mendip Hills would be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and signed by the Secretary of State on December 1st, 1972. The AONB team are planning a series of exciting activities throughout the year to help people share their love for the area in recognition of the 50th anniversary.
Megan Godley Farming Engagement Officer Farming in Protected Landscapes Mendip Hills AONB Charterhouse Centre, BS40 7XR Office telephone: 01761 462338 Email: megan@mendiphillsaonb.org.uk www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 17
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MENDIP TIMES
Time to think about going al fresco
With KATY BEAUCHAMP
FOOD & DRINK
British Summertime is here (hooray) and spring has definitely sprung. And now we have the Easter holidays to look forward to, so here are some recipes which – if the weather is kind – would be perfect for enjoying outdoors with friends and family.
AVOCADO LOAF
Using your loaf – avocado bread for breakfast or lunch
This is a great recipe if you have some over-ripe avocados which need using up. Top with poached eggs for breakfast or soft garlic cheese for lunch, served with salad. METHOD Mash the avocado and then combine with the remaining ingredients. Spoon into a lined loaf tin and cook at 160°C for 45 minutes. Turn onto a cooling rack. Leave to cool and enjoy.
INGREDIENTS
(makes eight-ten slices) 2 ripe avocados (approx. 175gms) 100gms finely diced halloumi or crumbled feta cheese 130gms self raising flour 3 chopped spring onions Salt and pepper
PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
MINTY LAMB CHOPS
A quick Easter meal, here made just for two, but increase quantities to feed a family gathering. I’ve paired them with a potato hash. METHOD Combine stuffing mix and mint jelly; spread it over each chop. Bake in the oven at 160°C until the lamb is cooked to your liking (I cooked mine for 15 mins). Meanwhile, fry potatoes in butter on a low heat for about five minutes. Add pepper, onion and garlic and cook for a further ten minutes, stirring frequently. Add peas, sweetcorn, lemon juice, salt and pepper (to taste) and cook for a further two minutes. Use as a bed for the chops.
These chops are mint whether for two or a party
INGREDIENTS
(for two) 4 lamb chops 2 tbs packet stuffing mix 1 tbs mint jelly 2 potatoes finely chopped ½ red pepper finely chopped ½ onion finely chopped 2tbs frozen peas 2tbs frozen sweetcorn 15gms butter 1 clove garlic Salt and pepper Squeeze of lemon juice
CHOCOLATE CUSTARD PUDDING
Children would have great fun helping to make these
This is a very easy recipe which can become as decadent and indulgent as you wish, from making your own custard with double cream to adding strawberries and truffles. METHOD Pour custard into a saucepan and add chopped chocolate. Heat gently until melted. Take off the heat and stir occasionally as the chocolate custard cools. When at room temperature, stir in the “extras” (I’ve used white chocolate chop cookies). Divide into portions (I used pretty teacups). Chill until ready to serve.
INGREDIENTS
(makes ten small portions) 1l vanilla custard (shopbought is fine) 300gms chocolate (dark, milk or light) chopped (Optional) Add other items of choice such as bananas, strawberries, crumbled cookies – even mini eggs!
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MENDIP TIMES
eat:Festivals – get your diaries ready for a great day out
LOOKING for a great day out celebrating local food and drink? primary producers and a focus on local and the best of a great day out – free entry, lots for all the family, entertainment, Then your search is over… This spring, the team behind the social enterprise eat:Festivals demos, talks, masterclasses and a hundred-plus top notch local food and drink producers.” are curating and creating eight brilliant free days out in town centres in Somerset and Dorset. l The team are always looking for new ways to develop the Bev and Sarah Milner Simonds, who launched eat;Festivals festivals and include new producers. This year there are ten free in their home town of Burnham-on-Sea, say: “The festivals places for brand new producers available through The Bursary, have to be of the place we are working – we respect our host sponsored by Thatchers Cider. towns and want to showcase them. “The festivals have to be rooted in the local food and drink producers we bring into town. We aren’t like some touring circus pitching up with an identikit of traders, caterers and chefs off the TV. This is about the town and the productive countryside that surrounds it.” Strong words, and ones that have attracted national attention and awards for their efforts to encourage people to understand more about where their food and drink comes from and to choose local where possible. Working in partnership with businesses and councils, the team develop a festival in the heart of the town with up to 120 primary producers forming large outdoor markets and with community venues hosting workshops and demos. Bev and Sarah add: “We think eat:Festivals are unique. They are like the best bits of an agricultural show – giant tractors, The first eat:Festivals event in Castle Cary in 2019 livestock and real farmers, with the best of a farmers' market – For details, visit: www.eatfestivals.org
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WILD FOOD
What’s in a name?
NAMES are useful, aren’t they, but they can either help identify or indeed mislead. Let’s take a useful example of a plant with edible roots that once prepared gives a warming drink, just what’s needed after working outside on a cold spring day. And the name of this drink: Dandelion coffee! Dandelion With ADRIAN must have been very popular as it has many BOOTS names. Known by the French as “dent de lion” (lion’s teeth), this is where our common name originated. It has some lovely old names such as “golden suns” and “fairy-clocks” referring to the bright orange flower head and later seeding. Indeed the Latin name means “the official cure for all ailments”. Rather more unfortunately it is also known as “pissenlit” by the French and “wet-a-bed” in Somerset, alluding to this plant’s reputed diuretic and detoxification abilities. No doubt alarming some poor soul expecting a cure for a tickly throat. Dandelion (Taxacum officinale) is a perennial plant with lobed and serrated leaves forming a rosette at the base with a hollow stem up to 35cm in height producing a white sap when broken. It has flower heads 3060mm cross, consisting of many fine bright yellow/orange petals. Seen March to October and found commonly in grassy areas of all kinds, they are most accessible in your garden. To collect and prepare dandelion root for coffee, first dig up the roots, wash to remove the soil and dry, cut into small pieces and leave to begin desiccating in a well ventilated area (at least twothree days). Roast the root pieces on a baking tray in the centre of an oven on a medium heat for at least an hour. Once cooled, finely grate or grind. When you are ready to drink, pour hot water over a good tablespoon of your preparation and leave steeping for a few minutes. Strain before drinking. After all that processing effort how would one describe the taste of dandelion coffee and does the nomenclature live up to the experience? Don’t worry, I can save you the bother because if you were expecting something tasting of coffee you will be, ah, bitterly disappointed. Actually bitter is the only thing in common with actual coffee apart from being a hot liquid in a cup, so maybe it should be renamed dandelion bitter? Or would that get confused with beer? Oh, what’s in a name… 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.
FOOD & DRINK
GARDEN FOOD
Cauliflower recipe
CAULIFLOWER is something I've grown to love more and more over the years. In theory cauliflowers are in season all year round, but we particularly enjoy growing “spring heading” types that are sown in the summer for use the following spring, With JAKE as they arrive nicely within the WHITSON hungry gap and the over-wintered plants aren't as troubled by pests and diseases. We start them in little plugs in mid to late summer, before planting out in early autumn to overwinter. Cauliflowers like a rich soil, freely draining, but don't like drying out. Small, deformed heads are usually the result of growth being checked at some point. I really like cauliflowers with spice – my go-to recipe would be to rub the florets and small leaves in a little oil and lots of curry powder, and roast them in a hot oven until tender and a little bit crispy around the edges. The mild flesh is the perfect foil to a spicy coating. The recent trend for “cauliflower wings” has caught my attention and I think would work really well – the fibrous texture of the stems is a little reminiscent of chicken – but I haven't tried it yet. I did however recently try Olia Hercules’ recipe for Ukrainian cauliflower fritters, which was excellent. To make it cook the florets and leaves from one small cauliflower in salted boiling water for a few minutes until tender (the leaves can come out sooner) and refresh them in cold water. Then make a batter with one egg beaten into 100ml of whole milk, and then whisk in 60g of buckwheat flour (normal flour will do in a pinch). Dip the florets into the batter and shallow fry for a few minutes on each side, then transfer to an oven dish and place in an oven set to around 150c while you cook the rest. I find that the spell in the oven helps cook through the batter a little better. Enjoy hot, with some homemade mayonnaise spiked with dill and garlic. Jacob Whitson is a chef, food writer and smallholder – he divides his time between the Mendips and Pembrokeshire.
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 21
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MENDIP TIMES
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FOOD & DRINK
Country shopping at its best
North Widcombe, West Harptree, Bristol BS40 6HW
Opening times: Farm shop: 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat, 9am-4pm Sundays Tea Room: 9am-5.30pm all week
Wheelchair access, children welcome, free parking, coaches by appointment
TEA ROOMS
Hot & cold meals Delicious cream teas Full English breakfasts Function room available for hire
MEAT SUPPLIED FROM OUR OWN FARM
Barbecue time with our home-produced meat
Emma Bridgewater China & other gifts
Enjoy a good Sunday roast
Reduce plastic – with our reusable glass milk bottles
Farm Shop: 01761 220067 • Tea Rooms: 01761 220172
We’ve got it covered Mendip Times Distribution Points
Coverage
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.
ALHAMPTON ASHCOTT AXBRIDGE BALTONSBOROUGH BACKWELL BADGWORTH BANWELL BARROW GURNEY BARTON ST. DAVID BASON BRIDGE BAWDRIP BECKINGTON BISHOP SUTTON BLACKFORD BLAGDON BLEADON BRENT KNOLL BROCKLEY BRUTON BURCOTT BURNHAM-ON-SEA BURRINGTON BURTLE BUTLEIGH CAMERTON CASTLE CARY CATCOTT CHARTERHOUSE CHEDDAR CHELYNCH CHEW MAGNA CHEW STOKE CHEWTON MENDIP CHILCOMPTON CHILTON POLDEN CHURCHILL CLAVERHAM
CLEEVE CLUTTON COCKLAKE COLEFORD COMPTON DANDO COMPTON DUNDON COMPTON MARTIN CONGRESBURY COSSINGTON COXLEY CRANMORE CROSCOMBE CROSS DITCHEAT DRAYCOTT DUNBALL DUNDRY EAST HARPTREE EAST HUNTSPILL EASTON EDINGTON EDITHMEAD EMBOROUGH EVERCREECH FARMBOROUGH FARRINGTON GURNEY FAULKLAND FELTON FLAX BOURTON FROME GLASTONBURY GREEN ORE GURNEY SLADE HALLATROW HIGH LITTLETON HINTON BLEWETT HIGHBRIDGE
HEWISH HOLCOMBE HUNSTRETE HUTTON KEINTON MANDEVILLE KILMERSDON KNOWLE LANGFORD LEIGH on MENDIP LITTON LOCKING LONG ASHTON LYDFORD ON FOSSE LYMPSHAM MARK MARKSBURY MASBURY MELLS MIDSOMER NORTON NAILSEA NETTLEBRIDGE NORTH WOOTTON NORTON MALREWARD NORTON ST PHILIP NUNNEY OAKHILL PAULTON PAWLETT PENSFORD PILTON POLSHAM PRIDDY PURITON PYLLE RADSTOCK REDHILL REGIL
= catchment area
RICKFORD RODE RODNEY STOKE ROOKSBRIDGE ROWBERROW SANDFORD SHEPTON MALLET SHIPHAM SOMERTON STANDERWICK STANTON DREW STANTON WICK STOKE ST MICHAEL STONE ALLERTON STRATTON ON THE FOSSE STREET
TARNOCK TEMPLE CLOUD TICKENHAM TIMSBURY TRUDOXHILL TYTHERINGTON UBLEY UPHILL VOBSTER WALTON WANSTROW WATCHFIELD WEARE WEDMORE WELLOW WELLS
WEST HARPTREE WESTHAY WESTONZOYLAND WEST PENNARD WESTBURY SUB MENDIP WEST HUNTSPILL WHITCHURCH WINFORD WINSCOMBE WITHAM FRIARY WOOKEY WOOKEY HOLE WOOLAVINGTON WRINGTON WRITHLINGTON YATTON
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 23
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MENDIP TIMES
College karaoke raises funds for refugees
FROME College held karaoke sessions and a football tournament to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees. A total of nearly £200 was added to
Frome Town Council’s JustGiving campaign, which will support Ukrainian refugees who are staying in Frome’s twin town of Rabka, Poland.
Karaoke session
Toiletries and supplies donated by the college community have gone to RAISE, Refugee Action in Somerset East, for delivery in Ukraine.
Details: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ukrainianappealftc
Rotary collection
ROTARY Nailsea and Backwell held a bucket collection outside Waitrose in Nailsea Shopping Precinct for the people of Ukraine, raising over £2,900 in two days. Secretary, Alan Davies, said: “We never cease to be amazed by the generosity and commitment of local people in disastrous circumstances.” Details: https://www.rotaryribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=6 13 • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nandbrotary
PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
Wells community shows its support
WELLS Rotary and Wells Lions were out together in the High Street collecting donations for Ukraine with collecting tins also placed in a number of shops and bars. They collected more than £12,000. Rotary president, Wendy Ray, said: "It is absolutely amazing to see the generosity of our Wells community." The money will be sent via the Rotary International network to help purchase medical trauma equipment. Part of this amount was £1,600 that Wells Cathedral raised from donations at their Sunday Eucharist service. Wendy said: “A huge thank you to everyone for helping the Ukrainian people. It is heartbreaking to see photos and hear of the terrible plight they are in, suffering beyond imagination.” Details: Anyone wanting to make a donation can contact Wendy 07787 874198
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SUPPORTING UKRAINE
CD sale at concert
Medics launch trauma box appeal
PAUL and Rachel Branston’s new work, Reflections, originally meant to take place in St Bartholomew’s Church in Ubley in January, was finally performed at the beginning of March as part of the Eco-Hub launch at the church. The couple are pictured (left) with some of the singers. They were able to send £250 to the Red Cross for Ukraine, thanks to the sale of CDs.
Dr Chris Howes at the FMS base in Evercreech
Sculpture auction success
SCULPTOR Cathy Judge, from Chewton Mendip, has auctioned one of her pieces in aid of the Disaster Emergency Committee’s appeal for Ukraine. Dog's Best Friend usually sells for £250, but a bidder paid £1,100. Cathy said: “I’m amazed it raised so much. I'm even happier to have paid it into NatWest who, like the Government, are currently doubling up making it a whopping £2,200! Thank you to those who bid high encouraging others to go higher.”
Red Cross donations
LANGPORT and District Red Cross collected £1,215.50 from shoppers at Langport Tesco for the Red Cross Ukraine appeal. The group’s shop in the town has so far received £3,319.50 in donations for the appeal. Group leader, Chris Cox, said: “All of this will support our fellow Red Cross volunteers in the countries affected by the war.”
A MEDICAL charity which provides support at Glastonbury Festival and other major events has launched an urgent appeal for donations to buy vital trauma boxes to be sent to frontline doctors and nurses treating casualties in Ukraine. Festival Medical Services, based in Evercreech, says medical staff in the war-torn country have requested specific items to help them prevent further loss of life. FMS founder and MD, Dr Chris Howes, said: “We are a medical charity based here in Mendip and like everyone else we have been appalled by the terrible ordeal the people of Ukraine are going through. “We have been in touch with colleagues in the country and have a list of the equipment they urgently need to treat the most severely injured casualties of the war. “We are assembling trauma boxes containing the essential kit they have asked for and have arranged for these to be delivered direct to the doctors who will be putting them to good use. We hope the generous people of Somerset will help us.” Chris added: “It’s not much, but it’s something and this kind of targeted aid has the best chance of making a difference.” To donate, visit: https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/Medical_Boxes_ Ukraine#
Donation to help Ukraine
MEMBERS of the Wells Twinning Association voted at their annual meeting to send £1,000 to help refugees from Ukraine who have arrived in Poland. This followed an appeal from Jaroslaw Kielar, the mayor of Kluczbork, a town in Poland with which Wells has a friendship agreement. Kluczbork is accommodating hundreds of Ukrainian refugees, but has also sent three truckloads of humanitarian supplies to its Ukrainian twin town, Berezhany, in the west of the country. Dawn Payne, newly-elected chair of WTA, said: “This is a clear example of twinning making an impact. Sending money to help our friends in Kluczbork who are doing so much to support Ukrainian refugees is something we can do from a distance.”
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 25
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MENDIP TIMES
SUPPORTING UKRAINE
Rural communities come together to support refugees COMMUNITIES around the Mendip area have been rallying to support the people of Ukraine in whatever way they can, with aid supplies, cash donations and offers of accommodation when they arrive. Some 20 people from villages throughout the Chew and Yeo Valleys attended a meeting held in Chew Magna to discuss how they could work together to provide social support of all kinds, as well as accommodation, for the refugees. The meeting was organised by Sarah Diacono from Chew Magna with support from her husband Noel and friends David and Fiona Tonkin. The attendees discussed how they could work together to plan to support the many social as well as medical, psychological, transport and accommodation needs of the mainly women, children and elderly people among these new refugees. The organisations which already exist that have experience of
Fiona and David Tonkin (left) and Sarah Diacono
Some of those at the meeting
supporting refugees and asylum seekers are based in larger towns and cities for good reason; cities are where most newly arrived people seeking sanctuary live because public transport is good and they can more easily travel to work and to meet others who speak their language. One of the attendees said: “In this emergency, especially as so many very large houses in rural areas have space to spare, we’re hoping that we can work together to accommodate these people in our peaceful rural communities and yet ensure that they don’t feel isolated here by helping them to access most of the support that they’re likely to need.” The group includes both people planning to host refugees and others, unable to offer accommodation, but with some of the wider range of skills needed to support them. They are asking for anyone, who would like to offer accommodation or help of any kind, to get in touch, see below. They are particularly keen to hear from Ukrainian or Russian speakers.
If you’re interested in hosting refugees, and perhaps already struggling with the application process, contact: Sarah 07769 725542 or email sjldiacono@gmail.com If you can offer any other support, contact: Fiona or David 01275 332885 or email dafitonk1@gmail.com
A NEW group, Paulton Supports Ukraine, had the idea that if all 5,302 residents in Paulton was able to donate £2 then they would meet their target of raising £10,604 for the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine appeal. They gave themselves a short timescale of only two weeks to raise the funds. Starting with a JustGiving page, it then snowballed from ribbon making sessions to a community event, a raffle and lots of local businesses supporting the cause. The total raised so far is more than £15,000. Revealing this at the community event, the Rev Adam Pitt led a moment’s silence to show our thoughts and solidarity were with the people of Ukraine. Mel Rich, one of the organisers said: “It’s been wonderful to see so many people in and around Paulton finding ways to contribute to this appeal. “We’ve been brought together in so many ways and managed to show our support for the people suffering in Ukraine in a
really meaningful way. I’m so proud of our community.” The JustGiving page is still live and growing with donations and the sale of ribbons across the Somer Valley continues.
Details: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraisingpaultonwithukraine
PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
(Photograph courtesy of Rose Dedman)
Paulton’s unique fundraising appeal
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EVENTS
World Book Day
East Harptree
Bishop Sutton
Cameley
Chew Stoke winners
Ubley
Stanton Drew
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 27
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MENDIP TIMES
An orchard for the future
FAMILIES gathered on the recreation field in Holcombe to plant 50 fruit trees as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy campaign. The planting was the first in a series of events being planned to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June. Holcombe Parish Council chairman Simon Brand organised the planting with the trees funded by a grant from Somerset County Council’s Climate Emergency Fund. They were selected and supplied by the team at Rocky Mountain Garden Centre and include several varieties of apple and pear along with cherry, plum and a walnut tree.
Elsie and mum Louise plant a pear tree Violet, aged four, with a Braeburn apple tree she had just planted
A family celebration as Paul Leat marked his 82nd birthday with wife Avril (front right), granddaughter Emma and great grandchildren Jess, Caitlin, Paige and Oliver
Alfie gets to work once the trees are planted
David Hirst prepares to plant a James Grieve apple tree
Sharon and David plant a Golden Delicious apple tree PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
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A right royal abseil
PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
Cranmore’s canopy contribution
The Bishop of Taunton and the Dean of Wells with the Mayor of Wells, organisers and abseilers
ENTRIES have opened for one of the most unusual ways to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – abseiling 124 feet from the top of the north-west tower of Wells Cathedral. Organisers SOS Africa and Aardvark Endeavours want abseilers to dress up in royal regalia for the event, taking place over two weekends in June. The freefall abseil will raise funds for the charity itself, Wells Cathedral and the Forever Friends Appeal. It follows the successes of the 2019 event during which 350 fundraisers raised an incredible £60,000. The abseil was initially scheduled to take place in autumn 2021 but had to be postponed due to rapidly increased Covid-19 infection rates. It will now take place on Saturday, June 4th and Sunday, June 5th and from Friday, June 10th to Sunday, June 12th. For details, visit: https://www.sosafrica.com/wellscathedralcharityabseil
WI members in Jill’s Close for the planting of the silver birch
STRAWBERRY Line Women’s Institute, based in Cranmore, followed a village tradition for planting trees in its community green space with a silver birch to become part of The Queen’s Green Canopy to mark her platinum year. An ash tree from the village’s Millennium planting and a cherry to mark the 2012 Diamond Jubilee are still thriving; the silver birch replacing trees felled due to disease. SLWI is fully back in action with monthly meetings in the village hall. New members and visitors are welcome and the branch is planning an open musical meeting in June to celebrate the jubilee – as it says, any excuse for a dance and dress up! For details, visit: www.strawberrylinewi.co.uk or find them on Facebook at strawberrylinewi-Cranmore
Trust meets its tree target
A YEAR-long campaign has paid off in Peasedown St John to plant 500 trees for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The Peasedown Community Trust set itself the target last year to mark the historic occasion. Trust Chairman, Gavin Heathcote, said: “Since we launched our tree planting initiative in March 2021, we’ve been overwhelmed with residents wanting to ‘do their bit’. With a further 164 trees planted in people’s gardens last week, we’ve now hit our 500 target!” Campaign group, More Trees for B&NES, who supplied the majority of the trees, have coordinated the planting of almost 10,000 trees across the district since the group was established in 2008. Details: www.facebook.com/PeasedownCommunityTrust
Jubilee border
A NEW border has been planted on the village green in Temple Cloud for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June. It was planted by members of the Temple Cloud in Bloom group, which meets once a month and would welcome more volunteers. One of the group, Jenny Cleeve, said: “All the hard work over the years is really beginning to show as you walk around the village particularly the many daffodils and spring plants.”
Details: Facebook or tcibinfo@yahoo.com
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 29
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MENDIP TIMES
NEWS
Planning for the future
THE village of Farrington Gurney has been put under the spotlight by students from the University of Bath. Students across departments volunteered to undertake a survey of the village in one of the university’s innovative Vertically Integrated Projects, which look at real life problems and opportunities. The survey found 87.6% of residents said that “climate change and nature loss are real challenges facing us today” and 83.6% think “it’s important to take action now”. The study was led by Professor Margaret Heffernan, a Farrington Gurney resident and parish council member, and Senior Lecturer in Sustainability, Kostas Iatrides. Some of the findings were: • 75% of respondents expressed interest in generating energy locally • 82% expressed interest in a cycle/footpath from the village to Midsomer Norton and ranked this as the most beneficial way project to reduce car usage • With most households having two cars, 55% of the village doesn’t use public transport, primarily because the timetable is unreliable and the cost is high
Sharing the results
• 53.4% of residents want more trees planted. Students will now design projects to address some of these needs. The data will also be shared with BANES and the West of England Combined Authority to try to ensure that the voice of one small village gets heard. According to the university’s Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh almost 60% of the measures needed will require some behaviour change by consumers. That means reducing each person’s carbon footprint from 8.5 tonnes of carbon to 2.5 tonnes by 2030. The first steps will focus on the biggest sources of carbon emissions: transport and energy.
