Issue 5 - Volume 15 - Mendip Times

Mendip Times

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VOLUME 15 ISSUE 5

FREE

Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

OCTOBER 2019

IN THIS ISSUE: • FROME CHEESE SHOW • DOUBLE HILLS AT 40 • ARTS & ANTIQUES • AUTUMN EVENTS • LITTON WALK • BUSINESS

Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

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MENDIP TIMES

CONTENTS

Welcome

THE sun shone on Frome Show which attracted huge numbers of people. We’ve pictures from there and from dozens of other events across the area, including harvest homes and the first of the ploughing matches.

We record the end of an era in Nunney and follow the world’s oldest passenger vehicle in Butleigh. We recall a time when horses were shoed in the middle of what is now the busy A38 at Weare.

The Bishop of Bath and Wells has joined celebrations at what must be one of the few churches in the country dedicated to gipsies and travellers. He also took part in the Bishop’s Palace moat races.

In Wells there were celebrations by the Sikh community, while in Radstock former miners held their reunion. The diversity of events across our area is amazing – just take a look at our What’s On listings and events pages.

June MacFarlane brings us recipes that reflect the colours and flavours of autumn, while Chris Sperring and Adrian Boots offer you the chance to join them on autumn forays. Sue Gearing’s walk this month takes in Litton and East Harptree.

Our caving expert Phil Hendy explains how Green Ore got its name, while Mary Payne has a warning for gardeners about a new invasion of caterpillars.

We also look ahead to the new racing season at Wincanton. There’s never a dull moment around Mendip!

November 2019 deadline: Friday, 18th October 2019.

Published: Tuesday, 29th October 2019.

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 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: Ruby James – Stoney Stratton’s hospital fundraiser.

Photo by Mark Adler, see page 5.

12

54

A helping hand – Paulton’s Arnhem tribute

106

A day to remember – the sun shines on Frome Cheese Show

76

Drumming up friendship – Sikh day in Wells

Bowled over – cricket club music festival is a big hit Plus all our regular features Environment ...................................6 Farming Mary James MBE ..........10 Internet and Crossword ..............14 Food & Drink ...............................18 Arts & Antiques ...........................26 Business.........................................34 Charities........................................44 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......57 Walking Sue Gearing ....................58 Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........60

Gardening Mary Payne MBE.......62 Health Dr Phil Hammond .............72 Community ...................................76 Caving Phil Hendy ........................84 Property ........................................88 Music & Theatre ..........................92 Homes and Interiors ....................94 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE...100 Sport ............................................102 What’s On...................................108 MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 3

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MENDIP TIMES

NEWS

Rambling festival has international support VISITORS from as far afield as Malaysia and South Africa were amongst 90 people who enjoyed this year’s Mendip Ramblers Walking Festival.

Also amongst the walkers were people from Dorset, Wiltshire, Leicestershire and London, who enjoyed walks of varying distances over three days.

This year’s – rain-free and sunny – festival was centred on Shepton Mallet.

Mendip Ramblers organised the event, planned the walks, checked the routes for accessibility, fixed some stiles, made the cakes, worked in the kitchen and helped with parking.

Elaine Dadley, from the ramblers, said: “A good team effort! We were also well

Ramblers gather at Shepton Mallet Leisure Centre, the base for this year’s festival

supported by the local council.

“So, Mendip’s 18th Walking Festival went well. It’s too late for this year, but

Passing the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore

Ruby’s gem of an idea

SCHOOLGIRL Ruby James has said thank you to staff at Bristol Children’s Hospital by running a pop-up “shop” outside her home near Shepton Mallet to raise money for the unit where she receives regular treatment for a rare viral infection.

Ruby, of Stoney Stratton at Evercreech, sold produce and flowers from the family allotment as well as making loom bands and selling books and toys.

Ruby, who has just started at Ansford Academy in Castle Cary, suffers from Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) which requires treatment Pumpkin pie or soup anyone?

there’s always next year for a Bank Holiday activity that’s free and fun.

What’s not to like?”

And they’re off – there were a number of different walks to choose from each day

Ruby with her pop-up shop in Stoney Stratton

under general anaesthetic. So far, she has undergone more than 20 operations.

She said: “Everyone at the hospital is so nice and friendly and I wanted to do something to say thank you.”

So far, Ruby has raised £160 and is thinking of selling more produce from the allotment, including pumpkins.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 5

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MENDIP TIMES

Mendip Rocks! for Earth Science Week

ORGANISERS of the Mendip Rocks! geology festival have arranged a number of events to coincide with Earth Science Week in October.

They include a family fun day on Sunday, October 20th at Ebbor Gorge as a grand finale to the festival.

Other dates in October include specialist geology talks and walks such as on Saturday, October 12th at Beacon Hill Woods above Shepton Mallet; a geo lecture day also on October 12th at the Somerset Earth Science Centre at Stoke St Michael and a Cheddar Reservoir walk led by Mike Sumbler, from Bristol Water on Wednesday, October 16th.

