Mendiptimes Volume 11 - Issue 7

Mendip Times

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FREE

Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

DECEMBER 2015

SE ASO N’S G REE TIN GS

IN THIS ISSUE: CHRISTMAS IDEAS • CHARITIES • WILDLIFE • FOOD & DRINK • PANTO GUIDE • CARNIVALS • RIDING Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

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MENDIP TIMES

CONTENTS

Welcome

CHRISTMAS gifts; Christmas food; Christmas drink and Christmas venues – there’s definitely a festive feel to the magazine this month.

We also feature some Christmas events and look forward to others, as villages like Wrington and Wedmore prepare for their seasonal celebrations.

But as autumn turns to winter, we’ve also had hedging and ploughing matches, Remembrance Sunday, the apple harvest and Somerset’s glorious carnivals – all of which we reflect in pictures.

We report on the national shove ha’penny championships held in Shepton Mallet and on plans for a splendid new bird hide on Shapwick Heath. Chris Sperring gives us his tips on winter wildlife watching while Sue Gearing takes us on a walk around West Mendip.

We’ve more pages than ever this month devoted to charities and communities – a reminder of what the spirit of Christmas really means.

Our thanks to our readers, contributors and advertisers whose support has helped us celebrate all aspects of Mendip life over the last ten years.

May we wish you all a happy Christmas!

January 2016 deadline: Friday, 11th December 2015.

Published: Monday, 21st December 2015.

Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Advertising: Ann Quinn advertising@mendiptimes.co.uk Rachael Abbott rachael@mendiptimes.co.uk Publisher: Mendip Times Limited Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG Contacts: For all enquiries, telephone:

01761 463888 or: email news@mendiptimes.co.uk or: letters@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk Design and origination by: Steve Henderson Printed by: Precision Colour Printing, Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ Copyright of editorial content held by Mendip Times Ltd. and its contributors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the Publisher. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or its associates.

Front cover: The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Annie Maw, with Martin Clunes at Wincanton’s charity race day. See page 98. Photograph by Mark Adler.

6

Festive tipple – cider makers prepare to celebrate

12

A white Christmas – pages of seasonal ideas

66

Remembrance Sunday – young and old pay tribute

98

What’s up doc? – actor all smiles at charity race day

Plus all our regular features Environment...................................6 Farming Mary James MBE..........10 Internet and Crossword..............20 Food & Drink...............................24 Arts & Antiques ...........................36 Business ........................................40 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......52 Walking Sue Gearing....................54 Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........56 Gardening Mary Payne MBE ......58

Education......................................71 Health Dr Phil Hammond.............74 Property........................................83 Charities .......................................84 Homes and Interiors....................92 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE ....96 Caving Phil Hendy........................99 Music...........................................102 Sport............................................100 What’s On ..................................103 MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 3

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Wishing all our clients a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Tel: 0800 097 8611

www.johnhodge.co.uk | e-mail: mailbox@johnhodge.co.uk

WESTON-SUPER-MARE | BRISTOL | CLEVEDON | YATTON | WEDMORE

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MENDIP TIMES

Local services hub for Glastonbury

GLASTONBURY Library is to become a one-stop shop for many public services in the town under a scheme given the go-ahead by Somerset County Council.

But it will mean the closure of registration services currently based at Wells Town Hall, although that will continue to host ceremonies.

The existing library building in Orchard Court will be refurbished by next autumn to provide space for services including children’s centre, library, Citizen Advice, Mendip District Council and potentially a nursery.

The council estimates the changes will bring about an initial saving of £165,000 and generate revenue of £1.6m over 25 years for the authority. Office space to let will be available for commercial and business use as well as bookable meeting space for community groups.

Proposed designs of how the new shared building could look are due to be published this winter. If successful, the hub idea could be extended to other towns around the county.

Councillor Harvey Siggs, the council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “This is good news for Glastonbury and for Somerset taxpayers. Not only will it provide customers with a new welcoming, safe, modern space where they can easily access multiple public services, but having fewer buildings to manage will reduce running costs for the council. If this project is successful, we will also look at other opportunities to share space with partners in key Somerset locations around the county.”

Literature festival successes

ORGANISERS of this year’s Wells Festival of Literature say 4,000 people attended events in the Bishop’s Palace.

The biggest crowds were for TV celebrity Mary Berry. Other speakers included A N Wilson, William Waldegrave and Viv Groskop.

Emma Cragie, festival chairman, said: “The week unfurled with an extraordinary range of events. There really was something for everyone and, as festival organisers, we were delighted to attract an equally wide range of audiences.”

Meanwhile, some 3,500 people enjoyed the third Yeovil Festival of Literature. Events ranged from the opening Literary Dinner at the Manor Hotel to a packed audience for Jacqueline Wilson and plenty of laughs with Phill Jupitus.

A spokeswoman for the festival said: “We hope all those that came left feeling inspired and we have already begun working on next year’s festival!”

NEWS

Show nominated for national award

A LOCAL agricultural show has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

The Mid-Somerset Show, held in Shepton Mallet, has been nominated for the Event Team of the Year in the National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) annual awards. Recognising the “movers and shakers”, the NOEA Awards celebrate those at the forefront in driving the event industry forward.

The Mid-Somerset Show is the largest free admission show in the UK and this year marked its 163rd event. Next year’s show will take place on Sunday, August 21st.

Christine Barham, secretary of the Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society, said: “It’s an honour to have been shortlisted for such a significant award.

“A lot of hard work goes on to ensure the Mid-Somerset Show can happen every year, so this recognition is a testament to all of our committed team of volunteers.”

The awards were due to be presented at NOEA’s annual convention in The Pump Rooms in Bath on Thursday, November 26th.

G The annual Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society Wassail is being held on Thursday, January 14th at North Wootton orchard and village hall. There will be a bonfire and traditional wassail ceremony followed by refreshments and entertainment in the village hall. Tickets are £7.50 from the show secretary, tel: 01749 938044 email: secretary@midsomersetshow.org.uk

An audience in the marquee on the Bishop’s Palace lawn

Mary Berry mania

Photography courtesy of Charles Glover

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VILLAGERS in Stoney Stratton and Compton Dundon celebrated this year’s apple harvest with fruit pressing, cider making, baking and a lot of community spirit.

The Neill family orchard in Stoney Stratton, near Evercreech, was the venue for the hamlet’s second Apple Day celebration whilst in Compton Dundon, villagers gathered for the annual apple pressing at Lollover Mile House, organised by the Dundon Cider Co-operative. Last year’s cider featured at the post-village show barbecue and then the village harvest lunch.

The celebrations came as a national wildlife charity warned that traditional orchards are continuing to disappear with nearly half of those remaining in a poor condition.

The People’s Trust for Endangered

Species has launched a range of new, free resources to try to stem the decline by providing orchard owners with practical advice and support, and encouraging people to plant and buy native fruit varieties.

A survey by the charity of around

Julia Yardley and Alison Stonehouse on the cake and toffee apple stall at Stoney Stratton

New supplies arrive for the Dundon Cider Co-operative

All hands to the press as villagers gather in Compton Dundon

(Photograph courtesy of John Gordon)

Fun and games in the Neill family orchard at Stoney Stratton

A growing number of traditional orchards are in decline, says a wildlife charity

Apple crushing and pressing at Stoney Stratton

For details, visit: www.ptes.org/orchards

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300 orchards in Somerset showed that just 10% were in excellent condition with 61% rated poor and 29% were good. Of the 79 orchards surveyed in Bath and North East Somerset, 16% were excellent, 33% were poor and 51% were good.

(Photograph courtesy of John Gordon)

Celebrating orchards

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Encouraging wildlife around Cheddar

Pictured (left to right) are Simon Wiltshire, Biodiversity and Restoration Advisor, Aggregate Industries, Alexandra Pick, Hanson UK Landscape Manager and Alan Law, Natural England’s Chief Strategy and Reform Officer.

WORK to restore and create huge areas of precious wildlife habitats in Somerset has been recognised with a prestigious national award.

Quarry companies Hanson and Aggregates Industries (AI) were joint winners in the landscape category at the third MPA (Mineral Products Association) Biodiversity Awards, in London.

Their work, guided by experts from Somerset Wildlife Trust, has focused on the 450 hectares of land which is owned by the companies near Cheddar.

Conservation work has involved managing limestone grassland, woodland and hedgerow habitats to expand and join them up with the surrounding area – including neighbouring Somerset Wildlife Trust nature reserves.

Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, Simon Nash, said: “This award reflects a fantastic partnership between the Trust, Natural England and the quarry companies that goes back decades, but has really flourished in the last few years.

“The havens for wildlife that are being restored and created here are unique to Somerset; this work couldn’t be done anywhere else in the world.”

Among the rare and endangered species to benefit from the award-winning work are dormice, bats, snakes, butterflies and wildflowers including the famous Cheddar Pink.

Simon Wiltshire, Biodiversity and Restoration Advisor for Aggregate Industries said: “We are thrilled to win this award following our work with Somerset Wildlife Trust and Hanson.

To play our part in delivering a 'Living Landscape' and to give something back to an area that gives us so much is very important.

“We take pride in the partnerships we forge with the communities we operate in and this was a great opportunity to display that.”

The work is ongoing, with more planned for 2016 on the area surrounding AI’s site at Callow Rock and Hanson’s quarry at Batts Combe.

Details: www.somersetwildlife.org

Recycling pays

ENVIRONMENT

RECYCLING waste food has resulted in five local charities receiving cash donations through the Feed Me and Win campaign, supported by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

It rewards residents for recycling their waste food. Each week one winner is selected and can choose a £50 shopping voucher of their choice or make a £50 donation to their preferred charity.

One winner chose to donate her £50 win to the Trussell Trust to support their work with food banks. Other charities to benefit so far include Bristol Children’s Hospital, the NSPCC, The Salvation Army, and the Bath Cats Protection League.

Councillor Martin Veal, cabinet member for community services said: “Encouraging people to think more about food waste through careful buying and storage is crucial both now and in the future. Anything that is left shouldn’t be put out with our general rubbish – it needs to be recycled.

“Waste food can be put to good use and recycled into electricity and fertiliser. If all the waste food sent to landfill across the West of England was recycled it could power more than 4,200 homes a year.”

Details: www.feedmeandwin.co.uk

Churchyard transformed

ON a beautiful autumn morning a group of volunteers turned up, armed with tools, to do their fourth annual tidy-up at St Nicholas and the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Stowey.

Organiser Derek Maltby, said: “It is very noticeable that the moss, weeds and overgrowth on graves and the church walls are no longer as bad as they were when we first started. The TLC we are giving the grounds of the church is making a difference.”

The team included Henry, aged four, and local vicar, the Rev Mark Cregan. Churchwarden Jill Nicol was delighted with the turnout and said: “It was a grand morning’s work and I’m very grateful to Derek and the team of stalwarts who did all the hard work!”

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ENVIRONMENT

Mendip aids tree project

M E N D I P

W E A T H E R

S C E N E

STAFF and volunteers from Somerset Wildlife Trust are spending the autumn collecting seeds from woodland in the Mendip Hills, to support the UK National Tree Seed Project, which has been set up by The Royal Botanic Garden Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank.

SWT’s Mendip reserves assistant James Ozolins said: “It is of vital importance that conservation organisations have as much information as possible on the genetic diversity of our native tree species, so that they can be protected for future generations to enjoy.”

Among the volunteers collecting seeds at the Cheddar Wood and Draycott Sleights reserves, from September to November, has been Bath University graduate Gemma Charles.

She said: “It’s good to feel like you are doing something that’s part of a long-term project that will have a positive benefit for the future. I love Kew and I’ve been to the Millennium Seed Bank, so I’ve seen where the seeds will end up – it’s very exciting.”

Tree seeds collected as part of the project will be safely banked in the seed bank’s underground vaults – forming the UK’s first national collection of tree seeds. These can then play a vital role in conservation work to protect UK trees and woodlands, including against pests and diseases such as ash dieback.

The collections, and associated data, will be available to

November warmth

researchers working on solutions to tackle the many threats facing our woodlands.

Clare Trivedi, the Royal Botanic Gardens’ UK National Tree Seed Project co-ordinator, said: “Almost all of the nation’s favourite trees species – from oak to ash to beech – are affected by a variety of pests and diseases.

“We are thrilled that Somerset Wildlife Trust is working with us; this project is really important for the future of our trees, wildlife and landscape – but we cannot do it all by ourselves.”

The UK National Tree Seed Project launched in May 2013 with a list of priority native trees and shrubs targeted for collection.

Species on the list include ash, common juniper, Scots pine, common alder, common beech, silver birch and yew.

Details: www.somersetwildlife.org

AS we approach the festive season I am writing this during a period of exceptional November warmth.

The mean temperature during the first ten days of the month has been up around 13 degrees Celsius with the night minimum temperatures close to with DAVID what we would normally expect during MAINE the day!

This is all down to a long run of south to southwest winds with no real sign of a change in the short term.

Things could be different by the time you read this, of course, but I will give a full report of how the month turns out, in the next issue of Mendip Times.

From the point of view of getting out and about and doing the Christmas shopping etc., it is all good news and all too easy to forget what the weather could be like as we go into winter. The chances are that I could be writing about a completely different type of weather for the next issue which covers the holiday period and the New Year.

All I can say now is that if this kind of weather continues right up to Christmas, then it will be truly exceptional, but I doubt if I would be getting many complaints. Do we really want snow, ice, fog or floods? Happy Christmas shopping!

A postscript to last month’s article in which I wrote about Somerset County Council’s new fleet of gritters: the salt storage facilities run by Bath and North East Somerset Council are now at capacity in preparation for another tough winter on the area’s roads. Some 1,300 tonnes is ready for spreading by the council’s nine-strong fleet of

PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Gemma Charles and James Ozolins collecting dogwood seeds

A rainy November morning in Wells

gritting vehicles when temperatures plunge.

More than 38% of the road network is salted by the council – this totals 261 miles of highway and is 8% higher than the national average, supplemented with more than 400 grit bins also available for the public to access salt. In the event of snowfall, the council redeploys staff to assist with snow clearing and can operate the gritting fleet around the clock to ensure the maximum levels of support is given to residential and business communities across the district.

A substantial amount of information is available on the council’s website www.bathnes.gov.uk/gritting including a winter advice leaflet offering tips on dealing with severe winter weather on highways and pavements. This includes government guidance on householders clearing snow and ice outside their home.

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C L E A N I N G • R E S TO R AT I O N • VA L U AT I O N

e BGW baby boom is continuing! Following hot on the heels of Karen Lucas, Kelly Charles and Gemma Wilton (all of whom gave birth earlier this year), Kayleigh Lintern (from our Glastonbury office) and her partner Martin, are celebrating the safe arrival of their second daughter, Chloe Elizabeth May Friend who was born on 27 October weighing 7lb 13oz.

Just like her elder sister Tamzyn, Chloe was born with a full head of hair and a powerful pair of lungs. We offer them our congratulations.

Turning to more mundane matters, readers may be interested to learn about a recent High Court case involving a family feud over money. e facts of the case are too lengthy to be fully stated here but the case turned upon promises alleged to have been made to a son, by his father, 20 years before the father died as a result of which the son claimed to have been persuaded to devote his life to the family farm.

Nothing was formally agreed or recorded. After the father died the son in question received far less than he claimed had been agreed during his father’s lifetime. After a full hearing which lasted for several days, the court accepted the son’s version of events and found in his favour. e unsuccessful siblings had to pay their brother’s legal costs of around £60,000. ey had their own costs to meet too, so total costs were probably over £100,000. is unpleasant litigation could have been avoided if father and son had visited a solicitor in the first place and formalised the arrangement between them.

Situations such as this regularly cause family fall outs. We deal with many such cases every year. Most are settled without the need to go to court, but the bad feeling can result in permanent estrangement. Always see a solicitor first!

Castle Cary: Old Bank House, High Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7AW. Tel: 01963 350888

Cheddar: Roley House, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3RA. Tel: 01934 745400

Website: www.bgw-solicitors.co.uk

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Buy British this Christmas and support local farmers

THERE were some interesting events in our area at the end of October, both featured in Mendip Times this month. The National Hedging match took place in close proximity to Chew Valley Lake.

Unfortunately it rained all day which did not dampen the spirits of the contestants or With MARY the visitors. If you pass that way (from Chew JAMES MBE Stoke) do stop and admire the high class workmanship. It was ironic that the next day was dry and sunny when the Horse Ploughing Match took place at Barrow Gurney.

It was a wonderful sight and a time to reflect that a two-horse team and a man would plough about one acre per day whereas a high powered tractor today can plough 35 acres or more.

It’s December again, bringing a month of shopping, cooking and planning, for all-British food for the Christmas dinner. It should not be too difficult in our Mendip area, with plenty of fresh turkeys and vegetables plus puddings, pies, sausages and bacon all available from farms and farm shops.

Consider those who live in big cities with no access to farms. If they can shop online they can search for their local producers and then, of course, there are the supermarkets. The red tractor will be on British produce so do look out for it.

There is not an easy relationship between small producers and the supermarkets. The specialist small producer does not produce the large quantity the supermarket demands, so if you can travel to a local producer you will reap the benefit.

FARMING

When the industry is in crisis, as it is now, there is inevitably a shower of reports and advice to help farmers. Some reports are commonsense and some make me gasp at their naivety. But here is one that may help, all be it in the long run. A high profile group of ‘Food Pioneers’, including chefs Raymond Blanc and Ken Hom and successful food and drink entrepreneurs, have been brought together to spearhead a five-year campaign to promote ‘Great British Food’.

They have been tasked with ‘championing our delicious produce and shifting perceptions through leading trade missions, food festivals and sharing their knowledge and ideas’. The Food Pioneers will work together to make 2016 the year of British food including a series of events to ‘celebrate the very best of British food’.

This is all part of DEFRA (Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs) secretary Liz Truss’s drive to champion British food at home and abroad. A quote from Liz Truss: “The more people think about where their food comes from, the more they look at British as being of a very high quality.

We have got a fantastic product and the highest animal welfare standards in the world.”

At last the government seems to be backing the farming industry. There is a need for some substantial advertising, so where will the money come from?

The South West has one of the strongest local food groups which has worked tirelessly to promote local food, namely Taste of the West which started in 1991, the idea of Anthony Gibson. At the awards ceremony this year Dan and Briony Wood of Blackacre Farm, North Cheriton collected three Taste of the West Gold Awards for their newest ranges of eggs – Rambling Free hen’s eggs, Waddling Free duck eggs and Foraging Free quails eggs. Now there is initiative and innovation for you!

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone – enjoy local food and maybe some local cider, beer and wine to go with it.

Honey harvest falls by half

BEEKEEPERS in Somerset are reporting a disappointing harvest with honey yields dropping by an average of 50 per cent. Records from the county’s apiaries show beekeepers extracted on average less than 20lb per hive this year compared to between 30lb and 40lb last year. Across the West Country hives averaged just 16.7lbs.

Beekeeper David Morris, who has been keeping records for 50 years, said there have only been eight harvests this bad: “The general feeling is that we have all had a poor year in terms of honey with an average of under 20lbs per hive appearing to be the norm.

“Those who have just started beekeeping can, however, take heart. My records start in 1966 and thus between 1966 and 2015 there were only eight relatively poor years out of the last 50.”

Honey farmer Chris Harries added that this year’s harvest was one of the worst of the last decade: “In the summer the flow never really got going. First the weather was too dry, then too wet; but my biggest problem in July was that some of the queens stopped laying altogether.”

Wasps added to the problems faced by local beekeepers, with some beekeepers reporting losing more hives to wasps this year than to any one single factor in the last ten.

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Heavy horse power

HEAVY HORSES The crowds enjoyed a sunny autumn day

THE Western Counties Heavy Horse Society chose a sunny autumn day for their show at Barrow Gurney, attracting competitors from as far away as Devon and the New Forest.

There were eight pairs in action The judges confer

Mike Horler provided the commentary

John Mattingley and his daughter Lauren from Bristol

Freya Avis from North Petherton was taking part in her first competition MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 11

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A perfect fit for the festive season

A VISIT to Orchid Lingerie in Langport could be just the solution for women wanting to look and feel their best as the Christmas and New Year party season comes ever closer and with it the opportunity to dress to impress.

Sherrie-jane Jackson offers an expert – and free – bra fitting service from her Corsetry Chalet in the garden of her home to ensure that women will look their best in a glamorous ball gown or cocktail dress.

Sherrie-jane stocks a wide range of mostly British-made items including Triumph, Fantasie, Freya, Elomie and Anita mastectomy wear.

And Orchid Lingerie welcomes male customers who are looking for something special for a loved-one. Sherrie-jane said: “I offer a gift-wrapping service and if I know a lady’s dress size then I can usually help them choose something suitable for their partner – it’s all part of the service!”

Christmas in Paulton

PAULTON’S Christmas lights will be switched on on Saturday November 28th and as well as carol singing and the Christmas tree lights, there will be Paulton’s very own Christmas Market.

Ten stalls will be set up outside the Co-op offering a wide selection of Christmas gifts. The festive atmosphere will be helped by the closure of the main road from 4pm-7pm, with festive food available from The Hub Grub and mulled wine from The Lamb pub.

Details: paultonparishcouncil@btconnect.com or 01761 413644.

Christmas with friends in Radstock

THE annual Christmas Fayre organised by The Friends of Radstock Museum will take place on Saturday, December 5th at the visitor attraction. Running from 10am-4pm, the event will see the museum filled with stalls. There will also be a raffle, tombola and live music with Ian Piff on the electric keyboard in the morning, the Jenny Peplow Singers from 1-2pm and Farrington Gurney School from 2.30-3pm. The Museum tearoom and book shop will also be open. Entry to the fayre is free.

Santaland at Wookey Hole

SANTALAND covers the entire quarter-million square feet of Wookey Hole's entertainment zone and included in the price of £15 will be entrance to the adventure golf, play areas, crazy mirror maze, Victorian penny arcade, King Kong, the Valley of the Dinosaurs and much, much more.

Not forgetting their world famous caves, the deepest and most spectacular in Europe, including their new Chamber 20! So whatever the weather this winter, there's a superb range of indoor attractions as well as outdoor ones, and you'll find everything your family needs this Christmas under one glorious roof.

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Wise men of Pensford

CHRISTMAS IDEAS 2015

YOU may find there’s something familiar about the characters in the nativity scene at Pensford.

The life-size figures have been made by local man Paul Baxter, who has based them on local people, using face-casts and measuring them to get the right height.

The nativity will be unveiled on Sunday December 6th and will be open every weekend until January in the former village lock-up.

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A family day out

THE prestigious Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford in Somerset offers fantastic family fun whatever the weather. With more than 400 cars and bikes displayed in stunning style, dating from 1886 to the present day, it is the UK’s largest exhibition of great cars from around the world.

For those interested in a nostalgic trip down memory lane, the museum offers a host of familiar names such as Austin, MG, and Morris. Those who are seeking something more exotic will be pleased to find a vast array of performance cars, from modern classics such as the Dodge Viper RT10 and the Jaguar XJ220, to the more historic Jaguar E Type and AC Cobra.

Also on show is a large collection of American cars, including the jewels in the crown of Haynes – the V16 Cadillac, and the multi-million-dollar Duesenberg.

For the children there is the Ghostbusters’ ambulance, autogame experience, themed play area, soft play ‘Vroom Room’ and many other activities. Complete your visit in Café 750, serving a variety of freshly-made meals, snacks and drinks all day.

Make someone’s Christmas complete with a visit to Southfield Sporting

Open as usual to the 19th December; 21st-23rd: 10am-6pm; 24th: 9am-1pm; closed from 25th-6th January.

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STRUGGLING with ideas for gifts for loved ones this year? Here are a few suggestions from Katrina Lintott at Southfield Sporting at Whatley, near Frome: These colourful Argentine polo belts (pictured left) are a great gift for both ladies and gents.

Coming in a range of colours and sizes, they add character to any outfit. You can also spoil the dog and buy a matching collar!

Sumptuous rabbit fur gilets (pictured below) will be sure to bring a smile to the face of a loved one if found wrapped under the Christmas tree. Stylish and extremely warm, they really do add a touch of sophistication.

Schoffel’s Oakham and Lyndon fleece gilets are also extremely popular. We have a wide choice of colours and sizes for ladies and gents.

There’s also a wide choice of country clothing accessories and homeware gift ideas. Also, back by popular demand this Christmas, is the shop’s giftwrapping service.

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CHRISTMAS IDEAS 2015

Minsky’s: it’s a man thing

INSKY’S Barber Shop in Sadler Street in Wells has style written all over it, from the atmospheric décor to jazzinfluenced music playing in the background.

Its retro-feel is mirrored at the owners’ other barber shops in Shepton Mallet and Street but the Wells branch offers something distinctly unusual. Reached either through the barber shop or by its own entrance off Heritage Courtyard, Minsky’s boasts its very own fashion store featuring a range of quality, yet affordable, brands from Europe.

They include the rugby-influenced Eden Park range (named after the iconic sports ground in Auckland), Colours & Sons, Scotch & Soda and Blend. There is also a range of leather bags, belts and accessories. The Wells shop also features the Boar Bar, offering complimentary drinks for all customers.

Services across all three shops include wet shaves and

Leather furniture and wooden floors add to the atmosphere

The entrance to the clothing department from Heritage Courtyard

products including American Crew hair and skin care and Mariner Jack beard balms.

Clive Mullins and his fiancee Vicki Wyatt opened Minsky’s in Wells seven months ago, convinced that the city offered an ideal location for their barber shop concept. Clive said: “The response has been fantastic; people have really bought into the idea, especially since we started stocking the clothing which you won’t find anywhere round here except perhaps in Bath or Bristol.”

Since opening their first branch in Street 21 years ago, Clive and Vicki now employ a team of 12 – including two apprentices – across the three shops with three barbers available each day.

Appointments are optional.

Vicki, who is a qualified teacher and assessor, would like to open a barber shop academy. She said: “We feel it is very important to offer careers in the industry to young people.”

Wedding day? Try our special Good Morning Groom service – £60 for groom and best man, including haircut, hot towel wet shave and Prosecco!

Quality hairdressing for gentlemen and their sons

4 High Street Shepton Mallet 01749 342232

68 High Street Street 01458 446899

Come and see our new range of clothing and accessories in our Wells store. Gift vouchers available for all products and services

17 Sadler Street Wells 01749 939432

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 15

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SOMER CRAFT ADDIX

For all your paper crafting needs!

Record numbers

WEEKLY WORKSHOPS AND CRAFT CLUBS

Imagination Crafts • Crafters Companion • Woodware • Pan Pastels • Various dies, inks and much more!

Now stocking Stylecraft yarns!

Open: Tues 6.30-9pm • Wed-Fri 10-4pm • Sat 10-2pm

Unit 6, Rookery Farm, Binegar, Radstock BA3 4UL

01749 840567 • 07739 048679 WHILE their husbands may have been watching the rugby world cup final, record numbers attended the 25th Mendip Christmas Fair at Aldwick Court Farm which raised more than £13,000 for Children's Hospice South West and the Guild of Friends of the Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Unit 5, Rookery Farm, Binegar, BA3 4UL

Day care and holiday care for your dog/s

Springfield, Haydon Drove Nr Wells BA5 3EH find us on facebook: Wells & Mendip Dog Day Stay

PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

All aboard the Santa steam specials

CHRISTMAS is a wonderful time for children – and adults too – at the East Somerset Railway and families return year after year to ride on the Santa Steam Specials.