Red Rebels in silent protest
EXTINCTION Rebellion campaigners known as the Red Rebels joined a group of Quakers in a climate change demonstration in Wells. The Red Rebels, who never speak, walked in procession up the High Street to the West Front of Wells Cathedral.
“Breather days” to begin in Frome
PART of Frome town centre is to be pedestrianised on a series of Saturdays between May and September in a town council project called Green Breather Days. The council first unveiled the proposal earlier this year and held a public meeting to gauge feedback. It says that, without cars, the town will be able to breathe in cleaner air and more people will be able to explore and enjoy Frome by foot. The closure of the Market Place will create a new public space in the town which can be used for various activities. The consultation led to a handful of changes to the original proposals. To reflect the needs of businesses and residents living on Catherine Hill, and to maintain access to the car parks, the closure will now only run from below Cork Street through Market Place to the bridge. To retain access to public transport, buses will be allowed to enter the closure zone monitored by professional marshals. This means normal bus services will continue to operate. To understand the impact of the closure on other parts of Frome, emission monitoring sensors will be placed around the
Frome town centre
town over the course of the five-month long project. There are also proposals to monitor footfall in town centre businesses. Councillor Anita Collier said: “A project like this will always invite some controversy, but it was delightful to see how many people came to the meeting with a completely open mind. “Everyone was there to identify problems but work through them to find solutions. With these changes in place, I’m very excited that the Green Breather Days will present Frome with an exciting new experience, with the community firmly on side.”
For details or to comment, visit: www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/green-breather-days
PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
(Photo courtesy of Pacific Curd Photography)
The Red Rebels walk up the High Street
Page 31 April.qxp_Layout 1 24/03/2022 16:45 Page 1
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Pam Harman exhibition
Pam Harman (right) with art group members Janet Maitland and Carole Moule from the 2013 Chew Valley Arts Trail
THE work of the late Dr Pam Harman drew crowds to St Andrew’s Church in Chew Magna, with two-thirds of her paintings and sculptures being sold in aid of church funds. Pam, a local GP, was involved with the church in many ways, including being a lay reader there, helping run the Sunday school for a while, and also being a member of the PCC. Also with her friends, she set up the Igbetti Art Group, which met weekly at her home in the High Street. The group also held many exhibitions there, some of them fundraising. Rector, the Rev Richard Greatrex, said: “It was a great meeting point for lots of folk to share news and stories, especially about Pam, who was much-loved in the village.”
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Busy time at Mendip Auction Rooms MARCH has been one of the busiest months ever at the Mendip Auctions Rooms with five auctions held to enable consignments to be sold. The first saw continued interest in Asian art, with a beautiful embroidered blue silk robe selling for £1800, followed by a Persian style carpet for £850 – the demand for Asian art is one that has been leading the international art and antiques market for years and shows little sign of abating. However, the Fine Art, Antiques, Silver & Jewellery auction mid-March once again reinforced the expertise in Killens in the sale of watches and jewellery with a vintage Omega Seamster 30 making £1600, whilst an earlier timepiece in 9ct gold sold for £1000. Staying in Europe, an early 20th century G. Puglisi Reale & Figli violin jumped up to £2000 on March 22nd. It is fascinating how every auction brings its own highlights and sometimes surprises, keeping the auction rooms team and the public on their toes. April looks to be just as exciting, crowned at the end of the month by Classic Cars, Motorcycles and Automobilia. The lots come in all sizes, from a scratch-built airplane – a one of a kind that was flown by its owner but is now in need of a rebuild and a little TLC – to a recently restored 1960s French Paloma Palomatic scooter 49.77cc, a 1927 Austin
ARTS & ANTIQUES
Flatbed, and a classic London Black Cab. With the expertise in cataloguing and photography of this field, Killens are well placed to provide a skilled and entertaining preview and auction as well as a warm welcome at the Mendip Auction Rooms.
Contact the team at Killens on 01749 840770 or email enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk for further assistance
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 33
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Lee is creating a buzz
DORE & Rees Auctioneers are going from strength to strength under the new ownership of Lee Young, a familiar face on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. Dore & Rees, in Frome, loved by locals and a popular destination on collectors’ South West tours for many years, was bought by Lee in May 2021 and has been creating a buzz in the auction world ever since. The transition from bi-monthly general auctions of household goods to specialist curated sales has been the key to success. Lee and the team have carefully updated the interior to create a new look saleroom and have opened the business up to a global audience through the launch of a new website and offer of online bidding across three international auction platforms. Auctions are running beyond expectations, with specialist sales of Fine Asian Art and Classic Cars topping the results chart. More specialist auctions are coming in the months ahead. Lee is a well-known face on the BBC Antiques Roadshow with a career that spans Lee Young three decades and several disciplines. Starting out as a porter in 1988 at Messenger May & Bavistock in Surrey, Lee then moved on to become a saleroom manager at Phillip’s. At the age of 25 he was promoted to become their youngestever branch manager in charge of the bustling Ringwood saleroom. Lee then became Furniture & Works of Art specialist at Sotheby’s routinely handling world-class objects. In 2002 Lee relocated to the US, joining America’s oldest auction house, Freeman’s of Philadelphia, heading up their European Art department. Returning home in 2007, Lee took up the same position for Scottish firm Lyon & Turnbull before transitioning to Head of Asian Art in 2010 when the Chinese art market was at the height of its global boom. Moving to the West Country in 2017, Lee joined Duke’s auctioneers in Dorchester as Managing Director and Head of Asian Art. The move to Dore & Rees marks a real milestone in his career, and he is working closely with the team, both new and old, to develop the brand into an internationallyknown, thriving regional auction house and community hub for design. Lee is currently putting together his next Fine Asian Art auction which will be held on Monday, May 16th, closing for entries on Friday, April 8th. This auction builds on the successes of the May and November 2021 auctions where strong prices were achieved with international bidding. He is available to meet by appointment at Dore & Rees in Frome or at a convenient location for a free valuation of works of art of Chinese, Japanese and South East Asian origin including ceramics, bronzes, jades, furniture, sculpture, pictures, robes and rare books. Give Dore & Rees a call on 01373 462 257 to arrange an appointment
PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
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Bidders go pop-eyed at Clevedon Salerooms
CLEVEDON Salerooms held their Spring Quarterly Specialist Sale on Thursday, March 10th. With significant consignments from With properties in Bristol, CHRIS YEO North Somerset and the Mendips amongst the 500 lots on offer, lively bidding was in evidence throughout the day resulting in an impressive selling rate and some equally strong prices. Memorabilia of the golden days of rock and pop always creates excitement when it appears at auction – especially when it comes with a solid gold provenance. So it was with high hopes that a small album containing around 40 autographs from some of the top stars and groups of the 1960s was offered for sale. Collected in person by the vendor who worked at the legendary Bath Pavilion
where the acts played, the album was brought to one of the weekly valuation days held at the saleroom. The vendor was very modest about his illustrious former career but his little album told a different story. Inside were a roll-call of names that read like the line-up for a fantasy episode of Ready, Steady, Go! including Pink Floyd, the Yardbirds, Cilla Black, and the Hollies. After a fierce battle between an internet and a telephone bidder, expectations were very rapidly exceeded and it was finally knocked down to an American buyer for an incredible £3,200. An unusual late Qing Dynasty hardwood and painted enamel relief panel, which despite some condition issues, also quickly
ARTS & ANTIQUES
eclipsed its estimate to become one of the sale’s top selling lots at £4,600. For those with more contemporary tastes, a Whitefriars “Banjo” vase was the focus of spirited bidding which saw it sell for £1,000. This certainly surprised the vendor who had bought it when new for the grand sum of £10 as a last minute Christmas present for his wife.
Clevedon Salerooms’ next specialist sale (for which further entries are invited) will be held on June 9th. For details of this and other sales, together with information about valuation days at the saleroom and other locations, please visit the website www.clevedonsalerooms.com
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 35
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Hardy hedge layers are a cut above the rest MORE than 20 experienced and novice hedge layers competed in heavy rain at the Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society’s annual match. The competition took place on land owned by the Hoddinott family at Burnt House Farm at Waterlip, near Cranmore. The day also saw a 17-mile tractor run around the area, with 45 entries, and a meeting of Land Rover enthusiasts. Chris Chivers, of Midsomer Norton, was champion and winner of the open class. Winner of the novice class was Steve Eldridge, of Bristol. Junior winner was Shepton Mallet’s Joe Harding and best over-60 was Chris Claxton, of Chilcompton. During the prizegiving, organiser Roger Noble – who successfully revived the competition a number of years ago – announced he would be
Chris Chivers next to his stretch of hedge
stepping back from the role but would still be available to advise his successor.
Outgoing society president Paul Hooper (left) presents Joe Harding with the trophy for best junior
Novice hedge layer Dave Crowcombe, who lives in nearby Cranmore
PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
EVENTS
The day also saw the last public engagements of society president Paul Hooper and chairman Ian Harvey.
Heading off on the tractor run
The height of the hedge alongside the main road proved challenging
Shepton Mallet’s Clive Gibbons who was competing in the novice class
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MENDIP TIMES
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PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
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BUSINESS
How to beat Inheritance Tax by rewriting your Will
TAXPAYERS paid £5.4bn in death duties in 2021 and the state haul from the 40% Inheritance Tax is forecast to hit a record £6bn in 2022, before rising further still to £6.6bn in 2026. Booming house prices, frozen tax breaks and coronavirus deaths have caused a spike in the number of people who pay. In five years the number of families hit by the tax is expected to increase by around three fifths. However, there is a way to beat the taxman from beyond the grave. What is a 'deed of variation'? A deed of variation is a legal document that allows the beneficiaries of an estate – children, for example – to make changes to a Will, in the name of the deceased, after their death. This means that, if someone has not written their Will in the most tax-efficient way, if they have inadvertently left someone out of their Will, or if they have
not written a Will at all, the beneficiaries are able to redirect the money they stand to inherit to other parties. In the case that you are about to inherit a windfall that will take your own estate over £325,000 – the personal allowance above which 40pc IHT applies on your death – you can alter the deceased’s Will so that money you stand to inherit passes directly to other beneficiaries, reducing or eliminating the amount of tax you would otherwise have to pay later. For example, you may want to redirect some of the money you stand to inherit to charity, or to your grandchildren via discretionary trust for their benefit later on. If 10pc of an overall estate is gifted to charity, the rate of IHT paid is reduced by 4 percentage points to 36pc and all donations are tax free. You can gift up to £325,000 into a trust before any tax is due, as long as you
survive the gift for seven years. This solution is sometimes used by grandparents who wish to contribute to private school fees. As always it is prudent to take legal advice before reaching any decision . EDWARD LYONS
Email: enquiries@lyonslaw.co.uk Website: www.lyonslaw.co.uk Telephone: 01275 332168
An established and progressive law firm providing a personal and costeffective legal service for commercial and individual clients. l Family & Divorce Law l Co-habitation disputes l Inheritance disputes l Wills and Living Wills l Powers of Attorney l Administration of Trusts l Property – sales and purchases OFFICES AT: Chew Magna 01275 332168
Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506
Kingswood 0117 967 5252 MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 39
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MENDIP TIMES
Bank governor’s visit includes trip to dairy farm
ECATCHER MOL
NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01761 417100 www.mendipmolecatcher.co.uk
PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
RADSTOCK Co-operative Society hosted the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, on one of his fact-finding visits across the country. The society’s chief executive, Don Morris, said: “We were honoured to be chosen as one of the Governor’s visits as it was a fantastic opportunity to discuss our business face to face, along with the current economic climate and our plans for the future.” The visit included a trip to the society’s dairy farm to see its new rotary milking parlour.
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Technology and times ahead
TECHNOLOGY can be a wonderful thing. It speeds processes, keeps us connected and enables us to talk virtually face to face with people on the other side of the globe. Throughout the pandemic, with a few members of our team particularly vulnerable to Covid, we have been able to keep in touch and conduct our business with relatively few hiccoughs. On the other hand, it does have its moments. The other morning, Mr B was ready and primed for a Zoom meeting with a client based in the London area, who has foreign interests. This was an important meeting for the client and a number of technical tax issues needed to be discussed. Both parties turned up to their screens on time, then “technology” decided to take a hand. The meeting began something like this: “Hello! No, I can’t hear you. Oh, your audio is on is it?” (Much signalling by both parties here). “It’s not working? Well, shall we keep the video link but talk on the ’phone? Oh, OK, you can call me if that’s easier.” Long period of silence, while Mr B watches the client dial our office line. This is currently a VOIP (voice over internet) system.) Nothing happens. The internet link for the phone has dropped out. Mr B fetches the home, landline phone from the kitchen and calls the client’s landline. Meeting finally accomplished. It seems that, in this brave new world of ours, we still need to keep tried and tested back-up methods until such time as higher tech issues are fully resolved. I may invest in a few carrier pigeons… On a more serious note, we are all going to be facing some
BUSINESS tougher times ahead, due to the current events in Europe. The human cost there puts everything into perspective for the rest of us, but nonetheless, it will be necessary to be prepared to tighten belts and ensure good plans are in place for the coming years. We need to be aware that the effects of the current disturbance will ricochet around for some time to come. However, as an old friend of mine always says “even this will pass” and it will. So, considering this, please take time to assess your business thoroughly. Look at your plans for the future and how they may be affected by possible interruption in supplies and probably price hikes (we already know too well about the increase in fuel, gas and electricity prices!). Now is one of those times when it would be good to book a meeting with your accountant and business advisor to go through things with a bit of a tooth comb! To make the most of your time (especially if it isn’t part of a fixed fee arrangement), make a list of things that are of concern before your meeting. For those who are on a fixed fee, this is exactly the time to make use of it! It is much more constructive to have help before problems arise and this is when your professional can really be worth their weight in gold! If you are a client of ours, we look forward to seeing you! While to everyone in business, we send our best wishes for the coming days. Jane Bowe Probusiness
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 41
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MENDIP TIMES
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PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
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BUSINESS
Is your Lasting Power of Attorney ready to use if needed? WE all know the importance of having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place when it comes to planning for our future but what is not often talked about is how to use an LPA if and when the time comes. Senior Associate FCILEX Cara Burr discusses what needs to be done when you want to use your LPA. Don’t just file it away Once you have your LPA in place and it needs to be used, you (the donor) or your attorneys (those that you appoint to act on your behalf) will need to share the document with all relevant parties and institutions. Banks, pension providers, investment companies, and care homes, for example, all require sight of either the original document, or a certified copy before they are able to take instructions from attorneys. Certify It is always advisable to obtain certified copies of your LPA as in the majority of cases a certified copy is acceptable instead of the original document. To certify your LPA either ask a solicitor to stamp and sign each page to confirm the copy is a true copy of the original or you as the donor can certify your own copies. Please note, specific wording needs to be written on every page (the wording can be found on the official Office of the Public Guardian website) and the donor has to sign as well. If this is not done correctly then the certified copies will not be valid. Go online The Office of the Public Guardian (the government body
Cara Burr
dealing with LPAs) have recently introduced a new service called “Use a Lasting Power of Attorney”. This service is only available for LPAs registered on or after 17 July 2020. The new service allows donors, or their Attorneys, to create an online account so that a summary of the documents can be viewed online. The donor and the attorneys can also give access to institutions, which will only be able to view the LPAs if they are provided with an access code.
To put your LPA in place or for advice on ensuring your LPA is ready to use when needed speak to Cara Burr today on 01749 342 323 or email cara.burr@mogersdrewett.com
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 43
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Show society enters new era
Ian Harvey, Paul Hooper, Graham Walton and Paddy Gordon at the show society AGM
MEMBERS of the Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society have given a big welcome to a new chairman and a new president. Graham Walton has succeeded Ian Harvey as chairman, after Ian stood down at the society’s annual meeting after 13 years at the helm. During his time, Ian oversaw the challenging move to a new showfield at Cannard’s Grave and the first show on the site, last August. Paddy Gordon, a director at Shepton Vets, succeeds Paul Hooper as president for 2022/23. l This year’s Mid-Somerset Agricultural Show takes place on Sunday, August 21st.
More Timsbury walks
NEWS
TIMSBURY authors Peter Bradshaw, Larry Cunningham and Sue Fraser are publishing their fifth book of local walks around the village. Their four previous books have sold 2,500 copies to date, raising more than £2,000 for Timsbury Parish Council, Radstock Museum and the charity Water Aid. All profits this time will go to Avon Wildlife Trust. The new book Twenty circular walks near to Timsbury, uses a similar format to their previous books and features walks within 20 minutes’ drive or cycle from the village. It goes on sale on Monday, April 4th. The walks range from 2.4 to eight miles in length, combining attractive scenery with historical interest. Sue said: “It is thanks to the coal miners walking to and from their work in the many local pits during the 19th and 20th centuries that we have such an amazing web of footpaths to use today.” The book can be purchased from The Connies Tea Rooms or Health & More in Timsbury, Radstock Museum, The Farmborough Community Shop and the Oldfield Park Bookshop in Bath. Price £6.
Rob Hunter (centre) with a new trophy he has presented to the society in memory of Martin York, who died last year. Rob is pictured with new chairman Graham Walton and president Paddy Gordon
New town clerk
SHEPTON Mallet Town Council has welcomed Claire Commons as town clerk. She has over 20 years' experience in local government. She said: "I am thrilled to be working for such a dynamic council and to be part of the team developing new facilities and initiatives for Shepton Mallet."
PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
Morgans on parade
Club member George Martin from Compton Bishop with some of the cars
THE Morgan Sports Car Club Mendip Centre dropped into New Manor Farm Shop’s café for a breakfast meeting, with 11 cars and 19 members. David Millard, club treasurer, said: “Like everyone else we ceased activities during the pandemic but are getting back to pre-Covid levels of activity now.”
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Volunteers save countryside camp
NEWS
The long yarn of the law
Bill, Liz and Robin in Shepton Mallet
Volunteers (l to r) Kevin Rogers, Lynne Staniforth, Steve Marsh and Duncan Massey
By Steve Egginton
IT’S 100 years since a pandemic hospital and camping field opened above Goblin Combe at Cleeve. Thanks to the current pandemic, a group of volunteers have succeeded in bringing it back to life. It was set up by the Rev William Skinner from Bristol to allow youngsters to get a break in the countryside from inner city poverty, TB and pollution. As one of the volunteers put it: “Not a lot has changed in 100 years.” The camp is due to reopen in April. It was in the control of local authorities for many years before being taken on by the Goblin Combe Environment Trust. It helped secure grants worth £1million in total to buy 130 acres of woodland down below in Goblin Combe itself and to build a 38-bed lodge. But with funding dwindling, the site was taken on by Groundwork, a federation of charities mobilising practical community action on poverty and the environment. When the pandemic struck, the site was deserted, weed-infested and looking as if it might not be used again. But former trust members and other volunteers formed the Friends of Goblin Combe and started a Monday Club, working to restore the site. On March 7th they held an open day attended by 40 people to show the place is now habitable and ready to welcome visitors. One of the volunteers, Duncan Massey, said: “The work has been a therapeutic release for people who have been stuck at home for two years. “We’ve become unofficial caretakers and have built our own tea hut round the back so we won’t be in the way when Groundwork start to welcome people back.” The group is now turning its attention to Goblin Combe itself, which has been suffering the effects of ash dieback. It’s also a haven for ravens, bats and deer. Details: Facebook Friends of Goblin Combe hannah.baker@groundwork.org.uk
PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
WITH almost 120 years of experience between them, solicitors and friends Bill Bartlett and Robin Weelen possess a wealth of stories and knowledge. Add to that the time Robin’s wife, Liz, worked alongside them, first helping her husband with his accounts before running the office in Shepton Mallet and a large part of Mendip’s modern legal history is tied up with their story. But now all three have decided to call it a day and have retired from the Bartlett, Gooding and Weelen practice; Nick Gooding retired in 2004. Bill, who lives in North Wootton, was articled in 1962 before joining Thatcher and Hallam in Midsomer Norton and took over their Shepton Mallet branch in 1971. Robin, articled in 1967, joined Bill in 1978. Robin and Liz live in Shepton Mallet. Those were the days when solicitors in rural practices were largely generalists, working on everything from criminal cases to wills. Robin was especially involved in cases arising from the Glastonbury Festival. Bill did start to keep notes about interesting stories but none of them – yet – say they have any plans to write a book. Instead, they say they will have more time for their outside interests such as Rotary, the Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society, 41 Club, Inner Wheel and Tangent.
New arrivals
Leveret
Rabbit
SECRET World Wildlife Rescue has welcomed the first orphans of the year, a baby bunny and a leveret, a young hare. The centre has been very busy with swans, which has meant stringent protocols because of the current Avian Flu outbreaks.
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MENDIP TIMES
Keeping kids healthy during school holidays HEALTHY Happy Kidz work with local authorities to provide youngsters with the best possible opportunities during the school holidays. They host an activity programme which they have named “Fit and Fed”. It includes a wide range of sports and activities along with a daily healthy meal. The primary aims of the programme are to reduce isolation and “holiday hunger” for children aged five to 14 years who are in receipt of benefitbased free school meals. Director Adam Shearer is a man on a mission: “I’m not sure what it says about us as a society that in 2022 there is such a huge demand for a programme such as ours.” Happy Healthy Kidz offer age-appropriate physical fun and enriching activity that provide children with an opportunity to develop new skills, to consolidate existing skills and knowledge, or to try out new experiences. There’s also one element of nutritional education each day aimed at improving children’s knowledge and awareness of healthy eating plus food education for families and carers. The scheme has been heavily influenced by Premiership footballer Marcus Rashford. Adam said: “The exposure that Marcus Rashford received for highlighting the issue of child food poverty has been vital in the success of our ‘Fit and Fed’. We’ve had nothing but support and positive feedback from all the local authorities we have worked with up and down the country.” Following a successful programme in Weston-super-Mare last Christmas they are returning to the town this Easter to deliver a second programme. In the summer they hope to be hosting groups
all across Somerset. Adam recognises the extent of this issue: “A lot of people think that child food poverty is the preserve of run-down urban areas. In our experience this is blatantly not the case. It can and does occur right across our communities.” To add extra value they also offer enrichment activities ranging from internet safety and guest speakers to visits to local attractions and entertainers. Although the programme has been running for less than 12 months the feedback from parents has been very encouraging. Adam said: “Some of the parents’ comments have been very touching. That is largely down to the hard work and dedication of our staff that work on the sites. They are the ones who truly make the difference.” Happy Health Kidz are currently recruiting additional staff to join that workforce. Adam said: “We have a range of positions available. We are looking for people who think that they can make a difference. That might be working with the kids direct or working in the background to recruit participants.”
Details: www.happyhealthykidz.co.uk
School rugby winners
A TEAM of girls and boys from Chew Stoke Church School were named winners of the annual Year 5/6 B&NES Rugby Tournament, which was held at Odd Down in Bath. School head, Ben Hewett, said: “Huge congratulations to all that took part. Their behaviour and sportsmanship throughout every game was incredible. Our minibus driver even commented on how brilliant they were.”
PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
Soccer tournament
TEN teams from Chew Valley primary schools took part in the annual football competition at Chew Valley School, sponsored by Chelwood Rotary Club. The girls’ competition was won by Winford Church of England Primary School, with Chew Magna Primary School second. The boys’ competition was also won by Winford Church of England Primary School with Chew Stoke Church School in second place. Rotarian, Ken Biggs, said: “We have sponsored the competition for several years and it was good to be able to see the competition resume after disruptions during the pandemic. “Thanks are due to the Year 9 PE students from Chew Valley School who acted as team managers and referees for all the matches throughout the afternoon.”
Winning boys
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EDUCATION
Here 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.
We 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. As well as looking for new school partnerships we are keen to hear from anyone who: l Has worked in education. Either teaching or administration l Can add extra value to children’s lives l Would like to launch a career working with children l Is available to work during the Summer Holidays
Putting children’s health and happiness to the forefront MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 49
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MENDIP TIMES
Quarries join forces in careers fair
QUARRY operators and related companies – ranging from blasting experts to a quarry habitat restoration team – have staged a careers fair to encourage young people to consider a future in the industry. The event was held at the Somerset Earth Science Centre, next to
EDUCATION
Representatives from the quarry industry gather outside the Somerset Earth Science Centre at Stoke St. Michael
Wainwright’s Moons Hill and Stoke quarries, at Stoke St Michael. As well as offering the chance to talk about jobs, apprenticeships and day-today quarry operations, the event included a tour of Wainwright’s asphalt plant in Stoke Quarry as well as a display of quarrying vehicles and equipment. Wainwright’s assistant quarry manager Darren Portch (centre) is flanked by Lawrence Goodridge and son Kody, 16, who live nearby. Kody is studying GCSEs at Norton Hill School
PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
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MENDIP TIMES
Death, luck and power
THERE are three quotes that have guided my life, in no particular order. The first was from my Australian Auntie Queenie, who was fond of reminding anyone who’d listen: “The moment your sperm meets your egg, you join the queue for death.” Humans – like every other living thing – are born to die, and the price we pay for evolving such large brains is that we know By Dr PHIL it long in advance. HAMMOND This can either liberate us to get on with our one wild and precious life (as Andy says in the Shawshank Redemption, “get busy living or get busy dying”). It can also fill us with anxiety: “How close to the front of the queue am I today, Lord?” Or if you’re a comedian, you simply laugh. As Jeremy Hardy put it: “How do we live life to the full? At the age of 43, I have decided to live each day as though it were my last, so I lie in bed all day, slipping in and out of consciousness.” I was lucky enough to know and work with Jeremy and was very sad when he died from cancer at the age of just 57. We can change our behaviour to try to alter our position in the death queue, up to a point. As Kingsley Amis observed: “No pleasure is worth giving up for the sake of two more years in a geriatric home in Weston-super-Mare.” But we can’t cheat bad luck. Many people who live healthy lives suffer horrible illnesses at a young age. Which brings me to my second quote. As one of my favourite authors, William Boyd, wrote in Any Human Heart in 2002: “That’s all your life amounts to in the end: the aggregate of all the good luck and the bad luck you experience. Everything is explained by that simple formula. Tot it up – look at the respective piles. There’s nothing you can do about it: nobody shares it out, allocates it to this one or that, it just happens.” We all experience good and bad luck, and how we cope is partly down to how we play the cards we’re dealt. I lost my Australian dad Barry from suicide when I was only seven but my extraordinary mum Pat brought my brother Steve and I back to England, met and married a wonderful Wiltshire builder called, Stan, who I was very lucky to have as a second dad. The current pandemic is a lottery of luck. Some 40 million people have yet to be knowingly infected by the virus or have fully recovered, but several million have lasting and debilitating long Covid symptoms and over 160,000 have died. How to allow society to function in such a variable situation? Impose laws to limit spread or allow individuals to choose what risks they take, even if they put others at risk? Which brings me to my final quote, from The Healer’s Power by doctor and philosopher Howard Brody: “The central ethical dilemma in life is the responsible use of power.” The extreme example of this is war. Throughout history, those with the most power and weapons have been able to prosecute war on whoever they wished. But as individuals we hold power over ourselves and those around us. Cruelty and aggression leave life-long scars; kindness and understanding can help heal the most appalling bad luck. We could all be in Ukraine in a different life. Or living with motor neurone disease. Or bereaved by suicide or cancer. Enjoy your good luck when you have it. But share your good fortune as widely as possible with those less fortunate. Dr Phil is appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe (August 13th-27th), Wedmore Arts Festival (May 7th) and Widcombe Social Club Bath (July 22nd).
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Plop the Raindrop
ONE of your ancestors once said that April was the cruellest month, but events in Ukraine in March would take some beating. I was in a cloud over Ukraine when the conflict started. So I had a bird’s eye view as the destruction began and masses of people started fleeing for safety. I’m no novice when it comes to violent conflict. As a water droplet, I was there at the birth of the earth when the opposing forces of nature showed they were capable of splitting space itself. But that kind of unpredictable, natural event is beyond any kind of control, unless there really is a God. I’ve never met him, or her, or it. So I’m a bit of a sceptic, given my considerable age. On the other hand, what did make everything or now controls anything? How random is life? Noone can tell when a volcano will erupt or a hurricane arrive to wreck an entire island. So natural disasters don’t have any explanation. But events in Ukraine do. You human beans have developed lots of special ways of killing each other. Stupidly. If we water droplets behaved in that way, literally all life on earth would disappear. We stay together to form your oceans, water your crops and make up most of your bodies. We also make the tears now running down the faces of so many people in Ukraine. So why do you do it? OK, I accept you are basically animals who have managed to develop big brains, but other animals don’t have the destructive instinct that you have. Big males might challenge each other for leadership of a pack, but they use teeth, claws and horns to do it, rather than weapons. And they don’t generally expect everyone else to get involved and risk getting killed. Most animals kill just for food, as you used to do. You seemed to live in relative peace while you had plenty to eat and plenty of space. Then you seemed to get a bit jealous of what the tribe next door had and might bash some of them occasionally with a rock or a stick. You are more deadly now, with all of your weapons of war. The line about April was written by a man called T.S. Eliot in 1922, worrying about the future of the world. I was there when he wrote it. Things haven’t changed much, sadly. Most human beans are friendly and peaceful. But it only takes one mad one… MENDIP GRANDAD
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Old-fashioned service
AS our name implies, we at Bath & Wells Funeral Services pride ourselves on “service” and that includes taking great care to ensure we don’t expect you to come into our offices, unless you want to. Call us old-fashioned, but we prefer to visit you in a more relaxed atmosphere as Rod Major dealing with the loss of a loved one is hard enough. Whether it’s a funeral plan or planning a loved one’s end-of-life care, we don’t want you to be under any extra pressure, so we come to you; that includes my celebrant. From the initial visit, to viewing your loved one, to any follow-up visits and phone calls the day before the funeral to reassure you that everything is in place as planned; it’s no less than I would expect if I were instructing a funeral director myself. Rod Major, Bath & Wells Funeral Services Suzy (centre) with stylists Heidi (left) and Joanne
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“From the start, Rod was extremely amiable, caring and attentive and was eager to attend to all our requirements. We were very particular as to what we wanted for my mother's funeral service and burial which veered away from the usual plans. Despite this, Rod was very adaptable, readily communicated with us throughout the process and nothing was ever a problem. The day itself, although tinged with great sadness, was as lovely and intimate as it could be and Rod and his team were infinitely respectful and took time and care over every stage. Myself and my family are very grateful to Rod and his team for making the day so special and such a fitting memorial to a much loved and quite unique lady.” LR “I would personally recommend Rod to everyone. Recently my dad passed away and Rod was so supportive from the very first call we had. I live in America, and Rod would respond night and day to my emails and calls. When I arrived back in the UK, he visited and supported both myself and my mum to talk us through the process, ensuring that my dad had a beautiful send-off. He handled everything personally and professionally, from the flowers, the order of service, to the very personal day of the service. If you are searching for a high-touch, high care, bespoke funeral director, then without question, I would recommend Rod and his team.” EK
Call Rod on 01761 233 555 or email: fd@bwfd.me.uk www.bathwellsfuneralservices.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 53
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MENDIP TIMES
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HEALTH & FAMILY
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EVENTS
East Harptree pancake race
AN enjoyable morning was held at East Harptree when the annual Shrove Tuesday pancake races took place involving 96 children from the local school and nursery. Organiser, Jenny Cruse, from Harptree WI, said: “There was quite a competitive spirit in the adult races with Chrissie Wellington snatching victory from Sarah Whiers and Nick Alexander retaining his title in the men’s races, hotly pursued by Mark Jerzak.” After a break last year because of the pandemic, the event raised £90 for the upkeep of East Harptree Children’s Playground.
Lanterns light up Blagdon
One of the races
The morning was fun
Details: f:blagdonlanternparade i:blagdonlanterns blagdonlanternparade@gmail.com
(Photos courtesy of Gabriel Gilson)
THE aliens have landed and have been parading around Blagdon in the village’s fifth annual lantern parade! More than 200 people walked with the huge lanterns from the New Inn pub to the village club and many more came out of their houses to watch it go by. The lanterns were created by the Blagseay Arts CIC team who worked with Blagdon and Burrington primary schools, the Brownies, Beavers and Cubs, as well as the Blagdon WI group. The event was funded by the European Regional Development fund via North Somerset Council and local business sponsors.
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MENDIP TIMES
The hedging season is done – time to welcome our wildlife back
THE ancient country skill of hedge laying is enjoying something of a revival. You may well have noticed the adverts from a number of conservation groups, like the Mendip Society, running training days for beginners to learn the necessary techniques for keeping this very important feature of our countryside growing well and thickly. This is so they can fulfill the vital role of field boundaries keeping in sheep and cattle, controlling the ebb and flows of water, absorbing carbon and providing food and shelter for all manner of animals, including us human foragers. For the society it is an important part of our constituted aim of caring for the fabric of the Mendip Hills; to this end we held two hedge laying days in our reserves. They couldn’t have had more contrasting weather, Slader’s Leigh seeing a deluge of rain that refused to give up (but thankfully neither did the trainees) and Tania’s Wood enjoying a bright crisp day. Along with the training come Mendip’s local competitions, necessary to encourage and inspire beginners with
Tina Bath receiving her award from Clive Bethell
Hedging group
help from veteran, hedgers. This year The Mendip Society helped sponsor the Wrington and Burrington Hedging Society match at which our chair, Tina Bath, won the Open Class, and also the best overall Veteran Plaque. Last year we also provided two training weekends in dry stone walling skills and, as they were heavily oversubscribed, we intend to hold another this spring to accommodate our reserve list. We are continuing to offer small grants for projects which enhance and protect the Mendip area and enable as many people as possible to enjoy the benefits of the countryside. This spring we have financially supported Burrington Parish Council in their efforts to keep open the public toilets in Burrington Combe. Unfortunately very few of the many hundreds of people who use the facilities contribute towards the upkeep. The switch from cash to cards has meant less money in the collection box. Summer time always means our visit to Gully Cave in Ebbor Gorge, where our small grant contribution helps Prof. Danielle Schreve and her university students continue their fortnight’s dig at this most exciting and important of all excavations. And this year we will again be contributing to the Mendip Rocks Festival, cancelled for the last two years. This year it will form an integral part of the Mendip Hills AONB’s 50th anniversary of its founding, in which The Mendip Society played an
THE MENDIP SOCIETY
important role. One could say “this year it’s all happening” – and everyone is invited to take part. But first we have our AGM coming up – last year it was held by post through our newsletter “Mendip”, but this year we are getting together again at a live meeting in St. James’s Church Hall, Winscombe on Thursday, April 21st, 2.30pm. After the business part we are delighted to welcome Dr. Andy King, Principal Geologist with Geckoella Ltd, who will show and tell us about a selection of the locally sourced building stones (approximately 240 to 170 million years old) that contribute so much to the special character and built heritage of the Mendip Hills. Several of these building stones, and their form of architectural use, are unique to the Mendip area. Nonmembers are welcome to attend as well. For more information ring 01275 874284 or email secretary@themendipsociety.org.uk or visit the website, below. Another popular event we are planning to hold this summer is the return of the challenging quizzes dreamt up by our president, Les Davies, together with Sue and Peter Gearing. Called a “Something of Everything Quiz” it will be held, to include a light supper, at a Mendip venue to be confirmed later, on Friday, June 17th and will be open to members and nonmembers alike. More details soon, on the contacts as before. Tina Bath and Judith Tranter
For details, visit www.themendipsociety.org.uk/walks
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WILDLIFE
Meet a colourful woodland mimic – a beauty amongst beasts
THE jay is member of the crow, or corvid family, and it is often called the beauty amongst the beasts. The European jay is classed as smallBy CHRIS sized, measuring SPERRING MBE around 58cms headto-tail, which puts it near to the size of a jackdaw. It is seemingly more colourful than the others, but I would definitely say to anyone who thinks the magpie is dull, they have never seen one close up. The plumage of the jay is unmistakable with its light brown, to what some call a pinkie-brown, body which fades to white near the rump, whilst the lighter-coloured throat gives way to two prominent black moustachial streaks below the beak. The upper wings are striking and include black and white bars and very prominent blue feathers which are intermixed. The call of the jay, a harsh rasping, is again unique and couldn’t possibly be that of another bird species, although it does have a song of sorts as when near each other, quieter and gentler rasping can be heard. But beware, the jay is a mimic! Have you ever heard tawny owls calling in the daytime? Well, I have and though some will be tawny owls I just wonder how many are, actually, jays? I have been fooled many times thinking
The jay’s call is harsh and rasping, but can be quieter and gentler when they are together
I’m following the daytime activity of a tawny to then come across a jay doing the most amazing tawny owl call. Jays can mimic a whole host of other birds as well and, so I’ve been told, they are very good at mimicking cats and car horns. Like other members of the crow family, jays can eat a wide variety of food, from insects through to small mammals, berries and, of course, what they are famous for: tree seeds. Jays are noted for and responsible for the planting of real natural woodland because of their habit of caching food or burying things like acorns underground for use during the harshest parts of winter. But many of The jay – a beauty amongst the beasts with its distinctive markings
these cached tree seeds get forgotten or are not needed and from them come new natural woodlands that don’t seem to need plastic guards and do very well. The jay is well distributed across the UK; its numbers will suddenly rise and fall throughout the year because, during autumn and winter, jays from colder parts of Europe will come to us for the milder climate. It’s a classic woodland bird and can seem very shy compared to the other members of family, but you can encourage them into your garden by placing nuts out on a board or tree stump. Both males and females build a simple cup-shaped nest of sticks at the end of March and beginning of April. Around two to six eggs can be laid with incubation lasting around 19 days. Both parents help raise the young which are fully independent within eight to ten weeks of being hatched. Only one brood is thought to be raised during the nesting period. Whilst out on your April walks, look out for and listen out for jays, as well as enjoying the rest of the spring flora and fauna. l I will be leading the Hawk and Owl Trust monthly walk on Friday, April 8th at the trust’s Shapwick Moor nature reserve from 10am-midday. The focus this month will be on bird song. To book visit: https://hawkandowltrust.org/reserves/shap wick/shapwick-events
Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust Contact him on 07799 413918 or via Chris.Sperring@hawkandowltrsut.org.uk
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MENDIP TIMES
Beauty and bluebells around the River Chew
CELEBRATE spring with this gorgeous circle in the Chew Valley from Compton Dando, south of Keynsham, taking you out into beautiful rolling countryside with views much of the way. There are bluebell woods, vales, fields, streams, old mills and an alpaca farm. At the end come alongside the River Chew at a beauty spot by an old mill and then, a welcoming pub, awaits.
With Sue Gearing PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
There are only kissing gates – no stiles – so that’s an added bonus. There are hills, both up and down. There should not be too much mud, though Lord’s Wood may be the exception.
PARK: In Compton Dando, a village on the River Chew, east of Pensford and south of Keynsham. The Compton Inn is welcoming Mendip Times walkers to park there. This very comfortable inn is open all day so make sure you go in and enjoy a drink, snack or meal. If the car park looks full there is parking in the road outside.
START: From the car park, turn left past the village hall and immediately, by Compton Cottage, cross the cattle grid or the footbridge and head up the track. Enter a field and continue ahead up along the right edge. Already start to get pleasant views across country. Go through another kissing gate and more or less continue straight on, ignoring side paths and climbing gently. There is woodland and a valley down right. Go through a kissing gate (KG) ahead into another field to follow the right edge. Near the end go right through the hedge and left, in the same direction as before. Over left in the distance is the distinctive wooded hillfort of Stantonbury Camp, a familiar sight
throughout this walk. It is situated on the ancient, impressive Wansdyke defensive earthwork. It may have marked the northern boundary of Dumnonia, a kingdom, covering from Wiltshire to Cornwall. The dyke, now in fragments runs from Maes Knoll near Bath to Marlborough, about 40 miles. The exciting Wansdyke Project aims to create a walkable path along the Wansdyke.
1. FOOTBRIDGE At a crossing path, turn left across a footbridge. Now simply follow the left edge for just over half a mile, along and then down to picturesque Tucking Mill (the mill itself was demolished in 1927). 2. TUCKING MILL Drop down steps and turn right along the mill stream. This hamlet lies on the Midford Brook and was a key point on the now disused Somerset Coal Canal. Its other claim to fame is that from 1798 to 1810 it was the home of William Smith, an English geologist, known as the “Father of English Geology” who created the first nationwide geological map. He was here working on the Somerset coalfield and the canal. Whether he lived at Tucking Mill cottage or the main house is rather unclear.
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WALKING
From 1883 until the end of WWII Tucking Mill was the site of a Fullers Earth Factory. After crossing a footbridge go up and pass handsome Tucking Mill House. Soon go right on the marked path and up into a field. Follow the right edge, climbing a little more. When you drop down you will see you are alongside the Midford Brook. Go through a KG and continue on following the stream. Then you have to turn up left to a KG. Once through just continue on in Midford Vale following the course of the brook. Go through a gate and on, this time with the hedge on your right. Eventually head up towards barns at Marksbury Court farm.
3. FARM Follow the arrow which goes up left and then immediately left again and up. Go through a Bristol Gate and right down the track, above the barns. Exit onto a lane near the farm entrance. Turn left. Shortly, go right through a pedestrian gate and along a track and into a field.
4. FIELDS Once in the main field, you are aiming for the top right corner. There are a couple of options but the best is probably to head diagonally up across the centre. There are good views back across Marksbury village and to the hill fort. A KG in the corner leads to a path under trees and into a field. Turn right along the edge, staying in the field and ignoring two openings on the right. Just follow the edge all the way round. Drop down eventually and in the corner take the path on the right and go through a KG and down steps into a field. The right of way cuts off the left corner so head across to an opening on the far side, not too far from the left corner. Cross a footbridge and now you face the steepest climb of all. Head straight up the grass, cross an avenue of trees and continue up to the top and a KG. In the next field, our way is ahead along the right side and just before the farm turn left in the field and go round to a KG. Go along the edge with barns right and continue to a KG in the corner. Head across to another KG. Go across the end of the field to a KG onto the farm drive. 5. FARM DRIVE Turn left and follow it all the way to a lane. It’s left here.
6. T-JUNCTION At a T-junction our route goes right on the road. Stay on the road for about a
6.6 miles, about 3-4 hours walking • OS Explorer Map, 155 Bristol & Bath, Keynsham and Marshfield, grid ref: 647 646, Postcode BS39 4JZ
third of a mile. Look at the house stone wall on your left which has a number of ammonites. Continue on to a crossing footpath just past Nutgrove Farm and take the track left. Come into a field and follow the right edge eventually reaching Lord’s Wood where you join the Three Peaks Way.
7. LORD’S WOOD This is a lovely wood and a good contrast from the open land you have been through. The wildflowers include bluebells and foxgloves. Stay on the main track as it bends right and at the foot, where it may be a bit boggy, go ahead crossing a stream to a lake. There, turn right along the edge and then left and go uphill further into the wood. Stay in this direction and at the top, at a junction of tracks, keep straight on. Eventually come out through a KG onto Birchwood Lane.
8. BIRCHWOOD LANE Turn right. After passing Birchwood House it becomes a track straight on. There are very pleasant views as you continue. Come down to a footbridge on the left. Cross and turn right in the field joining the Two Rivers Way, passing a derelict house on the right. In the corner go out through a KG, over a footbridge, and on into the pretty hamlet of Woollard. 9. WOOLLARD Turn left. There is a welcoming seat by the River Chew. Cross the river and then, shortly, take the first right,
Woollard Lane, and immediately right again, still on the Two Rivers Way which we follow from now.
10. TWO RIVERS WAY Pass an alpaca farm and at a Bristol Gate ahead leave the lane and go straight on through into a field. Follow the fence up. Now simply keep straight on, climbing, ignoring side paths, go through a KG and after about half a mile the fenced path, which has levelled out, goes down to a wood – a renowned bluebell wood. 11. WOOD Take the path as it descends through the bluebells and comes out through a gate into a long field by the River Chew. Bear left across to the river, cross a footbridge, and follow the Chew’s edge. After a metal gate, soon come to a beautiful spot by a converted mill and a seat by the water. Turn right at the side of the mill house and go ahead towards stables. Turn left up over a stone stile into the churchyard where a sign welcomes walkers to visit St Mary’s. Go past the church and round to leave by the lychgate. Then it’s out to the road in Compton Dando and the Compton Inn.
The Compton Inn Tel: 01761 490321 Email: info@thecomptoninn.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 59
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MENDIP TIMES
West Countryman’s diary
AT last, the month we have all been waiting for . . . April! I hope you didn’t forget to turn the clocks forward at the end of March. I know there are some With LES who question a need to DAVIES MBE change the clocks, an activity that began in WWI to give more daylight hours to farmers and industry. It even went into double summer time during WW2. My feeling is it’s an important part of the year when we cast off winter and move into spring with a promise of better days ahead. We certainly need that hope in the current Ukrainian crisis and Covid-affected world. Where is this new Age of Aquarius that some have talked of, a time of peace and contentment? Perhaps we need to break some eggs to make the omelette, but it’s still an unnerving time. I hope we can look back with relief and thanks for those who are defending their rights of democracy and sovereignty. However, I doubt things will ever be the same again. Hibernation will now be over and those who have slept through the winter will be looking for something to eat. I’m bad enough after a night’s sleep, a cup of tea and my toasted bagel are the first things I need in the morning. The adders will be waking up in search of their first meal in a long while. Their other need is warm sunshine and so they lie in the sun to raise the body temperature. It’s at this stage they are the most vulnerable and possibly the most dangerous to us and our dogs.
Me and Flower 1956
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Unable to move quickly, they become easy prey to certain raptors, who with eyesight better than a superhero, can circle well above and pick them out. Sunbathing on top of a drystone wall is not a good idea! The answer therefore is to get under cover, lie still and if danger threatens do one of two things: hope it goes away or strike and bite with a venom that’s extra strong after a winter’s sleep. So extra caution is needed by us and for the dog also – look before you sit down or put your hand on the wall and don’t let the dog go exploring the undergrowth. Our countryside now moves up a gear to take on its own challenges. My blackbirds are well ensconced in the hedgerow, soon to produce their first clutch of eggs. Nest boxes in Foxwood will, I hope, have residents this year and the bluebells are showing green in the grassland. Primroses are as ever well ahead of the game and competing for recognition with the golden celandine in the hedge bottom. That scourge of the manicured lawn, the dandelion, will give some of its first pollen to insects whose job it is to make sure our food crops are successful. As is so often the case, what we consider a pest or weed fills a very important part of our wildlife jig-saw puzzle. Gosh it’s a busy place. I recently went to see a rewilding project in North Somerset. Belmont Estates own the land adjacent to the Natural Trust property of Tyntesfield. In fact much of it was part of the original estate that I remember when the Gibbs family were still in residence. I used to look down from the Flax Bourton to Wraxall road at Watercress Farm and think how wonderful it would be to live in that old farmhouse. The invitation to finally go and take a look came from the estate’s manager and owner. Rewilding is a term that has entered our vocabulary of late with others such as Brexit. It is, I suppose, why the English language is used internationally, it’s constantly evolving and expanding. In basic terms, rewilding is a process of allowing the land to return to a natural balance that existed before the advent of the plough and the age of humans. The initial impact of the “hunter-gatherer” had a minimal impact on the land. Not until the second half of the 20th century in WW2 did the pendulum begin to swing a little more violently and what could be termed marginal land came into production. At first this was during the war years to feed an island nation in desperate need of food. Post-war the need for food still remained
OUTDOORS
Me and Punch
and agricultural intensification began. I was part of the post-war push for greater productivity in the 1960s and 70s. As such the farmer DNA that is still within me is somewhat cautious about anything that will alter the balance of an agriculturally productive yet diverse countryside. This said I am now changing my view after my initial visit to Belmont Estates. They are taking marginal land out of production: land that is hard to work, wet, heavy and in the past reliant on agrichemicals to boost production. Good land will always be kept in production and with modern plant breeding I am pleased to hear this country is still at the cutting edge in many areas. New varieties of cereal are capable of greater production than their forebears. Now perhaps we can redress the balance for wildlife. Tamworth pigs are going about the business that pigs are very good at, earth moving and in doing so they move the dormant seed bank below the surface. Dartmoor ponies are grazing and trampling as are the ubiquitous Red Devon cattle so well known on Black Down. If you are interested in finding out a little more about the concept of rewilding, have a look at a book written by a lady with the appropriate name of Isabella Tree. It’s called Wilding and tells the story of how Isabella and her husband Charlie Burrell took a leap of faith and turned their farm at Knepp in West Sussex into a shining example of wildlife conservation that challenged our thinking on landscape evolution. Finally this month’s photos, not one but two, are taken 66 years apart. The first with me aged four holding Flower the last working horse on Hales Farm. The second is me coming up to my 70th birthday with “Punch” the symbolic working horse made from redundant tools and metal work at the Somerset Rural Life Museum at Glastonbury. Happy days!
