Issue 5 - Volume 17 - Mendip Times

Mendip Times

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VOLUME 17 ISSUE 5

FREE

Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

OCTOBER 2021

IN THIS ISSUE: AROUND THE SHOWS • RIDING • COVID UPDATE • COMMUNITY • FOOD & DRINK • CAVING • WHAT’S ON Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

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MENDIP TIMES

CONTENTS

Welcome

IT’S as if the whole area has gone into overdrive in the last month, making up for lost time with a huge range of events, shows and festivals.

We have pictures from Frome Cheese Show and other big attractions as well as from dozens of village fetes, festivals and flower shows right across the area.

Bright yellow ducks have been racing again, too! Charities and community groups have also been very active; we have about 20 pages devoted to them.

But Dr Phil Hammond reminds us that Covid is still here and discusses whether children should be vaccinated.

The rapid rate of house building is causing concern in many areas; we have reports from Frome, Paulton and Churchill. Our history pages include the discovery of a rare brooch near Cheddar and in sport we feature cross country running with dogs.

We say farewell this month to two of the magazine’s stalwart contributors, Rachel Thompson and June MacFarlane, and thank them for their support over the years. Welcome to Jane Paterson, our new riding correspondent.

With all of our regular features and contributors, let us share this season of “mists and mellow fruitfulness” with you.

November 2021 deadline: Friday, 15th October 2021 Published: Tuesday, 26th October 2021

Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Advertising: Ann Quinn advertising@mendiptimes.co.uk What’s On listings: Annie Egginton annie@mendiptimes.co.uk Accounts: accounts@mendiptimes.co.uk Publisher: Mendip Times Limited Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG Contacts: For all enquiries, telephone:

01761 463888

or email: news@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk

Design and origination by: Steve Henderson Printed by: 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: The grand livestock parade at Frome Cheese Show.

Photo by Mark Adler. See page 12.

12

64

Going for gold – cheese show is a winner

We’ve got gold – Yeo Valley Chelsea success

71

82

We care and won – Court House’s top award

Ploughing for victory – local matches return Plus all our regular features Environment ...................................6 Farming Nick Green .....................10 Internet and Crossword ..............14 Food & Drink ...............................18 Arts & Antiques ...........................28 Business.........................................33 Charities........................................46 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......57 Walking Sue Gearing ....................58

Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........60 Gardening Mary Payne MBE.......62 Health & Family ..........................70 Caving Phil Hendy ........................78 Property ........................................80 Community ...................................84 Riding Jane Paterson ...................102 Sport ............................................104 What’s On ...................................110 MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 3

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MENDIP TIMES

NEWS

Open weekend at unique cemetery

VOLUNTEERS who care for Frome’s historic Dissenters Cemetery hosted their first open weekend for visitors in seven years.

More than 6,200 burials and interred cremated remains are recorded in the cemetery, which is still in use. People of all faiths – and none – were laid to rest in the grounds on Vallis Road.

The weekend offered visitors a chance to stroll around the cemetery – which is a haven for wildlife – and to examine the record books. A service was held in the grounds on the Sunday.

The chapel is currently used for storage but work is about to begin to restore a garage nearby to house old furniture and garden machinery ahead of the launch of a campaign to raise funds to The inside of the chapel – there are plans to restore the building in the future restore the building.

Jim and Gina Parsons (left and centre) and fellow volunteer Lockhart Murdoch prepare to welcome visitors

The cemetery is a haven for wildlife but many of the graves are still tended

The records are available on a CD to buy to help with fundraising. For details, visit: ww.fromedissenterscemetery.org

Hoard was the highlight

A COLLECTION of 152 silver coins known as The Castle Cary Hoard was the star of an exhibition in the town curated by the South West Heritage Trust.

A team from the trust was on hand to explain the background to the finding of the hoard under floorboards in a building in Paddock Drain in 2006. It is believed to have been hidden during the English Civil War with the most recent coin dated to 1644.

Cary history: (l:r) Bethan Munn, with a top hat made by JP Green of Castle Cary in 1892; Natasha Paine with an early 20th century cheese mould, and Amal Khreishel with a 19th century brass crest from the Ansford and Ditcheat Friendly Society

Handle with care – the hoard of silver coins

The team also brought along other rarely-seen items with connections to Castle Cary and surrounding villages, including brass banner crests from now-defunct friendly societies.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 5

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MENDIP TIMES

Walking and talking about climate change

SOMERSET Wildlife Trust has launched a new mobile app offering self-guided walks exploring the county and looking at how nature can help tackle climate change.

The app – free to download – also invites people to add their thoughts and ideas, which will help the project teams develop climate adaptation plans with input from the wider community.

Designed by partnership project CoAdapt, Somerset Trails is funded by Somerset Rivers Authority and the EU’s Intereg 2Seas Programme. The app combines walking maps with videoguided tours, including a section specially designed for children. Whilst on the trail, video content, that was filmed on location, is triggered at key points, featuring tour guides such as Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Shelly Easton, as well as local experts. The trails talk about landscape features, climate change and how nature-based solutions can be used to help us adapt.

The first trail to be launched begins in the centre of Wedmore, taking in views across the Somerset Levels, and meanders through meadows, past dew ponds and over historic ridge and furrow field systems. A second trail will be launched by the National Trust, featuring behind-the-scenes footage of one of their most intriguing projects – beaver reintroduction and stage zero river restoration on Exmoor.

For younger walkers on the Wedmore

Iona, one of the guides on the Wedmore trail

trail, eight-year-old tour guide Iona leads the way in a section called Kids Corner and said: “I think people are going to have a lot of fun coming on the walk, and they’re going to learn lots about climate change and what people are doing about it in Somerset.”

Jolyon Chesworth, head of engagement at the trust, said: "Climate change is a scary issue and sometimes so overwhelming that as individuals we can feel helpless. By following the trails on the app we can help people explore some of Somerset’s most beautiful areas and learn about how nature can help us adapt to what is coming if we look after it.

“As a dad I sometimes find it hard to talk to my children about climate change. It will affect their lives and they need to learn about it so they can be part of the solution, but equally we don’t want to scare them.

Somerset county councillor David

A screenshot from the app

A view from Wedmore

Hall, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Community Infrastructure and chair of Somerset Rivers Authority, added: "This brilliant Somerset project is once again leading the way in generating awareness and ideas about how we can adapt to the effects of climate change. Recent flooding events in the county have served as a reminder that we need to be more prepared for changing weather patterns and this app shows everyone how important their actions can be to finding the solutions.”

Somerset Trails can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store or Apple's App Store

PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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ENVIRONMENT

Scouting around for biodiversity

A GROUP of scouts has been helping volunteers to remove vegetation at Worlebury Camp Iron Age hillfort on the edge of Weston-super-Mare.

The hillfort is a Scheduled Monument which was placed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register due to threats from vegetation and trees to the nationally significant archaeology.

North Somerset Council has been working with volunteers in the Worlebury Hillfort Group since 2016 to reveal new areas of the hillfort by removing vegetation. The scouts, from the 1st Ashcombe group spent two sessions working with the volunteers at the hillfort. They previously worked with the volunteers in 2019 and the Scouts and volunteers on Worlebury Camp hillfort area they cleared then is now to improve biodiversity. They seemed Challenge, Heritage, Environmental affectionately called “Scouts Glade”. and Team Work. William Fraher, of the very interested in the way the fort The work they carried out will help Worlebury Hillfort Group, said: “It was showed how people lived 2,500 years them towards earning a variety of great to see the scouts working so hard ago.” different badges including World For more on Worlebury Camp hillfort visit: www.nsomerset.gov.uk/hillfort or https://www.worleburyhillfortgroup.com/

Helping hedgehogs

PRICKLES Hedgehog Rescue, in Cheddar, suggests placing water in shallow containers in gardens to help hedgehogs during warm, dry spells.

Also make sure your shed and garage doors stay closed, poisons are out of reach, and check before strimming or using lawnmowers. Call Prickles if you see a small hog out during the day by itself.

Details: 07806 744772

Poetry message to COP26 leaders

POET Jessica Swales, from Kilmersdon, is one of 26 writers who have explored some of the UK’s most distinctive and important habitats and wild places for an online awareness campaign ahead of the COP26 climate conference.

Each writer composed a poem of exactly 100 words, released daily throughout September. The 26Habitats project is a collaboration between writers’ organisation 26 and The Wildlife Trusts movement.

For details, visit: www.26project.org.uk/26habitats

Encouraging wildlife

GREEN Wedmore has launched its latest project, a booklet Wild for Wildlife in Wedmore, which aims to encourage people to attract more wildlife to their gardens.

The booklet contains a wide range of tips and pointers to protect and encourage nature including how to build a pond and how to attract birds, bats, insects, amphibians, hedgehogs and flora, especially wildflowers.

Each section contains a wealth of detail with practical suggestions.

The project is part of Green Wedmore’s Carbon and Nature group, showing how the climate and nature emergencies are closely linked as are the solutions.

Steve Mewes, from the group, said: “Nature is a key part of the solution to the climate emergency and it needs our help in the UK which is tragically one of the most nature depleted countries

in the world.

“Wild for Wildlife in Wedmore will help encourage everyone on the Isle of Wedmore to garden with natural recovery in mind.”

In addition to the tips in the booklet there is a simple competition for everyone to take part in with the chance to win a certificate, a plaque and to be awarded a Gold Wildlife Star on a future village map.

Details: http://www.greenwedmore.co.uk/Latest-News/Wild-for-Wildlifein-Wedmore!.aspx

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 7

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MENDIP TIMES

Grants available

THE Mendip Hills Fund is now open for applications after not being able to make any awards in 2020.

The fund is supported by “visitor-giving” schemes such as those at local campsites and outdoor activity centres and event organisers making a donation.

As these businesses had a difficult year and events were cancelled in 2020 contributions to the fund dried up. But recent contributions have enabled the fund to open this year.

Grants will be awarded to support community and voluntary group projects that conserve and enhance the landscape; increase awareness, understanding and enjoyment of the area; support social and economic initiatives including enhancing community facilities or support for start-up of social enterprises, e.g. local food initiatives.

Grants of up to £2,000 are available for projects in the Mendip Hills AONB area through East Mendip to Frome.

Jim Hardcastle, Mendip Hills AONB manager said: “We're really grateful to the local businesses and event organisers

ENVIRONMENT

that have continued to support the Mendip Hills Fund despite the hardships they went through last year.

“It's more important than ever to help nature across the Mendip Hills. Grants in the past have helped some brilliant projects like restoring a bit of wasteland next to a village hall, providing tools to a conservation group and helping long term unemployed people learn conservation skills."

Details: Jim Hardcastle 01761 462338 Kirsty Campbell SCF 01749 344949 or apply online until October 31st https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/mendip

A woodland project at the Jubilee Playing Field in Easton

VILLAGE communities around Wells are being offered grants of up to £500 for small environmental projects with long term benefits.

The scheme has been set up by St. Cuthbert (Out) Parish Council as one of a range of initiatives developed by the council’s Environment Working Group. Tree planting, rewilding, renewable energy projects, repair workshops and improving footpath and cycle links are all listed as examples of what could attract parish council funding.

Group leader Councillor Gill Pettitt said the council is strongly committed to doing all it can to bring about environmental improvements and address climate change issues at local level. She said: “We are very keen to get local community groups involved in this.

“The ideas may be out there already but just need a bit of funding to get them going.”

Easton, Wookey Hole, Coxley, Polsham, Dulcote, Dinder and The Horringtons are amongst the 11 villages served by the parish council.

For details, visit: www.stcuthbertout-pc.gov.uk

PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Supporting the Large Blue

SOMERSET Wildlife Trust has Large Blue launched a new appeal to support the Large Blue butterfly, which was declared extinct in the UK in 1979, but was reintroduced to the South West in the 1980s.

The trust’s Green Down Nature Reserve, near Charlton Mackrell, is now home to the UK’s largest population of Large Blues, but their future is under threat because of climate change.

The drought in 2018 meant fewer red ant grubs and less wild thyme, both vital to Large Blue caterpillars, resulting in a steep fall in numbers in 2019 – from about 9,500 adults in 2018 down to only 3,800. The trust fears this spring’s cold snap will affect numbers too, though it will be 2022 before we know the full impact.

The appeal is raising funds to support important monitoring of populations at Green Down, and to carry out habitat and conservation work to provide the conditions that this rare butterfly needs.

The appeal’s ambition is to help build the population sufficiently, so the Large Blue butterfly can withstand climate shock and can also naturally colonise, or be introduced to, other nearby nature reserves in the Polden Hills.

In addition to the butterfly, the appeal will also benefit other species in the area, including the Shrill Carder Bee, one of the UK’s rarest bumblebees.

Details: https://www.somersetwildlife.org/largeblueappeal 01823 652429 send a cheque made payable to Somerset Wildlife Trust to 34 Wellington Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5AW

(Photo courtesy of John Lindley)

(Photo courtesy of Diana Newington, Easton Wildlife Group)

Making villages greener

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MENDIP TIMES

Managing milk production

AS with everything in farming, milk production goes in cycles. The cow gives birth, feeds her calf for a time, becomes pregnant again, continues to be milked until two months before she is due to give birth, has an eight week holiday, has a calf and the cycle starts again. This might sound quite With NICK artificial and draconian but it is exactly the GREEN same as it happens in nature.

If nature were left to control everything, the cow would normally give birth in late winter, she would suckle her calf when feed is most plentiful in spring and early summer, the bull would make the cow pregnant sometime in the spring and a couple of months before she was due to give birth her calf would wean itself and she would have a break.

That’s all well and good if the cows’ milk is destined for her calf. What doesn’t work as well is if the milk is destined for human consumption. Milk is needed all year. Using the cow’s natural cycle, the farmer decides what approach to take to their milk production.

It might be to calve their cows in late winter and spring and utilise the spring and summer grass growth by grazing their cows. Or, they might calve their cows in the autumn and rely on

grass conserved as silage for their cows’ winter feed. Or, if their milk buyer wants a level supply of milk every month, they calve their cows all year round.

The approach to milk production depends on its end use. For liquid consumption it needs to be “white water”. At the other end of the spectrum, cheese makers want milk as rich as possible. The higher the butterfat and protein levels the better.

All this aside, and whatever system the farmer follows, most cows will be disappearing from the fields into winter quarters soon. Cows enjoy being outside but just like us, when it’s cold and wet there’s nothing like a warm house, comfortable bed and plenty of food to help the winter fly by.

Nick Green is Farms Director for Alvis Bros Ltd based at Lye Cross Farm. He is responsible for the farming and estate business and is passionate about British food and farming. As well as the business, he is involved with a number of local and national farming charities.

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PAGE 10 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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FARMING

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MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 11

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MENDIP TIMES

Cheese show recipe for success Photos by Mark Adler

THOUSANDS of people flocked to the Frome Cheese and Agricultural Show where there really was something on offer to please all tastes.

Livestock – including an impressive sheep entry – family entertainment and, of course, hundreds of cheese entries, saw the show return to its pre-Covid best.

Some of the Jackdaws Songbirds on the Music Stage

Sadie and David Chapman, from Mark, with their championshipwinning entry

Show vice-president and cheese show steward David Heath looks on as judges Gareth McCabe (centre) and Jen Grimstone-Jones get to work

Frogmore Limousins in the grand parade of livestock

Strongman Mighty Mr Smith challenged allcomers to beat him in a race to tear directories in half

The Mini Shetland Gold Cup attracted a big crowd to the Village Green

PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Charlotte Webb, with Percy, one of two Silver Shires on show

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Fun on the giant inflatable slide

FROME CHEESE SHOW 2021

Frome Town Archers organised have-a-go sessions

One of the riders from the Bike Battle stunt team

A word in your ear – the grand parade Wild scenes in the front of the music stage when children’s tv performer . . .

Elli-May Adlam, from Bruton, was joined in her fundraising efforts by Eeyore. Elli-May wanted to say thank you to the charity after her family received support when she was hospitalised with e-Coli . . . Andy Day performed his dinosaur rap routine

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 13

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INTERNET

QR codes

I KNOW we have talked about QR codes before, but I’ve recently discovered another use for them, which I think is … useful.

When someone comes to your house, they might want to use your wifi, which normally involves getting it from the back of the router (or indeed having to turn your head to an unnatural degree to be able to read the back of it!) But if you are very efficient, you may have saved the card that came with it, and so can use that. Which still involves upper and lower case, numbers etc, which takes a time, because you have to get it right.

However, there should be a QR code there, so just use your phone or tablet to scan the code, and Bob’s your Uncle, as they say.

No doubt we have all seen the QR codes at entrances to shops, pubs, etc. So scanning with your NHS Covid app will save time and help the country to keep track of the virus.

There are lots of sites which offer a QR code generator, where you can put all sorts of information for anyone to access quickly and easily.

Web addresses are the most obvious, but there are all sorts of things. If you want to be able to share your phone number with friends, you could generate one and put it on your own phone, then friends can just scan in and off you go.

Or email addresses would work well too – phone numbers and email addresses are very specific of course, so being able to do it quickly and know it is right, is very useful.

If you are doing any fundraising, then creating a QR to access a JustGiving.com page, for example, which could generate a little extra income, especially as people tend to carry less cash now.

Plants at Garden Centres often have a QR code with them, so you can scan in and find lots of info about the size, planting etc.

Some restaurants (maybe mostly big cities I suspect) are using QR codes for people to access their menu, or pay with their phone etc. And so many places these days have a longing to be “liked” that many are using a QR code to direct you quickly to their Facebook page for instant response. Or even Twitter.

Submitted for I.T. for the Terrified by Lynne Duckett.

Although we have ceased our one to one tuition, a number of us will continue with this column under the heading “I.T. for the Terrified" to keep the name alive. This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. I.T. for the Terrified itfortheterrified@btconnect.com or it4ttcvh@gmail.com

PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS 1 Units of currency in Saudi Arabia (6) 5 Separate article or proviso in a contract (6) 10 Part of a deceased holy person kept as an object of reverence (5) 11 American illicitly distilled spirit (9) 12 In this village in 878 a peace treaty was signed by Alfred the Great and Guthrum the Dane (7) 13 Long sleeved woollen garment (7) 14 Recurring theme in a musical composition (9) 17 Small radio device that notifies the owner someone is trying to contact them (5) 18 Wide open space like Salisbury’s (5) 19 Sprite does not start to cover value of being fit to fly (9) 21 Place or means of access (7) 23 The isolated tower on top of Glastonbury Tor is the remains of a church. To which saint was it dedicated? (7) 25 Reference book particularly register or catalogue (9) 26 An Inuit’s house (5) 27 Ski in a winding path avoiding obstacles (6) 28 Chooses without a start but still chooses (6)

DOWN 2 Stood around doing nothing (5) 3 The final runner in a relay race (9) 4 River of Northern France. Its upper basin was the scene of heavy fighting in the first world war (5) 5 Change political affiliation in the House of Commons (9) 6 Passageway in church or supermarket (5) 7 Description of clothing that hugs the body (9) 8 Gardening hand tool (6) 9 Person inside clothes (6) 15 Marking the beginning of an activity or maybe someone taking office (9) 16 Change completely, metamorphose (9) 17 Forbid, especially by law (9) 18 Somerset’s highest village above sea level (6) 20 A primary colour (6) 22 Where in windows one would find spreadsheets (5) 23 Not for certain! (5) 24 That hard bit on the end of a shoelace (5) Clues in italics are cryptic

This month’s solution can be found on page 104

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MENDIP TIMES

Stanton Drew

Village bounces back

EVENTS

RESIDENTS in Leigh-on-Mendip organised a village day as their way to bring the community back together after the pandemic.

Unable to hold their traditional country fair for the past two years, the day offered villagers a scaled-down version with live music, stalls and children’s attractions.

Members of Stanton Drew WI

Derek Dixon from the Harness Goat Society with Quinn

The bouncy castle was set up inside the marquee

Polly Carroll and Steve Henderson

The coconut shy was a big hit with youngsters

Flower show judge Mary Payne

PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Leigh WI members (l:r) Tierna Dawson, Ann Orpwood and Jo Carter were selling teas

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Find flexible work from a friendly local agency ARE you a teacher or learning support assistant looking for flexibility, work-life balance and the opportunity to develop relationships and networks with local schools?

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If you’ve never considered a career in education supply before, now is a great time to start. Education People offer total flexibility to their candidates, giving you the freedom to choose when and where you work.

Whether you only have one day of availability, or if you want to be kept busy five days a week, they can accommodate your needs. Supply is brilliant if you are an NQT who wants to gain a bit more experience, if you have other commitments you need to balance alongside work, or if you are semi-retired and just want to dabble.

When you teach on supply, you don’t have the pressure or responsibility of managing your own class or needing to prepare lessons, so you can maintain your work-life balance and get paid weekly.

“This company has been amazing from the start. They gave me work for all the days that I needed in advance. If I

EDUCATION

couldn't there was no pressure. If I didn't want to travel that far, again no pressure. The schools are all fantastic and a pleasure to work for.”

“I have always felt valued by Sally and her team and the personal interest they show in supply teachers and their requirements is second to none. Thank you for letting me continue using my teaching skills well into retirement!”

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MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 17

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MENDIP TIMES

FOOD & DRINK

Time to pass the spatula

October is the best of months, glowing and burnished, with piles of autumn produce to lay up for winter and misty mornings with leaves turning red and gold and falling in drifts.

With JUNE Nature is thinking about having a MACFARLANE rest, and it’s time for me to vacate the Mendip Times stove and hand over to a new palate. I want to thank the Mendip Times and its editors for the privilege of writing this column, and all of you for reading it.

Please continue to support local producers, to eat seasonally, to avoid waste and to take your food seriously; we are beyond fortunate to live in this beautiful place.

ROASTED PARTRIDGE WITH CIDER, HERBS AND CREAM

INGREDIENTS

(For two) 2 oven ready partridges at room temperature Handful of sage leaves Handful of thyme sprigs 1 tbsp olive oil 2 knobs of butter 100ml cider 150ml dbl cream 1 tsp Dijon mustard Seasoning

Game comes into its own in autumn; the sauce for this makes the dish sing!

METHOD Preheat the oven to 200°C. Wipe the birds and place in a roasting tray with the herbs. Season well and drizzle the olive oil over.

Top each with a knob of butter.

Roast for 15-20 mins until golden. Remove from oven and reserve, upside down. Add the cider to the tray and bring to the boil. Add the cream and stir in the mustard. Lower the heat and reduce sauce.

Taste and season. Return the birds, with any juices, to the tray.

Serve with fluffy mashed potatoes and buttered cabbage.

APPLE CLAFOUTIS INGREDIENTS

(For four) Butter & sugar for dish 60g caster sugar 2 eggs 50g flour 1tbsp vanilla extract 250ml milk 30g butter, melted 3 eating apples, cored and thickly sliced Icing sugar

Autumn colours and flavours on a plate

WARM SALAD OF MUSHROOMS AND TOASTED SQUASH WITH BLUE CHEESE A substantial dish of great autumnal ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

(For four) About 1 kg of winter squash Handful of sage leaves, bruised 2 garlic cloves, sliced 100ml olive oil Large knob of butter 300g breakfast mushrooms, thickly sliced 150g blue cheese Seasoning 3 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar Salad leaves

METHOD Preheat oven to 190°C. Peel, halve and deseed the squash and cut into medium chunks. Put into an ovenproof dish with the sage leaves, garlic, and almost all the olive oil. Season and toss to coat.

Roast for about 40 minutes until softened and just coloured. Put the rest of the oil and the butter in a pan and fry the mushrooms with a little salt and pepper until cooked through and the moisture has nearly all evaporated. Whisk together three tbsp olive oil and the balsamic vinegar to make a dressing. Combine everything together, crumble over the cheese and serve warm with salad leaves.

A lovely dish for our wonderful apples.

They are baked in a vanilla scented batter which shows them off to perfection.

METHOD Preheat oven to 180°C. Butter a baking dish and dust with sugar. Whisk sugar and eggs together, add flour, vanilla, milk and whisk well. Stir in melted butter.

Arrange apple slices in dish and pour batter over. Bake in oven for 40 mins until puffed and golden. Dust with icing sugar and serve with cream.

PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Apples are shown off to perfection in this clafoutis

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MENDIP TIMES

Reasons to celebrate at Lye Cross Farm Shop

L CHEESE BA

2021 20 2 ME O

Lye Cross Farm Shop says it’s delighted to share some good news – they have recruited some fantastic new butchers.

Steve, Dan, David and of course John will be pleased to see you in the shop. The team say they would like to thank customers for their patience through the last couple of months.

The team are working on new products and extending their ranges to give you more choice and something a little extra from the counters.

There was also good news at the recent Global Cheese D S R FR A Awards where they were AW awarded four Gold awards for Lye Cross Farm Mild cheddar, Lye Cross Farm Farmhouse Mature Cheddar, Lye Cross Farm Farmhouse extra Mature Cheddar and Lye Cross Farm Farmhouse Vintage Cheddar They look forward to seeing you soon.

Towering success

Cyclists Misha Ostromecki and Ania Balcerek being served by Jenny Gully and Carol Davis

The Friends of Pensford Tower did a roaring trade serving teas to visitors in the village churchyard, raising £400 towards repairs to the tower.

Mendip Times reduces travel costs

GL O

PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business

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WILD FOOD

Edible or inedible?

WhiLST running my wild food and fungi forays i often like to play a game of edible or inedible. This is where i hold up similar looking plants, leaves or fungi and ask this question and invite my guests to guess which is which. it’s a lot of fun, well for me at least anyway. On this occasion it was a choice With ADRIAN between bracket fungi, the alleged edible one BOOTS being the famous Beefsteak fungus.

There cannot be a more aptly named fungus or one that inspires some to exclaim excitedly that it tastes just like steak, which i can tell you categorically it doesn’t. it does however look very much like a well marbled piece of meat and when you cut into young specimens they drip a blood-like latex. in fact the “hepatica” part of the Latin name refers to liver, which they can resemble.

Beefsteak Fungus (Fistulina hepatica), is 15 to 25cm across and up to 6cm thick, liver coloured on top with tubes (no gills) which are creamy coloured. The cut flesh is red, marbled with creamy white veins running through it when young. They are quite common in the autumn so look for them mainly on oak but sometimes on sweet chestnut.