The heritage carriages are decked out with tinsel and lights and everyone’s favourite carols and Christmas songs are playing. As passengers board the train at Cranmore they warm to the special atmosphere before steaming off through the Mendip countryside.

As it makes its way to Mendip Vale, families are taken to see Santa in his magical grotto, beautifully decorated with icicles, lights, snowmen and reindeer.

To ensure no-one is hungry Santa’s helpers will bring mulled wine and warm mince pies for adults and children will be offered a drink and a festive biscuit. Tea and coffee is available too. Whilst waiting their turn to see Santa, there are lots of things to do to amuse the children and every day there is an entertainer on board to keep everyone smiling.

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Santa paws is coming to town

CHRISTMAS IDEAS 2015

PET owners and craft lovers looking for some special festive treats should head for Rookery Farm near Binegar on Saturday, December 5th.

Ready for Christmas treats? What’s that all Emma Green, about, Alfie? owner of Paws and Claws pet grooming salon, is organising a special preChristmas event with Sarah Robertson, who runs Somer Craft Addix next door.

The event runs from midday until around 2pm and both businesses will be offering a 10% discount off many items on the day.

Paws and Claws is now a one-stop shop for pet food and accessories (Emma also runs Wells & Mendip Dog Day Stay), whilst Somer Craft Addix will be running make-and-take gift tag sessions alongside its regular events. Somer Craft Addix is very much a go-to business for every crafter’s needs, especially in the run-up to the festive season.

And some pre-Christmas treats will be on offer at Mendip Auction Rooms, including a visit by Father Christmas, a cake stall in aid of the brain injury charity Headway and also a craft stall.

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 17

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Festive music and carols

GLASTONBURY Male Voice Choir is busy rehearsing a full programme ready for its Christmas concert and carols at St John’s Church Glastonbury on Wednesday December 16th, at 8pm.

This has become a very popular sell-out occasion in Glastonbury as it combines the choir singing some wonderful Christmas music with carols for the whole congregation. This year the church will be a visual delight with a large number of Christmas trees each decorated by local organisations.

The choir is also performing at Clark’s Village Street on Sunday December 20th at 12noon helping the Martha Care Christmas collection.

The choir membership is over 40 strong and growing steadily. They meet at Glastonbury Town Hall on Tuesdays at 7.45pm.

Details: www.glastonburymalevoicechoir.co.uk

PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Choirs compete Uphill

SCHOOL choirs from Burrington and Uphill are in the final of a Christmas carol competition staged by the Grand Pier in Westonsuper-Mare. They will take part in the final on December 2nd.

Burrington

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THE IDEAL GIFT!

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CHRISTMAS IDEAS 2015

FLY A GLIDER!

Mendip Gliding Club is located near Cheddar and offers a variety of Glider Flying packages including Trial Lesson Vouchers (from £35), or regular membership and “Fixed Price To Solo” options. Club is open all year on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Suitable for aged 12 upwards – no upper limit! Fly with BGA-rated instructors in dual control gliders.

For further information please email patrick@h4xell.com or visit our website at:

www.mendipglidingclub.co.uk or contact Club Secretary on 01761 232080

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Available from Malcolm Slocombe Four Seasons 16 High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9DU Telephone No: 01458 832061 Now available in Patio size

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

A GLASTONBURY HOLY THORN TREE

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MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 19

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INTERNET

Recipes online

LAST month I gave you a little taster of how the internet can help with your cooking – but there’s lots of other options. In case you missed it – http://www.bbcgood food.com/howto/tools/roast-timer Or one which is even better is https://www.cookipedia.co.uk/recipes_wiki/Meat_cooking_time_c alculator_Imperial because that gives you start time, resting time (for the joint – not the chef!) and when to carve. Just the job for your Christmas turkey planning!

But there’s more – BBC is a good site to start with. If you have a lot of cheese left over, for example, you can go to www.bbc.co.uk/food and type cheese in the Quick recipe finder and you will get lots of cheesy recipes. If you see what I mean. Or if you have a favourite chef; just click on the photo or go to the A to Z of chefs to find the one you want.

But this time of year a good option is to type Christmas in the recipe finder – lots of lovely Christmasy recipes. Or type Christmas Cake for a more precise result. Or maybe Christmas Mary Berry? I had a Mary Berry Christmas last year!! There’s cooking techniques, programmes on iPlayer you might have missed etc. When you find a recipe, you can click the Print version option, which leaves out all the extra bits on the webpage to save your ink. Or there is a Shopping list option, which gives you a printable tick list. Or you can send it to a mobile phone – yours or someone else’s if you find a particularly good one you want to share. Or you can post it on Facebook etc. if you wish.

Or if you want to personalise your printout, you can select (click and hold at the end of the recipe and drag up to the beginning – hold down Ctrl + C then go to your Word processing document and hold down Ctrl + V and then you can delete bits you don’t want or change it to your own requirements. On a Mac it’s Cmd instead of Ctrl. The BBC also offers an online cookbook for you – just click on the Add to Favourites option (usually near the top of the page).

You will need to register with your email address and a new password for the BBC, but it’s free. We would like to wish all our customers, trainers and supporters a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Peaceful and Happy New Year.

Submitted by IT for the Terrified : The Old Cowshed, Station Road, Cheddar BS27 3AG 01934 741751 www.itfortheterrified.co.uk itfortheterrified@btconnect.com This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. For more in depth information, please contact us.

We offer individual training, at a pace to suit you; a session lasts 2 hours and costs £10. We can cover a range of subjects – including absolute basics; photo management; shopping online; emailing; Word processing, spreadsheets; basic web design; etc. on a range of devices, including Windows Vista/W7/W8/W10: Macs: Tablets: iPads: smartphones.

We also run a Computer Drop in session 1.30-3.30 Thursday afternoons. Call in for a quick word of advice/help/info.

Closed for our Christmas break from 12th December – 4th January 2016. Or if you can spare two hours a week have skills on any level that you would like to share with others, please get in touch.

PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS 1. Do it up in an afterthought as necessary (13) 7. Foreigner in talks to kick-start Haitian economy (4) 10. Arrived at nothing but a little act (5) 12. Instrument graduates etc.

(7) 13. Police after father give up (4) 14. Influential figure opened Iran oil enterprise (7,6) 15. Horse chop (4) 18. High risk persona sends germ lab into disarray (7) 19. Annoyed at blind boy, half consumed in anger (5) 20. There is a great range in clinical psychology (4) 21. German is at the end of feeling he’s not quite himself (13)

DOWN 2. Harvest around about and go over it again (5) 3. French sea-fronts are heard to provide protection from the elements (5) 4. Misunderstandings brand birds sad dregs (5,3,5) 5. Floating scrapheap violates clear space but with responsibility (11) 6. Turbulent unrest surrounds nascent beauty (7) 8. Very badly cause injury (11) 9. River reflected above ground creates a kind of platform over the water (8) 11. Seafaring cripple engages religious observance (8) 14. Art otherwise returning endless trickery to me (7) 16. Criminal act produces headless vicar (5) 17. Caps off spike (5)

Compiled by Felkov

November and December answers see page 105

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Photographic firm makes waves in Wells NICK James started early in the family photographic business.

He would lie quietly, usually, in the pram while his parents Ann and Doug James ran the shop in Wells.

They opened D. H. James on a frosty day in 1969 after scraping together £500 to buy stock and secondhand counters.

Doug learned all about photography serving in the RAF, which he joined after WW2. The stories he told about life in the air force were a constant source of delight for friends and customers in the little photographic shop which started life behind the bow window at 10, Sadler Street.

One favourite was about the time Doug was ordered to take photos of an RAF air-sea rescue launch off the Isle of Wight.

His superiors decided, unwisely, that the pictures should be taken from a buoy, with the launch passing at speed.

Doug was duly marooned on the buoy with two expensive Zeiss cameras slung around his neck. The launch powered into the distance and returned at 30 knots, but no-one realised that the wash from the launch would be so great that Doug and his cameras would disappear under the water. His cameras and film were ruined and a sodden Doug was not happy either.

Now Nick and his younger brother Chris run the shop which has moved to bigger premises at 3, Sadler Street. “We offer so many more services nowadays,” said Chris. They include custom picture framing, photo printing, picture canvasses and binoculars.

All of this and much more will be displayed at an ambitious free show D. H. James are running in the Swan Hotel in Wells

D. H. JAMES

Nick (left) and Chris outside D. H. James, their family-run shop in Sadler Street, Wells

on Saturday, December 5th (details below). There will also be a chance to win a camera, binoculars and other photo equipment at the event.

D. H. James are the only independent photographic shop in mid-Somerset and proud of that status.

“Our success is down to the personal service and huge range of photographic stock we offer,” said Nick.

“We can beat online dealers by matching their prices and giving customers their goods immediately. They don’t have to wait for the post.”

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 21

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Fun in Clutton

Fundraising fair in Ston Easton

Jane Towells (left) and Jayne Denner on their Christmas gifts stall

Molly Muddle provided the entertainment

CLUTTON Social Club held a free Halloween afternoon party for under-fives and a family disco in the evening.

The club puts on many free events during the year, including afternoon teas for the over 80s and Christmas dinners for senior citizens, as well as their annual fun day, which raises a lot of money for charities and the local primary school.

Linda Hanlon, who runs the social club with her husband Howard, said: “Both the afternoon party and family disco went very well and everyone enjoyed themselves.”

Maxine Bailey, Janet Taylor and Linda Hanlon getting food prepared for the children

CRAFTS and gifts filled the village hall in Ston Easton for the annual Christmas fair which raises fund for the local church.

A total of 22 stallholders took part and there was an added bonus with the donation of a hand stitched Celtic quilt, presented by Jane Margaret Small puts the finishing Harwood of Wells, touches to a sugarcraft Father Christmas which was sold by silent auction. The event, now in its eighth year, raised more than £650 for St Mary’s Church.

Fair organiser Pat Harper (left) with Claire Church, from the parochial church council PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

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EVENTS

Crafters under cover

Craft fair newcomers

Meet some of the stallholders: (l:r) Rahela Hossain, Kara LeighFord, Tracy Gulliford, Tula Penford and Amanda Warr

Mary Warren (left) and Janis Scott on the Craftyzons stall. They were accompanied on the day by Sarah Copsey

BAD weather meant plans for an outdoor craft market alongside the monthly farmers’ market in Midsomer Norton had to be changed.

Instead, the former council chamber in the Town Hall and the former council offices in the Hollies were used. The fair attracted craftspeople from a wide area, including Bath.

Winscombe Halloween fun

A GROUP of craft-minded friends from Peasedown St John and a carpenter and joiner from Midsomer Norton were amongst stallholders taking part in a fair for their very first time.

Craftyzons, who meet on Tuesdays in the home of Mary Warren, decided the fair at Chilcompton village hall – raising funds for the local church – was an ideal opportunity to make their debut. Mary said: “We’d made all these different things and thought it was about time we should try to sell them!”

Meanwhile, Darren Bailey was also making his first appearance at a craft event with his modern twist on Christmas trees and decorations under the name of canseethewoodfromthetrees.com Darren Bailey with his Christmas decorations

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 23

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Favourite Christmas treats

ALL of us have our own way of doing Christmas – turkey or goose, pudding or trifle, sprouts or no sprouts – and that’s what makes the With JUNE season great; your MACFARLANE own favourite things.

Here are a couple of my old favourites and one which is my absolute new favourite. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Game Terrine

EGGNOG

This is my new favourite! The INGREDIENTS Americans make it a lot, 6 eggs but it is what Falstaff 150g caster sugar called “posset” and the 250 ml rum English have been 250ml sweet sherry or madeira making it for centuries.

900 ml single cream Somehow I had never tried it, but now I have 1 nutmeg and you can forget the Prosecco. A bowl of this in the kitchen on Christmas morning will really get things going. You can make it without the alcohol too and it is (nearly) as delicious.

METHOD Separate the eggs into two roomy bowls. Whisk the egg yolks with half the sugar until they are thick and pale, then whisk in the alcohol and cream. Whisk the egg whites until frothy then add the rest of the sugar slowly and whisk until you have soft peaks. Fold into the eggnog. Serve in individual glasses and grate nutmeg generously over the top.

INGREDIENTS

1-2 kg beef brisket Salt and pepper 1 large onion, roughly chopped 2 large carrots, roughly chopped 2 ribs celery, chopped 2 cloves garlic 1 litre chicken stock 50ml red wine or dark beer (optional) bunch of herbs

PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

GAME TERRINE

You can and, indeed, should make this in advance and keep it in the fridge for a few days. It makes a great starter or light lunch and always looks rather impressive, I think. You can buy packs of mixed INGREDIENTS game pieces or make up d choppe finely onion, 1 your own. leaves bay small 4

250g streaky bacon 1 large clove garlic, chopped 100ml brandy 450g mixed game pieces 200g sausage meat 60g pistachios, chopped 1 tbsp green peppercorns, rinsed 2 tbsp dried cranberries 40g parsley, chopped 1 tsp thyme leaves, chopped

METHOD Fry the onion gently in a little oil until soft.

Decorate the base of a loaf tin or terrine with the bay leaves then line the tin with the bacon, stretched with the back of a knife, leaving some overhang. Add the garlic to the onions and fry until soft. Pour in the brandy and flambé. Set aside to cool.

Pulse the meats until well mixed. Put into a bowl and add everything else, mixing well with your hands. Season generously.

Pack into the tin and fold the bacon over the top to cover. Top with a piece of folded baking paper. Wrap tightly in foil.

Heat the oven to 180˚C. Put tin into a deep roasting tin. Half fill with boiling water. Cook for 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove terrine from roasting tin and cool slightly. Weight down – I use a full bag of flour inside a plastic bag – and refrigerate for 24hrs. Run a knife around the terrine, unmould, tidy it up and serve with toast and your favourite fruity chutney.

BRAISED BEEF SANDWICHES

Some people love turkey sandwiches – I certainly do – but you get to a point where you wish there was something else. A piece of brisket, braised oh-so slowly, will give you a great alternative.

METHOD Season the meat well, then brown on all sides.

Set aside. Soften the vegetables in the same pan. Put everything into a large lidded

casserole or a slow cooker with enough liquid to almost cover. Cook very slowly in the oven at 110°C or on a low slow cooker setting for 67 hours. Makes a main meal as well as great hot sandwiches. If not serving immediately leave in the liquid and reheat.

Heartfelt apologies to Bake-Off winner Nadiya Hussain for getting her name wrong last month.

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Whatʼs new from Myrtle Farm A round-up of events from Thatchers Cider in Sandford

Our beautiful Katy

FOOD & DRINK

Big Apple, big personality

LOOK out for our new Big Apple cider. Big Apple made a limited edition appearance at Glastonbury Festival this year, as well as the JD Wetherspoon summer cider festival. Everyone loved it so much we’ve made it more widely available.

Big Apple is a traditional cider full of flavour and big on personality. Crafted from vintage bittersweet apple varieties including Tremlett’s, Dabinett and Somerset Redstreak, at 6.4%, Big Apple is a medium dry, still cider that bursts with apple flavours and has a depth of character crafted to appeal to lovers of traditional ciders.

You can purchase Big Apple in a 20 litre bag in box from the Thatchers Cider Shop.

THE first apple to be harvested every year in our orchards is the beautiful Katy. We have over 34 acres of orchard dedicated solely to this bright red dessert apple, which is a cross between the Worcester Pearmain and James Grieve apples.

From this apple we craft our single variety cider Katy – the perfect balance between acidity and sweetness within the apple allows us to create a very crisp and refreshing cider that has been one of our favourites for many years.

Wrington photographer Neil Phillips has made a short film about the Katy harvest – which is available to view on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StqcEO01xVY

Stocking up for Christmas

OUR Cider Shop at Myrtle Farm has some very special offers during December, so if you’re looking for a Christmas gift, or stocking up on cider for the party season, please call in.

As well as our hampers and gift packs, clothing, pottery and books, and stocking fillers such as key rings and pens, we have some great festive offers on our Somerset Ciders.

We’re open as normal up to 4pm on Christmas Eve, and we’ll be taking a break until Tuesday 29th December, when we’ll be opening again. For New Year we will close at 4pm on New Year’s Eve and will be closed on 1 January 2016.

A very happy Christmas from us all at Thatchers Cider

www.thatcherscider.co.uk • Don’t forget you can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Thatchers Cider, Myrtle Farm, Sandford, Somerset, BS25 5RA Tel: 01934 822862 MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 25

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UÜxtw 9 UxçÉÇw TEA ROOMS AND PROVISIONS

Organic free trade coffee • Warming winter lunches Home-made tarts, pies, cakes and bread Local milk, cheeses and eggs Cards, prints and paintings by local artists.

Gift range including products from Mendip Lavender, Milly Green and Robert Fuller Galleries

UÜxtw 9 UxçÉÇw

Open: Monday-Friday 7am-5pm • Saturday 7.30am-4pm

High Street, Chewton Mendip, BA3 4LJ

01761 240820 email: breadandbeyond@outlook.com

Sweet Cumin

Bini finds herself in demand across the west

BINI Ludlow has had a busy year, including television appearances on Alex Polizzi chefs on trial showcasing Gujarati cuisine and home cooking and on BBC Harvest showcasing how spices can work in harmony with cider apples.

She became a consultant chef for Thatchers Cider after experimenting with spice and developing a range of dishes that work perfectly together.

Bini has won various awards, including Taste of the West and nationally with her ready meals at Great Taste 2015. She is a regular contributor to BBC Radio Bristol talking about spiced cakes and curry, though not together!

As well as being a judge for the Bristol and Bath food awards, she is chief judge for Exeter City Council’s curry cookoff which is featured at Exeter Food Festival. She hosts Indian cookery workshops at the Royal High School Bath. Her ready meals are now available throughout Somerset and Wilshire, Bath and Bristol.

Bini, a qualified teacher, moved to Somerset ten years ago and says she enjoys teaching groups of like-minded cooks, learning about Gujarati cooking, methods learnt from her mother from a young age, passed down by family members.

She offers courses to suit all ages and abilities, half and full day sessions. Her philosophy is that each cook prepares and cooks individually so they have the hands-on experience and learn by cooking themselves.

Indian Cookery School

Christmas Gi Vouchers available to the value of your choice Courses to suit all ages and abili es Enjoy learning in a small class size Take home the food you cook, a goody pack with recipe and spices Discover the secrets of blending and using spices with confidence

Bini conducts public talks, demonstra ons and private catering

PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Half day courses £85.00 and Full day courses £165.00 per person.

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Christmas comes early – another award for the Holcombe Inn

FOOD & DRINK

Festive Times at The Holcombe Inn

Jules Berry (far right) at the glamorous award ceremony at the Science Museum in London

THE team at the Holcombe Inn are celebrating after winning yet another award for the quality of their accommodation.

Owner Jules Berry travelled to London to receive an Expedia Insiders select award for 2015 – one of just seven recipients in the UK and 650 worldwide.

The awards are made on the basis of more than two million Expedia guest reviews. Winners were chosen for their consistent delivery of superior service, for exceptional guest experience and on value for money.

The awards night was hosted by eviivo, an online booking system aimed at independent accommodation providers.

The Holcombe Inn boasts 10 individually designed rooms all with luxury bathrooms and two dog-friendly lodge rooms. Holcombe Inn manager Melissa Ibberson said: “We are all immensely proud at the Holcombe Inn to receive this award.”

The award will certainly make this festive season go with even more of a swing. Limited places are still available for a Christmas Eve party with live music from the Sam Evans Band and for the inn’s popular New Year’s Eve party – this year with a 40s and 50s theme.

Successful lunch

New Years Eve Dream Boats and Petticoats 40s/50s Theme Night

The Holcombe Inn

Stratton Road, Holcombe, Bath BA3 5EB. Tel: 01761 232478 Fax: 01761 233737.

boogie ree-course dinner and woogie and blues from e Harlem Rhythm Cats. £65 per person.

Champagne at midnight. ht!

Always a great party nig

E-mail: bookings@holcombeinn.co.uk Website: www.holcombeinn.co.uk

Starters Rich Tomato & Basil Soup Served with warm bread roll Duck & Orange Pâté with toast and home-made cider relish Smokey Cheddar Mushrooms Mushrooms in a cream, white wine sauce finished with smoked Cheddar cheese topped with breadcrumbs Classic Prawn Cocktail Prawns, diced peppers & cucumber bound in marie rose sauce Feta and Roast Pepper Salad With sun blazen tomatoes and Mediterranean olives drizzled with olive oil

Mains Slow roasted crown of turkey accompanied by home made pork & cranberry stuffing, bacon wrapped sausage and rich gravy Fillet of Scottish salmon with fresh dill, white wine & lemon cream sauce Venison, Juniper & Red Wine Pie Diced venison in a rich gravy encased in shortcrust pastry Roast topside of beef, served traditionally with Yorkshire puddings & rich gravy Parsnip, Chestnut & Cranberry Loaf Sweet parsnip, sharp cranberry & crunchy chestnut with port wine reduction

Desserts

BLAGDON WI’s annual soup and pudding lunch was popular as people thronged Blagdon Village Club to sample the wholesome home-made soups and tasty puddings made by members, raising £150 for WI funds. Pictured (l to R) are Sylvia New, Jackie Hallam, Mary Keel, Catherine Pratt, Win Gould and Judith Swetman.

Christmas Pudding with brandy sauce Homemade Chocolate Brownie With locally made brandy clotted cream ice cream White Chocolate & Cranberry Cheesecake Winter spiced cheesecake on a biscuit base

RIVERSIDE INN & RESTAURANT

Cliff Street • Cheddar • BS27 3PX www.riversidecheddar.co.uk • 01934 742452 MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 27

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MENDIP TIMES

THE QUEEN ADELAIDE BLAGDON

01761 463926

Travelling through, walking local trails, or living in the village, if the doors are open – come in and enjoy what Blagdon’s little country pub has to offer.

Booking highly recommended

BOOKING NOW FOR CHRISTMAS!

GOOD FOOD, LAGER, ALES AND LOCAL CIDER

GLUTEN-FREE ON WEDNESDAYS

PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Ho ho ho at Hartleys

HARTLEYS Café Bistro at Binegar starts their delicious traditional festive celebrations on Wednesday, December 2nd.

The great aroma of a fresh Christmas fir tree, log fires and mulled wine are intoxicating on their own, but that’s what greets you at Hartleys. You’ll find candles alight on the tables and carols playing in the background and there is plenty of easy parking, a very friendly welcome and great service from a dedicated, fun-loving team.

Then wrap your taste buds around chestnut and chorizo soup with saffron cream, coffee roasted beetroot, king prawns with fresh dill or Vodka cured gravadlax with rye crisp bread. Follow this with a very traditional three bird roast (fully accompanied), duck breast with blackberry and whisky sauce, slow roast belly pork, venison casserole with port, juniper and rosemary supported by local beers, ciders, steaming glasses of mulled wine and a fine wine list.

You won’t be disappointed by the puddings either: traditional matured Christmas pudding, ported Stilton, Christmas strudel, Christmas meringue gateau, ginger bread and clotted cream ice cream, Lindt Lindor truffle cheesecake, to name but a few. If that hasn’t got you in the taste-bud tingling Christmas mood, the team at Hartleys will be surprised.

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GARDEN FOOD

Pep up your meal

I'M gradually mastering the art of growing peppers in our climate – albeit with the helping hand of the polytunnel.

They are such a long season crop that I start them indoors around February – a heated propagator is necessary for germinating the seeds, or at a pinch you With JAKE can wrap the seed trays with cling film WHITSON and put them in the airing cupboard.

Many varieties take almost a full year to crop, starting in October, with the peak month (in my garden at least) being November and given the mild winter we've had, at the time of writing at least, they can continue cropping into December.

I've had an unexpected glut of them this year, despite the so-so summer, but I have yet to tire of them. About 90% of the time, I simply throw them into the wood burning stove until completely black (a few minutes – make sure you have only charcoal embers or are using a good, nontoxic wood that you can cook with, such as hazel, ash or oak), let them cool in a covered bowl for a few minutes and then scrape off their skins and seeds.

Alternatively, you can blacken them over a gas flame, but it takes much longer and the flavour is not as good. Cut into slivers, and dressed with good olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice, and maybe a few toasted sesame seeds, these roasted peppers make a great meal with a piece of crusty bread.

Another great use for them is my version of Mojo rojo, a delicious sauce which originated in the Canary Islands. To make it, add a few of these skinned, seeded, roasted red peppers to a blender, along with 2tbsp each of olive oil, paprika and cider vinegar, a couple of roasted garlic cloves, a scant handful of toasted almonds, a little cayenne pepper, a pinch of cumin and salt.

Blend until you have thick sauce – if it needs to be thicker you can add a little bread. This sauce is absolutely delicious with some fried potatoes and mayonnaise.

Jacob is a former chef turned food writer, smallholder and mycologist. He divides his time between the Mendips and his nine-acre forest garden project in Pembrokeshire, and runs the business jakeswildfungi.co.uk, making specialist mycorrhiza products for tree planting.

FOOD & DRINK

NOT WILD FOOD

Have a magical Christmas

THE inspiration for this month’s article comes, believe it or not, from a Christmas tree decoration my wife bought me some years ago. The decorations are magical toadstools bright red in colour, with white spots and flecky stems – sounds a bit like Father Christmas himself!

With ADRIAN This fanciful fungus is called the Fly BOOTS Agaric, but what link to food and Christmas could this possibly have?

Now this fungus is poisonous and definitely not one to eat so please do not try – you have been warned! However historically it was consumed by people not for filling the belly or for its flavour but for another reason altogether, more on that later. So technically you could eat it but then you will regret doing so for the rest of your life...

Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) has a cap 10 to 20cm across, bright red (sometimes a bit orangey) and covered in white movable spots. The stem is 8 to 20cm tall, 1 to 2cm wide in mature specimens, is white, fleecy with a swollen base and fleecy bands. The ring is simple and pendulous, gills and flesh white. It’s very common under birch and pine trees in the autumn and early winter months even around Christmas.

The magical part comes from the powerful psychoactive properties with numerous scary symptoms including nausea, vomiting, spasms, confusion and floating/flying sensations.

Scandinavian Sami reindeer herders were known to consume this toadstool not for leisure but to commune with the ancestors as part of their shamanic tradition.

Their reindeer can eat it without harming themselves (their biology being different from ours) and there is a story that the Sami used to collect the urine as the psychoactive compound passes through intact, so is recyclable too! Not my cup of tea.

And of course there is the association with witches in our country, taking the prepared toadstool probably for the same reasons as the Sami. Maybe this is where the broom flying originates from and who knows (warning, another tenuous link coming up) Father Christmas’s flying reindeer?

So all that’s left for me to do is wish you all a Merry Christmas but please leave the flying to the reindeer or, like me, ask for some Magical Christmas toadstools to decorate the Christmas tree!

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

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 29

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Sam is awards winner

Sam with Jon Thorner

SAM King, a young Shepton Mallet butcher, has been crowned Young Business Employee of the Year at the Somerset Business of the Year Awards.

Sam, Retail Operations Manager at the Pylle-based butchers Jon Thorner’s Ltd, was presented with the accolade at the awards ceremony earlier this month.

Sam was given the biggest cheer of the night for his acceptance speech, where he thanked his “inspirational boss” Jon Thorner.

The judges said he had shown his individual value to the business operations and a commitment to the development of the business.

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FOOD & DRINK

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Street smell of success

Stallholders in the Crispin Centre

D E C E M B E R D AT E S We l l s E a c h We d 9 a m– 2 .3 0p m S t r e e t E v e r y T h u r sd a y , e x c e p t 2 4 t h , 1 0 a m– 2 p m A l l o t h e r m a r k e t s 9 a m - 1 p m u nl e s s o t he r w i s e m a r k e d •

S a t 5t h S un 6 t h

A xb r i d g e a n d M i d s o m e r N o r t o n S F M @T h e F ro m e In d e p e nd e n t (10am-3pm)*

S a t 1 2 t h F r o m e C h e e s e & G r a in a n d K e y n s h a m Fr i 18 t h B u r nh a m- on - S e a (9am-2pm)* S a t 1 9 t h C r e w k e r n e a n d G la s t o n b u r y E x t r a C h r i s t m as M a r k e t s S un 2 0t h A xb r i d ge (10am-1.30pm)* & Ye o vi l (10am-2pm)* We d 23 r d F r om e C h e e s e & G r a in (5.30pm-7.30pm)*

SOMERSET’S newest farmers’ market has opened in the Crispin Centre in Street.

The market, which runs from 10am-2pm every Thursday, took up residence after the closure of the Tesco store.

Market manager Phil Rainbow said: “We have had a terrific response from people living and working in Street and hope to attract some more stallholders in the coming weeks.”

THE GEORGE AND DRAGON CELEBRATE THE FESTIVE SEASON WITH BARRY AND NIKI HORWOOD AT THEIR TRADITIONAL VILLAGE PUB. Open Monday to Saturday 11am – 11pm Sunday 11.30am – 10.30pm

HIGH STREET, PENSFORD BS39 4BH. TELEPHONE: 01761 490156 PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

T HOU G U R O THR CEMBE istmas DE nal Chrle, with 5

CH PAR RISTM T Y N AS Sat u 8.3 rday 1 I GH 0p 9t T fromm with h Dec em l (gu Barry live m ber, itar ist/ Stewa usic sin ger rt )

K IDS S MA CHRISTTY PA0R mber, th Dece 2 Sunday – 5.30pm 4.00 ludes hild, inc £2 per c om Santa a gift fr

MA S C HR I S T DAYe course

s thre Deliciou al Christmas n Traditio .00 per person 5 3 Meal £ ded, one sitting lu c in only) Wine ookings (b m p 2 at

o ilab 25.9 £ diti Tra al ava uded ly) Me incl ngs on e i win (book

NE W YE A R’ S EVE PARTY 8pm till late Disco

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Village inn revived with style TUCKED away in Chilcompton, the historic – but tired – Redan Inn has undergone a huge transformation over the past year and has now opened its bar and restaurant with a commitment to create a hub for the local community and wider afield.

The team behind the award-winning pub restaurants The Pumphouse in Bristol and Long Ashton’s The Bird In Hand have reinvented and reinterpreted the village local Being familyfriendly is at the heart of the team’s ethos

into a warm, exciting and fresh addition to Chilcompton.

In keeping with the style that has garnered many awards over the years for both establishments – including Best Restaurant, Best Chef (twice), AA outstanding wine list, Bib Bourmands, Two AA rosettes, and Best Newcomer – The Redan Inn has called in two very talented chefs, Ron Sachdev and Jack Williams to lead the young and enthusiastic kitchen team.

While both have Michelin experience, their skills and styles have evolved and been influenced by both the Redan Inn’s sister pubs over the years.

They will be serving up highly seasonal menus, whether a la carte, hugely-popular pub classics, daily specials or pub snacks like home-made sausage rolls and their already famous doughnuts with the emphasis on locally-sourced food.

It is of course, not all about the food, and the bar has taken on a whole new feel under Dan Obern’s vision of modernisation flanked by vintage. With a roaring wood-burner in the corner, there is such scope to while the afternoon away with their selection of

FOOD & DRINK

From a pint to a glass of wine, the Redan prides itself on its range of drinks

carefully-chosen drinks. Whether with a pint of real ale, a wine list featuring classics as well as some spectacular surprises, the amazing spectrum of gins on offer, or a glass of mulled cider to fortify, come and settle in.

The team are creating rooms above the pub itself to return it to its historic status as an inn – the work will be complete soon.

Family-friendly, child-friendly and dogfriendly, the team say: “While all this sounds like a lot of change, our real hope is that The Redan Inn will grow into a real community hub for the village, accessible and enjoyable for all. We can’t wait to see you all.”

We are open!

From fine dining and pub classics to a pint in front of our woodburner. Wines by the glass.

Brought to you by the team from the multi-award winning Pumphouse and Bird In Hand pubs.

Dog-friendly and family-friendly. Open every day from 11am-11pm

The Redan Inn, Fry’s Well, Chilcompton, Somerset BA3 4HA. Tel: 01761 258560.

E-mail: theredaninn@outlook.com • www.theredaninn.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 33

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Shepton Mallet’s market

WHETHER it’s fashion, gifts or everyday essentials you’re after, Shepton Mallet Market, in the heart of the town centre, has it all.

There’s something for everyone and all at great prices!

Shopping at Shepton Mallet market couldn’t be easier there’s a wide variety of stalls and plenty going on to keep the whole family entertained.

If it’s food you are after then look no further, there are treats a-plenty and together with the wide variety of shops open along the High Street there is everything you need right on your doorstep.

The market is on Fridays from 9am to 2pm.

Live entert ainm

ent!

Bowden’s of Harptree Est 1964 Supporting local businesses as much as we can

We have been trading for over 51 years and would like to thank all our customers who have supported us over the years many of whom have been with us from the beginning and with your support we hope to carry on for many more years to come.

We also look forward to welcoming new customers to our store, which has undergone so many changes over the years, the most recent in July of this year when we joined forces with SPAR to enable us to offer more at competitive prices.

Orders for cooked hams now being taken These are just a few of the many special offers we have in-store – why not pop in and give us a go?

From all of us at Bowden’s of Harptree we wish all our customers a Happy Xmas and New Year – may all your dreams come true

PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Here are just a few of the many good offers available

Bells whisky 70cl £14.99 Glenlivet Founders Reserve whisky only £22, a saving of £12.99 off the rrp Award-winning Preveza Prosecco 75cl £6, magnum for £14 SPAR’S own champagne 75cl only £16, a saving of £6.50 All offers are subject to availability; offers on the above end December 31st

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FOOD & DRINK Country shopping at its best

Christmas food, drink and gifts

Now taking orders for Christmas

A FESTIVE EVENING!

New Manor Farm Shop, North Widcombe, West Harptree, Bristol BS40 6HW

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH US!

Monday December 7th from 5pm

MEAT SUPPLIED FROM OUR OWN FARM

Come and join us for hot beef and turkey rolls • Mulled wine and Cider • Mince Pies • Cheese & Pickles We have been rearing turkeys for 35 years. All of our quality meats are home-grown or locally sourced.

CHRISTMAS TREES, HOLLY WREATHS & HYACINTHS

Our meats are traditionally handprepared and hung to develop their tenderness and flavour.

Geoff’s fresh fish every Friday

Feast with us this Christmas Fresh fruit, vegetables, ciders, wines

Open: Tues–Sat 9.30am–5.30pm Sun 10am–4pm Extended opening hours for Christmas THE PLOUGHMAN'S FARM SHOP MANOR FARM, TARNOCK BS26 2SL

01934 750615

Centred around a traditional farm courtyard near Chew Valley Lake – the very best in local produce and gift ideas

TEA ROOMS

Book your Christmas Lunch now, various dates available

Hot & cold meals • Delicious cream teas Full English breakfasts • Come and enjoy our lovely Sunday roast lunches

NEW FUNCTION ROOM NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE HIRE

Opening times: Farm shop: Monday to Friday 9am - 5.30pm Saturday 8.30am - 5.30pm • Sunday 10am - 5pm Tea Room: Monday to Sunday 9.30am - 4.30pm

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

Farm Shop: 01761 220067 Tea Rooms: 01761 220172

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 35

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Plenty to shout about

CHRISTMAS at the SOMERSET GUILD OF CRAFTSMEN. Come and see our wonderful selection of individual, local, handmade crafts for that special present.

We represent the very best Somerset Crafts, with our work concentrating on design, technique and empathy with our materials.

Open every day from 10 - 4. See website for additional information.

Len walks through a ribbon held by guild chairman and sculptor John Candler (left) and creative glass artist Chris Walters, from Burrington, to open the gallery

ARTISTS celebrated the opening of the new Somerset Guild of Craftsmen gallery in Wells with some help from town crier Len Sweales.

Len was on hand to welcome visitors to the gallery.

Visitors admire the work on show

Town crier Len Sweales with some of the artists represented at the gallery PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

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No chocolate inside these gold coins

ARTS AND ANTIQUES

CLEVEDON Salerooms’ autumn specialist sale included this set of George VI 1937 gold specimen coins. Containing a half sovereign, sovereign, £2 and £5 gold coin the set was strongly contested by collectors, the successful bidder parting with £5,700.

Clevedon Salerooms’ last sale of 2015 will be held on Thursday December 3rd and this final sale of the year is always a large one with a festive feel and interesting and unusual lots are guaranteed.

If you are trying to find that something different for someone special you are bound to find it here. The sale starts at 10am with viewing from 9am on sale day, and the day before from 10am to 7.30pm.

Details: For more information contact the salerooms on 01934 830111.

Clevedon Salerooms wish their customers a

Merry Christmas Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

FREE ANTIQUE VALUATION DAYS 7 8 9 10 11 December 9.30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm Held at the salerooms – ample free parking no appointment necessary

Looking for that unique present?

Come to our final auction before Christmas

Tel: 01934 830111 or 0117 325 6789 The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT www.clevedon-salerooms.com

Thursday 3rd December 10am Viewing: Wed 2nd December 10am – 7.30pm, sale day from 9am Catalogue on-line: 30th November

www.clevedon-salerooms.com MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 37

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MENDIP TIMES

Something for everyone at Mendip Auction Rooms THERE will definitely be something to attract you to the two-day sale being held at the Mendip Auction Rooms in December.

The sale starts with a general sale of Victorian and later effects with a large and diverse entry of household items, furniture, collectables and so on anticipated. This sale offers more modern items and if you are looking to furnish a home then you never know what you will find.

On the Saturday, the Quarterly Specialist Sale of Antiques and Collectables will be held and this promises to be a spectacle with an excellent entry of quality items included. An unusual late Victorian cased taxidermy of red squirrels playing cards, after Walter Potter, has been entered.

If you are looking for a Christmas present for the “other half” then the purchase of a delightful diamond and amethyst brooch is sure to gain you many brownie points. Over the two days, well over 1,000 lots will be offered so do make sure you attend the viewing days to try and find those last minute Christmas presents, great investments or simply items to love and cherish.

During November, over 1,000 lots went under the hammer at the two sales held during the month with yet another exceptionally large attendance at the general sale on one of the most blustery days of the year. There was strong bidding for all items on offer.

2016 promises to be an exciting year for the team at Killens with proposals to relocate the Auction Rooms into even larger and better facilities at Rookery Farm. The new auction rooms will

provide two salerooms, a viewing area, more car parking, very straight-forward delivery and collection facilities and, no doubt, an even friendlier approach.

Entries are being sought for future sales and the qualified and expert valuers conduct valuation days every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday or will be content to undertake a free home visit.

The auction rooms can be contacted on 01749 840770 or log onto www.mendipauctionrooms.co.uk

PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Christmas art show

ANNE Carpenter has lived in Somerset for very many years and still finds the Mendip landscape and the Levels inspirational.

Elected to membership of the Society of Graphic Fine Art, she describes her working method as “painting with fabric and drawing with scissors”.

She has exhibited extensively in London and currently has work on display at the Courthouse Gallery, in Somerton. For the

Antique Christmas gifts

CHRISTMAS IS A’COMING Art and Craft Exhibition December 5th and 6th The Reading Room, Behind the Clock Front Street, Churchill, N. Somerset BS25 5PN 11am - 5pm

weekend of December 5th and 6th she has joined forces with a group of other artists for a show in the Reading Room at Churchill.

Anne Carpenter Fabric Collage Pictures annecarpenterfabriccollages.co.uk Liz Johnson Jewellery beadsoftheworld.co.uk Trudi Day Painting and Drawing trudiday.co.uk Pear Tree Arts Ceramics buddybird.co.uk

0771 423 5538

ARE you lacking inspiration for that special Christmas gift? Then maybe Tamlyns’ auction on December 15th could help. Similarly if you have items that you think may make a perfect gift – jewellery, silver, ornaments, pictures and decorative items – then this could be just the place to sell them!

The December sale already includes a good selection of small silver items, jewellery, sparkly costume jewellery, China and glass ornaments as well as some interesting collectables. The sale will also include a wide range of furniture from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries including chests of drawers, bedroom furniture, dining tables, dining chairs, pine furniture, stone garden troughs and planters. The Christmas sale is always fun; it draws a good crowd in – there will be mince pies and chocolate on offer!

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 39

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Enjoy a day out

LIN'S Leisure Trips is a not for profit community interest company which offers leisure outings for both able bodied and disabled people. A wheelchair accessible coach will be provided if required. They offer concessionary fares for both OAPs and disabled people, though the trips are for anyone who wants to go whatever their age or whether or not they have a disability.

People needing a carer/wheelchair pusher will need to take their own, but if one of the listed trips has a free entrance for essential carer/support workers the price will be adjusted. They use coaches or minibuses depending on people’s access requirements and how many people want to go.

BUSINESS

Business award winners

RED Berry Recruitment is one of the most outstanding businesses in Somerset – and that’s official.

The company was honoured at the Somerset Business Awards, winning the 1125 employees category.

Managing director, Helen Lacey, said: “It has been fantastic to see the company grow and we think we are doing a great job but this Helen Lacey and area manager Rachael shows that other Haynes after receiving the award. people agree!

Thank you to my incredible team for their constant support.”

Lin’s Leisure Trips Call to arrange your pick up point

SAT 5TH DECEMBER CADBURY GARDEN CENTRE – leave 9am return 3pm. We can arrange a pick up point with you on the way – just call to book – £16 (£13 CONC) AGE 17 or under £9 SAT 12th DECEMBER CADBURY’S WORLD £39 (£37 CONC) AGE 17 or under £30 – leave 8am return 4pm – price includes entrance fee SAT 19th DECEMBER THE MALL CRIBBS CAUSEWAY – LEAVE 9am return 3pm – £ 12 (£10 CONC) AGE 17 or under £8 SAT 2nd JANUARY 2016 CLARKS VILLAGE – leave 9am return 3pm £18 (£14 conc) age 17 or under £9 SAT 9th JANUARY 2016 WESTON HELICOPTER MUSEUM – leave 9am return 3pm – £23 (£20 conc) age 17 or under £15 Price includes entrance fee

0117 9372364

e-mail: Linb777@outlook.com PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

SAT 16th Jan 2016 NOAH'S ARK ZOO FARM – leave 9am return 4pm – £28 (25 conc) age 17 or under £18 price includes entrance fee Sat 23rd JANUARY 2016 WILTON SHOPPING VILLAGE – leave 9am return 3pm – £22 (20 conc) age 17 or under £12 SUN 31st JANUARY 2016 BURNHAM3ON3SEA – leave 9am return 3pm – £17 (£14 conc) age 17 or under £9

If you cancel once a coach or minibus has been booked your money can only be returned if your seat reserva+on is resold or we cancel.

Coach may be cancelled if less than half full.

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Merry Christmas from Miles Morgan

DON’T we just have one of the best jobs in the world? Over the last 12 months my team and I have been lucky enough to visit such a wide variety of destinations as part of our role as travel specialists at Miles Morgan Travel.

From Croatia to touring the Rockies in Canada, exploring Morocco, walking the Amalfi Coast in Italy, escorting a group tour to India, taking a mini cruise to Antwerp and Amsterdam, experiencing the highlights of Cambodia and Vietnam, discovering Abu Dhabi, Las Vegas and New York,

MILES MORGAN

indulging in the luxurious and stunning Maldives, relaxing in the Greek Islands and not forgetting a cosmopolitan city break in Barcelona – the team at Wells never cease in their quest to discover new and exciting locations for your next holiday, as well as researching developments in some well-loved favourites.

It’s been a busy and successful year for Miles Morgan Travel – as well as the remodelling in the Wells shop, to make the office a more welcoming and open-plan style accommodating the busy foreign exchange bureau, Miles has also been busy acquiring two new branches in Bath and Cirencester – both great locations which now brings our branch network to a total of 14. New shops mean new staff members and Wells have just recruited our newest team member, Darcy, to help us cope with the continuing success of our foreign exchange.

Miles Morgan Travel, Wells would like to thank all their loyal customers who have contributed to the ongoing success since our branch opened in 2013 and relocated to the top of the High Street. We look forward to welcoming our new clients from the Midsomer Norton and Radstock area too and those who are keen to locate a truly independent travel agent.

Finally, do join us for sherry and mince pies at our branch between December 14th and 23rd and if we don’t see you before Christmas, we wish you a merry one and a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Margaret Moulton

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 41

Photo by Ignyte Limited Radstock

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MENDIP TIMES CAMELEY LODGE LAUNDRY

Duvets & Bedspreads washed & dried Sheets and Duvet covers washed and pressed Professional efficient service Collection & delivery service in the Chew Valley

Tel 01761 451787

www.cameleylodgelaundry.co.uk

ECATCHER MOL

NO MOLE NO FEE

Ladies Fashion and Accessories Shop 2, Dorchester House Union Street, Cheddar Somerset BS27 3NB

01934 741899 Telephone 01275 332966 mendipmolecatcher.co.uk

Email: karen@katie-boo.com

katie-boo.com

KATIE-BOO held their first ever winter fashion show in Cheddar, when ten local ladies were transformed into supermodels by the very talented Bev and Bridgette before they took to the catwalk.

The event raised £500 for the Children's Hospice South West and Bella's Trust. It was a great night out and a chance to start some Christmas shopping. Katie-Boo said they would like to thank all their loyal customers for their continued support.

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A Professional Company serving the South West

y

Cheddar catwalk

PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

P & C Logs

Friendly prompt service from Phil & Colleen at their farm in Charterhouse Quality seasoned beech and ash hardwood, chopped and split into a variety of load options (with free delivery).

C a l l Ph i l o n 0 77 3 4 09 83 2 3, or C o l l ee n o n 0 77 8 5 25 00 3 3 o r o n Ev en i n g s 0 1 76 1 22 1 5 43

Burglar Alarms 0 Fire Alarms 0 CCTV Systems 0 Insurance approved 0 Installation, maintenance, repairs and upgrades 0 Central Station Monitoring 0 Local engineers Tel: 01275 331914 sales@chewvalleyalarm.co.uk www.chewvalleyalarm.co.uk

Relax knowing your property is protected

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Christmas preparations with the elderly in mind WELL, it is now unavoidable. Christmas is on its way, and we are in the preparatory weeks of Advent. Activity speeds up from now on, although I shall be looking forward to welcoming home the scions of the family (both now in their 20s and both with delightful life partners) for the festive period, and plans for the annual larder filling exercises are afoot.

A couple of years ago, I made my own mincemeat for the first time. I have never been allowed to forget that apparently, though I would dispute this, I told everyone at least three times that I had achieved this culinary miracle. Friends can be so harsh sometimes!

Christmas preparations may be more relaxed when I have retired completely from business and life has changed radically. I shall still, however, find it extremely difficult to be unoccupied, as I have a busy mind. I know that to avoid boredom, I'll need something useful to do.

At a recent meeting of the trustees for The Lawrence Centre in Wells (which provides activities and a hot meal to its elderly clientele), we decided that as the centre is becoming ever busier, we shall need extra volunteers to help to run some of the sessions. Could this be the way to go?

BUSINESS

The times I have spent with The Lawrence Centre clients have been great fun and I have enjoyed some lovely conversations, learned a lot about some long and thoroughly interesting lives and played a few slightly whacky games which result in a lot of laughter. It is a real pleasure to see everyone dining together on a freshly-cooked lunch and joining in with conversation as well as good, nourishing food.

The centre only covers its costs, so charges only £10 for the daily sessions including teas, coffees, biscuits and a cooked two-course luncheon. I think I should be happy volunteering in a place where clients are kept warm, happy and well fed from 10am until 3pm each day.

If you have a few hours each week that you could spare to assist us at The Lawrence Centre, it would be so much appreciated and I know that the centre manager, Maggie Charlesworth, would love to hear from you. Her contact details are below.

Whatever you are doing, have a happy Christmas – and may your mincemeat always be fruity!

Jane Bowe Probusiness

Details: The Lawrence Centre 01749 676839 during opening hours or email mcharlesworth@thelawrencecentre.org.uk or go to www.somersetactiveliving.org.uk>Mendip

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 43

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Christmas in Wrington

11

WRINGTON’S Victorian Fayre is a Christmas fixture with a mixture of craft stalls, music and a festive hog roast.

It will be held at The Plough and on the village green in front of it on Friday, December 11th. The church bells will sound before the Christmas tree is lit at 6.30pm.

Villagers are encouraged to wear bonnets, hats and other Victorian dress, with the promise their pictures will appear on the village website – or in Mendip Times!

Joyful Spirit will lead the entertainment, which will include traditional carols from local children, and a busker, with mulled wine and cider provided by The Plough.

It’s the perfect family introduction to Christmas, with a singalong in the pub afterwards.

December

( ! %& # % " '#" Sam, Joan And staff Wish you a Merry Christmas And a Prosperous New Year

OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM 5:30am un l 9pm Mon-Sat, 7pm on Sun

! $ #" PAGEP??

AGE •M 44ENDIP • MENDIP TIMES TIMES • DECEMBER • DECEMBER 2011 2015

GOLDEN LION We look forward to seeing you during this year’s Festive Season TEL: (01934) 862205 • Email: phil@giorgetti.co.uk • www.goldenlionwrington.co.uk

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A family of craftsmen

BASED in the village of Wrington, David Bush Joinery is building a strong reputation among local people as a quality provider of bespoke joinery.

David has been a joiner since leaving school aged 16 and after completing a four-year apprenticeship with Bristol and West Joinery in Bristol, he then went on to work with numerous cabinet makers and joinery shops learning the arts of his trade.

After spending 14 years with his last employer in Bristol, David decided that the time was right to strike out on his own, first setting up in a workshop in the village of Ubley and then moving to larger premises in Wrington in February 2010.

He said: “We are fortunate to have been able to employ Will Foster, who lives locally in Sandford and is an asset to our business. He works alongside my own son, also called Will.

They work together as a great team.”

Since an early age David has been fascinated with the details of working with timber, citing some of his most unique ecclesiastical work undertaken in local churches as his most challenging: “Following historical craftsmen in ancient magnificent buildings is a true testament to the value of timber over the centuries.”

Equally, a challenging staircase, however small or large, provides its own technical opportunities.

He said: “It is a pleasure to be able to work for so many local people and one of my most satisfying jobs recently was replacing the large curved headed window in the Memorial Hall in Wrington (pictured), knowing that this building stands in the

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centre of the local community and is used by so many local groups.

“One of the greatest pleasures for me now is working alongside my eldest son, William, who seems to have inherited my passion for joinery and working with timber. Hopefully, he will continue to build on my strong reputation and also in the footsteps of his grandfather and great-grandfather who were both carpenters and joiners.”

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A first class service in Wrington

THE upward trend in house sales together with a move back to Wrington earlier this year has meant a good year for John Webb Estate Agents and Wrington Vale Lettings.

John Webb, with his vast experience and wealth of local knowledge said: “We continue to pride ourselves on offering a first class professional, knowledgeable and personal service to our clients, guiding them through every step of the process, being sensitive to that fact that selling your home can be a very emotional time.”

Wrington Vale Lettings, working alongside John Webb, offer a bespoke ‘service to suit you’ from just advertising your rental property to a full management service and anything in between! The following is a testimonial which speaks for itself: “Vanessa and Karen at Wrington Vale

Lettings were the most professional, friendly and helpful letting agents we have ever dealt with. During some difficult periods at our property, they were an excellent source of advice and support. We got a genuinely friendly and personal service that the bigger letting agencies simply can't offer.

“As an independent agency Vanessa and

Karen were able to make all the decisions quickly, from organising repairs, addressing garden maintenance concerns to consulting the landlord. Throughout, they kept us updated with friendliness and efficiency and any problems were resolved promptly. Overall, we would recommend their services without hesitation” Stuart Powell, tenant.

If you are thinking of selling or letting your home in 2016 and would like advice on marketing your property, contact John Webb Estate Agents and Wrington Vale Lettings and be confident that they will offer you a first class service whatever you decide to do.

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 47

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MENDIP TIMES

Wrington remembrance day

Mendip Times reduces travel costs

Coffee and crafts

The Little Red Beetle

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

Coffee • Tea • Hot Chocolate Cold drinks • Ice cream • Soups Home-made Cakes and Cookies Sandwiches • Cheese scones Tea cakes • Locally Crafted Gifts

Open Tues-Fri 9am-5pm Saturday 10am-2pm

Broad Street, Wrington BS40 5LA 01934 863889

FRANCA Knight is celebrating the first anniversary of her café, The Little Red Beetle, in Wrington, which sells local hand-crafted gifts, as well as a wide range of drinks and food.

Having lived in the village for more than 20 years, she decided on a complete career change when the premises in Silver Street became vacant. She was previously a TV costume designer, working on programmes like Casualty.

She still puts those skills to use by running various craft workshops at the café, which is named after her car, a little red VW Beetle. She also hosts a fortnightly 'Knit and Natter' group on Tuesday evenings.

She will be open for Wrington’s Dickensian Fayre on Friday December 11th offering “wicked hot chocolate”.