All the way from America: Roger and Valeri Probert-Baker were on holiday from Seattle and visited the SESC with Valeri’s sister Hilary Cox to see a geology collection donated by their late father Ben. Roger, Valeri and Hilary are pictured with Adel Avery and Gill Odophie from the science centre

This group of childminders and their charges travelled from South Gloucestershire for an open day at the Somerset Earth Science Centre

Setting off for a tour of Wainwright’s Moonshill Quarry at Stoke St Michael

Harry and Charlie Goose, from Uley, near Stroud, with a Sonninia ammonite they found in a wood near their home along with a handmade poster explaining their find. Such fossils are rarely found in the Cotswolds

Maria and sons Logan and Reuben, from Bishop Sutton, explore the SESC geology discovery trail

The Somerset Earth Science centre celebrated its 10th anniversary with a geology-themed art exhibition

PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

For full details, visit: www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk

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Climate change

GLASTONBURY Town Council is organising a climate emergency event at Glastonbury Town Hall on Saturday, October 26th, 10am-4pm.

Somerset Waste, local community food growers, Extinction Rebellion, Plastic Free Glastonbury, Friends of the Earth and Earth Protectors will have stalls with information and advice.

There will be guest speakers, videos and a chance to experience People’s Assembly led by Indra Donafrancesca.

ENVIRONMENT

Rail line is a haven for wildlife

Details: laiqabrowne@glastonbury.gov.uk

Heart of Mendip

Volunteer and keen cyclist Nigel Rowles (left) with volunteer coordinator Robert Ladd by the sign next to Mells Road. The wildlife area borders the CPM Marshalls concrete works, a former railway marshalling yard

A NEW sign has been unveiled on the Sustrans route between Radstock and Frome to highlight the former railway line’s importance as a wildlife sanctuary.

The five-and-a-half mile Colliers Way stretch – part of Route 24 – is popular with cyclists and walkers but many may not realise it one of the most important former industrial habitats in the area. It is part of the Greener Greenways project.

Volunteers have been carrying out reptile surveys and members of the Midsomer Norton Men’s Shed at Farrington Gurney are currently making bat boxes.

MENDIP Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will be taking part in Landscapes for Life week until September 29th.

Each year AONBs across the UK organise events but this year is special – they are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act which paved the way for the UK’s 46 AONBs. In recognition of the anniversary this year’s theme is Natural Health Service, encouraging local people and visitors to go along to an event or enjoy a walk or cycle ride.

One of the best ways to help your own health is to go for a walk in the Mendip Hills. You can download a wide variety of walk routes from http://www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/walks/ On September 21st, AONBs across the nation were expected to create Hearts in the Landscape to show their love of their local areas and the role they play in the nation’s health and wellbeing.

In the Mendip Hills AONB people were expected to create a heart in Landslip Quarry, Cheddar Gorge.

Slow worms uncovered during a survey

One of the reptile survey mats

More volunteers are needed to support the work of Sustrans in the area. For details, visit: www.sustrans.org.uk MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 7

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MENDIP TIMES

ENVIRONMENT

The great outdoors – Frome’s Celebrating nature open spaces in the spotlight

Families gather on the Old Showfield for a fruit tree planting event coinciding with last year’s Apple Day

MORE than 150 people are currently on the waiting list for allotment plots in Frome, a meeting of the town council’s Council Matters has been told.

Neil Cameron from Frome Allotment Association, which manages all the allotments in the town, gave an overview of the types of allotments, from accessible raised beds to larger plots and praised the working relationship between the FAA and Frome Town Council.

There are eight sites in and around Frome which offer 232 plots to residents. There are currently 153 people on the waiting list, with most people receiving a plot within two years.

Councillors then unanimously approved and adopted the new management and improvement plans for Victoria Park and Mary Baily, although they wanted to consider further the proposals for increased tree and hedge planting as there was some concern about the loss of grass for running about on.

For Victoria Park, next steps involve improving the public toilets, winter care for the café and planting around the bandstand.

An overview the town’s parks and green spaces showed just how much had been happening in Frome’s great outdoors. It included information on work that has been recently completed: a new community noticeboard at Edmund Park, bins installed at Whatcombe Fields and many summer events from MeadowFest to street art, to PACT meetings, cake sales and Rock the Park.

Ongoing projects include a planting project for the town and discussions with Mendip District Council about potentially new areas to manage. Events coming up include Apple Day on October 20th and Frome Fireworks on November 2nd, both at the Old Showfield.

Pictured (l to r) Win Lowman, Faith Moulin, Lynda Hotchkiss, Guy Jenkinson, Heidi Hollis and Bob Lowman

YATTON and Congresbury Wildlife Action Group (YACWAG) has joined with the Yatton Library Writers Group to organise a competition in words and pictures.

The two groups are giving budding writers and illustrators six months to get their creativity going and submit their work by March 31st, 2020.

The theme of the competition is Nature As Your Neighbour, a slogan which YACWAG has been using for the last few years to sum up the charity’s aim to bring people closer to local wildlife.

Details: www.yacwag.org.uk or email YattonComp@gmail.com

Council acts on climate change

AFTER declaring a climate and ecological emergency earlier this year, Mendip District Council has appointed Councillor Tom Ronan to a new cabinet post in charge of strategic policy and climate change. The council has also created a new officer post of Climate Change and Resilience Officer.

The cabinet has approved a series of actions which can be implemented quickly, including a review of Glyphosate usage, tree provision and wild flower distribution, increasing recycling and reducing CO2 and increasing renewable energy provisions on site.

Details: www.mendip.gov.uk/cabinet

Wonderful news for Westhay as reserve is secured

WELLWISHERS have raised £60,000 in just four weeks to complete the purchase of a crucially-important plot of land at Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve.

Somerset Wildlife Trust faced an original deadline of the end of October to find the money for the 11-acre former peat workings. Buying the site will allow the trust to manage water levels in the area in a more environmentally-friendly way to ensure the long-term stability of the wetland habitat.

Support for the appeal has been so enthusiastic that

donations are still being received which will allow the trust to do even more work at Westhay, It is looking at creating better paths for visitors, building dipping ponds and broadwalks to improve access for people with mobility issues.

Meanwhile, a separate appeal has been launched to try to raise £7,000 to repair serious vandalism at Catcott Nature Reserve. Police are investigating two incidents which happened in August.

To donate securely by card visit the trust website or call 01823 652429.

PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

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THESE days many of us are living well into old age. Whilst this is good news, an unfortunate consequence is that more and more people are suffering from agerelated memory loss and conditions such as Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia.

The fact that a person is suffering from one of these conditions does not, of itself, deprive that person of the ability to instruct solicitors and make decisions.

As Solicitors we need to be able to recognise the symptoms, establish whether the client has the capacity to provide instructions and, most important of all to provide them with reassurance and advise them in a way that they can understand.

The Dementia Action Alliance is a national organisation with many local branches and provides assistance and support to people affected and their families. One of their functions is to provide training to professionals to enable them to recognise the condition and provide effective representation and support.

We are pleased to say that following in-house training and subsequent monitoring, our Shepton Mallet Office has been recognised as being "Dementia Considerate" and as such we can justifiably claim to be dementia friendly and trained to offer a safe, reassuring and welcoming environment.

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MENDIP TIMES

Anita’s a busy woman

THE North Somerset Ploughing Match was a great success on a site at Bourton, Wick St Lawrence, kindly provided by the Mead family. Beautiful weather, a strong entry in the ploughing classes, a very high standard in the handicrafts and a lovely lunch provided by Sarah Gell and her With MARY helpers gave us all a great day.

JAMES MBE In charge of the handicrafts section is farmer Anita Simmons from Kingston Seymour. Anita farms in partnership with her husband Richard at Yew Tree Farm.

Starting with 122 acres in 1978 the farm has grown to 400 acres with 300 plus pedigree Holstein Friesian cows, 20,000 free range hens plus turkeys for the Christmas market and cider orchards.

Over the years Anita has worked with every enterprise on the farm but her favourite and sole responsibility was a flock of sheep that numbered 500 at one point. Some of the fondness for sheep has moved over to the Simmons’ son Ed, veterinary surgeon of Tibbs and Simmons, who with his partner Kate has been winning many prizes in the show ring with Kerry Hill and Charolais sheep.

Anita and Richard share much of the responsibility for each enterprise but nowadays and having given up tractor driving, Anita leads on animal health and welfare audits plus the time-consuming paperwork, such as VAT, PAYE, assurance scheme audits, cattle passports, basic payment scheme and anything office based.

Because of the diversity of enterprises at Yew Tree Farm there have been many educational visits. Young people requiring work experience are constantly requesting placements and throughout the summer almost every week has seen vet students gaining valuable farm experience in both dairy and poultry.

The farm also provides a wonderful setting for fundraising events including an annual wassail and last December the diocese staged a real-life nativity in and around the cattle and sheep sheds. Shepherds, Mary and a baby, the inn keeper, the whole cast, in and around the farm enacted the Christmas story much to the delight of children from local

schools who visited.

Both Richard and Anita agree that farm visits afford farmers the chance to engage with the public to give a fair and true picture of farming practices.

Anita Simmons is a special lady, her work load is enormous as she does so much voluntary work outside the farm. She is passionate about education and spent some time working with children in the streets, rubbish dumps and Christian orphanages in Honduras. It was clear that the only escape for these children and young people was education.

Then it was on to The Jungle in Calais. Together with the Rev Matt Thompson and a group of volunteers from St Andrew’s Church, Congresbury, Anita set off to deliver desperately needed goods to the refuges and those in need, fearlessly wandering amongst and engaging with those living in the camp.

Now, in her role as president of the Somerset County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, as a justice of the peace in both the criminal and family courts, and working with young people and children in the community, Anita meets many young people on a daily basis.

The message Anita would give to all young people is: “Take every opportunity you can whether it is school, college or university, wider activities and especially young farmers club; have courage and always do your best. Work hard and play hard.”

Children in Honduras

Young Farmers Choir

PAGE 10 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Anita with some of her sheep

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Public urged to be on high alert for Asian hornets

SOMERSET Beekeepers’ Association is calling on the public to be on the lookout for yellow-legged Asian hornets, which pose a serious threat to honeybees and other pollinators, in the coming weeks.

Anne Pike, chairman of SBKA, said: “Vigilance is the cornerstone of our defence strategy and we want to mobilise the county to be on the lookout for these highly destructive black wasp-like insects in September and October.”

Somerset Beekeepers has set up 12 Asian hornet action teams, which cover the county, to follow up reported sightings and inform the public.

The teams are led by master beekeeper Lynne Ingram, who said: “It is crucial that we are all vigilant – and that any nests are found. One missed nest means lots more next year.”

Asian hornets are easy to spot – they are large and appear mainly black in the air. When they land, the distinctive single orange stripe across the abdomen is very obvious.

FARMING

(Photograph by Stewart Gould)

Asian hornet on ivy in Brittany

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MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 11

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MENDIP TIMES

Huge crowds at Frome Cheese Show

Harriet Bown, from Binegar, with supreme champion Black Welsh Mountain sheep May. It was Hannah’s first time as a livestock exhibitor

Celebrity chef Jean Cristophe Novelli on stage in the cookery theatre. At one point he was joined by Frome College GCSE catering students Jack Norris and Sam Oliver

Pig racing underway on the Village Green

Admiring the vegetables

There were emotional scenes in the cattle rings when Lisa Walwin presented the Tim Walwin Memorial Shield in honour of her late father Tim for the champion British Blue cattle. It went to the Beach family, from Ashcott, for their calf Dymond Orchid. Lisa (third from left) is pictured with (l:r) show president David Millard, Sam Read, from class sponsor Read Agri and Sam and Rebecca Beach

Claire Johnson, an actress and re-enactment enthusiast, was promoting Dad’s Army On Stage, being performed by Project Play! And taking place at the Merlin Theatre in Frome PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Day of the Triffids – award-winning floral art by Theresa Sargeant

Global Cheese Awards chairman Chris Stilton, of Shepton Mallet, during the cheese auction

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The Jackdaws Songbirds choir opened the live music in the Horse Shoe Arena

FROME CHEESE SHOW 2019

Frome Carnival royalty with event chairman June Barnes in the Cheese Pavilion. This year’s carnival processions were taking place as Mendip Times was going to press Frome Town Band

Cheesemaker John Longman, from Ditcheat, explains his craft

Crowds were huge

Ruby-Mae Beach

The procession of livestock in the main arena

CBeebies favourite Mr Bloom entertained families

Early morning scenes with balloons from a fiesta at nearby Longleat flying overhead MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 13

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INTERNET

Bits and pieces

A COUPLE of comments on all sorts this month. A lot of people don’t turn off their computer, which needs thinking about. Some updates only come in when you restart or turn off and turn on again.

Such updates are very important for security and safety and easy running of your computer. And it might seem like a nuisance when updates come in and change everything, which I totally agree with.

But the inconvenience is well worth it as, again, updates are very important and you should accept them. Anything that comes from within your computer you should be able to trust. Anything from an outside source should be treated with suspicion!

Occasionally, updates will revert some programmes to their default settings, so something you have written in a Word document may suddenly decide to open as a NotePad. So the best way round that one is to right-click the unopened document, hover on Open With, click Word.

Then you can click “Always use this app to open this file type” to permanently remedy the situation, or just click ok for a temporary fix. If you find you don’t want it that way, just repeat the process and change back. As with many such situations, it pays to make a note of how you did it, so you know how to undo it.

Another handy hint is how to search for things on your computer. First, emails – this example is for Gmail, but most, if not all, email providers have the same service, though it might be in a slightly different place, but usually at the top of the page.

Click in the Search mail box and type the name of the recipient or sender, a word in the title, or any word in the email, and it will find it for you.

In Gmail, it only searches your Inbox or labels/folders, so if it’s one you have deleted, you will need to click the link at the bottom of the results to find it. Many webpages – especially shopping ones – have a similar search button at the top of the page.

If you want to find a word on a page (web/Word/Excel) and like keyboard shortcuts, you can hold down Ctrl and press F (for Find) at the same time, and it will give you a search box which will search the entire page for the word you have typed. Or on a Mac it’s cmd (or command) and F. On an iPad, you tap in the address bar (very top of the page) and type what you want, but look down the bottom of the list, and you should find a Search On This Page option, so just tap that.

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PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS 1 Erasures (anag.) put a mind at rest (8) 5 Right and ---, correct and accepted (6) 9 Absolute, inexhaustible (9) 11 River or rough surfaced cloth (5) 12 Built on a hill, home to the Ashton Court Estate (6) 13 Viewpoint or stance (8) 15 A tailor’s scissors (7,6) 18 Dartmoor and Exmoor are examples (8,5) 22 Abstention from it! (8) 23 Younger than a junior (6) 26 One of the five senses (5) 27 There was a demonstration in the 1870’s to save the cross of this village – not far from Wells (9) 28 Meagre, of little account (6) 29 Latin for each year (3,5)

DOWN 1 Systematic gatherings of people or things (5-3) 2 Inclusive of everything (3-2) 3 Japanese warrior (7) 4 Schedule or roster (4) 6 Greek white wine (7) 7 It goes before (9) 8 ---- Stoke, a thankful village (6) 10 Trainer of more than one ‘Cheltenham Gold Cup’ winner, Paul Nicholls, has his stables here (8) 14 Non-believer (8) 16 From the French literally ‘without equal’ (9) 17 Line on a map joining places of equal temperature (8) 19 In name only (7) 20 Universal cure (7) 21 Upcast (anag), misbehaves (4,2) 24 Chaps who work in advertising (5) 25 Sheltered bay or decent fellow (4) by greendandelion

This month’s solution can be found on page 113

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MENDIP TIMES

EVENTS

East Brent gives thanks

EAST Brent Harvest Home was dedicated to two stalwarts, Betty Griffin and Rita Thomas, who each gave 60 years of service.

Burtle Silver Band entertained huge crowds. The guest speaker was Michael Eavis and the harvest service was conducted by the Rev Kevin Wright.

The event has a long history

Jugs away – Dave Perrett (left) and Phil Jules The marquee was packed

Burtle Silver Band

Lunch is served

One of the carvers, David Edwards

PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

The Rev Kevin Wright conducted the service before lunch

George and Rachel Champion, two of the waiters

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MENDIP TIMES

The times, they are a-changing AS we move into autumn proper, with the leaves changing colour and the temperatures dropping, you may be feeling a little nervous about the future. Fortunately, the new season also brings us delicious ingredients With JUNE MACFARLANE to comfort our tastebuds and warm our hearts with the certainty of a wonderful meal. Squash, wild mushrooms, local apples – the colours and flavours of autumn.

AUTUMN SQUASH, RED ONIONS, PUY LENTILS & SAGE

Colourful comfort food: squash, lentils and red onions

Orange fleshed squash, fudgy and sweet, partners brilliantly with red onions and smoky lentils.

METHOD Preheat oven to 220°C. Cut the squash into bite size chunks, the onion into wedges and place in a big bowl. Add the sage, salt and pepper, and douse with olive oil. Spread on a parchment lined baking tray and bake for 25 mins, until tender. Set aside.

Meanwhile simmer the lentils in water for about 20 mins, until cooked. Drain. Place in a large bowl, add squash, half the lemon zest, all the juice, garlic, herbs, salt to taste and a splash of oil. Serve with a scattering of lemon zest.

INGREDIENTS

(for two) 1 kg squash, trimmed and deseeded 2 red onions, peeled Olive oil 10 sage leaves 100g puy lentils Zest and juice of large lemon 1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed Small handful parsley leaves, chopped Small handful mint leaves, chopped

PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Boozy baked apples – perfect for Halloween

NEW SEASON’S APPLES

The local apple crop is huge this year, plenty for everybody, even the starlings, so please don’t let them go to waste. Buy them, scrump them, pick them up from the verges, but do use them! A boozy baked apple anybody?

INGREDIENTS

(for four) 4 large eating apples 4 tbsp mincemeat 50 ml brandy 2 tbsp soft brown sugar Grated zest of 1 lemon Unsalted butter

METHOD Preheat oven to 150°C. Core the apples and score around their circumference. If necessary, cut a sliver off the bottoms to level up. Add the brandy, sugar and lemon zest to the mincemeat and use to stuff the cavities. Place on a baking tray, top with a knob of butter, cover loosely with foil and bake for about 45 mins. Remove foil half-way through and baste with juices. Serve with juices, any leftover mincemeat, and thick cream or ice cream.

WILD MUSHROOMS, BLACK GARLIC, RED WINE AND POLENTA INGREDIENTS

(for four) 15g dried wild mushrooms 2 shallots, chopped 4 tbsp olive oil 300g fresh wild mushrooms 2 cloves black garlic, chopped 2 tsp thyme leaves 100ml red wine 100g instant polenta Milk, butter

Wild mushrooms are in the shops; if you forage your own do be careful!

Black garlic is sweet and soft and great with mushrooms. Quick cook polenta is just fine for this dish.

METHOD Put the dried mushrooms in a bowl and just cover with boiling water for 20 mins. Drain but reserve liquid. Sweat the shallots gently in olive oil. Cut fresh mushrooms into chunks and add to shallots with garlic and thyme. When tender remove from pan and reserve. Deglaze pan with red wine and reserved mushroom liquid. Reduce by half. Taste for seasoning. Add mushrooms to pan and reheat briefly.

Cook polenta according to instructions on packet, using half milk and water. Finish with a knob of butter and season to taste. Serve mushrooms with polenta and a dash of olive oil.

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What’s new from

Myrtle Farm

FOOD & DRINK

A round-up of events from Thatchers Cider in Sandford

THANK YOU FROM US ALL!

WHAT an amazing time everyone had at Myrtle Farm for the Thatchers Open Day! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us – our neighbours, visitors from far afield, stall holders, local charities, and all our staff. We all loved meeting and chatting with so many people and we really appreciate the time that everyone took to look around the farm, and most of all, enjoy the day with us.

Martin Thatcher

ENDIP IMES •O CTOBER 2017 2019 • PAGE 19 MM ENDIP TT IMES •N OVEMBER

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MENDIP TIMES

Farm with a lot of bottle

Discover more of the countryside with our inspiring workshops: 16 Oct

Wild & untamed floristry with Callie Marks £45

19 Oct

Wild booze with Adrian Boots £55

27 Oct

Edible fungi foray with Adrian Boots £45

6 Nov

Autumn heart & wreath with Callie Marks £45

9 Nov

Edible fungi foray with Adrian Boots £45

4 Dec

Christmas wreath with Callie Marks £45

11 Dec

Christmas arrangement with Callie Marks £45

25 Jan 20 Intro to hedge laying with Kevin Toal £65 Jan/Feb 20 Orchard management with Les Davies MBE Mar 20

Tree and woodland planting – please call

2020

Go Wild landscape series talks & walks with Adrian Boots & Les Davies MBE – please call

25% off accommodation for workshop participants in luxury cottage and glamping with hot tubs

www.gowildevents.com Email: hello@gowildevents.com Tel: 01761 463356

CHEW Valley Dairy is pioneering the use of reusable glass milk bottles, with over 50 outlets already signed up. It costs £1 to buy a bottle and then £1 each time to fill it with milk.

Colston and Celia Gay and their family, from North Widcombe, are behind the initiative.

The milk comes from their farm, which Colston runs with his sons Thomas and Henry James (pictured).

The dairy is run by Thomas and their New Manor Farm Shop is one of the outlets. Colston said: “We are having tremendous demand. There’s obviously a lot of concern about using plastic milk bottles.”

They are offering semi-skimmed milk and whole milk, both organic and conventional.

Details: info@chewvalleydairy.co.uk

Country shopping at its best

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

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

TEA ROOMS

Hot & cold meals Delicious cream teas Full English breakfasts Function room available for hire

MEAT SUPPLIED FROM OUR OWN FARM

Time to think about Christmas and our home-produced meat

Emma Bridgewater China & other gifts

Enjoy a good Sunday roast

Reduce plastic – with our reusable glass milk bottles

Farm Shop: 01761 220067 • Tea Rooms: 01761 220172

PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

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GARDEN FOOD

You can’t beat a beetroot

With JAKE WHITSON

WE'VE done pretty well with our beetroots this year, having struggled a little in the past with them. It seems they like a very fertile soil and good drainage, so the new raised beds we grew them in have turned out to be perfect. We sow them at regular intervals from mid-April to July for a regular supply of roots in the summer

plus some to store.

Beetroots are incredibly versatile and we use them in all kinds of ways. Often we grate them raw, sometimes mixed with equal parts carrot and apple, then stir in lemon juice and toasted sunflower seeds for a tasty lunchtime salad.

In order to replicate those packages of pre-cooked beetroot you can buy in the shops, we boil them whole, without topping or tailing them, for an hour or so until cooked and then allow to cool – the skin then peels off easily between your fingers.

It is important to leave them whole with the skin on otherwise most of the flavour and colour will disappear into the cooking water!

Once so prepared they are great in all kinds of ways – I particularly enjoy them cut into slices and dressed with anchovies, wedges of hard-boiled egg and a strong mustardy dressing.

Beetroots also respond well to roasting and a particular speciality in our house at the moment is diced beetroot, roasted with a little oil, salt and ground cumin for around half an hour in a hot oven. It goes really well with rice, yoghurt and Indian pickles.

A little more unusual is their use in cakes and biscuits – by using them like carrots in carrot cake, they contribute a moist texture and sweet, rich background flavour, while cutting down on the amount of sugar you have to add.

They seem to be used always in recipes with chocolate – whether this is to hide the beetroot’s colour or because it goes well with their earthy flavour, I've never been quite sure. However there are also some terrific tasting varieties of white, yellow and orange beetroots out there, so I'm sure the field is ripe for more experimentation.

Jacob Whitson is a chef, food writer and smallholder.

He is currently working on setting up a small sustainable goose farm in Somerset with his partner Johanna.

FOOD & DRINK

WILD FOOD

Greencracked Brittlegill – our green friend

PICTURE it: a lake surrounded by an ancient broadleaved forest containing beech and oak.

After a stroll round the lake, you set off into the forest through dappled shade, following a sinuous trail amid the fallen leaves. Sounds idyllic, yet this is exactly what we did this very month.

With ADRIAN Forests and broadleaved woodlands are BOOTS incredible habitats for wildlife but are also good for our souls. The sights, sounds and smells speak to a primal part of ourselves and it’s a great way to unwind, relax and top up our relationship with nature.

What better way to do that than to also to be on the look-out for our fungal friends, such a crucial part of the forest ecosystem. We would be neck deep in leaves if it wasn’t for the fungal action breaking them down. And that earthy smell of the forest, well that’s mostly fungal too.

So the fungus of our attention today is the brilliantly named Greencracked Brittlegill and guess why that is? Because it has a green cap skin that has a cracked effect and the gills are, ah, brittle. I love the names mushrooms have particularly those that say exactly what they are on the label. Except there are no labels out in the forest so one has to take extreme care, if you can’t name it, then don’t eat it!

Greencracked Brittlegill (Russula virescens) has a rounded cap, seven to 12 cm wide, flattening out and wavy as it matures. The colour is a dull green with darker green scales 5-9cm tall by 23cm wide. The stem is pure white but again as it matures it develops rust spots.

The gills are creamy in colour and are brittle but not as brittle as some brittlegills, I hope you are following this. The flesh is white and firm, spores white to pale cream in colour. As mentioned, they are found in mainly beech woodlands in the summer through autumn but are not particularly common.

So there you are, you’ve just discovered your brittlegill but is it an edible one or is it a hot, burny, acrid and very inedible specimen such as the Beechwood Sickener (again great name, no labels except a bright red cap that says “Don’t Eat Me”)?

A quick taste test is in order. Using your finger nail, scrape off some of the less than brittle gills and have a nibble. It turns out that our green friend has a mild, nutty flavour with a firm texture.

Good job too as no one wants anything hot and acrid, let alone the ensuing gastric adventures.

So if you want to get out in the forest and experience some fungal fun, join me on a foray on October 27th or November 9th.

See you there.

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

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 21

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MENDIP TIMES

Harvest show was lucky for some!

GLASTONBURY Harvest Show has celebrated its 13th anniversary, highlighting the importance of local food and the community.

Hailed as a fabulous food competition in the best possible taste, the show was supported by organisations including Glastonbury Town Council, Glastonbury Gardeners’ Group, Mendip Community Credit Union, Oaklands and Sweetacre Nurseries and Glastonbury Spring Water.

Glastonbury mayor Jon Cousins opened the show at Glastonbury Town Hall

Roz Neville’s prize-winning entry in the floral section called Some Like It Hot

Town crier David Greenway promoted the show throughout the day

A bottle to lift the spirits – entries ranged from mead to sloe vodka

Members of local country markets laid on homemade refreshments

Jane Wood (left) and Sandra Booth on the raffle stall

The town hall once again hosted the celebration of local food and produce

PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

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A L D W I C K V I N E YA R D

Perpetuated in pen and ink

WHAT joyful diversion from pre-harvest pressure to reunite our Mary with Mendip Hills artist Martin Bentham RWA!* After Exeter College of Art & Design graduation in 1985, Martin met Mary thanks to her son, the late Chris Watts (who planted Aldwick’s vines). Mary With commissioned the emblematic drawing ELIZABETH “Aldwick Court Farm 1988” that graces LAVER our wine labels.

“Back then,” Martin recalls, “I did more drawing than painting with a focus on architecture, probably inspired by my father, Dr Neil Bentham RIBA. My aim was to compose an accurate pen & ink representation of this fine farmhouse.”

Mary’s daughter Carole Grant slipped away from catering vineyard tour lunches to photograph the reunion: symbolic of continuity/change, family/friendship, plus the defining feature of winegrowing – a sense of place. * https://martinbentham.com/ (Within the online gallery ‘Apiarist’ is our treasured wasp advisor John Smythe, incognito in bee-keeper suit and Andy Wear’s Fernhill Farm sheep graze Aldwick meadows.)

Market change

FOOD & DRINK

MENDIP District Council has handed over the running of Shepton Mallet Sunday Market to the newly formed Revival community interest company.

The company has been formed by Shepton Mallet residents who have been involved with the market as volunteers since it was reestablished back in 2017.

THE RED LION VILLAGE PUB & RESTAURANT Sutton Hill Road, Bishop Sutton BS39 5UT

01275 333042

Elizabeth Laver is Vineyard Manager

For wine & vineyard tours visit www.aldwickestate.co.uk

The Red Lion – the pub at the heart of the community

AUTUMN LUNCH SPECIAL! 2 courses for *£9.95, Mon – Sat

DELICIOUS DECEMBER Christmas Party-style lunches available with all the festive trimmings – call us for details!

*Quote MTRL to receive this offer!

Opening hours: Closed Monday day time and open at 5 for drinks only • Tuesday – Thursday 12 noon – 2.30pm, 5pm – 11pm. Open all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 23

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MENDIP TIMES

GOLDEN LION WRINGTON Sam Glenn and the team look forward to welcoming you

OPENING HOURS: Monday–Friday 2-11pm • Saturday 12-12pm • Sunday 12-11pm

TEL: (01934) 861189 • Email: sam@samglenn.co.uk • www.goldenlion@wickwarbrewing.co.uk

Hartley’s Kitchen e Café bistro on the Mendips

We put the Hart . . .

into Hartley’s

Open for breakfast,

brunch, lunch and Sunday lunch.

Fully licensed, great coffee, afternoon teas and champagne breakfasts!

Beaujolais Nouveau Party

Book now for our party on November 21st Don’t miss out on our amazing French food celebration!

Christmas Time

Our gorgeous menu is now available

Open: Tuesday-Saturday 8am-4pm; Sunday breakfast 9am-11.15am Sunday lunch from midday (last orders 1.45pm)

Hartleys Kitchen, Rookery Farm, Binegar, BA3 4UL Reservation hotline: 01749 841718 e-mail: info@hartleyskitchen.com See our complete menus at: www.hartleyskitchen.com

PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Sam’s the man at the Golden Lion

SAM Glenn is taking over the Golden Lion in Wrington, describing himself as the oldest “new” landlord in town at the age of 69.

But he’s certainly not new to the trade, having first worked in a pub in Oxfordshire in 1974. He then moved to Bristol where he ran the Dog and Duck and later

the Vittoria in Whiteladies Road.

After that he had The Plough in Wrington and the Langford Inn, before taking on Bugler’s off licence in Wrington, which he ran with his wife Joan for 14 years.

He said moving round the corner to the Golden Lion “seemed like a good idea”. The pub is owned by Wickwar Brewing Company and the move means Sam renews an acquaintance with its co-owner and director, Mike Flavin, dating back to his time in Bristol.

He’s also a personal friend of the Golden Lion’s former landlord Phil Giorgetti and his wife Judith. Sam said: “It’s going to be a true drink only pub, though we may introduce bar snacks and tapas.”

Hartley’s Kitchen at Rookery Farm, Binegar

ONE of the joys of Hartley’s Kitchen at Rookery Farm at Binegar, is that they are devoted to follow the seasons on their menu.

They make all their soups and pies from scratch, warming broths made with pumpkin, watercress, rocket and sweet corn. Pies packed with steak and ale, chicken and apricot; how about devilled kidneys and local faggots?

Mussels served with frites on Thursday, November 21st for Beaujolais Nouveau, king scallops tossed in lemon juice and Worcester sauce for Sunday breakfast – all perfectly in season.

The gastronomic adventure they call Christmas is a feast to behold. A three-bird roast of duck, pheasant and turkey, an array of the finest winter vegetables, game terrine, Baileys cheesecake and the best mulled wine for miles around.

This year, for the first time, you will find a totally vegan Christmas menu. Tempted? See you there.

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FOOD & DRINK

Wells Food Festival will be fun for kids too!