There are many mushrooms on the edge of edibility. i am naturally suspicious about those that take too much processing to make them palatable and so i wonder if they should jolly well be left where they were found – out there on the edge somewhere!

Beefsteak fungus is a prime example, with recipes calling for it to be thinly sliced and soaked in milk for a long period or cooked for a long time with red wine, butter, herbs, onions and plenty of seasoning to make it the smallest bit tasty.

Maybe i’m being unkind to this poor fungus but for me the deal breaker is that after all the work of preparing and cooking you’re rewarded with a strong acidic taste which overpowers any mushroom flavour – if it ever had it.

All of which, in my book, makes it very much a “Marmite” thing: some love it, some hate it. So to answer the question is it edible or inedible, i would have to say on this occasion i prefer Marmite...

Avoid poisonous plants and fungi or those causing allergic reactions. Make sure you are 100% sure of your identification before eating any plant or fungi; avoid busy roadsides, dog walking areas, or places where chemicals may have been used. it is illegal to uproot or destroy any wild plant without landowner’s permission, but you can pick small quantities of leaves, nuts, and fruit on public rights of way.

Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist, Wild Food Forager and Adventure Activity provider. You can visit his website: www.gowildactivities.co.uk to learn more about wild food foraging and activities you can do with him on the Mendip Hills.

FOOD & DRINK

GARDEN FOOD

The joy of figs

NOW that we have a conservatory, i've taken to growing figs in there, as i've never had much luck with them outside. Figs seem to thrive as container plants and indeed the root restriction seems to encourage more fruiting. The fig varieties we grow in With JAKE the UK do not require pollination, but WHITSON many kinds grown elsewhere require wild figs nearby and a special kind of fig wasp to transfer the pollen.

Apparently, fig rolls are almost always made with these figs as they contain the seeds which contribute a crunchy texture and nutty flavour to the roll!

We keep our figs watered but never let them sit in water and feed them occasionally with a bit of fish, blood and bone to keep them topped up with nutrients.

This is the first year i've had two crops from our figs, which is apparently common in the Mediterranean but rare outside in the UK, with the first crop ripening from over-wintered embryonic fruits in the spring, and the second ripening now.

We grow a few varieties – “Jordan”, “Precoce de Dalmatie” and the popular “Brown Turkey”.

Figs are one of my favourite fruits – i find their lack of acidity and mild sweet flavour very soothing. Usually i eat them straight from the tree but occasionally i'll get round to making a dish with them. i particularly love pieces of fig wrapped in Parma or Serrano ham and i like to make a simple trifle with raw figs, sponge fingers, sherry, custard and whipped cream.

Figs are also incredibly delicious baked – i like to cut them in half, drizzle with a little honey, bake in a hot over for 15 minutes and serve still warm, with walnuts and mascarpone.

Jacob Whitson is a chef, food writer and smallholder – he divides his time between the Mendips and Pembrokeshire.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 21

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MENDIP TIMES

FOOD & DRINK

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From bite-sized to main courses: eat:FESTIVALS return

FReSh from a successful series of Little:eat mini food festivals in Street, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet and Wells, the organisers of the main eat:Festivals are returning to Nailsea and Burnham-onSea in full strength in October. eat:Nailsea and eat:Burnham will fill the town centres of both towns with more than 75 local food and drink producers, street food and entertainment. Burnham-on-Sea is a hometown gig for eat:Festivals; it is where organisers Bev and Sarah MilnerSimonds began their journey nine years ago. The markets have grown considerably since the first event and now have events in 15 town and city centre across Somerset, Devon, Dorset and the Cotswolds.

Nailsea is also hosting a festive edition of the food and drink festival with Christmas cheer, added tinsel and a visit from the man in big red trousers Cathedral Green was an ideal venue to eat himself! and relax

Somerset county councillor Tessa Munt (centre) on a visit to the Wells event with eat:Festivals organisers Bev and Sarah at the final Little:eat in Wells

eat:Nailsea takes place in the high Street and Crown Glass Shopping Centre on Saturday, October 2nd with the festive special being held on Saturday, December 4th. eat:Burnham-on-Sea takes place across the town centre on Saturday, October 23rd.

Mendip District Council commissioned the mini fresh food festivals using monies from the european Regional Development Fund to help bring back footfall to the district's towns and city, following the Covid crisis.

For details, visit: www.eatfestivals.org

butchers * fishmOngers * delicatessen

l Fresh meat l Fresh fish

l Local cheeses

l Fresh pastries Open nOw in & pies winscOmbe!

Open: monday – saturday 7am-6pm • sunday 10am-4pm

e cross, union street, cheddar, somerset bs27 3na • 01934 742521 email cobbsofcheddar@outlook.com PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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MENDIP TIMES

What’s cooking at festival

WeLLS Food Festival organisers are looking forward to another day of celebrating local food and drink in the heart of the city, on Sunday, October 10th.

The Artisan Market is the star attraction, with its array of Simon’s angels! Helpers Rachel, Donna and regional produce. But Alexa in the Fun Kitchen there are also exciting new areas to explore, including a celebration of english wine complete with tasting sessions. There are lots to entertain younger visitors starting with an interactive Gingerbread Man Trail. Pick up a map at the entrance with clues hidden in each of the main areas. A prize awaits all correctly completed sheets.

With a focus on seasonal produce and fun food facts, Simon Gray and his team from Fun Kitchen will be cooking up apple scone bread twists with children in four workshops. Suitable for ages three and upwards, these are free to join in, but numbers are limited so head over to the Fun Kitchen marquee in the Recreation Ground early on the day and book a place.

The festival is free to enter and runs from 10.30am-4.30pm.

For details, visit: www.wellsfoodfestival.co.uk

Hartley’s – always in season

Hartley’s The Café Bistro on the Mendips

www.hartleyskitchen.com Open from Wednesday – Sunday 9am – 3.30pm Fully licensed, great wine list, local beers & cider Our menu has local favourites, national classics, fresh fish, international dishes and fab desserts Now remodelled giving you a better eating experience for – Morning coffee, Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Sunday Lunch and Afternoon Tea

Hartley’s Café Bistro, Rookery Farm, Binegar BA3 4UL • Tel: 01749 841718 info@hartleyskitchen.com PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

heRe we are in the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, as John Keats wrote. how true, with a plethora of seasonal ingredients to use: apples and pears for perfect crumble, onions and quince, chillies and beetroot to make winter warming delights.

At hartley’s Café Bistro, at Rookery Farm, they take full advantage of the glories of the seasons. Breakfast with giant mushrooms with wilted spinach and hollandaise sauce; parsnips roasted for Sunday lunch; beetroot lovingly transformed into soup and pickles and main crop potatoes roasted with garlic and fresh rosemary all served up with perfectly cooked handmade pies.

Or how about local chillies diced into hartley’s famous curries to stave off the winter chill? harness these together with duck, venison and lamb for a wonderful hartley’s dining experience. Completing the circle will be salmon cooked with fresh dill as well as locally-caught trout. how are the taste buds doing? Get down to hartley’s and satisfy the craving.

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Magic in the air at country pub NiKKi and Mark hutchison have just celebrated their fifth anniversary running the horse and Jockey country pub in Binegar and are more convinced than ever that there is something special about its atmosphere.

They put that down to their many loyal customers – and many new faces – who visit for the food – always homemade – and drink, with a choice of seating in the traditional “cider bar”, main bar and dining room.

During lockdown, Nikki and Mark spent many hours lovingly redecorating the main bar area, reupholstering the seating, painting and decorating but still maintaining the pub’s traditional feel.

They are also full of praise for what Nikki calls the “Jockey Team” – 16strong and mostly from the local area.

Nikki said: “As well as our longstanding customers, we have been seeing many other people who are visiting Somerset on holiday and are seeking us out. i have always felt

FOOD & DRINK

Nikki and Mark: they refurbished the main bar during lockdown

there’s something magical going on here – whenever we’ve been a little anxious about things, something good always seems to happen.”

That includes a new arrival: ed, the horse, made out of horseshoes by a craftsman from Paulton called ed and standing in the car park to welcome visitors.

having held a party to celebrate their fifth anniversary – raising £160 through a raffle for the Mendip School attended by son Jack – Nikki, Mark and the team are gearing up for the festive season. They’re planning to have a live band at halloween and again in November and are just finalising their Christmas menus.

Dating from the 18th Century, the Horse and Jockey offers a cosy cider bar, main bar and restaurant where we serve traditional home-made meals, deep pan pizzas and a popular Sunday roast.

Nikki, Mark, their family and the team welcome you to a rare little jewel on the beautiful Mendip Hills in the village of Binegar.

Restaurant opening times: Monday-Saturday: Midday to 2pm and 6pm to 9pm Sunday: Midday to 3pm

Bar opening times: Monday-Thursday: midday to 3pm and 6pm to closing Friday: midday-3pm and 5pm to closing Saturday and Sunday: midday to closing

Whether it’s for a quick drink and a catch up with friends or to relax over a lovely meal, the welcome will always be warm with a very friendly atmosphere.

Thank you to all our amazing customers and Jockey Team who have supported us over the past five years; we love being part of the community!

Follow us on Facebook for all our news and events, including live music

The Horse and Jockey, Binegar Lane, Binegar, Radstock BA3 4UH. Tel: 01749 840537 • www.horsesandjockeybinegar.com MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 25

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MENDIP TIMES

Talking turkey

FOOD & DRINK

GeORGe Ford and his family at Nempnett Pastures are on a mission to produce food as naturally as possible and are now producing “Properly Pasture Raised Turkeys” the way nature intends.

Living completely outdoors, they are moved to fresh pasture every few days with their very own “Gobbledego” – a mobile structure which lets them perch up high as they would naturally in trees in the wild.

This system gives the birds a much cleaner environment for them to thrive in whilst encouraging them to forage and consume much more natural grasses, herbs and weeds than they would in a typical free range system. George is also incredibly passionate about the environment and is feeding these turkeys organic grains.

To keep the turkeys safe at night, the Fords have got themselves a livestock guardian dog, a Maremma, called Bear.

They are used to guard sheep in the italian mountains from wolves and other predators. Nempnett Pastures was born earlier this year when George decided to start a new enterprise on the farm; Pasture Raised Chicken. These are produced outside in lightweight, floor-less, portable shelters, which are moved by hand onto a fresh patch of pasture every single day.

Country shopping at its best

North Widcombe, West Harptree, Bristol BS40 6HW Opening times: Farm shop: Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm Saturday 8.30am - 5.30pm • Sunday 10am - 5pm Tea Room: Monday to Sunday 9am - 5.30pm

Wheelchair access, children welcome, free parking, coaches by appointment

TEA ROOMS

hot & cold meals Delicious cream teas Full english breakfasts Function room available for hire

MEAT SUPPLIED FROM OUR OWN FARM

Barbecue time with our home-produced meat

Emma Bridgewater China & other gifts

Enjoy a good Sunday roast

Reduce plastic – with our reusable glass milk bottles

Farm Shop: 01761 220067 • Tea Rooms: 01761 220172

PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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MENDIP TIMES

Turnip open

EnTrIES for the Turnip Prize, Wedmore’s version of the Turner Prize, will open on Monday, november 1st, with the closing date Friday, november 19th.

The winner of the work judged to have taken the least effort to create will be announced at the new Inn, Wedmore on Wednesday, December 1st.

View from the Tor

The 2020 winner

Details: Trevor Prideaux 01934 710004 or 0781 2848011

GLASTOnBury-based landscape photographer, Michelle Cowbourne, has been shortlisted for the royal Meteorological Society's Weather Photographer of the year 2021 award.

The competition attracted 3,300 photographers from 114 countries.

Michelle said it was a bitterly cold January morning when she went on her usual walk up Glastonbury Tor at sunrise and noticed that there was quite a bit of

mist forming below her.

She said: “I stood waiting for sunrise and the sky was a lovely colour on the horizon. As the sun rose the mists started to flow across the landscape enveloping trees and buildings as it moved. It was like time went into slow motion.”

A pool of experts have chosen their top three winners, but the competition is now open to a public vote at www.photocrowd.com/wpotyvote

Wild birds on the Levels – a study in stitch

TEXTILE artist Angela Knapp, based near Castle Cary, creates artwork by painting and drawing with fabric and thread.

After finding Midsomer Quilting in Chilcompton and discovering the world of textile art, Angela was inspired to buy her first sewing machine in 2012 and started to teach herself how to stitch and create art in this format.

Angela has always Working on an image of a bird of been fascinated by birds prey on which all her work is currently based. Increasingly she is drawn to create work that highlights the plight so many birds are now facing, birds that were once common when she was growing up in the 70s and are now on the British Trust for Ornithology red list.

Angela currently has a solo exhibition at ACEarts in Somerton called Thriving and Declining on the Somerset Levels A study in Stitch.

For details, visit: www.angelaknapp.co.uk

PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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ARTS & ANTIQUES

Auctions help us to reuse, recycle and repurpose AS the internet states, sustainability is the act of avoiding the depletion of natural resources to maintain an ecological balance. We regularly hear how crucial this is on the television, social media and in schools, but it is this balance that is needed by all of us after such a long period of instability.

It may not seem like much, but reusing, upcycling or repurposing is one small way in which we can contribute to the ecological balance and one which can give us an enormous sense of wellbeing and, depending on how much paint is spilt on the project, a lot of fun!

Not only that, but as anyone’s grandparents will tell you, furniture, for example, was made to last for generations, not just until the trend in interior design moved to another. It was made of solid wood, with solid joints.

And it is these pieces we should be sourcing to replace the flat-pack and cheaply made, mass-produced items. And if you don’t like the colour, sand it and give it a lick of paint, sew a cushion to go on top, or just enjoy the real wood grain and the knowledge that that item has been loved, appreciated and used by perhaps lots of families over the years.

The history of an object adds to its intrinsic value, and with years of polishing, for example, to its aesthetic value also.

As Tom Killen of Killens states: “Local auction houses are great places to find good value, quality items, whether a

vintage dinner service, chairs waiting to be brightened up with chalk paint, or that odd, quirky item that will make you smile whenever it catches your eye. They also provide an opportunity for us to play our part in promoting sustainability”.

With regular sales, the Mendip Auction Rooms will always have something of interest on offer, whatever your taste and style, for you to continue its story. Or give your objects a chance of a new story by consigning them to auction.

Contact the team at Killens on 01749 840770 or email enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk for further assistance

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 29

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Bumper autumn crop at Clevedon Salerooms

Clevedon Salerooms held their autumn Specialist Fine Art Sale on Thursday, September 2nd. The sale was the first specialist auction for With some 18 months to CHRIS YEO welcome bidders back into the room on the day. lively bidding was in evidence throughout the day with consistently strong prices, a sale total well over expectations, and an 87 percent selling rate from over 500 lots on offer.

Autumn is lyrically known as the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

Appropriately, it was fruit that provided some of the day’s strongest prices: a stunning single-owner collection of Royal Worcester fruit-painted porcelain tea and coffee wares were consigned from a returning Clifton customer.

Intense online and telephone bidding saw the eight lots leave their estimates standing, achieving over £15,000.

earlier, the jewellery section began proceedings. Highlights included £2,450 for a sapphire and diamond three stone ring and a sapphire and diamond pendant sold at £1,900. Watches immediately followed, where the top price was for a Cartier Tank Francaise lady’s wristwatch, which achieved £2,000.

Top of the tree in the silver section was a salver hallmarked for london, 1850, and later five-piece tea and coffee set with a GWR connection recorded in its inscription which steamed away at £2,300. An edward vII oval tray also fetched an impressive £1,950 and a canteen of flatware also exceed top estimate to take £1,900.

The sale featured a particularly strong section of medals. Highlight of them was the group to Wing Commander John Woodburn Gillan dFC AFC, who set a speed record in a Hawker Hurricane.

Consigned by his descendants, the lot attracted intense bidding before selling at £6,200.

ARTS & ANTIQUES

Amongst the offerings in the Asian Art section, an early 19th century Chinese porcelain baluster vase in “Hundred Boys” style decoration from a north Somerset farmhouse sold for a multiple-estimate £3,400.

In the picture section, performing with customary gusto, an l.S. lowry signed print of Berwick-upon-Tweed from a South Bristol property achieved £6,900. of more local interest, a rare three-pigeon oil on canvas by Andrew Beer, the “Thomas Gainsborough of pigeon painters” created a flutter of excitement (some might say a coup?) when it sold for £4,500.

Clevedon Salerooms next specialist sale (for which further entries are invited) will be held on November 25th

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 31

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MENDIP TIMES

ARTS & ANTIQUES

No DOUBT about it – sculpture divides opinion

Opinons are divided about the statue

A STATUE installed in an empty niche on the West Front of Wells Cathedral is continuing to spark debate.

Entitled DOUBT and loaned by sculptor Antony Gormley, the statue will remain in place for 18 months – with the possibility of it being replaced by other works of art by other artists in the future.

Comments on social media have been mixed, but no-one doubts that the artwork has renewed interest in the West Front.

Darek Malecki (left) and James Preston winch the statue into place

The sculpture has a dedicated presence on social media.

Find Niche338

OPEN STUDIO EXHIBITION

Chew Valley Arts Trail Originals| Prints|Postcards Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th October 10am - 6pm Church Lane Cottage Stanton Drew Bristol BS39 4EW Phone: 07464 951180 email: info@natashaclutterbuck.co.uk www.natashaclutterbuck.co.uk PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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MENDIP TIMES

BUSINESS

Long lease flats – how to sort out repairs

If you have a long lease (say 99 years) of a flat a common problem is dealing with repairs to the structure and exterior of the building.

Let us say for example that there is a leak in the roof which is leading to damp problems in the flats below. Very often the lease says the the flat owner (meaning the lessee) is not responsible for anything outside his/her flat and that repairs and maintenance will require a contribution to the cost of repairs. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for the freeholder (who is usually responsible for carrying out repairs to the structure of the building) to do nothing. What can be done to sort it out?

One solution would be to reach agreement with the other flat owners to get quotes for the necessary repairs and agree that you will share the cost on a voluntary basis. Of course, that only works if the other flat owners cooperate.

The long-term solution to this problem is for the flat owners to buy

the freehold themselves. By statute, provided at least half the flat owners participate, then they can ultimately force the freeholder to sell at a price which is determined in the ways set out in the legislation.

Another advantage of buying the freehold is that once you have done so, you can grant 999 year leases to each flat which should make them easier to sell.

Alternatively, if it would be too expensive to buy the freehold then the majority of the leaseholders could set up a “right to manage” company. If that was done and the right to manage acquired by serving all the relevant notices, then the company would take over the freeholder’s responsibility for carrying out repairs to the fabric of the building and in return it could collect service charges from the flat owners.

The better course is to buy the freehold if possible. The difficulty with right to manage companies is that, unlike freeholders, they do not have the ultimate sanction of being able to

threaten forfeiture of the lease if service charges are not paid. Right to manage companies don’t have that right so in practice it is difficult for service charges to be recovered from persistent non-payers.

EDWARD LYONS

Email: enquiries@lyonslaw.co.uk Website: www.lyonslaw.co.uk Telephone: 01275 332168

An established and progressive law firm providing a personal and cost-effective legal service for commercial and individual clients. l Family & Divorce Law l Co-habitation disputes l Inheritance disputes l Wills and Living Wills l Powers of Attorney l Administration of Trusts l Property – sales and purchases OFFICES AT: Chew Magna 01275 332168

Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506

Kingswood 0117 967 5252 MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 33

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MENDIP TIMES

ECATCHER MOL

Support for business

NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01761 417100 www.mendipmolecatcher.co.uk

Council leader, Ros Wyke, launching the scheme

COmmeRCIAL businesses in mendip are being invited to apply for funding to help them face the challenges and opportunities of the emerging economy, post Covid-19 and Brexit.

Grants ranging between £5-20,000 are up for grabs for the most promising project ideas.

The grant is aimed at businesses employing between five to 49 staff, who have a viable project idea which has the potential to “revitalise” their business – it is not a wage support grant.

Applications close at 5pm on monday, October 11th.

Details: mendip.gov.uk/revitalisegrant

PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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BUSINESS

Chamber launches 2022 business awards

Design business expands

eNTRIeS are now open for the Somerset Business Awards 2022 - the county’s biggest and most prestigious annual business awards which are organised by Somerset Chamber of Commerce.

Now in their 17th year, the awards are free to enter and businesses do not need to be a member of Somerset Chamber to take part. There is also no limit on the number of categories businesses can enter.

There are two new categories – employee of the Year and Rebuild and Thrive. The finals night will be held at Weston-super-mare’s Winter Pavilion on march 11th next year.

Alistair Tudor, Operations manager of Somerset Chamber, said he hoped firms would welcome the chance to celebrate their achievements: “I am grateful for the sponsorship of so many of Somerset’s leading businesses who, like me, are keen to celebrate everything that is great in the county, especially when so many have companies have worked so hard to rebuild and recover from the challenges of the last 18 months.”

Businesses have until December 3rd to submit their entries via the Somerset Business Awards website at: www.somersetbusinessawards.org.uk

DeANA ASHBY has specialised in designing bathrooms and interiors for 17 years but decided in June to open her studio on the Waldegrave estate at Chewton mendip to start selling homewares, gifts, fragrances, tiles, soft furnishings, house plants and more.

She still specialises in design, offering free initial consultations at the studio with design services starting at £250, and started her own business when she won Homes & Gardens design award in 2012. She has been based in the old cheese dairy on the

estate since 2014. Several craft companies are now based there.

Her showroom is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 10am-4pm, staffed

by Christine Sparrow and Taylor east. Lizzie Tanner, a design student from Loughborough, joined them for the summer.

Deana (right) and Christine Sparrow

FAMILY CAMPING Set in a large peaceful field, we are a friendly campsite offering spacious pitches with a children’s play area Bicycle Hire – all sizes and trailers | Firepits for Hire | Calor Gas and Camping Gaz

North Wootton BA4 4HL | Tel: 01749 890497 | www.greenacres-camping.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 35

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MENDIP TIMES

National Friendly and The Bristol Hippodrome expand award winning charity fundraiser partnership – new school workshops

NATIONAL friendly and The Bristol Hippodrome have announced a substantial initiative of their community support and unveiled new ambitious plans to raise funds for a Bristol charity. The centrepiece is a new 12 month partnership for their award winning “matinee mingle” events, which are designed to combat loneliness in the community.

The theatre noticed that in the past, several hundred customers purchased a single senior rate ticket. As a result, The Bristol Hippodrome launched the “matinee mingle”, which aims to bring together theatre lovers aged 60 and above who would have otherwise attended shows alone, giving them the chance to

make new friends and meet like-minded people. matinee mingle began in collaboration with LinkAge Network and Age UK Bristol, two Bristol local charities which empower older people to lead fulfilling and satisfying lives. The charities merged in April 2020 under one name Age UK Bristol and LinkAge will continue as a recognisable service within Age UK Bristol.

National friendly will now build on its important contribution which helped to get the matinee mingle established and it will now be the lead sponsor of the event for the next 12 months at least.

Announcing the enhanced partnership, Steve Jones, The Bristol Hippodrome’s Head of

Ben Phillips, The Bristol Hippodrome’s Theatre Director – Kurtis Reece, National Friendly’s PR & Strategic Partnerships Executive PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

marketing & Communications said, “We are delighted to be continuing and growing our partnership with National friendly, who have been an important part of the Bristol community for over 150 years.

They are an organisation whose ethos is to help people to prepare for life’s contingencies and so the expanded “matinee mingle” represents an important milestone for our two organisations, as we strive to give back to the communities which have supported us both.”

A wide range of important charity initiatives will link in to the headline agreement.

National friendly’s previous charity of the year, Southmead Hospital Charity, will benefit from a range of joint fundraising initiatives to take place in and around The Bristol Hippodrome, with a fundraising target of £30,000 set. The initiatives will support the hospital’s leading research into Long-Covid.

Kurtis Reece, National friendly’s PR & Strategic Partnerships executive explains, “Last time we collaborated with Southmead Hospital Charity in 2019 to support their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), we raised £26,500, so a target this year to raise £30,000 seems both realistic and achievable.” “fundraising competitions will take place during the pantomime season, which will be publicised via Southmead

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Hospital Charity’s website and the Hippodrome’s 150,000 plus social media followers,” added Reece.

Adrian Brown, Southmead Hospital Charity’s Community & events manager comments, “Donations from the local community – whether groups, individuals or dedicated businesses like National friendly – sit at the very heart of our fundraising.

“The money raised will be used to support vital research into the impact of Long-Covid, the symptoms of which can be wide-ranging, long-lasting, and life-changing. Our researchers are working with the first group of Covid-19 patients involved in a study, which means their findings are particularly vital for understanding the long-term effects of this virus. National friendly has already raised an incredible amount and we are so grateful for the support and care that the whole team at National friendly continue to show the staff and patients here at Southmead Hospital.”

The family friendly Hippodrome draws its audiences from Bristol and the surrounding five counties, so boasts an impressive footprint in the community at large.

New schools workshop programme National friendly and The Bristol Hippodrome have also announced an important and wide ranging Bristol schools workshop programme to give students a unique opportunity to develop and build their communications skills in collaboration with theatre experts.

The Bristol Hippodrome’s Creative Learning and Communities Programme will

BUSINESS

Ben Phillips, The Bristol Hippodrome’s Theatre Director – Kurtis Reece, National Friendly’s PR & Strategic Partnerships Executive and Adrian Brown, Southmead Hospital Charity’s Community & Events Manager

offer in-school workshop’s for classes of up to 30 people to develop critical thinking, communications and creative thinking skills. The Bristol Hippodrome will use well known and successful drama practitioners to lead workshops, with the content designed to fit and bring to life the school’s existing learning objectives.

Kurtis Reece adds “The education of pupils is now under serious pressure due to the pandemic. As a result, it is the most vulnerable children from disadvantaged backgrounds who are most at risk. We have taken the opportunity to help schools shape the future for young people by developing new creative ways of delivering learning and support which will not only benefit the pupils but both teachers and parents as well.”

Ben Phillips, The Bristol Hippodrome’s Theatre Director ends, “Creative partnerships such as this between National friendly and The Bristol Hippodrome illustrate perfectly how successful local businesses

can come together with established and world renowned arts organisations to add opportunity and real benefits to the communities they serve. We are delighted that our Creative Learning and Communities Programme will be made available to more schools and we’re honoured to be able to help National friendly with their fundraising for an organisation so cherished locally as Southmead Hospital Charity.”

The matinee mingle is free to attend for those aged 60 and above and takes place an hour before selected mid-week matinee performances in The Bristol Hippodrome’s Piano Bar. members need to purchase their ticket for the show they wish to see by calling 0844 871 7615* or www.atgtickets.com/bristol and then book their space.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 37

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MENDIP TIMES

Glastonbury Town Deal meetings

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THe first in a series of community-focused open day events about the multi-million pound Glastonbury Town Deal projects will be held at the beginning of October. following the submission last month of the confirmation paperwork for the 12 projects outlined in Glastonbury’s Town Investment Plan, the Glastonbury Town Deal Board, project leaders and support team are now working on the detailed business cases required by the government for each of the projects.

Glastonbury is one of 101 towns in the UK to receive investment as part of the government’s Town Deal fund scheme.

Set to bring £23.6m of investment into the town, it received the highest award in the South West and one of the highest per capita in the UK. Part of the business case process involves developing the project proposals into detailed plans. As a result, each of the projects will hold open day events over the coming months with the local community to help shape their projects.

The first event will focus on the St Dunstan’s House Community and Wellbeing Centre. This project aims to provide a Covid-secure hub where local community groups and organisations can meet, learn and do business, helping to grow the economy, reduce deprivation, and improve health and wellbeing for local residents.

Organised by Glastonbury Town Council, the open day will take place at St Dunstan’s House from 4pm until 7pm on friday, October 1st, then again from 10am until 12 noon on Saturday, October 2nd.

Chair of the town deal board, Robert Richards, said: “The Town Investment Plan for Glastonbury was developed following consultation with the local community. Now, as we start to work on the detail of the individual proposals, we’re keen to gather feedback and ideas from local residents and businesses. These projects are being delivered by the people of Glastonbury, for the people of Glastonbury, so we would encourage as many local residents as possible to come along, share their thoughts and get involved in driving the direction of the projects that are set to deliver huge benefits for our town.”

For details of the 12 projects, visit: www.mendip.gov.uk/glastotowndeal

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The real cost of stuff

mY big brother has been in business for decades. He has, I have to say, been successful at what he does and, over the years, has dispensed some sound advice. He visited recently and thoroughly enjoyed a home-cooked meal of our local produce.

He has travelled the world, but asked to repeat a meal I had previously cooked for him as a special birthday treat – Somerset rib of beef (dry aged for more than a month), triple cooked chips (local organic potatoes) and a cheese board from the Deli in Wells.

It was really good.

Over lunch, we were discussing how the food I served had hardly travelled any distance and, whilst the quality was superb, the environmental impact was minimal. This led on to a pretty intense discussion about the true cost to the environment of some of the stuff we use without thinking.

There are many everyday items which we need to be thinking about, but one thing I found out which wouldn’t be in my usual realm of knowledge, was the effect of virtual currencies on the world. Virtual currencies are gaining in popularity and, until recently, elon musk accepted payment for his Tesla cars in Bitcoin.

Until, that is, he realised how unfriendly to the environment it actually is. Asked if I knew anything about the running of Crypto Currencies and its environmental cost, I had to admit I knew embarrassingly little. my brother, it turned out, knew more.

It has been reported that crypto currencies such as Bitcoin, ethereum and Dogecoin are increasing in popularity and are being used more than ever now. Trading of these currencies takes place online and when someone starts to trade their Bitcoin, a competition is triggered so that computers across the globe engage in a race to work out a hugely complex computation to 25 digits.

The computer that wins gets a reward of 6.2 bitcoins. At current prices, this is a reward of around £163,600. This is simplistic and

BUSINESS you may know more, but you get my drift… These competitions are running constantly and they use far more electricity than all humanity browsing the web.

In fact, a study at Cambridge University has calculated that Bitcoin “mining” (the term for this activity) uses more energy than Argentina. Yes, that’s right. The power used by these activities puts them in the top 30 countries in the world based on energy consumption.

All right, so this is an extreme example perhaps, but wealth is being poured into this power-hungry facility unceasingly.

Likewise a growing trend is for Crypto Art, which commands huge prices and uses the same online networks as Bitcoin and the others.

This art requires massive amounts of power to keep it “live”.

Now, this piece is way outside my usual remit, but I am waking up to the fact that there are many hidden costs behind the goods and services we know about, and frankly some we don’t!

Having grown-up children – and maybe one day grandchildren – I ask myself what legacy I want to leave them? If we carry on in the same way, it frankly isn’t looking good. I am, however, an optimist and I genuinely feel that immediate change can and will help the world to heal.

In order to do this, we need to know what we are dealing with in all its worst forms and to stop encouraging destructive behaviours.

As for me? I shall be using a local company I know to undertake an environmental audit of Probusiness to ensure that we can do no more to lessen our carbon footprint on this precious world.

Thanks for reading, and stay well!

JANE BOWE PROBUSINESS

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 39

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MENDIP TIMES

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All change with the Trust Registration Service?

AS part of the continuing global effort to enhance tax transparency, the eU passed The fourth money Laundering Directive (4mLD) in 2015. The Directive set out a requirement for member States to establish a central trust register. Under these regulations, trustees of certain trusts were required to maintain up-to-date records of all the beneficial owners of the trusts, including potential beneficiaries.

Historically, this has meant that only tax paying trusts needed to formally register with Hm Revenue & Customs (HmRC) using their online Trust Registration Service (TRS).

All change The fifth money Laundering Directive (5AmLD), significantly extends the scope of the TRS, and it is estimated that up to ten times as many trusts will be affected with lots of small or non-tax paying trusts now needing to register who hadn’t previously.

The changes will mean that all express trusts will now need to be registered with the TRS by September 1st, 2022 or penalties will be imposed on the trustees.

What needs to be done?

The online TRS system, accessed via the Government Gateway, now requires trustees or their agent to enter basic details about the trust, including the persons involved (settlors, trustees and beneficiaries). The TRS must also be updated regularly with any changes to the trust, for example a change of trustees.

BUSINESS

Exemptions There are some trusts that will continue to be exempt from registration, but the list is small. It includes life policies that are held in trust, charitable trusts which are registered as a charity in the UK, or which are not required to register as a charity, and co-ownership trusts set up to hold shares of property or other assets which are jointly owned by two or more people for themselves as “tenants in common” (but not where anyone else owns an interest in that property).

Trustee responsibilities If you are a trustee, you are responsible for registering the trust with the TRS. failure to do so is likely to result in penalties being charged by HmRC, so it is important that you are aware of your obligations and make sure you have complied by the deadline of September 1st 2022.

New trusts will have 30 days in which to register with the TRS. Once registered, trustees will have 30 days from when they are made aware of any changes to update the details.

Next steps If you are unsure whether you need to register a trust or you would like our assistance in registering the trust with the TRS then please contact emma Batstone on emma.batstone@mogersdrewett.com or call 01935 813691.

We have a specialist trust team at mogers Drewett, and can advise on all aspects of trust law, from creation to winding up, and providing ongoing assistance with trust administration.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 41

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MENDIP TIMES

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Memorial to Roger Pike

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THE Roger Pike Memorial Cup was presented in his memory at a special steam up at Fair Ash, Greenacres Egg Farm, in the Chew Valley, where he worked for 40 years.

Roger, who was born in 1950, died in April. He joined Wessex Stationary Engine Club in 1978 and had been an active member ever since, a committee member for 11 years

Roger Pike with his engine, an early 1900s Amanco Chorboy

Linda Pike (2nd right) with her helpers, with another of Roger's engines – a Leek gas engine dated 1890

The first signs of spring!

PREPARATIONS are well underway for the 2022 Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival, due to take place in February.

Organisers have been out and about selling packets of snowdrops with the aim of creating a blanket of flowers around the town.

Meanwhile, members of the Shepton Mallet Knit and Chat group are working on knitting and crocheting thousands of flowers for a surprise project at their weekly gatherings at the Art Bank Café. The project was the idea of artist, the Rev. Gill Sakakini, who is the Bath and Wells Diocese “pioneer priest” for the arts.

Festival supporters (l:r) Chrisi Kennedy, Zena Pollard, Yvette Williams and Royston Cox, outside the Tesco store

and president for the last three years.

His wife, Linda, who still attends rallies, said: “It was a fantastic Memorial Day for my wonderful hubby, Roger. We raised £900 for Dorothy House. A big thank you to all who came.”

Roger and Linda, from Chilcompton, had three children, Simon, and twins Jason and Trudy, plus nine grandchildren.

They would have been married for 49 years on September 16th.

The memorial cup, created especially for this and future annual events, was presented for the best stationary engine, to Pete Gear and his Ruston Hornsby.

The Rev. Gill Sakakini with members of the Knit and Chat group

Gill, from Cranmore, said: “Snowdrops are a sign of hope and this is an organic way to connect the church’s work with the wider community.

There’s going to be an element of surprise when the Knit and Chat’s work is revealed!”

Volunteers will again be selling bags of snowdrops outside Tesco in Shepton Mallet on Saturday, October 2nd.

Where will these snowdrops appear?

The Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival takes place from February 5th-27th. For details, visit: www.sheptonsnowdropfestival.org.uk

PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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NEWS

Pilton forges stronger links with Botswana

THE High Commissioner of Botswana has praised the efforts of people living in Pilton to help people in his home country tackle the crippling impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr John Seakgosing paid his second visit to the village to join in Africa Day – a celebration of the arts, music and culture of South Africa.

In 2019, villagers launched a project called X-Change to build stronger links between the UK and Botswana but the pandemic has increased the urgency of their efforts to fund a respite centre – with craftspeople from Pilton offering their services to build the complex.

Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis was amongst 100 guests at the Cape Hotel for the celebrations.

Dr Seakgosing, who was joined by his wife Lulu, told guests: “Covid-19 has caused terrible problems in my country. We are in a desperate state.

“What heartens me is the attitude of people here in Pilton – with carpenters, builders and others offering to come to Botswana to help us.”

Organiser Nkele Montshiwa – her shawl is a traditional part of Botswanan dress

Walk of Life

Michael Eavis with Lulu and Dr John Seakgosing The high commissioner during his speech

Craig the bagpiper leads the Botswanan high commissioner and guests to the celebration

SOME 200 walkers took part in the Walk of Life along the Kennet & Avon Canal for the Royal United Hospital’s charity, The Forever Friends Appeal, raising more than

A group of walkers finish at the Holburne Museum in Bath

Two walkers with their Walk of Life medals

£25,000.

Funds will help the charity invest in life saving medical equipment and life changing services at the hospital. Next year’s event will be on Saturday, May 21st and places will open soon.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 43

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MENDIP TIMES

Fighting development in Frome LAND financier LVA plans to build houses on several hundred acres of productive farmland in Little Keyford on the South Side of Frome. While it may be true that Frome needs more housing, particularly social housing, the sheer size of this proposed development is difficult to justify.

Selwood Garden Community as the development is called, could amount to 1700 new homes when combined with other planned new builds in the same area. That is far more than is required to meet government quotas.

SGC is not a part of any local plan, which is really out of the ordinary for a site this large. We have a plan-led system in this country for a reason and to bypass that system with a build of this magnitude will have knock-on effects for the community for years to come.

The fact that this is not in the local plan proves it is not designed for the benefit of local people, or even designed with local infrastructure in mind.

LVA has made promises about new facilities but they won't be around to see it through. They will parcel up the land on this site and sell them on to housing developers for a tidy profit. What this means is no one will be held to task to deliver on any of the amenities laid out in the “master-plan”.

As we have seen happen again and again, Selwood Garden Community (SGC) is likely to become another dormitory estate, a “commuter ghost-town”. Leaving us with more congestion, more air pollution and doing very little to benefit the people who already live in Frome.

Very few of the houses will be at all affordable and only a tiny percent are expected to be the social rented homes that local residents really need. What we will see, instead, are 1700 executive homes for commuters designed specifically for easy access out onto the bypass.

The environmental cost of this development cannot be overstated either. The fields at Little Keyford are home to a wide variety of wildlife. There are ancient hedgerows, supporting delicate ecosystems, and miles upon miles of green, arable land that could be used to grow food, not be

Paulton residents in uproar

RESIDENTS in Paulton’s “Wimpey Estate” have received A5 flyers proposing a new development of about 130 new homes in the village.

The development would run along the existing housing estate and is proposed on green land located between Paulton and Farrington Gurney, which is often seen as one of the area's prime walking locations with stunning views.

In the leaflet, the developer Gladman, says: “This consultation provides you with an opportunity to shape our proposals at an early stage in the process.”

They go on to suggest the “community benefits” of housing for all, public open spaces, a children’s play area, allotments and economic benefits.

One resident, Anne Davies, whose property would back on to the proposed development, said: “The Farrington Road proposal would completely ruin a beautiful area which already has a public footpath that many use on a daily basis. Paulton is already too overpopulated and the amenities over stretched.”

Another resident, Jodie Urch, said: “We do not believe that PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

ripped up and turned into a concrete wasteland.

As soon as the building work starts SGC will result in destruction of an area two times the size of Bruton.

There are many of us very concerned that there has been and continues to be a high level of development concentrated in Frome. Almost a year ago the community led group Stop SGC was formed to take urgent action against this.

There are currently a total of five Frome sites with consent for house building – among these is the contentious Saxonvale development in the town centre. Altogether these sites could yield 970 homes, more than enough to cover the shortfall for the whole of Mendip for the next five years.

We at Stop SGC believe that while Frome needs houses they should be the right houses in the right place; supported by urgent improvements to the local infrastructure (schools, medical facilities, local employment etc).

They should also be built to high standards, and not be more of the same poorly insulated, poorly designed, box houses that will be blight on the landscape and need retrofitting in five years.

If the prospect of this build worries you as much as it does us, please join the campaign at StopSGC.org LOLLIE MELTON

Paulton has enough capacity in its infrastructure for more homes. There are still homes being built and proposed on the Purnell’s estate, so how can a village the size of Paulton support any more? The local schools, doctors and dentist surgeries are all full!”

Opinion page.qxp_Layout 1 23/09/2021 14:38 Page 45

READER’S OPINION

Greed, not need is destroying the culture of village life WHY do people choose to live in a village rather than in a town with bistros, art galleries, cinemas, hospitals and the convenience of public transport?

Is it the star-filled skies? Walks on our doorstep through open countryside over the Mendip Hills? The peace and tranquillity that refreshes the mind, or the trees, flowers and birds that make us pause for a moment?

Perhaps it is the quintessential village pub with its tempting log fire or the village Post Office and stores where just about everyone in the village is known.

Or maybe the skittles club, village green, cricket team, football league or the heaviest marrow at the village flower show?

Village life is not for everyone, it is a culture that deserves respect and protection but sadly this choice of where we live is being steadily eroded.

Politicians and planners need to understand it, not destroy it.

The once self-contained villages renowned for looking after their own residents (and proved successful at doing so yet again during the lockdown, at no cost to the government) are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Green belt was created to prevent urban sprawl into the countryside. No urban sprawl is leapfrogging over the 14-mile wide green belt – what protection is offered to villagers?

In one of the biggest rural land-grabs ever seen, ancient hedgerows are being ripped out and replaced by iron railings.

Green fields are melting into a mulch of badly designed housing estates without a solar panel in sight and the minimum standard of insulation. Housing estates, miles from employment and viable public transport, are turning single-track rural roads into gridlocked rat-runs too dangerous for walkers, cyclists and riders.

In 2018, Government advisor, Professor Paul Cheshire, Professor Emeritus of Economic Geography at LSE and an expert in urban and land use economics, commented that we should be protecting land such as our AONBs and “sensitive sites”.

Referring to the large swathes of Green belt he commented that we should not be freezing towns and cities through boundaries that are “set in aspic since the 1950s”. Professor Cheshire went on to say: “We need only release a very small

amount of Green belt land to solve the housing problem. If we don’t, we will end up with a free-for-all that benefits noone.”

Three years on, that is precisely what we have, a lucrative, developer’s “freefor-all”. What we need is housing close to existing infrastructure and viable public transport. What we have got is wholesale greed that can only be likened to a cancer in its relentless quest to destroy village life and good-quality agricultural land.

Take Churchill, a village of some 850 houses, it has recently accepted more than 300 additional houses (with still more unbuilt) in a series of estates giving the false perception of an out-of-town suburb on the A38, but without the infrastructure.

Classified as one of the nine North Somerset “service villages”, it is one of the least sustainable (it is in fact two small distinct villages), the nearest train station (4.8 miles) has no bus link. Local schools are full, with children being taxied to schools as far away as Backwell (eight miles) and offered secondary places at Worle (seven miles).

Just try your “luck” to get a GP appointment. The new houses are now advertised in Manchester and London which suggests that local and regional need has been satiated. The nearest employment centres are Bristol (16miles) and Weston-super-Mare (nine miles).

The mainly executive homes are not affordable or accessible to local people yet the “free for all” developers continue to put in yet more applications; recently for 87 houses (62 houses in the historic conservation area at the foot of the popular Windmill Hill, and 25 houses adjacent to the Mendip Hills AONB below The Crown Inn).

Eye wateringly audacious claims are

This site is under threat from developers

made with impunity by developers in their planning statements, e.g. the availability of local employment (none), the “local need” (no evidence), a sports centre and swimming pool (closed since March 2020), the development would, “enhance the local landscape” yet the site is in the historic conservation area bounded by Grade 1 and 2 listed buildings, an area that is cherished by local walkers for its tranquillity and views.

Villages need housing for young families who wish to remain close to the support from their families and friends but are currently priced out of the market.

Parish councils should be incentivised to build good quality, affordable, ECO, zero carbon homes on small sites for rent to local people where instead of the housing association grabbing all the rent, the parish council receives a small proportion in perpetuity in exchange for the land. This could be used to employ a youth worker or provide services for local people.

North Somerset Council is saddled with an algorithm allocating massive housing in an area where the vast majority of the land is green belt (approx 42%), AONB or flood plain. If only the government had listened to their advisor, Professor Paul Cheshire, that supply could have been achieved by taking just 2% of the green belt adjacent to Bristol where the infrastructure is already in place and the “exceptional circumstances” needed to use it, clearly exist; this still remains an option for the council.

The culture of village life, our countryside which is nurtured by our farmers and villagers must remain as an option for future generations.

JAN MURRAY MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 45

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MENDIP TIMES

Boost for charity at implement sale

SUPPORTERS of Childrens Hospice South West set up a fundraising stall during the Priddy Implement Sale, raising almost £400 for the charity.

Priddy Church held an all-day cream tea event in a marquee on the green. The next day, an animal service was jointly held

by Priddy, Easton and Westbury churches with William Newton Newey and the Rev. Doris Goddard taking the service. Priddy Friendly Society then hosted a village picnic and children’s games afternoon.

CHSW stallholders Liz and John Turley and Sue Cartmel were joined by retired shopkeeper John Barkle (seated) who is selling copies of his memoirs in aid of the hospice

The animal church service on the green

The sale on Priddy Green

Charity’s lottery support

BIllyCHIP, the charity supporting rough sleepers, has been awarded almost £10,000 from the National lottery Community Fund.

The funding will pay for 300 BillyChip starter packs, which will be given free of charge to new food and drink outlets signing up to the scheme.

The BillyChip platform allows people to purchase a token from participating food and drink outlets which can then be given to rough sleepers and homeless people as an alternative to cash.

They can then redeem the BillyChip for food, drink and other products. The starter packs contain 25 BillyChips, window stickers and decals and a range of items including posters and strut cards.

Meg Abernethy-Hope, from Bishop Sutton, co-founder of BillyChip, set up in memory of her brother, and recent winner of a Diana Award, said: "We're over the moon to have been recognised by the National lottery for the work we are doing with the homeless.

“Thank you to everyone who supports the BillyChip. We really wouldn't be able to do this without you!"

PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Mendip Cave Rescue core members Estelle Sandford and John Begley were on first aid duty – and helped to run the MCR bar

Meg and her father Jon showing examples of the starter packs

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Boost for cycling

CyClING charity, life Cycle UK, is about to launch in Somerset urging residents to give cycling a go.

It will join with community organisations across the county to offer a range of fun and supportive activities to boost cycling skills and confidence – and make local communities more cyclefriendly.

The initiative will provide everything from industry-recognised training for bike mechanics to financial support to get a quality, refurbished bike.

Cycle training sessions will be available for adults, helping new cyclists to discover the joys of riding a bike and giving returning cyclists the confidence they need to get from A to B. life Cycle UK will also install free Sheffield stands, enabling local venues to provide safe and secure cycle parking.

Details: https://www.lifecycleuk.org.uk/get-somersetcycling

Autumn season

WESTON HospiceCare has announced the launch of the autumn/winter range in its charity shops.

From coats, boots, accessories, jackets, jeans and more, their shops are now stocked with seasonal donated goods.

Director of retail, Emma King, said: “We don’t yet know what treasures we will find which gives a perfect excuse for charity shop lovers to tour all of our shops to find their autumn winter clothing.”

The charity’s shops are located in Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon, Burnham-on-Sea, Cheddar, Congresbury and Winscombe.

Charity cyclist

IAN Williams, aged 63, from Wells was due to be approaching land’s End as Mendip Times went to press, a month after setting off on his bike from John O’Groats.

He’s raising money for local mental health charity, Heads Up, which he’s previously supported by running the london Marathon and through other events.

He works in the packing department at Charlie Bigham’s, who sent him on his way with some meals. They will also make a donation.

Ian said: “I’m feeling fine, but have been getting to bed early.

I’d forgotten it was my birthday until my sister phoned me.”

He’s been joined by various friends en-route and stopped off in Wells on his way to continue fundraising.

Details: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ianwilliams-445?utm_term=Q6qnKmey7 www.headsupsomerset.org.uk/

CHARITIES

Chew event supports RNLI

AS a tentative first event after lockdown, Chew Valley RNlI Fundraising Branch held its Tea & Cakes by the lake event, which raised about £1,000, supported by 120 people.

Musical interludes were expertly provided by Ruth Kenyon, a professional harpist from Bath, which added to the enjoyment of the event.

They had hoped to run their annual curry lunch in November but have postponed this, possibly until February, when the Covid situation is clearer.

Details: www.rnli.org or Tim Gracey tandbgracey@gmail.com

HorseWorld’s new chair

RESCUE charity HorseWorld has announced the appointment of Desi Dillingham MBE, as chair of the board of trustees.

She was founding chair of British Dressage (19972007), president of the British Horse Society (2007 – 2011) and chair of the Animal Health Trust British Equestrian Awards 2002-2012.

Her career spans Desi Dillingham all equestrian circles including having a major involvement in British breeding and playing a central role in fundraising for the equestrian section of British Olympic Team since the 1980s.

HorseWorld, based at Whitchurch, is dedicated to saving the lives of abandoned, neglected and mistreated horses, ponies and donkeys.

The charity is also home to the unique Discovery educational programme for disadvantaged and vulnerable young people and adults offering a learning programme that brings them together with gentle rescued horses.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 47

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MENDIP TIMES

Another world record for Frome and Rachel Clark

FUNDRAISER Rachel Clark has broken a second Guinness World record, raising £1700 for local cancer charity We Hear you, thanks to 671 skittles players.

Rachel said: “What a phenomenal day!

It was fantastic to be back together again, smashing a world record and raising money for WHy under the sunny blue skies with wonderful people!

“We weren’t sure people would come out in the numbers we saw in 2018 and 2019 after a tough year and a half, but you came, you skittled and (pending official verification), you conquered!”

WHy’s fundraising and communications manager, Gemma Wilkes, said “Rachel has done it again – we’ve never known anyone with such drive and determination and so many ideas!

“She’s an inspiration and that shows in the huge and dedicated team that has

Hundreds take coast-to-coast challenge

grown around her. As well as raising an amazing £1700 for our small charity, Rachel’s contribution to raising our profile and helping people who need support to find us is immeasurable.

“All Rachel's fundraising is in memory of her mum Shirley and we’re sure she’d be very proud.”

Pending official verification Team Clark broke the existing world record for the most players in an eight-hour game of skittles by 203 players, with 671 people taking part. The team broke the Guinness World record for the most participants in a 24-hour rowathon in June 2018, with 678 participants.

Those who took part included former patients who had experienced the work of the air ambulance first-hand. Others cycled in memory of loved ones, as a personal challenge, or as a team.

At 82 years young, Brian Dale (pictured) was the oldest participant completing the 55-mile route.

Bill Sivewright, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance chief executive, said: “Having an event that attracts such an amazing range of people taking part, seems entirely appropriate for a service that is there for anyone who needs us.”

Next year, the Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge will revert back to being held

in May. Online registration will open in January via the charity’s website.

DORSET and Somerset Air Ambulance’s tenth coast to coast cycle fundraiser saw hundreds of riders cycling 55 miles from Watchet to West Bay in Dorset or a shorter 11-mile route to the finish.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event had to be cancelled in May 2020 and then postponed in May 2021. It was rescheduled to coincide with Air Ambulance Week.

Brian Dale, oldest particpant PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Details: www.dsairambulance.org.uk

Youngest rider, Rowan Murless, aged 12, with his dad Joseph

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Vigil for Afghanistan

THE Mid Somerset Oxfam group held a silent vigil for Afghanistan on Wells Cathedral Green to show concern and anger over the situation there and to stand in solidarity with the ordinary people of Afghanistan.

Their silence was broken only by three readings, including the words to the song “Our land”, written by an Afghan refugee forced into exile in the 1990s.

The group plans further silent vigils and hopes local councils will be generous in accepting refugees.

Details: www.tauntonwelcomesrefugees.co.uk resettlement @somerset.gov.uk care4calais.org

Making fundraising fun!

MENDIP farmer, Jo Creed, recently swapped her pitchfork for a pinny and her wellington boots for a pair of walking shoes to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care.

Jo signed up to take part in a 13-mile hike in the Wye Valley and to pledge fundraising of at least £250, but ended up raising nearly £2,800.

As well as the walk, she baked 300 scones – a challenge in itself – and organised a cream tea. With family and friends baking cakes, cookies and tray bakes, with the tea pots flowing an amazing afternoon was had by all, in the local hall at Priddy.

Takeaway boxes were also a great hit for those who were unable to attend. A hundred square raffle was also run during the weeks leading up to the cream tea with squares selling for £1 a go with lots of lovely prizes up for grabs.

The BIG draw was overseen by Jo's better half "Shamus" so Jo said: “A special mention to him for supporting me throughout this challenge.”

She also asked for thanks to go to everyone who donated

Hair today – gone tomorrow Before . . .

Hospice appeal

CHARITIES

DOROTHy House Hospice has launched its light up a life appeal, inviting people to dedicate a light in remembrance of their loved one on their Christmas tree at Winsley.

They are also offering supporters the opportunity to attend one of their Services of light.

They will be holding two daytime services in the grounds of Dorothy House on Sunday, November 21st at 12 noon and 3pm, which will include the switching on of the lights.

Other Services of light will be held at Bath Abbey, Malmesbury Abbey, St Bartholomew's Church Corsham, Holy Trinity Church, Frome, St Andrew’s, Devizes and Midsomer Norton Methodist Church.

Don Kennedy, from Dorothy House, said: “I am privileged to see the dedication messages written in remembrance of loved ones. We also see many of these messages thanking our clinical staff for their wonderful care and support. It is such a heartfelt reminder of why hospice care is so important and what this care means to our local community.”

Details: www.dorothyhouse.org.uk/ light-up-a-life-appeal/ 01225 721480

prizes, donated money, baked, sold raffle tickets, helped on the day and ate cream teas!

Jo lives in Westbury-sub-Mendip and the farm, where she grew up and where she and Sean keep their cows, is Ubley Hill Farm, Ubley Drove near Charterhouse.

WHEN nine-year-old Jacob returned to Cameley Primary School after the summer holidays his fellow pupils were amazed with his transformation.

Instead of his long hair he was sporting a short hair style. His mum, leanne Chesters, said: “It has always been a fight taking Jacob to the hairdressers to have his hair cut as he always wants it long.

“He decided during lockdown that he would see how long he could grow it and donate it to the little Princess Trust to be made into wigs for children who have lost their hair through cancer and illness.”

. . . and after

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 49

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MENDIP TIMES

Cake sale takes the biscuit

The tables were groaning with goodies

FRIENDS and family of hairdresser Suzy Furber baked like fury to raise more than £1,300 for charity.

The cake sale and raffle at the Tucker’s Grave Inn at Faulkland was in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support; it was the eighth year that Suzy had organised the fundraising event.

Suzy and the team behind the sale

CHARITIES

Bingo supports charities

Pictured (l to r) Donna Beers, Carrera Daly, Julie Daly and Kelly Graham serving refreshments before bingo begins

SUNDAy night is bingo night in Chilcompton, thanks to Julie Daly, who thought of them during lockdown to raise money for charity. She and her family are raising funds for suicide awareness at the moment.

Julie said: “We decided on suicide awareness due to my husband’s dad who suffered with mental health (PTSD) from being in the army and Northern Ireland and who had taken his life a couple of years ago.

“Also quite a few of my son’s and daughter’s friends, and I mean young friends in their 20s, have in recent months taken their own life, which is extremely sad. There is not enough being done around the area for people who suffer with mental health issues.”

Julie started fundraising in 1999, after she lost her dad in 1998 to cancer of the oesophagus. He passed away a month after he was diagnosed.

She said: “My dad, Clive Dix, was a footballer for Peasedown St John in his younger years, also played for Swindon Town, then went on to become a brilliant carpenter. He also worked in Germany for many years, and it was there when he began to feel ill. He returned and went to Westfield, Radstock where he was diagnosed.”

Up to 40 players have been attending the bingo, held on alternate Sundays.

Chilcompton bingo night

Myleigh, aged nine, Taylor, 11, and Ayla, aged eight

PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Details:Julie 07843 197710 or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Chilcompton-village-hallcharity-bingo-101772675491312

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School’s 50th anniversary celebrations

A PEACE garden complete with water feature and benches has been officially opened at Bishop Henderson primary school in Coleford to mark the school’s golden jubilee.

Local companies, including Stowell Concrete and Hanson, joined the school’s Parent Teacher Association, Coleford Parish Council and the Coleford Revival Group in funding the garden.

Shepton Mallet Landscapes carried out the work.

Former chair of governors Carole Parr and former vice chair Ann Usher cut the ribbon to open the garden before a time capsule containing items connected to the school as well as those chosen by each class, was buried beneath a compass sculpture.

Ann and Carol cutting the ribbon as the Rev Clarissa Cridland applauds

Wellbeing café

Volunteer Catherine O’Malley offering homemade cakes to the Rev John Miles, Lilian Baker and Marian Mason

A NEW weekly wellbeing café has started at the Link in Bishop Sutton, run by the Chew and Yeo Baptist Network in partnership with Renew Wellbeing.

Margaret Blakey who is the network’s associate pastor and a coordinator for Renew Wellbeing, said: “We are setting spaces up as a response to the crisis of loneliness, isolation and poor mental health that existed before the pandemic, but has, of course, been magnified over the past 18 months.”

The café is run every Wednesday, 11am-1pm, by volunteers.

The Link also hosts Chew Valley’s community library on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Details: margaret@renewwellbeing.org.uk

NEWS

Some of the pupils and guests after the opening ceremony

Chris Brown, from Shepton Mallet Landscapes, prepares to bury the time capsule as headteacher Tonie Scott looks on

High Sheriff says thanks

THE High Sheriff of Somerset, Thomas Sheppard, and Claire Wynne Hughes, philanthropy manager for the B&NES branch of Quartet, visited the Chew Valley to thank some of the community groups they have helped to support, especially over the past 18 months.

Those present included representatives from the West of England Rural Network (WERN) who organise community support through Village Agents and run a scheme to reduce the cost of heating oil by cooperatively ordering in bulk.

There were also representatives of the volunteer-led Chew Valley Community Transport Scheme and “Chew Chat”, a community group also supported by WERN and Quartet.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 51

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MENDIP TIMES

Hidden for decades – a rare Mendip photo uncovered HISTORIAN Steve Thomas is appealing for help from anyone who recognises any of these troopers in a rare photograph of the North Somerset Yeomanry.

The photo was taken some time after 1905 and remains in such good condition because it was used as a backing board for another picture – of a clergyman – hanging in St Mary’s Church in Wanstrow. It was only discovered when the frame was removed for maintenance.

It shows men from the Mendip area on annual camp before the

History uncovered – the photo found in Wanstrow church

Steve with an Imperial Yeomanry long service and good conduct medal – as shown in the photo – and a typical North Somerset Yeomanry swagger stick

outbreak of the First World War. Competitions would have been staged at the camps. Steve, of Nunney, has been able to provide a rough date because the trooper seated in the front row is wearing the Imperial Yeomany long service and good conduct medal which was not issued before 1905.

The two large cups are the Field Marshal Earl Roberts cup and the Dorchester cup won by Sergeant Major Brains of the Wincanton troop at Priddy in 1907.

The North Somerset Yeomanry – the men would have all been recruited for their horseriding abilities – has its origins in the French Revolutionary wars. A meeting was held in Frome on May 2nd, 1798 when a military association – the Frome Troop of Cavalry – was formed.

Steve would welcome any more information about the photo. Call 01373 836843

Brooch found in Cheddar is declared treasure

A METAL detectorist from Cheddar who found an early medieval silver disc brooch has described the find as “incredible”.

The brooch, dating from AD 800-900, was declared treasure by a coroner at an inquest in August. Its value has yet to be determined by the independent Treasure Valuation Committee.

Iain Sansome discovered the brooch while detecting on farmland at Cheddar in October last year. He immediately stopped detecting and contacted the

Dr Lucy Shipsley with Iain Sansome

PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Portable Antiquities Scheme. As a potential item of treasure under the 1996 Treasure Act it was reported by PAS to H.M. Coroner. Led by the South West Heritage Trust, a follow-up investigation took place at the find site but no further significant discoveries were made.

Iain said: “I’ve found a lot of important historical items in the few years I’ve been detecting, and have covered a lot of ground, but this find is in a different league. When I first saw the brooch I wasn’t exactly sure what it was but I knew it was something special and stopped detecting immediately.

“It’s a very rare find and the fact that the last person to handle it was probably someone of extreme importance and high status over 1,000 years ago is just incredible. It really does make one wonder!”

The disc brooch is known as Trewhiddle style after a group of six such brooches was found in Norfolk in the late 1970s.

The Cheddar brooch

Experts say finding such a brooch in Somerset is both exciting and exceptional. Dr Lucy Shipley, from the Portable Antiquities Scheme, said: “Although it is relatively common to find Roman brooches in Somerset, early medieval examples are rare. Such items were important symbols of wealth and high status and may have been given as gifts to cement relationships between powerful individuals, including those with religious roles.”

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HISTORY

Rededication of Double Hills Memorial

CURRENT and former service personnel, civic dignitaries and well wishers gathered to pay their respects at the annual Double Hills Memorial Service on the outskirts of Paulton.

The service remembers the two pilots and 21 Royal Engineers who were killed when Glider RJ113 crashed on its way to the Arnhem Landings – Operation Market Garden – in September 1944. All are buried in Weston-super-Mare.

As well as a rededication of the memorial following renovations in 2019 – the service could not take place last year – the afternoon also saw the unveiling of three new plaques in honour of people who had been long-time supporters of the tribute.

There was added poignancy on the day; members of 9 Parachute Squadron who had been due to attend the service had instead been sent to help with the evacuation of UK citizens and others from Afghanistan.

Peter Yeates, the driving force behind the service. Peter served in the Royal Navy and is an honorary member of the Airborne Engineers Association

The service underway at the memorial

Former members of the Royal Monmouth Regiment Sappers. The memorial was built in 1979 by the unit

676 Squadron, Army Air Corps

A sombre moment during the service

The rededication included the unveiling of new memorial plaques

Standards are raised after the Reveille

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 53

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MENDIP TIMES

Station steps back in time

Stepping back in time in Cranmore. The Way We Were returned for the first time in two years

WORLD War Two re-enactment groups took over the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore for a weekend of nostalgia.

American troops, the Home Guard, German forces, Land Army girls, evacuees and resistance fighters mingled at the station to the background of running steam trains. There was even 1940s music.

Called The Way We Were, the weekend was the heritage line’s first major public event of the year.

The heritage line provided the ideal backdrop for the weekend

A skirmish involving German forces, the Home Guard and resistance fighters Steve Friedrich relaxes from his duties as a sergeant in the Fieldjager Korps, part of the German military police. His wife, Victoria, was also there, as a German Red Cross nurse

Land Girls at Large with a visitor. This year, the group was representing the Women’s Land Army Timber Corps

A family at war Grahaeme and Louise Haskell with their children Stanley and Primrose; they’re familiar faces at WWII events PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Andy Bryant as a paratrooper colour sergeant armed with a sten gun from 6 Airborne Brigade who landed in Normandy. Andy is a former Army tank crewman who saw service in Bosnia and Kosovo

Blitz victims Falter and Sue Horton were joined by Home Guard officer Anthony Holton

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Pensford ducks Miles, aged four and a half, with his decorated duck

East Harptree show

EVENTS

Pictured (l to r) Daisy Dyke, Louise Thomas and Gill Stobart selling raffle tickets

EAST Harptree Flower and Crafts Show was held on the village playing fields, rather than indoors at the theatre, and villagers excelled themselves with their entries, helping raise money for the children’s play area.

PENSFORD Tennis Club held their popular duck race behind the Rising Sun after a break because of the pandemic.

Ducks away

Maisy, aged seven, and Elsie, four, with their prize certificates

Barbara and Dave Maine admiring the onions

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 55

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MENDIP TIMES

Last bursts of summer trigger major work

The erratic weather patterns this year seem to have resulted in rapid, phenomenal growth everywhere, no more so than in Slader’s Leigh our flower meadow reserve near Winscombe; to us the last few days of summer mean it’s annual cut and clearing time.

Plenty of Mendip Society volunteers turned up armed with scythes, slashers and loppers alongside Les Davies, our “handson” president with his latest self-propelled thick grass cutting machine. We usually manage the whole cut hand scything, but this year we were glad to see Les and his machine, for many satisfying hours of thick vegetation cutting. having left it a week to dry and drop seed, the team, joined by volunteers from the AONB task group, returned to rake, burn, and create habitat piles. This has to be done to keep the fertility of the soil low to suit the many species of wild flowers it supports; unfortunately our risings are not suitable for animal fodder or bedding because of the large amount of hard stalks such as the meadowsweet in it, so we can’t give it away to local farmers.

In the past we have burned a big proportion of it; however with all the advice and serious warnings of the harm we are all doing to the planet, even our infrequent bonfires are undesirable. So we compromised and swept as much as possible to our western boundary line where we have set aside an area for it to rot down in safety, we are sure that something will make good use of it.

Walk leaders with Kate Lawrence

At the same time, the once open pond area by the lower boundary was reclaimed from under the rapidly expanding hedge and thick vegetation; the hedge will be relaid as part of this winter’s hedgelaying courses which we will advertise on our Mendip Society website and in our next page in the Mendip Times.

The two dry stone walling classes we advertised in the Mendip Times last month are now full and the walks programme is up and running. Our walks leaders met up to refresh themselves on “taking the lead” and basic “save a life” First Aid training from Rich Long at Reflex Training.

The way the walks are now organised has been changed from a printed quarterly programme to accessing through our website. In response to concerns about safety with regards to the large numbers wishing to join our walks in the past, Richard Frost, the walks co-ordinator and Shirley Ousley, walks administrator have issued this activities guide.

“The walks will be led by trained volunteer leaders with practical, local knowledge. Our website will give all the necessary information you require

Working party at Sladers Leigh

THE MENDIP SOCIETY

including the number of members and nonmembers allowed to book on each walk.

Numbers are limited for safety reasons.

“Walkers must wear appropriate footwear and clothing, ensuring the grading suits their personal fitness level, and carry identity information, including next of kin. The leaders must be advised of any potential medical or physical problems; all walkers are responsible for their own safety at all times.

“Unless otherwise stated, well behaved dogs are welcome on leads; assistance dogs are always welcome. Where non-members are booked we request a donation of £2 towards our heritage Fund. l Important. All those wishing to join the walk must book through www.themendipsociety.org.uk/walks “A link will take you to the booking system run by "Sign Up Genius”. Just follow the instructions. No Booking = No Walk. Please make sure you check on the day for any cancellations or amendments.

N.B. Your privacy through the society website is guaranteed but note that the booking site does not guarantee the same.”

Tina Bath and Judith Tranter

Grant scheme

The Mendip Society will launch its new Small Grant Scheme leaflet at this year’s Mendip Ploughing Match, held on land at Green Ore on Wednesday, September 29th.

It’s aimed at private landowners and farmers restoring or creating new landscape, conservation and wildlife habitat which is on or connected to Open Access Land or a Public Right of Way.

For details of all events visit www.themendipsociety.org.uk and Facebook ‘The Mendip Society’ PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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Think global, act local for wildlife

AS I sit here writing this article in the midSeptember heat, I just marvel at the speed of change and what a difference one month can make for our

By CHRIS wildlife.

SPERRING MBE Where allowed, nature provides a bountiful supply of food through seed, nuts, berries and fruit and, already, many birds from northern lands are heading to our area to spend the winter.

We are, of course, at the forefront in ensuring a good number of them survive to be able to then return to their breeding areas for the spring nesting season. Have you ever thought – or been inspired – by the fact that action in your local area can have a knock-on effect to help species across political borders and sometimes thousands of miles away?

October will see the mass arrival of some familiar species, ones may you be surprised at. Birds such as starlings and wood pigeons will be already on the move from North and Eastern Europe mixing in with native birds.

They will go on to form very large gatherings during their roosting times, a classic example of this being the starling spectacle on the Somerset Levels with literally thousands of birds gathering before darkness forming their famous

WILDLIFE

Starlings will soon be arriving from Europe to join our native birds in mass murmurations

murmurations, which will already be building up numbers during October.

Many other small bird species will make the journey to the UK and help enrich those gloomy short winter days; even a colourful member of the crow family, the jay, will swell its numbers with Scandinavian jays feasting on our big crops of beechmast and acorns alike.

An October walk can be full of surprises, as on mild, sunny days you can still find many insects active, especially around ivy.

Ivy flower takes around seven years of growth before flowering, and these flowers can be vital for insects at this time of year.

If you’re out walking and come across ivy that is flowering, just spend some time watching and always have your camera/smart phone ready because, as with any mass gathering of insects or even

Growing just one berry bush will help wildlife survive our winter

birds, predators will not be far away. So, watch out for dragonflies and hornets patrolling over the ivy ready to pounce on an unsuspecting prey.

At the beginning of November there is another mass gathering with huge implications for our depleted wildlife and natural habitats that will also have an impact on us as well. This is the gathering of world leaders in Glasgow for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).

Reading through the agenda for these talks what continues to be repeated, apart from the obvious reduction of fossil fuels, is the real concern for our natural world and the importance of working together to achieve aims. Many readers, of course, will know this is a theme of mine and although it has a huge knock-on effect on the wider community both regionally and nationally my idea remains that a ground-up approach is needed to create solutions and not topdown imposed rules and action.

Nature-based solutions are all around us just waiting to be allowed and, as I have said before, if this starts with local action delivered by the community it will have longevity. As I’m sure we all know, anything imposed as a top-down measure will have a short shelf life.

So, look around your community and see if you have a group trying to help wildlife in your area and join them or even create a group of your own.

To return to the start of this article, just think of this: if you just grow a berry bush that helps a bird survive our winter that then returns to nest in Northern Europe, you can and should, pat yourself on the back as your local action has just had international reach.

After an absence of more than a year due to Covid restrictions, I will be starting the owl walks once again on Mendip and in other areas. Please contact me if you wish to join me on one of these walks. Ring me on 07799 413918 or email me at: Chris.Sperring@hawkandowltrust.org.uk

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 57

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MENDIP TIMES

Along the brook side

THIS is a varied and fairly challenging circle from Crown Hill above Regil, near Winford following the Winford Brook, the busy stream of many mills that gave the village its wealth – mills making everything from gunpowder to snuff.

Explore the old part of Winford and head parallel with the brook through fields, by a reservoir and then by a ford on the edge of Chew Magna. By contrast, we head up to higher ground up on Chilly Hill, Pagans Hill and North Hill. Walking is through fields, on tracks and quiet lanes and there is a mixture of uphill, flat and downhill. There are some fine views

With Sue Gearing PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

across country. A stick could be helpful to deal with some of the summer growth.

PARK: On Crown Hill, at the Crown Inn, Regil, above Winford where Mendip Times walkers have permission to use the spacious car park opposite the pub which has been well renovated.

It’s well worth popping in for a drink or a meal to top or tail this ramble.

Check opening hours.

START: At the entrance to the car park take the footpath left up steps into a field. Head diagonally left uphill across to the corner, and find a metal gate somewhat hidden in the hedge. Go straight across the middle of this next field to another gate under a clump of trees leading onto a crossing track.

1. TRACK Turn left for a few minutes and turn right on the first footpath through another pedestrian gate. Follow the right hedge and near the end, go right through two gates into the field at the side. Now it’s left down the hedge and, at the corner, maintain direction down to another gate.

Once through, carry on down to a Bristol Gate and stay straight on along the right hedge and round the corner. Near the next corner before a house, turn right through a gate. Follow the left edge round in this field. Opposite a farm reach a large field gate. Turn right on the lane and almost immediately left through a gate and through the farm. Continue on the farm drive to reach Frog Lane.

2. FROG LANE Turn right. Take care of passing traffic.

Drop downhill and then join the pavement into Winford village.

3. WINFORD Cross to the Prince of Waterloo. To continue, go down Church Road at the side of the pub alongside the Winford Brook.

Its Old Saxon name, Winfrith, could mean “a happy holy stream” which would have accurately described Winford Brook at that time. Earlier, this road would have been the village high street leading to the church and ancient manor house, now Court Farm.

Reach the church which still boasts a fine 15th tower and baptism pool fed by the brook. Bend right over the brook and past the Court.

The date over the door is 1593 but there was probably an earlier manor house which was mentioned in the Domesday Book.

At the next corner turn left over a stile and follow the footpath under the aqueduct.

It was a major feat of mid-19th century engineering – perhaps the oldest surviving work of its type in the country – which carries the main water supply down to Bristol from the Mendip Hills.

Continue on through to another field until you reach Kentshare Lane.

4. KENTSHARE LANE Turn left a short way to Kentshare Farm, a classic 17th century William and Mary

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WALKING

farmhouse. Just past it, go through a kissing gate on the right and follow the left hedge. Continue through fields in the same direction paralleling the Winford/Chew Road up right. Come alongside a hedge on the left and follow this to a gate. Go left over a footbridge across the Winford Brook.

This is the largest tributary of the River Chew and at one time it had nine mills over its three-mile length, the mills providing grist, snuff, dye, cloth, iron and gunpowder.

5. POWDERMILL FARM Follow a path to a lane at Littleton. Go left to handsome Powdermill farm.

It is hard to believe that it was here that flourishing gunpowder production took place from the mid-17th century. The mill was said to be the largest powderproducing complex in the South West producing about 3,500 barrels of gunpowder by 1762. Also at Littleton from around the mid-15th century was a fulling mill to turn local wool into felted cloth, and a Redding pit producing iron ore and redding for dye. The pit reopened on a larger scale in 1871 and continued until after WWII. Opposite the farmhouse, go right through a Bristol Gate and cross the field.

Keep straight ahead and go through a plantation of commercially grown trees.

Towards the end, bear left and go through a gate and over a footbridge and along a path to reach Littleton Lane.

Turn right. After a few minutes, pass an electricity installation on the right. At the side of this is a right of way. A two minute detour along here takes you to the old snuff mill, now part of Winford Business Park.

Carry on along Littleton Lane to the end and the junction with Limeburn Hill.

Here on the right is another mill. Cross to the footpath opposite, still alongside the brook, and through into a field. Go ahead along the edge. After another kissing gate, join a fenced path straight on and start to see Chew Magna reservoir on the right.

Continue past a substantial house and follow the farm drive. Reach one of the entrances to the reservoir.

6. RESERVOIR Owned by Bristol Water it was created by damming Winford brook to supply water for villages in the Chew Valley. It is popular for fly fishing and is stocked with brown trout. Ten years ago the reservoir dried up during a long period without

6.65 miles, about 4-4.5 hours walking.

OS Explorer 155 Bristol & Bath, grid ref: 540 637, postcode BS4 8AY

sustained rainfall. Bristol Water rescued the trout and transferred them to nearby Chew Valley Lake.

Carry on along the lane and turn down right, soon going on the path alongside a ford over the brook. The lane takes you uphill on the edge of Chew Magna to the main road. Turn right on the pavement, and soon cross with care and go up Chillyhill Lane.

7. CHILLYHILL LANE Follow this for 0.7 miles, past houses and continue on the track all the way to Chillyhill Farm and then on to a crossing road leading south from Bristol which can be quite busy. Turn left and shortly cross the footpath opposite through a kissing gate. Go across the field, through into the next field and passing below Pagans Hill Farm. Carry on through another field and near the end, turn right down a small sunken path to a lane by a sturdy power pole.

Cross over on the track signed to North Hill. Shortly, just before the North Hill postbox, go right over a footbridge and up into a field. Go across climbing gently to a gap in the hedge opposite and a kissing gate. Once through, climb more steeply across to the top left corner (it may be easier to go up and round the edge). Go through the hedge and join a path. Turn left round the field to the second corner and through. Head along the top of the field with good views across country.

8. FARM As you near North Hill Farm, go right through a gate. Cross the grass, and the drive, and on to another stony drive. Turn left. Pass the farmhouse. By a dovecot, go through a gate and on through three fields, in the same direction, dropping down. Near the foot of the third go out right through a gate, under trees, and left along the edge round to a Bristol Gate onto the lane, called Whitling Street, joining the Mendip Way.

9. MENDIP WAY Turn right for nearly half a mile going uphill and then down to a junction with Broad Mead Lane. Turn left. After a few minutes fork right on a lane. Reach a seven-bar gate right. Go through and diagonally left across the centre of the field, towards a distinctive stone house in the valley. Drop down to a gate in the hedge. Go left on a rather muddy bank and drop into the grassy valley. Turn left and near the end on the right, go through a gate, over a footbridge and then up across the field and onto a drive. Turn left to reach Regil Lane. Turn right uphill to the Crown.

The Crown, tel: 01275 472388

FYNE COURT WALK Apologies that the wrong map was shown with last month's walk. I hope you could follow the instructions OK. SUE MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 59

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MENDIP TIMES

OUTDOORS

West Countryman’s diary

OCTOBER is the tenth month on our calendar, but was the eighth in the Roman year. The AngloSaxons referred to it as the Winter Moon With LES (fylleth) when winter DAVIES MBE was beginning. So where did the rest of the year go? I can’t believe I’m already talking about winter.

The truth is summer has gone and everything and everybody is getting ready for winter.

The Bath and West Countryside Festival was a success and showed that we are all craving some sort of normality. Just how much it was a success is evident as you look through the pages of this month’s issue of Mendip Times. People enjoyed themselves and the weather was kind!

For the first time in many years, I paid a visit to the North Somerset Agricultural Society ploughing match, this year at Step Stones Farm near Wrington. Packing sandwiches and filling a flask with tea was all part of the day out with my family many years back when the children were small.

These days sandwiches are no novelty and I don’t go anywhere without the flask.

Progress around the site was slow, but very enjoyable as I would stop frequently to talk and put the world to rights as only country folk can do.

There is little doubt on the part of those competing that they were pleased to be “let out” again. A feeling that had been made clear when I spoke to those from the steam fraternity at the Bath and West Festival.

Days like this are good for the soul!

I am hoping that this copy of Mendip Times reaches you before the Mendip Ploughing Society’s 151st match on the 29th September at Green Ore Farm. The society however is much older, being established as The Blagdon, Winford, Charterhouse and West Mendip Ploughing Society in 1858. Mendip Ploughing Society is so much easier to remember.

Plough manufactures were invited to demonstrate the latest technology and so the story began. No matches were held during the First and Second World Wars or during the recent Covid crisis of 2020. It was said that around 1000 spectators turned out in 1947 to see one of the first Ferguson tractors fitted with hydraulic lift

and a mounted plough at work – they are still ploughing today alongside their predecessors and successors.