Lunch Time Snack Menu

Come Dine With Us at e Plough Sample our delicious new menus prepared by our team of top chefs In addition, why not try one of our famous food nights at the pub: Sunday Nights – Burger & Quiz Night Monday Nights – Classic Fish & Chips £7.95 Wednesday Nights – Steak Night – Two 8oz Steaks, Chips, Salad & Bottle of House Wine for £29.95

e Plough Inn, High Street, Wrington, North Somerset, BS40 5QA Tel : 01934 862871 www.theploughatwrington.co.uk PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Pan Fried Pigeon Breast, Jerusalem Artichoke Purée, Artichoke Crisps & Truffle Oil £6.95 (v) Warm Salad of Kale, Chestnuts, Roasted Fennel, Red Onion & Houmous £4.95/£9.95 For Two To Share (v) A Selection of Breads, Olives, Houmous & Homemade Pesto £6.95 (v) Baked Camembert Fondue, Studded with Garlic & Herbs with Pickles & Bread £13.25 Mixed Charcuterie Board with Crusty Bread, Pesto, Olives & Houmous £13.25 Mains Pan Fried Calves Liver, Creamy Mash, Crispy Bacon & Onion Gravy £10.95 Homemade Beef Burger with Coleslaw & Hand Cut Chips £10.95 - Add Cheddar, Blue Cheese or Bacon for 80p & Pulled Pork £1 Braised Breast of Lamb, Warm Chick Pea, Carrot & Kale Salad, Pomegranate, Curry Oil & Lamb Jus £11.95 (v) Spicy Red Pepper Mac ‘N’ Cheese, Seasonal Salad, Toasted Sourdough £9.95 Pork, Apple & Cider Sausages with Cheddar & Spring Onion Mash with Onion Gravy £11.50 Linguine Pasta with Mussels, Crayfish Tails, Chilli & Garlic with a Herb Salad £10.50 Pan Fried Fillet of Seabass, Spiced Potato Cake, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Cauliflower Purée £13.75 Pan Fried Venison Steak, Mini Venison Pie, Roasted Carrots, New Potatoes & Kale £12.95 Free Range Chicken Breast Stuffed with Spinach Mousse, Creamy Polenta, Wild Mushrooms & Sun Blushed Tomatoes All of the above Open Sandwiches are available as normal sandwiches on £12.25 Sourdough or Harvester Bread on Request. ese are served with crisps. (v) Roasted Beets with Quinoa, Hazelnuts, Pomegranate & Spinach with Beetroot Dressing £10.95 - Add Goats Cheese Main Menu for 80p Served 12 – 2.30pm & 6 – 9.30pm Char Grilled 10oz Rump Steak Served with Hand Cut Chips Starters & Light Bites & Salad £18.50 (v) Soup of e Day (See Specials Boards) £4.95 Char Grilled 10oz Rib Eye Steak Served with Hand Cut Chips Creamy Smoked Haddock with Spinach, Local Cheddar & & Salad £20.95 - Extra Sauces – Pepper Sauce, Cafe De Paris Poached Egg £6.25/£12.50 Butter, Blue Cheese £1.95 Coarse Game Terrine, Pickled Shallots & Wild Mushrooms Extras with Croutons £5.95 Hand Cut Chips £3.50 • Skinny Fries £3 ai Fish & Coriander Patties, Mixed Leaves & Sweet Chilli Spicy House Chips £4 • Spicy Mac N’ Cheese £4 Sauce £5.75 Café De Paris Bread £4.50 • Bread 75p • Side Salad or Side (v) Goats Cheese ‘Cheese Cake’, Homemade Damson & Apple Vegetables £2.50 Chutney £5.50

Served 12 – 2.30pm Classics (c) Home Cooked Ham, Two Free Range Eggs & Chips with Salad - £8.95 Classic Moules Marinière Served with Crusty Bread - £9.95 (v) Chip Butty & Homemade Ketchup - £4.00 Plough Inn Ploughman’s – One Choice £7.95, Two Choices £8.95, ree Choices £9.95 With Harvester & Sourdough Breads, Pickles, Salad and a Choice of Ham, Mature Cheddar, Brie, Cropwell Bishop Stilton, Pork Pie or Roast Beef Ciabattas Served with Hand Cut Chips & Salad Garnish Chicken Dijonaise - £7.95 Steak, Onion & Garlic Mayonnaise - £8.95 (v) Roasted Vegetable & Goats Cheese - £7.75 Open Sandwiches All Served on Toasted Sourdough Charcuterie – Garlic Mayo, Cured Meats, Sun Blush Tomatoes, Olives & Salad - £5.50 Smoked Salmon – with Herbs, Crème Fraiche, Capers, Red Onion & Salad - £5.50 (v) Cheese – Brie, Cheddar, Chutney & Pickles with Salad £4.95 Ham – Wiltshire Cured Ham, Piccalilli, Pickles & Salad £4.95 Chicken – Roasted Chicken Breast, Coronation Sauce, Almonds, Apple & Apricots & Salad - £5.25 Add a Side Portion of Fries for £1.75

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Showtime in Wrington

THIS year Wrington drama club and Wrington Youth Drama are combining to produce Wind in the

Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

The original story has been adapted by Rachel bowers with original songs by Rachel Mason and David Tisdall. Julie Kingcott is directing a talented and enthusiastic cast, with Michael Berkley as Toad, Alan Milne as Ratty, Tom Henry as Mole, David Simpson as Badger and Adam Hall as otter.

The show runs from Wednesday January 27th to Saturday January 30th. The evening performances start at 7.30pm with the Saturday matinee performance starting at 2.30pm. Tickets are available from Amors, Buglers and the Gallery in Wrington, or call Richard Kingcott on 07767 778297.

Taking aid to Africa

The Old Stores, The Triangle, Wrington, North Somerset BS40 5LB

OPTOMETRIST Marian Donovan has recently returned to Wrington after spending two weeks in Zambia working with Vision Aid Overseas, a charity committed to providing sight tests and spectacles to people in third world countries.

This is her seventh assignment, previous trips being to Burkina Faso and Ghana in West Africa, as well as two other visits to Zambia.

Teaching programmes have involved training the local ophthalmic nurses to do the sight tests as well as identify ocular pathology, whilst direct service programmes have

• Sight Tests • Glasses • Contact Lenses Home visits available by appointment

Now taking orders for Christmas PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

entailed going into the villages to set up impromptu “consulting rooms”, coping with a lack of electricity, water and other essentials.

Marian said: “We screened around 1,000 children, tested about 100, but only needed to provide specs for about half of those. It suggests there's some truth in the recent research results that say children should spend at least three hours outdoors every day.

Significantly, these children do not have ready access to screens, phones, computers – perhaps that is the secret!”

There is always a VAO collection box in the practice in Wrington for people to recycle their old specs, as well as a money box for financial contributions. Marian does adjustments and minor repairs in return for a small donation to the charity.

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The local experts

WRINGTON is one of the few local villages to still have a garage that not only sells petrol, diesel and LPG, but also has a fully equipped workshop.

Wrington Motors has been carrying out MOTs, servicing and repairing cars for over 23 years and has earned a reputation for good workmanship and courteous service.

The business has continually upgraded its workshop equipment and tooling to keep abreast of the latest vehicle technology. They have diagnostic equipment which has the same capabilities as main dealer systems, including ECU software updates and key coding to Audi, BMW, Mini, VW, Seat, Skoda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Range Rover, Peugeot, Citroen and Renault.

This tool is enhanced with technical support from marque specific master technicians.

Servicing is carried out to manufacturer’s schedules so that the appropriate service is done for the age and mileage of your car. This ensures that important items such as cam belt renewal and brake fluid changes are done at the correct intervals. Vehicles that are still under warranty can be serviced using manufacturer’s genuine parts.

The workshop technicians have been with the business for many years, having started there as apprentices, and they ensure a high level of experience, quality and continuity in the care of your vehicle, while the service reception staff are also motor technicians, who will discuss your problem, offer solutions and provide you with a free estimate for repairs.

They can also carry out small jobs such as the fitting of bulbs, batteries or wiper blades while you wait.

Wrington Motors runs a small fleet of loan cars and a small van to keep you mobile whilst your vehicle is repaired. They can also give you a lift back home or to work locally, or collect, repair and return your vehicle to your work or home.

Wrington Motors is proud of its 23 years’ service to the village and surrounding communities and you will find a warm welcome and expert problem solving for your car.

From Wrington to Romania

MEMBERS of Wrington Vale Inner Wheel Club met at a member’s house to pack Christmas shoe boxes with a variety of useful items. Some 54 boxes were packed and are being shipped to Romanian teenagers.

FOCUS ON WRINGTON

Dealer level diagnostics with software Updates for all these makes

VOLKSWAGEN AUDI SEAT SKODA BMW MINI JAGUAR LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER PEUGEOT CITROEN RENAULT MOT testing, Servicing and Repairs Four wheel alignment, Tyres and Balancing Air Conditioning Servicing and Repairs Loan Cars and Loan Van

Tel: 01934 862297 www.wringtonmotors.co.uk Email: wringtonmotors@hotmail.com

Bennetts is a niche and boutique commercial law firm operating out of modern offices at Barley Wood Stables, Long Lane, Wrington.

Our lawyers combine specialist legal knowledge with broad practical experience.

We can be relied on to give clear and positive advice on a wide range of complex or routine matters whether preventative or remedial.

Bennetts Solicitors Attorneys & Notaries Barley Wood Stables, Long Lane, Wrington Bristol BS40 5SA Phone: (44) 1934 862786 • Fax: (44) 1934 862404 Webpage: www.bennettlaw.co.uk e-mail: info@bennettlaw.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 51

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Hide and seek bid by naturalists SUPPORTERS are being sought to back a “crowdfunding” campaign to build a new £20,000 tower hide for birdwatchers at Natural England’s Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve.

It is the first time the team at Shapwick has tried to raise funds in this way and is being seen as a test bed for possible similar ventures in the future.

But time is running out – the closing date for the initiative is Tuesday, December 8th.

The site of the proposed tower is at the heart of the Avalon Marshes which is home to rare species like the bittern, otter and great white egret and the sight of wildlife spectacles such as the winter starling murmurations.

The hide will provide fantastic elevated views over some 200 hectares of lakes and reed beds, and improve access and

An architect’s impression of the new hide

visibility for all visitors to the reserve. In 2014 more than 85,000 people visited the reserve.

Simon Clarke, Senior Reserve Manager for Natural England at Shapwick Heath NNR said: “At a time of limited budgets it’s important that our core funding goes into protecting and maintaining the habitats and wildlife of the reserve.

However we also want to provide facilities for those who visit.

“We’d like to use crowdfunding as a way for us to work with our many supporters to try and provide an extra

facility to allow all visitors to the reserve to appreciate why it’s such an important place.”

Simon added: “It’s the first time we have tried this approach to funding; it’s something of a test case.”

If the crowdfunding is successful, work on the hide – a three-metre high steel structure surrounded by wood and willow – is scheduled to begin in January and have an official opening in April. The hide will be set back from the track that bisects the reserve and will offer a 360degree view of the marshes.

For details, visit: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/tower-hide PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Simon Clarke on the site of the proposed new hide

Avalon Marshes provides a vital habitat for wildlife

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WILDLIFE

Why not make wildlife watching a “must do” activity over the festive period?

IN THE WOODS

MANY birds will now be using the short daylight hours to feed as fast and furiously as they can.

Even a short woodland walk will reveal species such as chaffinch busily feeding on the ground, probably underneath trees such

By CHRIS SPERRING as beech where beechmasts may have been MBE well-trodden and crushed by many a walker making it easy for the finches to feed on them. The most colourful member of the crow family, the jay, will be patrolling through the trees, occasionally making his buzzing sound as he watches from favourite vantage points but, unlike the finch, he can take the nuts whole.

There are still some birds looking for live food as well.

Thrushes and blackbirds, for example, can be observed relentlessly turning over fallen leaves in the woods searching for anything crawling in the warmer leaf litter. A high pitched burst of contact calls from high in the trees will probably indicate the presence of a party of long-tailed tits.

These small birds with their over-exaggerated long tails may number between six and 16 in a party and have such tiny beaks that they are perfectly adapted for insect feeding, even in the tree tops during the winter. Their keen eyes can spot moth larvae in the cracks of the bark, and their success rate is so good that if you are watching them don’t forget to watch for other birds that follow the long-tailed tits and use their superb insect detection skills to find food themselves.

Mammals are less likely to be observed but are very much in evidence at this time of year. One broken hazelnut shell with its nut missing may have been consumed by bank vole, wood mouse, badger or squirrel: each one attacks the nut in a different way allowing identification of the culprit.

Starling watching

Skylark

IN THE FIELDS

Photography by Chris Sperring

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THERE’S always plenty to see in the open countryside.

In suitable fields, skylarks will rise from the ground giving short bursts of their amazing aerial song which is enough to cheer even the dullest winter day. On cold, sunny days watch for buzzards soaring, searching for food as they circle effortlessly in clear skies.

If you see two buzzards soaring together it could be a pair holding territory, or watch a bit longer to ensure one isn’t an intruder; if so an aerial sky dance will take place to ward off the unwelcome visitor.

Watch out for kestrels over rough grassland, often using a light breeze to hold themselves still in the air by hovering whilst searching the long grass for voles or mice. These beautiful little falcons have been doing well recently and their numbers seem to be recovering, so seeing one is much more likely.

A mammal which relies on long grass may also reveal itself as you walk, but probably not until you’re almost on top of it.

The brown hare, despite its speed, relies largely on camouflage and remaining motionless to evade predators, but will suddenly take off at break-neck speed as you approach, which can really make you jump.

We are blessed with numerous places to see amazing wildlife within easy reach of Mendip. A trip to the Severn Estuary can be very rewarding during December as many thousands of birds will have arrived from their northerly breeding areas.

If you want to watch in comfort try the new nature reserve at Steart Point near Bridgwater. There are easy-going paths and state-of-the-art hides which provide good views of the birds and other wildlife of the estuary. For more information about Steart point visit: http://steart.wwt.org.uk/visit/ Another “must do” if you’ve never experienced it before is the annual spectacle on the Somerset Levels: thousands of starlings gathering on one of the amazing nature reserves in this area. For the latest information on the starling murmurations ring the Starling Hotline on 07866 554142 or email: starlings@rspb.org.uk I hope you all manage to get some super wildlife encounters over December and the festive period.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust Contact him on 07799 413 918 or chris.sperring@btinternet.com

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 53

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A seasonal circuit around West Mendip

AN ideal easy Christmas season walk from the Mendip village of Shipham, down through Star and then along Lyncombe Hill with good views. Follow field paths and good tracks down and across to the tucked away hamlet of Winterhead and back to Shipham. It is easy walking and mainly good underfoot with no stile problems – so a great outing for dogs, too. After rain, there may obviously be some areas of mud. There are some ups and downs, but nothing difficult.

In Shipham is a welcoming small coffee shop and also the Penscot Inn for

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With Sue Gearing PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

refreshment and at Star you pass alongside the Star Inn. PARK: In Shipham, in the spacious village hall car park. The committee, who have kindly given permission to park, ask that cars are parked opposite or alongside the football field in the car park. If there will be more than five cars, please ring Kate Meadows, booking secretary (01173 182 357) to check whether the hall will be busy that day. If so, you will need to park further into the village around the green and then pick up directions from ‘SHIPHAM’ – see instructions at the end of the walk. The village which is one of the highest points on Mendip is on a road leading from the A38 with the village hall on the right on the road leading down to the village.

START: Go into the main car park and along the side of the hall heading for the entrance to the hall. Immediately, turn right on a footpath which goes down along under trees (people who had to park in Shipham village will join here). The path soon comes out onto the open playing field. Continue on, cross a stile (easy for dogs) and carry on getting widespread views across towards Sandford Hill and woods and Lyncombe Hill – our destination. Also get a good view across to Dolebury Hill fort.

Descend through rather bumpy land – the remains of former mining. Go to the right of a closed reservoir and head down to the wall below. Turn left on the path alongside the wall. Cross right over a pipe

stile and go through the field and onto the main road. Cross to the Star inn. If the pipe stile is too hard for dogs, go on to an easy stile onto a lane by miners’ cottages and turn right past the cottages to the main road. Then cross and go right to the Star Inn. 1. STAR Take the No Through Road to the right of the Star Inn. Follow this along, passing chickens and ducks (keep your dog on a lead!). Follow the track on and then up.

2. TRACK At the top reach a bridleway track going left with a large barn on one side and a Bristol Water installation on the other. If you want to extend the walk and need a quick drink you can go straight on and down for about seven minutes to the wonderful cottage pub, the Crown and then return.

Follow the track along Lyncombe Hill and soon begin to get views left back across Star and towards Fry’s Hill and the Mendip Ridge and then Crook Peak, the only pointed hill on Mendip. The path narrows. Ignore side paths. Gently climb and reach a gate ahead bringing us onto open land on the hill.

3. LYNCOMBE HILL Maintain direction all the way to a gate into Lyncombe and Sandford Woods.

4. WOODS Follow the track straight on through the woodland with a fence on the right around

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the former Sandford quarry. You will see that you are following the Butcombe Trail, a 45-mile route that connects six pubs owned by Butcombe Brewery and which I devised several years ago with the help of former Mendip Warden, Les Davies.

Commercial quarrying for Burrington Oolite stone began on Sandford Hill in the mid-19th century. Sandford stone was reputed to have been used in the construction of Avonmouth Docks opened in 1877 and in the expansion of Temple Meads Station, Bristol. However, even in 1885, the quarry appears to have had no direct connection to the branch railway line, only 300m away which was an obvious major drawback. In 1993 Sandford Hill Quarry ceased working and later closed. Parts of the site are now used by an activity centre and parts were converted to a nature reserve. Eventually start to drop down.

5. AWARD LAND Pass a sign on a tree for Winscombe and Sandford Award land. This, and a nearby quarry, were awarded to the parish in 1799 so they could dig out stone to rebuild local roads. This land is now managed for public access and nature conservation by a group of dedicated local volunteers. Ignore Mike’s Path and a track going back left through a barrier. Just carry on down to cottages and Tarmac.

To see the remains of an old forge, go on a few more yards past a board about the Award land and quarry and head a few yards along a small path at the side of another notice to the site. The forge was linked to work in the quarry carried out during World War II by Italian prisoners of war working with local men.

Return to where you came onto the Tarmac and turn back sharp left past a cottage and then straight on along a grassy track called the Uplands Path.

WALKING

4.5 miles, about 2-3 hours walking • OS Explorer 141 Cheddar Gorge & Mendip Hills West, grid ref: 444 528

6. UPLANDS PATH Soon pass the remains of a former toilet used by the prisoners of war. Carry on a few more minutes and then turn right on steps through a wooden kissing gate down to join Tarmac and keep straight on. Ahead we can see Winscombe Church nestling below Wavering Down. There may be a couple of friendly donkeys along here.

Bend left by a large barn and the entrance to a camping site. Turn right up the drive.

In the field here is often another pair of donkeys, eager to greet walkers.

7. SHIPHAM LANE Turn left on Shipham Lane for a few minutes. Then, just before a track on the right, turn right over a stone slab stile on the marked public footpath into a field.

8. FIELD Follow the left edge. Ahead are houses on the edge of Winscombe. Go on into another field. Again, follow the left edge and near the corner bear left along a narrow strip of the field. Cross onto a track by a house entrance and go

straight ahead to reach the A38.

9. MAIN ROAD Cross to the drive opposite marked as a public footpath. Maintain direction.

10. WINTERHEAD Reach a junction in the hamlet of Winterhead, a picturesque, quiet community once a site of lead mining.

Turn sharp left and soon begin a gentle climb up the track. Ignore a track right but a few yards after this fork right to a gate.

Follow the path ahead. On the far side go through a gate to join a residential road in Shipham. Follow this along to the main road in the village.

11. SHIPHAM Here along on the right is the centre of Shipham and the Penscot Inn, and also Lenny’s Coffee Shop up on the green by the square. Sadly, the Miner’s Arms pub has closed. You may have parked here if the village car park was too busy.

To return to the start, cross the road for safety and turn left along the pavement.

Pass the primary school on the other side of the road and then the old Turnpike Cottage on the corner of Broadway. Cross back by the 30 mile limit sign to take the path by the village noticeboard back to the village hall and car park.

If you parked in Shipham village and are starting the walk, don’t go into the car park but take the path ahead at the side which goes under trees and follow directions at the beginning.

Penscot Inn, Shipham, 01934 842659 The Star Inn, Star 01934 844453 Lenny’s Coffee Shop (closed Sat, Sun, Mon)

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 55

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OUTDOORS

West Countryman’s Diary

THE weather has driven me indoors over the last week and any chance sunny dry weather seems to be gone. Work wise I am at one of those rare With LES moments of “in DAVIES MBE between” where I can clear away from what has been done and spend some time preparing for what will be. Once I get into the winter pruning work there will be no time to sit and stare.

Christmas is fast approaching. Where does the time go, and as usual I am totally unprepared. What shall I buy and for whom shall I buy? Surely I am not the only one who faces this dilemma, but there are those who have the whole thing organised.

They have been buying throughout the year at advantageous prices, as whatever they have decided upon has become available.

They have bought their Christmas cards and luxury crackers in January; the Christmas lunch is planned, together with those who will sit where, and nothing but nothing will be left until the last minute.

Gosh, how I wish I was that organised, but I'm not and no amount of saying ‘Ah, next year I will start early’ will make any difference to ‘Mr last minute.com’.

Outside life will go on very much as it always does. For those who work the land animals will still need feeding and the milking will still have to be done. For me (thankfully) that doesn't happen, I can get up as late as I want and take my time. My only ‘Must Do’ of the day will be driving to Nailsea and having lunch with my mother. This is a very simple meal which suits us both and will be a million miles away from a big family Christmas lunch that is the centre-piece of many people’s day.

The Christmas walk is another hardy Christmas annual. Sometimes it’s a ‘Get out of the house and give me room’ walk, where those who are not required for the lunch preparation are encouraged to leave.

Just like the days of the seaside holiday boarding house, the occupants are ejected from the premises and left to their own devices until the appointed hour.

For others it’s the well organised family excursion complete with new boots, coats and festive hats. This is normally a 'walk the lunch off' before returning to pay some in-depth attention to a little afternoon tea.

It is a time when everyone can get together, which for many in this hectic life is a rare treat.

I remember one Christmas afternoon when I had my own family about me. We always went home to Hales Farm for Christmas lunch and would be joined in the afternoon by other members of the family for tea. I remember this particular walk and can still recall the route. The sound of my grandfather’s voice is still clear in my mind and the warmth of the kitchen upon our return is still remembered. My children were small, but up to the walk, by now they were much too big to put onto my shoulders anyway.

The great thing about the farm was that you only had to walk out the back door to be in the countryside. The walk began by joining what we called the 'dog path', a footpath that left the Failand road opposite Towerhouse Lane and ran up through Mogg’s Wood towards Cadbury Camp Lane. Our name for this path came from the enclosure alongside it that had housed free running Irish Wolf Hounds. I can remember them as a small boy being quite scary!

Cadbury Camp Lane was where the wealthy and successful people lived in houses cut into Lime Breach Wood overlooking the valley and across the North Somerset levels. It had been established on an old route along the ridge and was still a public right of way. Some way along the lane on the left, a ladder stile allowed access over the wall back into Lime breach Wood. Opposite is Wood Lane that leads down into Clapton-inGordano and the Black Horse for those of you who may be familiar with this pub.

The ladder stile has now been replaced by a much more health and safety conscious means of accessing the footpath.

The path drops downhill to join another very old route called, quite rightly, O1d Lane. This is a bridleway that comes up from the main Tickenham to Nailsea road, and bears witness to years of pass and repass on foot and horseback with its high banks and sunken track.

Crossing Old Lane, a stile led into a field known as ‘left hand steep ground’. This field holds memories of being full of flowers in the summer, hay mows being built by the wood, and being held in the seat of a horse-drawn side delivery rake as the hay was rowed, or 'rollered' up ready

for sweeping into the elevator and then onto the mow.

The little wood, or to give it the correct name ‘Abbots Horn’ is marked on the map.

It was in my childhood memory the Wild Wood of Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows. It has old marl pits that at one time were used as a fertiliser on the land.

Gnarled roots held old trees precariously on the pit edges where animals had made their burrows below, and all manner of trees and bushes grew on the humps and hollows of these old workings; yes it was just like the Wild Wood!

That Christmas afternoon we made our way from the edge of the wood across to Well House Farm at Stone-edge-Batch, where Tom Durston and his son John farmed. I remember Tom Durston waiting patiently for ages to cross this road to his milking bale, in the morning and again in the afternoon. Sitting on his old Ferguson tractor whilst the traffic poured down the hill towards the road junction in the morning. That was back in the 60s; he would be waiting all week to cross now.

From the gate opposite Well House Farm it was alongside the road back to Hales Farm. This was the route I took to and from school every day to catch the bus from Stone-edge-Batch outside Arthur Franks’ farm. If I was late in the morning, the sight from the raised path of the old green Bristol bus coming out of Nailsea meant a run for the bus stop. That day however, we walked leisurely up the road and past the old chapel, past the entrance to Summerhouse housing estate and back home, just in time for tea!

I shall have to speak to Sue Gearing about writing a walk in this area. In the meantime, whatever your Christmas holds, I hope that it is everything you could wish for and more. It is after all a very special time of the year. This month’s picture is of a very festive tree on Mendip from Sue Gearing's collection.

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

PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

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The holly and the ivy when they are both full grown . . .

THIS year looks like a bumper year for holly berries, not because we are told that we are expecting a hard winter, but much more about good pollination when the hollies were in flower earlier in the year.

But not every holly is capable of bearing berries. They belong to a relatively select With MARY group of plants that are referred to as PAYNE MBE dioecious.

This means that they bear male and female flowers on separate plants and both are required to ensure a good set of berries. One might have thought that those who were privileged with giving holly varieties names might have taken care to give them an appropriate name for their sex, but not so.

We therefore have a male holly called ‘Silver Queen’ and a female holly variety called ‘Golden King’!

Once you have mastered the naming then hollies become a very useful garden plant, as the majority are evergreen, with shiny leaves, and are amazingly tolerant of growing in shady positions. When purchasing a holly always select one that is growing in a container, or for larger specimens, one that is root balled (the root system along with some soil is wrapped in hessian which should not be removed before planting).

Bare-rooted hollies are rarely, if ever, offered and are best avoided.

Holly is a very adaptable plant and can be used as a hedge, specimen plant, or can even be clipped into topiary shapes.

Our native species, Ilex aquifolium has mutated to produce many good garden varieties. The Hedgehog Holly, I. aquifolium ‘Ferox’ is a male form, and is unusual in that it has prickles all over the surface of its leaves, rather than simply around the leaf edge.

The Silver Hedgehog Holly I.a. ‘Ferox Argentea’ has creamy white margins to the leaf and cream surface spines which make an attractive combination set off by its purple twigs. There is also a yellow variegated variety called I.a ‘Ferox Aurea’. In all these variants the leaves are much smaller than usual.

The weeping forms of I. aquifolium ‘Pendula’ and ‘Weeping Golden Milkmaid’ are female forms (at least they got this one right!) and make attractive specimens for smaller gardens especially when full of fruit. Alternatively, a conical shaped plant will develop from I.a. ‘Pyramidalis’ which also fruits freely.

Perhaps the most striking of our native holly varieties are two with variegated foliage. I.a. ‘Handsworth New Silver’ has purple shoots with elongated spiny edged mottled grey/green leaves edged with cream. This female clone bears abundant crops of bright red berries. I.a. ‘Golden Queen’ is a male with green twigs bearing broad green leaves with a yellow margin but no berries.

Yellow berries make a change, but may be frowned upon for seasonal decorations. I.a.’Amber’ has bronze yellow berries while ‘Bacciflava’ has clear bright yellow fruits.

If you are thoroughly confused by the names I suggest you opt for I.a. ‘J C van Tol’, ‘Silver van Tol’ or even ‘Golden van Tol’. These varieties have the advantage of being hermaphrodite, bearing male and female flowers on the same plant and thus bearing fruits without the need for a pollinator.

However, only the plain green-leaved variety can be relied on to set a good crop of berries. A minimum of spines on the

PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Ilex x altaclerensis 'Golden King'

leaves also adds to the attraction of these varieties.

For a yellow edged variegated leaf that also bears red berries we have to go for a hybrid holly known as I. x altaclarensis ‘Golden King’. This variety has the huge advantage of having almost spine free foliage.

Another holly that is appearing more commonly is the evergreen, spine free, tiny-leaved Japanese Holly, Ilex crenata.

It is often recommended as a replacement where box disease has taken its toll on dwarf hedges. Personally, I find it slow and reluctant, and cannot recommend it.

Our local somewhat neutral to alkaline soils sadly prohibit us from growing a striking deciduous holly from eastern N. America, Ilex verticillata or Winterberry. The leaves of this large shrub turn yellow before falling in autumn to reveal an abundance of small red berries that persist well into winter.

Cut stems of this holly often appear in mixed bunches of florists’ flowers. I.v. ‘Winter Red’ and ‘Christmas Cheer’ are prolific fruiting female varieties but it needs pollinating by I.v.

‘Southern Gentleman’. Fortunately the ‘Southern Gentleman’ is capable of pollinating many plants of his female acquaintances.

Our native ivy, Hedera helix, has produced a wealth of plain and variegated leaved varieties that are so useful as ground cover in dense dry shade or as an evergreen trailing plant for winter containers. The juvenile phase of ivy climbs or crawls using aerial roots on the stems, while the adult phase has a much less characteristic leaf shape and loses the ability to climb, becoming arborescent or shrubby.

In this state the plants produce an abundance of flowers in autumn that are a valuable source of nectar for bees and other insects. These are followed by black berries, also loved by wildlife as they mature in winter. The climbing juvenile phase does not kill trees but when the mature phase is reached, often at the top of trees, the extra weight on a sickly tree can sometimes cause damage in strong winds.

This can be seen in hedgerows where the ivy can topple already dead elm suckers killed by the fungus spread by the elm bark beetle. I try to ensure that a happy balance is achieved by ensuring that ivy is removed from specimen trees whilst tolerating its presence in woodland trees for the wildlife benefits it brings.

A Happy Christmas to all gardeners and may 2016 bring gentle rain by night and warm sunny days!

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GARDENING

DECEMBER GARDEN TIPS

G Move pots of tender plants inside or close to the house walls. The shelter of the house wall can make a big difference!

G Dead-head pansies, violas and cyclamen to encourage more flowers.

G The autumn sown sweet peas should have the tips pinched out after the second pair of true leaves open.

G Dormant trees and shrubs can be moved now.

Minimise root disturbance to increase chance of success and rapid re-establishment.

G Continue planting if the ground is not too wet or frozen.

G Prune out old wood to rejuvenate shrubs. Wisteria pruning can be completed now along with vines.

G Plant roses, fruit trees and bushes. Transplant trees and shrubs that lose their leaves in winter now.

G Fork over borders and dig some goodness back into the soil.

G Move potted ‘prepared’ Hyacinths into warmer rooms to gradually force them into flower in time for Christmas. If they are coming on too fast move them back into the cool again.

G It’s not too late to plant tulips! This bulb will still perform even when planted as late as January!

G Plant up Amaryllis bulbs inside. Use a soil based compost and water very sparingly to start with. As flowers and leaves appear, give more water.

Courtesy Cleeve Nursery

Wishing all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 59

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MENDIP TIMES

A Shepton classic

SHEPTON Classic Stone has gone from being a local business selling to local customers to a business selling to customers from all over the UK. Thanks to the increasing number of people using the internet and Shepton Classic Stone’s website the majority of their customers now come from outside Somerset, many from London and the south east.

They do, of course, value all of their many customers, whether they are from London or local. One of the reasons that customers will travel many miles to buy their stone products is because there are now less companies making drycast garden stoneware and certainly not at their prices.

Family garden centre SHOWROOM NOW OPEN

Opening 8.00am – 5.00pm Mon – Fri. 8.00am – 12.00pm Sat

Wishing all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

BROWNE’S garden centre is a traditional family run garden centre situated on the Glastonbury Road, in Wells. The family have been trading there since 1806. They have a small coffee shop serving freshly ground coffee, teas, toasted sandwiches and locally made cakes. They offer a wide variety of trees, shrubs, fruit trees, roses, herbaceous perennials and house plants together with an excellent range of gardening sundries.

As we run up to Christmas they will have a large selection of real Christmas trees, Nordmann spruce non-drop and traditional Norway spruce, both freshly cut and pot grown. They will also have cut holly, mistletoe, holly and mixed shrub wreaths, all hand made on the premises, English grown cyclamen and poinsettias.

BROWNES GARDEN CENTRE Come and relax and enjoy a coffee and cake in our coffee shop, then wander through our indoor display area where we have a colourful display of cyclamen, poinsettia, jasmine and mixed bowls.

Large selection of trees, shrubs and roses plus all your garden sundry requirements National Garden gift vouchers Nordmann & Norway Spruce Christmas trees, Christmas Wreaths and Garlands hand-made on the premises. Also snow sledges and rock salt Delivery service available O pe n 9 – 5p m M o n– S a t 10 – 5p m S un C o f f ee S ho p 10 .30 -4 pm Tue s — S un

Artisan Christmas Market on Saturday 5th December

GLASTONBURY ROAD, WELLS. TEL 01749 673050 Email: jon@brownes-gc.co.uk

Stump Grinding and Tree Services, throughout the South West

See our website at www.groundlevelcontractors.co.uk or e-mail us at info@groundlevelcontractors.co.uk Prefer to talk to us?

Tel: 01934 710135 • Mob: 07941 908832 PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

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GARDENING

Norton Green Farm Garden Centre and Nursery

Mendip Times reduces travel costs

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

Timberwork Buildings Bespoke buildings to suit you We specialise in the manufacture of quality standard and bespoke garden buildings to suit your individual needs including:-

WORKSHOPS/GARAGES

GARDEN SHEDS

SHELTERS & STABLES

PLAYHOUSES

Let our dedicated team assist you in your choice whatever your budget . . . Full design, installation and delivery service available – customise your shed to suit your needs

WELCOMES YOU THIS DECEMBER • House plants, cut flowers and floral arrangements • Roses, fruit trees, soft fruit, shrubs etc.

• Potted Christmas trees • Holly wreaths and Christmas decorations, including festive outdoor solar lights • 2016 season seed collections with new specialist ranges by Sarah Raven & Jekka’s Herbs plus sweet peas, Cosmos, Tomatoes & Get Growing • Compost, mulches, soil conditioners & barks inc. multibuy and special offers • Logs, kindling, paraffin, etc.

• Wild bird food and feeders • Terracotta, glazed, fibreclay and plastic pots and troughs • Calor Gas • HTA National Garden Gift Vouchers • Fresh eggs, potatoes etc.

LOCAL DELIVERY SERVICE Open: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 10.30am-4.30pm

We also do: Chicken Houses • Dog Kennels • Bin & Log Stores

YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT US AND SEE OUR SHOW MODELS – OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK THE TIMBERYARD • SHUTE SHELVE • CROSS • NEAR AXBRIDGE

Tel: 01934 732 396 • www.timberworkbuildings.co.uk • e.mail: timberbuildings@aol.com

Wells Road, Chilcompton, Nr. Bath Tel: 01761 232137 E. nortongreenfarm@tiscali.co.uk

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NURSERY MASBURY, NR. WELLS, SOMERSET BA5 3HA • TEL: 01749 841014 • FAX: 01749 841055 www.rockymountainnurseries.co.uk

COME AND SEE OUR FINE RANGE OF HOUSE PLANTS, SHRUBS, PERENNIALS AND CLIMBERS

Fresh Cut Christmas Trees from £15.00 – Pot Grown Christmas Trees from £3.50 Lots of Christmas Plants & Gifts, AVAILABLE NOW

VISIT OUR MASBURYS CAFÉ – 01749 84115 Full menu of home cooked food available, 7 days a week Breakfast, Lunch & Afternoon Tea

See our website for more details: rockymountainnurseries.co.uk

ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 61

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New business in Wedmore

WEDMORE has a new shop, Trug, which has been operating successfully in Wrington for several years, selling both high quality gifts and flowers.

Trug are an intimate and welcoming team of artisan florists who take the utmost pride in working closely with clients to create superb floral designs for weddings, funerals, special days, and special events.

Using local and seasonal flowers they take their inspiration from the natural world and English tradition to offer a truly bespoke service to compliment any occasion – whatever the brief or budget – without compromise.

Tara Barnett, who is running the Wedmore shop, has a fine art background combined with a lifelong passion for flowers and nature which has provided her with the inspiration to create unique, beautiful and personal floral designs.

She said: “Priding myself on the personal care I give all my clients, my attention to detail shines through to create a truly bespoke service. I love what I do. There is no better starting point.”

Scott Arrowsmith, Trug’s main buyer, has a horticultural background and says it has given him a love of the natural beauty of our countryside.

He said: “I love to source flowers and crafts that reflect the occasion, the changing seasons, and the individuality of our customers.”

The Masonic Hall, Church Street, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4AB

NOW OPEN IN WEDMORE PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Wedmore’s magical Christmas

9

December

WEDMORE by Lamplight promises to be a lively affair this year with local businesses promising a number of attractions, as well as late-night shopping.

It will start with a service at St. Mary’s at 6pm, followed by carols around the Christmas tree, before the village children walk down to The Borough with their lanterns.

The Borough will be closed for the night, with Burtle Brass Band among the attractions there. Watch out for a Christmas tree on stilts, provided by the village’s newest business, Trug florists and gift shop, and a fire eater in Borough Mall, courtesy of Borough Mall Developments.

Hector’s Farm Shop are organising two pig roasts this year, so the crowds aren’t kept waiting too long, and there are plans for a Gingerbread House and many other stalls for both children and adults.

There’s also a rumour that Father Christmas and his reindeer will make an appearance.

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Practice celebrates 20 years!

FOCUS ON WEDMORE

PETER Sedgwick will celebrate being practice principal at Wedmore Dental for 20 years in December and has developed the practice to a high standard since taking over.

Together with his loyal and committed team it now delivers conventional and routine treatments, alongside more advanced procedures such as crown, bridge and implant (by referral), with facial rejuvenation using fillers and botox type treatments available.

The practice commitment to its patients has resulted in the team achieving and maintaining Investors in People recognition, BDA Good Practice Scheme and more recently being accredited with Denplan Excel programme. All schemes mark a high standard of care.

Peter and his team are thanking their top-20 long-serving patients with a £20 gift voucher. During December patients might also be given a free toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm or pen, depending on what’s shown on the large advent display they have in reception.

The practice is proud to be committed to its patients’ oral health care and Peter and the team look forward to working with their patients for many years to come. They also look forward to welcoming new patients – pop in for a new patient pack or visit their website for more details.

TAKING BOOKINGS FOR:

Lamp Night Specials Turkey & Vegetable Soup £5 Beef Stew £6 Mulled Cider • Mince Pies Gluten Free Christmas Cake Pop in and see us!

Wedmore by Lamplight supper Wednesday 9th December Christmas lunches – every Thursday in December Christmas Day Lunch Christmas Parties – a few dates still available Delicious food at reasonable prices.

Open for home cooked lunches and snacks, teas and coffees, cream teas and homemade cakes Open 9.30 to 4.00 Mon to Sat, Sunday 12.00pm.

The Borough, Wedmore

01934 710080 MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 63

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FOCUS ON WEDMORE

Raising a glass for good causes Bronze and Traditional Turkeys All types of poultry, meats, games and Christmas Fayre Produced on our own farm or supplied locally Orders taken for Christmas now!!

Orders, telephone or email:– 01934 712384 Shop

Alan, James and Lloyd would like to thank all our customers who have supported us through 2015

Committee members with all the beneficiaries

See our selection of beautiful Christmas goodies Call in for mulled cider during Wedmore by Lamplight Open: Monday-Saturday 8.30am-5.00pm

01934 713289 www.pumpkinwedmore.co.uk andrea@pumpkinwedmore.co.uk 1 e Borough Mall, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB

BUSINESS PREMISES TO LET Wedmore’s largest commercial landlord providing work places for over 100 people locally.

Shops, Offices, Storage and Workshops OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE AT COMPETITIVE RENT. CENTRAL POSITION FACING MAIN ROAD SHOP 10 CURRENTLY BEING REFURBISHED – READY SOON. VARIOUS USES POSSIBLE. CENTRAL POSITION IN THE MALL

Call Ian Leavey on 01934 712081 email: ileavey@btinternet.com THE BOROUGH MALL CO LTD LIVE LOCALLY | SHOP LOCALLY | WORK LOCALLY PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

THE 15th Wedmore Real Ale Festival was a huge success, raising £15,000 for local good causes, bringing the total raised since it started to £133,571. The 16 beneficiaries attended a presentation night at the Swan in Wedmore and received cheques ranging from £200 to £2,500.

Committee member, Alan Page said “We really didn’t know if linking in with the World Cup Rugby would help or hinder this year’s fund-raising, but we are delighted to say that we have equalled last year’s fantastic amount.

“The festival as a whole was a huge success and a great time was had by all, but none of this would have been possible without the on-going dedicated support of all our sponsors and volunteers, and we are really grateful for their vital contribution”.

The beneficiaries were: Wedmore Brownies £200; Wedmore Tots and Tinies £200; In Charleys Memory £250; Wedmore Twinning Association £400; IOW Green Group £450; Wedmore in Bloom £500; Community Bus £500; Cots for Tots £600; Orchard Vale Trust £600; Somewhere House Somerset £750; Wedmore Guides £950; Weston Hospicecare £1,300; Wedmore PTA £1,675; Children’s Hospice South West £1,700; Wedmore Playing Fields Management Committee £2,375; Wedmore Scout Group £2,550.

Details: Trevor on 01934 710004 / 07812 848011.

Order early for Christmas

PISCES will be open on Wedmore Lamplight night with their usual display of produce plus those seasonal treats like glace fruits and dried fruit which are now in stock.

They will be operating their usual pre-order system for the Christmas holiday week; do pick up an order form.

As with Christmases past FISHMONGER Dean reminds you that any & GREENGROCER fish for the Christmas table Direct supply of Cornish Sea Food.

Loch Fyne Smokehouse stockist. or your New Year dinner Northern Water and Continental seafood party should be ordered specialists.

Fruit and vegetables personally selected at market, before Tuesday December exotics and the unusual, fresh herbs and the best local produce.

22nd as the last deliveries to Selection of culinary ingredients.

Open all day Tuesday to Friday plus Monday the shop will leave the ports and Saturday mornings. on that day, with the next 5 The Borough Mall, The Borough landings not being until early Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB Tel: 01934 710318 in the new year.

PISCES

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NATIONAL HEDGING

Hedging by the lake

Two of the judges Les Rogers (left) and Ian Ford

MORE than 100 hedgers from all over the country descended on Chew Valley Lake for the 37th National Hedge Laying Championship, as well as hundreds of spectators who braved the rain.

Nine different styles of hedge laying were on show at the event which was organised by Malcolm Dowling, Tina Bath and Clive Bethell from the Burrington and Wrington Hedging Society.

A very damp Tom Vowles from Redhill

Chew Valley Lake was a great venue

Archie, aged four, enjoyed the mud

It rained nearly all day

Stewards Dave Keedwell (left) Christine Hayes and Mark Ireland MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 65

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Frome falls silent

HUNDREDS of people brought part of Frome to a standstill for the town’s annual Remembrance Day service.

Held in front of the town’s Memorial Hall – built to remember the fallen of the First World War – this year’s service paid special tribute to the men and women who served in the Far East, reflecting the 70th anniversary of VJ Day. Burma veteran Ron Stone, 96, a former Royal Marine Commando who has lived all his life in Frome, read the Kohima Epitaph to signal the end of the Two Minute Silence.

The scene in front of the Memorial Hall

Yanah May, who is in Poppy Class in Trinity School with (left) Midge Skeme, 95, and Edith Knight, 96. Midge served in the Second World War in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. At one point she was based at Bomber Command at High Wycombe and also served in Burma and Singapore. Edith was a war worker at Singers factory in Frome which produced shells for warheads

Mendip Hunt tribute

The parade arrives at the war memorial

A time to reflect – riders gather in the pub car park PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

MEMBERS and followers of the Mendip Farmers’ Hunt held a two minute’s silence before their meeting at the Old Down Inn at Emborough.

The hunt met on the Saturday closest to Remembrance Sunday.

Jason and Alison Somerville with son William

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REMEMBRANCE DAY 2015

Max sets the standard

A pupil from St John’s First School waits her turn to lay a wreath

THE standard bearer for the Midsomer Norton and Radstock branch of the Royal British Legion has his sights set on a career as a medic in the Army.

Max Feeney, 18, took part in parades in both towns on Remembrance Day before attending a service in Paulton.

Max Feeney after the service of remembrance in Radstock

Burma veteran Ron Stone

Writhlington army cadets

Blagdon remembers

Paying respects: Buster the spaniel, with owner Kim Ball, wearing a poppy

THERE was a splendid turnout of rainbows, brownies and guides in Blagdon, where the girls joined a full church at St. Andrew’s.

Backwell pays tribute

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 67

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A successful year

DREAM Doors in Congresbury is celebrating another fantastic year. Colin and Camilla say they are delighted by the overwhelming success and positive response from customers all over North Somerset. You only have to look at the feedback on Checkatrade.com to see that their customers are happy.

Should you be looking to brighten up your kitchen in the New Year they can offer a solution for you, anything from a simple make-over with replacement made-to-measure doors and work tops right up to a complete new replacement kitchen.

They have over 1,000 door colour/style combinations to choose from and an extensive range of work surfaces such as wood, granite, laminate and solid surface along with top brand appliances, sinks and taps. They offer a free, no obligation quotation for a kitchen tailored to your individual requirements.

Quality fish and chips Sunday roasts Also at: 101E Bath Road, Longwell Green BS30 9DD. Tel: 0117 9325179 186 High Street, Oldland Common BS30 9QQ. Tel: 0117 9328120 CLOCK TOWER, 84 Regent Street, Kingswood BS15 8HU. Tel: 0117 9673292 We cater for all functions, Telephone orders welcome Monday to Saturday 11.30am – 10pm • Sunday 11.30am – 3pm carvery 4.30pm – 9.30pm Fish and Chips

Bringing the country to life this Christmas

WITH Christmas only just around the corner, Christmas shopping hotting up and the cold winter weather biting, it’s the perfect time to discover Tincknell’s Country Store in Congresbury.

Whether you’re after logs, coal or firelighters for the fire or even thinking of treating yourself to a new stove or maybe you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas for someone that has everything, everything except that is but a warm pair of wellies?

Perhaps Santa’s list is a bit more practical with a chainsaw for cutting firewood, or an absorbent Turtlemat doormat ready for Christmas guests visiting. Or are you planning to see the New Year in with a bang, remember, remember they sell fireworks!

And last but definitely not least, whilst you’re sitting down for Christmas dinner make sure the animals in the house have plenty of food to last them the Christmas break. Tincknell Country Store stock all of this and more. Merry Christmas from Nick, Steve and Phil at Tincknell Country Store Congresbury.

29th Christmas at Church House Designs

RENOWNED for its superb collection by leading British designer/makers, this Christmas Church House Designs will be offering, as always, a dazzling range of top quality gifts and presents.

Whether you are looking for a unique piece of jewellery, a hand-printed or hand-woven scarf, an original painting, sculpture, art print or photograph, Church House Designs is confident there will be something to appeal to your taste.

Now in their 29th year, they represent the work of over 200 artist/makers from across Britain and promote the highest quality studio ceramics, glass and wood-ware etc. by some of the country’s leading creative talents.

You can expect a warm welcome from proprietor Lorraine Coles and informed advice to help you buy that very special gift.

So avoid the big city hassle this Christmas and make shopping a real pleasure in Congresbury. And there’s easy parking too.

Church House Designs

Brinsea Road, Congresbury, BS49 5JG • 01934 834342

Gallery selected for quality by the Crafts Council of Great Britain Open Wednesday – Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 2pm (or by appointment) Broad Street, Congresbury, Bristol, North Somerset BS49 5DG • Telephone 01934 833660 • www.churchhousedesigns.co.uk PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

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FOCUS ON CONGRESBURY

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MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 69

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FOCUS ON CONGRESBURY

Elena wins gold

Elena Chapman, from Congresbury, was among hundreds of young achievers to receive her gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award from the duke himself at St. James’s Palace.

Elena, who attended Churchill Academy and Sixth Form, spent more than 12 months to achieve her award, with activities including a four-day expedition in Snowdonia, becoming a community resilience volunteer, bell-ringing at St Andrew’s Church in Congresbury and helping at an activity-based holiday camp for physically disabled adults.

Elena said: “The Duke of Edinburgh programme has been a rewarding, challenging and life-enhancing journey. At all levels, I tried to tackle something new, challenging myself to work outside my comfort zone and as a result I have developed my confidence and shown responsibility and leadership.”

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Keith and Sally Westlake PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Remembrance Day parade

Rainbows took part in the Remembrance Day parade

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EDUCATION

Celebrating a century

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Gardening, Yoga, Music & Dance, Cookery

ONE hundred years ago the first pupils walked into Pensford Primary School and recently the whole school celebrated their anniversary in style, dressing up as characters from the year 1915 until today. Children entertained visitors and many old pupils with various sketches, and also enjoyed a party with the visitors at the end of the afternoon.

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‘Believe and Achieve’

Reception pupils at Chilton Cantelo School's Remembrance service Speakers at the school's Remembrance service

OPEN MORNING Wednesday, 9th December 9.15 – 11am. If you are unable to attend on this date, please phone the school of#ice to make an appointment. We look forward to welcoming you.

8am DAILY BREAKFAST CLUB COFFEE MORNING in the Village Hall, all welcome, pre-school equipment available. Friday, 4th December, 8.50 – 11am

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 71

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Carnival is golden

SHEPTON Mallet Carnival celebrated its 50th anniversary in spectacular style with thousands of spectators lining the town’s streets.

Local club Shambles was taking part in carnival as a “feature” cart for the first time in 27 years with its Wonka entry.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people braved heavy rain to enjoy Midsomer Norton’s carnival procession, hailed as the largest community event in the Somer Valley; last year’s carnival raised almost £7,500 for local good causes and organisers were hoping to improve on the figure.

Members of the Centre School of Dance collecting in Shepton Mallet

Keykids Junior Carnival Club, from Glastonbury, with Clowns Party

Photography by Mark Adler

Pentathlon Carnival Club’s entry What Lies Beneath

Members of Midsomer Norton Methodist Church ran stalls to raise money for carnival causes in the town PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Sister Michael hits the streets of Shepton with his adaptation of a mobility scooter in the class for those with disabilities

Halloween, by Midsomer Norton-based Aliens Carnival Club

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SOMERSET CARNIVALS 2015

One of the cast of Monster Mash by the Temple Cloud-based 2Rs club

Vamparade by the Wells-based Cobra Carnival Club

Volunteers from the Friends of Silver Street help with the collections in Midsomer Norton

Coleford based Huckyduck Carnival Club wow the crowds with this year’s entry

The Shambles Carnival Club cart Wonka makes it way through the club’s home town

A scene from Victorian Christmas by Centurion Carnival Club

Luckington Carnival Club’s Jungle Rumble entry in Midsomer Norton MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 73

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MENDIP TIMES

Embracing ageing

IS it possible to age positively? Well yes it is, and plenty of people are doing it. For people over 65 in the UK, around 60% say that no illness limits their lifestyle. And beyond 65 we can expect to live in good health for around 60% of our remaining life.

Once you make it past 85, just about everyone

By Dr PHIL has some form of health problem, but only 20% HAMMOND require any professional care or support to live independently. Indeed, 80% of the over-80s rate their health and quality of life as good, very good or excellent. Contrary to popular belief, 84% of people over 80 do not develop dementia.

And it gets better. Compared with younger people, older people suffer less from depression, anxiety and drug abuse. They tend to experience fewer negative emotions and are better at dealing with them. As you get older, you learn what you enjoy and what works for you, and you become better at cutting out all the crap in your life.

What keeps you happiest when you get older is a circle of friends whose company you really enjoy.

One of the greatest benefits of getting older is having time to live in the moment and to enjoy the simple pleasures of every day, rather than to rush around doing stuff. We exist on this planet to love and be loved, but we need to take time to show and experience that love.

Human beings are the carers of everything, and having the time to care for pets, plants, the people we love and the planet around us can bring enormous rewards. Giving back to others is also extremely good for our own health. It gives more meaning and purpose to our lives.

We also tend to get wiser as we get older, more so if we take the time to reflect on our experiences and what life has thrown at us.

Thinking about the past often makes us more interested in the future.

Reviewing your life through old friendships and old photos can reignite remarkable memories. Not all memories are happy, but the human mind is very good at processing past events and forgiving our failures and the failings of others.

As a doctor, I often tell teenagers that as well as five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, they should have five portions of fun.

These should all be different, and at least one should be outdoors.

Many struggle to name five things they really enjoy, and too many are overburdened with the stress of exams and growing up in a very critical, constantly exposed world.

Older patients, however, usually tell me very easily what they enjoy in their lives. It's often the little things that matter most, the human connections and curiosities that have built up over a lifetime.

I recently interviewed an extraordinary woman called Margaret on my radio show. She had piercing blue eyes, a beautiful mind and a very active body. She taught Zumba to people in their 80s. “And how old are you?” I asked. “I’m 97,” she replied. “But I feel like a woman of 94.” “And what’s the secret of a long and healthy life?”

“I’ve always tried to enjoy what I do – and I was born before processed food.”

The secret of positive ageing applies to all stages of life. Getting to know yourself and to enjoy being on your own is vital but we also need to reach out and cultivate friendships to help us laugh at the absurdities and pick us up when we fall. Above all, we need to get stuck into life. It’s not death we should fear, but not living.

Dr Phil’s book, Staying Alive – How to Get the Best from the NHS – is out now.

PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Festive games

IN common with many other families we will enjoy playing some traditional games over the festive period.

Monopoly, chess, Trivial Pursuit, Bananagrams and card games are our favourites.

Granny is particularly fond of charades and even bought crackers last year which included a charade and kept us entertained at the table amidst the half-eaten mince pies and brandy cream. However, I have to admit that each year we resort to a few bespoke family games which I will take a few moments to share.

Chief cook and bottle washer is a game the whole family can enjoy together. Only one player can be chief cook and they spend a considerable amount of time slaving over a hot stove.

At the end of the meal another player (usually Mendip Dad) recognises the efforts of chief cook and names the other players the bottle washers. The bottle washers remain seated at the table until all conviviality has expired and tasks have been grudgingly allocated.

There are no winners in this game but you can play it for several hours. Each level of the game is complete when the kitchen is clean enough for chief cook to resume play.

Keep Granny out of the kitchen is an off-shoot of the game above. It is usually reserved for Christmas Day when Mendip Dad is chief cook. As Granny has spent well over half-a-century as chief cook and the kitchen is her traditional kingdom this game is a battle of wills.

Mendip Mum is allowed to play the role of kitchen assistant while the bottle washers have to distract Granny with their unsuitable Christmas presents. The winner is the player who best succeeds in keeping Granny out of the kitchen.

Is it fair? is a game for one player (usually Mendip Mum). Play commences at a late hour on Christmas Eve when all other tasks are complete and three children are safely tucked up waiting for Father Christmas to visit. To win the game each child must be allocated the exact same number of stocking fillers of equal value and appropriate to the child’s age. The game is lost the following morning if someone declares “it’s not fair”.

Hibernation is a game that teenagers usually win hands down. The aim of the game for one team is to spend as long as possible asleep. Points can also be won for the longest time spent indoors. Bonus points are awarded to players who spend the majority of the day in their pyjamas and dressing gowns. The opponent’s team can attempt to win back control by organising exhilarating country walks, exciting trips to visit relatives or just shouting up the stairs.

Festive greetings everyone!

MENDIP MUM

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HEALTH & FAMILY

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 75

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Page 76

Choose Balance in Timsbury

BALANCE lifestyle and Fitness is a personal training and fitness suite set in beautiful surroundings overlooking the beautiful Mendip countryside with private parking and reception area with herbal teas and free water.

There is a well-appointed changing room, shower and toilet with top quality products for showering, including Arbonne Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. They provide freshly laundered towels for showering and small sweat towels for when the work-out gets a little tough!

Their personal training is 1-2-1 or share with a friend if you prefer. It is totally private and tailored to the individual. So if the big corporate gyms put you off this is the place to go and train.

Sue is a qualified level 2 fitness instructor who will take you through a well-structured training programme that will get you “fit for life” – you can also choose the music you want to train to.

Balance also provides classes for those who would like to train with others. The classes are small; no more than seven to enable them to give one-to-one attention to make sure your work-out is fun but also constructive. All their trainers ensure that their clients are supported. As a trainer they like to ensure that all their clients get individual attention at all stages of their fitness programme.

They run regular classes – why not go along and try one. They have Pilates, yoga, kettercise, and early bird classes. If you are unsure and would like to go along for just a chat about how they may be able to help, make an appointment and they are happy to show you around and have an informal discussion.

PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

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Memory workshops can be fun

HEALTH & FAMILY

By Mark Adler

COFFEE, crafts and a chat. On the face of it, they hardly appear to be the most pioneering ways to help people suffering from dementia, but then sometimes even the simplest things can have a positive effect.

Which is one of the reasons why there is a lengthening waiting list to join regular memory sessions at the Heads Up charity centre on the edge of Wells.

Heads Up is a charity helping people with a range of mental health issues but referrals from GPs with patients suffering from dementia provide an increasingly large part of the team’s workload.

Memories Workshops – held on Wednesdays and Fridays – enable those

Kathleen – memories of her work as a typist are revived

Dougie, a retired supermarket manager, has always loved art but left his studio untouched after he was diagnosed with dementia. Now he sells his work to raise funds for the centre.

He said: “After I leave here I feel that I have gone up a level.”

living with dementia to spend time with others in a safe, nurturing environment, but also provide vital respite for carers and families. Activities range from a game of pool to arts and crafts and the occasional sing-song. There is always cheerful music playing in the background and dancing is encouraged!

The growth in demand for the services offered by Heads Up comes as organisations and businesses in Wells step up their efforts for the city to be recognised as Dementia Friendly.

Although the population is ageing, that in itself is not always a factor; the ages of clients at Heads Up range from people in their 30s to their 90s.

Clients attend the workshops from across Mendip. One testimonial reads: “It is a hard and cruel thing to see my dad going through Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, watching his lights

go out and slowly watching him sink away from us. This has had a profound effect on all the family.

“But then we discovered Heads Up, this amazing place … dad loves Heads Up so much that he remembers it and he looks forward to going every week.

“This is a huge thing that he can remember Heads Up as he sometimes struggles to remember his children.”

Janet Langan, who started as a volunteer at Heads Up after a 30-year career in health care and who is now a dementia supervisor, said: “There are not many facilities in the Wells area for people with dementia and their carers and the sessions here can make such a difference. We started with one worker and four clients; now we have 20 clients referred to us by their GPs and there are many more out there who we’d like to help.”

Heads Up will be holding a Christmas party on Thursday, December 17th for clients, families, carers and visitors. For information about the charity, visit: www.headsupsomerset.org

Single and looking for a social life . . . then join SPA

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For more informa on go to www.singleprofessionalassocia on.co.uk email: wellsandmendip@yahoo.co.uk Or contact Anne – 01934 743139 Jackie – 01458 840958

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 77

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MENDIP TIMES

Club celebrates 90th anniversary

(l:r) Anne McKenna, Rotarian Doug Gilmour, club president Patrick Cusworth, Marie Cusworth and Rotarian Margaret Gilmour

FROME Rotary Club kicked off celebrations for its 90th birthday by having a “one night only” exhibition in Frome Museum.

The inaugural meeting of the club was held in the George Hotel in Frome in July 1925 and the minutes show a resolution was passed to form a club as part of Rotary International. They were duly awarded their charter by Rotary International of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on February 5th, 1926.

President Patrick Cusworth said: “This was a unique opportunity for our members and their families and friends to look at some of the fascinating documents and photos we have of our history over the last 90 years.”

G The club has won the annual Rotary District Outdoor Bowls Championship for the second time. The Frome team are only in their third year of playing in the competition which has been going since 1924.

Couple rewarded

BINEGAR Welcome Club congratulated Grenville and Molly Reakes, who have received community service awards from Somerset County Council.

Molly addressed the group and gave details of the voluntary work that she and Grenville are involved with.

Grenville has been a church warden for 60 years and Molly 26 years. Molly also assists her community by collecting prescriptions. The group gave rapturous applause and congratulated them both.

PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Litter picking in Paulton

TEN volunteers turned up to help pick up litter in the lanes and roads around Paulton, organised by Pam Leah, who said there seemed to be a decrease in the amount of litter – they only collected 25 sacks!

This included some white drawers, lorry debris, clothing and fast food wrappings and loads of aluminium drinks cans that had been thrown in the hedges as well as an alarming number of wine and spirit bottles.

Disappointingly, some prankster had taken bottles from the Radford Farm recycling bins and thrown them in the brook opposite.

Pam said: “One lady stopped to ask if we were being paid which amused us!”

Details: Paulton Parish Council 01761 413644

Help for refugees

With the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe, Bath and North East Somerset Council has approached central government and expressed a willingness to welcome and support Syrian refugees in the area.

It is thought that some of these refugees may be unaccompanied children, who may need to be fostered locally.

The council is now working with Home for Good, a national charity that encourages and supports the process of adoption and fostering across the UK by families from church communities. Home for Good has now set up a local movement in the Bath area, under the auspices of the Genesis Trust.

The charity and the council have received a number of offers from people across the Bath and North East Somerset area who have expressed an interest in housing Syrian refugee children.

Councillor Michael Evans, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “It must be stressed that, unlike the evacuation of children from cities during World War II, those willing to provide a home to unaccompanied Syrian refugee children will need to become approved foster carers and any placement would have to be matched to the specific needs of the child.

“It is critically important that we get this right for each child given the trauma that they will have experienced. Full safeguarding procedures will be followed.”

Details: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/childrenyoung-people-and-families/adoption-and-fostering or for Home for Good email batharea@homeforgood.org.uk or telephone 01225 421712.

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Peasedown party’s support

COMMUNITY

Lighting up St Nicholas churchyard

Moths to the flame in Radstock

A COMMUNITY worker in Peasedown St John, who has spent the last three years helping some of the younger and more vulnerable members of the community, has received a grant in support of his work.

Andy Stockinger, from St John’s Church, has been awarded £500 from the Party in the Park Grant Fund – which was set up five years ago to support community initiatives in the village, distributing £7,000 since then.

Peasedown Party in the Park festival team members Nathan Hartley and Karen Walker visited the village’s new credit union – which has been set up by Andy to provide a safer alternative to pay day loan sharks.

Nathan, the innovator behind Party in the Park seven years ago, and the festival team’s chairman, said: “When the festival team decided to launch our very own grant fund in 2009 we did so on the premise that the funding could go directly to supporting Peasedown projects that make a difference in people’s lives.

“This is exactly why we decided to fund Andy Stockinger’s work. He is someone who goes out of his way to help others.

Since 2012 he has volunteered at Peasedown Youth Centre, set up a breakfast club for primary school children, ran school holiday clubs, mentored young people who need extra support, and founded this brand new credit union for the community.”

Peasedown’s Credit Union, which is a branch of Somerset Savings and Loans, is open every Wednesday afternoon from 1pm-3pm at St John’s Church, Church Road.

Details: 01275 390650 or www.peasedownpartyinthepark.org.uk

Community support

AVON and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, Sue Mountstevens, is inviting applications to her Community Action Fund, which has awarded over £500,000 to 150 local projects and community initiatives since she started it three years ago.

It offers grants of up to £5,000 and is due to close shortly, before the May 2016 election for police commissioner.

Details: www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk

MORE than 1,000 people participated in Light the Night – a week-long arts project in the Radstock area.

Children and parents joined the DNA community arts project for two days of lantern making, working with professional artists to create an array of moth-inspired lanterns. Community groups and local schools in Radstock and the surrounding area also made lanterns in the lead-up to a parade on Halloween.

The parade itself attracted more than 200 people and 70 lanterns from Whisty Hall to St Nicholas Church accompanied by a small strolling band with performances from Desperate Men and Susan Hill School of Dance at Radstock’s war memorial along the way. Illuminated umbrellas supplied by Cirque Bijou made a real impact on the dark evening.

Phillippa Haynes, Project Director of DNA arts, said: “Light the Night will go down as a great moment in time in Radstock, it was a truly special event that brought together a diverse range of people from the community.

“We would like to thank St Nicholas Church for working with us on the project, it is a beautiful space at the heart of the community and the event couldn’t have happened without their co-operation or the amazing hard work of our fantastic young local production team Chloe Edgell, Amber Morrish and Niamh Pease.”

G DNA arts will be producing and delivering more community arts projects and events in Radstock over the coming year.

Clutton’s vision for the future

BATH & North East Somerset Council has approved some of its first neighbourhood development plans, including one for Clutton. The plans have been drawn up by parish councils together with local residents.

Cllr Liz Richardson, the council’s cabinet member for homes and planning, said the plans will help the council determine future planning applications.

A referendum in Clutton had 96 percent voting in favour of the plan, with a turnout of 31 percent. The Clutton Neighbourhood Plan aims to maintain and protect the tranquil and rural nature of the parish.

Its vision is: to ensure the parish benefits from well-designed new housing that reflects local need; to encourage growth of new businesses and home working by encouraging the installation of high speed broadband and siting industry near good road access; to protect locally important green spaces; and to designate important landmark structures as ‘assets of community value’.

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 79

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Concert for Children in Need Books at bedtime

STON Easton Village Hall, liberally adorned with images of Pudsey on bunting and balloons, was filled to capacity for a fundraising concert organised by Village Voices Community Choir in aid of Children in Need. The choir was formed in 2010 and has since been involved with a number of charitable events although this was their most ambitious yet.

Poppy appeal

PEOPLE in the parish of Bishop Sutton, Stowey and surrounding area really pulled out the stops this year as they gave a magnificent amount of £2,286.50 to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. This included £301 collected at a coffee morning, plus donations and also house to house collections.

PAGE 80 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

CHILDREN at Cameley Primary School went back to school after lessons one evening, dressed in their pyjamas for a bedtime story. The children listened to a selection of stories read to them by their class teachers and enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate.

Permanent memorial

A NEW memorial stone has been placed in Banwell churchyard as a permanent place for those who wish to place remembrance crosses and poppies as a tribute to family, friends and all those who have died in war and conflict.

A service of remembrance was held by the memorial on November 11th at 11am when the memorial was also dedicated.

The stone was commissioned by the trustees of the Kathleen Jones Family Trust. Mr Jack Jones, who recently passed away, was the benefactor of the trust and was an exserviceman and supporter of the Banwell branch of the Royal British Legion.

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COMMUNITY

Super heroes

Made in Glastonbury

Artists at the Abbey

WORK by a collective of six Glastonbury artists inspired by their unique environment is on show at Glastonbury Abbey.

Made in Glastonbury - Art, Craft and Images from the Isle of Avalon features work by a group of makers all living and working in the town, who first teamed up in 2007.

Their main purpose is to exhibit together in venues around Somerset. They are all inspired by the beauty and essence of their surroundings, a fact clearly reflected in this varied exhibition.

G The exhibition runs daily until the end of January. Normal admission applies.

Gracie and Stanley

BISHOP Sutton Primary School children turned out in force for Children in Need, dressing up as their super heroes for the day, and raising £154.85 for the charity.

Margaret’s award

CHEWTON Mendip and Litton Branch of the Royal British Legion honoured some of its long-serving poppy appeal volunteers at its annual poppy launch supper.

Chairman Paul Lane is pictured awarding a 45-year bar to Margaret Green to add to her long service brooch. Paul also invested John Fish as the branch’s new president. John had been chairman for 13 years.

New benches are sheer poetry!

John Payne takes his ease on the bench featuring his poem

A COMMUNITY space in Frome is celebrating the unveiling of two new solid oak benches carved with “slogans”. Frome Town Council held a competition earlier this year, asking people to dream up slogans of up to 40 characters in length that could be carved onto the benches at Rodden Meadow.

Peter Macfadyen, who was mayor at the time, was asked to judge entries which would have the best longevity and be meaningful to anyone choosing to visit the site.

The two winners were John Payne for “Stay a while, Play a While” and Tim O’Connor for “Sit and watch the world go by”.

The lettering was carved into the benches by Frome’s Charlie Oldham.

Deputy Mayor, Alison Barclay, said: “These benches are a beautiful addition to the meadow and a great example of members of the community coming together on a lovely project that benefits everyone.”

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 81

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Marchants Hill, Gurney Slade BA3 4TY Call: 01749 841051 Mob: 07778 465520 Email: sales@caravanrepairs-sw.co.uk PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Seeking the good life comes at a price

PROPERTY prices in the South West could rise by as much as 22% in the next five years, according to the latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which is forecasting rises of four per cent a year.

It says rising property prices in the Home Counties might be having a knock-on effect in the South West, encouraging “urbanites” to downsize into the region’s smallholdings, which have become very much in demand, after failing to sell previously.

It says house prices have risen across all parts of the UK for the third consecutive month, with 39% more chartered surveyors seeing house prices rise across the South West, compared to a balance of 38% more reporting an increase in September.

East Anglia has become a new “property hot spot” and has consistently seen the fastest rises over the last three months; and 91% more chartered surveyors reported seeing a rise rather than fall in prices in October Contributing to the rise in prices across the country, demand from potential buyers grew across the UK in October with 12% more respondents seeing a rise in buyer interest as opposed to a fall. Demand continues to considerably outpace supply and the number of new instructions decreased for the ninth month in succession, with 10% more chartered surveyors reporting a fall.

Despite the lack of new stock to the market, RICS says sales activity is relatively healthy and following a small pick-up in agreed sales in September, activity was hardly changed this month across the UK. Roger Punch, residential spokesman for the South West at RICS, said: “We are continuing to see modest price rises this year in the South West. However, London continues to experience the highest price rises.

“The greatest problem within the market over some parts of the South West is a lack of stock, which is often causing buyers to compete, resulting in the inevitable climb in achievable prices. The lack of new building is also combining with the shortage caused by would-be sellers staying put through the lack of available alternatives.

“The ‘Good Life’ effect, drawing urbanites to ’downshift’ while also benefiting from a slower pace of life and a more attractive environment, remains a contributory factor to the prevailing demand levels.”

In the UK lettings market, demand is also continuing to outpace supply in the three months to October. This has been the trend nationally for some time, with the growth in demand outstripping that of supply since 2009.

Unsurprisingly, rental expectations remain strong and respondents continue to expect rents to rise over the year ahead to an average of just around 5% per year over the coming five years at a national level, with similar growth projected in the South West.

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PROPERTY

Have you considered selling your property by auction?

SELLING by auction can be a quick and decisive method of sale and is particularly suited to selling unusual properties or those that are likely to meet keen demand. Auctions create a great sense of anticipation and excitement and this can lead to the best price being achieved.

A key advantage of auction is that a legally binding contract is formed on the fall of the hammer with contracts, in effect, exchanged immediately following the auction. Selling by private treaty can Prospect House sold at auction by Killens earlier this year sometimes be fraught with delays and potential buyers. possible downward negotiations but and the pressures that can arise.

Whilst selling by auction may not suit selling by auction removes this possibility Auction offers certainty with a definite every property, it can be a method of sale timescale to work to with a completion date usually set for 28 days after the worthy of consideration. The buzz created auction. If you are anxious to sell then in the auction room with eager purchasers this method of sale may be for you. bidding against each other can certainly Experienced agents who are able to deliver the best results. offer properties by auction as well as by Killens are seeking properties of all private treaty, such as Killens, offer a kinds for their future auctions. Contact Tom Killen or Jake Smith on 01749 comprehensive auction service that 671172 to find out details of the ensures your property gains wide professional and comprehensive service exposure in the market with intensive that they offer and for a free appraisal of advertising and sale particulars being your property. distributed to a large mailing list of

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A tricycle for Seth

YEO Valley Lions Club has helped to purchase a specially adapted tricycle for a family living in Blagdon.

The family’s eight-year-old son, Seth, has Downs Syndrome and speech, hearing and vision impairment. His parents wanted to provide him with additional stimulation and enjoyment as well as being able to take part in outside activities with his friends.

The adapted trike was made to order by a firm in Gloucester. The Lions club provided transport for the family to travel to the factory so that Seth could be introduced to the trike.

The necessary final adjustments were made with Seth in the saddle and mum and dad were given instruction on the use of the special controls.

They say Seth’s obvious pleasure in riding his new trike was a joy to see and there is no doubt that he will get many hours of fun and exercise in the years to come.

Aid for Middle East

HAZLEGROVE Prep School in Sparkford, raised £1,794 in four weeks with cake sales, toy sales, and donations for Samara’s Aid Appeal, a charity which specialises in sending humanitarian aid to the Middle East.

Those pictured with the cheque are (left to right) Rachel Stocker, Lucy Farmbrough, Hannah Edgar, Sally Chamberlain, SJ Sedwill, Rosie Whitaker, Fiona de Pelet, Camilla Wootton, Susannah Rusinov, Gigi McCosker, Jane Millard, Carlie PretorPinney, Lucinda Hand, Susan Schultz, Tamsin Bruce-Gardyne, Alex Jenson, Katherine Macdonald, Bethany Palmer.

PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Chairman thanked

JOHN Keep, the outgoing chairman of the charity IT Help at Home, pictured with his wife Eleanor, was presented with an engraved tankard on his retirement by the new chairman Barry Garlick at the AGM held at the Cross Keys, Lydford Cross.

Barry Garlick praised his predecessor’s efforts and commitment to the charity and thanked him for his many years of work ITHelp@Home is a registered charity based in the Mendip and South Somerset area, working with the housebound, carers and the elderly to use IT in the home. It provides one-to-one tuition free of charge to anyone who cannot benefit from public courses.

Details: ITHelp@Home

Group seeks support

LANGPORT and District Red Cross volunteers received long service awards at their recent meeting.

Pictured (back row left to right) are Eddie Robinson, treasurer, ten years, Jill Lock, secretary, 20, Chris Cox, group leader, 20, Philip Rowe, Somerset president, Cheryl Murray, chair of volunteer council; front row (left to right) John Sharp, ten, Kathy Dyke, ten, Sally Tomsett, five, and Sadie Berners, outstanding first aid service. The group badly needs a few more volunteers to help at their morning openings at Langport Centre, serving refreshments and selling bric-a-brac.

Details: Chris Cox 01458 273085 or cox.cj@btinternet.com

(Photo courtesy of Bev Sugden)

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Help for young homeless

LOCAL charity Youth With a Future (YWAF) is organising its second Christmas appeal to help support young people aged 16-25 living in the Mendip area who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Following the charity’s first appeal last year, the kind people of the Mendip area donated over £1,600.

YWAF primarily works alongside Mendip YMCA in several ways, such as providing a moving-in grant of up to £80 for each young person moving into rooms in the YMCA supported housing schemes or their own privately-rented flats to buy essentials such as cooking equipment, bedding and crockery.

These items are their own to take with them when they move into more permanent accommodation later on.

In addition to the moving-in grants, YWAF also ensures that each of these young people receives a Christmas gift. Christmas hampers are also made up for sharing in each of the supported housing schemes in Frome, Shepton Mallet, Wells and the newlyopening Foyer in Street.

YWAF also gives grants to young people and youth groups across the Mendip area who need extra support with education, training and employment and positive activities.

Details: www.ywaf.org.uk

Lions roaming Cheddar

CHARITIES

Celebrating 250 years

FREEMASONS celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Holy Royal Arch in Somerset at a convocation at the Webbington Hotel, at which wives, partners and guests were welcome.

They also presented a cheque for £1,000 to their chosen charity The Somerset Visually Impaired Cricket Club.

Dancing for charity

CHEDDAR Vale Lions Club members will be out and about this month selling Christmas raffle tickets in aid of their defibrillator fund, hoping to plug some of the gaps in the network of defibrillators in the Cheddar Valley. Their Tree of Light dedication service takes place at the Bath Arms in Cheddar on Thursday, December 3rd at 6.30pm. They will also be taking part in Cheddar Festive Night on December 4th.

Details: www.cheddarvalelions.org.uk

Lifeboat appeal buoyed by ball

(Photo courtesy of Mike Lang)

St Peter's Hospice nurse Debbie Pringle, actress Sunetra Sarker and Amanda Jane Palmer

(l:r) Lyndon Baker, main organiser Lesley-Ruth Hart – a probationary crew member – and station chairman Ashley Edwards

A £41,000 appeal to buy a replacement lifeboat for Burnhamon-Sea RNLI station has been boosted by a grand ball which raised £6,000.

More than 300 guests enjoyed the event at the Batch Country Hotel in Lympsham. The station must replace its present D class lifeboat Puffin next spring.

THE 2016 St Peter’s Hospice Strictly Come Dancing competition has been launched by TV star Sunetra Sarker.

The charity competition will see 12 couples receive nine weeks of free professional dance training before putting on their dancing shoes for a live grand finale performance on Sunday, March 6th.

Sunetra said: “I’m thrilled to be able to launch the 2016 St Peter’s Hospice Strictly Come Dancing competition! I was lucky enough to visit the hospice earlier this year and I saw first-hand what truly amazing and inspirational work they do as a charity.”

To sign up couples must pay a £30 entry fee and raise a minimum of £500 sponsorship between them.

Details: Maria 01275 391428 or email maria.moonpark@stpetershospice.org

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 85

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Zombies on the road again SHOPPERS and tourists in Glastonbury High Street found themselves under attack from another invasion of Zombies when the annual gathering in aid of local charity Martha Care Trust took place in the town.

Jon Cousins, the deputy mayor of Glastonbury, unleashes the Zombies

The annual Zombie event is now a habit in the town

Cat in a hat and a cappuccino, anyone?

A helping hand for charity: the walk raised more than £300 for Martha Care Trust

Lots of latex

Hitching a ride

PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Town crier David Greenway fights off some young attackers

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Return to Africa

JACKIE Laws, from Westbury-sub-Mendip has returned from her second trip to Ethiopia to see the work of local charity Send-aCow which helps farmers produce food all-year round.

Jackie visited for the first time two years ago and the latest trip – which was selffunded – gave her the opportunity to see how the work has advanced around new communities and changing situations.

Jackie and friend in Ethiopia Jackie said: “Ethiopia is not about cows, it’s about listening, building confidence and training and the starting point is always ‘what do you have, not what do you want?’”

Training is given by Ethiopian staff who work with especially poor, vulnerable and marginalised people.

Send a Cow has obtained matchfunding where all funds raised from UK supporters will be matched pound for pound by the government until the end of the year.

For details visit: www.sendacow.org Jackie is available to speak to schools and local groups and can be contacted on: jackie.laws@btinternet.com

Golf day for hospice

CHARITIES

Beating Weston’s mud to launch lifeboat

THE lifeboat crew in Weston-super-Mare have found a new way to beat the resort’s notorious mud – it’s the Helgeth-Hagglund BV206.

This tracked vehicle, costing £160,000, was originally developed for the Swedish army. Since then it has been used by the British Army amongst many other military forces. There are 11,000 in use in 30 counties around the world.

Thanks to its lighter footprint on the ground and the powered carriage, it can travel over the mud – it is so light that its footprint (1.8psi) is less than a quarter of a human being (8psi).

Instead of having to move the Weston lifeboat round to deeper water to launch, the crews can leave Knightstone Harbour and go straight over the mud to the sea at nearly all states of the tide.

Richard Spindler, deputy launching authority said: “This vehicle will save lives due to the increased speed we can get to the water. It also offers more protection for the crew.”

Holistic treatment

THIS year’s golf day organised by the Rotary Club of Glastonbury and Street at Wells Golf Club raised £3,600 for Children’s Hospice South West.

Club president Paul Lambert (pictured) was accompanied by other members of the club when he visited the charity’s hospice at Charlton Farm, Wraxall, to present a cheque to Kylie Gallagher.

AT Clover House in Saltford they believe there’s no such thing as a problem child. For over 18 years, the charity has been welcoming kids with a variety of issues, ranging from ADHD to trauma, including bedwetting and bullying, glue ear and irritable bowel syndrome, and claim an astounding 75% success rate.

Now founder Jill Gill and the team have produced a book, Kids in Clover, about their holistic treatment techniques.

It describes each of the 28 conditions treated, with client case studies documenting how nutrition, massage and imagery are used in treating children.

There are also parents’ letters in the book, reporting how just three visits to Clover House have transformed their child, and consequently their lives.

The book can be obtained through Amazon directly or by telephoning or emailing Clover House.

Details: 01225 344047 info@cloverhouse.org www.cloverhouse.org

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 87

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Puxton’s poppy

PUXTON Park tourist attraction in Weston-super-Mare has auctioned a giant red glass poppy to commemorate Armistice Day. It was commissioned by the park from Bristol Blue Glass and sold at a silent auction to local estate agent David Plaister, raising funds for the Royal British Legion.

He’s pictured (centre) with Alistair and Derek Mead from the park.

Bring and buy has added meaning in Frome

Club president Dot Cretney (centre) with Rotarians Chris Page and Norman Sellar

FROME Rotary Club has again opened a charity “pop-up” shop in the town in the run-up to Christmas.

But not only are Rotarians, who run the shop, appealing for customers – they want donations as well.

All the proceeds raised from sales at the shop in the Westway Precinct will go to Rotary charities. As well as encouraging shoppers, the team welcomes donations of good quality goods, from bric-a-brac and clothes to seasonal items and toys.

The shop is open from 9.30am-4.30pm from Monday to Saturday and will also open on Sunday, December 6th to coincide with the Frome Independent market.

PAGE 88 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Expert volunteer

SOMERSET Sight, which provides support and advice to sight impaired people across Somerset, has a new volunteer and trustee.

Zdenek Gregor (pictured right) is a recently retired eye surgeon with 40 years’ experience at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. He attended a meeting of volunteers in Coxley near Wells to talk about his work.

Key to a new life

SOMERSETbased Charity, Key4Life, has celebrated huge success with its first preventative pilot programme at a graduation event held in the council chamber at Mendip District Council.

It works with young men in prison and those at risk of going to prison and helped 90 percent of those on its first programme into work.

Founder and chief executive, Eva Hamiliton, said: “We have seen significant change in these damaged young men who all carry complex family and emotional issues. Our model has paid huge dividends with 90% into work.

Key4Life has been instrumental in building emotional resilience and employability skills that is the key to underpinning their long-term success.”

She’s pictured at the graduation ceremony with Stuart Brown, chief executive of Mendip, James Lucas, governor of HMP Portland, Glastonbury festival founder Michael Eavis and other guests.

Details: www.key4life.org.uk

Walk of life

THE Forever Friends Appeal’s Walk of Life, which supports cancer care at Bath’s RUH, is about to celebrate a milestone ten-year anniversary and will take place on Saturday May 14th, with a choice of walks along the Kennet and Avon canal.

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CHARITIES

Rotary’s action men

Raising funds at the top of the world

TWO Rotarians from the Chelwood Bridge club faced challenges to raise money for two different charities.

First Rob Taylor walked on fire at the Druids Arms, Stanton Drew with eight other locals to raise over £1,500 for Little Heroes, a charity that supports child cancer victims and their families.

The following day Jim Farmer undertook a tandem skydive at Dunkeswell Airfield near Exeter in aid of Rotary’s World WaterWorks charity.

THESE 17 trekkers raised £30,000 for The Forever Friends Appeal’s RUH Cancer Care Campaign with a five-day trek through the Himalayas.

The trekking team, of which four are staff at the hospital, included Gisela Barcat-Angelelli, Katrina Bride, Becky Brooks, Diana Dixon, Christina Ferreira, Lindsey Hobbs, Ines Martins, Ashley Nesbitt, Victoria Owen, Helen Pyne, Fiona Ryall, Sandra Sach, Debbie Saffin, Surrinder Sandham-Bains, Tim Shire, Frankie Simpkins and Kirsty Thompson.

