Mendip Times
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VOLUME 9 ISSUE 8
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FREE
Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas
JANUARY 2014
IN THIS ISSUE: FESTIVE EVENTS • EDUCATION • SPRING BRIDES • GLASTONBURY REMEMBERS • WILDLIFE Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news
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MENDIP TIMES
CONTENTS
Welcome
AT the start of a new year, let us count our blessings. In terms of history, landscape and culture we are indeed rich and, generally, Mendip is economically wealthy as well. So how is it that a food bank has opened in the Cheddar Valley, adding to several others already operating in our area? The charity behind most of them reckons one in five people in this country lives in poverty and this area has its needy. Food banks represent a stirring community response to this crisis – we have details of where help is available – similarly reflected in the tremendous work of other local charities and voluntary organisations, which we feature every month. More happily, that community spirit also shines through in festive celebrations, which we capture in pictures, and in the wide variety of choirs and other musical groups – see our music pages. Elsewhere, we hear of plans in Glastonbury to commemorate the centenary of the start of the First World War and meet the finalists in Frome’s Young Chef Competition. Les Davies recalls the winter of 1963 – should we expect something similar this winter? With all of our regular contributors and features, let’s wish for a prosperous and healthy 2014 – for all. February 2014 deadline: Friday, 17th January 2014. Published: Tuesday, 28th January 2014.
Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Advertising: Ann Quinn advertising@mendiptimes.co.uk Marjorie Page marjorie@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 or: letters@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk Design and origination by: Steve Henderson Printed by: Precision Colour Printing, Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ 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: Hunt meeting at Ston Easton. Photograph by Mark Adler (see page 11).
5
History in the making – Holcombe’s past revealed
20
Food glorious food – young chefs of the future?
80
Festive fun at Frost Fair – Glastonbury celebrates
86
Robins remember – club’s tribute to armed forces
Plus all our regular features Environment...................................6 Farming Mary James MBE..........10 Arts & Antiques ...........................14 Food & Drink...............................18 Internet and Crossword..............33 Business ........................................36 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......45 Walking Sue Gearing....................46 Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........48 Gardening Mary Payne MBE ......50
Caving Phil Hendy........................53 Family Mendip Mum....................56 Health Dr Phil Hammond.............56 Charities .......................................64 Community Simon Selby .............68 Music.............................................72 Homes and Interiors....................74 Riding Celia Gadd ........................81 Sport..............................................84 What’s On ....................................88 MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 3
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TG Auto Centre is a family run garage in Midsomer Norton, committed to providing the highest levels of service and quality workmanship at affordable prices. If you are looking for a trustworthy garage to assist with repairs, MOTs and servicing, then look no further.
MOTs by appointment Gearbox & clutch replacement/repair Vehicle servicing and repairs Auto electrical Cambelts replaced Tyres supplied and fitted Motorsport preparation Body repair by arrangement
We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Good service we bring to you and your kin Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year Make sure you come and see us Make sure you come and see us Make sure you come and see us to update your will! We'll nag until you do it We'll nag until you do it We won't stop until you do it – so call us today!
Our Services Include: Commercial and Residential Property Wills and Probate Litigation and Personal Injury Criminal and Family Law Agricultural, Business and Commercial Employment Shepton Mallet: 57 High Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5AQ. Tel: 01749 343091
Glastonbury: 11 Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8DL. Tel: 01458 832510
We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Good service we bring to you and your kin Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year
A very Happy New Year to all readers Castle Cary: Old Bank House, High Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7AW. Tel: 01963 350888
Cheddar: Roley House, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3RA. Tel: 01934 745400
Website: www.bgw.uk.com
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MENDIP TIMES
NEWS
Library praise overdue
Toys for Christmas
Helen Beckwith, manager of Midsomer Norton Library – who has been with the library almost since it began – holds the birthday cake watched by Paul Myers, mayor of Midsomer Norton (left), Councillor Neil Butters, chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Council and Elsie Kite – the widow of former Area Librarian John Kite, who was instrumental in getting the building completed
PENSFORD Toddler Group has lots of new toys thanks to Pensford with Publow parish council, which recently gave them a grant of £500. The toys were shown off at the toddlers’ latest fundraiser, a coffee morning, which raised £480 for a new defibrillator for Pensford.
THE important role played by libraries in local communities was emphasised by civic leaders at a party to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the popular facility in Midsomer Norton. The library moved from a one-room facility at The Hollies complex on the other side of the High Street to a £199,000 purpose-built building. At the time, books – and some audio cassettes – were all that were on offer. Now the library boasts diverse services, from spoken word and DVD hire to PC access with everyone entitled to half an hour’s free computer use. It also has free WiFi and many online services including the facility to borrow e-books. It also holds many free events including weekly Storytime and monthly Baby Bounce sessions. For adults there is a vibrant ‘After Hours’ programme in place. Amongst the guests was Ann Chard; her grandfather Albert Boulter helped to set up the town’s very first library, in the 1920s.
They’ve been at it again!
Cllr Butters cuts the birthday cake watched by library manager Helen
Some of the team: (l:r) Joyce Jefferson (seated) with Janet Jacob, Jean Lowe and Jane Evans. Behind them is an old photo of the Duke of Cumberland pub
A DOZEN-plus history enthusiasts who have been scouring the footpaths and the village streets and chatting to locals uncovering Holcombe’s history over the last few years have drawn their discoveries together into a book. The book is a social history combining the memories of current residents with village events, the story of local agriculture and local industries from prehistory to the present day. The group has previously researched and published books about Stoke St Michael and Leigh-on-Mendip. Joyce Jefferson, the group’s leader, said: “We have been delighted and fascinated by the tales and village anecdotes we have recorded.” G The book is on sale in Holcombe shop and post office, the Duke of Cumberland and The Holcombe Inn as well as the pubs in the nearby villages of Leigh-on-Mendip and Kilmersdon. It costs £10. Copies are available by post for £12.50 including post and packing from Joyce on 01373 832845. MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 5
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MENDIP TIMES
K i t ch e n co n s e r v a t i o n n e a r s c o m p l et i o n SCAFFOLDING which has shrouded the iconic Abbot’s Kitchen at Glastonbury Abbey has come down after months of conservation work behind the scenes. Abbey staff say 2014 is to be the Year of the Kitchen with a range of celebration events being planned. The vital conservation work, supported by Viridor Credits Environmental Company and the Abbey’s Rescue Our Ruins Appeal, will be complemented by new displays; the kitchen will open to the public in March. Janet Bell, Abbey director, said: “We are planning lots of exciting activities to mark the re-opening and we are currently sourcing authentic reproduction materials for the Kitchen.” These include jugs, bowls and dishes which cost from £4 to £50 each but will give visitors a clearer idea of what was used in the Kitchen when feeding the Abbot and his important guests in the early Tudor period. A special voucher has been produced at the Abbey which people can buy as a gift. It tells the recipient that an item has been bought in their name for the Kitchen.
The Abbot’s Kitchen has been covered in scaffolding since the summer
Janet said: “It’s an unusual way of raising money but as we have a very specific shopping list – we can’t ask for items to be donated but thought this might be a lovely gift for those who want to support the Abbey.” Julie Hayes, assistant education officer, said: “The Abbot’s Kitchen would have been a high status kitchen, perhaps the abbatial equivalent of the kitchen at Hampton Court, and as such the utensils
The gold of the refurbished weather vane is matched by the leaves
and pottery in use would also have been ‘top of the range’. This is the medieval equivalent of a kitchen of a Michelin star restaurant. “We are hoping to re-furnish the Abbot’s Kitchen as authentically as possible and for this we would like to have examples of pottery that are museum standard so visitors are able to go away with a realistic impression of an early Tudor kitchen.”
A view of the Abbey from the top of the scaffolding
Top award for one of Weston’s most important buildings WORK by Weston College to restore an architecturally important building in the town has been honoured at an English Heritage awards event in London. The college spent more than £1.5 million restoring the 1892 Grade II Listed Hans Price School of Art and Science in Lower Church Road, Weston-super-Mare, which has been transformed into a 21st century conference and event facility. Specialist stone masons, carpenters, joiners and engineers were drafted in to re-structure the cramped internal layout into large spacious rooms over three floors and replace all mechanical and electrical services.
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The refurbishment won the Somerset Trust Building of the Year Award 2012, and at the recent English Heritage Angel Awards, the work was honoured with a certificate of merit. The Angel Awards were founded by Andrew Lloyd Webber to reward the efforts of local people in saving their architectural heritage. Linda Burlison, Assistant Principal (Systems and Resources) and College staff member Jill Clarkson travelled to the Palace Theatre in London’s West End to receive the certificate from George Clarke, presenter of Channel 4’s Restoration Man and Amazing Spaces programmes.
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Pride in Paulton
ENVIRONMENT
35th hedge laying championships
THE 2013 National Hedge Laying Championships were held on the Waddington Estate, Buckinghamshire, home of the 4th Baron Rothschild, where 105 hedge layers entered in nine different regional styles. Our local style the North Somerset Open had 10 entries, the second largest number of competitors in a class. This year 1st place went to Alex Bown, from, Ashwick on Mendip; 2nd, Tina Bath, from Priddy and 3rd, Paul Guillford, from Backwell.
MEMBERS of the PiPP Team (Pride in Paulton Partnership) have been showing off all the trophies they won in this summer’s South West in Bloom competition. On the table were the trophies for the best new entry, the exceptional community effort, the best school in the South West and best allotment. Alli Vine, pictured along with other PiPP members, said: “It’s good to see local groups doing so well.” PiPP has gone on to hold a best Christmas shop window competition for all the shops in Paulton. Local B&NES Councillors John Bull and Liz Hardman said they were delighted with the difference PiPP’s work had made to Paulton and looked forward to the Christmas trees planned for the High Street.
Show hosts country pursuits day A spectator admires the craftsmanship at last year’s hedge laying competition
Churchyard clean-up
AFTER the success of last year’s blitz on the churchyard of St Nicholas and St Mary’s Church in Stowey, near Bishop Sutton, it was decided to make this an annual event. Churchwarden, Jill Nicol, was delighted with the response this year. She said: “It was brilliantly organised and led by Derek Maltby who encouraged and cajoled around 20 keen parishioners to cut the grass, strim the edges, weed the graves and take the ivy off the walls. The end result was a pristine churchyard, ready once more for the winter.”
ORGANISERS of the Mid Somerset Show are to host their annual hedge laying competition at the same time as a clay pigeon shoot to create a country pursuits event. The hedge laying competition will consist of an open class and an amateur class, for those new to the craft and for those that are experienced. The clay pigeon shoot is also open to those with experience and those who want to have a go for the first time. The event will take place at Bangle Farm at Whatley – owned by Mrs Angela Yeoman – on Sunday, February 23rd and spectators are welcome. Ian Harvey, chairman of The Mid Somerset Agricultural Society, said: “We’re very grateful to Mrs Yeoman for allowing us to use her farm. “We’re very excited about the competition and would really like lots of locals to come down and learn about the traditional country craft.” The Shepton Mallet-based show, which is in its 162nd year, is one of the few free-entry agricultural shows left in the country. G Entry forms for the hedge laying competition are available in advance from show secretary Christine Barham on 01749 347607 or e-mail: secretary@midsomersetshow.org.uk and via the website: www.midsomersetshow.org.uk – entries will be taken on the day for the clay pigeon shoot. MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 7
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MENDIP TIMES
New date for green power meeting
ORGANISERS of a public debate about large-scale solar and wind turbine farms have been forced to change the date of the meeting and find a new venue because of the amount of interest it has generated. The meeting was originally due to be held in December but Mendip District Council says it will now take place on Tuesday, January 14th in Wells Town Hall. While all the speaking spots have now been filled, written submissions are still welcomed. The aim of the project is to better
ENVIRONMENT
understand the positive and negative impacts of the proposed installations on local communities. The work is being lead by Councillor John North, as part of a Scrutiny Board task and finish group. He said: “We hope people will come along to this event to hear the views of the community, think about what they would want us to consider and then send us their views.” Nigel Woollcombe-Adams, portfolio holder for built environment, said: “I know that the issue or renewable
Protest signs like these have become a familiar sight across Mendip
energy, particularly solar farms and wind turbines, is of major interest to many people living in the district. “This investigation is the ideal opportunity for local people to let us have their views on these types of energy installations and will allow district councillors to assess the facts surrounding renewable energy installations and get a clearer picture of the where legislation that supports renewable energy sits in the planning process.”
M E N D I P W E AT H E R S C E N E
Anyone wishing to submit written representations should contact Nick Jagger on 01749 341315 or e-mail: nick.jagger@mendip.gov.uk The task and finish group will consider all information received and report back to the Scrutiny Board in March.
Happy holidays!
I HOPE you enjoyed my little quiz in the December issue; I wonder how many budding meteorologists there are out there? Of course, doing a quiz like that can have its advantages as I now have 20 subjects available for future columns. with DAVID Don’t worry; I am not planning to go MAINE through the questions one-by-one for the next 20 issues of MT! However, I thought I should dwell on a couple of the questions which may need clarifying and which have a particular relevance at this time of the year. How many of you got the question right about the equivalent depth of snow of an inch of rain? This was, I admit, a slightly unfair question as an inch of rain to a foot
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of snow is only really a rough guide. A lot depends on how wet the snow is as it falls. If the temperature is above zero, say +1°C or +1.5°C then the snow will partially melt and compact as it settles and there may only be eight or nine inches of snow for an inch of rain. But if it is the dry, powdery stuff with the temperature well below 0°C then there may be as much as 18 inches of snow for an inch of rain. Of course, if it piles up into drifts then it gets even more complicated! The question about freezing fog would have been a good one to get right as not everyone, who hasn’t studied physics at school, may realise water droplets can stay in liquid form even when their temperature is below zero, when they are said to be in a supercooled state. Let’s hope the questions remain hypothetical over the festive season and into the New Year. Happy 2014!
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MENDIP TIMES
Encouraging young farmers
TO start the New Year off I am writing about the younger generation in relation to farming. There is a shortage of good young people wanting to enter our vibrant, exciting and ever-changing industry. What is the problem? Is it the long hours, lack of knowledge of the type of jobs With MARY available or is it because the industry does not JAMES MBE sell itself particularly well? May I ask our teacher/readers for a comment – do the careers co-ordinators in schools really promote the farming option; do they have enough knowledge of what is on offer? The modern farm is not the place to send a youngster who has absolutely no interest at all. There must be acceptance, I think, that there are a whole range of jobs in the food and farming industry to suit different skills. With only 12% of people working in the UK farming industry today, aged between 16 and 24, it is to McDonald’s credit that on December 6th they called for more young people to consider a career in farming as applications open for the 2014/15 intake of its Progressive Young Farmer training programme. For the first time, students at colleges and universities throughout the UK, not just those studying agriculture, are being invited to apply to the 12-month paid training scheme. It offers three students first-hand experience of practical farming and business management as well as a unique opportunity to trace the entire supply chain of McDonald’s ingredients from farms and
McDonald's Progressive Young Farmer Lindsey Carnell
abattoirs to the restaurant front counter. Warren Anderson, Vice President, Supply Chain, McDonald’s UK, said: “There’s much more to a career in farming than people think. In addition to skills such as animal husbandry, farmers need business acumen and awareness of the latest technical innovations. “Our Progressive Young Farmers are given a unique opportunity to benefit from the experience of expert mentors and gain an understanding of our entire supply chain, right through to restaurants, where they can fully appreciate the role farmers play in producing the food we serve to our customers.” I am delighted to say we have one of this year’s Progressive Young Farmers in our area. Lindsey Carnell, aged 22, from Tickenham, North Somerset, spent two years on the family’s dairy and beef farm before going on to Harper Adams University where she gained a BSc (Hons) in Animal Science. During her placement, Lindsey will complete a number of roles that will give her the blend of farming and business skills needed to succeed in today’s farming sector. She is currently working on a farm in Staffordshire, where she is being mentored by progressive dairy farmers James and Jonathan Pickford. She will also spend some months working with several of the leading food companies that supply ingredients for McDonald’s menus – Arla which supplies fresh milk from UK dairy farms and potato and fries specialist McCain. In the last week she will be working in one of the restaurants. Well done Lindsey and good luck for the future. Something I would like to see this new year, as soon as possible, is the complete banning of sky lanterns. Pretty they may be but the damage they can cause in the countryside particularly is horrendous For more information on the scheme visit: whatmakesmcdonalds.co.uk. Applications need to be submitted via mcdonalds.co.uk/youngfarmers by January 17th, 2014.
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Hunters gather
AROUND 100 riders took part in what has been estimated to be one of the biggest hunt meetings for years on Mendip. Mendip Farmers Hunt joined forces with members of the Wiltshire-based Avon Vale Hunt for the meeting at Ston Easton Park Hotel on the last day of November. The joint meet
FARMING
First anniversary party
A festive atmosphere in Southfield Sporting
SOUTHFIELD Sporting at Whatley, near Frome, celebrated its first anniversary with new and old customers getting together in the shop for mulled wine and mince pies. It was a joyous occasion with owners Katrina and Robert Lintott hearing from customers how the shooting season has been so far and also what celebrations are being held over the
festive season. Visitors were delighted with the range of clothing, accessories and also gift ideas with many heading home with presents for loved ones and new equipment for the winter weather. G Over the festive period the shop will be open as usual until Friday, December 20th, then times are as follows: 21st, 10am6pm; 22nd, 10am-1pm; 23rd, 10am-6pm. Closed from December 24th – January 7th.
COUNTRY CLOTHING & GUN SHOP Major brands including:
Tractor test drives
FARMERS and agricultural contractors are to have the opportunity to test drive some of the latest equipment on the market at the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show in February. While most of the event at the Royal Bath and West showground on Wednesday, February 12th will take place undercover, an outdoor demonstration ring will enable visitors to try out a range of equipment. More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the free-toenter, one-day event. Show secretary Alan Lyons said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this facility for the first time. “When buying machinery, farmers rightly want to know how it handles in practice; this is one of the very few machinery shows where they can do that.” Agricultural machinery demonstrations will also feature material handling, sweeping and the latest tractor models. G Entries for the South West Agricultural Contractor of the Year 2014, sponsored by accountants Old Mill, close on Friday, January 10th. The competition is open to all farm contractors across the region, with a £500 first prize and trophy. Entry forms are available from www.bathandwest.com or by calling 01749 822235.
And many others stocked
Southfield Sporting, Southfield House, Whatley, Frome, BA11 3JY shop@southfieldsporting.co.uk Twitter @southfieldsport www.southfieldsporting.co.uk
836 339 013O73 pening Times:
day-Friday 10am-6pm Wednes 9am-1pm and by appointme ay d r nt Satu
Open as usual until the 20th Dec 21st: 10am-6pm 22nd: 10am-1pm 23rd: 10am-6pm Closed: 24th Dec-7th Jan
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 11
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MENDIP TIMES
FARMING
Farming scholarships with a strong pedigree THREE Mendip-based people involved in agriculture are amongst the winners of 2014 Nuffield Farming Scholarships. Neil Macdonald, Jen Hunter and Johnny Alvis have been granted bursaries to allow them to study particular areas of interest abroad. Neil, who runs Orchard Groundcare, near Glastonbury, will look at Orcharding Systems for the next decade; Jen, who farms near Compton Martin, will look at modern wool processing, whilst Johnny, of Redhill, has chosen “Achieving more from less – maximising dairy farming profitability utilising limited resources”. They are amongst 21 people to receive scholarships from the
charity, which awards individuals with life-changing opportunities that span their personal and professional lives, with a view to developing agricultural sector leaders and innovators of the future. It has funding available to sponsor overseas travel and assist with a period of study and says it is always looking to attract new candidates. Nuffield director Mike Vacher, based near Taunton, said: “Once again, the calibre of applicants who represent associated agricultural, horticultural and rural sectors was extremely high, making the selection process challenging. “As a result, we’ve pulled together a group of individuals who I’m sure will rise to the challenge Nuffield presents.” Mike added: “Scholars will travel for at least eight weeks over an 18 month period, during which time they will undertake their own research and review of global practices. “They have the opportunity to travel anywhere in the world in order to further their knowledge and understanding, with a view to advancing their respective industries.” G Johnny is being supported jointly by The Trehane Trust and The Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust; Jen is supported by The Company of Merchants of the Staple of England and Neil by The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers.
Pilrow inquiry
A PUBLIC inquiry will be held in January into plans for a wind farm at Pilrow Farm at Rooksbridge. Broadview Energy Limited is appealing against a decision by Sedgemoor District Council to refuse permission for four wind turbines on the site.The inquiry is due to begin on Tuesday, January 7th at The Princess in Burnham-on-Sea. The Inquiry is scheduled to last eight days. The application was refused in April because of the proposed scale of the wind farm. In its refusal, Sedgemoor said the height and appearance of the proposed turbines would: “represent an unacceptable visual intrusion into the flat landscape of the Somerset Levels, particularly in respect of the harm to the views to and from Brent Knoll.” Sedgemoor said: “Based on the level of information received, the local planning authority is unable to conclude that there will not be a significant effect on bird populations.”
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MENDIP TIMES
Back to the future
A SURGE of interest in vintage interiors, clothing and curios has brought a whole new generation of shoppers to Wells Trading Post. Voted by BBC Homes and Antiques Magazine as one of the 50 best vintage shops in the UK, Wells Trading Post is also attracting a huge amount of interest
Vintage clothing being modelled outside Wells Trading Post
in its newly-launched website. Run by Tanith Tothill and Graham Creasey, the shop has been based at the 12th Century Old Priory Mill for the past 16 years. Tanith said the business has evolved into four distinct sections: fashion, collectibles, furniture and tools. Recently a whole section of one floor has been given over to ten rails of vintage (pre1970) clothing; there used to be just one rail of fur coats. Tanith said: “It has changed the demographic of the shop; encouraging lots more young people to come in. “People want to find something fun to wear for special occasions or even hen parties, but we are dealing in fashion, not fancy dress.” Wells Trading Post sells on a 40% commission basis – Tanith jokes that they “don’t own a stitch” – and customers have been flocking to them with vintage clothing as they try to keep up with demand. The shop and website is also a regular haunt of props buyers for film and
Vintage clothing from Wells Trading Post being modelled at a fashion show at the Sheppey Inn at Godney
television; it provided props for Hot Fuzz, set in Wells, Larkrise to Candleford, Doc Martin and, most recently, The Café on Sky Television, set in a café in Westonsuper-Mare. Tanith added: “Regular customers have been buying and selling through us since we started out and if we’ve been looking for something in particular, then they have never let us down!”