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MENDIP TIMES
‘All at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils’ W. Wordsworth
WHAT Wordsworth saw in the Lake District that inspired these familiar words was probably our native species of daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus or Lent Lily. A shortish plant with paler outer petals and a golden trumpet. Sadly, this is not an easy plant to establish. Rather like snowdrops it With MARY dislikes being lifted and sold as a “dry” PAYNE MBE bulb. But once established it will naturalise well, preferring a sunny, well drained site. I usually opt for W.P. Milner if I am looking for a natural effect, but easier to establish. Although the main flowering season for narcissus is over, it is now that they would like some TLC in order to perform well again next year. The faded flower heads should be pulled off with the seed head, leaving the stem which, being green, is still able to photosynthesise, and can help to build up the bulb for next season. A granular fertiliser high in potash, applied now will also help. It is important to give the foliage time to replenish the bulbs before cutting it off, and we all get impatient about this. The good news is that you need only wait six-eight weeks after the flowers have faded. This is particularly relevant when bulbs are grown in grass, and you wish to return the area to respectable lawn. If you wish to have daffodils in lawn areas, I suggest you select an early flowering variety, such as February Gold because some varieties, e.g. Actaea do not flower until early May, leaving your lawn rather shaggy until late June. Drifts of daffodils look lovely planted between fruit trees in rough grass, but avoid buying a bag of mixed varieties as they will flower at different times and will not look as effective as a single variety, and again go for an earlier flowering type for the same reason as above. When planting in borders try to put a clump of bulbs, be they narcissus or tulips, between a group of later flowering herbaceous perennials. The bulbs will emerge and flower while the perennials are just starting, then the perennial foliage will smother the dying leaves of the bulbs. Hardy geraniums are an excellent choice for this. Clumps of narcissus that have not flowered well may be caused by a number of problems. They may have been shaded by shrubs that have gradually grown larger and give progressively more shade each year. The clump may simply need rejuvenating, by digging up and dividing, but while you are doing this cut one bulb in half horizontally. If there are rings of brown discolouration visible, then the cause of the problem could well be the stem and bulb eelworm. Commercially, bulbs are treated in a thermostatically controlled, insulated water tank held at 44.5C for three hours. This kills the pest without damaging the bulbs. If you find these symptoms, remove and burn, or “green bin” all the clump, and avoid planting narcissus in the same spot. Another reason for clumps not flowering is an attack by the large narcissus fly. Lots of foliage appears, but no flower stems. The maggot of the fly has eaten out the centre of the bulb including the potential flower. Lift a clump and cut a PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
Narcissus Rijnvelds Early Sensation
bulb vertically, like halving an onion, and see if there is a large maggot in the centre. This pest has returned with a vengeance since the chemicals used to control it have been banned. The female fly lays her eggs in the top of the bulbs, where the old foliage has created a handy hole. So, if you pull out the dying foliage, tread firmly on the soil to cover the hole leading down to the bulbs. This makes life difficult for the fly – great! Narcissus are classified into 13 groups based on the characteristics of the flowers. Trumpet, Large Cup, Small Cup, Doubles, Split Corona and so on. I avoid the doubles as the heads often get weighed down by rain and then eaten by slugs and snails. The group I use most often is the Cyclamineus Group. These are varieties bred by crossing the true N. cyclamineus with the traditional Trumpet Group. They are shorter in height, so less likely to be blown over. A common characteristic is that their outer petals are slightly swept back giving them a faintly wind-swept look. February Gold, Jack Snipe and Jetfire all belong here. The Miscellaneous Group containing the ever popular multiheaded Tete a Tete is perfect for small pots or rock gardens but looks very stunted when planted in grass. For scent go for the Jonquil or Tazetta Groups. The latter have multiple, pendant flowers per stem. Thalia is a classic white but “new kids on the block” Sunlight Sensation and Moonlight Sensation are well worth seeking out. Paper White narcissus can be planted in pots in September indoors and will flower for Christmas. They do not need a period of chilling and will flower in eight-ten weeks. Narcissus bulbs are poisonous, and for this reason are rarely dug up or eaten by wildlife. Badgers love tulip bulbs and deer enjoy their flowers, but most things leave daffodils alone. Small black keel slugs are prone to climb up and have a nibble at the petals. If you have ever wondered why daffodils are never used in mixed bunches of flowers, it is because the sap can shorten the life of the other flowers. It would be hard to find another group of plants that give us so much pleasure and herald the coming of spring after the snowdrops have finished. They are so varied, and easy to grow in pots, in borders or naturalised in grass.
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APRIL GARDEN TIPS
• Plant out half hardy varieties of bedding plants such as antirrhinum, ten week stocks, sweet williams, pansies and violas. • Plant out sweet peas and provide support for them to climb. • Plant out tender bedding plants in only the most sheltered spots in your garden. If your garden stays cold at this time of year then it is better to resist the temptation and wait a week or two longer. • Plant frost tender shrubs such as lavender, sage, rosemary, santolina, osteospermum and hebes now. • Remove dead flower heads from bulbs, feed with a tomato liquid feed to build up the bulbs strength for next year. Don’t be in too much of a hurry to cut the leaves off. • Lift and split daffodils to replant immediately. Try to avoid damaging the roots as much as you can. • Plant gladioli corms and dahlia tubers. Lift, divide and replant clumps of overcrowded bulbs. • Plant main crop potatoes if you haven’t already done so. Early varieties may need earthing up to exclude the light from the tubers. Cover shoots with fleece to protect from frost damage. • Protect flowers on peaches, nectarines and apricots from frost. Use a soft brush to hand pollinate blooms and increase chances of a good crop. • Plant containers up with some herbs. Avoid planting mint with other herbs as it will take over given a chance. Coriander, parsley, thyme, chives and tarragon are some of the most popular and look very decorative too.
Rewilding churchyard
UBLEY churchyard is looking much better after all the work done in 2021, according to villagers and this is all down to a bunch of volunteers who meet monthly to keep it tidy. Leader of the group, Volunteers (l to r) Ann Leech, Judith Nigel Crocker, said: Longhurst, Nigel Crocker, Hugh Currell, “We have done a lot Jonathan Longhurst and Heather Tinsley of work in the churchyard and are now in the throes of rewilding. Our aim is to make it a green place for people as well as wildlife.” Details: nigelberylcorax@btinternet.com or Judith Longhurst at jl1andjl2@sky.com
Club gears up for plant sale
FOSSEWAY Gardening Club is finalising its plans for its annual garden sale, taking place on Sunday, May 15th in Ditcheat. It’s the club’s main fundraiser of the year and will be held at Harvester Yard in the village (near the church) from 10.30am12.30pm with a wide variety of plants available at reasonable prices. For details contact Jill Swindale on 07772 008594
GARDENING
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MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 63
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MENDIP TIMES
N GS GA R D EN S OF THE MON TH
Rose Cottage
QUALITY BRICK PAVING VERY COMPETITIVE PRICES NEW COLOURS
OPENING HOURS: Weekdays 7.30am-4.30pm • Sat 9am-2pm • Sun 10am-2pm
NORTON GREEN GARDEN CENTRE
NOW IN STOCK
SUMMER FLOWERING BULBS FANTASTIC RANGE TO CHOOSE FROM! NOW AVAILABLE
Grow your own . . . Seed Potatoes, Onion Sets, Shallots, Garlic & vegetable plants
NESTLING into the northern slopes of the Mendip Hills, this one acre hillside cottage garden has panoramic views over the Chew Valley. The beautiful colours and scents of spring bulbs and blossom will greet visitors to Rose Cottage in April. The garden is bordered by a stream and established mixed hedges which encourage wildlife into the garden. There is also a wildlife area and pond in the corner of the car park field opposite the cottage. Home-made teas, dogs allowed, plants for sale, Congresbury Brass Band will play. Address: Smithams Hill, East Harptree, Bristol BS40 6BY. NGS opening details: Sunday, April 10th, from 2–5pm. Admission £5, children free. Contact: Bev and Jenny Cruse, 01761 221627 email: banjcruse@gmail.com OTHER NGS GARDENS The Downs Preparatory School, Charlton Drive, Wraxall, Somerset, BS48 1PF opens on Friday, 8th and Saturday, April 9th 10am-4pm. Watcombe, 92, Church Road, Winscombe, BS25 1BP opens on Sunday, April 24th 2-5pm. The Yeo Valley Organic Garden, Holt Farm, Bath Road, Blagdon, BS40 7SQ opens on Sunday, April 24th, 10am-5pm.
GREAT CHOICE OF THOMPSON & MORGAN, UNWINS & COUNTRY VALUE FLOWER & VEGETABLE SEEDS AVAILABLE NOW Compost, Gro-bags, Topsoil, Farmyard Manure, Decorative Bark, Potting Grit, Gravels, Sand & Slate
Polyanthus, Primroses and potted spring bulbs for early spring colour in the garden
WELLS ROAD, CHILCOMPTON, RADSTOCK BA3 4RR Telephone: 01761 232137 Open Mon–Sat 10am to 4pm • Closed Sundays PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Yellow Book, or Local County Leaflet, available from local Garden Centres, or go to: http://www.ngs.org.uk
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Expert tuition
SEVEN members of the West Hill horticultural team attended a training day with orchard expert Les Davies. The company has a lot of customers with apple trees so felt this was a great opportunity for the staff to develop their skills. West Hill is a 5-star rated company which has grown from strength to strength since it started as a one-man band in 2014. They have now grown into a team of 15 members offering a wide range of services.
GARDENING
Preserving apple varieties
MEMBERS of Blagdon Orchard Group have been given a lesson in the art of grafting by John Whittick, owner of Cider Apple Trees. Suzanne Wynn, who runs the group, said: “Garden centres are the horticultural equivalent of supermarkets in that they come to dictate what we can grow, based mainly on commercial considerations. “Some specialist growers do exist and continue to graft old and local varieties. However, to ensure local varieties are not lost, the group encourage people to take cuttings of old varieties for grafting whilst the trees are still healthy.”
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Licensed for PA1PA6 Pesticide Knapsack Spraying • Mowing • Strimming • Harrowing • Rolling • Hedge & Tree Trimming • Garden Clearance • Fencing • Jet Washing Areas covered: Somerset and surrounding counties
For free quotations Tel: 01934 615396 • Mob: 07702 095607
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 65
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MENDIP TIMES
Weston Garden Machinery Garden Machinery & Woodburning Specialists
Mowers Electric 13”– 15” Petrol 16” – 21”
Behind Shell Garage Winterstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset BS23 2YS
Tel: 01934 626093 www.westongarden.co.uk
PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
GARDENING
Plant fair offers a special day out for gardeners
THIS year’s Yarlington Plant Fair will be the 20th held by the Count and Countess Charles de Salis at their beautiful home, raising money for local good causes. The event attracts specialist growers and dealers from all over the South West and the Yarlington House stall is also a big draw, stocked with home-germinated and grown-on plants, including many interesting and unusual flower annuals and perennials, as well as numerous vegetable varieties. The fair is an annual highlight for keen gardeners and also provides a special day out for garden enthusiasts. There is the chance to explore the beautiful flower garden and walled kitchen garden which will be open. The Count and Countess have lived at Yarlington House since 1961 and have developed the gardens over a long period of time – introducing, among other things, a ha-ha, a sunken garden, hedges-on-stilts, and most recently a beautiful wildflower meadow.
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Harptrees History Society launches new website
FOLLOWING a “soft launch” last year, The Harptrees History Society’s website is now live and accessible to all. Whilst it will be of particular interest to those in the Mendip and Chew Valley area, the site also caters for those further afield. With the huge growth in interest in tracing family history it is anticipated that the website will become a valuable tool for genealogists around the world. The new website represents two years of work by society volunteers, who enormously appreciate assistance given by Project Newton, a community project to reinvigorate St Laurence Church, East Harptree, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Visitors to the website will find a rich resource of material, ranging from census transcripts and copies of old documents to a photo archive. Ongoing research is helping to populate the special interest pages of the site and the society intends to
West Harptree shop and staff
Home Guard 1940s
Sunday School trip to Weston-super-Mare
upload new material as it becomes available. The gallery pages, which contain many black and white photographs held by the society, are likely to be particularly popular. Some are very early images of people, events and street views. Although the search function is still undergoing development, visitors will already find a fascinating collection of local pictures. These are divided into the three categories; two cover the
HISTORY
“home” parishes of East Harptree and West Harptree, and the third, Chew Valley and Mendip, the surrounding areas. The society also holds some fascinating maps which have been reproduced to a high detail and can be zoomed in online. Further maps and plans will be uploaded when digitally scanned. One of the website’s more interesting pages is the interactive map facility. Here visitors can open either a local or a Mendips map and “wander” around to find features and buildings of interest. These are coded with coloured spots which, when opened, reveal photos and information. NICK ROBERTS
Harold Lyons at his post office and shop in Bishop Sutton
Details: Search for Harptrees History, or enter www.harptreeshistorysociety.org
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MENDIP TIMES
Mortgage Style Ltd offer later life lending mortgages! MORTGAGE Style Ltd is an independent specialist mortgage advisor with offices in Bristol and Portishead. We provide mortgage and protection advice to individuals and businesses to find our clients the most competitive rates and match the lender to their specific circumstances. Our senior mortgage specialist, Kelly Flanagan, explains about Equity Release Mortgages: Equity release Refers to a range of products letting you access the equity (cash) tied up in your home if you are 55 or over. You can take the money you release as a useful lump sum. This would involve taking out a mortgage secured on your property provided it is your main residence while retaining ownership (some lenders will also do this on properties that are not your main residence). Clients can ring-fence some of the value of their property as an inheritance
for their family and they can either choose to make repayments or let the interest roll-up. Why choose equity release? The main difference between equity release and other mortgages is that you do not have to make monthly payments.
Kelly Flanagan
The loan plus interest will be repaid upon either death or should the client go into long-term care, whichever occurs first. You can choose to overpay up to 10% of the balance on equity release mortgages, therefore, rather than allowing the interest to roll up, you can pay this to keep the interest at bay. No affordability assessment is required. Equity Release can also prove useful for clients who have come to the end of an existing interest-only mortgage and are unable to repay the capital balance. Money released can be used for a range of reasons such as paying off an existing mortgage, a holiday, a gift for a family member, or home improvements. Equity release includes Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Schemes. We can advise and arrange Lifetime Mortgages and will refer to an approved specialist for Home Reversion schemes. There may be a fee for mortgage advice. The precise amount will depend upon your circumstances.
If you would like further information about Equity release, please contact Kelly on 01275 370360
PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
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A great auction service offered by Killens ARE you looking to sell your property quickly and easily? There are many benefits to selling your property at auction including a faster exchange, reduced risk of the sale falling through, higher prices and much more. Killens operate a simple and exciting online property auction system through Bamboo auctions that can achieve great results. So how does it work... Well, the system allows registered bidders to place bids on a property during a period of marketing, normally 30 days, without the pressure of the auction room. Potential buyers can see the bids being placed and get an email when outbid encouraging them to bid again. At the end of the auction, buyers are automatically charged a deposit or reservation fee and are obliged to complete the purchase 28 days later. The system is really straight-forward! And the cost can be really low. If you are thinking about selling your property at auction, contact us to arrange a free market appraisal. Our expert valuers will provide you with professional valuation and marketing advice. In marketing your property, we will undertake intense marketing with access to a large national database of investors from across the UK and abroad who will be emailed property details as well as advertising in the local press and promotion on all the main property portals including Rightmove, Zoopla,
PROPERTY
On The Market and Primelocation. So why sell by online auction…. • Auction can provide the fastest route to achieving a sale. • Competitive bidding during the short selling window can lead to properties selling for much more than expected. • Auction properties benefit from broader, more intense marketing. • The fast pace of the transaction and the requirement of a deposit reduces the opportunities for gazumping and vendors withdrawing so fewer sales fall through in comparison to estate agency methods. • You can plan ahead.
The team at Killens are seeking houses, cottages, commercial property, land and development opportunities to offer by auction. Contact them on 01761 241127 for a free appraisal of your property
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 69
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MENDIP TIMES
Win a box of cupcakes!
THE Cheddar Cakery is open daily for cupcakes, tea, coffee and made to order celebration cakes. Owner Charlotte Hingston is proud of what she has achieved in the 20 months that they have been open. She said: “I can’t wait for Easter, it will be the first time since we opened that everything in the village including the caves, will be fully operational.” It was a brave decision to open the shop during the pandemic but that bravery appears to have paid off. Charlotte said: “Like so many businesses in the village, last year was a surprisingly good year for us. I think we’re all determined to build on that in 2022.” Charlotte is so positive about the immediate future that she is looking for additional cake makers: “We currently have two permanent roles available. If you enjoy baking cakes and who doesn’t, we are keen to hear from you.” The Cheddar Cakery is running an Easter colouring competition for children and the winner will receive a box of six delicious cupcakes. Details: www.thecheddarcakery.com charlie@thecheddarcakery.com
CHEDDAR NURSERY Strawberries and bedding plants when available Garden shrubs and plants Compost, pots and accessories
Sharpham Road, Cheddar BS27 3DR 01934 742135
Keep it Local!
Building & DIY Materials Slabs : Fencing : Decking Glass & Keys Tools & Plumbing Gardening Sundries Dulux Paint & Mixers Household Coal & Gas
Cheddar & District Funeral Directors are here to help you every step of the way, providing dignity and respect to you and your loved ones. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Funeral Arrangements can be made at our office or in the comfort of your own home.
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PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
Traditional Service (Without Limousine)
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Traditional Service (With 1 x Limousine)
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Vintage motorcycle up for auction to raise cash for hospice
A FAMILY member of a Weston Hospicecare patient has donated his prized motorcycle to the charity to auction off. Tony Hutchings, from Cheddar, had recently experienced the support of the hospice after daughter, Paula, received care from the charity. Paula was passionate about donkeys so, during her care, staff at the hospice arranged for donkeys to visit her and for a video from The Donkey Sanctuary to be sent. Tony said: “Well, first day in, it was a sigh of relief for Kathy (Paula’s mum) and myself that someone else was taking over and the professional hands were in charge. Everyone proved very professional indeed which is why I have made this donation. “It is just a wonderful place, and when you get the news you haven’t got long, you could not be in a better place than this hospice. You will be looked after! It’s absolutely brilliant.” Tony is part of the Panther Owners Motorcycle Club and decided that he would like to donate his machine to the hospice to raise vital funds. He said: “I have owned the motorcycle four years. I’ll get another one when the time is right! I just thought it was the right thing to do and particularly as the hospice could make quite a bit of money out of it, good luck to you and well deserved.”
FOCUS ON CHEDDAR
Volunteers wanted for Cheddar visitor centre
THE visitor information centre in Cheddar Gorge is now being run by local volunteers under the management of the Cheddar Community Partnership and more volunteers are needed to help. The centre, owned by Sedgemoor District Council, was being run by the National Trust until the Covid pandemic hit their business and they were forced to close it two years ago. Now the Community Partnership has taken it on, with the blessing of both Cheddar Parish Council and the Chamber of Commerce, re-opening for limited hours at weekends only since last October. This has proved very successful with a steady flow of visitors seeking advice on local walks from the gorge and other information. With the main visitor season fast approaching and Longleat having announced their intention to re-open the caves before Easter the partnership would like to extend the opening hours and needs more volunteers to help. Volunteers can indicate how much time they can give at the centre and will be fitted into the rota accordingly. New members can expect to work alongside experienced staff initially until they are familiar with the role and, before making a commitment. Volunteers will be given an induction session by Richard Miller who knows the centre well, having worked there for several years as a volunteer with the National Trust. No special skills are needed, just some local knowledge and a willingness to help visitors to the gorge.
Richard Miller (left) with volunteers
Details: cheddargorgevic@gmail.com
Bids for the motorcycle need to be made by April 5th. Details: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/1952 panther-motor-bike
Offering an excellent selection of Fresh Foods including: Cheeses & Deli Goods, Homemade Pies & Pasties, Filled Rolls, Freshly Cut Sandwiches, Homemade Cakes & Barista Style Coffee.
Mendip Times OFFICE MANAGER
To take charge of sales and administration on Somerset’s most popular local magazine Details: steve@mendiptimes.co.uk
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 71
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MENDIP TIMES
Cheddar’s very own Mr. Football
TALK to anybody in Cheddar about the local football scene and the name Tim Richens will very quickly form part of the conversation. For more than 35 years the 58-year-old has been synonymous with Cheddar Football Club. He said: “I’ve performed just about every role at the football club. First as a player in the late 1970s all the way through to first team manager. I was manager when Cheddar became a Western League side for the first time in their history in 2012.” The promotion to the Western League clearly ranks high on his list of achievements, though not as high as his recovery from a life threatening brain injury he sustained from a bizarre accident in 2013. He said: “I had gone to Westpoint Arena in Exeter with some friends to watch the Premier League Darts. Somehow we got separated as we were leaving. I got in what I thought was a taxi and have no recollection of what happened next or indeed the next seven days.” Tim had inadvertently climbed into an unlicensed taxi and the driver drove off before Tim had properly got in the vehicle. The resulting fall left him with a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and two broken ribs. He woke up seven days later in Derriford hospital: “When I woke up I was unaware just how badly I had been injured. All I know is I was determined to get back to my normal self.” He was transferred to Musgrove Hospital in Taunton to be nearer to his family and spent a month there before being allowed home to continue his recovery. His wife Sarah played a large part in his recovery as did the charity Headway. Tim said: “When I first went to Headway I felt guilty. I looked around the room and saw so many people who were clearly suffering more than me. My mentor quickly pointed out that ABIs (acquired brain injury) come in many forms and everybody is on a different journey.” Incredibly Tim has made a near full recovery. One of the few lasting effects of the accident has been a permanent loss of taste. Despite spending his entire life living in and around Cheddar Tim has always hated the taste of cheese, especially Cheddar. He said: “I don’t know why but I’ve always hated the taste of cheese. After I lost my sense of taste I thought I would give it another try and I still can’t stand the stuff!” He returned as Cheddar FC’s first team manager but operating at that level proved to be a step too far. These days he’s heavily involved with a more sedate version of the sport he loves. He is the driving force behind a very successful Cheddar Walking Football Club, somewhat ironically named The Walking Dead! He is also the national coach for the England over 60s women’s team. He said: “We have a vibrant mix of both men and women at Cheddar. When we started three years ago there were just six of us. Now we regularly get 30 men attending on a Wednesday evening and the ladies that meet on Tuesday evening are steadily growing in numbers.”
