Community

Procession is out of this world

THE natural world was the theme for this year’s Wells Lantern Parade, inspired by artist Luke Jerram’s Gaia installation hanging in Wells Cathedral.

Dozens of families took part in the event, which began beneath the three-dimensional revolving artwork which measures seven metres in diameter and is created from detailed NASA imagery of the earth’s surface. The event was coordinated by the community interest company the Project Factory. l By standing 211 metres away from the artwork, viewers can see the earth as it appears from the moon.

The theme of the evening was the natural world Gaia inside Wells Cathedral

The procession about to begin

New community café

ASHWICK and Oakhill Village Hall committee will unveil their new community café ahead of a special Christmas market on Saturday, December 3rd. It will be opened by local author, Cath Weeks who was born in Midsomer Norton and attended Somervale School. She has published four previous books Cath Weeks under her own name and now has a critically acclaimed novel, Good Husbands, under her pen name “Cate Ray”.

The committee had received grants and carried out its own fundraising to enable their vision of a community cafe to be built. What was once a garage, storeroom and football changing room is now a brand-new kitchen and indoor cafe seating area. l The café is due to be opened at 10.45am ahead of the market opening at 11am.

Busy Banwell

Pictured (l to r) Vivienne Bailey, Pauline Britten and Alison Willins

BANWELLWI celebrated its 81st birthday in October and held a craft fayre in November, featuring local artisan crafters, raising £400 for charity.

Their next meeting is on December 8th at Banwell village hall, 7.30pm. New members are welcome.

Details: Vivienne 07949 736678 email vivienne.bailey28@gmail.com

Rock flock tradition continues

SAM Chapman, chairman of Inner Wheel District 20, is the latest owner of one of the famous Shepton Mallet sheep after she gave a talk to the town’s Inner Wheel club. The presentation of a replica sheep –based on the sculptures by Jeff Body on the Cannard’s Grave Club president Harriet Farquhar (left) with Sam roundabout – are now a traditional gift from the club to visiting district chairmen.

Meanwhile, the club is continuing with its monthly Music 2 Connect sessions following disruption due to Covid. M2C is aimed at older people, particularly those living with dementia and their carers and is open to anyone from Shepton Mallet and surrounding area. Music is supplied by SMUG – Shepton Mallet Ukulele Group – playing familiar and favourite songs.

For details, call Janet on 01749 331306

Church lunch

Pictured (l to r) Maggie Brain, Leslie Zurburg and Elaine Avery

THEpopular soup and pudding lunch, held regularly in West Harptree Memorial Hall, raised £735 for the village’s St Mary’s Church.

One of the organisers, Elaine Avery, said: “We had 58 guests and the money we raised made a very welcome contribution towards meeting extra expenses incurred this year.”

Paulton’s double

PATIENTS and staff at Paulton Hospital Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) have a double cause for celebration after the Paulton Hospital League of Friends group donated £115,000 to fund a new X-ray facility as the hospital celebrates its 150th anniversary.

The donation made by the League of Friends includes a substantial legacy left to the group by local man Ray Ashman who was treated at Paulton Hospital and passed away in 2020.

The new X-ray facility has also received funding from the NHS who are covering the cost of building work to accommodate the new machine.

Paulton Hospital was originally opened in October 1872 by Lord Arthur Hervey, Bishop of Bath and Wells.

Today services at Paulton Hospital MIU are provided by HCRG Care Group on behalf of Bath and North East Somerset Council and NHS Bath and North East Somerset Integrated Care Board.

Gilly Gould, chair of the Paulton Hospital League of Friends said: “Paulton Hospital has been at the very heart of the local community for 150 years, offering care and support to generations of people.

“We are delighted to be able to support that work and we would like to thank the family of Mr Ashman for their generous donation as well as the thousands of people who have helped the Paulton Hospital League of Friends raise much needed funding through our charitable activities over recent years.”

Apple Day in Blagdon

MEMBERSof Blagdon’s Orchard Group celebrated Apple Day in the village’s Eldred's Orchard. After picking, some apples were taken away for storage while others went into the juicer.

Town’s tech amnesty

RESIDENTS and businesses in Frome are being asked to bring along old laptops, tablets and smartphones to a “Tech Amnesty” event in December where they’ll be refurbished or recycled.

DonateIT, supported by Frome Town Council and Frome Medical Practice’s Health Connections team will be running the amnesty on Saturday, December 3rd from 10am – 1pm in the car park of the town hall. DonateIT will take the items and securely wipe any data off and either refurbish or recycle them. The repurposed tech will then be distributed among local individuals or groups who need the equipment.

Will Palmer, Digital Connector for the Health Connections team at Frome Medical Practice said: “It makes perfect sense to be able to repurpose old tech, which still has plenty of life left in it, and give to those in Frome who need it to get digitally connected.

“As part of our Digital Connect project and working with local partners, we will be able to link up the refurbished items to those who need it.”

DonateIT have received more than 2,500 devices since they started, and these have been refurbished to families across Somerset or have been recycled. Simon Barfoot, who runs DonateIT said: “So far, we have been able to divert 5.5 tonnes of IT from entering landfill. It’s amazing to think that every year a single laptop is kept working, extending its life, saves 300kg CO2e (embedded carbon).”

Town councillor Anne Hills added: “This is exactly what we should be doing with old tech, it’s the perfect solution; it reduces carbon emissions, safely and securely deals with any data on the device and gives it a new lease of life to someone without digital access in our community, Frome Town Council wholeheartedly supports this project.” l A full list of items that can be donated can be found at: www.bit.ly/tech-amnesty

THE next community café at St Mary’s Church, Stanton Drew, will feature a sale of paintings by Doreen Bond, who died in July. The popular monthly café, which started in 2015, will be on Saturday, December 10th, 10am-12noon. One of the organisers, Anne Bennett, said: “Doreen Bond (pictured) was a much loved and respected artist from Stanton Drew. Her family has very kindly allowed her art works to be exhibited and sold in aid of the church.

“Doreen was a supporter of the church and would be pleased to see her art appreciated.”

As always coffee, tea, cakes and bacon butties will also be on sale.

Bringing people together to try something new

THERE was a full house for October’s Creative Communities session at Paul Street Community Centre in Shepton Mallet, organised by Make the Sunshine CiC.

The 20 people who attended painted pumpkins, enjoyed a flamenco performance from professional dancer Karina Gracia and put on their dancing shoes to join in.

The group, which meets monthly, is aimed at over-55s, celebrates the seasons and aims to bring people together by sharing a different artform and creative activity each month. The sessions are made possible through support from Mendip Communities Fund, Somerset Community Foundation and Shepton Mallet Town Council.

Louise Lappin-Cook, from Make the Sunshine, said: “Attendees have described the atmosphere as ‘friendly and inclusive’, ‘happy and energetic’ and 75% of attendees report having made new friends and connections through the sessions.”

The next meeting, on Thursday, December 15th, will have a festive flavour with a craft session, singing from St Paul’s Junior School students, as well as a hilarious pantomime performance of Cinderella 2 from Tor theatre company.

Meanwhile, Make the Sunshine is helping to organise Window Wonderland displays in Shepton Mallet and Evercreech. The displays will be on show from 6-9pm from Thursday, November 24th to Sunday, November 27th. l Creative Communities sessions run from 10.30am12.30pm and are free to attend or by £3 donation for those who are able.

Details, email hello@makethesunshine.co.uk or call Louise on 07834 039030

Art sale

Winter workshops

CRAFT workshops have resumed in Compton Dando after a break during the summer, with some members making gifts for Christmas. Future workshops will be on Thursday, January 5th and Saturday, February 4th.

Busy library

CANCERsurvivors were among villagers, in the Old School Rooms, Congresbury, who supported a coffee morning, organised by Congresbury Community Library, which raised £220 for Macmillan Nurses.

Meanwhile, volunteers in the library, led by Di Hassan, have been helping adults and children making a banner celebrating St. Congar, which will be offered to St. Andrew's church.

The banner was completed by Ann Kelly and Chris Wilcox.

Hardship fund

THE Peasedown Community Trust, which was established in the wake of the pandemic, is setting aside £800 this winter to provide help and support to some of the village’s most needy.

Half the money will support an event at the community library on Saturday, December 10th, where local residents can collect free Christmas and winter supplies.

The other £400 will be available for community groups and residents to apply for as part of a hardship fund.

Lions celebrate 50 years

Peter Bird (left), President Pam Hunt and John Williams with their certificates

NAILSEALions Club celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala dinner where guests included local MP Dr Liam Fox, the Lions District Governor for the South West, Lesley Chudley, representatives from Lions clubs throughout the South West, many former Lions, and friends and partners of Lions.

Dr Fox thanked the Lions for their hard work and dedication over the years. He emphasised the importance of voluntary organisations like the Lions in their community, as central government are not able provide everything that a community needs.

On behalf of the Countess of Wessex, patron of British and Irish Lions Clubs, District Governor Lesley Chudley presented certificates of appreciation to the club and to two founder members, Peter Bird and John Williams, who are still members.

Last year the club, which covers not only Nailsea but also Backwell, Long Ashton and the surrounding areas, managed to donate £10,244 to 29 local charities and good causes, in spite of the difficulties in fundraising due to Covid restrictions.

Recently they have donated £1,000 to the Southmead Charity to help purchase a robotic microscopic for eye operations and £1,000 to St Peter’s Hospice.

This Christmas the Lions and their partners will be out and about again with their Santa Float. Activities planned for the New Year include a Race Night and their usual Easter egg raffle.

The club is looking for new members to help with its fundraising and social activities.

Details: https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/nailsealions Pam Hunt 01275 855046

Charity concert

Weston Light Orchestra

A CONCERT by Weston Light Orchestra, organised by the Rotary Club of Yatton and District, will raise much-needed cash for local charities on Saturday, November 26th at St Andrew’s Church, Congresbury, 7pm.

