Makeover for station office

VISITORS on the opening day of the season at the Somerset and Dorset heritage railway at Midsomer Norton were greeted by the sight of a refurbished former ticket office and waiting room thanks to the hard work of dedicated trustees and volunteers.

Hot Cross Buns, Easter

Biscuits, Egg Hunt, Punch & Judy on Sunday

Magic Shows on Monday

Check www.sdjr.co.uk

A new floor has been laid and shopfittings and display units, salvaged from a closed shop in Weston-super-Mare, have been installed. There are also plans to reinstate the ticket office window.

Roger Burfitt, from the trust, said: “It is also a meeting place where volunteers like to congregate, especially on cold winter days when the roaring open fire is especially welcome. In addition, it is a busy corridor to and from the car park and the platform.

“With all this activity in what is a small station building that was never expected to see the volume of visitors who come through, even on days when the trains are not running, it is no wonder that it had become rather tired and shabby.

“All of us on the retail team are delighted to have the shop in pristine condition ready for the new season.”

Does your mother know?

Wells Film Centre and The Bishops Palace are proud to announce details for their seventh joint annual venture, on Friday, April 28th.

Mamma Mia (PG) tells the story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the band.

The palace drawbridge opens at 6.30pm. The pre-show entertainment (to be announced) starts at 8pm followed by the film. Tickets are £25 each and include a hog roast supplied by South Devon Hog Roast, a drink and a goody bag.

Sally Cooper, Wells Film Centre proprietor, said: “We are really excited about returning to The Bishop’s Palace again this year. Tickets have been selling well already and the event looks to be shaping up to be a fun evening.” l Tickets can be purchased direct from Wells Film Centre daily (1-9pm), over the phone during those time on 01749 673195 or online (24/7) at: www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk

We’re happy to list entries for non-profit community groups and charity fundraisers free of charge. Please send them written as a succinct single paragraph, in the format below, to annie@mendiptimes.co.uk Entries sent in as posters or which take time to re-write may be charged for at the commercial rate, £25.

Wednesday March 29th

Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support meeting 1.30 pm Backwell WI Hall. Details: Sheila 01275 462107.

The Mendip Society talk: “What the Roman Army got up to on Mendip” by a Roman soldier (aka John Smith) 2pm Priddy Village Hall. All welcome, visitors £3. Details: 01275 472797. Harptrees History Society: The Romans in Somerset, talk by Steve Clews. Visitors welcome £3. 7.30pm West Harptree Memorial Hall BS40 6EG. Booking essential: info@harptreeshistorysociety.org

Thursday March 30th

Spring market, 6.30-9pm Ebdon Arms, WickSt-Lawrence in aid of village church and charities, entry £2. Details: Facebook stlawrencechurch1

Friday March 31st

Cantilena Choir, Faith, Hope and Love, St John’s Church, Glastonbury, 7.30pm. Cash only tickets £12, children £1, on door or Dicketts Stationers. Details: cantachoir1@gmail.com

Somerset Opera “The Gondaliers” by Gilbert & Sullivan, 7.30pm Edington village hall, TA7 9HA. 7.30pm. Tickets £10. Details: 07850 957615.

Bishop Sutton RNLI Quiz 7.30pm village hall. Teams up to six. £10pp incl. light supper. Cash bar. Tickets: 07769 813489 or email: bob.shapland@btinternet.com

Huckyduck Carnival Club Quiz 7 for 7.30pm Coleford Royal British Legion. Teams up to six. £5pp incl. light supper. To book: 01373 814676 or via Facebook.

Saturday April 1st to Tuesday April 4th

Wells: Bishop’s Palace Easter Holiday Trail “Let’s Bug Out”! 9.30am–5.30pm, included with any standard admission. Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk

Saturday April 1st

Fashion Show 2.30pm Wedmore Bowls Club organised by Wedmore Friends of Weston Hospicecare. Tickets £10, incl cream tea, from 01934 712089.

Family Quiz night 7.30pm Binegar Memorial Hall. Teams of four, £10/team. Cash bar. To book: 07528 169533 or Facebook: Binegar and Gurney Slade Social Fundraisers.

Axbridge Rotary April Fools Quiz, 7.30pm Shipham Village Hall, teams of six, £8pp. BYO drinks. Details: 07828 153390 or 07973 784635.

Wells & District Wildlife Group walk: “Reptile Ramble” on Mendip with John Dickson, 10am-12.

Details: www.wdwg.org.uk or 01749 677600.

Nailsea Lions Sea Shanty concert 7.30pm Holy Trinity Church, Nailsea. £10. Details: 01275 810067 www.TicketSource.co.uk/NailseaLions

Children’s Air Ambulance 10th anniversary family fun day 2pm-10.30pm Tucker’s Grave

Inn, Faulkland. Daytime events free. Evening with the Original Barn Finds, £5. Details: 07936 044846.

Kingston Seymour Market 10am-12pm Village Hall. Butcher, veg. cakes etc. 07525 040472.