Tim with Michael Eavis at a Headway meeting PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
Walking Football is held at the Kings of Wessex Leisure Centre in Cheddar. • Women: 7pm Tuesday • Men: 7pm Wednesday New players are welcome and the first two sessions are free
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FOCUS ON CHEDDAR
Chris’s Covid heroics make him a superstar CHEDDAR care home manager, Chris Dando, now has an express train named after him after being named a BBC Superstar for going above and beyond during Covid. He hit the national headlines during the first lockdown when he and his staff moved in with residents at Court House in Cheddar to protect them from Covid. He was nominated and won the Make a Difference Superstars honour organised by BBC Somerset and GWR. With his wife, Alison , daughter Edith, sister Sarah and her daughter Jessica, along with three of his team, Julie , Donna and Tina they jumped on “HIS” train at Taunton station to travel first class to Bath for breakfast at The Ivy before returning to Taunton. Chris said: “We had a brilliant day and I was so happy to be able to share the experience with my lovely family and Court House team who were all so supportive in helping me and all at Court house get through the pandemic without losing any residents to Covid.”
COURT HOUSE
AwArd winning CAre Home
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
e Manager – Chris Dando • 01934 742131 • chriscourthouse@gmail.com Court House Retirement Home, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RA www.courthouseretirementhome.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 73
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MENDIP TIMES
Lions go for gold!
CHEDDAR Vale Lions Club celebrated 50 years of serving the community with a Golden Charter anniversary dinner at the Isle of Wedmore Golf Club. This special occasion was attended by many Lions and friends from clubs in the South West district as well as members. A special message was read out from Lion Norman Leavey, the first charter president, who was unable to attend in person. He reminded members of the many and varied activities of Cheddar Vale Lions over the last 50 years and said how proud he was to see the club that he helped to set up was still going strong. Lions’ district governor, Mark Lockie, and his wife were guests for the evening. As well as giving a short speech and toast to Lions Clubs International, he presented Cheddar president Keith Cook with a Melvin Jones Fellowship. After a hearty dinner, short speeches and presentations, including a Certificate of Appreciation from the Lions’ patron, Sophie Countess of Wessex, they were entertained by Andrew Sheldon aka “The Somerset Crooner”.
Lions get ready for their pre-loved sale
Presentation of laptops to Space Youth Club
The club started the New Year as it means to go on, with the recycling of laptops continuing. Two laptops have been presented to The Space Youth Club, and two were recently sent to a desperate family in Devon! Any families struggling to provide laptops for their children for schoolwork at home are asked to get in touch. Their community support continues with members supporting the Visitor Information Centre in the Gorge which is being run by volunteers this year. The club has helped from the set-up and will continue to do so. A preloved sale on February 26th raised just under £500. On April 30th they are holding a Spring Fair in the village hall as part of the Cheddar Arts Festival weekend. Planning is well underway for other annual events, such as the ever-popular duck race which will take place on Saturday, June 4th, so a “Jubilee Duck Race”. They also have a fantastic new event being held at Petruth Paddocks on May 20th, a country festival. They are appealing for new members to help.
Details: information@cheddarvalelions.org.uk • 0345 8337402 www.cheddarvalelions.org.uk
Back in action
FEBRUARY saw the return of Cheddar Valley u3a’s regular coffee morning, which was very well attended and clearly enjoyed by everyone present. It was also their first opportunity to introduce their new partnership with Plastic Free Cheddar, which aims to reduce/remove single use plastic from the village. An interesting display provided plenty of information showing ways to help become more “Planet Friendly” and make better use of resources. Also important was the chance to meet
old friends and new members again, with the view to regaining a more normal way of life, after Covid. Looking forward, coffee mornings are held on the third Thursday of each month, from 10am and speaker meetings, covering a wide variety of interesting topics, on the first Thursday at 2pm. Both take place in the village hall. You are invited to meet them to see what
else they do – there is a wide variety of social, fun and educational activities to be had and they always love to welcome new members to their large and ever growing group.
Details: annfiler020@gmail.com 01934 740065 u3asites.org.uk/cheddar-valley/groups
PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
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FOCUS ON CHEDDAR
A decade of service
IN May of this year Cheddar Valley Foodbank will enter its tenth year of serving the local community. Trustee Elaine Reynolds believes there is no sign of the need for their support changing. She said: “Right now the pressures on families are huge. We’re currently emerging from a pandemic and now we’re careering headlong into a fuel crisis. I don’t anticipate the need for our services diminishing anytime soon.” It’s very easy to view an idyllic village like Cheddar as being devoid of the issues of food poverty but the reality is somewhat different, as Elaine explains: “We may not have the numbers of larger towns and cities but there are difficulties faced that are unique to rural areas, transport is a major problem. “We provide a service in Cheddar and the surrounding villages. If you can’t afford to put food on the table, how are you able to afford to travel to your local foodbank?” Fellow trustee Penny Cooke says they often have to go beyond their normal remit to ensure that people don’t go hungry: “Deliveries to families have become part of the reality of running a rural foodbank. If they can’t get to us then we will ensure that food finds its way to people who are in need.” It’s not just families on benefits who call upon their services. People working on the minimum wage or on zero hour contracts are frequent visitors to the foodbank. Penny said: “You would be amazed who we see walk through these doors. We don’t judge anybody and we certainly never exclude anybody. Thankfully, the
stigma of the need to use a foodbank is not what it was when we started in 2013, which is probably the main reason why numbers continue to increase.” There is however still one part of the community who struggle to reach out for help. Elaine said: “Most of our customers are under 60 years old, the older generation still see it as a blight on their character to admit they need help and reach out. We are slowly winning that battle but it isn’t easy.” Cheddar Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust, one of the UK’s leading charities for family food provision. It means they can work with local food providers and issue vouchers for struggling families to spend in local outlets. Elaine said: “A great example of this is the local butchers Cobbs, who are more than generous with their portions and offer the opportunity for people to choose their own items without anybody being aware of their circumstances.”
PERFECT PAVE
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. 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.
Showroom open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12noon Sat MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 75
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Mendip Rotarians raise funds for Ukraine
MEMBERS of the Rotary Club of Mendip held a bucket collection in and around Cheddar and Wedmore and raised the magnificent sum of £3,050. One innovation which helped was the use of a card reader – a great acquisition in the age of “no cash I’m afraid”! The funds will go to Rotarians in countries bordering Ukraine to help Ukrainian refugees.
FOCUS ON CHEDDAR
Cheddar planning community picnic
CHEDDAR Parish Council has announced that it is planning a community picnic on Friday, June 3rd as part of village celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The picnic will be held on Sharpham Road Playing Fields, 12noon-4pm and all residents and visitors are invited to bring a picnic and meet up with friends and neighbours. Drinks will be available in the new community pavilion and entry will be free to everyone. There will be entertainment and games for children and a fancy hats parade and competition with prizes for adults and children. Local groups wishing to help in any way should contact the parish clerk.
Details: clerk@cheddarparishcouncil.org
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e Cross, union street, Cheddar, somerset bs27 3nA • 01934 742521 email cobbsofcheddar@outlook.com PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
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MENDIP TIMES
Support for heart charity
CHILDREN at St Julian’s School in Wellow have raised £130 to support the Heart Heroes charity which supports children living with a heart condition. Their cake sale allowed parents and staff to purchase some tasty delights! Children at the school are encouraged and supported to get involved with a number of fundraising events throughout the year. Details: 01225 833143 or visit www.churchvalleyschoolsfederation.co.uk
Happy 66th birthday
AFTER being closed for nearly two years due to pandemic restrictions, the League of Friends of Weston General Hospital have reopened their hospital shop. It is now in its 66th year of providing essential equipment and improving patients’ stay in the hospital. Over £5million pounds have been raised, so far, and their work continues with the support of local people and organisations. They have just agreed to buy five ECG machines at a cost of £39,000. The League of Friends is the only registered charity specifically raising money for Weston General Hospital. They would welcome more volunteers. Details: Lizzie 01278 760407
Lottery funding
MENTORING Plus based in Bath has been awarded £30,000 per year for the next five years in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. It will use the funding to support its volunteer mentoring project across Bath & North East Somerset. It will enable them to recruit, train and support more adult volunteers to mentor young people in need of early help, offering time and space to explore difficulties and follow their positive interests. Last year the charity supported over 100 local young people with one-to-one volunteer mentoring. PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
Heritage trustees wanted
A CHARITY with responsibility for important parts of Somerset and Devon’s rich heritage is looking for new trustees. As a result of retirements, the South West Heritage Trust wants to appoint up to three new people to join its board of trustees. They would be part of the team with overall strategic responsibility for millions of archive treasures, museum collections reaching back to prehistory and more than 400 acres of heritage landscapes. Well over 100,000 people visit trust sites every year and formal learning programmes reached 10,000 young people. Trust responsibilities include Glastonbury’s Rural Life Museum, the Museum of Somerset in Taunton and heritage centres in Taunton, Exeter and Barnstaple. David Gwyther, trust chair, said: “Our heritage plays a central role in defining who we are as individuals and communities. The trust has the great privilege of looking after major parts of that heritage and making it important to people of all ages and backgrounds. Becoming a trustee is a chance to help make a real difference.” The closing date for applications is Friday, April 8th For details, visit: www.swheritage.org.uk
Ready to ride
MORE than 350 riders are expected for the Wedmore 40 30 cycle ride on Sunday, July 10th, raising money for Weston Hospicecare and The Friends of St. Mary's in Wedmore. Now in its fifth year, it offers a fun ride of 12 miles for all the family or routes of 30, 40 or 70 miles. Registration is now open. Details: Scan the QR code or go to westonhospicecare.org.uk/event/W edmore-40-30
Midnight walk is back
AFTER a hiatus because of Covid, Dorothy House Hospice Care’s midnight walk will return to Bath on Saturday, June 11th. Women from across the area will be walking 5km through the night to fundraise. Everyone who signs up is asked to raise a minimum of £40 in sponsorship. Details: www.dorothyhouse.co.uk and search for ‘Midnight Walk’
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CHARITIES
LOCAL folk musician, Helen James, is co-ordinating a campaign for Mendip communities to support the UNICEF Covid vaccine campaign. She launched the “Give a Jab” initiative in Keynsham at the end of last year and has raised about £1,000 so far. Since then “Give a Jab Saltford” and “Give a Jab Corston” have been set up by Saltford resident and local councillor
Tim Roberts
Duncan Hounsell. Now Marksbury resident and retired agriculturalist Tim Roberts is promoting a new crowdfunder campaign “Give a Jab Marksbury”. Tim, who has worked in Africa, Latin America and many other places throughout his career, is passionate about delivering vaccines where they are most needed. He said: “Having been to Kenya recently I observed that the people there have adopted a responsible approach to Covid-19 by imposing lengthy travel restrictions, curfews and using masks. “However I was horrified on my return to read that only 13% of the population
(Photograph courtesy of Ben Adams)
Tackling Covid worldwide
Helen James
there have been vaccinated. This means the majority still remain vulnerable to Covid and the whole world is at risk from new variants emerging whilst this situation prevails.” UNICEF will help deliver 2 billion Covid-19 vaccines for health workers and those at high risk. Helen said: “The idea is to bring our communities together by offering help to others as we overcome the struggle with Covid. By donating to this campaign we can show our gratitude for the jabs and boosters we have received and may also be offered in the future.”
Details: helenjames.music@icloud.com https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/give-a-jab
In memory of Maggie
THE Meningitis Family charity, based in Bishop Sutton, raised nearly £3,000 with an Abba tribute dance held at the BAWA leisure centre in Southmead, Bristol. The charity was set up after the death of Margaret “Maggie” Wells in 2018 from meningitis. Her husband, Pete, said: “Despite the situations in other parts of the world, tickets sold out, allowing the family to have 350 revellers dancing the night away.”
Marathon challenge
WESTON Hospicecare has three spaces for the Super Three City Challenge which will see participants run three marathons in three major European cities, Dublin, London and Berlin. Participants taking on this once in a lifetime test will commit to raising £5,000 for the hospice and need to be able to provide their own transport the three cities. The charity’s director of fundraising, Mark Flower, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this relentless challenge to our super-mad running supporters. “It’s one of those truly remarkable once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and we’d love to hear from everyone who is interested in taking part and applying for one of the three spaces we have available. “Participants will tackle Europe’s most sought after marathons all to raise money for our treasured hospice.” The Dublin marathon will take place on October 30th and supporters will then be entered into the 2023 London and Berlin marathons. Details: jane.murch@westonhospicecare.org.uk 01934 423965 www.westonhospicecare.org.uk
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Cancer charity welcomes new CEO FROME cancer charity We Hear You (WHY) has welcomed its new chief executive officer, Lucy Kitchener. Outgoing CEO Melissa Hillier recently left the charity after seven years to take up a new role as CEO of RICE Bath, which undertakes dementia care and research. Lucy brings a wealth of skills and experience from a career in local authority as health commissioner of mental health and wellbeing services. She said: “I am passionate about supporting children, families and individuals affected by cancer and other life threatening conditions with free therapeutic support. I believe in the
importance of people having access to high-quality professional support at the right time and in the right place.” Having benefitted personally from WHY’s service in the past, Lucy feels a strong connection with the charity and those it supports. She said: “Some years ago, I was with my mum at home, as she died from a brain tumour. I benefitted from prebereavement counselling with WHY and it truly helped me to navigate that period of time and much beyond; helping me to access my strength and find acceptance. “I am dedicated to ensuring we can share our services with anyone who may benefit from what we offer at WHY.”
Outside of work, Lucy is kept busy by her four children and her cocker spaniel, Dotty – and training for a Hadrian’s Wall trek for WHY in September!
Details: 01373 455255 email info@wehearyou.org.uk
Runners ready for half marathon FIFTEEN runners from across the Chew Valley will be taking part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon on April 3rd, raising funds for local charity, The Harvey Hext Trust – A Sibling’s Wish. The charity has so far supported 450 children who have lost a sibling by providing them with beautifully personalised, bespoke, wooden Memory Boxes. It also supports the whole family hosting bereaved family days out. Sarah Hext, charity founder, said: “I am so proud of our incredible runners, their ages range from 27-64 and many of them have had injuries. Most of our runners had only run five kilometres when they signed up for the London Landmarks so to be able to now run 21.1K is just amazing!”
Members of Team Harvey
Details: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/harveyhextlondonlandmarks • www.asiblingswish.com
By George, it’s going to be a long way
A PRINTING company account manager is to tackle a 150-mile walk from Wells Cathedral to Westminster Abbey in April to raise money for St Margaret’s Hospice Care. Matt Drew, of Shepton Mallet, is taking on the challenge in memory of his friend Sam Holland, who died from cancer last July. Sam was head of P.E. at the Blue School in Wells. Her husband, Dan, runs the Queen Street Deli in Wells. Matt and Sam had been close friends for more than 20 years. Matt, who works for Integrity Print in Westfield, will leave Wells on St George’s Day, Saturday, April 23rd and hopes to reach Westminster Abbey on Sunday, May 1st, where he intends to deliver “a pilgrim’s message” from the Diocese of Bath and Wells to the Dean of Westminster. Matt (left) with Sam and Dan Holland at a Wells 10k race The most challenging part of the journey, according to Matt, will be the halfway stretch between Melksham and Reading, covering 70 miles. Matt’s goal is to raise a minimum of £2,022 for the charity. He said: “I’ll be tired, I won’t have any company, and if you’ve ever done long distance running, it’s always the middle section that is the most difficult – that’s when you hit the wall. But I’ll just need to keep going, whatever the weather, regardless of how tired I am.” For details and to donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/matt-drew22
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10k’s tenth anniversary
Finishers of a previous race
ENTRIES are coming in fast for the popular Chew Valley 10k, now in its tenth year, which takes place on Sunday, June 12th at 9.30am. Almost 300 runners have already entered the race, so don’t delay if you’re hoping to run! The race begins at Bishop Sutton Village Hall and anyone over 15 can enter. Entry costs £22 with a special rate for 1518 year olds of £15. The fee includes a bespoke medal and the option of a technical T-shirt, which will be exclusively available to entrants who book a place by the end of April. To celebrate its tenth birthday, there are ten good causes and charities benefitting from the event. Alongside main beneficiaries NICU Support, Bishop Sutton Primary School Society and Chew Valley School Society, this year’s race is also supporting Chew Valley Plants Trees, Myeloma UK, Chew Valley Rugby Club, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, Chew Valley Football Club, Lymphoma Research Trust and Harvey Hext Trust: A Sibling’s Wish. The event was originally conceived in 2012 by Ann Booker and Jo Burke, keen runners and mums at Bishop Sutton Primary School, who wanted to raise funds for the school while getting the local community active. Many original race committee members are still involved, whilst the entire local community supports the event with sponsorship, by volunteering as marshals or baking cakes to feed hungry runners at the end of the event. Local doctor, broadcaster and comedian, Dr Phil Hammond, has provided commentary for every race since the beginning. Race director, Denise Mellersh, said: “Without the tireless support and commitment of volunteers, residents and local businesses we would not be celebrating our tenth anniversary with a 10km race that is still going strong. “We would like to thank each and every person who has helped out, but especially the whole Debbie Fortune Estate Agents team who have been great partners for the committee throughout many years.” Details: www.chewvalley10k.co.uk Facebook Instagram and Twitter @chewvalley10k
CHARITIES
Village’s intriguing curiosities feature in new booklet
HISTORICAL writer Mark Bullen, who has lived in Wrington for 31 years, has written a booklet about the village with all proceeds benefiting Children’s Hospice South West. The Little Book of Wrington Curiosities provides the story behind 40-or-so “objects” that can be seen during a walk around Wrington and the immediate area. Mark said: “Subjects in the booklet range from the death from Mark’s latest booklet the bite of a rabid cat, to a pony trapped in snow drifts rescued by the village voluntary fireman; from a tall, solitary ‘stench pipe’, to a plastic buddha bought from H&M; from memorials to John Locke to a ‘Danger of Death’ sign for some unknown reason written in Welsh as well as English; from a wooden bench commemorating a keeper of pigeons to a silver-plated teapot donated by a Victorian Wrington rector, and many more!” Proceeds from sales will benefit CHSW’s local hospice, Charlton Farm, which provides respite, palliative, and end-of-life care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families from across North Somerset. The charity relies almost entirely on voluntary donations to exist. Mark, who has two grandchildren, has donated profits from other booklets to a range of children’s charities so felt it was appropriate to donate the proceeds of this one to CHSW. In total the author has written 11 books about various aspects of Wrington history since 1998 including Wrington Drama Club, both world wars, the Victorian school, the fire brigade and crime and punishment in the 19th century. The Little Book of Wrington Curiosities is on sale at £5 from The Mother Hen Cafe in Broad Street
Marathon runners wanted
IF you are looking to run the Virtual London Marathon, the trustees of the charity Murdered Abroad, have places available, all entry fees paid, for suitable runners. You can run any route of your choice, here in Somerset on Sunday, October 2nd, and will have 23 hours to complete your chosen 26-mile run to qualify for the coveted "Finisher's" medal and T-shirt. Murdered Abroad supports the families of about 80 or so British citizens who are killed each year, working, or holidaying abroad. A local spokesman said: “People don't realise until it happens to them that although any murder is horrendous for the family, murders abroad have the additional burdens of repatriation, language, time difference, foreign judicial systems, culture differences, distance, massive travel costs and little support from the authorities.” Details: support@murdered-abroad.org.uk Brian 07880734949 or brian@murdered-abroad.org.uk
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CHARITIES
Doing their bit for charity
Fighting liver disease
TWO English Springer Spaniels named Rafa and Ziggy are doing their bit for the local community in Wedmore. Owner Trevor Gillman takes them for a walk on most days on Lascott Hill on footpaths across Wedmore Golf Club. He said: “We haven’t trained them in any way, they just started finding golf balls and bringing them to us. Springers have an incredibly strong sense of smell and an equally strong sense of retrieval.” Very quickly Rafa and Ziggy had brought back so many balls that Trevor had to decide what to do with them. He said: “It turns out golf balls, particularly good quality and clean golf balls, are in demand and very soon we had a stream of regular customers.” He decided to give the proceeds to local charities, raising £1,500 so far. He said: “We’ve met a number of golfers over the last year and it’s really nice how they support what we are doing. The balls are usually found deep in the undergrowth and the dogs have great fun finding them.”
SEXEY’S School students and staff have raised more than £1,000 in support of the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation’s Big Yellow Friday. For the ninth consecutive year, the school, in Bruton, has supported this cause alongside Tilly, the eldest child of two former pupils who met in Sexey’s Sixth Form, who had a life-saving liver transplant when ten months old. This year students attended school wearing items of yellow ranging from scarfs and socks to jumpers, full-length coats and high visibility jackets. Sixth form students supported the event by selling yellow cupcakes, made by the kitchen and dining team, and raffle tickets to win some great prizes including a Nintendo Switch, F1 Merchandise and Amazon vouchers. To date the school has helped raise more than £40k by holding non-uniform days, coffee mornings, raffles and bake sales.
Doing it for the love of cats
A CAT rescue centre in Oakhill – which is a satellite of a charity based near Frome – is marking the first anniversary of opening its doors. A programme of building work is underway at the Cats in Distress home, run by Judy and Terry Knowles with the help of volunteers. Judy and Terry have been funding much of the work to upgrade and refurbish the runs, which cater for mostly feral and street cats. Cats In Distress was founded in May 2016 by Ginny Parratt. What started with one shed and a couple of volunteers, now has the two sites and a team of fosterers catering to all felines. The main rescue centre, run by Ginny, is based in Berkley, in Frome. The two sites complement each other, with Berkley dealing predominantly with domestic cats who can be rehomed, whilst Oakhill is predominantly designed for feral or street cats, who need a place of safety away from people. On admission to Oakhill, all cats are neutered and, given time, some of them remember they liked living with humans and begin to trust again; those cats move to Berkley where they will go on to be rehomed. Ferals stay at Oakhill until they are found a place of
Claire Randall-Cooke and Ginny Parratt in the sunshine at Oakhill
safety to live, usually on farms, stables or smallholdings, where they can spend the rest of their days. The charity has now helped more than 1,000 cats, with last year being their busiest. It is now planning a series of fundraising events: a spring fair on Saturday, April 2nd at Beckington Memorial Hall Beckington; Saturday, September 24th at Oakhill and on Saturday, October 29th with an autumn fair, again at Beckington Memorial Hall.
For details, visit www.cats-in-distress.org email info@cats-in-distress.org or call 07504 129955
PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
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EVENTS
Hedgers dodge the daffodils
THE 189th Wrington and Burrington Hedging Competition was held at Hazel Manor, Compton Martin, courtesy of Yeo Valley. It attracted 38 competitors, including an encouraging number of beginners who have been training with the society.
Champion Chris Chivers from Midsomer Norton with Tina Bath (left) open and over-60s winner and Jenny Holmes, beginners, from Kidderminster
Judges Paul Keel (left) and Charlie Burrough
Time for a tea break, Andy Ford with Heather Wareham from Binegar
Beginners (l to r) Amy Roberts, Heather Wareham and Jenny Holmes
Preparing lunch
Before the competition . . .
. . . and after
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 83
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MENDIP TIMES
Snowdrop festival was a storming success
EVEN the best efforts of Storm Eunice couldn’t deter the 2022 Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival from taking place. Two workshops and a planned procession through town to the unveiling of a newly-carved stone obelisk on the grave of James Allen – the town’s Snowdrop King – had to be cancelled, but everything else went ahead as planned, including the ceremony at his graveside attended by festival patron, award-winning gardener Dan Pearson. Amongst the guests was Ted Allen, deputy lieutenant of Somerset and a distant relative of James Allen. New for the 2022 festival were a James Allen Heritage Walk, an art, antiques and vintage trail around the town centre, including specially commissioned giant snowdrops, and partnerships with Yeo Valley Organic Garden and Downside Abbey Gardens.
There was a large turnout for the unveiling of the new obelisk in Shepton Mallet cemetery
Amanda Hirst, director of Shepton Snowdrops, said: “The programme for this year’s festival was fuller and more extensive than ever before. Many people braced the weather with equanimity, determined to enjoy all that was on offer in spite of Storm Eunice. “We’d like to thank our partner gardens, growers, craft makers, artists, workshop leaders, storyteller, cocktail inventor and
the town centre shops and cafes for working with us on this new expanded festival.” Amanda added: “The 2022 festival was particularly special for us. Our long-held ambition to return a new beautifully carved ten-foot obelisk to the grave of James Allen came to fruition just a week before the festival and it was unveiled by our patron, Dan Pearson.”
Festival patron Dan Pearson (right) with Dominic Weston, from the Shepton Mallet Horticultural Society and festival director Amanda Hirst
The hall in St Paul’s School hosted snowdrop and craft stalls as well as workshops
Cobi Snelson ran one of the flower-themed workshops during the festival
Ivy, aged two, who dressed as a sheep for the festival’s children’s fancy dress competition, with mum Corinne
PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
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COMMUNITY
Church makes a grand entrance
YATTON Methodist Church has received a spruce-up to welcome people back after Covid and is relaunching its programme of events for all ages. Work on a freshly-painted foyer of the church on the High Street has been completed by volunteers. Minister, the Rev Jill Flowers, said: “Lots of people have mucked in, everyone from the children in our Energize group, to people in their eighties, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more people through the doors over the next few weeks.” As well as its Sunday morning services, the church hosts a coffee morning, open to everyone, every Tuesday from 10am to noon. A toddler group meets on Mondays from 1.30-3pm and Energize meets every Wednesday in term time from 78.30pm for Year 7 upwards.
Some of the team in the bright new foyer
For details, visit: www.yatton-methodist.org.uk
Rotary supports carers group
Pictured front row members of Frome Carers, Christine Smith, Gaynor Price, Tricia Knott and Anne Bineen with Guy Parkinson, president, Frome Selwood Rotary
FROME Selwood Rotary recently donated £500 to Frome and District Carers Group to help them recover from the effects of the Covid pandemic and carry on their support for adult carers in Frome. Frome Selwood Rotary is one of three Rotary clubs in Frome that supports local, national and international service and charitable projects. Guy Parkinson, the club’s president, said: “We take our service to the community and fundraising very seriously but enjoy the social aspects of the club and believe that we should also have some fun.” Frome and District Carers Group is for those who look after a family member, friend or neighbour with a long-term illness or disability. It offers an opportunity to meet other carers in a social and relaxed atmosphere, a varied programme of talks, entertainment and outings and importantly, some time to yourself. The group meets 10.30-12.30pm on the first Wednesday in each month in the pavilion of Frome Cricket Club.
Details: Frome Carers Joan 01373 302128 or Tricia 01373 301369 www.fromeselwoodrotary.org.uk email
Teddies for refugees
WI president, Jenny Harris, (left) and member Nita Wendover
BISHOP Sutton and Stowey WI members have been busy knitting for the charity, Teddies for Tragedies, which sends them to refugee camps around the world. The group began knitting the teddies last summer when member, Alison Ewins, came up with the idea. WI president, Jenny Harris, said: “Well done to all our knitters! What a great contribution of teddies, mittens and glove puppets, all of which will help make a child's life a little better and show them that others do care.”
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Village tidy-up
GREEN Wedmore held a “Big Tidy Up” around Wedmore, Blackford and Stoughton, covering all the main routes and many of the minor village roads. Plenty of people of all ages went along to help, including Eleanor Thatcher from Thatchers, who donated some litter grabbers to improve their supplies. They collected a very large quantity of rubbish, much of which has been recycled. The next tidy-up will be held in late autumn.
New coffee shop
Walking festival
Linda Day
A NEW Saturday morning snack bar and coffee shop has opened at the Hive Community Centre in Peasedown St John. The Honey Pot Snack Bar is open 9am–12pm and provides fresh coffee for just £1.50, plus a selection of waffles, crumpets and mouth-watering muffins! Centre manager, Lucy Day, said: “We wanted to make sure that visitors to the centre, and users of our services, had access to fresh coffee and delicious snacks on a Saturday. “With mini-athletics for children happening, plus the Post Office and community library open, there is always plenty happening in the building at the weekend.”
THE Somer Valley Walking Festival will be taking place once again this September celebrating its sixth anniversary. Their aim is to encourage local people and visitors to explore the beauty of the local countryside and also to discover its rich industrial and other heritage. They are offering two days of walks of varying lengths to suit all levels of experience and fitness. All walks are free and do not require booking (except for the long walk on Saturday). Simply turn up at the place and time given, allowing time to register. The event takes place over the weekend of September 10th/11th. Saturday walks start from various local venues, including a repeat of the very popular Coal Canal walk from Paulton to Limpley Stoke. Sunday walks start from the Conygre Hall, Timsbury, with refreshment at the end. Full details will be published nearer the time.
Winter workshops
Details: www.thehivepsj.org 01761 360021
Village lunch
THE annual soup and puddings lunch at Stanton Drew village hall raised £639 towards repairs to the village church’s bell tower. PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
THE last craft workshop of the winter in Compton Dando attracted 23 people. Organiser, Harriette Dottridge, said: “Amongst our usual crafts today we also had some sock knitting, crochet, a bit of weaving as well as some block printing again.” The workshops will resume next October/November.
Details: hdottridge@hotmail.com
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Chew’s link with Zambia
ST Andrew’s Church in Chew Magna has been linked with the church of St Mary and St John in Kwacha in the copper belt of Northern Zambia for nearly 25 years and has supported them in many projects. After they had completed their church in 2007, they began a project to build a priest’s house, which is now nearing completion. Jenny Biggs, who is one of St Andrew's members running the Zambia link, said: “The church in Zambia is about much more than worship. It is involved in improving many aspects of people’s Priest's house lives, in health, education, so appointing a priest is really important for the community as well as the church. “Despite the difficulties of the last couple of years the congregation of our link parish has raised money for bricks to continue the work on their priest’s house. We were then able to
Working party
COMMUNITY
St Andrews PCC pictured with Archbishop Albert Chama, a Zambian Anglican bishop, during a previous visit
transfer some funds raised pre-Covid for their volunteer builders to continue the work. “We have been able to help at times with donations sent through the Bath & Wells Diocese. Most of the building work has been done by the parishioners themselves. “Despite the problems posed by Covid they have finished the house during this last year with just some decorating needed now. It has been really joyful and rewarding to hear of what has been achieved in difficult times. “We are looking forward to the time when a priest moves in to minister to this lively hardworking congregation.”
COMPTON Dando has a new churchyard cleanup organiser, Kelston Gough, who oversaw a busy morning with the first quarterly working party of the year. Refreshments were provided at the village hall by the monthly coffee morning. One of the volunteers, Harriette Dottridge, said: “The churchyard looked tidy and inviting for the Café Church service at St Mary’s the next day. More volunteers are always welcome.” Maureen Collings weeding one of the borders
Lions say thanks
GLASTONBURY and Street Lions Club presented a certificate of appreciation to the Morrisons store in Glastonbury for supporting its Christmas collection, which raised £521.54. Pictured (l to r) are Lion John Mulliner, Alison Hall Leitch, community champion at Morrisons, and Lion president David Atkins.
Food bank donations
TESCO donated two trolleys full of supplies including lots of daffodils to two local larders, Temple Cloud and Paulton. Liz Brakspear (pictured left) collected for the Temple Cloud Larder and Liz Hardman collected for Paulton on behalf of Kayleigh Paul who runs and organises Paulton Larder. The donation was organised by Maxine Parsons, on behalf of Tesco Community liaison and overseen by Simon Perry Williams, the store’s grocery manager. Liz Hardman, a B&NES councillor, said: “A big thank you to Tesco for brightening up peoples’ lives in these difficult times.”
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Love is in the air
CHURCHES in Churchill and Langford organised a community Love Bomb, decorating the area with hearts, ribbons and flowers, reflecting the community spirit shown during the pandemic. Indoors, 40-50 people dropped by the Pop-Up Café at Churchill Methodist hall to make posies and cards with blessings to give to friends and neighbours as acts of kindness. A volunteer from Churchill and Langford Food Bank, which operates at St Mary’s, Langford, gave a talk about its service which is an expression of care for their neighbourhood. The Churchill and Langford Minibus Society, based at Churchill Methodist centre, was instrumental, along with Churchill Village Fund, in obtaining post pandemic boost grants for many village societies and groups. These included Churchill Baby & Toddler Group, Thursday Lunches and courses such as Time Out for Parents and Men Get Cooking!, all of which operate from this community hub. Meanwhile at Churchill Primary, an ecumenical team of church volunteers invited local families to enjoy a croissant breakfast. Here, enthusiastic youngsters spent the morning busily making love bugs from bottle corks and decorating pebbles. Jacquelene Seel, community development worker at Churchill Methodist, said: “The community response to the Love Bomb has been absolutely wonderful! “It is a testament to the way our close-knit community strengthened during the pandemic, as well as the creativity of the volunteers at St Mary’s Langford and St John’s Churchill. “It is wonderful that people of all ages have come together to express their care for our neighbours.”
Support for community groups
SOME 47 local organisations have successfully secured grants from the Mendip Communities Fund. Mendip District Council has allocated £350k to groups with project plans that support community resilience, physical and mental wellbeing and access to arts, creativity and heritage. Projects that secured funding of up to £2k and up to £30k include improvements to village halls, skate park developments, music and seasonal events, a defibrillator, play area refurbishment, dance groups and equipment for a cricket club. Details: www.mendip.gov.uk/cf
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Arts, crafts and information
THE Discover Frome Information Point has moved to a new home in the Round Tower at Black Swan Arts, spanning the two floors of the beautiful 18th century building. The new space incorporates Discover Frome: Makers, a new initiative by Frome Town Council showcasing local artists and makers in the exhibition space on the ground floor. Rachel Griffin, the council’s marketing and communications manager, said: “Discover Frome’s new home gives us much more space to share everything that Frome has to offer, from essential information like bus timetables to local publications and a variety of Frome walks, gifts and books on sale. Sharing this space with local makers creates a bright, vibrant atmosphere.”
The information point is seeking new volunteers to join the team. For details, email info@frometowncouncil.gov.uk or call 01373 465757
Youth work in Congresbury
Alex Ballard (left) being thanked by Stella Wilson, founder of Cameo
ALEX Ballard talked to Cameo, in Congresbury Methodist Hall, about her 25 plus years in youth work. She illustrated the various activities carried out by the Youth Partnership in Congresbury. This included decorating the youth club building, cooking, First Aid, learning IT and coding at the Cyber Club and pressing apples from the church and community orchards for apple juice, sold for club funds. Outdoor activities have involved weeks on a small ship and camping in local woodland. Former youth club members were the initiative for the ball court, built adjacent to the club building with funds from a housing development. Alex praised Congresbury Parish Council for their financial support for local youth, a rarity in village communities, and regretted that many charitable youth activities have not survived Covid and the end of government finance. Even with occasional problems, she said her work had been exciting and a joy, and appealed for adult volunteers to help in the Youth Partnership.
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Helping the homeless
COMMUNITY
Young artists have designs on new book
Pictured (l to r) Jeremy Manners, Private Sector Housing Team Leader (MDC), Helen Mumford, Housing Occupational Therapist (SCC), Cllr Richard Pinnock, Portfolio Holder for Housing Services (MDC) and Gillian Bannell, Senior Accommodation Worker
MENDIP District Council has helped the YMCA Brunel group transform two ground floor rooms at Grace Harris House, Shepton Mallet, thanks to £60k funding from its Disabled Facilities Grant. The grant made the rooms wheelchair accessible and was used to install level-access shower rooms and kitchen counters, as well as a ramp from the pavement to the front door. A power assisted door entry system and controls will also soon be completed. The rooms will be used as safe, temporary accommodation for disabled residents, vulnerable to homelessness.
Lodge gives thanks
Pictured (l to r): Worshipful Master Neil Arthur, air ambulance fundraiser, Ken Hutton, Philip and Mary Turner, Andrew Emmett and Beth Selway (YMCA)
CONNAUGHT Freemasons Lodge in Midsomer Norton hosted a presentation evening to thank people who went to the aid of member Philip Turner who suffered a severe ankle injury while on his way to a lodge meeting. Passerby Andrew Emmett stayed with him until the Dorset and Somerset arrived, landing on the nearby cricket pitch. The injury was so severe that the doctor on board operated during the flight and saved his foot from being amputated. He later spent six hours in theatre having the bones reassembled. The lodge welcomed Andrew Emmett and his partner Beth Selway, presenting them both with gifts. Philip Turner and his wife Mary presented £1,000 from the lodge to the air ambulance’s local fundraiser Ken Hutton.
Details: Tony Cooper secretary 3573@btinternet.com www.connaughtlodge.org
Helen, Rob and daughter Sophia (centre) with some of the under-12s at a workshop in the library
CHILDREN from the Shepton Mallet area have been painting and drawing as part of a competition to illustrate a new book celebrating the community’s successful campaign to save the town’s library. Former teacher-turned-school librarian Helen Heaton and her fellow teacher husband Rob are working on their book The Town that Saved its Library and decided to use children’s pictures. They have launched a Kickstarter drive to pay for the book to be published in time for the Literally Shepton festival in November. Helen said: “Since we’ve lived in Shepton Mallet we’ve been incredibly inspired by the strength of community feeling in the town. The campaign to save the library from closure and keep it in the town centre epitomises that sentiment.” The library is still part of Somerset County Council’s libraries service but is run by 7 Starlings CIC who have opened up the building for more use by the community. Both 7 Starlings and the Mendip Children’s Book Group are supporting Helen and Rob. The book will be published by the Self Publishing Partnership in Bath. A painting by Rob of the library
For details, find The Town that Saved its Library on Facebook MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 89
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Charter market showcase for village makers
School donation
Cathy Judge and Johnny Francis on stage
A WIDE range of stalls, live music and, of course, tea and cake, all featured at Croscombe’s spring charter market. The quarterly events made a successful return after the pandemic at Christmas time. Villagers have held a charter to hold a weekly market since the 14th century but the markets died out early in the 20th century before being revived in the 1980s. The market specialises in crafts and produce from the local area. l Villagers are being invited to take part in the planting of 30 fruit trees on Sunday, April 10th to create the Croscombe Community Orchard on land next to the cemetery. The Morris family on their stall: Victoria, James, Richard and Nicole
TYNTESFIELD Lodge 4494, based in Nailsea, has donated £750 to local Ravenswood School to replace equipment which was damaged by flooding through a temporary roof. Master, Colin Ford, is pictured with head teacher, Mark Senior, and deputy head, Katie Barnes.
Community café
THERE was another good turnout for the monthly café held on the second Saturday of the month at St Mary’s Church in Stanton Drew. Organiser, Anne Bennett, said: “The latest project supported by this community venture was a supply of snowdrop bulbs for the school children to plant.”
Doreen Bond with some of the knitted toys she was selling
Details: Anne 07960 862118 or anne@crbennett.co.uk
Boys’ charity cakes
Candy Stanley (second from right), the main organiser, with former organiser Mary Cadogan, Helen Lawson and Estelle Cronin
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FOUR boys from Yatton held a cake sale for charity, raising £170 for HorseWorld at Whitchurch and the Battery Hen Welfare Trust. One donation was in memory of Barney, a horse owned by Helen Chaplin, mum of one of the boys. Barney died aged 18. The other followed lockdown, when one of the boys, Lewis, incubated eggs and raised chicks. The boys, all in Year 6 at Yatton School, are pictured (l to r) George Brown and Lewis Derrick, aged 11, and Max Rose and Joe Chaplin, both ten.
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Friends’ social
COMMUNITY
Chew Valley gets planting
Sarah Bishop with her surprise birthday cake
ST THOMAS a Becket Tower Friends in Pensford enjoyed a social evening when they joined an online awards ceremony held by the Churches Conservation Trust. It was also a pleasant evening for Sarah Bishop, whose birthday was the next day. The Miner’s Coffee shop opened specially for the Friends, who hold fundraising teas on Sunday afternoons in the summer.
Rewilding Chew
Pictured (l to r) Marie-Louise Hales, Jacky Morgan and Eileen O’Donnell
BACK in February a call went out from Rewild Chew asking anyone who was dividing their clumps of snowdrops or primroses to donate any spare ones for St Andrew's churchyard and other grass areas around Chew Magna village. One of the members, Eileen O’Donnell, said: “Thanks to all who got in touch with donations and to those who came along to help, we have been able to plant many more snowdrops and primroses. “Snowdrops not only brighten our day but are also a valuable source of food for the early emerging queen bumblebee and other early pollinators.” The project grew out of the Wilder Churches initiative, which aims to create a carpet of spring flowering bulbs. Details: rewildchew@gmail.com richardwestropp@gmail.com
Nempnett Pastures
CHEW Valley Plants Trees and Black2Nature recently joined forces to plant 465 trees at Nempnett Pastures, where George Ford is the sixth generation of farmers on the land. Last summer Chew Valley Plants Trees sent 100 handdelivered letters to 100 farmers across the valley, inviting them to meet at Chew Stoke Harvest Home. George answered the call. Jackie Head, from Chew Valley Plants Trees, said: “George’s love of his land was palpable. Born into a farming family, he spent his childhood surrounded by this familiar and beautiful scene, learning to farm from his parents and grandparents. “This stewardship across time is seen in the protection of hedgerows and the charming field names passed down from generation to generation. “There was a magical moment during our visit when we walked into Lane Field where half a dozen 100 year old oaks stand, each in their own space, reminding us that the term ‘acre’ was that given to the space an oak tree needs to grow to full maturity.” George said: “There used to be more oaks here, and one day I plan to plant oaks that will last for the next 100 years”. Chew Valley Plants Trees joined up with Black2Nature, an environmental group which aims to enable more people from visible ethnic minorities to have opportunities to enjoy the countryside. They spent a day tree planting miniwoodlands into the field edges in five fields on the farm. These native trees were sourced through the “I dig trees” programme via Black2Nature who also received grant funding to help with additional costs on the day. l Black2Nature is looking for more volunteers. Contact: helena@black2nature.org Details: https://www.tcv.org.uk/communities/i-dig-trees www.nempnettpastures.co.uk/ www.facebook.com/OfficialB2N/ chewvalleyplantstrees@gmail.com or phone Jackie on 0790064183
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Award for quarry protestors
Heather Clewett (left) and Sally Monkhouse receiving engraved rose bowls from Martin Palmer, president elect of the club
CHELWOOD Bridge Rotary Club has made its annual community award after inviting nominations from about a dozen local parish councils. The award was presented jointly to Sally Monkhouse and Heather Clewett for all the hard work they had both put in over many years in respect of the Stowey Quarry campaign and associated court case. This resulted in huge fines for the operators and the closure of the quarry. They were nominated by Stowey Sutton Parish Council. Rotary Club spokesman, Colin Robinson said: “They led and organised the Stowey Quarry Action Group whose tireless campaigning halted the dumping of unlicensed materials which would otherwise have entered into Chew Valley Lake and contaminated the drinking water for the whole area.”
Welcome to Wells u3a
Pictured (l to r) Sue Revell, Jeanne Evans and Ginny Bourquin
WELLS u3a held a special day for new members who had joined during and after lockdown. They were welcomed by the chair, Sue Revell (pictured), and members of the committee with coffee, tea and biscuits in the meeting room at Wells and Mendip Museum. There were stalls and a video showing the group’s various activities and a sale of cookery books compiled by members. The group said it hoped new members were made to feel welcome, especially people new to the area, recently bereaved or living alone. Details: www.https://u3asites.org.uk/wells/home
COMMUNITY
Church launches eco-hub
Pictured (l to r) Beryl Crocker, Camila Ruz and Jean Luckett
AN eco-hub has been launched at St Bartholomew’s Church in Ubley. One of those taking part, Jean Luckett said they wanted to create a space where people can celebrate the wonders of the natural world and learn how to take action to protect it. One of the organisers, Camila Ruz, said: “It was great to see so many enthusiastic people at the launch. The atmosphere was really buzzing and positive, and it has set us off to a great start.” The first project will be rewilding the churchyard and a wildflower seed planting day involving local schools. A dark sky astronomy project is also starting this month.
Millennium wood is thriving
Volunteers gather in the Millennium Wood for the planting day
Filling in gaps in a hedge bordering the wood
VOLUNTEERS who care for a woodland planted to mark the Millennium have been hard at work planting hundreds of new hedging plants and plugs of woodland plants to encourage wildlife and biodiversity. The five hectares of land on the edge of Stoke St Michael are owned by the parish council but managed by the village’s Woodland Group. It is home to oak, ash, hazel and dogwood, amongst other trees.
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HOMES & INTERIORS
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Access to Showroom by appointment only PAGE 94 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
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Free training session
HOMES & INTERIORS TINCKNELL’S are offering free defibrillator training on Tuesday, April 5th, 5.30pm, at their Cathedral View Offices, Wookey Hole Road, in Wells. The training is available to everyone. Kim Davey from the South Western Ambulance Service will be providing life saving information and
answer any questions. The photo shows Tincknell's community defibrillator at its office, which allows continuous access in the event of an emergency. Details: Jemma 01749 683955
MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 95
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Busy season is underway
YOU may be forgiven for thinking this might be Her Majesty on one of her Fell ponies out for a quiet hack, but it is in fact an honourable lady from Bishop Sutton, who is With JANE PATERSON just weeks away from becoming an octogenarian. Alison Adcock regularly rides her little mare, Libby, around the lanes near her home. Like all riders, she is glad of the new rules which require cars to take more care while approaching and passing horses. The hi-vis vest Alison wears is a great way to politely remind drivers to keep to the 10mph speed, two metres distance rule. The vest is a useful addition to anyone’s equestrian wardrobe. Alison and I went to look at the progress of the Chew Valley Lake recreational path. It is coming on apace, and should allow Alison to get off the road for a reasonable distance, to ride along a multi-user path with a good surface from Ham Lane into Hollowbrook, and along to the Salt & Malt. We are hoping that there will be no opposition to the route being used for riders out for a quiet hack, particularly those on unshod ponies or horses. The once narrow bridge has been replaced with a wide sturdy one, well capable of carrying weight, and the path then leads on to what will be a pleasant ride without worrying about traffic, as well as giving views across the water through the reeds which were wafting gently in the
Alison showing me the new route
PAGE 96 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
spring sunshine while we were there. There will obviously be no place here for fast riding. The path will be used by walkers and cyclists, as well as wheelchairs, pushchairs, and mobility scooters, but in the Mendip area we are lucky we have Black Down, Wavering Down and Crook Peak for the more adventurous who prefer a bit of speed. Alison has been quite an intrepid pioneer in her time. She is a woman who Gets Things Done. “Back in the day”, she took up a challenge. To find a way to ride from Wales to the Thames Valley to validate a map which had been drawn up to make a route which would be called The Three Rivers Ride. Alison enlisted a few friends and they set off. The ride would cross the rivers Usk, Wye and Lugg, taking in some of the country’s finest scenery. Finding accommodation for hungry riders and their horses without the internet doesn’t bear thinking about. Does anyone out there remember having to ring the tourist boards to find accommodation? We have all got so used to everything being available at the click of a button, that those times seem light years away. The adventure took nearly three weeks in all, what with popping home to sort out domestic matters and connect with leftbehind family! Then, navigating blocked bridleways, negotiating with farmers, working out routes each day, charting everything, her efforts finally resulted in a successful completion of a new popular ride now usually taking three or four days. The BHS
helped to publish a leaflet of the Three Rivers ride, as well as others that Alison became involved with. A worthy achievement. Having got the pioneering bug, Alison went on to source more rides, finding suitable routes from Borth near Aberystwyth, all the way to Brecon, and then another from North Wales to Port Talbot. Riding as high in the hills as they could, Alison and her friends enjoyed the most fabulous scenery in Britain, and hardly met any traffic. What bliss. Maybe we could entice Alison to do one for the West Mendip Way? A fun ride with overnight accommodation suggestions so that people can take on the delights of the Mendips at a comfortable pace…. now there’s an idea.
Alison showing me the new route
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) h t fJ t (Ph t
MENDIP Farmers Pony Club members have been practising their mounted games throughout the winter, meeting regularly in all weathers at Whitewood Farm. They are hoping for repeated success in this year’s competitions despite the loss of a very beloved pony belonging to William Falango who shone in the team last year. Dear Bumble was such a character. Feisty on the ground, she was so good to ride. William had mastered her brilliantly, winning numerous rosettes and prizes, including the Mounted Games Trophy which was ironically presented to him the week she passed away. Bumble is very sadly missed, but William has picked himself up and is as determined as ever to keep competing. RIP Bumble, you were very loved. Onward and upwards, and good luck to the team for this year’s challenges. The youngsters have also kept up their jumping practice and have been going to Badgworth Arena competitions on Wednesday evenings to compete not only against each other but also a wider field from other counties. Leah Sweet from Mendip Farmers had a good evening with a First rosette in her class. They are all very Leah Sweet riding Bryony
RIDING
Baton passing practice for mounted games
competitive, and in the jump-off there is great tension while watching who can streak round one or two seconds faster than a rival. It’s great fun for everyone and all taken in good part. Everyone has an off day sometimes, and the children learn to support one another when things go wrong, as well as celebrate when it all goes well. When things go “pear shaped” we just say, “Well that’s horses for you.” And indeed it is.
RIP Bumble
ANGUS Cheleda who rides as Conditional Jockey for Paul Nicholls at Ditcheat, is well into the National Hunt racing season and having some good successes so far, along with some not so good days which are all part and parcel of racing, or any equestrian sport. As I write this, Angus is getting ready to ride the lovely Calva d’Auge at Kempton in the Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle which is a Grade 2 race over two miles five furlongs. He will be up against some high profile jockeys and horses in a field of 17 runners. Angus had a good ride at Sandown earlier this month on Hacker des Places, coming 3rd out of a field of 22 in an exciting race. Maybe I will have a little punt on him tomorrow and then a good day out at the Mendip Farmers Point to Point at Ston Easton. It promises to be a good weekend with sunshine in abundance, so I can’t wait! Finally, the entries for Badminton Horse Trials are in now, but not yet accepted or published. It will be interesting to see how many local riders will be competing at the event which is to Eventing, what Wimbledon is to tennis. Getting prepared, and keeping the horse and rider fit and healthy, makes for a nerve-racking lead up. We’ll have to wait and see who goes where. It’s only just over six weeks away! Local rider Selina Milnes started the season with a very convincing win in the Open Intermediate class at Tweseldown Horse Trials scoring an amazing dressage of 18.6, and adding only a few time penalties in the cross country to land her a first prize on Iron (Bentley). Fingers crossed we see this super local partnership at the top event of the season. There are a busy few months ahead. A delighted Angus Cheleda with Hacker des Places
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One thousand days – but racing returns
A LARGE crowd of racegoers enjoyed the 2022 Blackmore & Sparkford Vale pointto-point meeting – the first in 1,000 days. The 2020 fixture was abandoned without a single horse being run due to heavy rain and mud and last year’s was cancelled due to the pandemic. Highlight of the day, near Charlton Horethorne, was the running of the first Ineos Grenadier Mixed Open Race with a place for the winner – Will Biddick on Famous Clermont – at Cheltenham in April up for grabs.
James King (in blue and white) and Salt Rock won the first race
Will Biddick (far right) on Famous Clermont and below . . .
… celebrating with son Archie, aged one
PAGE 98 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
Feddie Gingell on the Colin Tizzard-trained Molineaux . . .
Myla Coppins, 13, from Glastonbury, winning the Bradley Head Shoot pony race for ponies 138cms and under on Maesteg Ruth
. . . and with the trophy after winning the Mrs E.V. Welby Memorial Conditions Race
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Riding charity is back
SOMERSET Levels RDA Carriage-Driving for the Disabled has resumed twice-weekly services on Tuesdays and Thursdays and has vacancies for new clients. Operating from stables in Binegar, the group’s volunteers have worked throughout the winter to provide pony care and prepare for the coming season of sessions for disabled
clients. They range from those confined to a wheelchair to those with a wide span of other physical and mental challenges. Group treasurer, Caroline Sturgess, said: “Throughout the many Covid months, we have been restricted in running sessions or holding fundraising events. This has, like so many other charities, impacted our finances.” Whizzy, the Dartmoor pony, qualified for disabled drivers, met visitors to the Brent Knoll Parish Hall for a table-top sale to raise funds. Those visitors contributed almost £700 to the Somerset Levels RDA Carriage-Driving Group. There to greet Whizzy was Tessa Munt, the former MP for the Wells Constituency, who remains an ardent patron of the group. She’s pictured (centre) with other group members.
RIDING
Wagner hits all the right notes
RACEHORSE trainer Matt Hampton, based near Wellow, enjoyed only his second success under rules when recentlyacquired Wagner won a hunter steeple Matt (right) in the winner’s enclosure as chase at Wagner enjoys the limelight Wincanton. Just 30 days earlier, the same horse had brought Matt, who runs Braysdown Stables with wife Felicity, his first victory, that time at Hereford. Braysdown specialises in the breaking and early training of both flat and national hunt horses, including those under champion trainer Paul Nicholls, as well as producing a series of successful point-to-pointers. Matt is a former winning amateur jockey winning point-to-points as well as under rules.
An award-winning riding school in the heart of Mendip
Return to riding in 2022!
Details: Group organiser, Ann, 07938-563190 volunteer coordinator, Marion, marion.hodgson@outlook.com
We all know it can be a bit of a challenge to get back in the saddle if you’ve not ridden for a while – but we have the answers! H Ride and coffee mornings H Adult group lessons H Quiet Hacks Call or email us for more details
Pat Bishop (left) and Martin Lawrence (right), who run the Divoky Riding School, were amongst the sponsors of the Mendip Farmers’ point-to-point meeting
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
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RIDING
Point-to-point springs back into life
THE Mendip Farmers Point-to-Point returned in style post-pandemic with a large crowd enjoying glorious spring weather. Entries came from across a wide area, with a strong contingent from Wales competing in the six main races and two pony races which followed.
Olive Nicholls (left), the daughter of trainer Paul Nicholls, heading for victory in the opening race on Monsieur Gibraltar
Roger and Cath Penny (centre) prepare to present the RM Penny Open Maiden Steeplechase trophy to jockey Michael McIntyre and owner/trainer Luke Price
Henry Jones, aged five months, at his first point-to-point
Enjoying the atmosphere
Tom Killen and son Archie present the Killen’s Ladies Open trophy to trainer Sam Loxton and jockey Natalie Parker A strong finish in the 148cms and under open pony race, won by Jude Brace (right) on Follow the Star
Captain Mc (second left) edges in front of the field
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Evolution of the caving “hut”
SINCE the early days of Mendip caving, visitors needed somewhere to stay during their explorations. It was easy enough for the With PHILIP Wells-based cavers to HENDY make day trips and, even into the 1950s, men would cycle out from Bath and Bristol for a day’s adventure. Longer visits required accommodation, and this was provided by various farms, inns and other establishments. Cavers exploring Swildon’s Hole often made use of Farmer Maine’s barn on Priddy Green, while at Easter and Whitsun, camping was an option. Soon groups began to think of having a more permanent base, where they could not only stay overnight, but store bulky tackle. Probably the first permanent structure was built by the University of Bristol Speleological Society at Burrington. It still stands. Ablution facilities were provided by constructing a brick-lined pool in the bed of the stream leading to the sink now known as Bath Swallet. Other clubs followed suit and several have maintained bases for many years, although few are original. They are often still referred to as “huts”, although most are far more salubrious than that. For example, the Cerberus Speleological Society rented old quarrymen’s cottages at Fairy Cave Quarry, but they now have a luxurious building up the road at Larkshall. The Shepton Mallet Caving Club started in a small stone building adjacent to Priddy Minneries, until they raised the funds to build their present headquarters nearby. Across the St. Cuthbert’s depression, the Bristol Exploration Club still has its base, the Belfry, on its original site, although the first hut was destroyed in a fire in the 1960s. A few miles away at Nordrach, near the site of the old wooden Axbridge Caving Group hut, is the headquarters of the Mendip Caving Group. Their original building, paid for and largely constructed by members, was demolished soon after completion by a gas explosion. Fortunately, this occurred on New Year’s Eve, when members were celebrating at the pub. Insurance covered the re-build.
The Wessex Cave Club had its first headquarters over a stable at The Grange near the Castle of Comfort. They then moved to a converted stable at Beechbarrow before relocating to a wooden hut which they built in a blizzard at nearby Hillgrove. Eventually, after fundraising and with the aid of grants, they built their present headquarters at Eastwater. Early huts were very basic, often without running water, and relying on gas and paraffin for cooking and lighting. Water for the Severn Valley Caving Club cottage at Tor Hole came through a hosepipe from a nearby spring. Water had to be passed through a tea strainer before use, to remove the shrimps and other debris. Gradually, as the quality of building improved, so did the facilities. After a caving trip today, a hot shower is essential, as is central heating. Gone are most of the “Alpine” bunks, a long mattress where everyone slept together like sardines. Other facilities which are now deemed essential include drying rooms, lounges furnished with comfortable settees and chairs, and well-appointed kitchens. There is usually a library for researching, and for use as a meeting or quiet room. One club even has a hot tub! Relations with clubs in other parts of the country are good and we offer “reciprocal rights”, whereby cavers can stay at each other’s huts at members’ rates. It seems that Cheddar caves will soon be open again, possibly at Easter. This is good news for the businesses in the village which rely on the tourist trade. The rumour is that the caves will be managed by a consortium headed by Longleat Estates; it is to be hoped that with our release from Covid lockdown restrictions, the re-
CAVING
The original Tor Hole (Severn Valley Caving Club)
opening will be a success. Cavers are hoping that the renewed interest in the caves will mean that an agreement can be reached whereby the “wild” caves on the south side of the Gorge can be made accessible to them again. Visits to these caves was denied a few years ago while a new access agreement was negotiated between Longleat and the cavers’ regional body, the Council of Southern Caving Clubs. Digging in important sites such as Gough’s Cave, Reservoir Hole and Spider Hole had to cease, but could soon resume. Most cavers abided by the access embargo, but sadly, not all agreed. The locked gate on Spider Hole has twice been vandalised by selfish individuals with no thought of the possible consequences. Sadly, other caves have also been forcibly entered. Cave entrances are locked either at the request of the landowner, or to prevent accidents to the public. Keys to most caves can be readily obtained from the major Mendip caving clubs, but the vandalism has left deep shafts open in areas much visited by the public and their dogs. Star Shaft itself is 28 metres deep and can only be climbed with tackle. Damaged gates are repaired as soon as possible once we are aware of them, but in the case of Star Shaft, it is likely that the landowner will seal the entrance permanently, thereby denying entry even to legitimate cavers. Most serious cavers belong to a club, and understand the importance of maintaining good relations with landowners and the public. Social gatherings at the various huts reinforces this ethos. It is hoped that noncavers recognise this rogue element for what it is; sadly, there is such an element in many other activities.
(Photograph by Phil Hendy)
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Phil has been 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
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MENDIP TIMES
The café ride – when cake is allowed!
THERE’S a great excerpt in the documentary about the 1962 Tour de France (Vive Le Tour!) that demonstrates even the CYCLING most intense and with EDMUND LODITE gruelling competitions have their comical and light-hearted moments. The entertaining clip traces the often clumsy yet pivotal practicalities of cyclists trying to grab their musettes, personalised bags full of food, from their support team on the side of the road. Later on, various riders jump off their bikes to drop into a café and raid any liquid they could find, including water, wine and beer! In those days, the rules didn’t allow riders to receive drinks from team cars. Nowadays the professional cyclists have everything provided to them en-route leaving the café run to be a much more civilised affair, for the rest of us. Entering a favourite cafe or discovering a new one mid-ride is one of cycling’s many pleasures. As well as some respite from the weather, gradients and effort, there’s an opportunity for camaraderie over the cake and coffee. And it’s a chance for some unbroken conversation which is hard to do on the road. The weekend club-ride inevitably includes a café stop and depending on numbers can mean a bit of a queue. However, the cafes frequently visited by cyclists are usually well prepped in advance, making the selection choices easy and quick. The café ride is good for planning and trying new routes – it provides purpose and a reason to reach a particular place. They also help cyclists progress from short rides to longer efforts. The break is great for re-fuelling and to gain the energy to get to the next milestone. For many cyclists, the cake or biscuits that are normally avoided off the bike now become a quick and enjoyable way of addressing a calorie deficit, providing an instant hit of energy. And this time you think it’s good for you! Everyone has their own favourite – mine is a bit of lemon drizzle cake with a nice mug of tea, you can’t beat it. It’s definitely nicer than a sachet of energy gel. There are some who would say a slice of cake is just a lump of sugar and fat with
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no nutritional value. Anything containing dates, nuts and oats is a healthier option. But there are some energy benefits from cake – providing you get back on the bike again soon. But the café stop is more than just the food and drink. It’s as much about the chat and an opportunity to check out the bikes on the bike rack. Refuelling on long distance endurance rides is very different, however. Now it becomes a purely necessary function to replace the lost nutrients and replenish energy levels. In the early days of racing there were no sports scientists to advise riders about their diet. When Maurice Garin won the first Tour de France in 1903, it was less of a race and more like trying to survive on two wheels. Competitors pedalled along dirt roads for 15 to 18 hours a day on heavy bikes. Race regulations required that riders
Tennis camp
PENSFORD Tennis Club is running an Easter holiday camp from April 11th13th, 2-4pm, run by the club’s two coaches, LTA accredited Dan Church
fend entirely for themselves, forcing them to scavenge for meals along the way. Riders would eat whenever and whatever was being served at roadside taverns, if they were lucky to pass one. Drinking alarming amounts of alcohol was also the norm. Beer, wine, and brandy were considered safer to drink than the water from questionable roadside wells or springs. These days, professional cyclists have team cars following them, and for mass participation events/sportives there are organised feed-stations along the route. You can still get some variety in the food though. In the early days of the Great Weston Ride you could get free fish and chips after you’d crossed the line. In Bike Bath I’ve had pasta served literally by hand (with gloves) out of a huge tub, during a thunderstorm. Not quite like the scavenger racers from the days of old!
and Dan Bellamy. The club’s juniors have entered the National Summer Junior league for the first time.
Details: www.pensfordtennisclub.co.uk or secretary@pensfordtennisclub.co.uk
APRIL CROSSWORD SOLUTION
ACROSS: 1. Unwrap 5. Blenheim 9. New Delhi 10. Pumice 11. Reorganising 13. Aqua 14. Wineskin 17. Mistreat 18. Cary 20. Port-Au-Prince 23. Marcus 24. Odysseys 25. Jettison 26. Earthy. DOWN: 2. Need 3. Redbreast 4. Pilton 5. Bridgewater Town 6. Exponent 7. Humus 8. Incendiary 12. Equivocate 15. Successor 16. Requests 19. Enzyme 21. Tacit 22. Fysh
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SPORT
End-of-season rugby reunion
FORMER players, along with anyone connected to Midsomer Norton Rugby Club, are being invited to an end-of-season reunion in April. The lunchtime get-together, on Saturday, April 23rd, coincides with the 1st XV facing a home match at Norton Down against Cheltenham North in the last Tribute Western Counties North league fixture of the season.
Midsomer Norton (in red and white) on their way to a 38-5 home victory over Winscombe
For details, visit: www.midsomernortonrfc.rfu.club
Marksbury are champions
Beginners welcome
CAMERTON and Peasedown Croquet Club are offering beginners’ courses starting with a free taster on April 3rd, 24.30pm. You can then link with others to choose a day and time suited to your needs. The club’s coaches will lead you through a series of three further sessions at a total fee of only £15 and that includes all equipment – just wear flat sole shoes. Club chair, Mo Boys, said: “Our club has established itself as part of the community. It offers superb facilities, with four lawns, a club pavilion and beautiful views across the Somerset countryside, not forgetting free equipment, free coaching and a wide range of inclusive social events.” Details: 07929 733640 www.camertonpeasedowncroquet.co.uk
Pictured (l to r) Jamie Thornbury, Nigel Howes, William Howes, Paul Hunt, Ryan Fletcher, Dave Pulsford and Dan Fletcher
MARKSBURY Billiards and Snooker Club tied up the 2019/20 season just before the 21/22 season started. Owing to the pandemic, the Radstock and District League was shut down
with just two weeks of the season to go. Then after missing one complete season, the league had to finish the 2019/20 season before it could present the trophies. Marksbury “B” team won the 1st Division championship and also the KO cup, whilst the “A” team won the 2nd division championship. Individual honours went to Jamie Thornbury, over 45s winner, and he also partnered Ryan Fletcher to take the pairs title. Jamie was also voted league player of the year, whilst David Pulsford secured the 2nd division title. There were also many billiards and snooker runner-up awards, too many to mention. The club play their home fixtures at Marksbury village hall and would welcome more local players, with coaching if necessary. Details: Paul Hunt Hon Sec and Treasurer 01761 490199
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MENDIP TIMES
Somerset FA walking football tournament
STRODE College in Street recently played host to the Somerset FA’s annual friendly Walking Football Tournament. Fourteen teams and more than 100 players took part in an event that is growing every year. Contested by the over 50s, walking football is the fastest growing participant sport in the UK. One of those taking part was former Bristol Rovers’ star Paul Randall who turned out for Weston Seagulls. Now 64, Randall is enjoying his football as much as he did 40 years ago. He said: “I started playing walking football three years ago and I’ve loved every minute of it. The friends I’ve made and the dressing room banter I’ve taken part in are no different to my times as a professional footballer.” Randall, who finished his playing career at Wells City aged 47, never thought he would get to enjoy the pleasure of playing again and certainly not into his 60s. Brought up in Glastonbury, Randall remains a cult hero at Bristol Rovers. He said: “It never ceases to amaze me that despite it being more than 35 years since I last played for Rovers the supporters still remember me with so much affection.” He may no longer be receiving a free bottle of champagne from the DJ at The Red Lion in Somerton for each goal that he
scores as he did in the 1970s but he remembers those times fondly: “I’m not sure how that started but I used to really enjoy going out locally after a match and a bottle or two of champagne always ensured that the night got off to a good start!” Following his retirement as a footballer, Randall went on to spend nearly 30 years working in the pharmaceutical industry and has decided that now is the right time to retire: “It’s a big step, but a new phase of my life and one that I’m excited about. It will also free up more time to play walking football.” Randall’s Weston Seagulls side beat Bristol City during the tournament, with the former Rovers star notching two in a fournil win. He said: “It still doesn’t get any better than scoring against City. It may not be in front of a packed Tote End at Eastville but it will do for me!”
Help us celebrate the 100th anniversary of Paulton Recreation Ground
Paulton Bowls Club and the Somerset Miners Welfare Trust invite everyone to celebrate the centenary and recognise the mining community who helped to purchase the “Rec”
Saturday, April 30th, 11am-4pm
Refreshments • Meet former miners • Try bowls Paulton Bowls Club, Paulton Recreation Ground, Tennis Court Road, Paulton BS39 7LU. e: paultonbowls@aol.com • t: 01761 402448 • m: 07538 607996
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SPORT
Centenary celebrations will remember local miners
PAULTON Recreation Ground is preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the land being bought for the community by local miners. Mine owners gave a grant of £1,000 in May 1922 and the miners themselves contributed a halfpenny from their wages to complete the purchase. The “Rec” has been home to a number of sports clubs, including Paulton Bowls Club, which was formed in the late 1920s, but later closed due to a lack of support, to be revived in 1984; its logo is a phoenix. The mining industry was unique in that it had a statutory obligation to provide money for the social welfare of its employees and dependents. Bryn Hawkins, chairman of the Somerset Miners Welfare Trust, said the practice began in 1920 when the Coal Industry Act compelled
Bryn Hawkins (front left) with club president Dave Hancock and club committee members
companies to pay one penny per ton of coal produced into a welfare fund, of which 80% was spent within mining communities on recreation, health and education. The trusteeship of the ground has been held by Paulton Parish Council since 1973 when the last mines closed. Between 1920 and 1952, more than £40,000 of aid was provided. When the bowls club was formed, it shared a wooden pavilion with a boys’
Trevor Francis with a photograph of former members including his father, Ern, a miner
football team and tennis club. A new building was put up in 1984 with help from the parish council and, since then, dressing rooms, lounge, bar and conservatory have been added. The green itself has been enlarged to allow county games to be played at Paulton. On Saturday, April 30th, an open day is being held at the club, with a chance to meet club members and ex-miners and for visitors to try their hand at bowls with coaches to help them.
Club president Dave Hancock with the Captain’s Shield, one of the club’s oldest trophies
The bike and skateboard track is a relatively new addition to the rec
The rec is popular with dog walkers
For details, find Paulton Bowls Club on Facebook
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Choirs combine for charity
GLASTONBURY and Street Lions are staging a charity concert on April 1st bringing together the talents of two local and highly regarded choirs in aid of local charities. Glastonbury Male Voice Choir and the Avalonian Free State Choir will be performing at the Johnson Hall, Millfield at 7.30pm. The concert will be compered by Simon Parkin from BBC Radio Somerset. The 40-strong Glastonbury Male Voice Choir, approaching its centenary next year, performed last September before a 7,000 crowd at the Glastonbury Extravaganza.
The Avalonian Free State Choir is an acappella choir specialising in World Music, seeking out songs which represent folk traditions from all over the world. The choir is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Lions club president, David Atkins, said: “We’re delighted to be offering this chance for people to see two highly respected local choirs in concert, and to help us raise funds for very worthy charities, including Children’s Hospice South West. We hope it will be a sell-out event.” The concert is being sponsored by Forsey and Son funeral directors.