At a ploughing match you can see every development in this basic soil tillage from horses, through steam power to the development of the tractor and right up to the multi-furrowed reversible ploughs pulled by the gargantuan machines of today.

Elsewhere in the countryside things are no less hectic. I watched a squirrel in my orchard raiding the nut bushes that have been planted as part of the mixed cropping.

Driven to a frenzy, what couldn’t be eaten was being buried in the hope it could be found later.

Such caches are inevitably rarely found again, but I have seen them dig up this buried treasure during the winter months when food is scarce. I have never been able to beat the squirrels to the nut bushes and I don’t try. They have to live and my existence does not depend on a store of nuts to see me through winter, although a few would be nice!

Plums from the orchard have been good this time. Although I missed the boat with my Victoria crop, Avalon were much better.

This variety was bred at Long Ashton Research Station in the 1980s. How I love such local connections that bring out the best of provenance.

The need to prepare for winter is a strong driver in the natural world. Whilst working in an orchard, clearing around the trees, I was warned by the owner about the bee hives. “Watch yourself,” she said. “They can get a bit grumpy and your brush cutter may lead to it all kicking off, as they think you are going to raid their store of honey.”

I needed no more warnings and gave them a wide berth during my work! Bees will work incredibly hard and none more than the bumble bee. Often said to be an aerodynamic impossibility, this hairy little creature comes from the higher altitudes of the Northern hemisphere. Capable of flying in colder conditions, it’s a “star” in the pollination world and is still out working when the honey bee is tucked up under the duvet because it’s too wet or cold outside.

I found one such overworked bumble bee lying on the floor by my washing machine. It had obviously been trying to get out all night and been overcome by exhaustion. Picking it up there were signs of life, so I fetched a spoon with sugary water in it and put the two together on the table outside the back door.

Slowly the bee began to drink and became stronger. Legs were stretched as if doing some sort of yoga exercise and a lot of grooming took place. Finally the wings were tried out and what I can only describe as a “waggle-dance” took place.

Perhaps this was to establish some sort of direction home.

Once this dance was completed, a short test flight and landing took place and the bee was now fully refuelled and airworthy again. It took off doing one circuit of the table before flying over the fence and away into the distance. I like to think it made its way home!

Finally I’ll leave you with some thoughts on autumn, as the leaves on my Virginia creeper are turning red. This colourful picture was taken at Westonbirt Arboretum several years back. More about trees and leaves next time.

You can always contact me through my website: Westcountryman.co.uk

PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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MENDIP TIMES

The compost conundrum

IF, like me, your gardening efforts this year have been thwarted by disappointing results from bags of socalled potting With MARY compost then let me PAYNE MBE try to unravel the dilemma. Firstly, the word compost is applied to two totally different materials, thus instantly causing confusion.

Compost for growing plants in pots or raising seedlings is a very different substance from the compost you can make from your own garden waste, but let’s start with potting composts.

In the 1940s the John Innes Institute in Norwich researched the need for a stable, uniform material both for amateur and commercial growing. This resulted in the familiar John Innes Composts, J.1. no. 1, no. 2, no. 3, J.I. seed compost and J.I. ericaceous compost for acid loving plants.

The numbers 1, 2 and 3 refer to the strength of fertiliser added to a basic mix of seven parts by volume of loam, three parts by volume moss peat and two parts by volume coarse grit. To this, lime was added to balance the acidity. John Innes composts are still around, but rarely resembling the original specification as the loam used is a variable product.

Loam is the ideal proportions of sand, silt and clay particles for the perfect gardener’s soil, something not many of us have! It would appear that any topsoil will do these days. My ideal potting compost for many years was to mix 50% J.I. no.2 with 50% of a peat-based compost.

The peat content of J.I. composts was specified as sphagnum moss peat and this also is now the crux of the problem. Peat itself is variable depending on what plant species it comes from. The most desirable is partially decayed sphagnum moss from waterlogged bogs, where the lack of oxygen prevents total decay.

It is a uniform, sterile medium (once used in WW1 for dressing wounds) and ideal for growing. The other sort is sedge peat, from decayed sedges, which is much further decayed and less desirable as a growing media. (Found on the Somerset Levels).

In the 1960s moss peat became PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

virtually a universal growing media for commercial growers, valued for its uniformity and moisture holding capacity, but it lacks nutrients. This is easily solved by the addition of the major and trace elements required by plants as fertiliser.

Peat-based composts soon appeared for amateurs e.g., Levington. We are now on a mission to drastically reduce the extraction of peat for composts although a significant amount is still burnt for heating!

Peat bogs the world over are a highly desirable carbon sink and are being rewetted and re-seeded with sphagnum moss. It is essentially a renewable resource although painfully slow.

The clamour to find a substitute for moss peat has led to the introduction of a variety of different materials with variable results. Composted Green Waste (CGW), from your green recycle bin, is an obvious replacement until we discover it is an infinitely variable product.

I have experienced classic hormone weedkiller damage on tomato plants and nutrient deficiencies, to say nothing of the weed seedlings that have appeared from composts containing CGW and I now avoid it. Judging by comments I have heard; you too have had similar problems.

Another debatable replacement for peat has been coir fibre (the husks of coconuts) imported from afar, including Sri Lanka. Is this a sound environmental practice? Composted bark is also used, and certainly finds more favour with me, although it too is variable depending on the tree species used.

Wood fibre is also used, and often results in a crop of toadstools in your pots as it breaks down, but at least it is a useful product from waste wood offcuts.

Certainly, the by-products of the timber industry are of great value in the garden e.g. wood chip for mulching, to retain moisture and control weed germination, and composted bark as a soil improver are popular.

Melcourt Industries deal in a number of these products and produce a peat-free, composted green waste-free potting compost, SylvaGrow, but it does contain some coir. Extra slow-release fertiliser can be added when potting to feed your plants for the whole growing season.

My ideal mix mentioned earlier of

Compost heap

50:50 J.I.2 and peat-based multi-purpose compost is no longer valid as the J.I. is so variable and my last bag resembled a bag of dark concrete, refusing point blank to leave the sack.

This leaves us with the question. Can we use the compost we make in our compost heaps as a potting compost?

Frankly, it is not a good idea, as the resulting compost may well contain disease spores, not killed by cool composting, and a huge amount of weed seeds.

Well-made compost can be added for use with more mature plants, but I would certainly not encourage it for seed sowing or young plant production. Home-made compost is invaluable as a soil improver.

If you are currently cursing the leaves that fall from the trees above your garden, then take heart. If you compost these in a separate compound, you will create magical stuff called “leaf mould”.

Collect the leaves by mowing and the leaves will be chopped up and the grass clippings will add valuable nitrogen to speed the decay process and in 12-24 months you will have dark brown, crumbly, luscious leaf mould.

This can be used as a soil improver or mulch or to bulk out a proprietary potting compost for pots and baskets, but it will need slow-release fertiliser adding to supply the essential nutrients required.

Can you re-use old potting compost? I use it in pots for spring bulbs and as a soil improver, but never for potting seedlings or young plants or for another crop of tomatoes. But, beware of the dreaded vine weevil larvae.

For more details go to: www.queensgreencanopy.org

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OCTOBER GARDEN TIPS

• The first spring flowering bulbs will be in soon, with most available by the end of the month.

• Plant snowdrop bulbs and anemone corms just as soon as you can. They can be difficult to get going but by planting really early they establish much more readily.

• Autumn flowering crocus should be planted as soon as possible, as they will flower this October. They flower before the leaves appear earning them the common name ‘Naked Ladies’.

• Dead flowers, and a little bit of the stem below, should be trimmed off lavenders now. If they have become straggly a harder pruning should be delayed until late spring.

• Roses tend to succumb to attack from blackspot, mildew and rust at this end of the summer and you must not let down your guard against these diseases now!

• Prune climbing and rambling roses now (if not done last month).

• Plant Hydrangeas. Plant all in soils that stay moist or that you can mulch generously.

• This is the best month for establishing new lawns. Sow new seed or turf, both after careful soil preparation.

Don’t skimp on this as it is the one chance to get it right!

• Fast growing hedges such as leylandii may need trimming again and will look better for it throughout winter. Don’t leave this too late as that might result in brown patches. Give evergreen hedges a final trim.

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WELLS ROAD, CHILCOMPTON, RADSTOCK BA3 4RR Telephone: 01761 232137 Open Mon–Sat 10am to 4pm • Closed Sundays MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 63

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MENDIP TIMES

Autumn planting

Pictured (l to r) Lin Paul, Beccy Angell and Doris Gentle

VOLUNTEERS from Temple Cloud in Bloom have started work on a neglected area of ground, clearing it of nettles and a collapsed wall.

One of the members, Beccy Angell, said: “We are looking forward to planting it with fruit bushes and herbs over the coming weeks. We are also beginning to plan for autumn and spring planting in the village planters, keeping the village looking vibrant for all who pass through.”

The next working party is on Saturday, October 9th, 10am-12noon, at the end of Paulmont Rise. New volunteers are welcome.

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Yeo Valley wins Gold at Chelsea Flower Show

YEO Valley Organic has won an RHS Gold Medal at Chelsea Flower Show at its first attempt with the show’s first organic garden.

Designed by Tom Massey, supported by Yeo Valley’s Sarah Mead, the garden was inspired by the real Yeo Valley organic garden and farm at Blagdon.

It highlights the benefits of organic gardening and how taking small steps to work with nature makes a positive impact on wildlife and plant biodiversity.

The show garden mirrors the diversity of life found on Yeo Valley’s organic dairy farm and garden in Somerset. The 6.5-acre garden in Blagdon has been lovingly created by Sarah over the past 25 years and is one of the largest organically certified ornamental gardens in the UK. Key features recreated at Chelsea include a wild perennial meadow brimming with flowering plants and a glade of silver birch.

Its focal point was a steam-bent egg-shaped wooden hide, designed and created by celebrated Cornish sculptor Tom Raffield, which has a glass floor to see the running stream beneath. This will now be installed in the gravel garden at Blagdon.

Tom Massey said: “I’m absolutely delighted to win Gold at the first and only September Chelsea. We created this garden to showcase organic and it’s a win for the whole team.

“I’ve loved working with Sarah and Tim from Yeo Valley Organic and this is testament to their commitment to sustainable farming and growing.”

Sarah Mead: “I had no idea until the moment arrived how much winning Gold would mean. Of course, we didn’t come to Chelsea for the medal – we came to showcase what can be achieved using fully sustainable organic principles – but to have won a Gold Medal with a garden that feels so appropriate to Yeo Valley at this time of year is an absolute thrill.”

Details: yeovalley.co.uk/chelsea

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PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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GARDENING

Hillier Garden Centres in Bath and Cheddar OVERLOOKING the Somerset countryside, Hillier Garden Centre Bath boasts glorious views. Visitors to the centre can enjoy an abundance of quality plants with plant experts on hand to answer any questions and provide guidance.

For more than 20 years, Hillier have been offering visitors a fantastic range of quality plants, many grown at their nurseries in Hampshire; garden items and beautiful homeware along with expert plant advice.

Visit Hillier Garden Centre Bath, located around three miles outside the city centre. Their Mulberry & Thyme Restaurant is

now open for indoor and outdoor dining.

Visit the spacious Hillier Garden Centre Cheddar, located in a beautiful spot on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Part of the Hillier family since 2019, the centre has undergone a complete transformation. Visitors can find a fantastic range of quality plants, many grown by Hillier, garden items and beautiful homeware along with expert plant advice and a friendly welcome at their Mulberry & Thyme restaurant.

With a number of partner companies also on site, a visit to Hillier Garden Centre Cheddar is a real destination experience.

Details: www.hillier.co.uk/garden-centres

PERFECT PAVE

Perfect Pave, based on the Valley Line industrial estate, in Cheddar, has built an enviable reputation over the last 16 years for the quality of its work installing block paving and other landscaping products. Now founders Alex Howley and Simon Bethell have set up a new service run by James Starmer supplying these products to both the trade and public, as well as continuing to expand their installation team. e company now has contracts all over the South West and offers a wide choice of projects.

It’s not only friendly, professional service that sets us apart, we can’t be beaten on price and ensure our prices beat those of builders’ merchants and garden centres.

Showroom open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12noon Sat MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 65

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MENDIP TIMES

Successful festival

SARAH Wilcox (left) and Heather Hector (right) organised the very successful flower festival held in St Mary’s Church, Wedmore.

Jill and John Morse organised a preview with music and wine the evening before and contributed a large proportion of the nearly £7,000 raised.

Liam Davis and friends played the organ throughout Saturday and Sunday which was much appreciated by the visitors who came from far and wide.

NGS appeals for volunteers

SOMERSET’S National Garden Scheme (NGS) needs some new volunteers, in particular, a new assistant county organiser.

It says if you have a sense of humour, a bit of spare time, have a love of gardens, enjoy talking to people who open their gardens and the people who enjoy visiting them, they would love to hear from you.

You would join the county team under the guidance of the county organiser, who manages the volunteers.

You would support the garden owners who open gardens for the National Garden Scheme by maintaining contact prior to their open day and follow up; attending garden openings; checking the garden accords with insurance and health and safety standards.

You will need to ensure that existing gardens continue to reach the required standard and, with luck, you might be able to secure new gardens. All complaints arising from garden openings are referred to the county organiser for discussion and resolution.

You would be based at home and would be likely to look after gardens within a reasonable distance from your home. You would need basic ICT skills and email access.

You would be expected to attend a few events/meetings each year, so it is essential you have access to independent transport.

Some volunteers describe their involvement as “inspiring”, “rewarding”, “sociable”, “a joy” and “a privilege”. Relevant training and help will be available.

If you are over 16 years old and have an enthusiasm for the National Garden Scheme, they would love to hear from you.

Details: county organiser for Somerset Laura Howard, email: laura.howard@ngs.org.uk 01460 282911 https://ngs.org.uk/

PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Nunney puts on a show – again

GARDENING

Natasha Secombe (left) and Vanessa Furey were helping on the plant stall

NUNNEY’S historic flower show and fete returned at the beginning of September – a little smaller but still just as impressive.

Organisers decided against running homecraft classes to keep the event as Covid-secure as possible but have promised the category will return next year.

Early visitors admiring the entries

Jane Hollis won a special award on top of first prize with this floral arrangement

Historic Axbridge maces retired after four centuries A PAIR of historic and extremely valuable Axbridge maces have been retired from duty after almost 400 years.

The symbolic civic instruments were commissioned in 1623 when James l granted the town its third Charter.

Made in silver and bedecked with false jewels, the larger mace measuring 80cm long, was carried by the Town Bailiff Francis Ferguson.

The smaller at 72 cm long was carried by the Sergeant at Mace John Hawkins whose role was to collect fines.

Before the introduction of a national police force in 1856, keeping law and order had been an issue at the time with records in the 17th century stating that Axbridge was the scene of “many riots, routs, unlawful assemblies, conventions and (where) offences are committed by divers (sic) disorderly persons”.

Both maces carry engravings of the Agnus Dei, or Lamb of God, the symbol of Axbridge since at least the medieval period.

Their ceremonial use continued throughout the centuries but in 2008 concerns about their poor condition led the Axbridge Town Trust to seek specialist help.

Repairs were carried out and a specially designed box was made to hold the maces safely in an upright position.

In the Victorian period they had been stored lying down, causing at least some

Brownies are climate heroes

A GROUP of Blagdon Brownies are celebrating after being awarded their Green Blue Peter Badges for being “supersized climate heroes”.

NEWS

Pictured (l to r) Town crier, Nigel Scott, Sergeant at Mace, John Hawkins, mayor Kate Brown and town bailiff Francis Ferguson

(Photograph courtesy of Axbridge Photography)

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of the damage.

During the conservation work 15 earlier repairs were identified on the straps of the larger mace and 13 on the smaller one. It was agreed they should be taken out of use by 2020 and put on display.

Their final outing took place on September 6th, a year late owing to the pandemic, in a brief ceremony held on the steps of St John the Baptist Church.

The Town Crier Nigel Scott proclaimed: “Oyez, oyez, oyez.

After 400 years the maces shall be retired. God save the Queen.”

Town trust chair, Peter Scott, said: “What makes the Axbridge maces of particular historic interest is that most which pre-date the Commonwealth were destroyed during that turbulent period as they were regarded as symbols of royal power.

“Somehow the Axbridge maces not only survived but also retained their royal coat of arms.

“They have served our town well and we hope plenty of people will now come and see them at King John’s Hunting Lodge Museum here in Axbridge as soon as suitable arrangements can be made.”

They can be seen posing on the Mead in Blagdon, after they spent the evening collecting rubbish, making a green pledge and drawing a picture for Blue Peter.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 67

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MENDIP TIMES

Bath and West Country Festival in pictures

Scurry driving in the main arena

Wassail queen Emily Dukes in the Cider and Orchards Pavilion

Cheeky smiles ahead of Pony Club games in the main ring Judith Fell, from Wedmore, at the fun fair

Dave Stone, from Langport, with a Wallis and Steevens steam roller

Midsomer Norton and Radstock brass academy on the bandstand on the main lawn Cricketing legend Henry Bloefeld with TV vet Dr Scott Miller at the Petsure dog Paralympic-style games

PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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EVENTS

Paul Hannam’s spectacular quad bike stunts in the main arena

Les Davies and Pauline and John Alvis with the Butterfly Stilt Walkers

The miniature railway was busy throughout the show

Elaine (left) and Isabelle Hathaway with rare breed sheep Teatree and Quince Not for the nervous – Hawkeye Falconry in the woodland area

Annie Maw, the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, with a prize-winning floral display by Coral Gardiner, of Tunley Lift-off from the main arena for the Thatchers balloon

Fun in the Food Hall with Liver Cottage

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 69

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MENDIP TIMES

Vaccinating children – the pros and cons SHOULD 12-15 year olds have a Covid vaccine? It’s not a simple choice, but many older children are able to make up their own minds. Here’s what you need to know.

Arguments against vaccinating the 12-15s You may never get Covid, although you’re

By Dr PHIL very likely to come across the virus. You HAMMOND may well already have had Covid, and already have good immunity. If you are infected, it will likely be symptomless (43 to 68 percent) or a mild infection.

Only 25 children have died from Covid in the UK (2 per million), nearly all of whom had other serious illnesses that made them vulnerable to respiratory infection. Such children are now offered vaccination.

Although the Delta variant is more harmful for adults, that doesn’t seem to be the case in children. Children who get infected generally mount a good antibody response, make better antibodies and retain them longer than adults. Children’s antibodies do well against the known variants too.

The other strand of the childhood immune response, T-cells, is usually excellent. Healthy children have better intranasal and mucosal immunity at the points of entry of the virus and this, combined with their energetic immune response, may rapidly dampen the viral load.

They may also have innate cross-protective immunity from other coronaviruses common in children. This means naturally acquired protection against future infection in children may be better than vaccination protection (although they can, of course, infect vulnerable adults while they have it).

The primary purpose of vaccination should not just be to protect others. We do justify this in existing vaccination programmes – rubella is a mild infection in children, but we vaccinate them to prevent future fetal malformations in pregnancy-acquired rubella.

HPV vaccination in boys protects women against future cervical cancer and genital warts, but also protects boys against HPV-related cancers and warts. We do vaccinate young children against flu to stop them super-spreading to adults, but it took four decades of research and data before extending the vaccines to children.

Some experts think we need much more data before extending Covid vaccination to children when their risk of serious harm and death from the illness is currently very low.

Some experts argue that letting children become infected while adults are protected will eventually mean SARS-CoV-2 becomes a much less frightening, mild infection for children.

Some experts argue that vaccinating children will put more pressure on the virus to evolve a vaccine resistant mutation.

The mRNA vaccines licensed for children and adults are “reactogenic” and often caused temporary pain and fatigue in trials. However, rarer more serious potential side-effects only show when they are rolled out to large populations. These include pericarditis and myocarditis – inflammations affecting the heart.

Because drug companies collect data on their own vaccines and don’t release it in real time, we may only have full data on vaccine effects and side-effects in 2025.

It is reasonable to offer mass emergency vaccinations to adults in a pandemic when so many are dying (more than 1,200 a day at the UK’s January peak) and so much harm is also caused by containment measures (lockdown).

But the argument for mass vaccination of children on medical grounds is far less clear. Any mass vaccination programme has a cost and an opportunity cost. The time and money could be spent on mental health support or other vaccine programmes.

As with adult boosters, the available vaccines might be better donated to countries where below ten percent of the adult population have been vaccinated. This, ultimately, might control the pandemic better.

Arguments for vaccination of the 12-15s SARS-COV-2 is a deeply unpleasant, multi-system virus, the long-term effects of which are not fully understood. It may turn out that the long-term effects of infection in children are far worse than any long-term effects of vaccination.

With currently more than 8,000 Covid admissions and nudging 200 deaths a day in the UK, and no masks, bubbles, scant ventilation plus unvaccinated children mixing closely, the virus remains a significant risk to the 10.8 million over-16s who haven’t had both jabs, particularly five million adults who’ve had no jab.

If hospital admissions keep rising, we may be heading back to lockdown.

The vaccines have proven highly effective at preventing severe illness and death in most (but not all) recipients. The risk of the side effect of myocarditis and pericarditis is greater in males and greater with the second dose (3 to 17 per million after one dose, 12 to 34 per million after the second). 12 to 15year-olds will be offered one dose only.

Vaccinating one million children would prevent 2.5 paediatric intensive care admissions with Covid, 93 hospital admissions and 28 cases of paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

Long Covid in children appears less severe than in adults, but is still significant and much is unknown. Vaccination should reduce the risk. Many other countries have started vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds.

Vaccination may reduce the need for schools closing. It may also make it easier for young people to travel to countries where children are expected to be vaccinated. It may make it easier to gain access to sports and music events if vaccine passports come in.

What would Dr Phil do?

If I was 15 again, and healthy as I was, I wouldn’t opt for a Covid vaccine yet on medical grounds, but I would if it protected my family and community, and improved my access to places I wanted to be (school, concerts, sports stadia, holidays).

If I was like one of my teenage patients, with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) triggered by a prior unpleasant virus, I would definitely want a vaccination.

I’m very grateful at 59 for the Covid vaccines I’ve had, but still demand full data transparency from the companies that make them. Fully informed choice should always be the aim.

Dr Hammond’s Covid Casebook is out now. It is a Sunday Times Best Seller

PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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Glittering night for Court House staff

HEALTH & FAMILY

THE team at the Court House in Cheddar were named Best Team in the Sun Newspaper/NHS Charities “Who Cares Wins” awards which were shown on Channel 4.

The retirement home was nominated after staff dropped everything to move in to care for residents as Covid-19 spread across the country last April.

For 12 weeks they lived apart from their families and locked down with their

Gary Lineker presenting the award to (l to r) Julie White, Paulina Pupka, Tina Brook, Chris Dando and Donna Marke

Chris meets Rod Stewart

elderly and vulnerable residents. The home did not lose one resident to the virus.

The team had a wonderful night at the black tie event and mingled with celebrities such as Prince William, Boris Johnson, David Beckham, Rod Stewart, Piers Morgan, Tyrone Mings, Chris Evans and more. They were presented with the award by Gary Lineker.

Owner, Chris Dando, made a speech

thanking his team, the residents and their families and the people of Cheddar for their support.

He was joined at the ceremony by Julie White, home manager, Donna Marke, clinical manager, Tina Brook, care manager and Paulina Pupka, care worker.

Other Court House staff unable to attend were Anne-Marie Walker, Gary Watts, Lynn Whittaker, Kaycie Keen and Jane Pike.

COURT HOUSE

AWARD WINNING CARE HOME

e Care Home with a difference. We offer all that you would expect from a high quality, family run Care Home set in a Georgian House in the lovely village of Cheddar, Somerset.

You can live your life to the full and choice is our favourite word. Rooms now available with full en-suite facilities and total personal care is offered.

Rated by the CQC as good in all areas

e Manager – Chris Dando • 01934 742131 • chriscourthouse@gmail.com Court House Retirement Home, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RA www.courthouseretirementhome.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 71

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MENDIP TIMES

PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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Music therapy

DO you know anyone who is living with memory problems or a sense of isolation who might be interested in going along to Music in Mind? This is a group run by Stella Moore, music therapist, and is beneficial for carers too.

It is now restarting following the pandemic and meets every fortnight in the Masonic Hall in Wedmore.

Stella said: “It is so rewarding for us all to witness how music helps people reconnect and we can see energy return in those whose ability to respond and communicate has faded.”

Their next meeting will be on Monday, October 4th, 2.153.30pm and it’s free!

Details: 01934 732282 or email davestellamoore@btinternet.com

National award for SWEDA

SHEPTON Mallet-based charity Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorder Association has won a major national award for its work improving the lives of people with eating disorders.

Following a rigorous selection and assessment process, SWEDA was chosen from more than 350 charities across the UK as one of the ten winners of the 2021 GSK IMPACT Awards. The awards are designed to recognise the outstanding work of small and medium sized charities working to improve health and wellbeing in communities across the UK. Winners receive £30,000 in unrestricted funding as well as expert support and leadership development provided by leading health and care charity The King’s Fund.

Paula Blight, chief executive of SWEDA said: “SWEDA is delighted to have received recognition for all it’s hard work through one of the most challenging periods in SWEDA’s history.

“Lockdown enabled us to innovate, change our approach and adapt so that we could continue to support the people affected by eating disorders who needed it most.”

Autumn events JUST Introductions offer a relaxed way to meet people in a very friendly and welcoming group. They enjoyed good social events over the summer, from meeting for coffee to visiting NT gardens, crazy golf and bowls, pub meals and walking with Alpacas.

During the autumn, they will continue to organise events in a Covid-safe way.

They are part of the Just Introduction Group so you can meet members across the group. They offer a confidential, personal, professional service in which members are interviewed in their own home and ID

HEALTH & FAMILY

Praise for Wells Funeral Services

HERE are some comments from just a few satisfied clients of Wells Funeral Services, owned by Rod Major: l Rod organised my mother’s funeral, and I can honestly say everything was done as requested. Rod is a genuine and caring person, nothing was too much trouble, and he was always available to talk to, and resolve any queries we had at a difficult time. So, a very big thank you Rod, we would recommend you to anyone, you made my difficult time much easier.

Bryony S. l I cannot thank you enough for making this awful time much easier and smoother than myself and my family expected. Rod went above and beyond and did exactly what was required for our needs. We were in a budget and his costs were by far the best around. Thank you again.

Tabby P. l What a find! Wells Funeral Services were astounding in every way. At every step of the process, Rod and his team guided us through this difficult time with compassion and professionalism. Nothing was too much trouble and his honest and realistic approach helped us give my mother the best send-off we could have given her. Flowers, Celebrant, Order of Service were 5 Stars and a credit to all at Wells Funeral Services. Thank You. Lesley and Keith G

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For more information and testimonials, look at the website and give them a call!

We offer a personal, caring, confidential service One to one introductions and socials covering all ages

The best person to advise you on your funeral plan is your local funeral director . . . Call me now What is a Funeral Plan? A funeral plan allows you to: • Pay and plan for your funeral in advance; • Helps to reduce stress and worry for your loved ones; • Fixes the cost of the services in the plan at today’s prices.

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MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 73

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MENDIP TIMES

HEALTH & FAMILY

Putting podiatry patients at ease

RECEPTIONIST and clinical support Lisa Trott is the first port of call for people making appointments on the phone or visiting Foot Faerie Podiatry at Rookery Farm at Binegar.

Offering a warm welcome – and comforting reassurance to anyone feeling apprehensive about a treatment – is Lisa’s forte, as is being on hand to Welcome: Lisa Trott has been help podiatrist Sue with Sue for almost three years Boothroyd, if required, to chat to a patient during any surgical procedures.

In December, Lisa will mark her third anniversary of working with Sue and is on first name terms with many of the practice’s regular patients. Lisa, who lives in Shepton Mallet and used to be a receptionist at a GP surgery in the town, said: “The best thing about the job is when people come out from seeing Sue and say: ‘that feels so much better!’”

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Unlimited advice on all your eye care needs Great discounts on all your spectacle requirements Repairs and adjustments to spectacles We offer a range of contact lenses, dry eye lubricants, solutions and myopia (Short-sightedness) management options. As predictions indicate that by 2050 half of the world’s population will be myopic • OCT scans and Optomap imaging of the health of your eyes Orriss and Low Optometrists, Corner House, Woodborough Road, Winscombe, BS25 1AQ 01934 843713 • www.orrissandlow.co.uk

PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Wedmore Dental Practice is expanding and welcoming a new dentist to the team!

Alison Chapman has worked in dentistry for over 20 years and brings a wealth of experience to the role. She has a special interest in endodontics (root canal fillings) and is an expert at helping nervous patients feel at ease.

Covid-19 has brought a lot of challenges to the healthcare sphere, including further regulation and guidelines, and increased demand. With lots of new people moving to the area, and many others finding it difficult to access dental services during the pandemic, we have been welcoming lots of new patients to the practice.

Our Denplan payment plans are extremely popular, especially with families; our children’s plans start from £5.74 per month.

During the pandemic we have also seen increased demand for cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics, including whitening, anti-wrinkle treatment and fillers. Many of our patients are looking for subtle cosmetic treatment to give them more confidence on Zoom and Team Meetings.

Give us a call, send an email, or contact us via Insta for more information.

With best wishes for the autumn.

The Team at Wedmore Dental Practice @wedmoredental

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Return of the ducks

EVENTS

CHEDDAR Vale Lions’ annual duck race made a welcome return to Cheddar Gorge and raised more than £2,000 for local good causes.

Festival supports village groups

WEDMORE’S 20th Real Ale Festival, which had to be cancelled last year due to the pandemic, was the most popular yet, with over 2,000 people sampling 120 different drinks.

A raffle, auction and beer bucket challenge raised more than £12,000. The presentation night will be held at Wedmore Village Hall on Saturday, October 2nd at 7.30pm.

Next year’s festival will be held from September 9th–11th.

Details: Facebook @wedmorerealalefestival, Twitter @WedmoreRealAle or go to www.wedmorerealale.com

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 75

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MENDIP TIMES

Twice the fun in Evercreech

VILLAGERS and visitors enjoyed two separate days of postlockdown events in Evercreech with a fun day at St Peter’s Church followed by the village show.

(Photo courtesy of Geoff Corris)

Woodturner Stephen Stokes, who was carving Roman numeral year plaques in aid of of the show

Castle Cary Cygnets perform in the arena

The churchyard was filled with families enjoying the teddy zip wire Bookworms at the church fun day

Greg Jessop, Belinda Cannings and Nic Jefferis were promoting Evercreech Drama Group’s nativity story writing competition, to be performed at a village walking event in December

Circus performer Christopher Bullzini, who lives in the village PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Members of Evercreech WI in the main marquee

Family fun in the arena

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EVENTS

Fun with a fire hose

Dundry Day

Fancy dress

THE sun shone and there was a real sense of community spirit in the air as Dundry came together for Dundry Day. The day started with a cafe in the church and tours of the tower, before the village hall and playing field were full of people catching up, taking part in crafts, making face masks, firefighting demonstrations, chatting to local businesses and enjoying a game of skittles or tug of war!

Delicious pizzas and drinks were served throughout the day courtesy of the Dundry Inn and later there was entertainment from local band – Three Scots and a Barman.

Merriman merriment

MERRIMAN Park Fun Day in Street brought the community out in great numbers to support the sixth annual event.

A full afternoon of entertainment included local circus entertainer Mark Foot of Twiglet Time Entertainment, the Glastonbury Dragon Drummers, pupils from Cirque de Silk, and the Glastonbury Border Morris Dancers.

There was also music from the Bad Cowboys and the Back Street Stompers, as well as various stalls and entertainment in the evening.

Glastonbury Border Morris

There were big crowds

Zoe Winstone on her stall Bernie Lock and his disco

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 77

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MENDIP TIMES

Mendip caving miscellanea

(Photographs by Phil Hendy)

THERE has been a long tradition that cavers look after their own and when an accident occurs underground we are foremost to the With PHILIP rescue. After all, we HENDY have the knowledge of caves and experience of caving techniques essential to a satisfactory outcome. That is not to say, of course, that other emergency services are called upon when necessary, but local cavers will always be at the sharp end.

Cave rescue on Mendip was first rationalised in 1936, with the formation of the Mendip Rescue Organisation.

This consisted of a small group of experienced cavers, who expected to be able to call on others for assistance as necessary. Over the years, training and experience of rescues grew.

Although there was a limited number of officers, known as wardens, there was no written constitution, but it worked well. In the 1990s the system for electing wardens was changed and MRO became the Mendip Cave Rescue (MCR).

This body was affiliated to the British Cave Rescue Council and to Mountain Rescue England and Wales, which holds drug licences and the Casualty

Alison Moody in an Axbridge mine

Mossy Powell and Graham Balcombe in Wookey Hole

Care Certificates which rescuers need to obtain. It also insures cavers during rescues.

There are, fortunately, few serious cave rescues, which paradoxically jeopardises the controlled drugs licence.

Safety has improved tremendously over the years, thanks to improved clothing, lighting, and other equipment and a better understanding of caves, particularly flood and bad air risks. An amendment to an Act of Parliament would be necessary in order to be able

to continue.

To overcome this, MCR has agreed a constitution, a code of conduct, and has registered as a charity. There are now two forms of membership; Core, basically the trained wardens, and Associate, cavers willing to be called on as needed.

These are expected to undergo some training, though not to the same level as core members. Ultimately, however, we can expect cave rescue to be as professional and efficient as it has been in the past.

Caving may be seen as a predominantly male sport, but women have been welcomed since the earliest days. There are photographs in existence of Victorian and Edwardian ladies dressed in the fashion of the day, deep underground in wild as opposed to show caves.

Even the young Princess Victoria braved a journey lying flat in a wooden boat through a low flooded passage to experience the wonders of Peak Cavern in Derbyshire.

Modern cave women dress the same as the men and have proved just as hardy. Initially some clubs allowed them to cave, but not join as members, but that has all changed and now they are accepted on their merits, not their gender.

True, some have entered the sport

Phil has been caving for more than 50 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in producing several

PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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Kay Chambers in Shute Shelve Cavern

Win Hooper in a Devon cave

rode a powerful motorbike at speed around the grounds, taking in various banks and other obstacles.

Cavers’ children sometimes take up the sport and a prime example is Alison Moody, daughter of the Hoopers. As a baby, she accompanied her parents underground in a carry-cot on their bathunting expeditions, and started caving

(Photograph by John Hooper)

through husbands or boyfriends, but an increasing number take to caving independently. Some have been responsible for their own discoveries, others find their niche in specialist areas.

Mary Hazelton, the niece of the cave explorer Brig. E.A. Glennie, was for many years the fauna recorder for the Cave Research Group, while Winifred Hooper did sterling work assisting her husband John to research bats in the Devon caves.

Women have also been active in cave diving, after Mossy Powell joined Graham Balcombe to push beyond the third chamber in Wookey Hole in 1935.

In 2011, Claire Cohen and Kevin Hilton dived a tight sump in Pierre’s Pot, Burrington, to discover a beautifully decorated passage.

Christine Grosart is the only woman to have dived to the end of Wookey Hole and, when time and circumstances allow, discovers and explores flooded caves in Croatia.

Some women have certainly given men a run for their money, not just underground. Sybil Bowden-Lyle, an experienced member of the Bristol Exploration Club, gained a lot of street cred with the pupils at Wells Blue School, when as a teacher there she

CAVING

in her own right as a young teenager in the 1970s.

She has been responsible for discoveries in Swildon’s Hole. Indeed, when researching for the definitive book on the cave “Swildon’s Hole – 100 Years of Discovery”, she visited every part of the cave to be able to write an accurate description. Having explored most of Mendip’s underground, she has now turned her attention to digging, and was active in the discovery of the country’s largest chamber, The Frozen Deep in Cheddar’s Reservoir Hole.

Currently, she is digging in Bagpit, one of a line of closed basins running along the edge of the southern flank of Mendip. These depressions are thought to have been formed during the last ice age. The cave is currently 172 metres long and 25 metres deep, with some large chambers, notable Wedge Chamber and Priddy Good.

In addition, Pleistocene bones of horse and the giant aurochs have been found, as well as cryogenic calcite formations, which occur when freezing conditions shatter older speleothems.

This has resulted in much excitement and work amongst the scientific community.

Now that lockdown has (nearly) ended, caving is almost back to normal, and we can expect further discoveries by our men and women (but hopefully no rescues) in due course.

several caving publications and until his retirement was a caving instructor at Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 79

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MendiP TiMes

Living history – advice on listed buildings

THE team at Manor & Hall are particularly passionate about period properties and that will often mean listed buildings, of which they have extensive knowledge.

When buying or selling a listed property, there are a few things they say you should consider. Owning a historic building is a truly wonderful thing; however, it is important to understand that you can never truly own a listed building because, as a heritage asset, it belongs to everyone and you cannot necessarily do as you wish with it.

There are over half a million listed buildings in England, broken down into three categories: Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II. Grade I listed buildings are dealt with by Historic England, Grade II* and Grade II are dealt with by the local authority planning and conservation departments on their behalf.

There is a common misconception with listed buildings that it’s “just the front elevation” or “just the outside” which is covered by the listing. This is entirely incorrect; all listed buildings, irrespective of their grade, are protected inside and out, including all permanent structures within the curtilage (land attached to the property).

The purpose of listing is not to “freeze a building in time” but simply to protect the special characteristics which make it worthy of being listed. While any works to the structure will

likely require listed building consent, decorative and minor maintenance works would generally not.

It’s worth engaging the services of a surveyor with experience of listed buildings when purchasing your new home. The structure will be very different to that of a modern house! You will also need to ensure that your insurance company have an accurate rebuild figure as this is very likely to exceed the purchase price.

Should you be planning to undertake any major works to your home, Manor & Hall would recommend seeking guidance from your conservation officer at the outset to ascertain what is likely to be acceptable. Like you, your conservation officer will be passionate about your home and you will need to work together to safeguard its future.

if you have any questions or concerns regarding listed properties, please contact ryan at the Manor and Hall office in doulting; he has extensive experience of developing listed buildings. you can search the listed building list at: www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/

Page 80 • MendiP TiMes • OcTOber 2021

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becoming a power buyer

PrOPerTy

Sally Killen of Killens looks at the importance of the “power buyer”

THE fast pace of the housing market has been well publicised and it seems as if the autumn housing market is going to be just as fast paced as it has been all year.

With stock levels at low levels, the competition for properties is great with the number of people chasing after every available property for sale at its highest ever. We are finding that there are many frustrated potential buyers looking to move but exasperated at the lack of available properties and the competition.

So, in this competitive market, agents and sellers are able to promote their properties to “power buyers” who are those who have already found a buyer for their own property, are chain-free, or have no need to sell at all.

Unfortunately, those not in that position will struggle to find their dream property.

There are three ways you can become a

“power buyer”. These are: 1. Get a sale agreed on your current home before you buy 2. Get a mortgage in principle if you’re a first-time buyer 3. Let your estate agent know if you’re a cash buyer The good news for potential buyers, as we enter the busy autumn period, is that we are seeing early signs of more properties coming to market. Nationally, the number of new listings in the first two weeks of September was 14 percent

higher than the last two weeks of August.

Although this is still an early snapshot, autumn is traditionally a busy time for property – people put their homes on the market with the aim of starting the New Year in a new property – which should mean we see more and more choice coming through.

If you are considering selling, do contact any of our offices to arrange a free market appraisal. We are seeking properties to sell and let of all sizes and in all locations.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 81

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MENDIP TIMES

Vintage ploughing

Chew Magna duck race

Tara Broad from Long Ashton

Decorated ducks

THE North Somerset branch of the National Vintage Tractor & Engine Club held its annual ploughing match at Chew Stoke.

HUNDREDS of people supported the Chew Magna Society’s duck race in the village.

Spectators George Phillips and Wilson Sherborne Collette U-4 winner

Tamara Mattingley and her dad from Rangeworthy PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

EVENTS

The finish

Motoring page.qxp_Layout 1 23/09/2021 14:45 Page 1

MOTORING

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MENDIP TIMES

Fun day offers food for nought!

TWO friends who launched a free food larder in Writhlington have held a fundraising fun day to buy more supplies.

Zoe Cornick and Sarah Kite set up the Writhlington Pantry during the last lockdown in a shed near their homes in Manor Park in the village. It offers fresh and canned food to anyone in need along with other essentials – they also welcome donations.

They said the fun day at Writhlington Village hall was their way of saying thank you for the support they have received and to enable the pantry – which has received help and donations from organisations such as Tesco and Westfield Big Local – to continue.

Fun day MC Drift Snowbarger

A bouncy castle was just one of the attractions at the show for youngsters

Saving lives

Some of the Writhlington Flower Show team on their fundraising stall. They were unable to hold their show this year due to the pandemic

Delilah (left), aged five, and cousin Taz, 11

For details, find Writhlington Pantry on Facebook

The village of Theale was honoured to get a visit from eminent doctor, Carl Gwinnutt, emeritus Consultant in Anaesthesia and immediate past president of The National Resuscitation Council. he was there to instruct villagers on the technique of CPR to re-start the heart, followed by further instruction on the use of a defibrillator, of which Theale now has three.

The photograph shows Carl instructing Theale Show president, Julia Skinner, in CPR on one of the two special manikins he brought for the purpose.

In two sessions held on the day he taught no less than 21 people in the techniques, the youngest of whom was 13 and the oldest 79.

PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Zoe and Sarah at the fun day

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COMMUNITY

Going with the Flo

Flo at work

ARTIST Flo Lipin has created this mural on the wall of the house of friends in Shepton Mallet. Taking inspiration from gardening and nature, the green woman image took Flo several weeks to complete.

Flo, who lives in Shepton Mallet, recently worked on another piece of art – with her friend, fellow artist Mandy McKenna – next to the town’s Collett Park and also on a wall by a house in Pilton.

Library seeks volunteers

PeASeDOWN St John’s Community Library has launched a recruitment campaign to sign-up more volunteers.

Cllr Karen Walker, operations manager at the library, said: “Over 200 people used our services last month. Not only is reading enjoyable, but it’s also good for our mental health too.

It reduces stress, is therapeutic and keeps our brains active.”

Details: peasedownlibrary@hotmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/PSJCommunityLibrary

The completed mural at Pembroke Cottages

Hats off to knitters

MeMBeRS of Stoke St Michael’s sewing and crafts club have handed over 650 “hats” to Age UK in Somerset as part of the organisation’s partnership with a smoothie drinks company.

The club is one of the regular users of the recentlyrefurbished Memorial hall in the village. The hats go on the top of Innocent Drinks bottles. Phil Dolan, from Age UK Somerset said: “The money raised from these little hats will make a big difference to the lives of older people in our area, many of whom have been badly affected by the pandemic. every hat knitted will help to fund our hugely-important services. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone helping us.’’

The sewing and crafts club meets on the second Tuesday of each month (2-4pm). Other clubs include the gardening club (first Thursday of each month, 10-12), the village history club (third Thursday, 10-12) and the wellbeing group on the fourth Tuesday of the month (2-4pm).

New venture

The busy Rotary club of Nailsea and Backwell are hoping to develop a “new” initiative over the next few months. They are to host a series of whist drives at the Tithe Barn, Nailsea.

They will be held 2-5pm on Thursdays, October 14th, November 18th, and December 16th. The cost of each session will be £3 to include tea or coffee and cake!

The club is aware that these sessions are most likely to appeal to the elderly or lonely and say a warm welcome is guaranteed.

A small prize will be presented to the winners.

Club members with the 650 bottle hats

All clubs are free and all are welcome. For details, visit: www.stokestmichaelhall.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 85

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MENDIP TIMES

Sun shines on ranblers in Shipham

Walkers gather on the Saturday morning at Shipham Village Hall for the start of three-day festival

hAVING been postponed from last year due to the pandemic, Mendip Ramblers were finally able to stage their free walking festival based on Shipham over the August bank holiday.

With four different walks each day there was something for everyone, from long treks for very experienced ramblers to short and family walks. All were rewarded with the varied scenery surrounding Shipham; lots of beautiful coastal views

and reminders of the area’s Roman and mining past.

The short and family walks were well supported by nonramblers and family groups including new arrivals from Kent, sampling walking rather than cycling, and a family with grandparents from France, locals who wanted slow and quite easy walking and young children – walkers from ages four to 84!

The family with grandparents from France

Ramblers had a choice of four walks each day

Mendip Ramblers is planning a full programme of weekly walks for the autumn season. For details, visit: www.mendipramblers.co.uk

New fund in North Somerset

QUARTeT Community Foundation and North Somerset Partnership have opened a new grant programme for North Somerset.

The North Somerset Realising Potential Fund is now open, offering grants of up to £2,000 to groups in the area.

Julie Newman, from Quartet, said: “We’re so pleased to open this fund to local groups. Over the last 18 months so many North Somerset charities and organisations have done amazing work supporting our local communities.

“But their hard work isn’t over yet and many now need support themselves so they can be there through the Covid recovery. This new North Somerset grant programme will Read Easy Weston received a grant of £2,000 help everyone have a fair chance of a good life.”

Details: https://quartetcf.org.uk/grant-programmes/north-somerset-realising-potential-grant-2/

PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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Art and nature – a “batch” made in heaven

TWO artists working with the Radstock-based charity Creativity Works staged a weekend of family-friendly Wild Woodland Workshops to encourage people to make more use of haydon Batch, a former coal tip now being returned to nature.

The 20-acre site once formed part of Kilmersdon Colliery and is now owned by Radstock Town Council. Since the closure of the mine in 1973, the batch has been flattened but still offers spectacular views.

The free sessions offered a mixture of participatory naturethemed games and art including a trail exploring the batch. earlier this year, the town council – which bought the site in 2018 – appointed New Leaf Studio to complete a masterplan for the site. It has held a few stakeholder sessions to discuss ideas and is hoping to go to public consultation later in the year with the plan.

COMMUNITY

Artists Angela Hill and Astra Beck with some of the families who took part in the sessions

Astra (in pink) takes part in a nature-themed game of tag

Radstock Town Council wants to encourage more people to enjoy the area

Fun on Haydon Batch

A nest of “eggs” ready for one of the games

Families were able to enjoy crafts sessions as well as a chance to explore

Angela Hill (left), who runs Curiositree, and Astra Beck, a textile artist

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 87

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MENDIP TIMES

Celebrations at rotary club

Nicky Candy (left) with vice-president Craig Shaw

MeMBeRS of the Rotary Club of Midsomer Norton and Radstock have belatedly held their president’s night with a themed celebration called Razzle Dazzle.

Covid restrictions meant they could not hold the event in July, the start of the club’s year. Last year’s president, Nick Candy, is to remain as president for the coming year because of the impact of the pandemic and will be leading the celebrations in December for the club’s 65th anniversary.

Nick said: “We continue to look at creative and fun ways of fundraising; we need to ensure we are involved in the community and helping out where we can. We need to generate new members that bring about what our club and what rotary is all about.

“And one of the most important goals is to continue our theme that rotary needs to be fun with a purpose.”

For club details, visit: www.rotarynr.org.uk

New president

NAILSeA Lions have elected Adrian Morgan as president, taking over from Pam hunt, who served for two years during the pandemic. She thanked the Lions for their support in what had been two very difficult years for the club.

The club are now looking forward to a better year, with a number of fundraising events planned, including a bookstall in October, a race night in November, a folk song and sea shanty evening in February, as well as the popular carol float collection in December.

PAGE 88 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Café supports community

CONGReSBURy Community Café has donated £423 to St Andrew’s School PTA towards new playground equipment at the village school.

The café, run by volunteers in rooms and a courtyard at Debbie Fortune estate agents, was initially set up to raise funds for a new village hall.

Since that project was abandoned last year, profits are now used to help fund village organisations and activities - the donation to the school is its first – as well as special sessions for organisations such as Macmillan Cancer Support, the Air Ambulance and local hospices.

The café is open on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9am-1pm and alternate Saturdays from 10am-3pm. It also runs a glut market where donated surplus vegetables and plants are available for a donation to the café.

Details: www.congresburycoffee.org

President’s award for legion supporter

JAN Crewe, Shepton Mallet Royal British Legion branch secretary and Poppy Appeal organiser, has been presented with the branch’s president’s award for outstanding and committed work during the pandemic.

Covid regulations, including lockdowns, affected all areas of normal branch activity but Jan kept members informed by email and did much work behind the scenes.

Jan with the award presented by branch She was also president Brigadier Tony Dalby-Welsh instrumental in helping to arrange for Christmas gifts to be sent out to the older and isolated members and setting up the branch’s first face-to-face contact with the public at the Mid-Somerset Agricultural Show.

Branch chairman Andy Ransom said: “As always it’s a team effort and Jan was ably assisted by Sue Trott, our community engagement officer and Michelle Marchant, our assistant branch secretary.”

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Thank you gifts to miners

ALMOST 50 ex-Somerset Coalfields workers gathered at Radstock Museum for their first reunion in two years.

The afternoon get-together was organised by the Somerset Miners Welfare Trust with the support of the museum which presented each miner – including trust president Michael eavis – with a free ticket for life to visit the heritage attraction.

The welfare trust has also arranged a special exclusive day for the ex-mineworkers and their families at the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway at Midsomer Norton South Station with free train rides and lunch, on Tuesday, October 26th.

Despite dwindling numbers, the welfare trustees say they will carry on holding the reunions for as long as possible, with the hope of reaching the 50th anniversary in 2023 of the last pit closing in 1973.

A poignant gap – no reunion was held in 2020 due to Covid

Selwyn Rees (left), one of the SMWT trustees, was joined for the first time at the reunion by his brother Des. Selwyn, aged 84, worked from 1952-1961 at Haydon Colliery whilst Des, aged 82, worked at Writhlington from 1955-1961. Their father, Morgan “Taffy” also worked down the mines and was badly injured when a coalface collapsed half a mile below ground

Bernie Brown (left), shows a 1959 photo of the Old Mills works to trust president Michael Eavis and Tony Charlton

COMMUNITY

Ex-miners, SMWT trustees and museum trustees and volunteers gather at the miner’s wheel in Radstock

Miners trust chairman Bryn Hawkins presented pot plants to the volunteers who served refreshments

Radstock Museum chairman Simon Carter (left) and miners trust chairman Bryn Hawkins with one of the free museum passes

Ex-miner Ali Stephens (left) and museum trustee Martin Horler admire an unused carbide lamp donated to the museum – along with some used lamps – by Ali’s brother Raymond who also attended the reunion

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 89

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New youth worker

PeASeDOWN St John’s hive Community Centre has appointed Nick Blythe as its new youth worker. he is also a college lecturer and sports coach and has been passionate about working with and supporting young people for over 15 Nick Blythe with his wife Victoria and years. children Sienna and Noah Chair of the hive management committee, Joy Fraser, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to appoint Nick to this role. “he’ll be setting up open access youth work in Peasedown St John in The hive Community Centre, formerly the youth hub. he will also be making links with the local primary school and secondary schools that young people in Peasedown attend.” youth work, previously delivered by B&NeS youth Connect Service, ceased in June 2019. Since then, the new hive management committee has been able to raise enough funding to employ a youth worker of their own.

Nick said: “I’m looking forward to getting stuck in! As well as supporting young people at the hive at our new open access youth work sessions, I’ll be out-and-about in the village building new links and relationships.

“From what I’ve experienced already, having lived in Peasedown for many years, the village is a very special place.

The people are friendly, willing to help others and there is tons of support for the new hive Centre!”

Details: joyfraser951@gmail.com 07947 008042 www.facebook.com/HiveCommunityCentrePSJ https://www.thehivepsj.org/

Grants available

Julie Newman and Clare Passarelli at the Community Scrapstore

A POPULAR grant programme focused on health and wellbeing in North Somerset is now offering up to £20,000 to local good causes. The NSCP grant programme has £350,000 to award through Quartet Community Foundation.

It has awarded grant funding to many local groups including Friends of Grove Park, Wellspring Counselling and Mothers for Mothers. The deadline for applications is October 28th.

Julie Newman from Quartet said: “As many local groups resume their activities this autumn, we encourage them and others to apply to this fund so together we can continue to boost health and wellbeing across North Somerset.”