THE OLD CURIODDITY SHOP Antiques and so much more . . . 100 square metres of beautiful items for your home . . .
With Christmas looming large, we invite you to have a mince pie and peruse our large collection of decorative and antique gifts . . . starting at £2.50! Tel: 07812 501546 Email: steviejb2002@yahoo.co.uk The Workshop, Rickford, North Somerset BS40 7AH www.theantiquesloftatrickford.com Opening Times (Winter) 10am – 4pm (Tues – Sat) 10am – 1pm (Sunday)
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Old Priory Mill, West St, Wells, BA5 2HG. Tel: 01749 671454 www.wellstradingpost.co.uk • email:tanithtradingpost@gmail.com
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ARTS AND ANTIQUES
David Hockney makes a splash at Clevedon Salesrooms CLEVEDON Salerooms’ recent specialist sale included a copy of David Hockney’s ‘Paper Pools’ book. The book, and with it the accompanying A4 sized signed lithograph, was discovered by Mark Fraser, Clevedon Salerooms’ Senior Valuer, during a house call in Shirehampton. Produced as a limited edition book running to 1,000 copies, it was printed in 1980 and cost £100 new. David Hockney’s star shines considerably brighter these days and the saleroom held its collective breath as two bidders went ever deeper in to their reserves, the successful purchaser coming up for air having secured the lot for £7,950. David Hockney ‘ Paper Pools’ Limited book and lithograph
If you would like Clevedon Salerooms to offer your antiques and works of art to the widest audience to secure the highest price why not attend one of their free valuation days or contact the Salerooms on 01934 830111 to speak to a valuer.
Reasons why vendors choose us:
1. Telephone bidding Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers
FREE ANTIQUE VALUATION DAYS 13 14 15 January 27 28 29 January 9.30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm Held at the salerooms – ample free parking no appointment necessary
Tel: 01934 830111 or 0117 325 6789
Edison MK II wall mounted telephone
Sold for £7,950
The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT
www.clevedon-salerooms.com
www.clevedon-salerooms.com
Next Specialist Sale 13th March MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 15
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MENDIP TIMES
Killens look back at 2013
IT wasn’t that long ago that every market town had its very own auction rooms where regular sales of antiques and chattels were regularly staged. Over the years, the number of auction houses has declined with existing establishments serving a larger area allowing greater specialisms. Killens bucked the trend in 2012 by opening the Mendip Auction Rooms at Rookery Farm and, with popular support, 2013 saw the continued growth of the auction rooms with the introduction of two sales being held each month. Sales of antiques, fine art and collectables take place generally on the second Saturday of the month with a general sale of Victorian and later effects being held ten days later. Antique sales can be viewed online through the-saleroom.com with viewers able to bid live. In 2013, Killens offered approximately 12,000 lots which is a fantastic performance. Tom Killen said: “Opening
a new auction house in 2012 was, in hindsight, incredibly brave. We started from scratch and, although it has not been easy, we are proud that the auction rooms are now becoming established and we strive to operate to the highest standards. “I am incredibly proud of the hard working team at Mendip Auction Rooms. We look upon ourselves as part of the local Mendip community and all of us are
One of the first auctions
grateful for the fabulous support that we have received from sellers and buyers.” The Mendip Auction Rooms are situated adjoining the B3135 between the Mendip Inn and Green Ore. They are open 10am – 5pm, Monday – Friday for deliveries and valuations. Alternatively, the team are also able to undertake free home visits or provide free online valuations.
For full information, log onto www.mendipauctionrooms.co.uk
PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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Cheers to a successful year at Tamlyns TAMLYNS Auction rooms in Bridgwater have had a highly successful 2013 with some record prices achieved and generally strong results throughout their various sales. As with most businesses, nothing stays the same, and this has been reflected in the “antiques” business over the past few years. In 2013 silver and gold prices hit record highs, however these have now dropped considerably so the underlying scrap value of these precious metals is a good deal lower now. The furniture market has improved though, certain areas particularly – sales of old pine have really escalated, good quality decorative pieces are still holding their own and even some of the better quality standard pieces are now selling. Perhaps the greatest rise noticed in the Bridgwater rooms is for makes such as Ercol – the clean, Scandinavian designs now appeal to todays buyer’s and prices are steadily increasing. Tamlyns now hold a good mixed general sale every three weeks. This is popular with buyers and sellers alike as there is a
ARTS AND ANTIQUES
great mix of old and decorative as well as some good quality modern pieces – there really is something for everybody in these sales. The catalogued antiques sales are held three times a year; these are more specialised and go “online” with live bidding available on auction day as well. These include the more expensive antiques but also the interesting, modern decorative items that appeal to today’s internet buyers. Collectors sales are held every quarter, again on the internet; these are great fun and include a really eclectic mix from postcards, stamps, coins, toys, trains, medals, militaria, sporting memorabilia and myriad other sections. The 2014 auction year at Tamlyns kicks off with a General auction on January 14th. The first collectors sale will be on February 18th and the special Spring Antiques on April 1st. There will also be a special “one off” auction of vintage costume, costume jewellery and accessories on March 11th. All 2014 dates can be found at www.tamlyns.co.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 17
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MENDIP TIMES
Resolutions and rib stickers
With JUNE MACFARLANE
I will not buy more food than I need I will use up the leftovers I will save energy I will do meat-free Mondays I will hide the chocolate But first – a little New Year’s Eve feast of cured salmon!
CURED SALMON WITH VODKA AND DILL An impressive dish for New Year’s Eve. Serve as a starter with lemon wedges and rye bread.
METHOD
You can feel the little pin bones in the salmon Salmon with if you run your fingers vodka and dill over the surface of the fillet. You will probably need tweezers to remove them. In a large bowl, mix together the salt, muscovado sugar and granulated sugar. Grind the peppercorns finely in a pestle and mortar. Sprinkle over the salt mixture, then stir in the vodka and chopped fresh dill. Take a large piece of cling film, large enough to wrap around both fillets of fish, and place one fillet of salmon, skin-side down, on top of
BRAISED PIGS CHEEKS INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp olive oil 8 pig’s cheeks 3 carrots 2 medium onions 2 ribs celery 4 cloves garlic 2 tbsp flour small bunch thyme 1 piece orange peel 3 bay leaves 1 bottle hearty red wine 2 tbsp apple, sloe or redcurrant jelly
These little meaty pillows of deliciousness are becoming easier to find, although you might have to ask your butcher in advance. They are also extremely inexpensive. They need long slow cooking, but the reward is an unctuous dish that is hearty and warming on a winter’s night.
METHOD
Season the meat with salt and pepper and brown them lightly in the oil in a heavy ovenproof casserole dish. Remove and set aside. Chop the vegetables roughly and peel and slice the garlic. Add with the orange peel to the casserole and allow to soften and colour very lightly. Set the oven at 160 °C/gas mark 3. Return the meat to the pan with the vegetables, scatter over the flour, season with salt and black pepper. Cook for a couple of minutes then add the thyme, the bay leaves and the wine. Bring to the boil, cover then bake for 2½ to 3 hours until tender. Check occasionally to make sure the liquid isn’t reducing too far. After an hour or so, taste and add some apple or other fruit jelly to the gravy. Continue cooking until meat is very soft. Taste and correct the seasoning and reduce gravy if necessary.
PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
Braised pigs cheeks
INGREDIENTS
2 x 500g salmon fillet, skin on, it. Cover the salmon fillet with all of the salt mixture then pin-bones removed place the remaining salmon 200g coarse sea salt fillet, skin-side up, on top of it. 50g light muscovado sugar Wrap the fillets tightly in the 75g granulated sugar cling film. 1 tbsp cracked black Place the fish on a baking peppercorns tray and place another baking 1 dsp cracked pink tray on top. Weight the top peppercorns baking tray down – tins of 100ml vodka soup are good for this. Chill in 150g fresh dill, roughly the fridge for two-three days, chopped turning the packet of fish every six-eight hours, where possible. To serve, unwrap the salmon, and wash off excess salt mixture. Dry carefully. Slice the fillets very thinly on the diagonal using a sharp knife, and serve with a wedge of lemon and rye bread.
QUEEN OF PUDDINGS
This is a pudding we used to get for school lunch and it was a big treat. It consists of a layer of custard topped with jam and meringue. It is light and warming and very, very forgiving. You can eat it hot, warm, or even cold next day. I think it is good enough for a winter dinner party!
METHOD
INGREDIENTS
600ml full-fat milk 25g unsalted butter finely grated zest of 1 lemon or 1 tsp vanilla 225g caster sugar 3 large free-range eggs, separated 75g fresh white breadcrumbs 4/5 tbsp good raspberry jam You need an ovenproof dish of about 1.4-litre capacity, buttered.
To make the custard, warm the milk gently in a small pan. Add the butter, lemon zest or vanilla and 50g of the sugar; stir until the butter has melted and the sugar dissolved. Lightly whisk the egg yolks in a large heatproof mixing bowl, then gradually whisk in the warm milk mixture. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the base of the buttered dish. Pour over the custard. Leave to stand for about 15 minutes so the breadcrumbs can absorb the liquid. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 160°C/325°F. Set the dish in the roasting tin and pour enough hot water into the tin to come halfway up the side of the dish. Bake until the custard base is firm and set – about 30 mins. Remove from the oven and lift the dish from the roasting tin. Leave to cool for 15 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 150 °C/300°F. Put the egg whites into a large bowl and whisk with a hand-held electric mixer on full speed until stiff. Whisk in the remaining sugar a teaspoon at a time, still on full speed, to make a very stiff and glossy meringue. Cover the custard base with jam then spread the meringue on top to cover the jam completely. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the meringue is pale golden and crisp. Serve with pouring cream.
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FOOD & DRINK
JANUARY 2014 DATES EVER-CHANGING SPECIALS BOARD with extensive menu and seasonal daily specials Sunday 22nd December Tim Pitman's Christmas Special A great night of music and Christmas hits with one of Somerset's favourite singers New Year's Eve Tuesday December 31st Bugsy Malone Night Dress up and enjoy a wonderful start to the New Year Special guest Guy Johnson, singer, vocalist and keyboard artist
G Bed & Breakfast en suite bedrooms in the attached refurbished Cider House always available to book on any night. Ideal location close to the Bath & West Showground and other local attractions.There are also some lovely walks in the vicinity. G Cask Marque Ales G Somerset Ciders G Our popular Quiz Nights take place every 2nd Monday in the Month G Check the website for details of all our upcoming events
Wells: every Wednesday 9am-2.30pm at the Market Place All other markets 9am-1pm unless otherwise marked*
Saturday 4th Axbridge (Midsomer Norton cancelled) Saturday 11th Frome & Keynsham th Saturday 18 Crewkerne Saturday 25th Yeovil (10am-2pm)* th Saturday 25 Glastonbury (9am-2pm)* Friday 31st Burnham-on-Sea follow us @SFMMarkets For more information phone 01373 814646 or visit www.SomersetFarmersMarkets.co.uk
Powering Farming’s Future natterjack
Tel: 01225 667151 Web: www.yourenergyuk.com
The Mansion House, Clifton, combines romance and grandeur of the Victorian era with luxury and service you would expect from the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Bristol.
One of Bristol’s most elegant venues for corporate/private events and weddings, we offer a choice of Victorian styled rooms. You can hire the whole venue exclusively, or alternatively, the ground floor reception rooms and first floor suite can be hired separately for full, half days or evenings for up to 100. Whatever you book, we will ensure your event is a success.
Please contact The Mansion House on 0117 903 1456 enquiries@mansionhousebristol.co.uk www.mansionhousebristol.co.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 19
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MENDIP TIMES
Watch out – here come the chefs of the future!
JUDGES at the Rotary Club of Frome’s annual Young Chef competition had a simple message for today’s culinary masters: watch out; they’re behind you! They said the standards of cooking and presentation showed skills way beyond the ages of the entrants and predicted they had great futures ahead of them. Eight students at Frome College battled it out to prepare a two-course meal to impress. The eventual winner was 15-year-old Oliver Snelgrove who prepared a starter of butternut squash and mushroom with homemade tagliatelle, followed by roast duck crown with a butternut squash mousse, tower of roast vegetables and curly kale, with an orange bigarade sauce and rich red cabbage puree. Garry Rosser, one of the judges, said: “You can see real potential and imagination. We are looking at what are possibly really great chefs of the future.” The other finalists were: Molly McKechnie, Emily Facer, Shaun Anders and Emma Anders. Oliver will go on to represent Frome in the district final of the competition in March in Minehead. If successful he will go on to compete in the district final.
Oliver (centre) with (l:r): Sarah Petroff, the college’s subject leader in design and technology, judge Garry Rosser, Dot Cretney, president of the Rotary Club of Frome and judge Phil Rimmer
Mendip Times reduces travel costs
Oliver with his winning two-course meal
Real potential: Judges and guests with the finalists
BEAH
English & Mediterranean Restaurant, Wells Nicola & staff wish all our valued customers a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Don’t forget our New Year’s Eve Quiz Night
100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
Please check our website for Christmas & New Year opening times For more details call 01749 678111, pop in at Union Street, Wells or log on to www.beah.co.uk it’s on our events page! Relaxed and friendly dining in the heart of Wells
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GARDEN FOOD
Cheers to the New Year
A BIT of a deviation from the norm this month, partly because there’s not much going on in my garden and partly because I am really excited about this new beer that I’ve brewed. It’s called a gruit ale, and is so-called because instead of being bittered with With JAKE hops it is bittered with a mixture of herbs WHITSON known as gruit. Throughout Europe, before hops began to dominate the scene (which in Britain was not until the 16th century), ale was usually bittered with a mixture of herbs – mixtures varied but often included yarrow, a Rhododendron species known as marsh rosemary (Rhododendron tomentosum), bog myrtle and ground ivy (otherwise known as alehoof). Along with a plethora of other herbs such as heather, juniper, mugwort, meadowsweet and caraway, this breadth of herbal additives allowed for much greater diversity in the flavour of ales than there is now. This then, is my recipe for gruit ale (you will need some basic brewing know-how and equipment). Take 2.4 kg of crushed pale malt and 400g crystal malt, and mash in 12 litres of water at 60-70c for 90 minutes. Strain out the malt and sparge with six litres of water heated to 70c. Bring the wort to the boil and add 1oz fresh yarrow (leaves, stalks and flowers) about 10 ground ivy leaves, a few sage leaves and a scant half-teaspoon of crushed juniper berries. After half an hour on a rolling boil, add the same amount of herbs again. After another 15 minutes add a 2tsp of Irish moss and after another 15 minutes turn off the heat and add the same amount of herbs again, plus ¼ of a carrier bag of nettle tops. Leave to cool, strain into a fermenting bucket and add the yeast. Ferment until finished and bottle. I must say I am extremely pleased with the results of this recipe – it is strikingly different to a hopped ale, but no less delicious, suffused with a cocktail of herbal aromas. Bring back gruit ale!
Jacob Whitson is a chef and food writer who has worked in many of the West Country’s most prestigious restaurants. He is currently working on his first book, a travelogue detailing the regional foods of Japan.
FOOD & DRINK
WILD FOOD
A foraging year’s resolution
WELCOME to 2014! Whilst the days are short, the cold wind blows and there is the constant threat of snow, for me January is always an exciting time of year. Not only might it snow but as a forager there is always something to look forward to. Did I mention the snow? You may have With ADRIAN guessed that I have a fondness for the white BOOTS stuff but this can make life difficult when it comes to foraging for wild food. So what to do? Well, the key thing is to challenge oneself to find something in these conditions, to hone one’s extreme foraging skills, so to speak. Ok, to be fair it’s near impossible to collect edible mushrooms from under 30cm of snow but then of course it’s fun to try and make something (anything actually!) out of a frozen fungus. Seriously though, I mentioned fungus for a reason and that is mainly due to the rare occasion when the winter air is just right, that perfect coming together of temperature, low humidity and high pressure. Now, we all know about air-cured meats and fish but did you know that on a cold crisp winter day air can dry out mushrooms as easily as warm, dry summer air? If you can find them intact, they are effectively ready preserved for you. All that is needed is 10mins in water to rehydrate them or indeed just add directly to a stock for soups, stews or cassoulet. Just perfect food for a cold winter’s day! I think the classic mushroom for this has to be Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricular-judae) which grows on Elder (Sambucus nigra) and has a head start as it is already up off the ground and air drying. So if you get the timing wrong and ground dwelling mushrooms are impossible to use because they are irretrievably damaged by frost, Jelly Ear’s constitution allows it to just sail on regardless waiting for you to collect. First find an elderly Elder shrub then identify what looks like small, shrivelled and blackened leaves sticking out randomly from the branches. Not sounding overtly appetising but that’s air dried Jelly Ear for you. So I’m laying down the gauntlet for an interesting New Year’s resolution. Resolve to go out no matter what the time of year (or the distraction of playing in the snow!) and find one thing to add to your normal winter fare. Spice up that boring old dish with something you have worked hard to find, collect, prepare and cook, and I guarantee you it will taste all the better for it. As always, here’s to a successful foraging New Year! Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist, Wild Food Forager and Adventure Activity provider. You can visit his web site www.gowildactiviites.co.uk to learn more about wild food foraging and activities you can do with him on the Mendip Hills.
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 21
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MENDIP TIMES
FOOD & DRINK
Not just a crisis at Christmas By Steve Egginton
A NEW food bank, covering Cheddar Valley, opened in time for Christmas, as experts warned that food poverty in the UK “has all the signs of a public health emergency”. It covers an area that includes Cheddar, Wedmore and Winscombe. The Trussell Trust, which helps support the majority of food banks, estimates one in five people in the UK are living below the poverty line. A new report from the University of Liverpool shows that the number of malnutrition related admissions to hospital in England has doubled since 2008-09. There are Axbridge Mayoress, Sue Alborne, collecting now around a food at Axbridge Market dozen food banks within Mendip Times circulation area and 398 across the country as a whole. Local food banks are now helping dozens of families every week and all need donations of food or cash, plus voluntary support. In its launch leaflet, Cheddar Valley Plus
Chairman Matt Dumelow and treasuer Yan Pietryga
says: “Today in the Cheddar Valley area there are families struggling to put food on the table. For people on low incomes, a sudden crisis – redundancy, benefit delay or even an unexpected bill – can mean going hungry. “Every day parents skip meals to feed their children and people are forced to choose between paying the rent and eating.” Food banks rely on donations of non-perishable food from the public, which is sorted and boxed into emergency food boxes by volunteers. Frontline care professionals, such as doctors or social workers, give food bank vouchers to people in crisis. They can exchange these at a food bank for three days food. The food banks will also direct clients to further support, helping to prevent family breakdown, housing loss, crime and mental health problems.
FOOD BANKS – CONTACTS
Cheddar Valley Plus – 07922 309369 or 07922 308154 Info@cheddarvalley.foodbank.org.uk www.cheddarvalley.foodbank.org.uk Clevedon – 21, Hither Green, 07722 769529. Glastonbury – Contact Ros Smith 07980 458600 email: glastonburyfoodbank@gmail.com Highbridge – St John’s – Contact Wayne Sadler 07570 707400. Keynsham – Victoria Methodist Centre 0117 9837923. Midsomer Norton – The Salvation Army, Radstock Road, Mondays 12noon-2pm. Radstock – St. Nicholas Church Café, Church Road, Wednesdays 12noon-2pm. Somer Valley – St. John’s Church, Peasedown St. John 01761 433709. Somerton – Mustard Seed St Cleers Chapel, Polham Lane, contact Rachel Maynard juma321@aol.com Street - URC Wednesdays 2-4pm Warminster – Dewey House, North Row, 07855 627945. Weston – North Street 01934 708906. Details: www.trusselltrust.org/foodbank-projects PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
WHAT’S NEEDED
Milk (UHT or powdered) Sugar (500g) Fruit juice (long life carton) Soup Pasta sauces Tinned sponge pudding Tinned tomatoes Tinned vegetables Cereals Tinned rice pudding Tea bags/instant coffee Instant mash potato Rice/pasta Tinned meat/fish Tinned fruit Jam Biscuits or snack bars
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NEW STORE NOW OPEN
The co-operative
Farrington Gurney
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Locally owned, locally managed
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MENDIP TIMES
A school for the future
CRANWELL House, the new home for the Royal High Junior School in Bath, has been woven into the fabric of Bath’s history for almost 150 years and is set to play a vital part in the city’s future as a beacon of educational excellence for girls aged 3-11. Architecturally, Cranwell is a seamless blend of the old and the new and this echoes the essence of the school, with an impressive history built on solid educational achievement alongside capturing the forward-thinking and enriched learning programme that enhances the richness of childhood. From the outset, the architectural concept of this new building was to be respectful of the listed house and its surroundings by creating a quiet and calm design that recedes into the historic landscape, rich in flora and fauna, with extensive parkland to explore and to use in the future, with girls learning about planting and growing their own food and understanding more about sustainability. There has been a thoughtful allocation of learning spaces to maximise the opportunities for the girls – for example utilising the light and airy orangery as an art studio, with doors opening to the outdoors, enabling the girls to have seamless indoor/outdoor opportunities in their creative work as artists. Making such connections through the setting of the school makes the learning immediate and tangible. To achieve this, the scale of the new building has been downplayed, creating a warmer and more intimate teaching environment for the girls and staff
alike that complements the existing buildings. Elements integrating and working in harmony are key to the whole feel of Cranwell House, which is calm, timeless and in which the girls will be free to make their own mark. The ground floor windows of the new building have been designed to establish a connection between the classrooms and the garden, so that the landscape becomes an intrinsic part of the school’s day-to-day teaching. On the first floor the same principle applies, with the addition of roof lights for glimpses of the sky and to maximise natural light within the teaching spaces and the main hall-all of which are factors conducive to great learning. The new and original buildings are connected by an external courtyard with a wide staircase leading down to the garden. This external courtyard not only provides space for outdoor teaching, but helps tie the two buildings together within the site to form a tightly knit and coherent learning environment. This social space provides a perfect piazza for the girls to share ideas, collaborate both in their work and their play and be inspired by this new learning landscape.
Cranwell House, Weston Park East, Bath BA1 2UZ T: 01225 422931 • Email: d.rejiester@bat.gdst.net
PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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Education for all
EDUCATION
WHEN you think of the word education, what do you think? Education is open to us all whether we are nine or 99, it doesn’t always have to be about getting qualifications or training for a career. Norton Radstock College has an exciting range of leisure learning courses starting in the New Year, so a perfect excuse to get out of the house, meet new people and perhaps learn something you have always wanted to. Learning for leisure is completely different to when you may have been at school or college – there are no exams, homework is your choice and it’s based on an informal setting. In fact there’s something for everyone – and you’re never too old! For those who are looking to start their career, or even enhance their current skills, there is a wide range of training opportunities also available at the college. From full-time courses and apprenticeships with local employers which are suitable for school leavers to a wide range of workplace training options and short career related courses for adults. Why not drop in to the Open Day on Saturday February 1st, 10am-1pm at the college’s Main Campus in Radstock for more details? For more details and to download a course guide visit nortcoll.ac.uk or call Norton Radstock College on 01761 433161.
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 25
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All Hallows opens new nursery class
AS a result of demand from current and prospective parents, All Hallows Preparatory School will be opening a new Nursery Class from January – bringing forward the age that children can join this outstanding school to age three. The new class will be based in the dedicated, Early Years centre in the heart of the school and the youngest recruits will be able to enjoy a host of amazing opportunities and facilities that will really set this nursery apart from the competition. Headmaster, Ian Murphy, is a firm believer that the early years in Independent Education really do reap benefits: “The early years of a child’s life are the most formative in so many ways. Independent education from age three brings a wide range of tangible benefits including significantly lower pupil/teacher ratios, single year classes (so many state primaries are now forced to mix key stages of education), access to specialist teachers right from the start for subjects such as languages, PE and games, art and drama. “At All Hallows, our younger children also benefit immensely from a wide range of facilities on-site – children in the nursery will enjoy daily Forest School sessions in the seven-acre woodland area, ‘Tots Tennis’ within the LTA accredited Tennis Academy, swimming, golf, dance and languages as well as having access to the Astroturf, cricket and rugby pitches, fully-equipped science laboratories, theatre, art and ceramics facilities, ICT facilities and libraries.” For parents, the nursery class really will be a ‘one-stop shop’ with a vast array of opportunities for the children and superb ‘wrap-around’ care. Daily sessions will run from 8.30am – 16.25pm at a cost of £45 per day which includes lunch, snacks and all activities. Early drop-off and a late pick-up will also be available. Early years entitlement grants and Employer Childcare Vouchers will be accepted. For more information on All Hallows, visit www.allhallowsschool.co.uk For admission enquiries contact Jan Bird on 01749 881600 email admissions@allhallowsschool.co.uk
PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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Amazing end of term at King’s Bruton
EDUCATION
INCREASINGLY successful indoor hockey at King’s scaled new heights at the end of the Christmas Term when the under16 boys and girls won county and regional tournaments. The girls won the regional indoor tournament for their age group after an amazing second half comeback in the final. A few days later, the boys matched this success by winning the indoor county tournament. The girls set the standard at Cheltenham Ladies College by beating the hosts, Sherborne, Clifton College and Millfield to reach the final, and also qualify for the National Indoor Finals. They then beat Exeter School in a pulsating, nerve wracking final decided by that comeback and then a penalty flick scored by Jemima Owen. The boys beat Taunton 5-0, drew with Millfield 1-1, beat King’s Taunton 8-2, and then overcame Millfield 3-1 in the final at Wellington. Back at King’s, follow your nose and you would have found yourself in the school’s main reception area gazing at much of Somerset spread before you in a feast of gingerbread. Last Christmas, the Food Science department had created features of Bruton in gingerbread. This Christmas, they went one stage further, creating Somerset features like Wells Cathedral and Clifton Suspension Bridge.
The next Open Morning is on Saturday February 1st; contact Camilla Oulton, email registrar@kingsbruton.co or telephone 01749 814251.
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 27
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MENDIP TIMES
Hazlegrove pre-prep’s curriculum changes are proving oustandingly successful ONE of the joys of being the head of an Independent school is just that, one’s independence, the opportunity to create a school in which one can truly believe. Two years ago, we stood back at Hazlegrove and totally re-thought our pre-prep education for pupils in Years 1 and 2. Questions abounded: What do we really want for our sevenyear-olds when they move into the Prep School? If I could go to school again, what would I want it to be like? How can we make everyday a good day, not just Thursdays when we have PE and Art? So, we started with a clean sheet of paper and a determination to make the very best use of the outstanding specialist teachers who work in the prep school. We ended up with a teaching week which is very different from the one we had before. Mornings are all about the basics, English and Maths, the building blocks of academic endeavour. Pupils are taught by experienced class teachers whose priority is to ensure that each child learns in a way
PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
which attends to their individual priorities and needs. After lunch all pupils change into their PE kit for the rest of the day (the amount of time we save, simply on changing, is hard to believe). We are then into the afternoon with Science and Art in the Rainbow Room and specialist teaching, using the prep school facilities where appropriate, extending across the carousel of activities which includes PE, games, swimming, tennis, music, dance and drama, French and Forest School. Two years on, we are seeing clear evidence of the success of the programme. Children moving through to the Prep School in Year 3 are more self-assured and confident and their levels of skill and ability are demonstrably more advanced. We have a curriculum which challenges, inspires and stretches, but which also embodies the rigour which can often be found lacking in this modern age when we seem so consumed by political correctness. We aim to give these young people,
Working with clay in forest school
whose parents have entrusted them into our care, the very best start we can. They go home, after nearly eight hours at school, like tired puppies at the end of a busy day, ready for a relaxing evening and a good night’s sleep, but clearly wagging their tails. It’s certainly the school I would want to go to if I was their age again. Richard Fenwick, Hazlegrove Headmaster IAPS
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A new year, a new direction!
WHEN it comes to your future, do you have a clear idea of where you are going? Or does it feel like you are going round in circles? Do you have a path mapped out ahead of you, or do you feel like you are on a dead-end street, or a road to nowhere? If you have not thought about New Year’s resolutions yet, why not make 2014 the year you make a new start? Weston College can help you find a new direction, and can help get you started on a journey towards creating a brighter future. They have a wide range of courses starting from January. Whether you want to take the next step in your career, secure that promotion, earn new qualifications for your CV, gain new skills, or simply take up a new hobby, talk to them and they can help point you in the right direction. They also have a range of programmes designed to help increase your skills, motivation and
employability. They also have apprenticeships available all year round at intermediate, advanced and higher levels; they are the largest provider of apprenticeships in the region. Weston College is building a very strong reputation as one of the topperforming colleges in the country. They’ve invested many millions of pounds in creating modern, state-of-theart, fantastic facilities for their students
EDUCATION
to thrive in. And it’s paying off, because their academic achievements are extremely positive. Their A-Level students achieved a 97% pass rate; 22% of their graduates achieved a First Class Honours Degree, significantly higher than the national average; and 99% of their honours graduates gained employment within six months of graduating, while 90% of their apprentices are offered permanent jobs at the end of their programmes.
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Jump ahead at Sidcot Equestrian Centre SIDCOT School is celebrating a grant awarded by the British Equestrian Federation by offering scholarships to gifted young riders for the first time ever, recognising their talent and helping them to jump ahead of the competition with an education that challenges them to reach their potential in every subject. Thanks to the grant from the BEF which has funded a set of BSJA show jumps and a trailer, Sidcot Equestrian Centre will now become a venue for show jumping four times a year and will be able to share their new equipment with other riding groups – Weston Harriers and Banwell Pony Club are already involved. A second grass arena will enable the centre to double their provision of sessions and to progress riders from novice through to competition level. The equestrian centre will run a range of new activities including the introduction of mini one-day events and small competitions. As a BHS approved livery and riding
centre and a registered Pony Club Centre with over 90 Pony Club members, Sidcot Equestrian Centre stables over 20 horses, including school horses and those on full livery. Riding school horses are carefully chosen to cater for all abilities from absolute beginners to experienced riders
and, as children can begin to ride at Sidcot from four years of age, they have horses of all shapes and sizes. For more information about Sidcot Equestrian Centre, contact Stable Manager, Jane Keep on 01934 844748 / 07540 726205 or email: jane.keep@sidcot.org.uk
For further information about scholarships, contact Valerie Kennedy on 01934 845212 (closing date for scholarship applications is 31 January 2014).
PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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Stepping stone to university
ST. BRENDAN’S Sixth Form College in Brislington has been providing post-16 education for the young people of Bristol, B&NES, North Somerset and the surrounds since the 1970s. It is a state-run Sixth Form College that specialises in Alevels and BTECs as well as GCSEs and the International Baccalaureate. It is one of only two dedicated sixth form colleges in the South West and offers over 70 different courses which because of its size (over 1700 students), can be taken in any combination, which is not always the case in smaller sixth forms. The teaching staff are experts in their fields and all facilities are specific for 16-18 education. St Brendan’s is something of a secret world; it nestles behind a big wall on the A4 between Bristol and Bath and many people do not even realise it is there. Yet once through the gates you see that it is a modern, purpose-built campus sitting on huge grounds with fantastic facilities both inside and out. Its location, right opposite the Brislington Park & Ride, makes it easy to get to from a large geographical area, and the college subsidises public bus passes as well as running its own coaches. In October 2012 it was inspected by Ofsted under the new much tougher inspection framework which focuses more strongly on the quality of teaching and learning provided, and it was rated ‘Good’ in every single inspection band and was praised highly for its teaching and also for its wide range of
EDUCATION
enrichment activities that are on offer to all students. It features in The Good Schools Guide which says: “Welcome to the real student world! More of Bristol’s young adults see this as the right compromise between school and university or work. “Staff strike us as in tune with this age group and whole place buzzes. A great place to make friends and learn independent study skills. University would be less of a cultural shock after two years here.” St Brendan’s is holding an Open Evening on Wednesday February 5th (5-8pm) for those who are interested in studying there in 2014 – all are welcome to attend and to bring along their friends and family for a look at the facilities and to talk to staff and students about courses and college life. More details can be found on the college website: stbrendanssixthform.com
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EDUCATION
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Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New Year
PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
Are you passionate about children’s education . . ? Do you have a desire to help the community and are not afraid to challenge assumptions and express your opinion . . ? Then become a Governor for the Mendip Partnership School! No qualifications required, just an interest in and commitment to, children’s learning and well-being and the desire to make a positive contribution. If you’re a good listener, able to read and absorb information easily, prepared to provide some time and have an interest in children’s education then please contact us for further information.
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INTERNET
The Cloud
HAVING your head in the clouds used to be a bad thing – but times have changed!! Now, you can use “the cloud” to backup and store your photos, files, documents, etc. There are different types, but offer different storage capacity, so this is a brief overview what’s available at the time of writing. Some are designed to be both an online store, accessible anywhere, but also so you can synchronize any compatible device, so all your work is automatically saved on all your synchronized devices as you type. You need the software downloaded to your device in order to save any changes. Some are simply online storage, so you can access them from anything, anywhere and just view or print. Dropbox www.dropbox.com, is available to anyone with any kind of email address. It can be downloaded on to most devices, so they are all sync’d together. You get 2GB of space free, but this can be increased by introducing friends to Dropbox. There are also shared files, where you can choose to sync some folders with other users. SkyDrive www.skydrive.live.com is Microsoft's free online storage. You need to have a Hotmail or Live mail account, but they are free. You get 7GB of virtual storage space, and can be downloaded to most devices. You can add more space, with 100GB costing £32 per year. SkyDrive also has "public" folders and "shared" folders. Google Drive http://drive.google.com If you use Gmail, then you can install and sync Google Drive with your Google account to store and access files wherever you are. You get 15GB free storage space spread over its three services: Google Drive, Gmail and Google+ Photos. You'll get 5GB for each service. It can be installed on PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Google Drive is compatible with Google Docs (online documents and spreadsheets), so if you can sync with other users. Or you can simply share your documents online with other users without saving them to your computer at all. You can buy more space – 100GB is roughly £39 per year Apple iCloud www.apple.com/uk/icloud offers 5GB of virtual storage space, and is available on most device, except smartphones. You can buy 15GB for £14 per year, 25GB for £28 a year and 55GB for £70 a year. Amazon Cloud Drive www.amazon.com offers 5GB of free online storage space. Prices start from £6 for 20GB per year, up to £320 for 1000GB a year. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL. Submitted by IT for the Terrified : The Old Cowshed, Station Road, Cheddar BS27 3AG 01934 741751 www.itfortheterrified.co.uk We reopen from our Christmas break on 6th January. Open House sessions on 15th January 1.30 or 17th January 10am. Courses start 22nd Jan with eBay, 23rd for Genealogy and 24th for Photo management. Plus workshop on Intro to Tablet computer on 22nd January. See our web site or contact us for further details. This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. For more in depth information, please contact us. We offer individual training, at a pace to suit you; a session lasts 2 hours and costs £10. We can cover a range of subjects – including absolute basics; photo management; shopping online; emailing; Word processing, spreadsheets; basic web design; etc. on a range of devices, including Windows XP/Vista/W7/W8: Macs: Tablets: iPads: smartphones
CROSSWORD
The Mendip Mindbender
ACROSS 1/3 Old elegy came to refer to a place of hospitality (7,5) 5 Find monk’s garb at its natural location – chain store perhaps? (7) 9 Wide range of instruments makes for fast communication (9) 10 A constabulary photographer? (5) 11 Really thrilled . . . having joined the motorway? (6,2) 12 Don’t crow at a family needing a double garage (3,3) 14 Horsey-type’s twill is 16 (7) 16 Tailors got the better of the opposition using traditional material (7) 18 Something fishy in a Harp, unlike other lagers (7) 19 Do what has to be done without leaving the premises (2-5) 20 Tipple before bed in those long, Arctic nights? (3,3) 22 In this far, because . . . (2,4,2) 26 Let Merlin go to find means of toolmaking (5) 27 Searching for the sincerest form of flattery? I am into it! (9) 28 Enlarge your overall position this way (7) 29 Maintain the stock by preventing the opposition scoring (7) DOWN 1 In America both father and son are remembered (5)
2 Satellite watercourse owed its popularity to Audrey Hepburn (4,5) 3 See 1 Across 4 Period of time for significant figures (4-2-4) 5 Join skin and seek to disappear for a bit of fun (4) 6 Insignia has value but lacks energy for an equestrian centre (9) 7 Twitching around bull can prove deadly (5) 8/25 Only me drilling but there’s water to be found in Chew Magna (9,4) 13 Boyfriend’s vulnerable source of light near Bath (10) 14 Small firm very quiet at freezing process of cutting trees down (9) 15 Ancestral high-flier (9) 17 Get your hands on a product range that’s on the edge (9) 21 Is laid at the time of using persuasion (3,2) 23 Gives us a genuine description of custom (5) 24 Returning artist leaves wraparounds as items more suited to choristers (5) 25 See 8
Answers on Page 89 MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 33
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Natasha Dando and her daughter are helped aboard the Dial a Ride bus, after a shopping trip to Midsomer Norton
Dear Sirs, The Midsomer Norton & Radstock Dial a Ride, through your columns, would like to wish all our clients, sponsors, friends and readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Our charity, which is non-profit making, has survived throughout this last year of financial hardships and is looking forward to addressing new challenges during 2014. Early in the New Year we will be purchasing a new and updated bus to replace an existing tired and well worn vehicle. This has been achieved at some considerable cost, so we are always looking for new clients and sponsors to join our organisation. We are not sure if the people of Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Chew Valley and surrounding rural areas are aware that Dial a Ride is available to take clients to many destinations, including shopping, social visits to friends as well as attending medical appointments at doctors dentists and hospitals. The service we provide is open to all sections of the community, not just the elderly, disabled and infirm. We can help anyone who has no access to regular public transport: mums, dads, students, children and buggies. The buses we use are specially adapted to help with easy access for people with mobility issues. Becoming a registered member is easy. A simple form giving details of name and address, any mobility issues together with a diamond card number if applicable is completed and returned to the Dial a Ride office along with the annual membership fee (currently £5). An unlimited number of trips can then be booked and undertaken. Make a tricky problem an easy one by joining Dial a Ride. For further details regards membership and arranging journeys, please telephone 01761 417504. Our office is open 8.30am to 3.30pm Mondays to Fridays. Messages can be left on the answer machine outside these times. Yours faithfully The Trustees of Dial a Ride PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
LETTERS
Dear Mendip Times, The Bath Half Marathon – or the 'Bath Half' as it is affectionately known – is one of the longest established and most popular city centre road events in the UK. It is also the largest charity fundraising event in the South West region. Thankfully few of us will ever have to cope with the loss of a child, but sadly there are many who will. Join our team in the Bath Half Marathon on Sunday, March 2nd and help us provide a lifeline for families who need it most. Family life changes forever when a child is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Children’s Hospice South West provides respite care and support to those children and their families who have to cope with the most difficult of situations. They describe our hospices as a “door that has opened in their lives” and “a lifeboat that saved them from drowning”. We provide a loving and caring place for every member of the family. A place where everyone can begin to forget their worries for a while, be a family again and find expert help and support in facing an uncertain future. Run for CHSW and you’ll get lots in return! We will support you every step of the way: you will receive a professional running vest and fundraising pack, training tips and advice, regular updates through our e-newsletter, media support, and cheers to keep you going on the day! Please sign up for the Bath Half Marathon 2014 to support Children’s Hospice South West. You will be making a huge difference to children and their families near you. Register for a Silver Bond Place at: www.chsw.org.uk/run or e-mail: events@chsw.org.uk Yours sincerely, Julie Patterson Community Fundraiser Children’s Hospice South West
Dear Mendip Times, Give a Little Love’s Flashmob in the Market Square on December 1st drew people intrigued by the spontaneous chorus that filled the streets of Frome, raising awareness of the issues of food poverty and starting the debate in the town about how the community can best support those in need of practical help in the form of food boxes. Fair Frome, a new initiative in the town, is working alongside Give A Little Love and the Warminster and District Food Bank to increase the number of people that can benefit from food bank boxes across the town. Fair Frome has some start-up funding from a private donor and Frome Town Council, but will be looking for match funding to deliver its core aims and objectives. Fair Frome intends to pilot a Frome Community Food Bank and is looking to find suitable premises for storage of food and office space within the town. It will also be looking to locate suitable drop-off locations for food across the town to support those venues that are already established. Fair Frome is looking for trustees to support and guide the organisation, especially people who have experience or knowledge around poverty. If you have ideas on space, would like to get involved or for more information on the project please contact Nikki Cox: Nikki.frome@gmail.com/ or on 07714 587129. The project will have an official launch in the New Year. Yours, Nikki Cox (See Food & Drink section, page 22)
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New college appoints principal
CAMELEY LODGE LAUNDRY
Duvets & Bedspreads washed & dried Sheets and Duvet covers washed and pressed Professional efficient service Collection & delivery service in the Chew Valley
Tel 01761 451787
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BUILDING DESIGN & DRAWINGS • PLANNING APPLICATIONS • BUILDING REGULATIONS • STRUCTURAL CALCULATIONS Contact: Neil or Stuart Email: Email: neil.dando@purpleplan-it.co.uk stuart.cload@purpleplan-it.co.uk Mobile: 07966 398076 M: 07792 632492
SALE NOW ON at PEGGY LIPPIATT SHOES SHOES AND BOOTS Also big reductions on special occasion shoes and matching bags
3, The Borough Mall, Wedmore BS28 4EB. Tel 01934 713382
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ECATCHER MOL
NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01275 332966 www.mendipmolecatcher.co.uk
New principal Tony Wilson
THE new North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College (NSETC) to be based in Weston-super-Mare has taken a step closer to reality with the appointment of its first principal. Tony Wilson, who currently works for the Economic Development Board of the Kingdom of Bahrain, will be returning to the UK in January to take up his post ahead of NSETC’s opening in September 2014. Mr Wilson was born in Bristol and his family live in Axbridge. Previous experience includes being assistant headteacher at Kings of Wessex Academy in Cheddar, headteacher at Whitstone School in Shepton Mallet and head of year at Brislington Enterprise College. The 44-year-old says his aim for NSETC is to raise aspirations and to encourage students to think big: “I want every one of the students to grasp opportunities and to think globally. This will be a college where innovation, enterprise and out-of-the-box thinking will be cultivated and encouraged.” NSETC will initially open at Weston College’s South West Skills Campus with an intake of 200 year 12 students in September 2014 and transfer to its own campus near Junction 21 of the M5 the following year. G The proposed site for the new college has been approved by the government, subject to contract. It will open in September 2015 on land at the new Weston Business Quarter, close to the Helicopter Museum, Weston-super-Mare.
Youth business awards
THE Rotary Club of Wrington Vale is promoting a prestigious Business and Youth Showcase at Thatchers Cider’s new Jubilee Building at Sandford on Saturday, January 18th to highlight local businesses and youth groups. Alongside the business and youth stands, there will be children’s entertainment, music and demonstrations – all under cover – and entry is free. All of which promises to make this a great day out for all the family whatever the weather. The showcase will be opened at 11am by local MP, John Penrose. Clubs can also bid for funding awards for community youth projects. Details: merlyn.saunders@hotmail.co.uk
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Great start for new venture
APRIL 2013 saw the exciting completion of a fantastic new venue at Aldwick Court Farm and Vineyard, situated near the picturesque Blagdon Lake. The project to extend the existing conference and function facilities was part funded by the Rural Development Agency. Family run for four generations, Aldwick Court Farm and Vineyard centres on a 17th century farmhouse complex surrounded by over 300 acres of cultivated fields. The late Chris Watts decided on diversification in 2008 seeing the planting of 3,000 vines on the Homefield site, and in 2010 he decided to plant an additional 9,000 vines. This was inspired by his love of the Stellenbosch reqion of South Africa. Driven by a passion to continue the family tradition, Sandy Luck, the youngest daughter of the Watts family, now lives at Aldwick with her three children and oversees the running of the farm and venue. She said: ‘‘I am very excited by the new challenges ahead and with the growing interest in English wine we plan to offer wine tours and tastings from next April. Having made a Sparkling Blush in 2011, and a Still White in 2012, we are adding a Rose from early next year. “This year’s harvest was a real learning curve and we’ve produced in the region of 9,000 bottles. This wine can be bought direct from the cellar door or online through our website. The venue offers high quality events with the team ensuring a personal and professional service. With the wonderful feedback we have received this year I know we are certainly off to a great start.”
BUSINESS
Photo by Ignyte Limited, Radstock.
Business section:Layout 1
Aldwick Court Farm & Vineyard are proud to offer two beautiful adjoining barns for Conferences, Weddings, Funerals and Private Functions.
Catering for up to 220 guests Follow us on Twitter & Facebook
Now producing still and sparkling wine for sale online or from the cellar door Cellar Door sales Mon, Tues, Thurs 10.00am – 2.00pm or call 01934 864404 Vineyard Tours Offered from May – September for groups of 10 or more
Call now for more information on 01934 864404 Email info@aldwickcourtfarm.co.uk www.aldwickcourtfarm.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 37
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The ultimate pet experience
WHEN Mary Macdonald and Penny Fortais moved to the glorious Somerset countryside, they were intent on setting up a business of some sort. Being avid animal lovers they naturally thought the idea of mixing business with pleasure was the right path to take, so they opened a grooming salon and pet boutique in the delightful village of Combe Down. Qualified to City & Guilds Level 3 in cat and dog grooming, Penny provides your beloved pet with the highest quality grooming and pampering treatment. There is plenty to see in their pet boutique, so why not have a browse and enjoy choosing from the comprehensive range of wellpriced toys, gifts, treats and pet food carefully chosen to provide the best of nutrition and benefit for your beloved friend. Bath and Biscuits offers the complete treat for your feline or canine friend. Appointments can be booked online via www.bathandbiscuits.co.uk or you can call 01225 835143.
BUSINESS
A marketing professional on your doorstep
MARKETING Planner Pro, based in Winscombe, has launched its unique marketing, PR and events concierge service to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses in and around the West Country. “Entrepreneurs and small businesses often do not have the luxury of hiring a PA or in-house marketing support,” said Louise Wayham, who is local to Winscombe and set up the service after noting the number of exciting new businesses opening up in the region and seeing that there was a distinct gap in the local business community for quality, affordable PR, events and marketing support. She said: “I created Marketing Planner Pro to be able to offer flexible solutions for business owners to easily and reliably outsource their marketing, design, CRM, social media and travel tasks in order to free up precious time. “Too often, owners of start-ups and small businesses try to do it all alone and it can be overwhelming, having to worry about the day-to-day of running your business whilst also trying to navigate the complexities of social media or having to spend valuable time tracking down and briefing designers, getting quotes for printing, or wading through proposals from venues or suppliers for events, conferences or corporate gifts, to give you just a few examples.” Louise has over 14 years of brand management, marketing communications, PR and event management experience with established global B2B and B2C brands including The Sydney Morning Herald, Dubai Media City, the Dubai International Film Festival, BMW, Forbes, the UNHCR, the San Angelo Symphony, Bristol Groundschool, SmartSurvey, Connect Consult and Igniva Technologies, among others. Marketing Planner Pro offers a very competitive hourly rate for a-la-carte business development, administration and marketing tasks, or an affordable monthly retainer scheme that will guarantee you priority service and a dedicated marketing assistant to efficiently and effectively service your business needs. www.marketingplanner.pro
PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
LOGS FOR SALE
Mendip Times reduces travel costs
Telephone: 07749 757 687
100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business
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Licensed to thrill
FORMULA 1 star Jenson Button turned the centre of Frome into a race track when he got the town’s Christmas celebrations off to a flying start.
Jenson tore through the town in a McLaren F1, performing spectacular “doughnuts” in front of huge crowds in the Market Yard car park and in the Market Place.
He later tweeted: “Difficult to explain how special it was tonight driving my McLaren F1 car through Frome town. Great turnout, I hope you guys enjoyed it!”
Jenson Button in a happy mood as he prepared to take to the streets of his home town
Sharing the limelight: the winners of the Mayor of Frome’s Christmas card competition: Oliver Morten, Archie Coleman and Mackenzie Pearce
Pc Sara Stephenson samples life in the fast lane
Spectacular: Jenson Button attracted a massive crowd
PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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Coleford’s Christmas Celebration
CHRISTMAS EVENTS 2013
Cheddar Tree of Light
THE recently-formed Coleford Revival Group staged its first Christmas celebration as part of its plans to put the village back on the map for its community spirit. The group hopes to stage a fun day next summer and held the event to boost its coffers.
Cheddar Valley Music Club members are pictured with, Lion President Janet Clark, Lion Glyn John, organiser of Tree of Light, and the Rev Sue Rose.
CHEDDAR Vale Lions Club lit their Tree of Light at Cheddar Garden Centre, raising funds for community groups and projects in the Cheddar Valley. Any group wanting a donation for a specific purpose should contact Lion Glyn John via the website www.cheddarvalelions.org.uk or phone 01278 785885.
Carols and support
Father Christmas in Coleford
Pupils from the village’s Bishop Henderson’s primary school entertained the crowd with some Christmas carols – with some support from Santa!
HORSEWORLD, at Whitchurch, hosted their 61st carol service, with a record 2,600 visitors, raising £5,500. Hundreds of people also queued to sign an on-going petition supporting the charity’s plans to develop the site, securing its long-term future. MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 41
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MENDIP TIMES
Consult the experts
IT is unlikely that you will have much experience in buying and wearing a Mother of the Bride outfit and hat. Try not to be apprehensive, Compton House of Fashion will put you at your ease and help you through it all. Have a peep at their testimonials. Look at their website to see something you like and discuss it with your daughter, your family and the mother of the groom before you go to see them. Visit with an open mind and take your daughter with you to help. Try on lots and lots and trust their staff to do what is best for you. They want you to look fantastic at the wedding. Allow several hours to decide what you want; take a break for coffee or lunch in the restaurant
before deciding. Finally, enjoy the whole occasion as a prelude to a wonderful day. Polly Blakeney-Edwards
Luxury loos for hire
CHEW Valley Hire manufacture and supply super luxury mobile toilet units for small and major events throughout Southern England. They have been the biggest VIP toilet contractors at the Glastonbury Festival for the last 12 years. All the toilet units are re-circulating which means no connection to the water main is necessary and they can be situated anywhere, electrically powered by generator or mains connection. The company will transport them all over mainland UK and they’re ready for use moments after arrival on-site. You can hire toilet units for a one-off event or on a longer term basis.
Flowers for all occasions
NO matter what the occasion, flowers always seem to make it brighter. The Florist Shop in Winscombe boasts a very diverse assortment of floral designs and gift items. Choose from their most popular items or describe your ideas to their floral designers and they’ll create a unique bouquet or arrangement just for you at no extra charge. Debbie and Amanda are their friendly team of qualified, experienced and talented florists who are able to create flowers designed to meet your needs. Their company is based on the belief that their customers’ needs are of the utmost importance and the entire team is committed to meeting those needs. As a result, a high percentage of their business is from repeat customers and referrals. They value their existing loyal customers and welcome new ones too! Whatever your occasion – give them a call.
Tel: 01934 842004
PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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Toasting the bride and groom
FOCUS ON WEDDINGS
ALTHOUGH a national organisation, The Toastmaster Partnership is centred here in the South West, and prides itself on offering the best value in the country. Each toastmaster is fully qualified and membership determines his appearance and working practice. The fees are also as competitive as any in the UK. When you have made all the decisions about how you want your wedding to run, the receiving line, speeches etc., the toastmaster will ensure your wishes are carried out, while offering advice to those who will speak, about the giving of gifts and the proposal of toasts.
You’re in safe hands
GET in touch with Topline Catering to avoid the stress and pressure of planning your perfect event. Whether it’s a low-key family party or a full-on upmarket wedding, Topline provide imaginative catering solutions for all sorts of occasions. With over 25 years’ experience they offer friendly and expert guidance and advice to help make your event a special and memorable occasion. Locally sourced ingredients are freshly prepared and any dietary requirements or food allergies can be catered for. Menus are flexible and can be tailor-made to suit your budget and taste and their approachable and professional staff ensure that everything runs smoothly from start to finish. Call 01275 333308 for an informal chat about your ideas and plans, then sit back, relax and enjoy the party!
Sit back, relax and enjoy your event . . .
• Peace of Mind • Flexibility • Fabulous food • High levels of service • Years of experience Call us all now on 01275 333308 or visit our website @ www.toplinecatering.co.uk
Toastmaster
Wedding Open Day Sunday 5th January 2014 11am–3pm Meet the team and our preferred suppliers in beautiful surroundings
• Arranging to meet both Bride and Groom prior to the wedding day to discuss their wishes regarding the receiving line, speeches etc. • To ensure that both Bride and Groom, together with the host and hostess fully enjoy the special day with the relaxed assurance that someone is present who will organise the occasion in a friendly and informal manner and advise them during the period of the civil ceremony and reception. THIS IS WHERE THE TOASTMASTER PROVES INVALUABLE
John Lambert LRAM ARCM FTCL LGSM
– 01934 713761 –
www.johnplambert.co.uk • e-mail: john@johnplambert.co.uk The Toastmaster Partnership
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 43
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Mells Winter Fair
Crafts, food and more filled Mells Tithe Barn
THE historic Tithe Barn in Mells was the setting for an artisan Winter Fair, raising money for the village’s Owl Babies pre-school group.
Tanya James, Annette Taylor and Jess Rewse-Davies enjoy mulled cider served by Helen Worley PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
CHRISTMAS EVENTS 2013
Christmas in Radstock
Keisha Barnes, aged 11, and Bridy Nicholls, ten, were on hand to help Radstock Town Council leader Lesley Mansell switch on the town’s Christmas lights. Lesley chose the girls, both pupils at St Mary’s school in Writhlington, because they were “achievers”
Christmas classics: the score for the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band
Members of the Somer Valley Singers added to the festive mood
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IN many ways January is a nonentity of a month; Christmas is over, the bills are mounting up and outside the days are cold and short. For me, this is the perfect time to wrap up and get out for some fresh air, exercise and wildlife watching. There’s no better By CHRIS way to beat those January Blues! SPERRING We’re halfway through the winter and MBE wild animals are running out of supplies from the autumn harvest. This, combined with cold temperatures and short daylight hours, can bring them increasingly close to humans looking for food. This is the most important time to keep those bird tables brimming with food. Familiar favourites like blackbirds now seem to be everywhere, unlike in the summer when you will see just one or two, now there are more likely to be 10-15. During heavy snow they may well be accompanied by the closely-related redwings and fieldfares, which will remove any remaining garden berries and enjoy any apple cores you scatter on the lawn. Great tits and blue tits will, of course, enjoy peanuts and will often be joined by feeding parties of the delightful long-tailed tits, who also really enjoy suet balls and other fatty treats which give them the energy boost they need to survive the cold Mendip nights and up to 14 hours without feeding. A day trip to the Somerset Levels or out to the Severn Estuary will be rewarded with an impressive variety of wintering wildfowl and waders, whose numbers are reaching their peak now. This is also the best time of year to visit Wildfowl and Wetland Trust reserves like Slimbridge and to experience the magnificent starling roost on the Somerset Levels (usually near Shapwick Heath). Small mammals will also have used up much of their food stores by now and this is the time we are most likely to see them foraging around our bird tables. The most common mammal to see would be wood mouse, especially if your bird table is near a hedge or wood pile, but you could also see brown rat and even bank vole if you are in more rural areas. Dunlin
Photography by Chris Sperring
What to look for in January
Blackbird
One of our larger mammals is also very active this month and that is the red fox. For them, January is the mating season and their calls can be heard throughout the night. The most recognisable and eerie of these calls is the vixen’s bloodcurdling scream, but they can also make a territorial bark, which often sets off the neighbourhood dogs. Tawny owls that have been very vocal during the autumn are generally quieter now, as they prepare to begin nesting. Pairs are bonding and may even start searching out potential nest sites later this month. On milder late-January days we may even see some insects emerging. Butterflies and bumble bees can become active and the main problem they face is lack of food. Usually the only plant likely to be in flower now is the snowdrop, so not only does this little flower brighten up an otherwise colourless landscape, but it also offers a lifeline for any nectar-feeding animals that wake early from hibernation. January may seem like a dreary month, but there’s always plenty to see and, in fact, the short, cold days can make wildlife easier to watch as it is living at a faster pace to make the most of the daylight. Wood mouse store
Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust Contact him on 01275 849287 or via chris.sperring@btinternet.com MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 45
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Failand circle is a fitting start to the New Year WHY not make a New Year’s Resolution to get out on a regular country walk? Not only does rambling keep you fit but makes you appreciate the beauty and range of the landscape we have right here on our doorstep. Walking is free and doesn’t need much equipment and can be enjoyed in more or less all weathers, so what’s keeping you! This interesting circle from Failand, between Bristol and Portishead and going through Tyntesfield Estate, is ideal. It drops down through woodland on Ashton Hill and then cuts through a pretty green valley, before joining the Nailsea to Bristol cycle path by the old Isolation Hospital. Then a farm drive and tracks lead up through the National Trust’s Tyntesfield Estate. Call in for refreshment in the Stables restaurant or browse in the shop before continuing up through the estate and returning to Failand. Walking is virtually all on good dry tracks. At the end is the welcoming Failand Inn. There are very few stiles, no major hills, and it is a good walk for dogs. PARK: Failand Village Hall car park. Thanks to the hall for allowing walkers to park here. Please turn immediately right after turning in and park as soon as you can. The hall is just off the B3128 road from Bristol to Portishead. Opposite Failand Post Office and car showroom, go up Oxhouse Lane and the entrance is a few yards up on the right. START: Turn left out of the car park and cross the main road to go down Flax Bourton Road on the pavement for about 10 minutes. Over right is the woodland of Tyntesfield Estate.
With Sue Gearing PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
1. WOODS At the junction, cross into a parking area for Ashton Hill Woodland where there is an information board. This is owned by the Forestry Commission – a 148-acre mixed woodland with conifers, broadleaves and areas of ancient woodland, as well as a magnificent stand of Californian Redwoods. It used to be a part of nearby Tyntesfield Estate so that many of the larger trees were planted in the 19th century. Take the right track past a barrier and follow this beautiful dry wide track through the woodland, dropping downhill. Ignore side paths. Walk with a field on your right on the other side of a wall, and the woodland still on your left.
2. REDWOODS The track bends round and reaches a bench under redwoods at Big Tree Grove. Go down right. Before the track rises, turn right through a barrier, following the public footpath and then turn left down a track/drive.
3. KINGCOTT FARM This gently drops down to Kingcott Farm with a good view across the valley towards Flax Bourton. Bend left on the small lane and continue to descend. As the lane bends left on the level, go right on the drive to Gatcombe Mill House.
4. MILL HOUSE At the house entrance, go straight ahead on the marked footpath. Carry on and stay close to another house on the left. Cross a stile ahead and then bend left round the back of the house and turn away down the full length of a field. At the end, bear right and then left in the same direction as before. Pass a footpath marker and go on into woodland behind it. Reach a stream ahead. Cross left over the stone footbridge.
Ahead is a rocky low cliff. At the right end of this is a stony path which leads up. Follow it all the way to a T-junction with a track/drive. Turn right and this takes you up and out to the main road by a roundabout. 5. ROUNDABOUT Cross on the island, with care, and go down Weston Road opposite, passing the Magistrates Court and then an impressive old building dating back to 1837. This was once the Bedminster Union Workhouse built at a cost of £6,600 to accommodate 300 inmates. The architects were George Gilbert Scott and William Bonython Moffatt who designed many workhouses in the south-west. It has now been converted into offices. At the side, pass a large chapel, dating from 1860, which was designed by John Norton, dedicated to St George and built at the expense of William Gibbs of Tyntesfield (it was for sale when I came). Reach Flax Bourton village hall and recreation field. Bear diagonally right across this, passing just to the left of the children’s play area. Join the residential road and go left. Wind through the residential area following the cycle route signs. This is known as the Festival Way and is part of the Sustrans cycle route. 6. FESTIVAL WAY Once through the development it heads west between fields. Remember this is a cycle track so keep your eyes and ears alert for cyclists! Up right are the woods of Tyntesfield Estate. Pass a picnic bench and table on the way. Come alongside the main Bristol-Exeter railway line and then up to the road by the rail bridge just on the edge of Flax Bourton. 7. RAIL BRIDGE Cross the road (not the bridge) and continue on the cycle path ahead. Soon
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WALKING
reach an interesting information board. Continue on and see over right on the other side of the railway an area of grassy bunkers – Tyntesfield Sidings – an underground fuel storage depot built in the mid 1950s. Over right is Tyntesfield House up on the hill, as well as Wraxall Church and village and soon start to see the edge of Nailsea. Ignore the first bridge over the railway. Continue on and follow the Festival Way over the second bridge across the railway and immediately leave the cycle track and go ahead on a grassy path between hedges. As it bends right, go ahead through a gate into a field. 8. FIELD Go across the field to the far right corner. Here cross right over a wooden barrier (not the stile ahead) and turn left on a track. At a marker post go left alongside a stream, pass a bench seat and bend left between fences. At the end, go through a kissing gate and then right over a stile following the Loop Walk and crossing a stream.
9. WATERCRESS FARM Go ahead to Watercress Farm through a large wooden gate and then follow the low stone wall on your right and go through a wall opening ahead. Keep straight on, join the drive and follow it away from the farm. As the track bends right go ahead through a gate into a field (there was no bull when I came!). Reach the main road and cross over onto the drive which leads into Tyntesfield Estate. You don’t need to be a member to enter Tyntesfield and enjoy the facilities of the former Home Farm, as long as you don’t go into the garden or house. 10. TYNTESFIELD Climb gently up the grassy track getting views before long across to the orangery
OS Explorer map 154, Bristol West & Portishead, grid ref: 516 719
and main house and the wonderful trees on the estate. Ignore side paths and just continue on. 11. HOME FARM Go through a barrier and reach the buildings of what used to be Home Farm, now housing the entrance to the estate, toilets, shop and cafe in the old stables. Just turn to the right for any of this. To continue the walk, go straight on up, past another barrier keeping buildings on your right and into the main yard behind. Carry on through, passing the fascinating woodworkers, the Somerset Bodgers, working in the old farm buildings on the
left. At the junction, with a barn ahead, turn right up the No Through drive and then go up left on the grass at the side of the drive, very gently climbing.
12. FOOTPATH Take the marked footpath track on the right, just before the junction of the exit and entrance drives to Tyntesfield. Follow this along, through a gate and on to Summerhouse Cottage on the left which looks down over the octagonal summerhouse, and is available for holiday lets. Continue on along the main track.
13. GATE Soon reach a large gate on the left with a bridleway sign. Go up across the field, bearing slightly right, going to the right of woodland. Maintain direction across to the main road and through two gates.
14. MAIN ROAD Turn right along the verge. This is the Clevedon Road which can be very busy, so go with care. After about four minutes reach the Failand Inn, open all day, so a great way to finish the circle. Then all that is left is to carry on along the pavement for a little longer. At the junction, cross to Oxhouse Lane and the hall. Failand Inn, tel: 01275 392220
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 47
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OUTDOORS
West Countryman’s Diary
FIRSTLY, I must apologise for not letting you have the answer to the November issue’s photograph. The circular stone trough was missing a vital component – that being a large circular stone that was rolled around the trough from a central pivot. This is a stone apple mill, and very few of them were With LES used in Somerset, though these mills were DAVIES MBE the tradition in Hereford and Worcestershire. The operation is simple; the apples are crushed as the round stone wheel is trundled around the trough by horse power. From there it’s into the press as normal. I believe that some of these stone mills that were used in this part of the world were ‘dressed’ in Nailsea. One of these stands as a ‘gate keeper’ at the entrance to what was Long Ashton Research Station, but is now a residential housing estate. Wassails will be the main calendar event for the New Year, when the sleeping apple trees will be woken from their winter’s rest and encouraged to think about giving a good crop for the coming year. Traditionally carried out around old twelfth night (January 17th) this was a pagan insurance policy that left nothing to chance in an uncertain world of temperamental earth gods. We live in more enlightened times now, but let’s not leave anything to chance – just in case! I will be hosting the wassail at the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury on Saturday January 18th (sorry, I think I said the 17th in my last article). I will also be doing the same at the Chew Valley Community Farm on the afternoon of January 25th, so make contact with either organisation if you are interested. I have been told that the weather patterns we are experiencing at the moment are very close to those for the same period in 1962. For those of us who are of a certain age that will bring back memories of the winter of 1962/63, when it started snowing on Boxing day and the snow did not leave us until Easter. The leaves are staying on the trees much longer than I have ever known before, which means to me that the trees are not yet fully dormant and are grabbing as much food as they can before dropping the leaf. I am not so bold, or knowledgeable, to predict another 62/63 winter, but I’m sure that a cold spell will be on the cards. As to the duration and severity of it, well, we will have to wait and see. New Year 1963 was an exciting time for me as a 10-year-old boy living at Hales Farm in North Somerset. The snow was frozen on the top by sub-zero conditions night after night. It meant non-stop winter sports for me and my friends, Elizabeth, Elaine and Robert McEwen-Smith whose grandfather, W.G. McEwen-Smith, owned the farm at the time. Living on the edge of a shallow valley meant slopes, and slopes of varying severity. Whilst those people who could get out were ‘invading’ us on the more sporty slopes, we, the indigenous population, stuck to a short but moderately interesting slope. I found the toboggan that my uncle Dennis had made several years earlier. I still remember it had low runners and would plough through the soft snow covering me with a fine shower of the stuff that would then melt with the consequential dampening of clothing. It was painted blue and had a broad white arrow that ran on its deck from back to front, and there at the front was painted, in bold letters, the name “The Tickenham Torpedo”.
It was great fun and I think it ended its days propped up outside the back door, desperately waiting for more snow that never came back in quite the same way again. As with all things, research and development now began to play a role in improving the performance of adrenaline seeking youngsters. We found some sheets of thin galvanised metal. These were not the corrugated (wriggly) tin sheets more commonly known, but instead they were about two-foot by sixfoot (in old money) flexible and flat. They could be turned up at the front and held in a bow, and were incredibly fast over frozen snow, especially if left out overnight to get a layer of ice on the bottom. Steering had to be mastered by experience and was achieved by a combination of body lean and the twisting of the front upright section being held onto. Stopping was another thing and was normally abandoned in favour of leaving the projectile by rolling off the side and letting it stop itself in a hedgerow. Getting wet was the order of the day, but it didn’t seem to matter much back then. Feet became cold in thin Wellington boots that only had one pair of socks inside, whilst faces and hands glowed red. Even better news was to follow – the village school was closed after the Christmas holiday because of the snow conditions. Yes! This utopian life did not however last for long. I was due to sit that most awful of examinations, the 11 plus. So the school was opened specially for those of us who would have to go through this ritual that would split friends and hang labels of ‘bright’ and ‘not so bright’ on everyone. The school milk on very cold winter’s days was used to make cocoa and this day was no exception. The smell still stays with me today and I am taken back by the smell of mud on the Land Rover exhaust to that cocoa made on the old stove in the classroom. Work on the farm was not easy, animals had to be fed and the daily routine of thawing field water troughs and hauling feed about had to go on. It was the first time I got blisters on my hands that became calloused through chipping a path through the snow and ice to the feed house so that others could safely carry sacks of feed about. Then came the day that the digger arrived to pile all the snow from the yard up in one heap, where it stayed until the warm spring sunshine gradually reduced it to a blackened, crystallised lump, and by Easter it had gone. I hope it doesn’t snow like 62/63 again, I have to get about and earn a living these days and I am far too old to go capering about like I did then... but it was great fun! Happy New Year everyone and I hope that this coming year will bring you happiness, contentment and health. My kindest regards to each and every one of you.
You can always contact me through my web site: Westcountryman.co.uk
PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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YEO VALLEY ‘Over the next few months Yeo Valley will be bringing you a wide selection of guest writers from different areas of the family farm. Ranging from news from the garden, the farm team, the Mead family plus many more, we’ll be sharing a little about what’s going on behind the scenes here in the valley. Happy reading!’
THE TEAM AT YEO VALLEY HQ BRINGING YOU A TASTE OF WHAT’S NEW FOR 2014
GREAT START SMOOTHIE Serves 2. Prep time 35 mins.
WE’D like to wish you all a very Happy New Year from everyone here at Yeo Valley! We hope you’ve had a wonderful festive season with lots of delicious food, frosty winter walks and plenty of time to relax and catch up with family and friends. Here at Yeo Valley we’ve been refuelling over the Christmas break after a jam-packed 2013 which brought us lots of delicious new yogurts, a fantastic cookbook, some great events at our HQ, Farm and Organic Garden and lots of hot summer sun to boot! We might not be able to promise another hot summer but we can certainly guarantee to keep your taste buds entertained and your diaries full for the year ahead! For those looking for a wholesome start to 2014 we have two new yogurts launching this month which are perfect for the January health kick. For the first time ever we will be launching a big pot which features fruit AND veg, our yummy 0% Fat Orange, Carrot and Mango yogurt – perfect for eating on its own or using in healthy recipes like our Great Start Smoothie or Fruity Porridge. Or if this flavour is a little too unusual for you we’re also launching a delicious thick and creamy 0% Fat Greek Style Natural yogurt which is ideal for a healthy breakfast with fruit or granola, or a guilt-free snack. There are also lots of other exciting yogurts and on pack competitions hitting the shelves later in the year so watch this space for more news. We also have a series of interesting and inspiring events each month in and around the valley. There’s something to suit everyone from art classes in the garden and a garden talk by the infamous Sir Roy Strong to Farm & Food the Yeo Way, Supper at the Tea Room and a Mother’s Day afternoon tea. Plus lots more events still to be confirmed. Here’s to a great 2014!
Ingredients: 2 carrots (or 200ml of carrot juice) 4 apples (or 400ml of apple juice) 1 cm piece of fresh ginger 150ml of Limited Edition 0% Fat Orange, Carrot & Mango Yogurt 1. Juice the carrots, apples and ginger. You should get approximately 600ml of juice. If you can’t press your own juice, then use cartons of juice. 2. Blend in the yogurt and chill for 30 mins. Stir well before serving. Top Tip: add more ginger if you like a smoothie with lots of zing! For more information on our events, recipes (like our fruity porridge above) and new products go to www.yeovalley.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 49
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“Scentsational” winter bloomers
A HAPPY New Year to you all. Winter may not be the season to associate with perfume in the garden, but there are a surprising number of fragrant plants that bloom during the winter months. It is surely worth planting one or more of these in your garden, if only to entice you outside during With MARY milder spells. PAYNE MBE Apart from giving us pleasure, the fragrance is a way of attracting what few pollinating insects are out and about at this season. The plant relies on its perfume because the flowers are rarely large or colourful enough to attract insects. Perhaps the most often encountered winter flowering plant is Viburnum tinus, valued for its evergreen foliage and pink tinted buds, that open to heads of white flowers. Sadly, this is not really scented, but its cousin, Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ loses its leaves in winter to reveal clusters of small pink flowers that open during any mild spells throughout winter. This is a very upright growing shrub, reaching about three metres high and two metres wide. The scent reminds me of Johnson’s Baby Lotion. I have been enjoying the bright yellow upright flower spikes of Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ that leave a carpet of petals as they fall, ever since it started blooming in November, but this variety is only slightly scented. For a strong lily-of-the-valley fragrance we need to turn to Mahonia japonica, much less often planted due to its rather lax growth habit. The softer yellow spikes of flowers are more relaxed and spread out at the tips of the shoots, and open later in the winter. Clusters of, apparently edible, blue berries may follow, if the flowers were successfully pollinated. One of the most powerful of winter scents comes from a small evergreen shrub, looking not unlike a box bush. This is known as Christmas Box, or Sarcococca, a most useful relative of common box. This unassuming plant thrives in shaded positions wafting out its sweet scent from clusters of white stamens. It has no colourful petals with which to attract insects, instead the strength of its perfume does the job very effectively. There are several different varieties to choose from but I recommend Sarcococca confusa with its shiny, wavy-edged leaves. A genus of plants justly renowned for its perfume is the daphne. It would nearly be possible to have one in flower in every month, indeed there is one called ‘Eternal Fragrance’, but it only flowers all summer. There are two winter flowering ones. D. odora ‘Marginata’, a low growing evergreen shrub frequently planted and the lesser known Daphne bholua. The latter heralds from the Himalayas and is a much more upright shrub growing to about two metres. The commonest variety is D.b.’Jacqueline Postill’ which is evergreen. Clusters of pale pinky-white flowers appear from January onwards releasing their powerful perfume. Daphnes are never cheap as they can be tricky to propagate, but this one is definitely worth it. The Witchhazels (Hamamelis) are a popular group of winter bloomers, but not all are strongly perfumed. H. X intermedia ‘Pallida’ and ‘Arnold Promise’, both with yellow flowers, have perhaps the strongest scent. The red flowered variety ‘Diane’ does not show up well in flower, but has the bonus of better PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
Chimonanthus praecox
autumnal foliage tints. The shrubby, winter flowering honeysuckle, Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’ has small, creamy white, but sweetly scented flowers scattered along its leafless branches during mild spells in the winter, but the shrub is no beauty at any other times of year and could usefully become the host for a clematis to add interest in the summer. It will not be long before the snowdrops are peeking through and apart from being such a welcome harbinger of spring some varieties are honey scented. Galanthus ‘S. Arnott’ is just one of many offering larger, more rounded flowers. Iris reticulata, with its dwarf deep purple flowers, is strongly scented and is best grown in a bowl that can be stood up on a garden table for ease of accessing the scent. The Chinese Paper Bush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) will probably be the least familiar of the plants I have mentioned. The Japanese used to make their special handmade paper from the bark, hence its common name. It is a relative of the daphnes, so it is perhaps not surprising that it too has scented flowers. Dense clusters of yellow flowers open from silvery buds in late winter at the tip of leafless branches. Allow plenty of space for this shrub that can reach two metres and, like all daphnes, hates being moved. I have left the plant with possibly the most powerful scent from an individual flower to last. Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), as its name suggests, has an extraordinarily strong perfume and even a small twig, cut and brought indoors, can be overpowering. The flowers are a dull creamy colour with a blotch of maroon at the base, not very attractive, but there is a form with clearer pale yellow flowers called C.p. ‘Lutea’. At least the flowers show up better against the leafless winter twigs. Having raved about its scent, I have to admit that, like the Lonicera mentioned above, this plant has little, if anything, to offer for the rest of the year and can take several years to produce its first flowers. It is best positioned against a warm wall. Enjoy the winter scents, spring will soon be here.
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GARDENING
JANUARY GARDEN TIPS
G Mist over the tops of houseplants regularly especially if they are in a room with central heating. Water carefully; it is better to let plants dry out between waterings and then give a thorough soak than a small amount regularly. G Clean houseplant leaves with leaf shine. Dusty leaves will struggle in low light at this time of year and polished ones look so much better! G Group plants together, the display will look better, but more importantly, they grow better together as a group. G Feed indoor plants monthly; but make sure the root ball is wet first, if not water first! G Keep Citrus cool unless they are actively growing. G Central heating can dry out houseplants, so stand the pots in groups on a tray of damp Hydroleca or pebbles. Keep deadheading Cyclamen, African Violets, Christmas Cacti and Azaleas to encourage more flowers to open. Don’t forget to keep Cyclamen and Azaleas as cool as possible for prolonged flowering. G When the days and nights are very cold, move plants away from cold windowsills into a warmer place! G If your living room is looking bare once you have taken out the Christmas tree and taken down the decorations, why not liven up the room with a houseplant! Courtesy Cleeve Nursery
Seed Potatoes in from January 2nd onwards
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www.perfectpave.com MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 51
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Cave dig awards
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THE Hunters’ Lodge Inn at Priddy was filled with cavers for the sixth annual J-Rat Digging Award evening. Tony Jarratt was an obsessive cave digger and after his death in 2008 the award was inaugurated in his memory for the digging team which had found the most new cave. With PHILIP Last year, the Reservoir Hole team won by a HENDY large margin, following their discovery of the Frozen Deep, now known to be Britain’s largest cave chamber. It came as no surprise when the team won the award again, as in the last 12 months they have found extensive extensions to the Frozen Deep by climbing high into the roof. The high level extensions are well decorated, and one scalloped passage is heading back towards Cheddar Gorge. Dingley Dell, the sump, was dived in the summer. A cross-current was encountered, but the passage in each direction is too tight to enter. It is very close to the upstream end of Gough’s River Cave. On Western Mendip, the Axbridge Caving Group is looking for the lost Hutton Cavern, which was found by ochre miners and described by the Reverend Catcott in 1756. It contained a large quantity of Pleistocene bones. The cave was lost by 1828. Recent digging has opened several small holes such as Primrose Cave and Maytree Cave. A horse tooth, dated at 200,000 years, is the same age as bones found in Hutton Cavern. It seems that these small caves are part of the same system, and a Hymac has been used to dig between them, uncovering a steeply-inclined bedding plane, possibly the top of Hutton Cavern. Reportedly 33 metres deep, there is a long way to go. Moving east, Andy Sparrow and members of Cheddar Caving Club have been digging below the blind pots in Rod’s Pot at Burrington. They have found some larger passage than is usual in Rod’s, and have dug through an ascending unstable mud hole, with around 40 metres of passage. It is hoped to connect the cave to nearby Drunkard’s Hole and there is only 41 metres to go along a tight draughting rift. At Charterhouse, Chris Binding and others have been digging for three years in Semicostratum Ruckle in Grebe Swallet. Explosives have been used to open a Neptunean Dyke and they are now in an area of boulders and voids with a strong inwards draught. Many readers will know that the floods that closed Cheddar Gorge last winter were the result of stream sinks in Longwood Valley becoming blocked. The problem was resolved when a consortium of cavers opened up one of the swallets, Longwood Valley Sink, which took all of the water and allowed the Gorge to reopen. As the weather improved, the diggers were able to excavate the main sink at Longwood Swallet, so it takes all the normal stream flow. Dams and an improved entrance have been installed at Longwood Valley Sink, so this should be able to cope with excess water in the valley. On the hill above Longwood Valley Sink, Toothache Pot is a mine shaft. First dug over 30 years ago, it is now being tackled by Robin Gray and members of the Cheddar club. Once an active swallet, at 17 metres they entered natural rift cave. Explosives have been used to take the depth to 27 metres, but the shaft is narrowing, and water
CAVING
The Reservoir Hole Team receiving the J-Rat Award from Martin
ponds above a soft clay floor. Just off Cheddar Gorge is Bone Hole, where many bones, including those of humans, have been found. The Mendip Caving Group started a high level dig near the entrance in 2008. Called Perforation Choke after the numerous small injuries sustained by the diggers, around 100 metres of draughting passage has been opened. It is well-placed between the ends of Charterhouse Cave and Reservoir Hole, and on the same fault line as Spider Hole. The dig is now below road level. At Spider Hole, over the last three years, members of the Wessex Cave Club have entered a 20 metre deep rift, which at the bottom has been dug and stabilised for another 22 metres. The team is now digging horizontally along the fault and following a draught. Further down the Gorge, attempts are being made to enter the lower end of the Gough’s River Cave. Duncan Price and others have reassessed the sump in Saye’s Hole, and the diver’s exhaled air bubbles surfaced at the First Feeder, just below Gough’s Cave. Here, loose boulders have been removed until the water level was reached. Near the top of Ebbor Gorge, the Templeton diggers have reached a depth of 60 metres, and a tight rift opened in the floor has put an end to flooding problems. The passage leading to the parallel shaft found in 2012 has been widened, in readiness for digging the floor. It is hoped that Templeton will be the link between Wookey Hole and the Priddy swallets that drain there. Down the hill at Lower Milton, for many years members of the Bristol Exploration Club have been digging Hallowe’en Rift, which is probably part of the Wookey Hole system. It has been abandoned and restarted several times. The diggers are generally following a draught, and some low level tubes have been excavated to gain entrance to small decorated chambers. The end dig is now in a descending bedding plane. On Eastern Mendip, Rusticle Hole has been opened by Graham Price, members of the Cerberus Speleological Society and others as a new entrance to Withybrook Slocker. Several leads are being dug, and around 35 metres of passage has been found this year. The same club is digging an active sink at Blake’s Farm Swallet. This depression has at least four places where water sinks underground. It is known to resurge in Ashwick Grove. When the entrances have been stabilised some serious digging will commence. No major new discoveries are expected in Reservoir Hole next year, so the winner of next year’s J-Rat Award is anybody’s guess. Digging continues all over and under Mendip, with every team certain that it is only a matter of time before their name is engraved on the trophy. Digging is by its very nature a pastime for optimists.
Phil is a member of Wessex Cave Club and has been caving for the last 44 years. Still active, his main interest is in digging to try to find new caves. He has published a caving cartoon book and collaborated on the recently-published Swildon’s Hole – 100 Years of Exploration.
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 53
Photography by Phil Hendy
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Cheddar Festive Night
Carols around the Christmas tree
Cheddar First School FPTA had a stall
Jess Julian-Anstey and Mya Swinkels Garden, from Kings of Wessex, were among students taking part in Mendip Rotary's Big Pitch competition
The Rotary Club of Mendip ran one of the food stalls PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
Moor Harmony Singers deep inside Cheddar Caves
Some of Cheddar's STARR theatre group
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Midsomer Norton Christmas Fayre
Students from Norton Hill Sixth Form College ran a stall to raise funds towards their African Adventure trip to Kenya in July The children’s Nativity Play, organised by Welton Baptist Church
The snow queen and her snow elf caused mischief in the High Street
CHRISTMAS EVENTS 2013
Dancing to success
CHURCHILL Academy and Sixth Form dancers performed at Coombe Lodge for the coveted prize of ‘Young Dancer of the Year’ which was awarded by the judges to Liam Hill. The additional prize for ‘Teachers’ Choice’ was awarded by dance teachers Shelley Lippe and Vicki Cook to Lydia Hogg for her performance and her commitment and contribution to the dance department. The evening gave an opportunity to the most gifted and talented dancers from Years 9 – 13 (14 to 18 year olds). Each student performed a solo piece of their choosing to friends, family, teachers and judges. Shelley Lippe, Head of Dance at Churchill Academy, said: “The evening is a great way to showcase our most able dancers in a beautiful and unique venue. It’s also a great benefit to the students as it pushes them to further progress their dance and choreography skills. We were blown away by the standard of dance on show.” This year the judges were Lorna Gaines, an ex-Churchill student and the founder and director of Jumpin’ Dance Company who has worked closely with Churchill Academy over the years and Viv Slayford from Swindon Youth Dance Academy.
Guides reward
EAST Harptree Guides have held various events, including a bingo and quiz evening, to earn their Guide Community Action badges. The presentation was made at East Harptree theatre. MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 55
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Ringing in the New Year
IF you’re looking for New Year’s resolutions, look no further than the five ways to wellbeing. A review of the most up-to-date evidence suggests that building the following five actions into our day-to-day lives is the secret of being and staying well. CONNECT with the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, By Dr PHIL school or in your local community. Think of these as the HAMMOND cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day. KEEP LEARNING – try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun. BE ACTIVE – go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness. TAKE NOTICE – be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you. GIVE – do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you. This isn’t just another motherhood and apple pie acronym (CLANG!), there’s good evidence that if you build these into your life, it will have far more meaning, purpose and fun, and you’ll be happier. The beauty of all these is that they are not wealth-dependent. But they do emphasise that variety is the spice of life and we all need to discover new pleasures to stay ‘fresh’ rather than get stuck in a ritualistic rut of, say, X-box, beer and football. Another key source of wellbeing is NATURE – we’re extremely lucky to live where we do and if we open our eyes and appreciate what’s around us, it truly is astounding what we have on our doorstep. So how can we put all these together? I was sitting in the pub celebrating the astounding success of the Stowey Sutton Action Group (of which I am a proud member), in stopping an asbestos dump on our doorstep and protecting an outstanding area of natural beauty and the future physical and mental health our community. We came together from a wide variety of backgrounds, united around a shared purpose and passion, and then did a vast amount of CLANGing together to win a public inquiry on our own, when BANES and the Environment Agency had walked out on us (and now look very foolish). I learned more about land stability, dust and noise pollution and the risks to groundwater from lining leakage into leachate than I can ever hope to remember. But I won’t ever forget the feeling of connection on a team keen to learn, active and observant and giving to its community, which gave back in huge measure too. And I can down look down with pride on the view from the quarry – as beautiful as any Italian lake – without the fear of asbestos. So well done everyone. In stopping the quarry we stumbled on the secret of health. Happy New Year. Dr Phil’s world comedy tour, Games to Play with Your Doctor, finishes at Frome Memorial Theatre on May 30. Book now to avoid dysentery.
PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
Seasonal magic
YOUNGEST son is eight-years-old and I wonder if this is his last year believing in Father Christmas. Oldest child had her illusions shattered around the age of six by our neighbour’s daughter. She was proud in her knowledge that the Father Christmas nonsense was made up by grown-ups. She also put eldest child right when we fabricated a story that the real Shrek was coming to Bristol to switch on the Christmas lights. I was most excited and we lined this up to be the event of the year. For those of you not familiar with Shrek, he is an animated ogre that speaks with a distinctive Scottish accent, thanks to a voice-over from the actor Mike Myers. Shrek’s quest is to rescue feisty Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) with the help of Donkey (Eddie Murphy).
Anyway, we were planning our trip out and I was explaining to anyone who would listen (including neighbour’s child) that Shrek was arriving in Bristol in his onion carriage. Looking at me sceptically, neighbour’s child said: “Are you sure the real Mike Myers is coming to Bristol?” It is often the responsibility of older acquaintances and peers to reveal the truth behind the fantasies pedalled by adults. I asked middle child when she stopped believing and she said it was when she was about eight-years-old and her school friends told her it was nonsense. So she came home and tested me by saying: “It’s OK mum, I know it’s not real anymore.” Needless to say I walked into the trap. To be fair youngest son’s older sisters have happily indulged him in his beliefs and he hasn’t asked too many awkward questions – yet. However he did wonder how Father Christmas could speak so many languages. In the end we agreed that it was his elves that were the key to this linguistic conundrum. After that he explained to me that the woodburner is not a barrier to Father Christmas’ entry into our house: “You let him in the front door don’t you mum?” He might fly through the air with a herd of reindeer but he’s not a shapeshifter apparently. “Of course I let him in,” I replied, relieved that he has brought this to a logical conclusion. Have a magical festive season everyone! MENDIP MUM
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Picture this!
A CHILD-like – but sophisticated – method to help people visualise their thought processes is having remarkable results, according to the coach behind the idea. Michael Keppler’s Take It Visual course encourages the use of stickmen, simple brush strokes, cartoons, shading and colour in everything from teaching methods and architectural design to shopping lists. The former musician, from Germany, held a very successful coaching weekend at The Lighthouse centre at Tytherington, near Frome, before Christmas and will be returning for another weekend workshop n February. One teacher, from Bruton, who attended December’s course, said: “Having attended the ‘Take It Visual’ course, I feel I will be able to express to the children I teach in a more interesting way, and engage them more. “Sometimes it is necessary to communicate dry or dull but important information to them and these techniques will really me to do so in a lighter and more playful way. I just know they are going to respond well and it is going to be
HEALTH & FAMILY fun!” Michael describes his coaching methods as “graphic facilitation” and developed the technique after being asked to run training workshops for unemployed people in Germany. He then honed the methods by working with business coaches and trainers. He said: “Everyone starts with a blank sheet of paper and I give them Michael with some of the material he very simple drawing uses to inspire people who attend his lessons to help them workshop express their ideas. People who think they cannot draw suddenly discover that it can be easy to put their ideas onto paper.” Michael added: “One of the biggest compliments I received was when one woman told me: ‘I now hear in pictures’. It’s all about having fun.” Michael’s next workshop at The Lighthouse will be held on Saturday, February 15th and Sunday, February 16th. For more information, visit: www.lighthouse-uk.com
Rowena, from The Lighthouse, used the skills she learned on a previous course to design the leaflet for Michael’s weekend in December; she now uses the techniques every day
First aid courses
The Lighthouse, situated in beautiful parkland on the outskirts of Frome, has lots to offer visitors during the winter months: • Beautiful 4 star B&B accommodation • Conference Facilities & Catering for businesses/community groups • Gluten & Dairy free Café open daily to the public • Range of supportive Treatments & Esoteric Yoga classes • Lovely lake and woodland walks (dogs welcome)
LANGPORT Red Cross is holding a first aid course on Saturday January 18th. Two options are offered, a morning course covering the crucial life-saving skills, and an all-day course extending to the treatment of severe medical conditions with practice at dealing with simulated casualties. The all-day course leads to the award of a public General (Basic) First Aid Certificate valid for three years. The charges are £30 and £60, concessions at £24 and £48. Details: Places are limited so early reservation is advised. Contact Chris Cox on 01458 273085 or on cox.cj@btinternet.com
For more information, please visit our website – www.lighthouse-uk.com – or give us a call on: 01373 453585. The Lighthouse, Tytherington, Frome, BA11 5BW. MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 57
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New Pilates studio
JACKIE Cunningham is proud to announce the opening of her brand new, purpose-built Pilates Studio in the beautiful tranquil setting of Stone Allerton, near Wedmore, this January. Boasting under-floor heating, engineered oak floors, specifically designed state-of-the-art lighting and luxury 14mm mats (for safety and comfort) it is one of the only dedicated Pilates studios in North Somerset, with plenty of parking. Pilates has been proven time and again to help improve posture, give core strength thereby helping to prevent back injuries, and increase flexibility. It tones the muscles, without bulking and is fun, easy to learn and once you see the benefits of what Pilates can do to your body, you won’t look back. Jackie is a certified Mat and Reformer Pilates Instructor, gained with STOTT Pilates, an internationally recognised Pilates qualification. She also holds a Cert IV qualification as a Gym Instructor and a Cert IV Personal Trainer qualification. The latter two are the highest level of qualification in this field in Australia. As well as her passion for fitness, Jackie has over 20 years experience in the corporate world, working for over 12 years in the executive search industry in both the UK and Moscow, Russia, but more recently working as the advertising manager with Tennis Australia based in Melbourne, Australia. Jackie was also a regular fitness writer for Australian Tennis
Magazine. Her classes are open to everybody, of absolutely all ages and abilities, and each class is tailored accordingly. Group classes are small, to allow for a personal approach and individual help, and she also teaches one-on-one sessions, using a mixture of both Mat work and the Reformer. Pre and Post Natal classes are also available.
For more information, or to book a session, please contact Jackie Cunningham jackie.thepilatesgarage@gmail.com
email: Jackie.thepilatesgarage@gmail.com website: www.thepilatesgarage.co.uk
The Pilates Garage invites you to the launch of its brand new, state-of-the-art Pilates Studio on Tuesday January 7th from 5pm-8pm. Wine and cheese followed by a demonstra%on of some of the exercises on both the Mat and the Reformer. Please contact Jackie Cunningham on 07511 568985 or email her at Jackie.thepilatesgarage@gmail.com for more informa%on on the launch or if you would like to book a class
Bring a friend and enter a raffle to win a free session – www.thepilatesgarage.co.uk
The Pilates Garage, Stone Allerton, near Wedmore PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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HEALTH & FAMILY
Charity honoured CREATIVITY Works, a charity based in Radstock, has been honoured by the chairman of Bath and North East Somerset after winning the Arts and Health South West “Arts Award” in recognition of the support given to peer-led groups through its Mental Health Creative Support Service. The organisation, covering Bath and North East Somerset and funded by the council, worked with the Tiny Monuments Artists Collective. Key funders, participants, artists, commissioners, partners, and arts organisations including Arts Council England, Arts & Health South West, St Mungo’s, Quartet Community Foundation, local galleries and Bath Festivals were invited to celebrate the achievement at a civic reception hosted by Councillor Neil Butters.
Councillor Butters said: “Creativity Works is yet another national beacon of excellence to be found in Bath & North East Somerset, and I congratulate them on their splendid award. There can be few more important causes in the country than raising people’s level of happiness and mental health.”
NEW YEAR, NEW LOVE?
IS THE WINTER MAKING YOUR BACK, NECK OR JOINTS ACHE? Hip or Knee Pain, Shoulder Pain, Back Pain, Neck Pain, Pain Between the Shoulders, Headaches, Stiffness . . .
If you are suffering from any of these you may have ARTHRITIS or Wear & Tear in your spine or joints. Here at Wells Chiropractic & Osteopathy Centre, we use treatment methods that research proves help reduce the symptoms of arthritis. To find out whether we might be able to help you we offer a full consultation, spine and joint examination, Myovision Scan and verbal report of findings, all for only £19 (with no obligation to start treatment).
BEAT THE WINTER BLUES AND CALL US TODAY
01749 674 716 Call now for more information:
Email: enquiries@wellschiropractic-osteo.co.uk www.wellschiropractic-osteo.co.uk
Offer price: £19
* In cases of accident or injury it is advisable to seek advice from a GP. These treatments are an adjunct to core osteoarthritis treatments.
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 59
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For servicing, repairs and sales of all makes of caravans and motorhomes
Bailey approved body shop and workshop
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Our shop stocks a full range of accessories and equipment
Local expertise
MOTORING
SHIPHAM Motor Group is a family-run Independent Volvo Specialist, established in 1987. Owners, Phil and Helen Hims, and their very experienced team, have an excellent reputation and are devoted to providing the highest quality, traditional and cost-conscious service. Phil has 25 years of Volvo experience, and is a Volvoaccredited Master Technician (the only independent specialist to train as a ‘MT’ in the UK). He regularly attends courses with Volvo Car UK in order to keep up to date with the latest cars and technologies. Shipham Motor Group offers full warranty-compliant servicing on new Volvos within the manufacturers’ warranty period, using genuine parts, and full dealer-level diagnostics using exactly the same equipment as the main dealer. As well as servicing, diagnostics and repairs, they offer MOTs, air-conditioning servicing and a wide range of new, used and alternative Volvo parts. So whether your Volvo is an older classic vehicle or a brand new model, you can be confident that at Shipham they offer all the services required to keep your vehicle in the best possible condition, but without the inconvenience and expense of visiting the main dealer.
UBLEY MOTOR SERVICES MG Rover Land Rover Specialists
Sales – Service – Parts – Repairs ALL MAKES SERVICING – VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS, AIR CONDITIONING, MECHANICAL & BODY REPAIRS Collection/Loan Car by arrangement
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COMPETITIVE PRICES ON TYRES, BATTERIES AND EXHAUSTS
ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRE BREAKDOWN & RECOVERY SERVICE
QUALITY USED CARS Your peace of mind is our priority
CLEEVE HILL, UBLEY. TEL: 01761 462275 (24hrs) www.ubleymotors.co.uk
Open Monday - Friday 9am–5pm; Saturday 9am–1pm
SHIPHAM MOTOR GROUP Turnpike Road, Shipham, Winscombe BS25 1TX
Marchants Hill, Gurney Slade BA3 4TY Call: 01749 841051 Mob: 07778 465520 Email: sales@caravanrepairs-sw.co.uk PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
• • • • •
Volvo Warranty Compliant Independent Servicing on New Cars Volvo Accredited Master Technician Specialist Volvo Diagnostics and Software Downloads 01934 842350 Air Conditioning www.shipham.co.uk MOT Testing Volvo Parts & Accessories
With a vast experience of old and new models, you can be sure that your Volvo will receive the highest quality service but without Main Dealer prices!
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GUY SALMON LAND ROVER BRISTOL
Guy Salmon Bristol and Club Capernaum – Above and Beyond! AT Guy Salmon Bristol, we are proud to be associated with locally based Club Capernaum, which was formed in order to allow young adults with a variety of learning and physical challenges to enjoy the company of each other, but also to join in a variety of activities, including holidays. Our association started when we were approached by Richard Jackman, one of the club members, seeking work experience at Guy Salmon Bristol. Richard now works with us at the dealership as a host and receptionist and always impresses us with his enthusiasm as a team member, and his passion for Land Rover. Richard is a true ambassador for both Guy Salmon and Sytner. To help cement the relationship between Club Capernaum and Guy Salmon we
decided to tackle the challenges of Zipworld, the Northern hemisphere’s longest zip wire, and Treetops, home to some amazing rope walk and climbing activities, including the Powerfan Plummet, the world’s highest powerfan parachute simulator, based in beautiful
Snowdonia. 15 of us, including 12 members of Club Capernaum, Scott Quinnell, Dealer Principal Amanda Binner-Vaughan and Sytner Group Operations Director Geoffrey Page-Morris took on Zipworld, which, at approximately one mile in length, rises to 500 feet above ground level, with and speeds of over 100 m.p.h. is definitely not for the faint hearted! We are delighted to report that all present rose to the challenge, and enjoyed the amazing experience. Onwards then to Treetops, where a fine team spirit prevailed in the face of true terror at the high rope walk centre. The intrepid few finished their experience by confronting “Sky Ride”, a giant five seat swing, that is released from a height of eighty feet over the magnificent Conwy valley. We would like to thank Sean and his team at Zipworld and Treetops for hosting us on the day, and for providing us with many unforgettable memories. Most importantly, however, our thanks to Club Capernaum for being such wonderful friends.
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2014 • PAGE 61
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Calendar girl
CALENDARS of Blagdon were on sale at the Christmas fair, held by St Andrew’s Church in Blagdon, which raised just over £800 for church funds. One month features the Rev. Jane Chamberlain and her amazing abseil down the church last summer.
Posters for peace
NEWS
Details: Tina Smith 01761 462508
Busy year for WI
Members of Farrington Gurney WI with their wall hanging
ANYONE thinking of joining Farrington Gurney W.I. should prepare themselves for a fun and busy year of activities if 2013 was anything to go by. From speakers at its monthly meetings – ranging from a talk about the Orchid Project at Writhlington School to the history of local charity Send a Cow – to visits to Salisbury and Mottisfont Gardens, pantomime in Frome and productions at Bristol’s Redgrave Theatre, the branch offers a large variety of entertainment. The branch also ran stalls at Paulton in the Park and at the Farrington Gurney Village Day. It has a strong presence in its home village and its wall hanging is now on permanent display in the Memorial Hall. Sporting events also took place including skittles and also new age curling teams and some members had golf lessons. The first meeting of the New Year is on Thursday, January 14th with a Call My Bluff session. The branch meets in the Memorial Hall at 7.30 pm on the second Tuesday of the month and new members are welcome. For more information contact secretary Barbara Edwards on: 01761 418943. PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
Hugh Sexey winner, Luc Richards, who has reached the national final of the competition
Cheddar guides leader Bev Davies, Lions president Janet Clark, Michael Beavis, who gave a talk about the WaterAid charity, competition winner Willow Browne and runners up Victoria Alexander and Hannah Wyatt.
EACH year Cheddar Vale Lions Club invites children aged between 11-13 to take part in an International Peace Poster Competition. Three groups have taken part this year, Hugh Sexey’s Middle School, and Cheddar and Axbridge Guide Groups.
Lions President Janet Clark with the winners in Axbridge
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David James & Partners reflect on 2013 DAVID James & Partners Limited have had a busy 2013 – January saw deep snow and icy roads but it did not deter the residential sales team – a Manor House in West Harptree attracted a lot of interest, despite the weather, and set the year off well. February saw the Building Surveying Department playing a key role in the development of Thatchers Cider Co., one of the largest cider producers in the UK. The Sandford based company are investing over £2.5 miliion in a new state-of-the art kegging and bottling facility which was procured by the Building Surveying Team, led by Alex Coward. During March the first property and land auction took place with a detached cottage in West End Nailsea selling well along with land at Hewish and Congresbury, making between £6,000 and £13,500 per acre. Mendip Farmers Point to Point took place on March 24th – David James & Partners sponsored the appropriately named ‘Auctioneers Cup’. April saw the pub clearance sale at the New Inn, Priddy – the pub sign was shipped to Australia as a momento by a former Priddy resident. As the summer arrived some notable property came to the market and sold very quickly – a superb equestrian property in Stone Allerton with 7 acres, American-style stabling and all weather ménage and a charming detached period house came onto the market in June, sold in July and the new owners moved in September. July saw the third auction of the year with 1.6 acres of land and stables selling at Banwell for £39,000! Rebekah Sparkes a recently qualified Chartered Surveyor had a very different holiday – she visited Mongolia and worked for The Mongolian Children Foundation in the capital Ulan Bator. On a bright and sunny early autumn Saturday in September a team of 10 employees set off on a 41-mile sponsored bike ride from their offices at Wotton-under-Edge, via Old Sodbury office, and then down south to David James & Partners at Barley Wood, Wrington. They were raising sponsorship to supply a defribrillator at each office village location. The annual collective machinery auction took place at Winchester Farm Cheddar on October 26th with over 400 lots
PROPERTY
entered – top prices were achieved, including sales of 12 tractors and a 1952 Fordson Major! The year rounded off well with some superb residential sales, Rebekah Sparkes qualifying RICS, a final auction with land at Winford attracting fierce bidding and a clearance sale at Burrington Garden Centre where lots sold included a Harley Davidson motorbike and two classic bow top gypsy wagons! Entries are now being taken for the March 2014 Property and Land auction. David James & Partners wish all their clients and friends a very Happy new year and look forward to hearing from them with their property requirements for 2014.
TWIXT WINFORD & DUNDRY £POA
House prices going up
HOUSE prices in the South West are continuing to rise, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which says the number of homes coming on to the market is well short of rapidly rising buyer demand. It says that with the economic recovery continuing to gain traction, predictions for the rate of increase in future transaction levels hit a new record level, with a net balance of 91 per cent of surveyors expecting sales levels to increase as we head into the New Year. It says 45 per cent more predict prices to continue their upward trend rather than fall back over the coming three months. This is the highest reading since September 2003 and demonstrates the impact that the recovery in demand allied with anaemic supply is having on the housing market. Prices remained high last month, as a net balance of 38 per cent more respondents in the region reported price growth. Significantly, each region of the United Kingdom saw prices rise for the second successive month.
Stylish Barn conversion with superb ‘Green Oak’ extension offering sizeable and adaptable family accommodation. Elevated yet sheltered location with southerly views. Hall, cloaks and laundry. Kitchen with Aga, sitting room, dining room, family room and living room. 4 double bedrooms, en suite and family bathroom all with quality and contemporary fittings. Walled garden, double garage and parking. EPC: D. Ref: 24619
Wrington Tel: 01934 864300
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 63
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MENDIP TIMES
Help for hydro
MORE than 100 people attended a reception at Yarlington House, near Wincanton, raising £700 for Frome-based Harry’s Hydro hydrotherapy pool and sensory centre. Local parliamentary candidate, David Warburton, who hosted the event, is pictured with the charity’s founder Paula Fox. Details: www.harrys-hydro.org 01373 474127
Photo courtesy of Geoff Parselle
Civic reception for fundraisers
Couple renew vows on wedding anniversary
JULIE Trott, aged 53, from West Huntspill, a patient at Weston Hospicecare, and her husband David , aged 54, chose their 32nd wedding anniversary to renew their vows and have their marriage blessed in the chapel at the hospice. They invited 30 of their closest friends to the blessing which was lead by the hospice chaplain, Karen Murphy. Julie said: “We had a very small wedding originally with only two witnesses so it was lovely to be able to have our closest friends and family attend, including the day hospice nurses and some patients from my Tuesday group.” They also had a special guest, Teddybear, the ‘Page-Dog’! Julie said: “We knew Teddy had to be a part of our special day, he’s such a big part of our family as we don’t have any children. “We got him not long before I was diagnosed with secondary cancer, I thought he might be a handful but he’s been a godsend and has really helped myself and David to cope with everything.”
L to r: John Carter (chairman and Hon Chief Executive of BCUSG), Tom Barnard (cyclist), Martin Bax (head of the support team), the Mayor of Bath (patron of the scanner appeal), Nigel Arbury (walker) Stuart Mardon (cyclist) and Jason Hares (support team)
THE Mayor of Bath, Councillor Malcolm Lees, hosted a civic reception in the Parlour at the Guildhall in the city to celebrate the successful completion of the Westminster to Bath double challenge. Completed by walker Nigel Arbury and cyclists Tom Barnard and Stuart Mardon, it raised £3,813 for the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group towards the Positron Scanner appeal. The scanner will transform the treatment of Cancer at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. For more information please visit the charity’s website www.bcusg.org.
PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
Teddybear the dog
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CHARITIES
Typhoon aid
Record support for young carers’s charity
WATCHING pictures of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan on Newsround and spread across the pages of the newspapers has inspired a group of girls from Blagdon to do their best to help others. Blagdon Rainbows have been producing stocking treats to raise funds for a water survival box put together by Chelwood rotarians.
School in a bag
THE Mendip Spring Golf Club joint captains’ charity for 2013 raised £6,518 for Crossroads Care, the largest single donation the charity has ever received from an individual community organisation. The charity, based in Weston-super-Mare, gives support, advice and respite to children and young people aged six to 18 years who, due to home circumstances, are carers of parents or siblings. Pictured (l to r) are Yvonne Bate, lady captain, Bill Hole, club captain, Heidi Every, Young Carers’ service manager, and Gael Rowan, Young Carers’ project development manager. Details: Crossroads Care Centre, 1 Graham Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1YA. Contact: Heidi Every on 01934 411840.
MORE than 60 people attended a “school dinner” event organised by the Inner Wheel Club of Frome in aid of a Somerset-based education charity. School in a Bag was established by
If the cap fits: guests dress up for the occasion
President Kate Lewis with Luke Simon, the founder member of the charity
Luke Simon in memory of his brother Piers who died in the Boxing Day tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004. The charity’s aim is to give hope to children who are left after a disaster. By the end of 2014 it hopes to have reached more than 42,000 in 17 countries around the world. The bags are filled with
stationery, equipment and resources that will enable the children to write, draw, colour, calculate, express themselves, but above all learn. Inner Wheel members cooked a typical school dinner of cottage pie and fruit crumble and custard. The evening raised £785.00 for the charity.
The club is holding its annual “Soup & Puds” event on Saturday, January 11th at Chapmanslade Village Hall. It runs from 12-2pm. Tickets cost £7.
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 65
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MENDIP TIMES
Book sale
Heartfelt thanks
THE Chew Valley Branch of Arthritis Research UK raised over £700 with a second-hand book sale at New Manor Farm Shop at North Widcombe, West Harptree. Pictured (l to r) are Ann Morris, Jean Owen, Alan Morris and Kate Bartlett, with customer Klahan.
THE past president of the Rotary Club of Wrington Vale, Peter Roswell, was able to say a public thank you to Dr John Edmond and the Weston Cardiology Department. Just prior to taking up his presidency in 2012, Peter suffered a stroke that, at the time, threatened to severely curtail his Rotary work. Thanks Dr Edmond and his team, he was back in his presidential chair far sooner than he believed possible. Recently he was able to invite Dr Edmond along to explain his work to the club and present a cheque for £3,000 from his president’s fund for new equipment.
Rotary’s exceptional year
THE Rotary Club of Nailsea and Backwell has raised well over £25,000 this year with local charities being the main beneficiaries. Club president, John Churchill, has congratulated all Rotarians for their efforts not for just raising money for good causes but for their physical help in the local community.
Festive fun for Ellie Payne Charity
Hospital supports charity
(l:r): Artist Sally Dempsey, who runs pottery workshops at Heads Up, Catherine Farr, head of nursing at the treatment centre, Jen Lewis, the centre’s patient administration manager and Heads Up manager Bridget Harvey
Jazzm’tazz entertained shoppers at the covered market – usually home to Browne’s garden products
A FESTIVE artisan fair at Browne’s Garden Centre in Wells has boosted funds for a local charity. Singing group Jazzm’tazz, from Glastonbury, performed festive songs with all money raised going to Ellie Payne’s Walk – The British Heart Foundation. PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
IT is usually a charity which supports a hospital but staff at the Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre decided it was time they should give something back. They have chosen the Wells-based mental health charity Heads Up for the coming year and it is already having results. The hospital, run by Care UK, used it waiting area to showcase Christmas decorations, cards and trinkets made by clients who attend Heads Up. In addition, it provides monthly health advice and blood pressure checks at Heads Up for attenders, staff and visitors. For more information about Heads Up or to volunteer to support the charity, call 01749 670667 or e-mail: info@headsupsomerset.org.uk
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New charity shop in Wrington Support for hospice
CHARITIES
Angela Smythe and Joan Lyons show Ashtey and little Charla how to use the tombola.
WESTON Hospicecare has opened its 17th shop, Boutique on the Corner, in the centre of Wrington, after former owner Julie Kingcott decided to close her gallery and concentrate on her studio at Westward Court in the village .Julie said: “I’ve long been a supporter of the hospice and campaigner for issues close to local people’s hearts so I can think of no one better to move into this wonderful shop and continue to provide a unique shopping experience for Wrington’s residents.” Julie’s pictured (right) with hospice staff Sarah Bostock, marketing manager, Amy Wooff, manager of the new shop, and Jennifer Siviter, area manager. The shop would like to hear from people who would like to volunteer in the shop or donate their items. Call 01934 423960 for more information.
BLAGDON and Wrington Weston Hospicecare support group has enjoyed a great year of fundraising, with £640 raised by a Big Breakfast in Blagdon Village Club, while December’s Christmas fair, also held in the club, raised a further £1,055. The charity celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and the support group plans to hold an event on the 25th of each month throughout the year. The first of these will be a soup and pud lunch on Saturday January 25th, 11.30am - 2pm at the Scouts Hall in Wrington.
Disaster relief
Charity concert
THE Rotary Club of Nailsea and Backwell’s annual Salvation Army Charity Christmas Concert, held at Nailsea Methodist Church, raised £895 towards the club’s target of £6,000 for a special bed for St Peters hospice in Bristol.
STAFF and students at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College raised over £1,000 towards the Philippines Disaster Fund, and made a further collection of clothes, toiletries and food items to be handed over to Filcom, which represents the Filipino community in Bristol. The Catholic Sixth Form College has many students from the Bristol Filipino community, some of whom have family members in the areas affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Organisers Rob Dela Cruz and Abdi Farah are pictured with other students who helped raise funds. MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 67
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MENDIP TIMES
From local heroes . . .
LET’S start the new year by paying tribute to some local heroes: 1: Four conscientious students from Somervale School in Midsomer Norton. Jed By SIMON Gibbs and Jacob SELBY Edwards (Year 7 students) and Cameron Sage and Thomas Manley (Year 8 students) discovered a set of traffic lights that had stopped working in the centre of Paulton. The boys used their initiative to attempt to contact the traffic light company and then subsequently called 101 to ask the emergency services for help. PCSO Kate Humphreys quickly arrived on the scene to find a long line of stationary traffic. The four boys helped to control the traffic and adjusted cones and bollards to ease the flow of traffic. Kate said: “They were extremely helpful and I was very grateful.” Radstock police sergeant Geoff Cannons added: “The boy’s actions show great community spirit and willingness to help solve problems which they had encountered. Well done! I would like to extend my thanks, on behalf of the local police team, for their actions.” 2: Teenagers from across Somerset who have become the latest group of volunteer police cadets. Thirty cadets aged 14 to 17 paraded in uniform before the Somerset Area Commander and invited guests including the chairman of Street Parish Council and the mayor of Glastonbury. The cadets come from Burtle, Castle Cary, Chilton Polden, Glastonbury, Huish Episcopi, Ilchester, Langport, Middlezoy, Othery, Shepton Mallet, Somerton, Spaxton, Street and Wells. The cadets attend schools including Ansford Academy in Castle Cary; Crispin School, Street; St Dunstan's School, Glastonbury and Huish Episcopi Academy. They meet every week during term time at Street Young People's Centre, where they
Cadets and guests at the launch in Street PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
COMMUNITY
(l-r): PCSO Steph Bishop, Jed Gibbs, Thomas Manley, Cameron Sage, Jacob Edwards and PCSO Kate Humphreys
learn about policing. After their initial training is complete they will be able to take part in a range of activities and have the chance to patrol with regular officers and volunteer to help their communities. One of their first duties was to help police during the Glastonbury Frost Fair. The unit has been sponsored by Aster Communities Fund, Glastonbury Town Council, Mendip District Council, Somerset Crime Beat Trust, Street Parish Council and the YMCA. 3: The winners of Pride Awards made by Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens. Nominees were invited to Police Headquarters, Portishead where they were presented with a certificate by the Commissioner before having lunch with Sue and Chief Constable Nick Gargan. Amongst the winners was David Atkins, from Street Neighbourhood Watch, who said: “To be nominated for a PCC Pride Award is an honour but to be a recipient is a privilege. The motto of the Street Neighbourhood Watch is ‘Crime cannot flourish in a community that cares’ and I care so to be acknowledged for my efforts is appreciated and humbling.” Another winner was Midsomer Norton town councillor Linda Dunford. She said: “The Midsomer Norton Community Alcohol Partnership is a partnership and I don’t feel I deserve the award as a single individual. We are a team, a team where everyone brings such enthusiasm and dedication to achieve the success we do, it
works because we’re a team.” Michael Hedges, chairman of Farrington Gurney Parish Council: “The things that I do I do because I enjoy them not to receive recognition but it was a nice surprise to be nominated. Having been an Assistant Chief Constable at Avon and Somerset between 1988 and 1993 I feel it’s a lovely surprise that’s bought me full circle.” 4: Somer valley FM on their recent success at the Radio Academy Nations & Regions Awards for 2013. In the 12 regions Somer Valley FM was named the Station of the Year for the South West, which is quite an achievement. They also deserve praise for their recent IT apprentice initiative where Luke Barnes and Dominic Chambers have raised nearly £9,000 towards a £12,000 target aimed at employing two more young IT apprentices.
. . . to a local zero
DO you ever feel that life is just slipping sliding away? You might think I am referring to the curious fact that time seems to speed up as you get older, but that is not what prompted the comment. It was more down to a recent incident on the A361 heading from the Nunney Catch roundabout near Frome in the direction of Shepton Mallet when I found the road inch deep in mud and as slippery as an ice rink. As I slid gracefully along, fortunately still in the direction I wanted to go, I thought what sort of an idiot would leave the road in this condition as clearly it was not snow and ice, but more a disaster of man’s making. So with our frosty winter friends on the way I thought I would issue a plea to farmers, quarries oerators, or whoever, to have more consideration and to the local constabulary to remind them when appropriate.
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Tribute project seeks answers
Mendip remembers
T H E G R E A T WA R 1 9 1 4 - 1 8
A TEAM of volunteers who are working on a First World War tribute project in Glastonbury are appealing for help to identify the people in the photograph below, taken around 1914. It was taken at Glastonbury’s railway station and the two recruiting sergeants on either side of the photo are from the Somerset Light Infantry. In the top right hand corner can be seen Louie, the mother of Glastonbury businessman and former
mayor Bill Knight. The project started informally in 2013 with the aim of producing a commemoration for 2014 acknowledging the sacrifice of soldiers from Glastonbury in the First World War. The work has developed from there, with local volunteers researching and transcribing newspaper articles of the time and from other sources. The volunteers come from local history and archaeological groups, Strode College and other people who have done some work on Glastonbury’s soldiers and different aspects of life in the town during and after the First World War. The project is linked to the Imperial War Museum Centenary Partnership Programme. It is also working with a number of county and neighbourhood groups including the Somerset Remembrance Project, educational
GLASTONBURY WW1 TRIBUTE PROJECT
“In tribute to the soldiers who went to war; those who returned; those who did not; and those untold other people in Glastonbury whose lives were never the same again.” The circa 1914 photograph
WORLD WAR I
Bill Knight with the photograph on show at the group’s display at Glastonbury Frost Fair
organisations, local history societies and businesses. Glastonbury Town Council which is administering the funding for the project. The project plans to stage an exhibition which will spend a few days in different venues around town and in the surrounding villages. Talks may also be given to local groups. They are also planning to produce a booklet which will capture individual soldier information and what has been discovered about Glastonbury’s involvement.
If anyone can help identify the people in the photograph, they can contact the tribute group by e-mail: glastonburyww1project@gmail.com or by telephoning: 07901 326503. MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 69
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Support grows for parade
ORGANISERS of the annual Wells Reindeer Parade have praised the number of young people who took part in the fundraising on the day for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Wendy Lucas, from the Rotary Club of Wells, said she was delighted to see the level of interest grow in the festive event. Wendy said: “We had representatives from Young Farmers, the Wells Youth Club (Connect), Wells Cathedral School pupils and, this year, Avalon Rotary Club joined us to help with marshalling.” An estimated 5,000 people packed the city for the event and entertainment which included a performance by The Drystones, Cantabile Ladies Choir, Wells Cathedral Choristers and the duo Stacey Bartlett and Emma Wilkinson. Wells City Band and town crier Len Swales led the parade. G The winners of the poetry and painting competitions were: Poetry: Ben Bishop, from Stoberry Park Primary School and Isaac Day, also from Stoberry. Painting: Marian Khan, from Stoberry Park and Alex Addicott, from St Cuthbert’s Infants School.
Sally Ward (left) and Hen Robinson, with some of the Cairngorm Herd reindeer who took part in the parade
Getting ready: some of the reindeer before the parade began
The Mayor of Wells, Theo Butt-Philip, and David Sansom, president of the Rotary Club of Wells with some of the winners of a poetry and painting competition who won a ride in the sleigh pulled by reindeer
Three generations: George Pickford, aged three and a half, takes the driving seat as father Paul and grandfather Roger look on. The family owns a 1961 Dennis fire engine which spent its working life in Paulton
John Lover (left), from the Rotary Club of Wells which organised the event, looks on as fellow Rotarians Sharon Haigh and Margaret Moulton vie for the attention of Matthew Sica
PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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CHRISTMAS EVENTS 2013
Wedmore By Lamplight
Carols around the Christmas tree The Nativity – Wedmore style
Lucy Olliff and Rachel Morman by the Christmas tree
Raising money for charity (l to r) Camilla Dolman, Selina Bird and Megan Macarthur from Sidcot School
Wedmore guides served soup and a roll
Selling chestnuts, Vanessa Becker-Hughes (right) and Susanne Ager MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 71
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MENDIP TIMES
Concert success
Musical youth
JENNY Peplow brought together the four choirs she runs for the first time and raised £1,600 for Children in Need at a concert in Chilcompton Village Hall. The audience of over 200 gave the 95 singers a standing ovation. Jenny, from Coleford, said: “The comments from the audience were amazing and people said that it was a magical evening. The food was wonderful and all the choirs pulled together as a team to help serve the food. “It really exceeded my expectations.” Jenny runs adult choirs in Chilcompton, Doulting and Midsomer Norton and a children’s choir in Batcombe. Details: 01373 812093
Valley singers
ST JOHN’S Musical Youth, from Midsomer Norton, recently performed their production, Showcase over two well-supported evenings, raising £700 for the charity Time is Precious and St. John’s Church. The group welcomes any child from six years upwards. They meet on Wednesday 5.30pm – 7pm at St John’s Church Hall, Midsomer Norton. The cost is £1 a week which includes a drink and biscuit. There are no other costs to parents. Details: Heather Hill on 01761 415231
Cadets success Pictured (l to r) Shirley Parker, Somer Valley Singers’ chairperson, Colin Tincknell, St. John’s churchwarden, Julia Thomson, Frome Symphony Cellists, Kelly Lewis, fundraiser for Positive Action on Cancer and Janice Eggatt, Somer Valley Singers’ treasurer.
RADSTOCK-based ladies choir, the Somer Valley Singers, led by musical director Heather Hill, raised £550 with its annual charity concert at St John’s church, Midsomer Norton. This was shared between Frome-based charity Positive Action on Cancer and St John’s Church, Midsomer Norton. Why not join the choir? They do not audition members and you don’t need to be able to read music. All you do need is a love for music and a sense of humour! They practice on Thursdays from 7.30pm until 9pm at the Radstock Methodist Church Hall. Details: www.somervalleysingers.co.uk or ring 01761 415231.
PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
MEMBERS of the Devon and Somerset Air Cadets Band are celebrating their recent successes at the Air Training Corps National Marching Band competition. They took the first prize for the smartest turnout, third prize in the percussion section and the silver medal for overall band performance. The award for the best Drum Major went to Cadet Warrant Office Jake Rosen of 1064 (Honiton) Squadron who has been a member of the band for five years.
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A winter warmer
THE Axbridge Singers have recently recorded Winter Warmers: A CD of Seasonal Music, which it is selling in aid of the UK charity Jessie’s Fund, which supports and helps children with communication difficulties, to express themselves through music. Axbridge Singers is a well-established community choir, with members from all over the Cheddar Valley. New members are welcome. They will be singing at Axbridge Christmas Market on Sunday December 22nd, at 11am.
The CD costs £6 plus pp. Details: Sarah Kendall: 01934 732103 or email sh.kendall@yahoo.co.uk www.axbridgesingers.org.uk or www.jessiesfund.org.uk
Musical workshop
The joy of song
MUSIC
JOYFUL Spirit, based in Wrington, was established some nine years ago by a few enthusiastic villagers who liked the idea of singing together for their own entertainment. Very soon the idea blossomed with the help of Alison Cooper, their inspirational musical director. Alison is Head of Music at Churchill School and the choir soon gained the support of Maretha Broadbent, a local piano teacher. The choir’s small group of accompanists were augmented by Lennie McGrath on bass and Richard Friars on drums. The choir rapidly expanded and today there are almost 70 members of all ages and from all walks of life. No auditions take place and the choir are made up of people who love music and come to have fun singing in a group. Several concerts are undertaken each year, in aid of various local charities, and the choir have performed all over the county. The repertoire is loosely based on gospel music but a wide range of pieces are performed encompassing International folk music, pop songs and spirituals. Rehearsals take place every Thursday night in Wrington Chapel at 7.45pm in term time. New members are always welcome and anyone can come along to watch a rehearsal to get an idea of what to expect. Also there is a new website – joyfulspiritgospelchoir.org which gives a very good insight into their activities. A link to the website can also be found on the Wrington Village site under “organisations and clubs”. Their annual Christmas Concert at Wrington Chapel was on December 15th; and they also sang at the Wrington Dickension Fayre. They have a further concert at Street Methodist Chapel on February 28th. Details: Marshall Clements 01934 862288 or email mt.clements@btconnect.com
PERFORMING Arts and Dance students at Strode College in Street had the opportunity to learn from a West End professional Richard Murphy visited and delivered an inspiring musical theatre workshop. Richard was trained to the highest level in musical theatre at Doreen Bird College in Kent before going on to enjoy tremendous success performing in acclaimed shows including; Chicago, We Will Rock you, Wizard of Oz and many more. During the workshop students learnt repertoire and audition pieces from the shows Chicago and Matilda. The college teaches A Levels in Dance and in Drama and Theatre Studies; it offers a Level 3 Extended Diploma and Level 2 Diploma in Performing Arts, as well as a Higher National Diploma in Performing Arts (Acting). MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 73
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HOMES & INTERIORS
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Offering the complete service for 30 years The Techniglaze Team wish you a Happy New Year Telephone: 01761 417654 • www.techniglaze.co.uk Facsimile: 01761 417207 • email: office@techniglaze.co.uk PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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JACKSONS
Jacksons Fencing – news, topical treats and more . . . Happy New Year to everyone! 2014 is here and at the risk of sounding clichéd, I can’t believe how 2013 just zoomed by. Maybe it’s because the summer started so late, but no sooner had it started than we seemed to be hurtling towards the end of the year. There have been some horror headlines in the long range weather forecast that are ‘chilling’ to say the least. I hope by the time you are reading this in January that they have turned into just scaremongering and the forecasters have got it wrong. It may be a tenuous link, but wintery weather can turn your thoughts to cozy evenings beside a crackling log fire. If you are one of the lucky ones that have a real fire, you may be interested in a new product we have just developed, our log store. I think it is perfect for placing near your back door and tidily stacking logs in. It is made from our Jakcured softwood, so is guaranteed for 25 years, and has a covered roof, with ventilated sides and floor to aid airing, encouraging your logs to dry out. You can find
more info as ever on your local page www.jacksonsfencing.co.uk/bathlocal Question: When is a tool shed not a tool shed? The answer is simple – when it’s a beach hut! Well I’ll admit it’s not something that immediately springs to mind, however one of our very clever customers down in Cornwall had the imagination to dream that one up. She had a hot tub on her deck and wasn’t keen on her children (plus their friends) traipsing, and possibly dripping, through the house to get changed, so she came up with the idea of a beach hut. After extensive searching she found our tool sheds, and realised that as the footprint was a reasonable size she could fit two on her deck; the other one is used for dog leads and walking boots, so she keeps her hallway free of clutter and mud too! Brilliant isn’t it? You can see the whole story and other customer projects stories via the link on the local page, there are lots of examples there to inspire you
Keep your logs aired, covered and tidy with the log store from Jacksons
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A C K S O N S GATE S ET
Enter the free prize draw and be in with a chance to win one of our garden gate sets. We have 15 different styles and various sizes – the gate sets come complete with posts and everything you need to hang the gate. They make having a new gate beautifully simple and straightforward, and they are all guaranteed for 25 years too! Simply log on to your local page, address below and follow the easy instructions on how to enter. The draw closes 28.2.14. To enter go to: www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal
with your own projects. Seasonal Savers Offer! Just a quick reminder tool sheds are one of our Seasonal Savers with 15% off until the end of January! You can find full details on your local page
of the 15% discount on tool sheds, metal wall trellis, verge protection marker posts, raised bed kits (photo below) and wheelie bin stores. louise@jacksonsfencing.co.uk
It’s amazing what a bit of imagination can do - with a coat of colourful paint the tool sheds are transformed into stylish changing rooms and general repository for boots etc.
louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 75
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A warm welcome to Somerset
WHEN David and Sue Urwin wake up each morning they have to remind each other that they now live in Burnham-on-Sea. But they’re pleased they do. They moved down from Whitley Bay last year and into their current property in February. “I’m a Geordie through and through”, says David, (with no little pride), “but it’s too cold for me up there now. Down here it’s always a few degrees warmer – and the people are warm too.” The truth is that David and Sue have become accustomed to warmer climes and friendly people. They first met in Liberia in the 1970s; Sue was teaching and David was in the mining industry. They married in Zambia and spent several years in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. What they initially liked about Burnham were the pleasant shops and the easy walks. David was a little suspicious when he saw the colour of the sea, but the glorious countryside and the plethora of attractions, soon allayed any doubts. They spent time house hunting and eventually settled on a quiet location in one of Burnham’s peaceful cul-de-sacs. The house had belonged to a lady of 91 and the decor was somewhat dated. David said: “Bringing the property up to date was no problem but something was missing and I couldn’t decide what.” Sue knew though. The place was crying out for a conservatory, They looked around for the right company but, without any real local knowledge, it was shopping in the dark. Eventually they got lucky. A neighbour “in the trade” told them about Kingfisher, a long-established Somerset family firm with a reputation for excellent quality and keen prices. Sue said: “What we really liked about Kingfisher, though, was the respect they have for the customer. They put absolutely no pressure on you, keep their promises and the fitters are a pleasure to have around.” Sue and David now have a conservatory that brings warmth and light to their home. And as Sue does her ironing she can imagine (with a little poetic licence) that she is still in the Solomon Islands.
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PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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HOMES & INTERIORS
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MENDIP TIMES
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HOMES & INTERIORS
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Available in 120 colours MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 79
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Glastonbury Frost Fair
Glastonbury mayor Sue Thurgood leads the procession at the start of the annual Frost Fair
CHRISTMAS EVENTS 2013
Winscombe celebrates
The Cleopatra's Wardrobe team
Sidcot School
Hot stuff: a street entertainer shows off his skills Sandford School
Members of Street Sings perform in a packed marquee in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey PAGE 80 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
Enjoying the carols
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RIDING
New Year health checks
RACHEL Howe is a fully trained, qualified and insured Equine Physical Therapist based near Street, combining McTimoney Manipulation and Sports Massage. I’ve been discussing health tips for your horse with her. The McTimoney method works to realign the musculoskeletal system and release With CELIA muscle spasm using gentle, high speed GADD adjustments to restore health, movement and soundness, combined with sports massage to alleviate soreness and muscular compensation this provides a highly effective treatment to ease tension and optimise performance of your animal. The New Year is an exciting time to be setting goals and aspirations for you and your horse, but it is important to consider that your horse can only work at its optimum potential if feeling physically comfortable. Discussed in this article are various New Year health checks for your horse which promote soundness, comfort and performance. A correctly fitting and balanced saddle is so important for the well-being of your horse, with many muscle and skeletal problems being linked back to ill-fitting tack. An unbalanced, poorly-fitting saddle can restrict adequate blood circulation to the muscles of the back. This not only prevents symmetric development of the horse during training but can cause muscle wastage and soreness in the back and compensation potentially leading to schooling issues. Regular checks with your local saddle fitter will help him to remain comfortable and supple in his movement. This is an important consideration if your horse’s workload has reduced or he is prone to dropping in condition during these winter months. Dental checks from a trained practitioner are vital for preventing pain or discomfort in the mouth. If the teeth are not rasped, the molars and premolars can develop sharp points which can rub and cause ulceration to the inside of the cheeks and reduce the
January 2014 show dates
Wednesday 1st Senior BSJA at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Saturday 4th Indoor Car Boot Sale at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Sunday 5th Unaffiliated dressage at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Wednesday 8th Lower show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Thursday 9th Clear round show jumping at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon
efficiency of the teeth as a grinding platform for food. This can in turn cause tension in the temporal mandibular joint (the jaw joint) and make it uncomfortable for the horse to relax in response to the bit when being ridden potentially leading to tension in the poll, neck and back. Your dentist will suggest a suitable treatment time interval for your horse. Be inspired in the New Year with the help of your local trainer, not only to improve your ability and your horse’s way of going but to consider potential imbalance in your position and whether you are sitting crookedly in the saddle. These asymmetries can easily cause our horses to overcompensate causing muscle tension, stiffness and discomfort. Animals can suffer from neck, back, pelvic and musculoskeletal issues for many reasons and, just like humans, this can cause pain, stiffness, reduced performance, compensatory changes and sometimes altered behaviour. You don’t have to wait for a problem to develop; maintenance physical treatments can be incorporated into part of your regular health checks for your horse to identify minor issues before they have the chance to develop. So make it one of your New Year’s resolution to get your horse MOT’d for the new season ahead, giving both of you every opportunity to achieve your goals.
Saturday 11th Indoor Car Boot Sale at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Wednesday 15th Higher show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge BSJA Seniors at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th Junior BSJA at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Tuesday 21st British Dressage at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Wednesday 22nd
Lower show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Saturday 25th Indoor Car Boot Sale at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Sunday 26th Unaffiliated show jumping at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Wednesday 29th Higher show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Friday 31st BSJA Seniors at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Axbridge
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Reflections on the Levels
VOLUNTEERS and disabled clients from the Somerset Levels branch of Riding for the Disabled – one of the largest carriage driving groups in the country – have joined forces to create a collection of reminiscences about the charity. Philippa and Martin Willey, the group’s founders, and retired Illustrator architect and landscape Stephen Harte architect Stephen Harte devised a concept to capture the motives and enjoyment of participants in carriage driving in an illustrated book. Reflections from the Somerset Levels features stories and reflections from the people who provide, share and experience the pleasure of driving ponies and carriages. Volunteers bring many skills; some are expert at fund raising, others love looking after the ponies, two are expert mechanics who look after all of the vehicles, others give of their valuable time not just on the clients’ day but exercising and training the three ponies. They also develop the skills needed to become an “RDA Whip” a prerequisite qualification to train disabled people to drive. It takes five people to get a client in a wheelchair into and out of a carriage safely. When the carriages go out, an RDA whip, groom and cyclist for emergencies have to be on hand throughout the drive for each turnout. Eight-times Champion Jockey Peter Scudamore wrote the foreword to the book. In it he says: “These are not writers but people born to put horse to carriage, or who have learned to love the effort and experience. The SLRDA is a wonderful charity that, as well as allowing disabled people to continue to be involved with horses, helps with selfconfidence and most One of Stephen’s watercolours importantly offers a great which capture the spirit of the Somerset Levels deal of fun.” The book is on sale via the group’s website: www.somersetlevelsrda.org.uk at £10 per copy (+ £3 P&P).
PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
A little goes a long way
The first horses gallop up the path
IT may only be 60 metres long, but one of the latest bridleways to be created in Somerset will be a boon for horseriders, cyclists and walkers. The all-weather Kilmersdon Link provides vital access from a bridleway to the Colliers Way national cycle route which crosses countryside above the village. Until now, the only way to get from one to the other was either a lengthy detour through Kilmersdon itself or by negotiating a steep, narrow and muddy track. The track had no official status, although it had been used with the full knowledge and permission of the tenant farmer. Members of the Mendip Bridleways and Byways Association worked with Sustrans – the owners of the cycle route – Kilmersdon parish council and Natural England, which provided the majority of funds for the work from its Paths for Communities initiative. They also benefitted from advice from Abbie Rood, the British Horse Society’s access officer.
Cherry Lawson, chairman of the MBBA, cuts the ribbon to open the new bridleway
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Riding for all
FROM young people seeking to forge a career with horses to “happy hackers” and professional riders, the Divoky Riding School near Shepton Mallet offers something for everyone. Now firmly established at Manor Farm at Downhead, the school boasts some impressive facilities including a half-mile long all-weather exercise track and enclosed school. Divoky – Czech for wild and spirited – is run by accomplished horsewoman Pat Burrough who set up her first riding school at Butleigh Wootton, near Glastonbury, before moving to Hapsford, near Frome. The stables at Manor Farm are set around a magnificent courtyard but Divoky is as much about the skills of Pat, her team of qualified instructors and the back-up services which are available, as the location. Those back-up services include access to specialist equine vets, bench saddler Julia Garrett, a farrier, dentist and horse (and human) fitness coach John Pitt. Pat is very keen to encourage more riders – especially older riders – with their own horses to use the facilities and to continue to improve their skills. The school is currently interviewing for new students to join its 2014 diploma courses, offering a Level 1 NVQ in horse care. The diplomas are available to children aged 14 years upwards and work on a dayrelease basis. The school is also home to a thriving Pony Club. Pat said: “Divoky is most certainly not elitist. Anyone who loves being with horses is welcome here; we cater for every level of experience from complete novice to the serious competition rider.”