Details: Tickets, £10, can be bought from Glastonbury Tourist Information Centre 01458 832954 online at www.eventbrite.co.uk or call 01458 201926
Wedmore festival promises a busy programme
WEDMORE Arts Festival will make a welcome return after two years of restrictions and cancellations, running from May 614th. The festival is dedicated especially to supporting young talent and to encouraging a love of the arts amongst the younger generation. This year they have already promised financial support to Wedmore First School which will be used on art projects. They will also continue to help their two brilliant young protegées, Poppy McGhee and Innes Oliver, violinist and ballet dancer respectively. A newcomer to the list this year is Georgina Sweet, a talented young actor and dancer who is heading for a great future. The festival promises a wealth of music and entertainment to suit all ages. The festival will include music, poetry, drama, Morris dancing and more. Among the speakers are Dr Phil Hammond on How Not to Die Yet and Jane Tapley special events organiser at the Theatre Royal, Bath It’s Not in the Script. An art exhibition throughout the week will feature two eminent artists, Terence Winston-Fletcher and Paul Thirkell. The finale will feature Chris Jagger and his band. Chris has recently published a memoir and released a new album. Priority booking starts on April 5th and public booking from April 12th with tickets available from the Village Store. Details: wedmoreartsfestival.co.uk
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Organ recital
ONE of the country’s leading organists, William McVicker, will be performing at St Mary’s Church in Yatton on April 30th. He is the curator of the Royal Festival Hall organ and teaches organology at the Royal Academy of Music. His recordings include ten discs of choral music and top-selling Great Organ Classics for Classic FM. His organ recital for the YMS has been financially supported by Yatton Parish Council and will have music selected to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The concert will also be enhanced with a video display of his performance provided by the Bristol and District Organists Association. The concert starts at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, tickets price £10, half price for students over 16, children free. Details: www.yms.org.uk or contact David Ford daford220@gmail.com 01934 830255
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Theatre appeals for help
AS Strode Theatre announces its spring programme, including its first book festival, manager, Farès K. Moussa, has called for help and criticised unfair arts and culture funding across the county. He says that since Covid the theatre is under the most difficult financial position it has ever been. He said: “Ever since Farès K. Moussa 2011, when Mendip District Council ceased funding to the arts, the theatre has struggled to the tune of a £50,000+ deficit each year – a hole plugged every year by Strode College and Street Parish Council.” He says with various cost increases and a projected fall in audiences, the deficit could now be more than £100,000 a year. He said: “I am working to find ways we can adapt, but even with these operational and programming changes, we will struggle to meet our costs, certainly for the foreseeable future. “This is why I am reaching out to the community and to businesses throughout the county for help. “Next year, we look forward to celebrating Strode Theatre having been a hub for arts and culture for 60 years and I am actively seeking partnerships and fundraising opportunities to help us celebrate this occasion and look forward.” Only a week after South Somerset District Council announced £6m funding for the Octagon Theatre, in Yeovil, Farès criticised the arts and funding landscape in Somerset. He said: “Funding to the arts in the county in the last decade or so has been very arbitrary; with some councils offering considerable financial help and others offering none. “I hope very much that the new unitary authority model will mean that there will be fairer and more consistent funding opportunities throughout the county.” Strode Theatre was donated to the community in 1963 and initially run by Somerset County Council. It is now part of Strode College, operating mainly on a commercial basis, with around 55,000 audience and over 400 events each year, including many community shows. It receives limited public funding from Street Parish Council and the British Film Institute.
Festival partner
REAPER Events have been announced as a partner for this year’s Jubilee Party in the Park festival in Peasedown St John. Chairman, Nathan Hartley, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome Reaper back to Peasedown for this year’s big Jubilee festival. They did a fantastic job in 2019, our last event, and helped ensure we could put on a show like no other.” The event officially starts at 12noon on Friday, June 3rd on Beacon Field with festivities running until 7pm. Details: www.peasedownpartyinthepark.org.uk www.facebook.com/peasedownpartyinthepark
MUSIC & THEATRE
Thomas swaps rickshaw for flying carpet!
THOMAS Walsh from Cheddar, who is playing Wishee Washee in Shipham Players’ panto, Aladdin A Genie-us, was recently involved in BBC Children In Need’s Rickshaw Challenge. He needed to juggle a school production and rehearsing for the panto, whilst at the same time preparing for the challenge, for which he raised £7,400. Thomas said: “The rickshaw was an absolutely incredible experience and knowing that all the money raised has helped so many people across the world is such a great feeling. Keep pedalling team!" The panto is at Shipham Village Hall, tickets £8, from April 7th-9th with a matinee on the Saturday. Details: www.ShiphamPlayers.org.uk
Back on stage
SUTTON Theatre Company returns to the stage in Bishop Sutton in May, with their writer and director Kevin Daly’s original take on wartime in the Chew Valley and the villagers’ fight to save the drowning of Moreton, the hamlet that is now under Chew Valley Lake. They promise: “Everything you love about STC wrapped up in one very funny show! We cannot tell you how excited we are to be back on the stage!” Performances will take place at Bishop Sutton Village Hall, 7pm for 7.30pm on May 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th. Details: Tickets online only https://chewvalleysong.eventbrite.co.uk
Drama group seeks new blood
CROSCOMBE Frolics, an amateur dramatic group where the emphasis is on fun, is seeking new members to perform everything from plays and pantos to murder mysteries. The group was unable to get together during the pandemic but staged a successful event at Christmas and say they are keen to do more. As well as actors, the Frolics are keen to hear from anyone who might be interested in helping backstage or front-of-house. They say: “What have you go to lose, other than your selfrespect?” For details, phone Janet on 01749 347780 or Howard on 01749 342693
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Everyone and their moms is packing round here!
THE classic film Hot Fuzz will be screened on the lawn of the Bishop’s Palace in Wells at the end of April – marking the 15th anniversary of its release. Tickets are now on sale for the event, on Friday, April 29th; when Hot Fuzz was shown five years ago, tickets sold out within 24 hours. Sally Cooper, of Wells Film Centre, which is organising the evening in conjunction with the palace, said: “We are really pleased we can return to the Bishop’s Palace once more for another outdoor screening. “It’s also fantastic that Hot Fuzz will be back for its 15th Anniversary. We are already planning lots of fun things to happen during the pre-show on the night, so watch this space.” Tickets are £25 each. Included in the ticket is a hog roast (vegetarian, Vegan and dietary options available when booking), a drink and a goody bag. The drawbridge opens at 6.30pm with the pre-show starting from 8pm. Tickets are available in person at Wells Film Centre, by phone (01749 673195) or via: www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk
Morris men emerge
MENDIP Morris have started off their summer dance season early by helping to promote Somerset Day on May 11th. They will be out and about dancing at local pubs in the area on Thursdays from the beginning of May. On some weeks they will be joined by Morris dancers from further afield in Somerset or the South West. Do go along to watch, support or join in! They will also be performing at some local, and not so local, arts or dance festivals over the summer. Details: https://www.facebook.com/MendipMorris/events/ http://mendipmorris.org.uk
Medieval fayre spectacular
THE grounds of Glastonbury Abbey will once again host a medieval fayre this April – and it is going to be bigger than ever, says organisers. Over the weekend of Saturday, April 23rd and Sunday, April 24th, the abbey will echo to the sounds of true medieval life with markets, living history displays and medieval demonstrations. The events runs between 10am and 5pm on both days and tickets start from just £7 for a day ticket and £10.50 for a weekend ticket. For details and to buy tickets, visit: www.glastonburyabbey.com
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Somerset craftspeople in words and pictures
WHAT’S ON
interesting local wood – pear, walnut, ash, cherry and even old KATE Lynch is a Somerset artist who has made her name whisky and beer barrels. He also restores old tools, bringing them celebrating rural farming and traditional work in paintings and drawings, accompanied by stories she collects from the people she back to life. Somerset is known for its limestone meets. and its tradition of stone craftsmanship. Her latest collection “CRAFT – Andrew Ziminski and Kate Semple are Somerset Portraits and Voices” features Frome stonemasons. Andrew grew up traditional Somerset craftspeople and with stone in the family, his father was some rare crafts themselves including a “Tunnel Tiger”, hewing granite the only sieve and riddlemaker in the blocks for hydroelectric tunnel arches country, a hand-made papermaker in Scotland after the Second World working in a mill powered by a War. waterwheel and one of the last Kate Semple is a teacher of carving companies in the world weaving and known for her commissioned horsehair. stone memorials whilst Kevin Toal is a The 30 craftspeople in Kate’s latest dry stone waller, passionate about project come from all corners of Somerset, with several from the building and restoring traditional stone Mendip area. Alex Bown is a walls on the Mendips; he teaches the hedgelayer from Binegar. He learnt his craft for the Dry Stone Walling craft from his father and helps run the Association. Wrington and Burrington Hedge l The book “CRAFT – Somerset Laying Society, one of the oldest in the Portraits and Voices” is published on Saturday, March 26th to coincide with country. Kate’s charcoal drawing of the opening of an exhibition at the Alex captures his vigorous work. Somerset Rural Life Museum from Jonny Tapp is a brushmaker from March 26th to June 5th). For details, Lamyatt. His hand brushes, crumb Captured in charcoal: Alex Bown at work visit: www.katelynch.co.uk brushes and brooms are made from
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MENDIP TIMES
Lots to see and do at the Bishop’s Palace this Easter LITTLE people will find plenty to enjoy at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells this Easter, with a range of family-friendly activities taking place over the school holidays. The holiday fun kicks off with a Family Dragon Trail, from April 8th-24th, where intrepid explorers can explore the 14 acres of stunning gardens, including the Dragon’s Lair play area, in search of dragons from all over the world. Trails can be collected from the palace’s ticket office with a special prize on the way out. On Tuesday, April 12th and Tuesday, April 19th the Community Garden will be hosting a “Make A Wildflower Seedbomb” workshop between 11am and 3pm, whilst on Thursday, April 14th and Thursday, April 21st (11am and 1.30pm) storyteller Beth Webb will be celebrating the arrival of spring with family fun, spring stories and colouring. Over the Easter weekend itself, a special Easter egg trail will lead visitors through the gardens looking for hidden Easter eggs. Again, the trail can be collected at the ticket office and there will be a small prize on the way out. Easter Monday sees the palace’s medieval falconry day taking place with flying displays at midday and 3pm. St George’s Day – Saturday, April 23rd – will be marked by the palace’s official “dragon slayer”, Lady Elizabeth Dragonsblood, who will be telling tales of how Bishop
St George’s Day storytelling
Jocelyn slew the fearsome beast that lived on Worminster Sleight in 1206. There will also be live music on the South Lawn with Somerset folk duo Nathan Lewis Williams and Caelia Lunniss performing at midday.
For details, visit: www.bishopspalace.org.uk
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WHAT’S ON
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MENDIP TIMES
Expect the unexpected at Beckery Village Fair
PERFORMANCE, art, music, vegan food, plenty of unusual and quirky stalls – and more – will be on offer at the Beckery Village Fair in Glastonbury on Sunday, April 3rd. The fair is centred on the Morlands Enterprise Park and will also offer visitors the opportunity to learn more about the ambitious Life Factory project which is part of the multi-million pound Glastonbury Town Deal plan. The Life Factory will see the C Building – between the Red Brick Building and Zig Zag Building who are hosting the event – refurbished to create a shared community resource, offering areas for skills learning, artists and craft makers and activities as well as media opportunities and hospitality. Others taking part in the fair include Bridies Yard, the skatepark, and the Old Tannery. The fair is free to enter and there will be plenty for families to enjoy. Actress and performer Morgan Pandolfino at a previous event in the Zig Zag Building
Shepton independent markets are back
THE first Shepton Mallet independent market of the year, held in the Market Place and surrounding area, is on Sunday, April 24th. Running from 10am – 3pm, there will be a mix of stalls, including street food and live music to entertain visitors whilst they browse. With the town’s shops and cafes open on the day, there's sure to be lots for everyone to enjoy. Jude Jackson, a spokesperson for The Shepton Experience, said: “We can’t wait to be back, and we are really looking forward to starting our year off and seeing everyone again. Thanks to Mendip District Council who have granted us free parking on market days again this year we can offer the public an affordable and fun day out. “We hope that the market, especially the independent traders, continue to receive the amazing support of the local and surrounding community throughout the year.” Organisers would welcome more volunteers to help out on market days, especially first aiders and stewards. For details, visit the market’s Facebook/Instagram pages: @thesheptonexperience, its website: www.thesheptonexperience.co.uk or email: info@thesheptonexperience.co.uk
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As Covid cases remain high we advise that you check for any infection precautions that organisers request, and that indoor events will still take place. We’re happy to list entries for community groups and charity fundraisers free of charge. Commercial entries £25. Please send entries as a single paragraph of less than 25 words.
Friday April 1st Axbridge Museum re-opens: www.kingjohnshuntinglodge.co.uk Friday April 1st to Sunday April 3rd Strode Theatre Book Festival. Details: www.strode-college.ac.uk Saturday April 2nd Weston Walking Group: 7- 9m walks every Wed and Sat within one hour drive of Weston. Friendly group. Details: 07934 107780, www.westonwalkinggroup.co.uk Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society, Mozart Requiem and Haydn Theresienmesse, 7pm Wells Cathedral. Details: www.wcos.org.uk Bath Community Gospel Choir 7pm St Mary's Church Timsbury. Tickets £10 from 01761 470677 or 471410. Please wear mask. 100 years of Weston Light Orchestra Tickets £10, fundraising for youth work, 7.30pm Holy Trinity Church Weston-s-Mare. Sunday April 3rd Mendip Hills SWT walk: The Cheddar Yeo. Meet 2pm car park nr reservoir entrance, Sharpham Rd Cheddar. Details: www.somersetwildlife.org/events Beckery Village Fair Glastonbury. See P**** Monday April 4th RAFA meeting: “Travelling in Nepal” 11am Street Inn, Somerton Rd, BA16 0DR. Details: rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com or 01458 224057. Tuesday April 5th WJ Neatby: Harrods Meat Hall, 1860-1900. Talk by Scott Anderson for The Arts Society Mendip, 11am Croscombe village hall, also via Zoom. Guests welcome, £6, contact tasmendip.comm@gmail.com Wednesday April 6th Backwell & Nailsea Support Group for Carers meeting with talk: “They used to live in Bristol”, by Cyril Routley 2– 3.30pm, WI Hall, Backwell. “Nature in the Churchyard” talk by Ged Keele for Mendip Hills group of SWT. 7.30pm Burnham-on-Sea Community Centre. Details: www.somersetwildlife.org Thursday April 7th to Saturday 9th Shipham Players: “Aladdin A Genie-us Panto” at the village hall. Tickets £8 from www.shiphamplayers.org.uk Thursday April 7th Shepton Mallet u3a: talk by Rachael Boothroyd of Cooper & Tanner on The History of Gemstones, 10am-12, Salvation Army Hall, Shepton Mallet. £2 members, £3 others. Details: sherwinj@outlook.com Congresbury Gardening Club Pushing the Boundaries, talk by Derry Watkins 7.30pm Methodist Hall. Visitors welcome. Friday April 8th “Coastal Plants of Somerset” a Zoom talk by Helena Crouch for Avon Wildlife Trust. Details: www.keynshamawt.org Saturday April 9th Fashion Show organised by Wedmore Friends of Weston Hospicecare, 2.30pm Wedmore Bowls Club. Tickets £10 from Shirley 01934 712089. Congresbury Singers: Somervell's Passion of Christ 7.30pm St Andrews Church. Refreshments. Tickets Congresbury PO/on the door. Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books etc. Wells SOUP! Community project presentations & lunch, £5. 12.50-2pm, Connect Centre, Chamberlain St. Details:
www.wellsindependents.org/soup Brent Knoll bazaar & farmers’ market, 2nd Saturday each month, parish hall, 10am-12. Details: 01278 760308. Saturday April 9th and Sunday April 10th Easter craft fair, Downside Abbey, 10am-4pm, Orchard Brass band Sunday afternoon. Details: www.visitdownside.co.uk Saturday April 9th to Sunday April 24th Frome Art Society: Spring exhibition, Black Swan Arts, Frome BA11 1BB, 10am–4pm, www.blackswanarts.org.uk, 01373 473980. Sunday April 10th Wessex Daffodil Show Henton village hall. 2– 4.30 with refreshments. Easter team activities, Midsomer Norton Town Park. Details: nfesteastertrail.eventbright.co.uk The Mayor of Wells Macmillan Cancer Support Quiz, 7.30pm Town Hall. Teams of up to six, £3pp. Raffle prizes welcomed. Booking essential. Details: Terry 01749 672342. Rose Cottage open for NGS, Smithams Hill, East Harptree BS40 6BY. 2pm-5, Congresbury Brass Band, home-made teas, plant sales. £5, children free. Monday April 11th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with bingo, 8pm War Memorial Hall. Visitors welcome. Mendip Folk Dance Club 8pm-10, St James Church Hall Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience necessary. Details 01934 742853. Tuesday April 12th Fosseway Gardening Club talk by Melvyn Reed on David Austin Roses. Pylle Village Hall, 7.30pm. Visitors welcome. Details: 07772 008594. Wednesday April 13th Kilmersdon Gardeners talk by Dave Usher "Answer lies in the soil" 7.30pm village hall BA3 5TD. All welcome, visitors £3. www.kilmersdongardeners.org Mendip Storytelling Circle 7.30-9.30pm Ston Easton Village Hall, Green St BA3 4DA. An evening of folk tales and more...£5 donation. Details: mendipstorycircle@gmail.com Thursday April 14th Glastonbury Tor Townswomen’s Guild flower demonstration, 2.30pm Town Hall. Visitors welcome. Details: Ann: 01458 832599. Saturday April 16th Claverham Village Market 10am-12pm village hall. Butcher, veg, preserves, crafts etc. Details: 01934 830553 / 838017. Bleadon Village Market 9.30-12.30+ Stalls. Coronation Halls BS24 0PG. Every 3rd Sat. Details: 01934 812370. Wedmore YFC spring show, The George, Wedmore 10am. Easter Monday, April 18th Norton Down Methodist Chapel Easter Bonnet party, 2-4pm, all welcome. Memories, photographs, refreshments and stalls. “A Birding Journey around Mallorca” talk by Len Clark for Timsbury Natural History Group 7.30pm Conygre Hall. Visitors welcome, £3. Tuesday April 19th “The Rushing Water & the Frozen Deep”, talk to Mendip Hills group SWT by Peter Glanville. 7.30pm Cheddar Pavilion, Sharpham Rd. Details: www.somersetwildlife.org Tuesday April 19th to Saturday May 14th Creative Coverage art exhibition, Ilminster Arts
Centre. Details: www.creativecoverage.co.uk 01489 808621. Wednesday April 20th Talent Pathway Skate Jam 10am-3pm Castle Cary Pump Track, Fairfield. Supported by Castle Cary Town Council. Thursday April 21st Shipham & District Gardening Club talk by Carrie Pakenham on the growing and use of unusual herbs, 7.30pm, Shipham village hall, BS25 1SG. All welcome. Saturday April 23rd and Sunday 24th Glastonbury Abbey Medieval Fayre 10am to 5pm. Details: www.glastonburyabbey.com Saturday April 23rd Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books etc. Folk Music Night 8pm War Memorial Hall, Congresbury. Table Top Sale, 10am-12, Conygre Hall, Timsbury BA2 0JQ. £15 per table in aid of St. Mary's Church. Table bookings: 01761 471790 or 479506. Sunday April 24th Shepton Independent Market is back! See P**** Monday April 25th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with bingo, 8pm War Memorial Hall. Visitors welcome. Chew Valley u3a, Richard Rogers on the cultivation and uses of willow in Somerset, 10am, Ubley parish hall. Mendip Folk Dance Club 8-10pm St James Church Hall Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience necessary. Details Pat 01934 742853. Tuesday April 26th Chilcompton Gardening Club talk on Fuchsias by Derek Dexter, 7.30pm Village Hall BA3 4EX. Wednesday April 27th Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support meeting 1.30pm Backwell WI Hall. Details: Sheila 01275 462107. Harptrees History Society Colin Budge: “Boundaries and Walls – a journey through history” 7.30pm West Harptree village hall BS40 6EG. Visitors welcome £3. Please wear mask. Chairs socially distanced so booking essential: email info@harptreeshistorysociety.org Wessex stationary engine club meeting 8pm Old Down Inn Emborough. All welcome. Saturday April 30th Cheddar Vale Lions Spring Fair, village hall. Details: information@cheddarvalelions.org.uk or call 03458 337402. Concert by Richard Lennox, piano and organ, All Saints’ Church, Weston-s-Mare, 12noon, tickets £10 on door, incl lunch. Walking jumble sale, Charlton Mackerell 10am2pm. Details: Jody, enquiries@projectcharlton.org RAFA Mid-Somerset Branch 75th Anniversary Lunch 12.15pm Wells Golf Club, Blackheath Lane, BA5 3DS. Details: rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com or tel 01458224057. Organ Recital by William McVicker: 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Yatton, Tickets £10, details: www.yms.org.uk Saturday April 30th to Monday May 2nd Cheddar Arts Festival MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 113
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MENDIP TIMES
WHAT’S ON
More attractions confirmed for the Royal Bath & West Show CELEBRITIES are on the menu for this year’s Royal Bath & West Show as yet more attractions are being confirmed for the three-day celebration which coincides with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The latest appearance to be confirmed is that of Kaleb Cooper, who fans of the Prime Video series “Clarkson’s Farm” will know well from his central advisory role to Jeremy Clarkson. Kaleb is filming a second series and will be visiting the show on Thursday, June 2nd. The Paul Hannam Stunt Show, Pawsability Dog Agility Display and Lakeside Farm have already been announced alongside the launch of The Great British Kitchen with demonstrations by Briony May Williams, Dean Edwards, and “Yorkshire Shepherdess” Amanda Owen. Also making a welcome return is the Imagineering Tent, with an exciting line-up of new companies and new activities, all bringing scores of free fun engineering and technology activities specially developed for children. There are opportunities to see behind the scenes and learn about the fascinating technology used in modern manufacturing, energy and defence that affects our everyday lives. Jess Chiplen, Deputy Head of Shows, said: “As opening day draws closer, we’re able to confirm more activities and personalities who will make this year’s show one of our best ever. Keep visiting our website and social media pages for the latest information and to plan your day.” Competitors from across the country will be travelling to the showground to claim the top spots and collect the silverware, says senior livestock and entries officer, Sarah Chick, who added: “We’re really keen to welcome back a full and broad schedule of competition.” At the heart of the show are the livestock classes; a showcase of beef, sheep, dairy, pig and poultry on every day of the event. Sarah added: “Livestock showing is about recognising the highest quality animals from a commercial perspective; the classes truly demonstrate excellence. To celebrate Her Majesty’s Jubilee year – and her great love of cattle – there will be special Cattle Jubilee awards for exhibitors with the highest number of points in the stock classes.”
Axbridge in pictures
AXBRIDGE and District Museum, in King John's Hunting Lodge, Axbridge, is holding an exhibition of local, early to mid-20th century postcards that have been acquired by avid collector, Mac Tozer, of Pill. His vivid and interesting collection covers Axbridge and surrounding villages comprising, until 1974, the old Axbridge Rural District Council. At the time, this was one of the largest rural district councils in the country. The museum reopens on April 1st and the postcards are on display until the end of May.
A mecca for equine competition, the show’s new layout will see competitors and their charges given prime position for a full three days of competition. Competition will be strong with the show hosting eight Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers including Shire Horse of the Year, Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony and Show Hunter Pony. Elsewhere, the British Cider Championships are back, with canned cider entries accepted for the first time to reflect the increasing number of artisan cider-makers that are innovating in relation to packing and product. l Advance Saver Tickets are now on sale at just £22 per adult, which also allows admission for two children; and a further discount is available to Blue Light Card Holders. Visit: www.bathandwest.com/tickets
WIN A VIP TRIP TO THE SHOW
MENDIP Times has teamed up with the Royal Bath & West Show to offer two fabulous prizes giving special access to the event. As well as allowing the winners access to the shows on all three days (Thursday, June 2nd-Saturday, June 4th), the prize includes: • Access to Members Areas at the Show • 1 x Forward Area Parking Pass • 1 x Free Show Programme Voucher • 1 x Guest Badge for the Royal Bath & West Show (does not admit to the show) allowing your guest access to the Butcombe Bar To enter, please answer the following question: Which livestock section will offer special awards to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee? Please send your answers on a postcard to: Mendip Times Bath & West Show Competition, Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, BS40 7RG. Entries must reach us by Friday, April 15th. The first two correct entries chosen will each receive a prize. The editor’s decision is final.
Details: www.kingjohnshuntinglodge.co.uk • Twitter: KingJohnHuntingLodge@AxbridgeMuseum
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