Community

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 Fun day MC Drift Snowbarger continue.

A bouncy castle was just one of the attractions at the show for youngsters Zoe and Sarah at the fun day

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

Saving lives

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.

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

PeASeDOWNSt 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

New venture

Thebusy 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.

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).

Club members with the 650 bottle hats

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

QUARTeTCommunity 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 help everyone have a fair chance of a good life.” Read Easy Weston received a grant of £2,000

Details: https://quartetcf.org.uk/grant-programmes/north-somerset-realising-potential-grant-2/

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.

Astra (in pink) takes part in a nature-themed game of tag Artists Angela Hill and Astra Beck with some of the families who took part in the sessions

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

Angela Hill (left), who runs Curiositree, and Astra Beck, a textile artist

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

NAILSeALions 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.

Café supports community

President’s award for legion supporter

CONGReSBURyCommunity 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

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 president Brigadier Tony Dalby-Welsh She was also 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.”

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 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

New youth worker

PeASeDOWNSt 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 Nick Blythe with his wife Victoria and children Sienna and Noah people for over 15 years. 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/

West Harptree book sale

MeMBeRSof 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.”

Grants available

Julie Newman and Clare Passarelli at the Community Scrapstore

A POPULARgrant 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

Jenny Davis (left) with Heather Maggs, whose knitted teddies raised funds for the church

COMPTONDando'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.”

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 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.

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

Details: https://www.thatcherscider.co.uk/about/thatchers-foundation/

New community award

A NeWcommunity 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

Gavin Heathcote

Double delight

PARIShIONeRSof 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.

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.

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)

This is getting messy…so far

Castle Cary Cygnets majorettes

Wyvern Jubilee Morris

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.

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.

New venue in Cheddar

A NeWcommunity 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: 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.

Knitters wanted

WI MeMBeRSin 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.

Details: janet.turner1@btinternet.com

Boost for community company

Frome Mayor, Andy Wrintmore, presents Purple Elephant founder, Sue Willis, with a cheque for £6,000

Thedirectors 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.”

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.

Redhill celebrates new playground

ReDhILLVillage 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 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 The new playground

Winnie Wilkins

Details: Fundraiser by Winnie Wilkins : Help Winnie Buy Wheels (gofundme.com)

Club closed by lockdown

TheInner 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.

We’ve got it covered

Mendip Times Distribution Points

Mendip Times is available from over 900 outlets across the Mendips from superstores to village stores and post offices, farm shops, supermarkets, garden centres, pubs, inns, hotels and restaurants, doctors’ surgeries, libraries and tourist information centres.

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= Mendip Times Distribution area

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 SMAllcollective 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.

Details: http://chng.it/dXBDdWZy

Airport expansion opposed

TheWest 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.”

Honours presented during show

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

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.

Theale puts on a successful show

THEsun 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.

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 Lucy Groom, winner of three trophies in the children's section

Dawn Hanley winner of the photography cup

Happy birthday Jean!

JEANParfitt’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.