RIDING
Pat Burrough and Coco in the enclosed school at Manor Farm
Fun times with the Pony Club
Where horse and rider come first
Now interviewing for Diploma Students 2014 # ½-mile all-weather exercise track # All-weather school # Riding lessons for all abilities
# British Horse Society approved riding school # Pony Club # College and training centre
# Riders with disabilities welcome # Great hacking # Fitness coach, vet, saddler, farrier and dentist available
Pat (left) and Emily in the yard of Manor Farm
Divoky Riding School, Manor Farm, Downhead, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4LG. Tel: 01749 880233 www.divoky.co.uk Email: pat.divoky@gmail.com
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Presentation to Emma
PURNELL Bowls Club has paid tribute to promising bowls player Emma Welch, who scaled the heights of the Writhlington Sports Centre climbing wall over a thousand times, the equivalent of climbing Everest, to raise money for Brain Tumour Research. Emma is an accomplished bowls player, among a group of very good young players at Purnell, under the guidance of coach, Mel Bowen, who have all progressed well, with several at county standard. Eric Obern, committee member of the Midsomerset Bowls Charity, is pictured presenting a cheque to Emma for her charity, alongside other young players, with Mel Bowen and helpers Colin Toogood and Don Dart. The club invites anyone wishing to play bowls to turn up on any Saturday morning between 10am and 12noon, with all coaching and equipment provided.
National champions
THE Keilogo Sprint Kennels at Priddy have had another successful year, winning a silver medal at the world championships and becoming national champions for the fourth year running. Martin Owen and his wife Debbie did a round trip of 2,400 miles to compete in Italy before winning the national title at Moray in Scotland.
Trim trail on track
A £7,000 fitness circuit is to be created in Street as part of a community-wide project. The Trim Trail is due to be open in the spring and will feature a range of wooden exercise equipment placed around Strode College’s extensive sports fields to form a fitness and exercise circuit. Somerset County Council has provided £5,000 from its health and well-being budget, Strode College will contribute £1,000, Crispin School £500 and county councillor Alan Gloak’s charity TS5C will also contribute £500. Councillor Gloak said: “The Trim Trail will be a great way for students to get fit and local residents will benefit too. I am glad to see that Crispin School is also involved as obesity is a hidden problem and we must act to combat it by educating young people about the importance of staying fit and healthy; this trail will help.” Councillor Napper said: “We are lucky to have such an excellent college providing fantastic facilities for our local young people and the wider community. This project is a great example of how people are benefitting from Street and Glastonbury joining together.” James Staniforth, Principal of Strode College said: “We are delighted to receive this grant from Somerset County Council. The Trim Trail will be a valuable addition to our sports facilities which are used by Strode students for their
PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
(l:r): Shonagh Butler, Head of Quality and Sports Facilities at Strode, Councillor Alan Gloak, James Staniforth, Principal of Strode College, Councillor Terry Napper and Toby Payne, Strode College Sports Team
studies and their sports activities as well as by pupils from Crispin School. “The local community also make good use of our facilities for a range of clubs, classes and individual activities; I look forward to seeing people enjoying this new equipment in the Spring.”
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SPORT
Fast and furious By Mark Adler
THE first tournament in a new wheelchair basketball league for players with or without disabilities has been staged at Glastonbury Leisure Centre. The matches celebrated the launch of the latest club – the Glastonbury Gliders – which meets at the centre at St Dunstan’s Academy. A total of 20 players from the Gliders and the established Yeovil Lynx side were put into mixed teams for an exciting, fast paced and very close first competition in the TS5C league. Jen Slade, from Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership, oversees the coaching for both Yeovil Lynx and Glastonbury Gliders. She said: “It’s been a brilliant competition, and excellent to see so many
The matches were fast and furious with players impressing spectators with their skills
people here for the launch of the league in Somerset. Wheelchair Basketball is a great sport: we’ve had four teams competing, disabled and non-disabled players playing together. It is inclusion at its best. I think we can see that the Paralympic legacy lives on in Somerset.” Alan Gloak, chairman of Somerset sports charity, TS5C, said: “We were delighted with the turn out for this first competition – both players and spectators.” TS5C is a third part charity established in 2007. Its Flagship Fund grants aid to young athletes in Somerset, both able bodied and disabled, to help them represent their county and country at the highest level. The Wheelchair Basketball Plus initiative was launched with the aim of mixing disabled and wheelchair users, students and those with learning difficulties
Glastonbury Gliders player, Joshua Heal, was captain of the winning team and proudly accepted the Vale of Avalon Vintage Trophy on behalf of his team mates: Alan Hallgate, Roland Crothers, Lauren Crowe and Lauren Hallgate
The players are pictured with Dennis Stone (holding the trophy) and Alan Gloak
and behavioural issues in a levelling sport. Alan added: “And this is just the beginning: over the next couple of years TS5C is hoping to start more clubs in Frome, Chard, Shepton Mallet, Minehead and Wells. With the specialist sports wheelchairs costing £700 each, it’s quite an investment, so we’d love to hear from any local business that would like to get involved.” The teams competed for the Vale of Avalon Vintage Trophy, donated by Dennis Stone, who organises the annual vintage vehicle run in the town. A retired driving instructor, Dennis told the players that being confined to a wheelchair was no barrier to them achieving their dreams. He said: “In my time I taught many people with disabilities to drive and pass their test.”
Disability is no barrier in wheelchair basketball
The Glastonbury Gliders Wheelchair Basketball Club is for 11-19 year olds and is held on Mondays at 3.30pm-4.45pm at a cost of £1 per child. For further information please contact Glastonbury Leisure Centre Tel: 01458 830090. For more information about the charity, visit www.ts5c.org MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014 • PAGE 85
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Armed Forces Day By Mark Adler
PLAYERS, officials and fans of Frome Town Football Club paid tribute to members of the armed services when a procession was held before the start of the side’s home match against Hemel Hempstead. Standard bearers representing the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and the town’s Royal British Legion branch were led to the centre circle by a drummer from the 1st Yorkshire Regiment. Frome Town has developed strong links with the regiment since it was
Hemel’s defence can’t stop this ball going out for a corner
Team captains and match officials stand alongside the standards, carried by Len Taylor from the RBL, Mike King from the Royal Naval Association, Chalky White from the Royal Air Force Association and Able Cadet Michelle Blackie, from HMS Achilles, the local sea cadets unit
based at Warminster. Poppy collectors from the legion used the club’s Armed Forces Day to boost this year’s collection in Frome and Nunney which reached more than £20,000. Frome’s first team plays in the Calor League Premier Division. Hemel Hempstead arrived with an impressive scoring record: 10 in one game and nine in another before their visit to the AlderSmith Stadium. Frome had failed to win at home all season and club secretary Ian Pearce joked in his prematch newsletter: “Perhaps instead of parking the bus in front of the goal we could park a tank instead...” Some outstanding work by Frome
Drummer Tom Beevers, from the 1st Yorkshires, leads out the procession
goalkeeper Darren Chitty kept the visitors at bay throughout the first half and Frome went ahead in the 61st minute with a goal by Rhys Baggridge. But Hemel’s tall defender Moussa Diarra bundled the ball over the line with just seconds to spare before the final whistle to secure a 1-1 draw. G Frome Town FC’s Supporters Club has launched an appeal to raise £20,000 to install new, environmentally-friendly floodlighting at the stadium by May 2015. Its chairman Geoff Norris said: “We’re going to hold a series of monthly events in the first quarter of 2014 and would welcome any support to get the ball rolling.”
Frome’s goalkeeper Darren Chitt sees an early Hemel attack repelled
To find out more, visit: www.frometownfc.co.uk
PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
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Badminton champions
Lord’s honour for cricket club president
SPORT
Henley Ngan and Luke Morgan
TWO young Weston College badminton players are through to the national finals of their sport after decisive wins in regional heats. Henley Ngan, aged 18, and Luke Morgan, aged 16, are now British Colleges Sport (BCS) South West region doubles champions following regional finals at Truro College, Cornwall. There was double celebration for Henley, who was crowned singles champion at the same tournament after winning every game. The pair were up against fierce competition from colleges across the south west, including Truro, Yeovil and Bridgwater. Luke, of Hutton, is studying Sports and Exercise Science (Level Three) at Weston College. He said: “I was knocked out of the singles by one point but I had the chance to redeem myself in the doubles. We dominated Yeovil College in the final but it went to three games and it was close.” Sadly, Luke received a ligament injury this week which has put him out of any sport for a few months. Henley, studying for a BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport, lives in Churchill and started playing badminton about six years ago. He said: “My parents used to play badminton and I became interested in it through them. I would like to play professionally but it is a long hard route. That said, it’s great to have won both singles and doubles and it’s given me a real boost.”
New faces for Rebels
THE ‘Cases’ Somerset Rebels have announced the seven riders who will represent the club for the 2014 season – which gets under way in March – as the team look to defend the three trophies won in 2013. The team will see three of those riders from the campaign returning to the side: skipper Jason Doyle, his Australian compatriot Nick Morris and Englishman Charles Wright. The four new faces are the current Premier League Riders’ Champion, Olly Allen, who spent last season with Rye House, Todd Kurtz, who has made the move from local rivals Plymouth, Kurtz’s younger brother, Brady, for whom 2014 will be his debut season of racing in the UK and Paul Starke, who rode for Berwick in 2013. Somerset team manager Garry May said: “Having done the league and cup double in 2013, the challenge is now on to defend our titles, but it is a challenge that we relish and are looking forward to.”
Ian receives his cap from Mike Gatting
IAN MacDonald, president of Midsomer Norton Cricket Club, has been honoured at a ceremony at Lord’s Cricket Ground when he was awarded a commemorative cap for making more than 100 appearances for the MCC. Still active in Midsomer Norton CC, Ian was welcomed into the select band of cricketers who have made 100-plus for the MCC by MCC president and former England captain Mike Gatting. Ian was joined by two other West Country cricketers at the first ceremony of its kind, held in the legendary Long Room at Lord’s. A former MNCC club captain and leg-break bowler, Ian was a prolific wicket-taker for Midsomer Norton in Western League Cricket. For the MCC, Ian played 124 games and took 281 wickets between 1985 and 2004. During MNCC’s annual general meeting, club chairman Kevin Tabb, who has been associated with the club for 40 years, said he was very optimistic about the club’s shortterm and long-term future. He said: “The Club will be doing everything possible to ensure youth cricket is expanded, both in terms of numbers and girls’ cricket as this is the basis for the future of the club.” First team skipper Nick Potter reported on the club’s performance in the Bristol and Somerset Division of the West of England Premier League in 2013. With better weather than the previous summer, for the second year running the First XI secured a fourth-placed finish. Promotion is the goal in 2014. Preparations for next season, including winter nets, will start early in the new year but members are already looking forward to the annual dinner which takes place on Friday, February 21st. New players of all abilities are always welcome at the club. For more information, please contact Phil Mortimer on 01761 413725 or e-mail: morts@tiscali.co.uk
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Tuesday December 17th Congresbury Singers present their popular seasonal eclectic offering of music and readings in St. Andrew’s Church, Congresbury at 7.30pm, tickets £5 on door, incl. light refreshments. “The Branch and its Twiggs” – an illustrated talk by Terry Temlett about the S&D Railway in Somerset, a Mendip Society meeting at the Catholic Church Hall, Cheddar, non-members £3.50, incl refreshments. Details: 01934 641461. Writhlington Methodist Church, centenary celebrations, evening of music and verse, coffee and mince pies, 7pm. Thursday December 19th U3A Christmas coffee morning at Church House, Cheddar, 10.30am – 12noon. This coffee morning will be a bit special with one or two ‘performances’ both musical and theatrical to reflect the festive mood. Visitors welcome. Details: www.cheddarvalleyu3a.org.uk or 01934 710242. Friday December 20th Christmas carols at Churchill PO & Stores, 5.30pm. Mulled wine and mince pies. Come and see our winter wonderland scene. Saturday December 21st Frome Society for Local Study, The Romans in East Somerset, with John Smith, followed by Christmas tea, Frome Assembly Rooms, 2.30pm. Friday December 27th North Somerset Vintage Tractor Club annual vintage tractor and engine autojumble, the boys’ great escape from Christmas, Washingpool Farm, Main Road, Easter Compton, Bristol BS35 5RE, sellers from 7.30am, buyers from 9am, £15 per pitch (£25 double) £2 entry, proceeds to charity. Details: Kevin 01278 671784 or Sheila 01275 474649 www.nvtecnorthsomerset.org Call before travelling if the weather’s bad. Tuesday December 31st Redhill Village Club New Year’s Eve Celebration, 8pm – late, gourmet buffet and vocalist Anna Ashton, black ties & posh frocks, tickets £15 in advance – reserve at the bar or call 01934 862619. Out of Africa – themed New Year’s Eve Party in aid of SOS Africa and Mama Upendo Children’s Trust. African food and music, activities for children, Cheese & Grain, Frome, from 7pm. Details: 01749 344197 or Cheese & Grain, 01749 455420. Thursday January 2nd West Mendip Walkers, a circular walk from Axbridge Reservoir over the Levels to Stone Allerton, Chapel Allerton and Middle Stoughton, 10.3 miles with one or PAGE 88 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2014
T i m e s
two steepish sections. OS Map: Explorer 141 GR:ST439544. Park at Reservoir car park off the Cheddar Road, Axbridge, start 10am. Details: anthonyestrange@gmail.com 01934 733783 or 07976 902706. Wells Evening Society, 50 years of horticulture, with Mary Payne, Wells Town Hall, 7.30pm. Cheddar Valley U3A monthly talk: “From Fame to Infamy in 300 years” (The Bristol Slave Trade) by Roy Fisher, 2.15pm, Church House Cheddar. Details 01934 710242 or www.cheddarvalleyu3a.org.uk. Tuesday January 7th DFAS: Süleyman the Magnificent and Ottoman Art – a presentation by Sarah Searight at the Westex Suite, Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet. Please contact Tony Lane, 01749 670652 if you wish to attend. Cheddar Valley U3A will be blowing the cobwebs away with a walk around Historic Cheddar. Visitors welcome. Details 01934 710242 or www.cheddarvalleyu3a.org.uk Wednesday January 8th Wells Civic Society AGM followed by “The history of Wells through local memorabilia”. Wells Archivist Dr Julia Wood will talk about Wells City Archives and members will introduce their own items which illustrate the City’s long and illustrious past, 7.30pm at Wells Museum. Axbridge Archaeological & Local History Society (meets every 2nd Weds in month) – New Year soiree at the Roxy Cinema, Axbridge @ 7.30pm. Informal meeting with nibbles and mulled wine. Details: roger.maingot@btinternet.com or 01934 713991. Thursday January 9th West Mendip Walkers, an undulating walk of six miles from Wookey Village Church taking in Fenny Castle and Yarley Hill. OSMap: Explorer 141GR:ST518457. Park considerately in the road alongside church. Start 12.30. Details: anthonyestrange@gmail.com 01934 733783 or 07976 902706. Saturday January 11th Uphill Village Hall market, 10am-1pm at the Victory Hall, stalls include locally made bread, crafts and FairTrade goods. Refreshments available. Art exhibition by “Brush Strokes”. Parking in the nearby school playground. Enquiries: 01934 418184. Jumble & White Elephant Sale in aid of The Avon Wildlife Trust, 2pm in The Old School Room, Chew Magna. Please bring any donations on Friday evening after 5pm or Saturday morning. All offers of help
W h a t ’ s
gratefully received. Details: 01275 332482. Congresbury Book Sale 9am -1pm, War Memorial Hall. A wide selection of good quality books, jigsaw puzzles, dvd’s, cd’s and talking books will be available Thursday January 16th Cheddar Valley U3A “meet and greet” coffee morning at Church House, Cheddar, 10.30am-12noon. Display by our Scrabble Group. Visitors welcome. Details 01934 710242 or www.cheddarvalleyu3a.org.uk. West Mendip Walkers, a hilly circular walk of 8.5 miles from Wraxall taking in Tyntesfield Park, Limekiln Plantation, Failand Hill, Long Ashton and Bathing Pond Wood. There are a number of steep sections. OS Map: Explorer 154 GR:ST485716. Park considerately in village close to pub on B3129 Clevedon road. Start 10am. Details: anthonyestrange@gmail.com 01934 733783 or 07976 902706. Thursday January 16th – April 3rd Art History Talks – Artists from The First World War. Experienced Art Historian and International Lecturer Jan D. Cox MA is presenting a series of 10 weekly classes at Shipham Village Hall 1.30-3.30pm. Suitable for all who have an interest in the period. For more information contact Jan at Jady_Sea@hotmail.com or Tel. 07815 861452. Friday January 17th The Yarlington Wassail – originally held in the 17th century – is now organised by Bruton Valley Rotary club in support of Wincanton hospital & Rotary charities. Procession from Stags Head Inn, BA9 8DG from 7pm. Details: www.bruevalleyrotary.org and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarlington_Wa ssail Saturday January 18th Bleadon Village Market 9am-12.30, BS24 0PG. Busy market with over 30 stalls. Crafts, local produce, bric-a-brac, plants and much more. Refreshments. Enq: 01934 812370 or www.bleadon.org.uk/market Tuesday January 21st “Painted People, Portraits plain, pleasing or puzzling” a talk for MDFAS, 1030am at Caryford Hall in Castle Cary BA7 7JJ, £6. Free parking. All welcome. Details 01963 350 527. Congresbury Over-60’s club’s first meeting of the New Year with a lighthearted quiz, games, and a chat over tea and biscuits. The Club meets every other Tuesday at Congresbury War Memorial Hall, 2.30pm-4pm. Details: 01934 832004. Thursday January 23rd West Mendip Walkers, an undulating walk of 7.7miles from West Harptree to
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Compton Martin, Compton Combe, and Harptree Combe with some fine views of Blagdon and Chew Valley Lakes. OS Map: Explorer 141 GR:ST561569. Park on road near church. Start 12.30. Details: anthonyestrange@gmail.com 01934 733783 or 07976 902706. Chew Valley Wildlife Group: “Man, Plants & Animals – Discovering a 10,000 year Relationship” an illustrated talk by Professor Richard Evershed, Chew Magna Millennium Hall, 7.45pm. Visitors £2.50. The Friends of Weston-super-Mare Museum: ‘Antique Bottle Collecting’ a talk with display by committee member Alan Clegg, 2.30pm at the museum in Burlington St, Weston. Saturday January 25th Congresbury Book Sale, 9am-1pm, book sale, War Memorial Hall, books, jigsaw puzzles, dvds, cds and talking books will be available. Cheddar Vale Lions Club Barn Dance at Shipham Village Hall, 7.30 pm. Tickets £12, include hot supper, from Lyn, 01934 843620. Friday January 31st Film@Kilmersdon presents All You Need
J a n u a r y
Is Love. Kilmersdon Village Hall. Caféstyle cinema. This initiative is backed by the Reel People Film Society. For more information and tickets call Sara Fowler on: 01761 436318. Saturday February 1st – Sunday February 2nd Somerset Vintage & Classic Tractor Show, Royal Bath and West Showground, 9am-4pm, indoor static show with about 200 tractors and spares, trade stands, books and toys. Auction on Sat 1st by HJ Pugh & Co., Ledbury, entrance £7 adults, (£4)all proceeds to charity. Details: Nick & Pat Bryne 01749 860514 or www.somersettractorshow.com Friday February 7th Redhill Village Club Open Mic Night from 8pm, hosted by Jerry Blythe. All
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welcome, artists and spectators alike. Wednesday February 12th Wells Civic Society meeting: “Farming and the need for diversification” David Cotton, a prominent voice in the Somerset farming community, will talk about widening the scope of agriculture, 7.30pm, Wells Museum, Cathedral Green. Launch of new U3A group in Winscombe. Are you retired or semiretired? Living in or near Winscombe? Interested in meeting new friends? Interested in finding out what activities and interests you could be involved in? Find out how U3A can be of interest to you. Come along to a meeting in St James’ Church Hall at 2.30pm.
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ACROSS: 1/3 Cameley Lodge, 5 Habitat, 9 Broadband, 10 Dixon, 11 Turned on, 12 Two car, 14 Cavalry, 16 Worsted, 18 Piranha, 19 In-house, 20 Ice cap, 22 As much as, 26 Ingot, 27 Imitation, 28 General, 29 Keepers. DOWN: 1 Cabot, 2 Moon river, 4 Year-on-year, 5 Hide, 6 Badgworth, 7 Toxic, 8/25 Tunbridge Mill, 13 Swainswick, 14 Coppicing, 15 Lancaster, 17 Touchline, 21 Egg on, 23 Usage, 24 Songs.
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at The Prospect Theatre Writhlington School Radstock BA3 5NQ www.reelpeople.org.uk enquiries@reelpeople.org.uk
Membership enquiries & bookings 01761 418749
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Great films in prospect
A COMMUNITY-run film society is enjoying a surge in interest after relocating from a village hall to a purpose-built theatre complex. Reel People had been screening films happily and successfully in Kilmersdon village hall for around 15 years but decided to move to the Prospect Theatre at
Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD
Friday 3rd January
COMING UP:
Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom (12A)
Friday 10th January
12 Years A Slave (15) The Railway Man (15)
Friday 17th January
The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty(PG)
Friday 31st January
The Book Thief (12A)
G Book in person G Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk G Over the ’phone: 01749 673195
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Writhlington School to cope with demand and to offer an enhanced cinema experience. Our new home: Reel People at the Prospect The 350Theatre capacity theatre April 11th – is always is equipped with the latest technology; it also means there something special! There will also be a Food and Film event is less pressure on the society members to hire projectors and on Saturday, March 8th. Ann-Marie Owens, one of screens and to set up the hall. the committee members, said: Reel People begins the “We always welcome more second half of its current members and people who join season in January with a for the second half of the screening of Argo on Friday, season can do so for half-price. January 10th, followed by The “After around 16 happy years Hedgehog on Friday, January at Kilmersdon it was a little 24th. Members of the 150strong society suggest films for scary to move to a much bigger venue but the response has each 12-screening season. been very good and it has taken Guest tickets must be booked some of the pressure off of us. in advance. Members also We had more than 280 people choose a film suitable for at our recent family film Valentine’s Day and the last event.” film of the season – on Friday,
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