Cheddar Spring Fair 10am-1pm Catholic Hall, BS27 3HU. Many local crafts & products. Free entry. Horsebox café!

Sunday April 2nd

Weston Lions Mud Master Challenge: fundraising for local charities: www.mudmaster.co.uk

Tuesday April 4th

The Arts Society Mendip: ‘Picasso and Cubism: Art is a lie by which we understand the truth’ 11am, Croscombe village hall & Zoom. Guests welcome £6. Details: www.theartssocietymendip.org.uk

Yatton Local History Society talk by Clive Burlton about The Matthew of Bristol, 7 30pm Methodist Church. Details: yattonlocalhistorysoc@gmail.com

Bath NATS talk by Chris Vine, “Our Changing Bird Population” 7.30pm BRLI, 16 Queens Square, BA1 2HN. Visitors welcome £4.

Wednesday April 5th

Bereavement Support Keynsham drop-in first Wed every month, 5.30pm-7pm, Baptist Church Hall, High St. A safe place to meet others who are bereaved. Free, with refreshments. Details: 07776 493221 or bereavementkeynsham@gmail.com Backwell & Nailsea support group for carers, games: scrabble, cards, dominoes etc 2pm3.30pm Backwell WI Hall.

Children’s World Easter Event 11-4.30pm Abbey House, Glastonbury. Crafts with YEAST scrap store, entertainment, easter egg hunt, face painting and more.

Thursday April 6th

Folk Session 8.30pm Red Lion, Paulton BS39 7NW. Sing, play a tune or just listen. Free. All welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com Congresbury Gardening Club talk by Derek Dexter on Fuchsias, 7.30pm Methodist Hall. Plant sale. Visitors welcome. www.congresburygardeningclub.com

Good Friday April 7th

Save the Children lunch 12.30pm Shipham village hall, £5.50: soup & hot cross buns. Come and join us!

Saturday April 8th-10th

Harriet Sandys Oriental carpets, kilims and decorative items from Central Asia and India, open days, 2-5pm, The Barn at The Manor House, West Compton, Shepton Mallet BA4 4PB. Details: www.sandysoreintalcarpets.co.uk

Saturday April 8th

Brent Knoll Bazaar, farmer’s market & café 10-12 Brent Knoll Parish Hall.

Kenn Village Market 10am-12 village hall. Monthly café Stanton Drew 10am-12 St Mary the Virgin Church.

Parkinson’s NW Somerset Support Group meeting, 10.30-12.15, St Francis Church, Nailsea. Coffee, chat, a quiz and bring & buy. Timsbury Gardening Club Spring Show 10am-12 Conygre Hall, BA2 0JQ.

Refreshments. Admission free.

Coleford Rocks Mad Hatters Charity Tea Party 1pm-4, The Hub, Church Street. £5 children, £6 adults. Details on Facebook or email: Colefordrocks@hotmail.com

Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books etc.

Sunday April 9th – Easter Sunday

Wessex Daffodil Society Show 2-3.30pm Henton Village Hall. Refreshments & raffle.

Classic Car Meet, Cheddar 10am-2, Petruth Paddocks, BS27 3FS. Free entry. No min/max stay. Antony 07831 336444. Facebook Chew Valley Classic Car & Bike.

Monday April 10th – Easter Monday

Folk Session 9pm Queen Victoria, Priddy BA5 3BA. Sing, play a tune or just listen. Free. All welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com

Medieval Falconry Day at the Bishop’s Palace. Displays 12pm & 3pm.Included with standard admission. Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk

Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with bingo, 8pm War Memorial Hall. Visitors welcome.

Tuesday April 11th

Frome Selwood Horticultural Society Quiz Night 7.30pm Critchill School BA11 4LD. Details 07776 208531 or jane.norris9@gmail.com

Fosseway Gardening Club talk: Square Metre Gardening by Claire Hart, 7.30 Pylle Village Hall. Visitors £2 incl. refreshments. Details: Jill 07772 008594.

Shipham, Rowberrow & Star History Society

“How I became a 16th century kitchen maid” by Kay Wych, 7.30pm Shipham Village Hall, BS25 1SG. Visitors welcome £4. Details: 01934 260784.

Timsbury Gardening club talk: Garden Disasters by Neil Ross 7.30pm Conygre Hall BA2 0JQ. Visitors welcome, £2.

Wednesday April 12th

Weston-s-Mare Family History Group talk by Lynda Hutchkiss: “Background to nursery rhymes & stories” 2.30pm Lady of Lourdes Church Hall, Baytree Rd, BS22 8HQ.

Blagdon Local History Society talk by Peter Glanville on Mendip cave systems feeding Cheddar springs, 7.30pm Court Lodge (next to village stores). Visitors welcome, £2.50. Details: jackykerly@gmail.com

Kilmersdon Gardeners visit to Old Manor Garden nr Frome. All welcome. Details: www.kilmersdongardeners.org

Thursday April 13th

Wells Gardening Club, hydrangeas with Sally Gregson, 7.30pm Wells Town Hall. Details: