What’s On

Dom Joly at Strode Theatre

WRITER,broadcaster and comedian Dom Joly, best known as the creator of Trigger Happy TV, is back on the road with his one-man theatre tour, giving fans a rare opportunity to see him live.

Dom will be talking about his exploits at Strode Theatre on Friday, May 13th as a serial globe-trotting and seeker of dangerous travel spots when he returns to the road to complete his “Dom Joly’s Holiday Snaps” tour.

He’s playing more than 50 dates across the UK, including Strode in 2022 on a mammoth tour running from February to November.

From North Korea to Chernobyl, Dom has visited some of the most unusual places on the planet – including, of course, the Australian bush in the tenth series of hit TV show I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here.

He famously attended school with Osama Bin Laden and, armed with a trusty Powerpoint, fans can expect his holiday snaps to serve up a tantalising mix of comedy and a sense of danger.

The best-selling author will meet fans after the show to sign copies of his latest book, The Hezbollah Hiking Club.

Dom said: “I’ve got this collection of weird holiday snaps. And I know there’s that cliché that ‘nobody wants to see anybody else’s holiday snaps’. Well, my holiday snaps are really good. And I’ve got some really good stories with them.

“The theme is travel. The three things I’ll be showing will be my own holiday snaps, holiday snaps from TV shows and holiday snaps from my books.

Strode Theatre’s manager, Fares K Moussa, said: “It’s great that Dom will be joining us at Strode Theatre, so that communities in and around mid-Somerset will have an opportunity to see this fun and fascinating show.

“We look forward to welcoming him and other great artists over the coming months, as we all ease back into some form of normality.”

Fibre Quest show celebrates natural clothing

THISexciting new show is a collaboration between Fernhill Farm’s Open Day and Blade Shearing Tournament and Stitch Fest South West. The event is being held at Fernhill Farm, a regenerative eco farm high on the Mendip Hills.

Exhibitors will demonstrate natural low-impact fibres for yarns and clothing, natural dyes and fibre crafts. There will be a programme of workshops, talks and demonstration including natural dyeing, spinning, nettle craft, blade shearing, wool handling and more.

Show visitors can also see some of the top blade shearers at work and see working sheepdogs close at hand. The event is part funded by DEFRA’s Farming in Protected Landscapes programme.

Fibre Quest entry is free but a crowd funder is raising funds to cover the cost of tickets, making it inclusive and accessible to all.

Details: https://www.gofundme.com /f/fibre-quest

Fayre “bigger than ever”

GET ready for fire eating, jousting and battles as the Glastonbury Abbey Medieval Fayre returns this April bigger than ever, say organisers.

As well as admiring the all-action displays there are plenty of opportunities for visitors to get stuck in themselves by trying their hands at archery and axethrowing.

Taking place over the weekend of Saturday, April 23rd and Sunday, April 24th, the grounds of the historic abbey will echo to the sounds of true medieval life as the breathtaking ruins form the background for markets, living history displays and medieval demonstrations.

Tolly Snell, Glastonbury Abbey’s Deputy Commercial Activity Manager, said: “Our medieval fayre has bounced back from the pandemic bigger than ever. There is going to be so much to see and do over that April weekend.

“We cannot wait to bring this exciting event back to Glastonbury in what has now become such a popular date in the abbey’s calendar.”

The fayre opens between 10am and 5pm on both days across the entire abbey grounds. Tickets start from just £7 for a day ticket and £10.50 for a weekend ticket. Glastonbury Abbey’s Member Plus supporters get free entry to the fayre as well as discounts or free entry to a range of other events throughout the year.

They also enjoy free, all-year-round access to the full 36-acre parkland and up to 15 per cent discount in the abbey shop and café. To become a Member Plus, which costs just over £1 per week, visit the abbey’s website. You can also buy event tickets and membership in the Glastonbury Abbey Gift Shop.

For details and to buy tickets, visit: www.glastonburyabbey.com

Classic cars at Downside Abbey

THEgrounds surrounding Downside Abbey will be playing host to Cars on the Green on March 20th, when for the first time in a very long time, the abbey will be opening its gates to the classic car community.

The event offers owners and enthusiasts the opportunity to display and enjoy their vehicles amongst the picturesque grounds of the abbey.

Cars on the Green will be catering for classic and prestigious vehicle owners and enthusiasts. This event will be the first opportunity for the public to experience the grounds alongside many classic and unique cars from all eras.

One of the biggest attractions will be the large grass amphitheatre on which up to 50 vehicles can be displayed and take centre stage. As well as several high quality food and drink venders there will also be a variety of stalls catering for all things automotive.

The visitor centre and abbey cafe will also be open during the event.

From murder mystery dining to Peppa Pig

THE East Somerset Railway at Cranmore has an exciting season in store for 2022 including two new evening events when intrigue, mystery and mayhem will be on the menu.

Murder Mystery dining trains will be held on Saturday, May 28th and Saturday, September 10th. Murder on the Cranmore Express and As You Wave Me Goodbye will be performed by Murder for Measure theatre company during the two-and-aquarter hour journey aboard the Mendip Belle dining carriages.

The season begins with the heritage line’s “Steam Gala” on Saturday, March 26th and Sunday, March 27th enabling visitors to enjoy an enhanced timetable and the opportunity to see all their engines, 4555 and 46447 and Lady Nan, in action.

Demonstration “freight” trains will be moving up and down the line from the engine shed to the tanker sidings and visitors can take a look at the latest loco to arrive for future refurbishment, 4247, and Large Prairie 4110 which is currently undergoing a complete overhaul.

For families there are ample opportunities for a great day out as the line welcomes Peter Rabbit on Wednesday, April 20th, Paddington Bear on Wednesday, June 1st and Peppa Pig on Saturday, August 6th. The characters will be appearing on the platform at regular intervals during the day for story time and Punch and Judy will be providing entertainment throughout the day.

The line’s last event during the summer will be The Way We Were during the August Bank Holiday weekend. Extra attractions including live music and children’s entertainment will be on offer as the East Somerset Railway takes a step back in time to the 1940s.

Also new for 2022 is the newly refurbished and re-named Station Café which provides a stylish dining experience for visitors with delicious hot and cold snacks, cakes, cream teas and hot drinks available Wednesday to Sunday throughout the year.

THE hugely popular Rare Plant Fair will return again to The Bishop’s Palace in Wells on Sunday, March 20th, with its fantastic range of expert nurseries, offering a wonderful range of rare and unusual plants. There are many specialist growers and nurseries around the country, but many are based in remote locations, or may not be open regularly (or at all) to the public at their home sites. So how can these nurseries and the avid gardeners desperate to buy their plants be brought together?

The solution lies in the Rare Plant Fair where there is the opportunity to buy interesting and unusual plants from nurseries, all of whom are genuine growers dedicated to offering well-grown plants and advice on the plants they sell.

For further information please contact info@eastsomersetrailway.com or visit: https://eastsomersetrailway.com/events

An exciting season for all the family

All aboard for our murder mystery dining trains in May and September. 2¼ hours of fine food, mystery, intrigue and mayhem in our Mendip Belle dining carriages

Come and be enchanted by your favourite characters. As well as Peter Rabbit, we have Paddington Bear on 1st June and Peppa Pig on 6th August

PLUS

Steam Gala – 26th/27th March

The Way We Were – August Bank Holiday Weekend

Our newly-refurbished Station Café now open Weds-Sun all year

East Somerset Railway, nr Shepton Mallet eastsomersetrailway.com info@eastsomersetrailway.com 01749 880417

Interesting and unusual plants at the palace

The rare plant fair returns on Sunday, March 20th

Bath & West advance saver tickets now on sale

AFTER an absence of two years the Royal Bath & West Show will return in June and advance saver tickets are now on sale for this much-anticipated event.

Coinciding with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend from Thursday, June 2nd–Saturday, June 4th, the organisers have listened to visitors’ views and are bringing back the hugely popular Paul Hannam Stunt Show and Pawsability Dog Agility Display, as well as Lakeside Farm. Also making a welcome return is the live music Pilton Tent, with the opportunity to camp on-site.

Another attraction making its launch in 2022 is The Great British Kitchen. It’s situated within the theatre and features a fully functional demonstration kitchen on the stage. An exciting line-up of chefs with South West connections has been confirmed, to provide demonstrations throughout the three-day event.

Briony May Williams, semi-finalist in the 2018 series of The Great British Bake Off and now part of the presenting team of Channel 4’s Food Unwrapped will appear on June 2nd, whilst Dean Edwards, who appeared regularly on ITV’s Lorraine and This Morning, will visit the following day.

Rounding off the demonstrations is the “Yorkshire Shepherdess” Amanda Owen, who will be on stage on June 4th. The demonstrations will be free to attend.

The demonstrations are alongside regular favourites such as the sheep show, heavy horses, vintage vehicles, livestock and equine competitions. Jess Chiplen, Deputy Head of Shows, said: “As our programme for 2022 takes shape, now is the ideal time to book your tickets for the Show. I am especially glad that we have been able to offer a further discount to holders of the Blue Light Card, as a thank you for their service during the past two years.”

Briony May Williams will be at the show on Thursday, June 2nd

Tickets are on sale now at www.bathandwest.com/tickets

THE MENDIP TIMES WHAT’S ON GUIDEFOR MARCH 2022

As Covid cases remain high we advise that you check for any infection precautions that organisers request, and that indoor events will still take place. We’re happy to list entries for community groups and charity fundraisers free of charge. Commercial entries £25. Please send entries as a single paragraph of less than 25 words.

Thursday February 24th to Sunday 27th

Snowdrops at Yeo Valley Gardens, 10am4pm. Tickets: www.yeovalley.co.uk

Saturday February 26th

Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books etc. Bold Brass Ensemble Concert St Mary’s Church, Yatton: www.yms.org.uk Retrospective Art Exhibition and celebration of the life of Dr Pam Harman, Chew Magna, also Sunday. See P28.

Sunday February 27th

Elworthy Cottage nr Taunton, open for NGS.

Monday February 28th

Mendip Folk Dance Club St James village hall Winscombe BS25 1AQ. 8-10pm. No experience necessary. Details: Pat 01934 742853. Wessex stationary engine club meeting 8pm Old Down Inn Emborough. All welcome.

Tuesday March 1st

Contemporary Artists: Rosalind Whyte compares Anthony Gormley and Amish Kapoor; a talk for The Arts Society Mendip, 11am Croscombe village hall, and Zoom. Guests welcome, £6, email: tasmendip.comm@gmail.com.

Tuesday March 1st to Friday April 1st Chandos Society of Artists Spring Exhibition,

details: chandosartistssociety.uk

Thursday March 3rd

Congresbury Gardening Club talk on sweet peas by Philip Kerton, plants on sale, 7.30pm Congresbury Methodist Hall. All welcome. Cheddar Valley u3a talk by Nicholas Boyd on beekeeping, 2pm Cheddar village hall. All welcome. Details: 01934 740065 or email: annfiler020@gmail.com

Friday March 4th

Dr Phil Hammond: “The Art of Living When You Know You’re Going to Die” Merlin Theatre Frome. See P59. Wildlife Walk with Chris Sperring, 10am-12, Hawk & Owl Trust Shapwick Moor. See P49.

Saturday March 5th

Blagdon Lantern Parade, details: blagdonlanternparade@gmail.com Print Making. Details: chandosartistssociety.uk

Sunday March 6th

Oxfam Quiz Night at the Tramways Wells, 8pm. Teams up to four, £4pp. Raffle prizes welcomed. Details: 01749 672342. Mendip Hills Group SWT walk, Mascalls Wood & Bubwith Acres. Meet 2pm outside Sainsbury’s Cheddar: www.somersetwildlife.org/events

Monday March 7th

RAFA Mid-Somerset Branch AGM 11am Wessex Hotel, Street, BA16 0EF. Lunch 1pm. Ex-RAF service personnel & “RAF family” all welcome. Tel: 01458 224057 or email: rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com

Wednesday March 9th

Kilmersdon Gardeners talk by Derek Dexter "Fuchsias my way" 7.30pm village hall BA3 5TD. All welcome. Visitors £3. www.kilmersdongardeners.org

Thursday March 10th RNLI Winscombe & District Branch AGM

2.30pm. For details of venue: 01934 842954. Farming: to follow the plough, a talk by Les Davies, 2.30-3.30pm Somerset Rural Life Museum Glastonbury, £5. Booking: www.srlm.org.uk

Friday March 11th

“Orchard” a Zoom talk by Bristol based naturalist Nick Gates for Avon Wildlife trust. Details: www.keynshamawt.org

Saturday March 12th

Brent Knoll bazaar & farmers’ market, 2nd Sat monthly, parish hall, 10am-12. Details: 01278 760308. Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books etc. Men’s March for Weston Hospicecare. See P42.

Wrington & Burrington Hedging Match,

Hazel Manor Farm. See P10. Valley Arts: A Real Fiction by aKa Dance Theatre. Age 7+. 2.30pm, St Andrew’s church hall, BS40 8RD. Tickets: www.valleyartscentre.co.uk

Monday March 14th “The Legacy of the Somerset & Dorset

Railway” talk by Michael Beale for Nailsea & District Local History Society, 7.45pm, Green Lecture Room, Nailsea School. Visitors £2 www.ndlhs.org.uk Mendip Folk Dance Club 8pm-10, St James Church Hall, Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience necessary. Details 01934 742853.

Congresbury Memorial Hall Club

Friendship evening with bingo, 8pm War Memorial Hall. Visitors welcome. Timsbury Natural History Group talk on moths by Mike Bailey 7.30pm Conygre Hall, BA2 0JQ. Visitors welcome, £3. 01761 433013.

Tuesday March 15th

Somerset Butterflies talk to Mendip Hills Group of SWT by Peter Bright, 7.30pm Cheddar Community Pavilion, Sharpham Rd. Details: www.somersetwildlife.org/events

Wednesday March 16th

Henton & District Gardening club talk by Sally Gregson on “Practical Propagation” 7.30pm Henton village hall. Details: 01749 674767 or www.hentongardenclub.weebly.com

Thursday March 17th

Shipham & District Gardening Club talk by Laura Batt on Hedgehog Awareness in your garden, 7.30pm Shipham village hall, BS25 1SG. All welcome. Cheddar Valley u3a Coffee morning 10.30am Cheddar village hall. All welcome. Details: annfiler020@gmail.com or 01934 740065. Rotary Nailsea & Backwell Whist Drive 25pm Tithe Barn, BS48 4NG. £3 incl refreshments.

Saturday March 19th

Claverham Market 10am-12 Village Hall. Butcher, veg, crafts etc. 01934 830553. Rotary Nailsea & Backwell bookstall, Nailsea Precinct. Good condition books etc. Apollo Saxophone Quartet 7.30pm Churchill Academy Hall, BS25 5QN. Tickets 01934 852589 or tickets@churchillmusic.org.uk Sea Shanties and Folk Concert, 5-11pm St Paul’s Church, Weston. See P91.

Saturday March 19th and Sunday 20th

Fibre Quest, a Stitch Fest with a twist: Fernhill Farm’s open day with blade shearing, fleece sale and sheep dog display. See P94.

Sunday March 20th

Mendip Farmers’ Point to Point, Ston Easton. See P85. Cars on the Green, classic cars at Downside Abbey. See P94.

Monday March 21st

Chew Valley u3a talk by Andy Lewis on his personal experiences: “Nought to Sixteen – A Grandad’s Journey”, 10am Ubley Parish Hall, all welcome.

Tuesday March 22nd

Chilcompton Gardening Club, Wildlife Gardening by Diana Walker a local photographer and artist, 7.30pm village hall.

Thursday March 24th

Swifts: a life on the wing, talk by Peter Bright for Chew Valley group, Avon Wildlife Trust. 7.45pm Chew Magna Old School Room, £2.50. Croscombe Village Hall: “Josephine Baker: dancer, actor, campaigner & spy”, a play by The Egg Theatre based on her true story. Tickets: www.takeart.org/whats-on

Saturday March 26th Somerset Hardy Plant Society Spring Plant

Fair with 12 specialist West Country nurseries, Holt Farm, Blagdon. RHS free, Pre-booking essential: https://somersethps.com/ Folk Music Night with Edd Donovan, 8pm War Memorial Hall, Congresbury. Piano Duet Concert St Mary’s Church Yatton: www.yms.org.uk Somerset Portraits & Voices exhibition by Kate Lynch (until June 5th). Somerset Rural Life Museum: www.srlm.co.uk

Saturday March 26th and Sunday 27th East Somerset Railway Steam Gala,

Cranmore. See P96.

Monday March 28th

Wessex stationary engine club meeting 8pm Old Down Inn Emborough. All welcome. Mendip Folk Dance Club 8pm St James Church Hall, Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience necessary. Details 01934 742853.

Wednesday March 30th Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support

meeting 1.30pm Backwell WI Hall. Details: Sheila 01275 462107. Harptrees History Society: “The Winscombe Project” with Teresa Hall. Using evidence to investigate settlements. 7.30pm West Harptree village hall BS40 6EG. Please wear a mask. Visitors welcome £3. Booking essential: info@harptreeshistorysociety.org

Friday April 1st

Axbridge Museum re-opens. See P40.

Saturday April 2nd

Bath Community Gospel Choir 7pm St Mary’s Church Timsbury. Tickets £10 from 01761 470677 or 471410. Please wear mask.

100 years of Weston Light Orchestra Concert

fund-raising for youth work, 7.30pm Holy Trinity Church. See P90.