The RUH Cancer Care Campaign is raising £8.5 million towards a pioneering cancer centre at the hospital. With the success of the India Trek, the Forever Friends Appeal are now looking for another group of adventurous fundraisers to take part in Trek Cambodia 2016 – a 95km trek to the top of the sacred Kulen Mountain and to explore the jewel in Cambodia’s crown, Angkor Wat. An Information Evening will be held at the hospital on Thursday January 28th.

Thousands raised by festival run

Children’s Hospice South West is the run’s principal charity

THIS year’s Festival Run around the site of the Glastonbury Festival at Pilton has raised £9,000 for its two designated charities and thousands more for other causes chosen by individual runners.

Children’s Hospice South West will receive £7,500 with the remainder going to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

Around 700

runners of all ages took part in the event.

Christopher Bond, one of the organisers, said: “For the first time we have raised enough sponsorship from local businesses to cover the run expenses so that runners' entry fees can all go to charity.”

Legion fundraiser

A HALLOWEEN dinner and dance at the Wellsway in West Harptree, raised £3,500 for the Royal British Legion, as well as supporting local entrants in the legion’s Pedal to Paris fundraiser next year.

Three local men, Simon Rose, Martin Baker and Greg Newman will be training hard over the next few months to take part.

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 89

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Small can be beautiful

Norton Malreward’s winning team (l:r) Geoff Thomas, churchwarden; Revd Charles Roberts, Rector; Margaret Masding, lay reader and mastermind of the project; Michael James, designer and member of the team

HOLY Trinity Church at Norton Malreward has been named as the winner of Somerset Churches Trust’s prestigious £5,000 Playfair Prize.

The Playfair Prize is awarded for encouraging change and renewal and for enabling church buildings to play a fuller part in their community. A total of 24 churches and chapels from all over Somerset entered, before judges drew up a shortlist of six finalists.

The team at Grade II listed Holy Trinity had a £25,000 budget to open up the south aisle, moving the organ to create space for a servery and disabled toilet and install an audio/visual system.

The judging panel included Lord Carey (former Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Bath and Wells), John Goodall (architecture editor of Country Life), Alison Pollard (National Churches Trust) and Julian Orbach (Pevsner historian and writer) who was chairman. He said: “All six shortlisted candidates were inspirational and it was a hard task to narrow them down. The judges in the end settled on the one where much was achieved with very little, because we should care very much 'de minimis' and if the smallest of congregations can be encouraged by example, the Playfair Prize will have achieved much. The prize therefore goes to Holy Trinity Norton Malreward.”

Lay Reader at Holy Trinity, Margaret Masding, who oversaw the project, said: “I am totally amazed. I thought we would be too small to win! It was a team effort and we are thrilled and encouraged.”

The six finalists were St Cuthbert’s, Wells; St Peter’s, Evercreech; St Andrew’s Blagdon; All Saints, West Camel; St Luke’s, Bath and Holy Trinity, Norton Malreward.

Speaking after the presentation ceremony at Wells Town Hall, Lord Carey said: "Holy Trinity Malreward, the winner of the 2015 Playfield Prize, is an inspiring example of what a tiny country church can achieve! The imaginative development is a marvellous example of the work of the Somerset Churches Trust and Lord Carey, one of the judges, its contribution to the mission speaking to guests at the prize giving of the Church.”

PAGE 90 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

The sound of silence

NEWS

THIS was the scene at Sainsbury’s in Frome at 11am on Armistice Day – just one of many places across Mendip which marked Armistice Day with two minutes’ silence.

Members of the town’s Royal British Legion were joined by staff and customers – including two serving members of the Grenadier Guards, based in Aldershot, but training at Warminster – who paid their respects.

Blagdon playtime

BLAGDON Primary School’s play project has new equipment, thanks to the Bristol charity Children's Scrapstore, which collects scrap from far and wide to fill their PlayPods.

From giant flexible tubes to old tyres, netting and fabric to old telephones and chairs, the charity creates objects for creative play.

Andy Rhys-Jones, from Blagdon Primary School, said: "Playing is the most important activity children can do. Play teaches them so many skills they will rely on for their whole life including problem solving, co-operation, conflict resolution and creativity."

Details: www.blagdonprimaryschool.com www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk www.childrensscrapstore.co.uk

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HISTORY

Nunney in the First World War

HISTORIAN Steve Thomas is appealing for help in his efforts to research the lives of people from Nunney who served in the First World War. For the past year, Steve has been working on an exhibition about the men whose names are listed on the village war memorial. A display has been on show in the village church where special evensong services are held as close as possible to the day of their deaths.

The memorial lists 17 men who were killed in WWI and a further two who fell in WWII. Amongst those was Steve’s uncle, Sergeant Fred Coleman, who died in 1944 and who inspired Steven to begin his research.

Steve was helped initially by friend and fellow historian Dave Adams, who passed away. Steve said: “My efforts

Steven in All Saints church in Nunney

now are on finding out about the lives of servicemen who survived the war and that’s proving harder than it might seem. I could really do with some help.

Steve can be contacted on: 01373 836843

“Ideally, I’d like to create some sort of permanent display and I’d also like to see the names of men from nearby Holwell added to the memorial.”

Teaching pioneer remembered FAMILY and friends gathered in Frome for the unveiling of a plaque in memory of a woman whose teaching methods changed the lives of impoverished children in the East End of London.

It was the latest in a series of similar tributes

by The Frome Society for Local Study across Frome to people from the town who have had an impact on society.

Tim Grant, a third cousin of Clara, Clara Grant was born travelled from Surrey for the in 1867 in ceremony Chapmanslade and her family moved to 6, North Parade in Frome when she was eight years old. She trained to become a teacher in Salisbury before moving to Bow in East London in the 1890s where she became head of the infants’ school in Devons Road in 1900. She immediately instituted a series of changes that improved the lives of the children, including revising classroom techniques, providing hot breakfasts for the children, supplying them with clothes and shoes and creating and distributing “farthing bundles”. These provided children with toys of their own at minimal cost such as whistles, dolls and marbles. Eventually she

Lleyton and Holly, two pupils from Chapmanslade village school, with guests at the unveiling of the plaque

became known as the “Bundle Woman of Bow”.

Clara also founded the Fern Street Settlement for mothers to meet and discuss their problems; it still serves as a local community centre. The school where she taught was renamed the Clara Grant Primary School in 1993.

Clara was made OBE in 1949 shortly before she died.

The plaque has been installed on the wall of 6, North Parade where relatives of Clara, members of the society and David Warburton, MP for Somerton and Frome gathered for a short ceremony.

Mr Warburton praised the work of the society, adding: “This is really something special for Frome.”

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 91

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New carpet showroom in Weston TREVOR Smith Carpets and Flooring has opened up a new showroom in Oldmixon Crescent, Weston to offer an extended product range to domestic and commercial customers across the area. As a company trading since 1984, focussed on delivering excellent customer service with traditional values, Which?

Magazine awarded Trevor Smith Carpets and Flooring their Trusted Trader* accreditation earlier this year.

Following this accolade, Trevor and Johanna Smith felt it was time to expand their business by opening a showroom that includes a trade counter for local flooring companies to order and collect goods.

HOMES & INTERIORS

Trevor said: “We’ve been in business for over 30 years and have always put our customers first, making sure they get what they want and are happy with the service we offer – that’s what our reputation has been built on.”

Over the years Trevor has acquired a vast amount of experience installing various flooring from carpets, luxury vinyl tiles to laminate and solid and engineered wood. Trevor is also the only NICF Master Fitter in the area and his technical knowledge and customer focussed attitude has always been important when delivering the @Home Service and this personal service will continue.

Officially opened by Councillor Raymond Armstrong, the mayor of Weston-super-Mare and Mrs Joan Dunne, the mayoress, the showroom provides the perfect outlet for prospective customers to see the wide range of carpets and flooring available from Trevor Smith Carpets and Flooring. In his speech, the mayor congratulated Trevor and Johanna on the showroom and the extensive range and variety of carpets and flooring available and he also acknowledged how pleasing it was to see a local business expanding. The new showroom opens six days per week allowing customers to choose from a comprehensive range of carpeting and flooring, which Trevor and his highly experienced team can install, with no hidden costs.

Trevor Smith Carpets and Flooring have always gone above and beyond for their customers and will continue to do so, but now they have a large showroom, which makes the customer experience even better.

RH

Windows

Would like to wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Full range of floor coverings available, Carpets from £5.99 per square metre Vinyl • Carpet • Luxury Vinyl Tiles • Laminate • Wood Independent flooring experts established for over 30 years Visit our new Showroom

PAGE 92 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMER 2015

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JACKSONS

Jacksons Fencing – news, topical treats and more . . .

How can a fence change your life?

The Jakoustic fencing makes an attractive timber backdrop in the gorgeous Mediterranean Memories

by Sally Perigo (one of the winning Jacksons show gardens, see more about this and products used in the garden online at www.jacksonsfencing.co.uk/bathlocal).

BACK in 2005 I visited a lady who had installed a new type of fencing in her garden, that she said had changed her life.

That’s quite a claim, how could a fence make such a difference to someone’s life?

Tracking back to before this happened, Mrs Young visited Jacksons Fencing. She was an existing customer of Jacksons and was desperate to find a solution to a problem; 30 years previously when she and her husband had moved into their house, it was a quiet rural area. Over time, a nearby road had become increasingly busy, traffic flow and speed had intensified to the extent it was no longer possible to enjoy time in their garden. The Youngs were considering moving house, but really didn’t want to, they were very happy there apart from the noise of traffic becoming too loud to bear.

Another option was to possibly install a second fence line at the foot of their garden, and maybe even put an acoustic infill material in the gap between the two fences. This is why Mrs Young called in to Jacksons, to pick up the latest Good Fencing Guide with the thought of getting a second fence.

Well imagine her delight when she discovered she wasn’t the only person wondering how to dampen problem noise by using a fence? Jacksons had just

developed Jakoustic. Traditionally used as a motorway fencing system, acoustic barriers had been adapted for use in a residential setting. Constructed from heavy-duty timber posts and panels made from thick tongue and groove style boards, Jakoustic has the appearance of any solid timber garden fence, and of course has the Jacksons unique 25-year Jakcure guarantee. This was the answer to Mrs Young’s prayers.

Once it was installed, they were overjoyed at the difference it made to the sound levels in their garden and they told me when I called in, “now the traffic noise is on the road and not in the garden!”

The Youngs also mentioned their friends and family have been very impressed at

how good the fence looks and that it is now once again possible to hold a normal conversation in the garden. There’s also no need to move from a house and area that they love, so this could be considered a very happy ending.

Now that’s how a fence can change a life. louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk Please go to www.jacksonsfencing.co.uk/bathlocal to find links to Jacksons acoustic barrier information.

Please note, we always recommend you have a survey carried out by an independent acoustic engineer to ensure an acoustic barrier is the correct solution for you.

W I N A J A C K S O N S G A R D E N G AT E S E T . . .

Enter the free prize draw and be in with a chance to win one of our garden gate sets. We have 15 different styles and various sizes – the gate sets come complete with posts and everything you need to hang the gate.

They make having a new gate beautifully simple and straightforward, and they are all guaranteed for 25 years too! Simply log on to your local page, address below and follow the easy instructions on how to enter.

The draw closes 31.12.15. To enter go to: www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal

For info on any of Jacksons products or brochures please call 0800 408 4754 to talk to your local Jacksons Fencing Centre.

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 93

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Wishing all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Telephone: 01761 417654 www.techniglaze.co.uk Facsimile: 01761 417207 email: office@techniglaze.co.uk

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Offering the complete service for 30 years Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Techniglaze Team

PAGE 94 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

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HOMES & INTERIORS

Tony Hucker TV Service – Sales – Rental

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Satellite Installations Aerial Systems TV wall mounting Custom Installations Networking Signal Solutions

01275 332888 www.tonyhuckertv.co.uk Email: tony@tonyhuckertv.co.uk Unit 4, Fairseat Workshops, Chew Stoke BS40 8XF Open: Mon – Thurs 9.00am – 6.00pm Fri – 9.00am – 5.30pm

Come and see us as part of the Winscombe Shopping Night on Tuesday 1st December

MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 95

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From racecourse to retirement – never forget the bravehearts

THIS is an exciting season for those who love squelching around in the mud.

The hunting and associated sports season is well under With RACHEL way, offering THOMPSON numerous MBE opportunities for equestrian thrill seekers to cross country on horse-back. For those who prefer a safer option, huddling under an umbrella at the racecourse watching Mendip’s National Hunt stars perform, holds a lot of appeal.

Some of us prefer to watch our jumping heroes on the TV, in a mudfree environment, feet up in front of the fire, glass of wine in hand. Once the thrill of the race is over, the bets won or lost and attention wanders elsewhere, do you ever pause to wonder what happens to these brave-hearted equines once their jump racing days are done?

Now, I’m not normally a betting woman but in 1984 I uncharacteristically laid £1 on Hallo Dandy to win the Grand National. My £10 winnings could have turned me into a serial gambler but strangely I never did it again. Neither did I give poor Hallo Dandy a second thought until I was as outraged as the rest of the nation when he turned up thin and neglected ten years later.

Happily this beautiful horse was returned to health by the Racehorse Rehabilitation Centre and became famous for wakening the moral

conscience of the racing world regarding the fate of retiring race horses.

Interested in what happens to our local stars I set off to Ditcheat, home of trainer Paul Nicholls for tea and chat to former jockey Clifford Baker. Clifford has been Manor Farm’s head lad for almost 20 years and reassures me his commitment and enthusiasm to see every horse in his care thrive and succeed extends to influencing owners into considering second career options.

Good knowledgeable homes are a priority, better still if in the nearby rural area.

We settle down to chatting about the better known Festival stars: Neptune Collenges – my favourite; oh the tears when he won the National by a nose – gone home to owners the Hales Family to join older stars Azertyuiop and Nolan. Big Bucks – gone hunting!

Denman – gone hunting/team chasing – the list went on.

What was Clifford’s most memorable ride I wondered? Winning at Towcester or maybe leading the horses to the start at Wincanton riding See More Business – yeah I get that. His hottest tip for riders: “Just enjoy it – whatever you do, compete or otherwise – just enjoy it”, he smiled.

Well thank goodness for hunting then, a reason to be pleased that this sport provides a career for retired National Hunt heroes to enjoy. Just lately I wandered down to Priddy Green to watch the Mendip Farmers’ Hunt opening meet. It’s always fun to meet

Trevenna, Harp Road, Mark Somerset TA9 4QL Phone: 01278 641202 Christmas Late Night Openings Monday 7th, 14th and 21st Dec until 9pm Come and enjoy a festive drink and refreshments whilst browsing our extensive range of Christmas gifts.

Don't forget your treat stockings for your horse!

Toggi Country Boots from £79.99 Puffa Jackets from £39.99 Jods and breeches in vast range of colours and styles.

Why not team them up with a new sweatshirt or fleece top to finish the look Stockists of Horseware, Toggi, Puffa, Tagg, LV Stocking fillers: Toggi Socks, Gloves, Ear Warmers, Scarfs.

Add some sparkle with bling plaiting bands!! hoof polish, browbands, saddle cloths, rugs and breeches

You'll find us at Harp Road, Mark (Sat Nav Postcode TA9 4QL) 5 mins from Junction 22 of M5 Open Monday - Saturday 9:30am - 6pm (Closed Wednesday mornings)

PAGE 96 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Big Buck’s enjoys the limelight at Wincanton’s charity race day

old friends and swap tales of hunting seasons past. Admiring the beautifully turned-out horses I wished I was aboard and pondered the thrill of hunting on a former Festival winner. But there again, maybe not, it would definitely mean getting up at the crack of dawn to do him justice wouldn’t it: “Excuse me Rach, but Buck’s got mud on his nose!”

Well, he’d be used to that wouldn’t he?!

Treat your horse this Christmas

POPHAMS will be opening late for Christmas on Monday December 7th, 14th and 21st until 9pm and offering a festive drink and refreshments whilst you browse around their range of Christmas gifts.

Add some sparkle with bling plaiting bands, hoof polish, browbands, saddle cloths, rugs and breeches. They also stock named brands such Horseware, Toggi, Puffa, Tagg, LV to name but a few. Give yourself a treat too with Toggi socks, gloves, ear warmers and scarves.

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Jessica gets top marks

NEWLY-qualified farrier Jessica Uphill, from Wells, is the latest to join what is still a minority of female registered farriers in the region.

Jessica, aged 22, qualified with a distinction at the Honourable Artillery Company in London, and also won The David Llewelyn Prize for the highest marks in theory after completing a four and a half year apprenticeship.

She said: "It feels great to

have finally finished the training."

At 16 she started a pre-farrier course at Warwickshire College, going there on block-release, while working with Dorset-based farrier Andy Reader-Smith.

She said: “Over the past four and a half years I have worked with the majority range of equines, from Shetlands to Shires and everything in between. It has certainly had its moments, but I wouldn’t have missed it.

“It's all become very real now that I have started to think about clients and kitting my van out and I'm very excited about being my own boss.”

Having ridden from the age of 10, she said it was inevitable that she would end up working with horses. Within her apprenticeship she made the majority of the shoes, which is something she intends to carry on with.

She said she is looking forward to being self-employed, running her own business, alongside competing in farrier competitions, while still hacking her own horse around the lanes after work.

Group celebrates 40 years

THE Somerset Levels RDA Carriage Driving for the Disabled group – and their four ponies – shared a wet day to celebrate the 40th anniversary of carriage driving for the disabled.

More than 20 of the group's volunteers and clients gathered at their base, in Butleigh Wootton, near Street to mark the anniversary and hand out commemorative awards.

Those awards included a long-service badge for Millie, the group's gentle mare.

It was also an occasion for all the group's qualified ponies to get together – including Beryl, the recently retired New Forest pony that already holds a ten-year RDA long-service award.

Also there was the group's latest recruit, Hamish – their "big boy", who has taken to his new job of being driven by larger wheelchair clients, and pulling the wagonette used at fund-raising events.

It was also a special outing for the group's fourth qualified RDA pony, Whizzy, the Dartmoor pony that has been confined to his stable yard for the past three months,

Club supports injured jockeys

RIDING

Pictured (left to right) Richard Johnson, Margaret Peverley and Johnson White.

MID Somerset Riding Club held their annual supper evening at Northover Manor at Ilchester with Richard Johnson, fresh from his 100th winner of the season at Wincanton, as the guest speaker.

This year the club’s charity was the Injured Jockeys Fund and Richard together with Johnson White, Philip Hobbs' assistant trainer, gave a very interesting insight into the world of National Hunt racing.

There was the usual amazing Mid Somerset raffle produced

by Margaret Peverley, with some 66 prizes, all of which had been donated and an auction conducted by Nigel Payne.

Richard kindly donated his fee and expenses to the charity and the club were able to write a cheque for £2,280 to the Injured Jockeys Fund – a remarkable total.

recovering from a severe bout of laminitis.

According to Yolanda Hansford, chair of the Somerset Levels RDA Carriage-Driving Group: "Every day of the week, our volunteers just get on with the job of caring for our ponies, and then work hard every Tuesday and Thursday when we are providing therapeutic driving sessions for our many disabled clients.

"This event provided an opportunity for everyone to share a precious moment with our four ponies.".

The Riding for the Disabled Association provided 40th anniversary badges for all the group's volunteers, and commemorative rosettes for the group's ponies.

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MENDIP TIMES

RIDING

Sidesaddle sprint for spinal charity

By Mark Adler

WINCANTON Racecourse staged the first-ever sidesaddle charity flat race on a British course in celebration of the track’s two-season association with the Southern Spinal Injuries Trust.

A total of 11 riders, dressed in the traditional sidesaddle attire (apart from riding hats), galloped one mile, two furlongs in the dash in front of a cheering crowd. Actor Martin Clunes, best-known for his role in the hit TV series Doc Martin, attended the day with his wife Philippa. The couple live near Beaminster in Dorset.

The dash was sponsored by the Andy Stewart Charitable Foundation and saw the Stewart family’s former World Hurdle superstar, Big Bucks, escort the field to the start.

Ridden by Lucy Tucker, Big Bucks now enjoys retirement in Dorset and hunting with the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt.

The Southern Spinal Injuries Trust was established nearly ten years ago and helps improve the lives, health and aspirations of people with spinal cord injury. The charity provides specialist equipment and other support direct to people with SCI who live in the south and south west.

Charity manager Sally Moger said: “The day started with the fantastic side saddle race, the ‘SSIT Side Saddle Dash’ and we were thrilled that Martin Clunes very kindly agreed to attend to present the prizes on our behalf. Our raceday lunch was held in the Pavilion Marquee with over 480 guests.”

All smiles as winning sidesaddle rider Lizzie Harris, on board Lough Inch, crosses the finish line

PAGE 98 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

Max Forte, ridden by Chris Down, on his way to victory in the Montague Inn novice hurdle race The riders changed into traditional headgear for the presentation ceremony

Jodie Everill, chairman of Gillingham and Shaftsbury YFC (left) and branch secretary Eve James, were part of the team running a raffle for racegoers

What’s Up, Doc? Martin and Philippa Clunes in the parade ring

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CAVING

Lost and found

VETERAN caver and digger Fred Davies once wrote that “caves is where you find ’em” – meaning that caves are sometimes discovered, usually by accident, in the most unlikely spots.

Although all of the obvious places where a cave might be found have been examined, With PHILIP and in many cases dug, there is always the HENDY possibility that a hitherto unsuspected cavity can come to light. Holes have opened in fields under the weight of tractors, and quarrying, building or road construction has exposed many caves.

I have written about these events in the past, and also described how a cave dig can be abandoned when the diggers lose enthusiasm, only for a fresh team to re-examine the site, and break through only a short distance beyond where the previous team gave up hope.

The story of the cave I describe this month tells of the chance discovery of an open cave entrance, its loss, and rediscovery, many years later. Asham Wood Quarry, near Leighton, is now a nature reserve, but in 1982 it was still being worked.

It was possible at weekends to walk down through the scrambles course, past Tom Tivey’s Hole, a small rock shelter, and continue along a track alongside the stream, to explore the quarry. In March that year, I walked into the workings, looking for Seven Springs, a powerful resurgence blocked around 1948 by rubble tipped to construct a quarry track.

The water normally emerges by the side of the track, at the level of the main stream, but on this occasion, I was surprised to see a large stream flowing along the floor of the quarry and over the track. On walking upstream, I found that the water was coming from a hole at the foot of the quarry face. The opening was over a metre wide, and about 30 centimetres high.

It had been exposed by quarrying, and was definitely caversize, but full of water.

Five months later, I had persuaded a cave diver, Alan Mills, to carry his equipment for over a mile in blazing August sunshine, to explore the hole. To our surprise, it was completely dry. Some stones had fallen into the entrance, but they were soon removed, and I wriggled down a metre drop, spurred on by a strong cold outward draught. I found myself in a waterworn tunnel, about three-quarters of a metre square.

The floor was gravel, with a thin layer of dry cracked mud on top. There were no footprints, so I was the first to enter this cave – an exciting prospect! I was able to crawl along for nearly 12 metres, until I was stopped by a large block of stone on the floor, with several smaller ones on top.

A short rift on the right probably connected back to the quarry face. It was impossible to pass the blockage, but I was able to look beyond, to a gently descending passage which curved to the right, obscuring any further view. I made my way out, and Alan had a look, confirming my opinion that some serious work would be needed to passage the obstacle.

A little later, the stream was enclosed by walls of rubble; at its head, a mass of large rocks was piled up, with the wetweather stream flowing from them. I assumed that the cave had

(Photograph by Paul Stillman)

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Andy in the cave entrance

been blocked, and thought no more of it.

Then earlier this year I was contacted by another caver, Andy Watson. He was digging a site in the quarry which seemed to fit my description – could it be the same? It was located at the foot of the quarry, about halfway along the rubble-bounded stream. The description of the entrance and the passage leading to a boulder choke seemed to tally with my cave. I had to go and look – apart from being in a different location to the one I thought I remembered, the entrance was the same as the one I had investigated 33 years ago!

Andy and his friends had found a partly-choked opening, which looked inviting. They removed a few rocks, and found that quarrying had reduced the length of passage to the boulder choke by four metres. The diggers then forced themselves through the boulders, naming the constriction Sid’s Squeeze.

Beyond, 12 metres of passage, decorated with coral formations, led to a sharp right-hand bend, Chest of Drawers Corner. This is followed by 30 metres of straight passage along a fault line. The Long Straight is passed by crawling, though in places it is possible to stand. There are some small flowstone formations, and evidence that the passage floods.

At the end there is a mass of breakdown rocks, but clearing some of these to the left allowed access to a low descending passage, curving round to a three-metre high aven. Five metres past this, a choke, the current end, may be near the surface, as it contains roots.

The diggers have named the cave Bradshaw’s Cave, after Dr. Reg. Bradshaw, former Head of Geology at Bristol University.

He examined the quarry around 45 years ago and told Willie Stanton of several ‘open tunnels’ in the lowest part of the quarry, near Seven Springs.

Willie was a consultant geologist, as well as being a very active caver and digger. It is not, however, described in his guide to Mendip caves ‘Mendip – The Complete Caves and A View of the Hills’, which he published with Nick Barrington in 1977.

Seven Springs has been linked to swallet caves to the north, including Dairyhouse Slocker, Downhead Swallet and Heale Slocker. Bradshaw’s Cave is currently 66 metres long, so there is potential for further discovery, beyond the terminal area of collapsed boulders.

Phil has been caving for more than 47 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in producing several caving publications and is a caving instructor in Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves.

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MENDIP TIMES

Karate club wins silver

THE Japan Karate Association is alive and kicking in the Mendips. JKA Shotokan Karate is a dynamic Japanese martial art in the true sense. It fosters many benefits including: discipline, determination, fitness, strength, confidence, perseverance, flexibility, humility, awareness and respect for others.

There are regular gradings to measure progression of students’ ability, with training sessions beforehand to sharpen their technique. Students must have been training regularly and be of the appropriate standard to sit their grading. 1st Dan black belt can be achieved within about three years if training is serious and regular – at least twice a week.

Mendip JKA Shotokan Karate Club was founded in the mid-1970s by Gary Scammell, who has now retired from the club. Chief Instructor Julie Morgan 4th Dan JKA and Andy Forster 4th Dan JKA share the instructing on Monday and Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings at Stratton on the Fosse, Chilcompton and Writhlington.

There are no fancy coloured dogis (karate suits), no flashy, ineffective

spectacular techniques, just straightforward, practical and dynamic karate. Competition is an exciting aspect too.

The club recently sent a squad to the JKA National Championships and with strong performances from the younger black belts, a silver medal was brought home. The South West JKA clubs also hold a local friendly inter-club all grades competition, an excellent way to begin for those who want to test their abilities.

Chief Instructor Julie Morgan began her path in karate 20 years ago when her sixyear-old son Jack, expressed an interest in it. He lives in London now, still trains and holds a 3rd Dan. Julie recently passed her 4th Dan at the Autumn JKA International Course along with instructor Andy Forster, under the scrutiny of top examiners Takenori Imura 8th Dan, from Tokyo, Kazuhiro Sawada 7th Dan, from Belgium and Yoshinobu Ohta 7th Dan, England.