Details: https://quartetcf.org.uk/grant-programmes/northsomerset-community-partnership-grant/

Successful summer

West Harptree book sale

Elaine Avery (left) and Carol Brain

PAGE 90 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

MeMBeRS of St Mary’s Church in West harptree raised £166 for their church with a book sale at New Manor Farm in West harptree.

One of the organisers, elaine Avery, said: “We enjoyed meeting people from around the Valley and further afield and thank them for their support.”

Jenny Davis (left) with Heather Maggs, whose knitted teddies raised funds for the church

COMPTON Dando's Sunday church teas have had a successful summer, raising £1510.71 for church funds.

One of the organisers, Jenny Davis, said: “This is amazing.

Covid restrictions at the start of the teas made it difficult but so many people came back to enjoy the teas and we are always well supported by the village.

“We shall all miss our tea and cakes on a Sunday afternoon, but we shall look forward to seeing you all again next year.”

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COMMUNITY

Big boost for Barton Camp

The Thatchers Foundation has made a £50,000 donation to Barton Camp, a residential activity centre for children, run by Bristol Children’s help Society on the outskirts of Winscombe.

It’s one of the longest running residential adventure camps for children in the country giving young people with any form of disadvantage an experience of outdoor adventure.

The grant will allow much needed refurbishment work and improvements to take place at the centre over the coming months.

Barton Camp is a fully accessible 101 bed residential centre; schools, youth groups and children’s charities all enjoy stays at the camp, as do family groups and other organisations. This year it has formed a new partnership with the heswall Disabled Children holiday Fund, hosting a week-long summer break for 9-15 year olds with serious personal or physical problems.

John harvey, director of fundraising for the Bristol Children’s help Society said: “The last 18 months have been incredibly difficult for us all at Barton Camp as we had to close our doors to visitors. Our hearts went out to those young people, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, who had been looking forward to enjoying activity breaks with us.

“Now we’ve been able to welcome them back, we’re really thrilled that this generous donation from the Thatchers Foundation is able to allow us to progress a much-needed upgrade programme

Pictured (l to r) Mike Williamson and Anne Thatcher from The Thatchers Foundation with Bert Hurditch, Brian Hall, John Harvey and Dick Hyde from Barton Camp

at the camp for our visitors to enjoy.”

Anne Thatcher, trustee of The Thatchers Foundation, said: “When we heard about the situation that Barton Camp has found itself in during lockdown, with depleted income and reduced fundraising, we really wanted to assist where we could. This is our largest donation to date since we formed the foundation in 2016.”

The foundation helps and supports community and charitable activities in the areas of health, social or economic disadvantage, education and environment, in particular in Sandford, Winscombe and adjoining towns and villages.

Details: https://www.thatcherscider.co.uk/about/thatchers-foundation/

New community award

A NeW community award has been created in Peasedown St John to honour and recognise the village’s local unsung heroes.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Peasedown Community Trust has launched the Community Civic Award, which highlights and applauds the outstanding voluntary service of an individual, or group of individuals, in the village.

Trust chairman, Gavin heathcote, said: “Peasedown St John is a fantastic place to live. Its community spirit is second-to-none thanks to the hard work and dedication of many volunteers who go ‘above and beyond’ to serve others.”

Nominations will close at 12noon on Saturday, November 20th. Nomination forms can be obtained from Peasedown Community Library (@The hive) or by emailing peasedowncommunitytrust@gmail.com

Double delight

PARIShIONeRS of Publow’s All Saints Church rounded off the summer with two events, a barbecue and the second of their monthly morning markets, which raised £326 for church funds.

One of the church officers, Judith hillman, said: “Nearly 70 adults and a few small children met together to enjoy each other’s company.

“Chief chefs Stephen Rogers and Paul holmes produced tasty burgers and sausages, and a wonderful array of puddings were donated by church members. This was a timely event, not only to thank people, but to celebrate being able to meet and socialise with more freedom.”

The next church market will be held Saturday, October 2nd, 10-11.30am at the church.

Gavin Heathcote

Pictured (l to r) Judith Hillman, Janet Smith and Lorna Howarth

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 91

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Free event to say “thank you”

CASTLe Cary Town Council organised a free family fun festival to celebrate summer and to thank people in the town for their strong sense of community during the past difficult year.

With live music and other performances, a dog show and other attractions, the festival was held on the town’s Fairfield.

Visitors were able to browse stands run by many of the town’s community groups which also offered newer residents the chance to find out just how much goes on in the area.

This is getting messy…so far

Sue Pexton (left) and Annie Morley promoting this year’s Castle Cary carnival procession

Horse therapy sessions

SOMeRSeT Community Foundation (SCF) has launched a new fund supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Somerset, east Devon or North Dorset, to access horse-facilitated therapy sessions.

The new grants from the horseshoes and handprints Fund will cover 50% of the cost of a course of horse therapy sessions up to a maximum of £250.

Kirsty Campbell, programmes manager at the foundation, said: “Close contact and interaction with horses is highly sensory and there are a variety of horse therapy providers in Somerset. Benefits for the users are many, including better speech and communication, improved memory and attention span, greater confidence, and a happier family environment.”

The fund is open for applications until Friday, November 5th.

Details: 01749 344949 or Somerset Community Foundation - Horseshoes and Handprints Grants (somersetcf.org.uk)

PAGE 92 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Castle Cary Cygnets majorettes

Wyvern Jubilee Morris

Annabelle Walter (kneeling), founder of the Happy Landings animal shelter at Pylle, was the dog show judge

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Wells u3a holiday

IN early September, 35 members of Wells u3a spent five days on holiday at Falmouth in Cornwall.

The trip covered a variety of visits to Cornish gardens which included Saltram, Trelissick and naturally the Lost Gardens of heligan. Time was spent in the fishing town of Fowey and a free day gave everyone the chance to discover

the attractions of Falmouth.

A conducted tour was arranged at Cornwall’s only cathedral in Truro and the only jail in Cornwall, Bodmin Jail (now a tourist attraction), which gave an insight into the jail’s operation over 150 years.

Planning starts soon for their next trip. Wells u3a is very lucky to have members who are prepared to organise holidays for their members as not all groups have this opportunity.

COMMUNITY

New venue in Cheddar

A NeW community hall is due to open this month at Our Lady Queen of Apostles Catholic Church in Tweentown, Cheddar.

It’s ten years since a replacement for the old church hall was first suggested, when fundraising started.

Now thanks to grants, donations and a loan from the diocese, the new building is nearly ready. The main hall can seat around 100, with 60 in the smaller hall. It has a full catering kitchen, full disabled facilities, office space for the parish secretary and parish workers and five toilets.

As well as being used by the church, it’s already getting bookings from various groups, including Somerset Choral Society and Cheddar Valley Singers.

The hall has been built by local builder, Steve Robinson, and was designed by his daughter, architect, Kelly Clark.

Details: www.u3asites.org.uk/wells/home

They were there for the community

A PARTy has been held at Mells Manor to thank some of the village’s younger residents who stepped in to help out at the community-run village shop and café during the height of the Covid-19 crisis.

The residents, with more time on their hands than usual, responded to a cry for help on the MellsMatters Facebook page and not only took over from older, shielding volunteers in the shop but also organised and delivered vital groceries and medicines to vulnerable villagers.

New village shop society chairman, David Szymanski, said: “When they were needed, they were there for the community.”

Some have stayed on for regular duties in the shop, joining longserving volunteers and members of staff who were also thanked for their exceptional efforts during the past 17 months in extremely trying conditions.

Recently retired chairman Rob Waller, who bore the brunt of difficult decisions regarding the management of the shop and café through Covid, was presented with a pair of olive trees in recognition of his hard work and enthusiasm during his years as chairman.

Sadly, Baxter Raithby, who joined the café staff as a Duke of edinburgh Award student in 2017, was unable to join the party but will be presented with a gift token as a mark of appreciation for his works, including running the café single-handedly at weekends.

Details: Bookings secretary Rosemary Lewis cheddentrose@yahoo.co.uk 01934 742656 07397 806319

Harvest festival in Binegar

The harvest service underway in Binegar

AN open-air harvest festival on Binegar Fair Field, behind holy Trinity church in the village was followed by a fun day for all including, games, live music and a scarecrow competition. The inside of the church also boasted a flower festival.

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Knitters wanted

WI MeMBeRS in Clutton are asking knitters in the community to help them knit or crotchet poppies to go round the village for Remembrance Day in November.

They first started to decorate the centre of the village to celebrate the centenary of WWI, but would now like to extend the area they cover.

Details: edwinajmorris@aol.com

Beavers on patrol

MeMBeRS of 1st Radstock Beavers held a litter pick from their Scout hall on Wells Road to Tom huyton Play Park.

They are enjoying meeting face to face again after over a year of virtual meetings and have welcomed seven new members this term, but still have room for more.

(Photo courtesy of LostWithoutTrace PR)

Boost for community company

Frome Mayor, Andy Wrintmore, presents Purple Elephant founder, Sue Willis, with a cheque for £6,000

The directors of Purple elephant, one of Frome’s most well-loved Community Interest Companies, have been awarded a grant of £6,000 from Frome Town Council to continue their work.

Originally founded to offer the day-long, annual, free Frome Children’s Festival, Purple elephant has now expanded to offer a number of year-round services.

Director, Sue Willis, said: “We have gone through a rapid growth in the past 18 months in reaction to identifying and responding to the needs of many vulnerable families in Frome.

“The support given to us by the council is amazing and now, as we have become more of a vital service-provider than we had ever imagined, we are reaching out to local businesses to please join us as sponsors.

“If you’re a local business, get in touch if you’d like to be a part of our amazing Purple elephant community.”

Details: www.PurpleElephant.org.uk

PAGE 94 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Details: janet.turner1@btinternet.com

Lions’ new garden

RADSTOCK and Midsomer Norton Lions club has completed its most ambitious project to date, a sensory garden in Midsomer Norton’s new town park.

The garden was opened by local MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the mayor of Midsomer Norton, Lynda Robertson and Lion Sarah Oughton.

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COMMUNITY

Redhill celebrates new playground

ReDhILL Village Club, just south of Bristol airport, has a formidable fundraising team! When the old children’s playground was condemned they set to, raising £15,000 towards new play equipment by organising vintage car rallies and many other fundraising events over several years.

Their efforts were matched by grants of £10,000 from Bristol Airport and £5,000 from Thatchers Cider.

The old playground meant children needed to cross the car park, so the new equipment has been sited on safe grassland behind the club, where they have also converted an old storeroom and loo block into a new café next to the playground.

For this they managed to obtain a grant of £8,000 from the National Lottery so had to raise another £8,000 to match fund.

To celebrate, they held a free family fun day to celebrate , which also offered support to a former resident of the neighbouring village of Felton, Winnie Wilkins, who has cerebral palsy.

She loves the outdoors and horse riding but now needs to use a wheelchair. She’s fundraising to buy an all-terrain wheelchair to enable her to be more independent on rough ground.

Winnie says she’d like to be able to train to do more with Riding for the Disabled: “RDA have helped me so much and it’s great to be able to give back a little. When I get down from a

The new playground

horse and have to get back into my chair the little ones say ‘Oh – but you’re just like us!’.”

A specialist wheelchair will cost £11,500. Winnie and her supporters had managed to raise about £950 before Redhill’s family fun day. The following day Winnie posted on her Facebook page: “Thank you Redhill village club for all your support for Operation Winnie buy wheels – we raised a grand total of £1,457.70.”

The new café

Winnie Wilkins

Details: Fundraiser by Winnie Wilkins : Help Winnie Buy Wheels (gofundme.com)

Club closed by lockdown

The Inner Wheel Club of Chelwood Bridge, set up in 2010, has closed because of a rapid fall in numbers during lockdown.

Over the years members enjoyed many outings, talks, trips, and charity fundraising. Among those sad to see them go, will be senior citizens in the Chew Valley who were invited to the Inner Wheel Day tea party at Pensford hall each January, with bingo and raffle thrown in.

It was an enjoyable last afternoon and also a sad one, as members finally met and looked back over the past ten years, reminiscing with photo albums of all their events and happenings. All in all they say they enjoyed ten years of the best.

Pictured (l to r) Marilyn Martin, Heather Curtis, Hilary Mander, Marjorie Robinson, Linda Quinn and Ros Anstey

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 95

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MENDIP TIMES

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Access to Showroom by appointment only PAGE 96 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

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HOMES & INTERIORS

We’ve got it covered Mendip Times Distribution Points

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MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 97

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Pardon for Bishop?

Pictured (l to r) Rindert Doornbos, Shaun, Cllr Brian Clutton, Tor Webster, Chris Craig, Claire Compton, Susanna Lafond, Lisa Goodwin, Rollo Maughfling, Amanda Marshall, Sara, Chris and Mike Hughes, Philip Whiting with Angela Browne signing

A SMAll collective of people from Glastonbury has decided to petition the Queen asking her to consider a Royal Pardon for the Blessed Richard Whiting the last abbot of Glastonbury Abbey. he was hung, drawn and quartered on Glastonbury Tor during the dissolution in 1539 on the orders of King henry VIII. The group say: “With it being her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee next year we felt it is a perfect, and long overdue opportunity to do so.”

The letter has been signed by town mayor, Cllr Brian Clutton, local tour guide Tor Webster, Bard lisa Goodwin and the Arch Druid Rollo Maughfling.

An online petition at Change.org has more than 400 signatories, including Micheal eavis, local authors William Bloom and Paul Weston and historian Alison Weir.

Honours presented during show

NEWS

Michael McGarvie

TWO people from the Mendip area were presented with British empire Medals during a ceremony at the Bath and West Country Festival.

Michael McGarvie, from Frome, was honoured for services to local history in the town, whilst Simon hoar, from Babcary, received the BeM for services to his local community.

Mrs Annie Maw, the lord lieutenant of Somerset, made the presentations on the bandstand on the showground’s village green. l See events, P68

Details: http://chng.it/dXBDdWZy

Airport expansion opposed

The West of england Combined Authority’s joint committee has voted to officially oppose the latest plans to expand Bristol Airport.

The move has been welcomed by environmental groups including Friends of the earth South West and Bristol Airport Action Network.

The motion brought by Metro Mayor Dan Norris makes good on his manifesto commitment and marks a change in direction for the combined authority. The Metro Mayor will now send the motion to the Planning Inspectorate.

Mayor Norris said: “I am delighted that my motion has been passed. I oppose the latest plans to expand Bristol Airport. The plans are badly-judged, badly-timed, and bad for our planet.

"Bristol Airport has not hit previous passenger targets, and now is certainly not the time to seek to expand its flight numbers still further.

“This vote sends an important signal to people living across the West of england that politicians are prepared to show moral leadership and listen to public opinion.

“The vast majority of people understand we are in the midst of a climate and biodiversity emergency and that we must take action now, instead of sitting on our hands and doing ‘more of the same’.

“This is a good day for the West of england.”

PAGE 98 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Simon Hoar

Special welcome to new head

Jude Clements prepares to cut a celebration cake

PUPIlS, staff and parents took part in a special outdoor “commissioning” service at Oakhill Church School and Nursery to welcome Jude Clements as its new headteacher.

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EVENTS

Chew Stoke Harvest Home

RECORD crowds turned out for this year's Chew Stoke Harvest Home, after a year of forced absence because of the lockdown. It is always a great family day out and this year was no exception.

Pupils at Chew Stoke Church School entered the craft categories, won by Olivia and Daniel, pictured with Martha, the school’s comfort and reading dog

Chew Stoke WI members (l to r) Jose Williams, Pat Peel, Jan Osborne and Ann Hollowman

Pictured (l to r) Mollie, four, Abbie, ten, and Lydia, 12, enjoying the jam entries

Two of the Twerzels band, Dave Ewings and Mark Townsend

Sam and Jessica Smart with their Siberian Huskies Koban and Lunar, which they were entering in the dog show

Champion vegetable and flower grower, Richard Cane

Mya-Rose Craig , Ben Moss and Jackie Head promoting the Chew Valley Tree Planting group

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 99

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Fun for all at Village Day

STRATTON-on-the-Fosse’s playing field was packed with visitors for the village’s fun day and dog show.

The number of visitors took organisers slightly by surprise with many stalls selling out during the course of the afternoon.

St Vigor and St John rector, the Rev. Esther Smith, with the team on the cake stall

Ubley Fete

Pictured (l to r) Janet Parsons, Eileen O’Donnell and Dr. Christie Peacock on the rewilding stall

Bold Brass Band from Clevedon

Barbecue team (l to r) Andy Charter, Ed Owen and Alex Kopfi

PAGE 100 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Children from St Vigor and St John primary school

The best rescue class in the dog show attracted dozens of entries

Enigma Twirlers ahead of their performance in the main ring

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EVENTS

Theale puts on a successful show Blooming lovely in Hutton

THE sun shone on Hutton Horticultural Show, where exhibitors excelled themselves with some fantastic entries making it a hard job for the judges to decide on the winners. Trophies were presented by parish council chairman, Peter Dutton.

Scarlett Davidson best exhibit in children's to 16 years

Lilly Goldfinch, most points in children’s 3-6

Happy birthday Jean!

JEAN Parfitt’s plans for a big 90th birthday party were dashed by the pandemic, so she hired Pensford village hall and held it on her 91st instead.

Jean, who has lived in Pensford for 69 years, had six family members in her garden last year, but packed the village hall this time, including members of the village’s Evergreen Club.

Jean said: “I was very happy that I was able to share my birthday with so many of my family and friends at last. I have had a wonderful time and the venue and decoration was just what I had wanted.”

She’s shown dancing with her daughter Pat Bushell.

THE sun shone on a wellattended Theale Show as villagers celebrated getting back together again after all the problems of Covid. A full programme of events ran from lunch for the judges and invited guests of the president, followed by show entries, many stalls and games and teas in the afternoon, then on into the evening with music by The Clay Bottom Jug Busters.

Lucy Groom, winner of three trophies in the children's section

Dawn Hanley winner of the photography cup

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MENDIP TIMES

We offer our thanks and farewell to Rachel Thompson who has supported us for several years and welcome Jane Paterson. By her own admission Jane has no claim to fame or even expertise in the horse world, but has held a lifelong love of horses, an interest in equestrian sports and pursuits, and is mother and grandmother to horse and pony-mad offspring.

It’s in the genes

YOU can usually tell very early in a child’s life whether or not they are going to like horses. I don’t mean just like horses, but be seriously hooked on everything to do with them. The pleading and cries of “Please can I have a pony?” will be familiar to many parents of young children, but owning a pony is not for the faint hearted, and of With JANE course for a variety of different reasons, it is PATERSON not always going to be possible but that doesn’t have to be the end of it.

There are other options which can enable children to bond with ponies and enjoy riding. My own daughter showed signs early on that she was going to be keen. My great grandfather was a Quarter Master Sergeant in the Royal Horse Artillery, my great uncle had a riding school and lived in a house called The Loosebox, so riding was filtered down and I can’t remember it not being in my life.

My sister and I, sometimes with our reluctant brother, used to go up to Worlebury Riding School which was owned and run by Shelagh and Sherry Tonkin, two sisters who will be remembered by many people in the Mendip area and beyond.

They not only ran the school, but also bred and showed Shetland ponies. As long as we children behaved ourselves, we could stay at the stables all day long, grooming, helping, and riding through the woods. Then we would catch the last bus home from Worlebury.

Many a night I would fall asleep on my bedroom floor and wake to find my jodhpurs being pulled off before I was carried to bed by my dad. I don’t remember ever hearing the words Health and Safety, but there were unwritten rules and an early awareness that we did as we were told “or else”’.

Both Shelagh and William Falango on Bumble Sherry passed away

PAGE 102 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

The team who came 2nd at Kings Sedgemoor Equestrian

last year within months of each other. They had run the riding school for 50 years but went on keeping horses there for much longer, providing a home for many happy ponies and a sanctuary for countless lucky children.

I took a trip down memory lane recently and visited the stables to find the amazing and dedicated Clare, who was with them for what seems like ever, still caring for the remaining Shetlands, one or two other ponies, and numerous stable cats, all living in the lap of animal luxury. It was like stepping back in time.

Everything seemed just the same as it was when I was a child and, as I drove away, the tears rolled as my emotions got the better of me. Respect for those two wonderful women who are sadly missed.

My children were all given the opportunity to start riding, but the middle daughter was the one who became addicted to the sport. When we visited a toyshop in Bath one Christmas, looking for little gifts to put in stockings, I was eyeing yo-yos, bendy snakes, wax crayons and the like, and the daughter was standing beside a full size Shetland pony, complete with beautiful soft English leather tack, saying, “Mummy, if you buy me this, I’ll be your friend!”

Thereafter if there was any tack cleaning going on, she would breathe in the smell of saddle soap and let out a sigh of pure contentment. The passion had taken a firm hold, and the spell had been cast. We heard about a pony for loan, then she worked at stables to earn rides, and eventually we managed to buy one, and so began the road to financial ruin!

Some decades later, the grandson is taking after his mother, and history is repeating itself. I once saw a sweatshirt which had a logo on the front which read, “Poverty is owning a horse”.

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RIDING

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That’s about right, but it’s worth every penny (well I would say that, wouldn’t I?) The Mendip area offers some good opportunities for children and adults to learn to ride, or to just hack out occasionally, or even to compete in all the three disciplines of dressage, showjumping and cross country.

Despite the closure of some establishments in recent times, partly due to the increased burdens imposed on them in terms of bureaucracy, paperwork and business rates, it is possible to get out and see the countryside from the saddle without owning your own horse, and during the next month I will be visiting some yards to find out more about what is currently available around the Mendip area.

There’s no stopping the Mendip Minis! Following on from their success in the mounted games championships reported last month, the Mendip Farmers branch of the Pony Club qualified for and was represented at the Area 15 Mini Showjumping Championships held at Bicton, Devon in August.

Bicton Arena is recognised as a leading equestrian venue in Izzy Penfold on Lucy

A current resident of Worlebury

the South West. The atmosphere and sense of occasion was not lost on the children, who were proud to represent Mendip at this event. Izzy Penfold won the 40cm class on Lucy, and William Falango was 5th out of a staggering 109 entries, riding Bumblebee in the 60cm class.

The team for the 40cm class finished fourth overall. Well done to Izzy Penfold, Matilda Holyoak, Charlotte Smith, and Tilly Batten. The training will continue with autumn and winter rallies, lots of practice and hard work, interspersed with local hunter trials, indoor dressage and show jumping when time allows.

Local rider to tackle the Three Peaks Challenge

IN early October, Pippa Skelton from Bishop Sutton, is tackling the Three Peaks in 24 hours, to raise money for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity. The Three Peaks Challenge is a tough trek requiring a high level of fitness.

It involves a whistle-stop journey from Ben Nevis in Scotland having made it to the top and back down, then on to Scafell Pike in the Lake District for another hard ascent, and on to Snowdonia in Wales for the final challenge. Trekking time is estimated to be around 15 hours and it is reckoned to be extremely tough.

Hannah Francis was an inspirational Event rider from the Mendip area, who died from bone cancer in 2016 at the age of just 18. Her legacy is her charity which funds research into bone cancer, as well as granting wishes to people affected by the disease.

Pippa has been helping a young cancer patient this summer, by facilitating riding lessons and happy horsey experiences for her, thanks to Willberry’s Wishes helping out with funds. Now Pippa is

hoping to give the charity’s funds a boost, so if anyone would like to help, Pippa’s page can be found on the Just Giving website, which is https:// www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pippa-skelton To find out more about Willberry the Wonder Pony and Hannah’s story, visit www.willberrywonderpony.org Pippa has been training hard and is ready to go. Good Luck.

STOP PRESS . . .

A Mendip Farmers’ team has just qualified for the 70cm. area show jumping championships for 2022, having come team second at Kings Sedgemoor Equestrian qualifiers on September 12th. Congratulations once again to all concerned. They are all looking forward to another trip to Bicton, slightly influenced by the fact that the ice cream is excellent and the camping overnight was fun.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 103

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MENDIP TIMES

A grand tour of country estates

BIkE routes can have different purposes.

Some are functional for commuting, long for endurance or to rack up mileage and then there are those CYCLING that tell a story – with EDMUND LODITE connecting places, history, people and things. A great example of that is the tour connecting two of England’s great country estates – Stourhead and Longleat.

The 26-mile route makes use of signed routes on the National Cycle Network, privileged access to the estates, paths and forest trails.

The tour starts from the National Trust car park and follows the gravelled drive past Stourhead House. While the house and its contents are impressive it is the landscaped gardens that are the attraction for most visitors.

The follies around the lake create a unique landscape that is enhanced by the surrounding woodland and in autumn vibrant colours create spectacular scenes.

After a couple of miles, near kilmington, there is a lovely gentle descent down Gare Hill. I’d only ever cycled up this deceptively long hill, so it was nice to enjoy a cruise downhill instead.

Heading east, the route then passes the site of the Frome Agricultural & Cheese Show which was being set up as I passed.

The first real test of the day is the uphill climb along the aptly named Forest Road.

On what was probably the last hot day of this year, the overhanging branches provided some welcome shade along with a cooling breeze rippling through the leaves.

At Horningsham, by The Bath Arms, is the entrance to Longleat Estate. What soon follows is a spectacular ride for 1km down the perfectly straight South Drive towards the front of Longleat House.

There cannot be many, if any, cycle paths that have such a splendid vista. Don’t rush it, it’s a privilege to be allowed into the heart of this country estate on a bike – and for free.

At the end of the drive there are fountains and a huge lion sculpture which is eight metres long and four metres tall. It was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Longleat’s safari park. I thought, that’s as close as I want to get to a lion today!

If you do stop in the estate, it needs to be

PAGE 104 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

brief – rangers patrol the grounds to ensure that traffic and cyclists keep moving.

The following uphill ride out of the estate is the most demanding bit of the whole route. It’s hard to believe that only a few hundred metres away on the left behind trees are wild animals roaming the safari park. Climbing higher, the vista across the Longleat estate is spectacular and parts of the safari park are now visible.

On the steepest section a bizarre thought crossed my mind. If some of the wild animals managed to escape how much faster would I be able to go? That slightly ridiculous thought kept me distracted until the road levelled off and I exited the estate.