Charities benefitting are Weston Hospicecare, Yatton and Clevedon Foodbank, the Scouts and Friends of St Andrews. Tickets, £10, are available from Weston Hospicecare shop, Conger’s café and the Post Office, all in Congresbury.

Folk songs for Ukraine

TWO highly acclaimed and popular singing groups Mendip Folk Choir and shanty group High & Dry are joining forces to put on an evening of seasonal folk songs and sea shanties in aid of the Ukraine War Appeal.

The concert will be held on Saturday, December 10th at Cheddar Baptist Church, Lower North Street, Cheddar. Doors open at 6.30pm with the concert running from 7-10pm.

Tickets £5 in advance only from Issy Emeney issy@emeney.com 01934 741551 or James Barattini winscombe.folk@gmail.com 07703 538861.

Messiah at the cathedral

WELLS Cathedral Oratorio Society is staging a Christmas performance of Handel’s Messiah at Wells Cathedral on Saturday,

December 3rd, 7pm.

They will welcome back the Music for Awhile orchestra, with their leader Maggie Faultless, a line-up of world-class soloists and conductor, Jeremy Cole.

Singing their hearts out for Ukraine

Sing Your Heart Out in St John’s Church

A LADIES choir based in Chilcompton has raised more than £1,000 for Ukrainian refugees from a single concert.

Sing Your Heart Out, led by Viv Moon, performed in St John’s Church in the village. The concert also attracted five new members.

The choir rehearse every Wednesday evening in St John’s Church Hall at 7.30. New members are welcome.

For details, find Sing Your Heart Out on Facebook

Bruton Choral Society Christmas Concert

AFTERthree years, the society will present its Christmas Concert in the wonderfully atmospheric St Mary’s Church, Bruton on Monday, December 19th, 7.30pm.

The choir will be singing festive arrangements and there will also be well-known carols for everyone to join in.

The first half of the concert will focus on music inspired by the seasonal themes of winter and yuletide. Faelan Sydenham, now studying at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, will play an arrangement of Vivaldi’s Winter on recorder accompanied by a local quartet, Stringendo.

Soprano, Angela Ashworth, and baritone, Geoff Allan, will also be providing festive songs. The programme includes music by Vivaldi, Corelli, Purcell, Elgar, Parry, Ola Gjeilo and Philip Stopford in addition to many Christmas favourites.

Details: from Bruton Convenience Store, by phoning 01749 813161 or online at www.brutonchoralsociety.org.uk

Christmas concert and carols

Glastonbury Male Voice Choir

THIS is Glastonbury Male Voice Choir’s most magical and wonderful night of the year. Enjoy a performance of beautiful seasonal music sung in glorious four-part harmony.

What’s more, get involved by singing some of your favourite carols to really get into the Christmas spirit!

It will be at St John’s Church Glastonbury on Wednesday, December 14th, 7.30pm. There will be mince pies, wine and refreshments.

This has become one of the highlights of the Somerset Christmas season and is a very popular sell-out occasion so be sure not to miss out.

Tickets are available from choir members, and the Glastonbury Tourist Information Centre (next to the Town Hall). A limited number may be available at the door.

Audience asks for more

WOOKEYTheatre Group put on six sell-out shows of the musical Oliver. Reviewer, Hugh Griffiths, said: “I have seen pretty much every production of WTG and all have been great. Oliver, however, took their performance to a new level.

“The acting, the complex harmonies, individual vocal performances and choreography was as good as you would see on a professional stage.”

Debut EP for Cheddar singer-songwriter

Down at the “res” – Jo Hill

DESCRIBED as a true ray of sunshine and self-proclaimed smalltown “POW girl”, Jo Hill is the rising singer-songwriter ready to put Cheddar on the global music map.

With the power to summon summer nostalgia no matter the weather outside with her music, Jo’s ethos as an artist is to stay optimistic and push boundaries to create the most exciting art possible.

Inspired by the timeless greats Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell and Dolly Parton, and modern pop icons like Kasey Musgraves, BENEE and Charli XCX, Jo creates feel-good music. She says her journey into music was very much an “every cloud has a silver lining” moment. At, Jo had finished school and was unsure of what she wanted to do next. But she ended up going to university to study Arabic and Anthropology which led her down the destined path of meeting some of her now most trusted creative collaborators and spending time living in the Middle East where she first began making music.

Now living in London and having assembled a gang of creatives she entrusts with her POW girl vision, Jo is ready to break out as a pop star in her own right. On Friday, November 18th, Jo was due to release her debut EP Down At the Res (a reference to Cheddar Reservoir) which includes breakout singles 'Other Girl' featuring Delilah Montagu and ‘HONEYMOON’ which have already seen her attract well over one million streams. l Jo will be appearing on Thursday, December 1st at The Cider Barn in Draycott. Find her music on Spotify.

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