She has competed successfully regularly and is the highest grade female instructor in the South West of England. She continues to train hard and pass on her considerable knowledge.

Andy first trained in Woking, Surrey in 1979 and then in 1983 at Earl's Court SKC in London until 1994 where he was a longstanding member of the team, competing regularly at the Karate Union of Great Britain Crystal Palace National Championships and Southern Areas Championships in Poole Dorset. Due to commitments, he was unable to train for several years, resuming his karate in 2007.

Mendip Karate has a range of students of varied age and ability, so training is tailored to suit the individual. It is a traditional Dojo (training hall) and manners and proper behaviour are insisted upon. All instructors are CRB Enhanced certified and hold JKAE instructor Certificates.

Their philosophy is: “The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of character of its participants.”

The club charges £3 per session and the instructors take no fees for teaching.

Sessions are held: Sundays: 10.30ammidday, Writhlington Sports Centre BA3 3NQ; Mondays: 6.30pm-7.45pm black and brown belts only Stratton on the Fosse; Thursdays: 7pm-8.30pm, Chilcompton Village Hall BA3 4EX.

Details: Julie Morgan 07709 875864 Andy Forster 07803 095208 www.Mendipshotokan.co.uk Facebook Mendip shotokan karate

Judo champions

SENIOR fighters from Shepton Mallet Judo Club fought at the British Masters Championships securing places in the Great Britain Masters Judo Squad.

Six fighters took part in the national competition, held in Walsall, with five returning with medals. The medal winners will now take a place in the Great Britain Masters Judo Squad.

Donna Riggs took the gold, with Hannah

Robinson achieving bronze in the under 78kg group. Shepton’s coach Dianne White retained her place in the GB team, winning gold in the under 57kg group.

Steve Bowles achieved silver in the under 73kg group, Matthew Hext scored bronze in the under 90kg category and Rick Bazley narrowly missed out on a medal spot after being knocked out of the over 100kg pool.

Details: Shepton Mallet Judo Club is open to all ages and abilities. For information, contact Dianne on 01458 851068.

PAGE 100 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

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SPORT

Phil’s on top of the world

SHOVE ha’penny player Phil Foxwell is a double world champion after taking on challengers at the annual championships, held this year in his home town of Shepton Mallet.

Phil and his playing partner Gary Haygarth beat fellow Sheptonians Ian Crabb and Chris Hunt in the doubles final, winning the best-of-seven match by four games to two. There was a similar score when Phil took on Chris in the singles match.

Players travelled from Devon and South Wales to take part in the weekend of matches at the King William Inn. The weekend was organised by Gary.

Phil Foxwell on the slate as scorer Paul Bridges, from Newport, looks on

World championships

THE 2016 World Croquet Championships are heading West next May, being played at Camerton and Peasedown Croquet Club and Bath Croquet Club.

The eight teams competing in the Tier 2 championships are Australia, Belgium, Czech-Moravian Republic, Germany, Latvia, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland. The event will be held from May 14th – 20th.

The Tier 1 event is being held at Surbiton Croquet Club with the top eight countries in the world involved. This includes England, Wales and Ireland as well as New Zealand, South Africa, Egypt, USA and Sweden. The two groups will join together at the end of the last day, in Surbiton, for a closing event.

(l:r) Chris Hunt, Phil Foxwell, Ian Crabb and Gary Haygarth at the end of the doubles final

Timsbury reach top tier

Details: www.bathcroquet.com

Geoff shows the way

THE oldest member of the seniors section of Fosseway Golf Club, Geoff Weeks, showed the rest of the club exactly how it should be done when he paired up with Pat Cray to win the annual Turkey Trot.

Geoff, aged 91, who continues to play with consistency and enthusiasm, Pat Cray (left) and Geoff Weeks scored a nett 50 with his partner. They nudged out Geoff Hallett and Allen Cheney who also had 50 but were beaten on countback with Cyril Blacker and Denis White one shot behind.

Timsbury CC 1st XI Player of the Year Jack Scrivens (right) with captain Steve Clothier

A STRONG finish to the season which saw them win seven of their last eight games has seen Timsbury Cricket Club earn a place in the top tier of the newly-established Bristol and District Cricket League. The news was given by club skipper Steve Clothier at the club’s annual presentation night.

At the end of his first year as captain he said the highlights included the tie at Chew Magna in the National Village Cup, the convincing home win against North Perrott in the same competition, Jack Scrivens’ hundred at Hanham and Mark Sage’s 210 not out against Cleeve in an amazing match that had seen Timsbury score 358 and still lose.

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MENDIP TIMES

MUSIC

Sing in Street – not just the bath

DOES singing fill your soul with joy? Do you sing in the shower or bath? Do you know just about everything played on the most popular national radio and make sure your family hears your renditions?

Does your partner constantly say: “Why don’t you go and join a choir?” Yes – same here – so I did! And what a joyous journey of discovery it has been.

Did you know that in the whole of this region of Somerset and Bristol there are almost 100 amateur choirs? However one which is really something special is Street Men, a men’s choir only three years old – the one I belong to – and the one I think is the region’s best kept secret!

Street Men is run by the joyously enthusiastic Polly Carroll who along with her equally lovely accompanist, Jane Roberts, runs not one but three choirs in the area. The other two being ladies’ choirs, Wookey Choirworks and Street Sings. Often all three choirs collaborate with each other at local charity gigs which is terrific fun.

Wookey Choirworks started in 2006 and now has around 45 singers; Street Sings started in January 2012 and now has around 70 singers; Street Men started in September 2012 and has a small (but perfectly formed) 20 male singers.

The rehearsals are relaxed and informal with little or no experience needed – just a love of music and the ability to sing in tune. In case you still have doubts put your mind at rest that you do not have to be able to read music. We learn

our music by ear under Polly’s patient guidance with lyric sheets to sing from.

Our repertoire is contemporary music spanning all of the modern era from the Kinks in the 60s up to One Direction in 2014! How’s that for a total spread in the best that popular music has to offer to date?

We have now performed at many local events, all for local fundraising, at venues from Glastonbury Town Hall to concerts in Street Parish Church and other local venues.

We would love to see some more music and singing enthusiasts at our regular Thursday night rehearsals which take place in the Quaker Hall in Street, at 8.30 pm. We pay a weekly sub of £3.50 during school term times only. It’s a great place to have some fun and give the long-suffering family some peace!

Ron Wheeler

Details: Polly Carroll streetsings.choir@gmail.com

The Wurzels – 50 years on THE chance to sponsor a song from a new show about the life of Wurzels’ founder Adge Cutler is being offered by its writers.

Scrumpy and Western – The Life and Times of Adge Cutler will open at Bristol’s Tobacco Factory for three weeks next summer but to get it to opening night the show’s team need to raise around £15,000

by January next year.

Shaun McCarthy and Tom Henry, the show’s co-writers, are hoping that local businesses will get involved by sponsoring one of the songs that will be performed live on stage by the play’s actors.

Among them are many Cutler classics including Pill, Pill, When the Common Market Comes to Stanton Drew and not forgetting the rousing classic Drink Up Thy Zyder.

The show was given a script-in-hand airing live at the Curzon Cinema in Clevedon back in March this year and proved to be wildly successful, selling out every seat in the house with people having to be turned away.

The show focuses on the 1966 recording of the Wurzels’ first LP at the Royal Oak pub in Nailsea, an occasion which saw EMI engineers travelling from the company’s HQ in Abbey Road, London, to record the band, complete with ciderfuelled crowd.

The cast of Scrumpy and Western

Tom, from Wrington, said: “This is a great opportunity to be involved in a show which has its heart and soul in the West Country and celebrates one of its greatest entertainers. It’s a show which is long overdue, so please support it as generously as you can.”

Details: hooligantheatreproductions@talktalk.net • www.facebook.com/scrumpyandwestern

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WHAT’S ON

(Photo courtesy of Anna Barclay)

Panto stars in Bath

Pictured (left to right) Nick Wilton, Nigel Havers, Daisy the Cow, Katy Ashworth and Jon Monie

STAGED by UK Productions and hot on the heels of last year’s tremendously successful Bath panto, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk features all the elements for a traditional family treat and will be at the Theatre Royal in Bath from December 10th to January 10th.

It follows the hilarious story of a loveable dame and her two sons; the alluring Daisy the cow; the giant’s incredibly evil helper, Fleshcreep, played by Nigel Havers; and of course, the amazing gigantic beanstalk Playing the fairy is CBeebies star Katy Ashworth; Simple Simon is played by Jon Monie, whose mischievous comedy and hilarious antics have made him a huge audience favourite; and Dame Trott is played by award-winning Nick Wilton, best known as Mr Lister in EastEnders.

It’s panto time

Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD

Starts Friday 27th November Starts Friday 4th December

Starts Thursday 17th December Starts Monday 21st December

COMING UP:

The Dressmaker The Good Dinosaur 3D/2D Victor Frankenstein (12A) Steve Jobs (15) Star Wars: The Force Awakens 3D/2D – Book Now Snoopy (U) 3D/2D – Book Now

G Book in person G Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk G Over the ’phone: 01749 673195

MEMBERS of Sutton Theatre Company in Bishop Sutton are busy rehearsing for their forthcoming pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. It will play at Bishop Sutton village hall on Saturday, December 5th, and also Friday and Saturday, December 11th and 12th, with matinees at 2pm each Saturday. Evening performances start at 7.30pm on each night.

Details: 01761 452544

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M e n d i p

Please send entries for these listings as a single paragraph of approximately 25 words. We’re happy to list entries for charities and voluntary groups free of charge – but please submit them in the format below. Commercial entries cost £25.

Thursday November 26th Chew Valley Wildlife Group, Big Cat Safari with Jill Toman, Chew Magna Millennium Hall, 7.45pm, £2.50; season ticket available.

West Mendip Walkers – circular walk of 5.25m from Uphill. Ex 153 ST314585.Start 12.30pm. Car park opp. Dolphin Inn nr boatyard. Contact: 01934 853639 or 07803 722878 jennymr7@aol.com Friday November 27th Wrington Friendship Club with the Reflections Singers, Wrington Memorial Hall, Silver Street.

Street Men Choir, Jon Thorners, Pylle, near Shepton Mallet, food & drink fayre with carols and sample tasters, 6pm.

Saturday November 28th and Sunday November 29th Christmas tree festival, St Augustine’s Church, Clutton, BS39 5SG. Decorated trees from local organisations and businesses. Sat: 11am-6pm, Sunday 2-6pm; donations £2 per adult (children free) requested, includes light refreshments.

Saturday November 28th Christmas Market, Cranmore Memorial Hall, 10am, all proceeds in aid of Eady’s Journey, supporting disabled children in Somerset. Local crafts, presents, cider, snacks, tea, coffee, raffle and lots more.

Street Men & Ladies Choirs at Glastonbury Abbey Frost Fayre. All day event with carols and goodies.

Churchill Academy Christmas Gift Fair, 11am3pm, high quality gifts and produce, Churchill Academy & Sixth Form, BS25 5QN. Congresbury Book Sale, 9am – 1pm, War Memorial Hall.

Mendip Society Walk, a moderate 6 miles around Towerhouse Wood & Tickenham Ridge ST 478 709. Meet 1.30pm, Clevedon Rd (free) car park, Nailsea, BS48 1EH. Contact: Richard 01275 852786.

Chew Valley Choral Society, Dvorak Requiem, St Andrew’s Church, Chew Magna, 7.30pm, £10, £5 students & children, from choir members or on the door, wine during the interval. Details: 01275 333014.

St. Mary’s Christmas Fair, Yatton Junior School, 10am – 2pm, lots of fun, Father Christmas, tombola, children’s games, gifts, lunches & refreshments.

Ceilidh with Squeeze, Fiddle Pluck, Wookey Hole Club, 7.30 for 8pm. £6 on the door. Details 01749 678468.

Sunday November 29th Redhill Christmas Fair, 12noon-4pm, arts, crafts, beauty, toys, knitted items, etc. Stalls £10 – contact Hazel, 01275 474973.Church Road, Redhill, BS40 5SG Tel: 01934 862619.

Autumnal wild art trail through the woods at Burrington Ham, half-term event, free with PAGE 104 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

T i m e s

Mendip AONB. Details: www.discoveringblackdown.org.uk/calendar or Stuart Bardsley 01761 462338.

Tuesday December 1st Art inspired by Wine: paintings showing the history of wine production (and consumption!), 11am, Mendip DFAS, Bath & West Bar & Restaurant, B & W Show Ground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN. www.mdfas.org.uk. Guests welcome.

Details: 01934 862435.

Winscombe Christmas Shopping Night, from 6pm until late, with Father Christmas, the community choir, stalls and entertainment.

Somerset Wildlife Trust talk about the Scilly Isles’ seabird crisis, Caryford Hall, Ansford, BA7 7JJ, talk 8pm, tea/coffee from 7.30pm, adults £2.50, children free.

Friday December 4th – Monday December 7th Nativity Crib Festival, St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells, 10am to 4.30pm (Sunday 11.30am to 4.30pm). Children’s activities, Wells City Band & other Christmas music, mulled wine & refreshments, free entry, proceeds to St Margaret’s Hospice, St Cuthbert’s Church and the Refugee Crisis Appeal. Come and experience the true meaning of Christmas.

Thursday December 3rd Street Choir at Street Christmas Fayre, 3pm9pm, stalls and music, and outside Crispin Hall at 6pm.

West Mendip Walkers – Moderate 9 mile circular from Evercreech Church OS Ex142 ST649386.

Start 10am. Contact: anthonyestrange@gmail.com or 01934 733783/07976 902706.

Friday December 4th Cheddar Festive Night, starting with a carol service in St. Andrew’s Church, 5.30pm, stalls, shopping and attractions though the village and gorge. Details: 01934 743217 or email sam@cheddarparishcouncil.org Churchill Music, Classic Buskers with Neil Henry, magician, wit and musical virtuosity on over 40 instruments combined with unbelievable tricks and illusions, Churchill Academy Hall, BS25 5QN, 7.30pm. Details: Ursula Dornton 01934 852919 or info@churchillmusic.org.uk Open Mic Night at Redhill Club, 8pm. Hosted

by Jerry Blythe. Free – bring your voice, your instruments and showcase your talent. All welcome. Church Road, Redhill, BS40 5SG Tel: 01934 862619.

Saturday December 5th and Sunday 6th Christmas Tree Festival, All Saints Church, Nunney, 10.30am to 5pm daily, refreshments available, admission free.

Saturday December 5th Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society, Handel’s Messiah, Wells Cathedral, 7pm. Details: www.wcos.org.uk or 01749672773.

Mendip Society walk, Kilmersdon. A moderate 4 miles past Jack & Jill Hill to the chapel of Babington House. ST 696 523. Meet 1.30pm, village hall car park, High St, BA3 5TD. Contact: Terry 01749 840752.

W h a t ’ s

Wookey Village Christmas Craft & produce market, Wookey Church Hall, 9.30am-1pm.

Details: 01749 677381.

Bleadon Village Christmas Market, 9am– 12.30pm, Coronation Halls, BS24 0PG. Over 40 stalls with local produce, gifts, refreshments, carols. Details: www.bleadon.org.uk/market Christmas Artisan Market at Browne’s Garden Centre, Wells. 10am- 3pm, food, crafts & gift stalls, raising funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Publow monthly market, All Saints’ Church, Publow, 10am–2pm, home baking, preserves, Christmas gifts and wreaths, books, cards, refreshments and ample parking.

Mendip Society Walk, a moderate 4 miles around Kilmersdon. ST 696 523. Meet 1.30pm in the village hall car park, BA3 5TD. Contact Terry 01749 840752.

Plant Heritage Somerset Group, village hall, Erdington, 12noon AGM, 1.15pm bring & share Christmas Lunch, 2.30pm The Story of Plant Heritage talk by Elizabeth Honner, members free, visitors £4. Details: 01278 451631.

Handel’s Messiah, Oakfield Choir with singers from Bath Cantata Group and Beckington Choir.

Frome Memorial Theatre, 7.30pm. Contact the theatre for tickets.

History of the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen, David Brown, for Frome Society for Local Study & Frome Civic Society. Assembly Rooms, 2.30pm.

Sunday December 6th Christmas Fair at the Wellsway, Harptree Hill, West Harptree, BS40 6EJ, 11am-4pm. Details: 01761 221382.

Monday December 7th Mendip Male Voice Choir Timsbury Church 730pm.

Tuesday December 8th The Fascinating World of Playing Cards, NADFAS illustrated lectures, Caryford Hall, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ, 1100. free parking. £6.

Information 01963 350527.

Wednesday December 9th Nailsea & District Horticultural Society festive bingo and carols, United Reformed Church Hall, Stockway North, Nailsea, 7.30pm.

Wells Civic Society Seasonal celebration and cheese tasting with Richard Green. Wells & Mendip Museum, 7.30pm.

Wedmore by Lamplight. See page 62.

Wednesday December 9th to Saturday December 12th Cinderella – A Pantomime by David Maun, Timsbury Theatre Group at The Conygre Hall, BA2 0JQ. Details: www.thettg.org or 07542 152595.

Thursday December 10th and matinee on Monday December 21st Living Spit’s version of “A Christmas Carol” part of Christmas at Yeo Valley – tickets are selling fast! Enquiries: 01761 461425 or events@yeovalley.co.uk

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Thursday December 10th West Mendip Walkers – Moderate 6m circular from Wrington. OS Ex154 ST470628. Start 12.30pm. Park rear of Plough Inn. Contact: anthonyestrange@gmail.com or 01934 733783/07976 902706.

Street Men Christmas Concert, Street Mission Church (the ‘Tin Church’), Vestry Road, Street, 7pm.

Friday December 11th Wrington Dickensian Fayre. See page 44.

Banwell Society of Archaeology, Banwell memories, old films with Peter Fisher, Banwell Village Hall, 7.30pm, all welcome.

Cantilena Choir, Noel’s Sweet Song, Christmas music, carols and readings, St. Mary’s Church, Magdalene Street, Glastonbury, 7.30pm, £10, children £1, mince pies and mulled wine included.

Details: Glastonbury Music Shop, 01278 722870 or cantilena@hotmail.co.uk Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership, (TTIP), talk by South West MEP Molly Scott Cato, 10.30am-11.30am, The Annexe, Winscombe Community Centre, Sandford Road, BS25 1JA. All welcome, free entry and refreshments.

Cantilena Choir Christmas Concert: Noël’s Sweet Song, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Magdalene Street, Glastonbury. Tickets £10 (children £1.00). Advance tickets available from The Glastonbury Music Shop, Benedict Street Glastonbury, or by phoning 01278 722870. Email: cantilena@hotmail.co.uk Saturday December 12th Barrow Gurney Christmas Fair, village hall, 10am-2pm, local arts, crafts & food gifts, refreshments, Father Christmas, charity raffle. All home bakers & crafters welcome: tables £5.

Details: 07837 041625 email: lvbc@hotmail.co.uk Mendip Society walk around Rowberrow & Dolebury Warren. A mod 4 to 5 miles on forest tracks with some hills. ST 450 583. Meet 1.30pm, Swan Inn car park, BS25 1QL. Contact: John 01934 842868.

Christmas Bazaar at Brent Knoll Parish Hall, 10am–12.30pm. Farmers’ market, bric-a-brac, crafts, books, the Xmas 200+ Club draw, Christmas raffle and refreshments, entry free.

Details: 01278 760760.

1940s Blitz Party in aid of Leigh-on-Mendip School and Crones and Colitis charities, village hall, tickets £2.50, band, bar, food etc. Details: georgeckite@hotmail.co.uk Christmas Wreath Making Workshops, Bishop’s Palace, Wells. Spaces available at 12.30pm and 2.30pm, £20 inc refreshments, materials and entry to the palace. Details: 01749 988111 ext 200 or at www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/106360 Mendip Male Voice Choir, Trinity Church Combe Down Bath 7-30pm.

Christmas Tree Festival, St James’s Church, Winscombe. Open each day during daylight hours (except when services are taking place – check http://www.achurchnearyou.com/calendar for up to

D e c e m b e r

date information). Continues until 3rd January.

Free admission. Car parking close by. Details: William Du Croz: 07960 697 874.

Tuesday December 15th Congresbury Singers’ Christmas concert, an eclectic mix of seasonal, traditional and lighthearted readings, music and carols, St Andrew’s Church, Congresbury, 7.30pm, warm mince pies and wine. Tickets £8 from Congresbury PO, choir members (Paul: 01275 878740), or on the door.

Wookey Christmas Concert, with Street Men, Wookey Church, 7pm. Details: Polly Carroll 01749 671347 streetsings.choir@gmail.com Wednesday December 16th Carols by Candlelight, All Saints’ Church, Weston-s-Mare, BS23 2NL, 7pm. Traditional carols and readings, with Harmonia Sacra and Bristol Brass, entry free, all donations to the RNLI. Holy Thorn cutting ceremony. St John’s Church, Glastonbury. 10.30am. All Welcome.

Thursday December 17th Cheddar Valley U3A Meet & greet coffee morning at Church House, Cheddar, 10.30am to 12 noon, visitors welcome. Details: 01934 744241 or www.cvu3a.org.uk West Mendip Walkers – Moderate 10.75 miles circular from Stoke St Michael. OS Ex142 ST664469. Start 10am. Park nr church. Contact anthonyestrange@gmail.com or 01934 733783/07976 902706.

Saturday December 19th Mendip Society Walk – a moderate 4 miles. Meet at “Apple Acre”, lane by side of Star Inn, BS25 1QF. ST 440 585. Contact Mary 01934 843789.

Frome Society for Local Study & Frome Civic Society, Dr Cathryn Spence on Christmas with the Georgians, Assembly Rooms, 2.30pm.

Mendip Male Voice Choir’s annual concert at St John’s Church Midsomer Norton.

Monday December 21st – Wednesday December 23rd Children's Christmas Cookie Workshops (age 8-14) in Churchill, children bake and gift-wrap sweet treats with experienced teacher, various sessions from £15. Details: www.creativeskilsacademy@moonfruit.com or 01934 844134.

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Thursday 31st December West Mendip Walkers – Moderate 7 mile circular from Wells. OS Ex141 ST544465. Start 12.30pm.

Park Ash Lane nr Blue School. Contact anthonyestrange@gmail.com or 01934 733783/07976 902706.

Redhill Club New Year’s Eve Dinner & Dance from 8pm-late. Sit-down dinner, then vocalist Jonny Lee Sage performing modern classics with a touch of Bobby Darrin & Sinatra to see in the New Year – Tickets £15 in advance. Church Road, BS40 5SG Tel: 01934 862619.

Tuesday January 5th Dresden: Its Art and Architecture, Clare FordWille will talk to Mendip DFAS at Bath & West Bar & Restaurant, B & W Show Ground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN at 11am. Details www.mdfas.org.uk. Guests welcome. Contact 01934 862435.

Thursday 7th January West Mendip Walkers – Moderate 10 mile circular from carpark back of Holford. OS Ex140 ST154410.Start 10am. Contact anthonyestrange@gmail.com or 01934 733783/07976 902706.

Saturday January 9th Frome Society for Local Study & Frome Civic Society, Julian Orbach on the Revised Pevsner for Wiltshire, Assembly Rooms, 2.30pm.

Sunday January 10th Redhill Classic Car/Motorcycle breakfast gathering, 9am – 12 noon, open to anyone who has an interesting vehicle or motorcycle, to come along, park up, have a natter with like-minded people, enjoy a full English breakfast, tea, coffee or bacon roll in the village hall. Redhill Village Hall/Club, Church Road, Redhill, North Somerset BS40 5SG. Details: 01934 862619.

Wednesday January 13th Wells Civic Society, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Peter Hancock, 7.30pm, Wells and Mendip Museum.

MENDIP MINDBENDER ANSWERS FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER

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WHAT’S ON

New season highlights at the Octagon Theatre

THE Octagon Theatre in Yeovil has released its winter/spring season brochure and fans are rushing to snap up tickets for more than 50 different shows on offer.

Somerset’s premier theatre is promising an exciting new programme of top-notch entertainment from classical music and contemporary dance, to drama and hilarious comedy, ensuring there is plenty to bring friends and family together to brighten up the dark winter nights and to look forward to in the spring.

This year’s pantomime is Sleeping Beauty and is proving to be an all-time record breaker at the box office. It promises to be the most technically-demanding production to date for the venue’s technical team, complete with a huge dragon and two tons of water live on stage!

Deputy Theatre Manager, Kate Wigmore, said: “The new Winter/Spring season is proving to be immensely popular, with some shows already having sold out. The outstanding quality of our programme, along with our reputation for first-class customer service, means that patrons are travelling further than ever before to enjoy a visit to The Octagon Theatre. I have worked here for the last 15 years and have never known patrons to book so far in advance for shows. As a team we are incredibly passionate about the arts and are proud to deliver a season that engages and excites our patrons.”

With Rumours Of Fleetwood Mac already having sold out and tickets for Ben Portsmouth’s The King Is Back and The UK

Grumpy Old Women

Pink Floyd Experience selling fast, it is clear that the standard of these popular tribute shows continues to rise. Following the immense success of their 2015 UK Tour, The Classic Rock Show will also be back in 2016 with a brand new show, which promises to be bigger, fresher and even better than before, as this critically acclaimed company performs Part 2 of the Greatest Guitar Riffs Of All Time.

Comedy fans are spoilt for choice this season with Adam Hills, Lee Nelson, Lee Hurst, Chris Ramsey, Julian Clary, Mark Watson, Russell Kane and Jenny Eclair with The Grumpy Old Women to look forward to.

Broken is guaranteed to wow audiences, as Motionhouse make a welcome return with this multi-media spectacle. Other family treats include Ballet Theatre UK’s version of The Snow Queen, Mister Maker and We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, which comes to The Octagon direct from a smash-hit West End and international tour.

If you are currently hooked on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing you won’t want to miss Pasha Kovalev in April and Ian Waite and Natalie Lowe in June, as they show off their spectacular dance moves and inspire us all to “Keep Dancing!”

The world’s favourite Murder Mystery, The Mousetrap, is sure to be a highlight of 2016.

For further information on the full Winter/Spring programme visit: www.octagon-theatre.co.uk or call the box office on: 01935 422884.

Busy time for tractor fans MEMBERS of the North Somerset Vintage Tractor Club are looking forward to a busy NORTH SOMERSET VINTAGE TRACTOR CLUB

“The Boys’ Great Escape from Christmas” Annual Vintage Tractor & Engine Autojumble Sunday, December 27th 2015 at Bristol Sales Centre, Washingpool Farm, Main Road, Easter Compton, Bristol BS35 5RE 1 mile from J17 off M5 Sellers from: 7.30am • Buyers: 9am £15 per pitch (double pitch £25) £2 per person entry Entry Proceeds to Charity Café open for Breakfast Tel: Kevin 01278 671784 or Sheila 01275 474649 NVTEC (North Somerset Group). www.nvtec-northsomerset.org (IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER PLEASE TELEPHONE BEFORE TRAVELLING)

PAGE 106 • MENDIP TIMES • DECEMBER 2015

festive season. The club’s annual Christmas Social will be held on Tuesday, December 1st at the Redhill Club where members will present a cheque to Marie Curie Cancer Care for £3,000 as a result of their fundraising efforts in 2015.

The club’s Christmas dinner will again be held at The Wellsway Inn and will be on Saturday, December 12th.

Tickets cost £25 and the event is open to members and friends and family. Finally, the club’s annual autojumble, nicknamed “The boys’ escape from Christmas” will be held on Sunday, December 27th.

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