On the section through Longleat Forest towards Crockerton I chose to make use of some different terrain along a trail path. In wet/muddy conditions the road may be a better option.

The final highlight of this route is Shearwater Lake. It’s worth taking a detour along the traffic-free path around the back of the lake to enjoy a relaxing moment by the water – there is also a café.

The return section back to Stourhead makes use of quiet lanes passing through the villages of Maiden Bradley (founded in the 12th century as a women’s leper colony) and kilmington.

The final section makes use of the lane that started the route passing by Stourhead House once again to reach the car park, where there is also a café.

This is a tour best enjoyed in a leisurely and gentle way. With privileged access into country estates, there is a lot to enjoy as things noticeably change along the route.

But just as important there are places to stop and relax over a coffee and a cake, or pint and pie – or maybe even both!

OCTOBER CROSSWORD SOLUTION

ACROSS: 1. Riyals 5. Clause 10. Relic 11. Moonshine 12. Wedmore 13. Sweater 14. Leitmotiv 17. Pager 18. Plain 19. Airworthy 21. Ingress 23. Michael 25.

Directory 26. Igloo 27. Slalom 28. Elects. DOWN: 2. Idled 3. Anchorman 4.

Somme 5. Crossover 6. Aisle 7. Skintight 8. Trowel 9. Wearer 15. Inaugural 16.

Transform 17. Proscribe 18. Priddy 20. Yellow 22. Excel 23. Maybe 24. Aglet

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SPORT

Dogs lead the way to fitness

THE Wessex Canicross Club slogan says it all: “Chase the tail – run the trail”.

It’s a simple idea – cross country running with your dog, hopefully with it in front and not in tow – and a sport which is open to people and dogs of all levels of fitness.

Some Wessex Canicross members compete internationally whilst others prefer to go at a slower pace. Members come from Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset and usually meet at weekends with faster and slower groups and a range of distances.

Club members and visitors at an open event to launch the season near Frome

By Mark Adler

Dogs and runners are joined by long or short elasticated lines attached to special harnesses around the dogs’ bodies and connected to belts around the runners’ waists – the sport developed out of offseason training for sledding and is probably the most common of the sled dogs sports.

Dogs must be in good health but size and breed count for nothing; the Wessex club

has had everything from Jack Russells to German Shepherd Dogs!

The Wessex Canicross season usually runs from September to May but is weather-dependent, especially if it too hot.

Some runs take place at night with runners using head torches.

Wessex Canicross chair Sarah Elliott said: “It’s an absolutely brilliant sport for people of all levels, whether walking or sprinting. Most importantly, it helps owners develop a huge bond with their dog.”

Marie Stott and Vesper

Canicross develops a strong bond between runner and dog

Sarah Ward

Leon Ward (left) has competed for Great Britain; it’s not unusual for some people to run with two dogs!

For details.visit: www.wessexcanicross.com or find them on Facebook

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 105

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MENDIP TIMES

Chew Valley 10k is back WITH no 2020 race due to Covid-19, the Chew Valley 10k took place on a sunny Sunday September morning with just 245 runners and sadly without the usual children’s Chew Valley 1k companion race.

Near perfect conditions saw previous winners David Eagon (34:58), from Bishop Sutton and Victoria Ratcliffe (40:15), from Radstock, winning the men’s and women’s categories.

Local running groups were out in force alongside many club runners. Bishop Sutton nurse Jane Wookey ran the 10k for the first time with friends and family in memory of her husband Mark Wookey, local builder and family man, raising funds for the Lymphoma Research Trust.

For those unable to enter the event due to reduced numbers, the Virtual Chew Valley 10k is open until the end of October.

The event raised funds for Bishop Sutton Primary School Society, Chew

Valley School Society, NICU Support and the Lymphoma Research Trust.

Men's winner Dave Eagon

Women's winner Victoria Ratcliffe

Jane Wookey and supporters

Oldest runner Des Gillingham, aged 83

Youngest runner Anna Streatfield James, aged 15, with dad Doug

Rugby club reunion

Details: www.chewvalley10k.co.uk

FORMER players, along with friends, benefactors, sponsors and supporters are being invited to a reunion buffet lunch at Midsomer Norton RFC on Saturday, October 9th.

The event, ahead of Norton’s scheduled home game against Gordano, will offer visitors the chance to see the many changes which have taken place at the club whilst competive fixtures were unable to go ahead due to the pandemic.

There is a new-look club and bar room, which has been completely revamped by volunteers, led by Alex Davis and Martin Blackmore, and overseen by Martin Cook. New furniture has been purchased with the help of a grant from Midsomer Norton Town Council.

PAGE 106 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

On the pitch, the club continues to field three senior teams, with Tom Fear continuing the captaincy of the 1st XV with coach Martin Blackmore in charge of development throughout.

Off the pitch, long-standing chairman Neil Denning has stood down after 19 years. Alex Davis succeeds him and the committee has also welcomed a number of new faces.

Club president Nigel Rowles said: “As the season gets going it will be interesting to see how clubs and teams have weathered the pandemic.” l The reunion at Norton Down takes place at 12.30pm. The club ask that anyone wanting to attend contacts them in advance. Email Nigel at: nigel.rowles48@outlook.com

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Championship contender

kIERAN Wigley aged 11, a pupil at Elmhurst Junior School, in Street has qualified for this year's British School's Biathlon championships.

They are being held at Bath University in October.

The format is to swim 50m before running 800m. The school says it is extremely proud of Year 6 pupil kieran who is a great all-round sportsman.

Because of Covid kieran had to qualify through a virtual competition that was verified by his athletic and swimming clubs. By doing this he earned himself enough points to qualify for the finals and race against other pupils from all over the country.

Golf winners

THIS year’s annual charity golf day, held by the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge, raised money for their chosen charity, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

The winners of the Rose bowl were John Butler, kirk Bizley, Mel Fielding and Roger Stone. The overall individual winner was Steve Ball and the ladies winner Cynthia Miller.

Netball club celebrates 70th anniversary

SPORT

June Barnes (left) with old netballing friends Mollie and Colin Gray, from Bridgwater. In the 1970s, Colin became the first man to qualify in England as a netball coach

FROME Netball Club hosted an open day at its base at Oakfield Academy to mark the 70th anniversary of it being formed.

The club was born when the leader of Frome Youth Club handed member June Barnes a ball and told her to form a netball team. June is still actively involved in the club and was awarded an MBE seven years ago, for her services to the sport and to the community in Frome.

Both seniors and juniors put on a June recalled: demonstration of their skills “We started with seven girls but the club grew to four senior sides in the Somerset County league and three junior sides. It meant travelling to places like Bridgwater in the back of a milk van.

We sat on churns with blankets on top!”

Today, Frome boasts four senior sides – Diamonds, Stars, Aces and Hearts – in the Wiltshire-based Moonraker league; the season starts in October.

The club has three junior sides and there are hopes more clubs will join to create a Somerset league. Frome itself always welcomes new players.

Some of the 70 senior and junior players at the open day

For details, visit: www.fromenetballclub.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 107

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MENDIP TIMES

New director’s first concert

CongrESBurY Singers are once again rehearsing on tuesday evenings, 8-9.30pm, at St andrew’s Church, with their new musical director, graham Coatman. graham enjoys a multi-faceted career as musical director, piano accompanist, continuo player and composer, encompassing work in theatre and Graham Coatman concert hall.

He has recently relocated to the South West for family reasons, after 25 successful years in Yorkshire. there he was senior lecturer at Leeds College of Music, also working at Huddersfield and Leeds universities. graham has been equally involved in theatre, contemporary dance, musical theatre, and community choir work.

More recently, as director of 20,000 Voices, a small charity founded in northumberland to promote the benefits of singing for all, graham has set up and led community choirs, children’s choirs, staff choirs, prison choirs, and projects involving russell Watson and robson green.

He now directs a number of choirs in the South West and looks forward to exciting times reviving Congresbury Singers in the post-Covid return to choral singing. the choir is working towards a concert on Saturday, november 20th, at St andrew’s, 7.30pm, called the Show Must go on, reflecting the last two difficult years.

Comeback tour

Group seeks new members

CoSMiC (Centre of Somerset Music Club) is a fun and friendly club where musicians of all ages and abilities learn to play together in ensembles to develop their talents. groups include senior and junior orchestra, folk, choir, rock bands and music theory. the club is run as a charity, based at Crispin School, in Street, meeting on Saturday mornings in term time for the last 48 years. It is excellent value for money – just £30 for a term of acoustic guitar – only £3 a session. they have lost members during the Covid crisis and are looking for support to secure the club’s future.

Club organiser, Louise Caulfield, said: “If you or your child play an instrument or like to sing, please come and try a session!”

Details: infocosmicmusic@gmail.com

Music festival’s new venue

tHE free not Mells Irish Music Festival – organised by Mendip-based anthony “Pru” Comer – returned after the pandemic at a new venue, the tucker’s grave Inn at Faulkland.

All’s well that ends well

Magna Jazz played a garden concert in Chew Magna as part of its “comeback tour” following lockdown. the band of local musicians, led by Dr ray Montague, was raising money for Valley arts, which hopes to build an arts centre at Chew Valley School, and the music charity Brass for africa.

Autumn season

Yatton Music Society’s autumn concert season continues with an evening of musical excellence from the ISax saxophone quartet, a local and much appreciated group led by David James. the concert starts at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Yatton on Saturday, october 23rd, tickets price £10, half price for children and students.

Details: www.yms.org.uk daford220@gmail.com 01934 830255

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Abby and Richard Young play rival attractions in a fantasty Georgian pleasure gardens

SHEPton Mallet’s tall tails theatre company brought the curtain down on a summer of free family events funded by the town council with an afternoon show in the art Bank Café. the madcap production of the adventures of Madame Carol Sell and Mr Popsy had been due to be staged in Collett Park but poor weather forced the change of venue.

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Van’s still the man as extravaganza hits 25

Photography by Mark adler

MUSIC & THEATRE Van Morrison had the crowd dancing to a string of his classic numbers

LEgEnDarY musician Van Morrison once again headlined the glastonbury Extravaganza on its 25th anniversary night. around 6,000 people gathered in the grounds of glastonbury abbey for the evening of live music which was opened by the glastonbury Male Voice Choir – who later returned to the stage to accompany singer tanita tikaram and her band. the Staves then took to the stage. the evening ended with the traditional spectacular fireworks display.

Two of the Staves – usually a three sisters trio

Food and drink ranged from extravagantly-set tables to picnic blankets

Fireworks over the stage – a traditional end to the event

Time to party at the abbey

Tanita Tikaram on stage… and backstage with Glastonbury Male Voice Choir MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021 • PAGE 109

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MENDIP TIMES

Palace lawn is “grease lightning”

Fans of Grease dressed to impress when the Bishop’s Palace in Wells and Wells Film Centre staged an open-air screening of the classic film.

Pink Ladies and T-Birds – including the team from the cinema – joined in the sing-a-long version of the 1978 original. The screening had been postponed from earlier in the year due to the pandemic.

Film fans gather on the croquet lawn

Pink Ladies and T-Birds

Some of the Wells Film Centre team

You’re the One that I Want

Keynsham festival

Keynsham Kindness Festival runs over five days starting on Tuesday, september 28th, with 16 scheduled events.

Organiser, stefan edwards, who used to run the Temple street Canteen, said: This festival brings together some of the many groups within the community who share their skills and thoughtfulness with others.

“From the generous exchange of seeds, workshops sharing communication or painting skills, to opportunities to walk and observe the beautiful place we live in, the festival has many opportunities to celebrate acts of kindness.”

Details: https://www.keynshamkindnessfestival.co.uk/ Facebook @KeynshamKindnessFestival

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WHAT’S ON

From Folly to Temple

mendiP storytelling Circle started this autumn's programme with 20 people in the fresh air at Folly Farm near stowey. They met under cover in the site’s outdoor classroom with the consent of avon Wildlife Trust who have recently restored this interesting structure.

They next ventured into Temple Cloud village hall, with all the doors and windows open. They say it was good to trial a larger venue and they now feel ready to invite more members of the public to join them for an evening's entertainment.

Their next event is planned for Tuesday, October 5th.

mendiP morris are running '”try it” sessions on alternate Wednesdays (2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month) 8-9.30pm at Congresbury memorial hall.

They are inviting men and women, young and old, fit or not, to

go along, give it a go, keep fit and have fun. no previous experience is required, but you must be aged 18 or over. sticks are provided, but take two large hankies if you have them. musicians wanting to play are also welcome.

Details: mendipstorycircle@gmail.com

Do you want to try Morris dancing?

Details: richard.brock@tiscali.co.uk

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MENDIP TIMES

Plenty to entertain the family at The Bishop’s Palace Getting crafty at the Palace

PAGE 112 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

iF you’re looking to get out and about with the family this October half Term, why not make a visit to The Bishop’s Palace, where there will be plenty to entertain and amuse the kids?

Running until October 31st, the autumn Treasure hunt is a chance to test your map reading skills whilst exploring the hidden treasures of The Palace and Gardens. answer troublesome riddles and testing questions to earn yourself a prize! age recommendation: 5+.

On Tuesday, October 26th (10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm3.30pm) you can take inspiration from the beautiful 14 acres of gardens to build your own colourful autumnal garden in one of two Craft Workshops. suggested ages 6+.

The following day (11am and 2.30pm) storyteller Beth Webb will make you laugh, squeal, and maybe shudder a little with her “The Last Pumpkin” tales of pumpkins and spiders, followed by colouring fun and a mini writing workshop. suitable for 6-10 year-olds but everyone welcome.

Finally, on all hallows eve (October 30th) Beth will be telling unbelievable tales of saints, demons and monsters in the atmospheric Undercroft. history meets legend in this retelling of the lives of medieval saints and sinners. age recommendation 14+. Ticket price: £15 includes drink on arrival. admission to the Treasure hunt, craft workshop sessions and storytelling sessions is included with any valid Bishop’s Palace ticket and, when you’ve finished, your little ones can enjoy playing in The dragon’s Lair natural play area.

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T h e m e n d i P T i m e s W h aT ’ s O n G U i d e

As Covid numbers are still high, we advise that you check that these events will take place. We’re happy to list entries for charities and voluntary groups free of charge. Commercial entries £25.

Tuesday September 28th to Saturday, October 2nd Keynsham Kindness Festival, 16 scheduled events. details: Facebook or www.keynshamkindnessfestival.co.uk Wednesday September 29th Mendip Ploughing Match, Green Ore. details: www.mendipploughingsociety.co.uk Harptrees History Society talk by Prof Richard Coates about the somerset dialect 7.30pm, preceded by aGm at 6.30, West harptree Village hall Bs40 6eG. no charge for members. Visitors very welcome, £3. Please book to ensure covid safe numbers: info@harptreeshistorysociety.org Friday October 1st Frome Memorial Theatre “an evening with aggers & Tuffers” 7.30pm Tickets: £27.50 from 01373 462795 www.fromememorialtheatre.org.uk Saturday October 2nd St Bridget’s Church, Chelvey Harvest Ploughman’s lunch on the lawn, with traditional irish music. 12.30pm, Bs48 4aa. ByO or soft drinks available. donations. details: tony.stirratt@btinternet.com Frome Memorial Theatre “Rule the World with Tony as Robbie” 7.30pm Tickets: £21, £20, U16's £19 from 01373 462795 www.fromememorialtheatre.org.uk Churchill Music: London mozart Players Quartet with clarinettist michael Collins. all saints Church Wrington, Bs40 5LG. Tickets: 01934 852589 or tickets@churchillmusic.org.uk Castle Cary Carnival family race night fundraiser, Caryford hall. Tickets £10 incl. buffet supper. Tel: 01963 351307.

Kingston Seymour Market 10am-12pm Village hall. Fairtrade goods, cakes, crafts etc.

Wells SOUP fundraising lunches give local organisations the opportunity to tell you about their work. Tickets £5 incl lunch. 12.50-2pm, Connect Centre, Ba5 2Be. details: www.wellsindependents.org/soup Monday October 4th Music in Mind, free meetings held fortnightly for people who feel isolated, or those with memory problems and their carers. With music therapist stella moore at the masonic hall Wedmore, 2.153.30pm. details: 01934 732282.

Tuesday October 5th St John’s Glastonbury afternoon concert. scarlett stone sings with hywel davies, piano. 1pm, entry by donation.

Thursday October 7th Congresbury Gardening Club talk by alan Clarke “Fungus Fact & Fiction” 7.30pm memorial hall.

St John’s Glastonbury afternoon concert. Florin matasaru, piano. 1pm, by donation.

Friday October 8th WOWfest Ceilidh, Wells Town hall, 7.30pm, £7 in advance, £8 on door, with squeeze Fiddle Pluck. details: info@timeconcerts.co.uk Saturday October 9th Cossington Jazz, with hot Fingers, acoustic jazz from 1930s and 40s led by Tom “spats” Langham, Village hall Ta7 8Jn, 8pm, tickets £12.50. details: 01278 451187 rogercollett.sounds@talktalk.net Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War memorial

hall. Good quality books, jigsaws, dvds.

Frome Society for Local Study talk by Jonathan holt – somerset Follies. 2.30pm assembly Rooms, Frome, Ba11 1eB. members free, £3 non-members. details: www.fsls.org.uk Saturday October 9th and Sunday October 10th Chew Valley Arts Trail is back! Over 18 venues, many with multiple exhibitors, open between 10am and 6pm. details: www.chewvalleyartstrail.co.uk Sunday October 10th Wells Food Festival, with over 200 food producers and street food stalls, 10.30am to 4.30pm. details: www.wellsfoodfestival.co.uk Castle Cary Apple Day fun and music, stalls, food & drink, 11-3pm market house. Free. Lecture at 6pm: “The apple in art” speaker from the national Gallery. details: Colleen 01963 351763. markethouse.bookings@castle-cary.co.uk Monday October 11th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with bingo, 8pm War memorial hall.

Visitors welcome.

Nailsea & District Local History Society AGM followed by “The Whitchurch airport story 19301957” by Clive Burlton, 7.45pm, Green Lecture Room, nailsea school. Visitors £2 www.ndlhs.org.uk.

Tuesday October 12th Fosseway Gardening Club talk by local florist heather Burch “autumn Flower decorations”. Pylle Village hall, 7.30pm. Visitors welcome: Jill 07772 008594.

Café Scientifique talk by Prof James Ladyman “science as a complex system” 7pm market house, Castle Cary. Free. details: Colleen 07375 890751 or tcolleenbower@gmail.com Thursday October 14th Glastonbury Townswomen's Guild meeting, Town hall 2.30pm. speaker david andrews: “Romance Through the ages.” Visitors welcome.

St John’s Glastonbury afternoon concert. Celli amici (cello trio). 1pm, entry by donation.

Frome Memorial Theatre “an evening of mediumship with Psychic Tony stockwell” 7.30pm Tickets: £22, £20 from 01373 462795 www.fromememorialtheatre.org.uk Friday October 15th and Saturday 16th Chew Valley Beer Festival, Ubley Village hall. details: www.chewvalleybeerfestival.co.uk Saturday October 16th Farmborough Craft & Gift Fayre, memorial hall, Ba2 0ah, 10.30–4pm, entry £1, children free. Gifts and refreshments.

Frome Memorial Theatre “Rich hall’s hoedown deluxe” 8pm age 14+ Tickets: £17 from 01373 462795 www.fromememorialtheatre.org.uk Claverham Village Market 10am-12pm Village hall, vegetables, butchery, crafts etc Charity Bookstall outside Waitrose, nailsea. nailsea & Backwell Rotary.

South West Early Music Forum Obrecht workshop 10-5pm st John’s Glastonbury. all welcome.

Castle Cary Carnival & lantern procession 7pm.

With entertainment outside market house. details: www.ccacs.org.uk Saturday October 16th and Sunday 17th Leigh on Mendip Art & Craft Exhibition is back!

11am-4pm memorial hall, Ba3 5Qh. admission free. Paintings, textiles, wood, jewellery, glass, photography and more for sale. Cakes, tea & coffee.

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WHAT’S ON

O C T O B e R 2021

Wednesday October 20th to Saturday, October 29th “Me wearing three hats” Robin Gray’s exhibition of his abstracts, cave pictures & photographs, 10am4pm Wells & mendip museum. admission to the exhibition is free. Closed sundays and mondays.

Thursday October 21st St John’s Glastonbury afternoon concert eliza Green, piano. 1pm, entry by donation.

Friday October 22nd Inaugural Race Night Peasedown st John Cricket Club. eight races raising funds for both the cricket and croquet club. From 6.15pm, first race 7.15. details: Chris 01761 431158 or Brian 07970 922867.

Friday October 22nd to Sunday October 24th Somerset & Dorset Railway end-of-season Gala all home locomotives and visiting austin 1 will be running. details: www.sdjr.co.uk Saturday October 23rd Yatton & District Horticultural Society Autumn Show, 2-4.30pm yatton Village hall, Bs49 4hL. www.yattonhorticulturalsociety.co.uk Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War memorial hall. Good quality books, jigsaws, dvds.

Frome Society for Local Study talk by John smith – the Battle of Britain over somerset 2.30pm, assembly Rooms, Frome Ba11 1eB. non-members £3. details: www.fsls.org.uk iSax Saxophone Quartet 7.30pm, st mary’s Church, yatton. Tickets £10, details: www.yms.org.uk St John’s Glastonbury concert: indian Tabla with Ricky Romain, 8pm. Tickets £12 on door or www.stjohns-glastonbury.org.uk Monday October 25th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with bingo, 8pm War memorial hall.

Visitors welcome.

Tuesday October 26th and Wednesday October 27th Frome Memorial Theatre “spellbound presents Bugsy malone” 7pm, and 2pm Wednesday. Tickets: £12, £11, U16s £9 from 01373 462795. www.fromememorialtheatre.org.uk Wednesday October 27th Harptrees History Society “The mid Tudor Crisis” Prof Ronald hutton on the short reigns of edward V1 and mary, 7.30pm West harptree Village hall, Bs40 6eG. socially distanced chairs. Visitors very welcome £3. Please all book by email: info@harptreeshistorysociety.org Thursday October 28th Chew Valley Wildlife Group, “new methods of Tracking Birds” mike Bailey, 7.45pm millennium hall, Chew magna. The wildlife group’s jumble sale normally held in January will not take place.

St John’s Glastonbury concert: avalon Recorder Consort. 1pm, entry by donation.

Friday October 29th and Saturday October 30th Frome Memorial Theatre “That’ll Be The day 30th anniversary Tour” 7.30pm Tickets: £26 from 01373 462795 www.fromememorialtheatre.org.uk Saturday October 30th U3a Open Day, Cheddar Village hall 10.302.30pm, free entry, lots of displays and demonstrations.

Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War memorial hall. Good quality books, jigsaws, dvds.

Halloween Scare Walk raising funds for holcombe village. Time tbc. details: www.facebook.com/holcombehiveevents

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MENDIP TIMES

Cary Carnival is back – Covid-friendly style

WHAT’S ON

New members welcome

The Weston-super-mare Folk dance Club meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Corpus Christi Church hall, ellenborough Park south, Weston, 8-10pm. new members and beginners are most welcome to join them for a fun evening.

Details: Sheila Heath 01934 625242

Lottery heritage fund boost for museum

The last evening procession in 2019

CasTLe Cary and ansford carnival couldn’t celebrate 100 years of carnival last year – that was one reason why the town’s carnival society was especially keen to put on a procession in 2021. so, a new-look event will take place in the town on saturday, October 16th. Lined up already are walking entries, a few small floats, twirling majorettes and three bands. another innovation for this year’s special community carnival is the town’s first lantern parade. as part of the main carnival procession, the lantern parade will include around 250 children from primary schools including Queen Camel, Wincanton and Castle Cary.

Castle Cary Primary school head, sarah martin, said: “The children are really excited to be part of the evening procession this year.”

The other new feature for this year will be a festival-like atmosphere around the market house with a dJ playing before the procession and live music afterwards. The usual procession route has been shortened.

Carnival society chairman, Paul Burch, said: “We know it will be different this year. it’s about celebrating as a community that we are coming out of the pandemic and looking forward positively to the future.” he added: “it’s great how many families and local organisations are putting in entries. Cary is a small town with a big heart! everyone is determined to come together, celebrate and look forward to the future.”

The procession starts at 7pm. For details, visit: www.ccacs.org.uk

WeLLs & mendip museum has received an award from the national Lottery heritage Fund for its project search & Learn.

This was the motto of the museum’s founder, herbert Balch, and is now the title of a project to both reinvigorate and re-tell the social stories of Wells. it marks a step change in how the museum tells those stories and includes refurbishment of two galleries, restoration of Balch's study, and the installation of new displays and interactives. alongside this will be a vibrant activities programme, and the opportunity to work with new and existing partners. The award is of £194,600 towards a £300,000 project.

Start Christmas at the Hippodrome

enTeRTain all the family with the spectacular, toe-tapping production of irving Berlin’s classic musical, White Christmas. direct from the West end “this terrific dose of pure escapism” (The Times) will be lighting up The Bristol hippodrome from monday november 1st-6th.

The iconic award-winning sheila Ferguson (Three degrees) stars as martha Watson in this acclaimed masterpiece. Join veterans Bob Wallace (matthew Jeans) and Phil davis (dan Burton) as fuelled by love, the all-singing, all-dancing duo follow the stunning haynes sisters, Betty & Judy (Jess daley & emily Langham) to a Vermont lodge for a special Christmas show.

This is a timeless romantic comedy to warm the hearts of all ages. Book your tickets now at atgtickets.com/bristol

Music celebration will aid hospice

LiVe music and a party dJ will feature at a Christmas party at the Royal Bath and West showground in december.

Organised by the midsomer norton-based music agency music expo, a Community interest Company, the night offers a great opportunity for families, friends and staff parties to get together in the run-up to Christmas day.

The party takes place on saturday, december 18th at the Wessex Pavilion and will feature a guest performance by Glastonbury Festival’s michael eavis, with Grasier. Other performers include Karl Ficarotta, Taya minchington, Recovering satellites and the Gabriel Templar Band.

Proceeds from the event, which begins at 7pm, will go to dorothy house hospice.

PAGE 114 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2021

Tickets cost £20 and include pork roast/vegetarian options. For details, visit: http://bit.ly/SheptMalletXmasParty

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