A NEW interactive Children’s Trail will be one of the features for families at this year’s Wells Food Festival on Sunday, October 13th.

The trail offers a fun, family-friendly way to explore the site.

Visit the festival stand on the green and pick up a picture trail for little ones and a quiz trail for the bigger kids.

Elsewhere, for a “behind-the-scenes” look at food, head over to the Charlie Bigham’s Discovery Zone in the Recreation Ground.

With a dairy focus, Shepton Vets will be on hand to explain how they help farmers keep cows happy and productive whilst Coombes Micro Dairy, from Blackford, will have farm fresh milk samples. There are tips on yoghurt making from The Collective, as well as cheese and butter making.

Somerset Waste Partnership has lots of practical advice on how to make the most of your food and cut waste, whilst in the Bath & West Farmyard, agricultural activities and farm animals are on hand to help bring farming practices to life.

The Artisan Market has always been at the heart of Wells Food Festival. It is stronger than ever this year with more than 175 of the county’s finest artisan producers and street food sellers. There is plenty of award-winning produce to taste. The Somerset companies that received three stars at the national 2019 Great Taste Awards are all attending.

A busy artisan market underway

The festival runs from 10.30am-4.30pm. Entry is free. For details, visit: www.wellsfoodfestival.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 25

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MENDIP TIMES

Castle Cary exhibition

BORN in 1947, Kevin Hughes RI, water colour artist, studied at Reading University and then worked for several years in London illustrating articles and books.

For the last 30 years he has concentrated on painting, mostly in watercolour, landscapes, buildings and interiors. He is mainly interested in the shapes and colours contrasted within nature and man-made structures, such as buildings, fields and bridges etc..

He occasionally works in pastels and oils. After living for a while in Bath he now lives on the wild north coast of Cornwall.

His work has been shown in many galleries including The Alresford Gallery, St. James’s Gallery, Medici Gallery, London and The Gallery Revel, New York. It is also shown in the Wessex collection, the permanent collection at Longleat House.

He will be exhibiting his work in the Market House, Castle Cary from Sunday, November 3rd to Saturday, November 9th.

He has won many awards including third prize at the Singer Friedlander/Sunday Times Watercolour Competition. In 2000 he was elected to the Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters.

Timsbury exhibition

YVONNE Brunton from Dorothy House Hospice Care will open Timsbury Art Group’s exhibition at the Conygre Hall, Timsbury on Saturday, October 19th running from 10am4pm.

An original framed watercolour by the late well-known artist Terry Harrison is a raffle prize, along with 70 original postcard size paintings, with the proceeds going to the hospice.

The group has been running for over 29 years and is a self-help group of artists of all abilities, from beginners to the more experienced, who meet weekly during term times in the short mat bowls area at Conygre Hall on Thursday afternoons between 2-4pm. New members are always welcome.

PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Details: Diana Walker 01761 433688

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Time to sell at Clevedon CLEVEDON Salerooms’ September quarterly specialist sale included this fine 18ct Rolex Ref: 18038 Oyster perpetual

Late 19th Century Black Forest walnut cuckoo clock sold to a German bidder for £3,500

wristwatch estimated at £6,000-£7,500.

Quality never goes out of fashion and the watched climbed to £10,000 to the delight of the vendor.

A beautiful diamond crossover ring sold for £4,200 and a gem-set Cartier spray brooch sold for £2,500. Set to delight the successful German bidder on the hour, every hour is this fine walnut Black Forest cuckoo clock that sold for £3,500.

The furniture included a set of four highly desirable and currently fashionable Danish dining chairs, in rosewood, by J.L. Moller, known as Model 78’s.

Estimated at £300-£400 the set of mid20th century chairs sold for £1,100.

A Bechstein piano created much interest selling for £4,800 and over 70 gold coins sold over estimates as the gold price continues to rise in this period of economic uncertainty.

What remains clear in the market is that for quality items, there are still plenty of buyers. Clevedon Salerooms are already

18ct gold Rolex Oyster perpetual wristwatch

accepting entries for both their antiques and interiors sales and the next quarterly specialist sale on November 14th.

Look out for their jewellery valuation days in Clevedon and Bristol.

For more information visit www.clevedon-salerooms.com or telephone 01934 830111

Every lot in every auction, illustrated and sold with live internet bidding

ENTRIES INVITED FOR THE 14TH NOVEMBER SPECIALIST SALE (Closing date 15th October)

Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

FREE AnTiquE VALuATiOn DAYS 14th & 15th October

9.30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm Held at the Salerooms No appointment necessary

Antiques, Interiors, Collectables & Jewellery Auctions 10th & 24th October Sales start at 10.30am On view day before 10am – 6.30pm

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

Black Forest Cuckoo Clock

Opal brooch and earrings

Sold for £3,800

Sold for £1,800

Free Jewellery, Watch, Silver & Gold Valuation Day at the Salerooms Monday 7th October 10am – 4pm Crossover diamond ring

Sold in September for £4,400 On the above date our experienced Valuers will be offering free no-obligation verbal estimates on all items of jewellery, watches, silver and gold at the Salerooms with the 14th November Specialist Sale in mind. No appointment necessary. For further information contact Toby Pinn MRICS on 01934 830111.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 27

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MENDIP TIMES

Textile exhibition

AN exhibition of textile art by members of Avalon Embroiderers’ Guild will be held at The Wells and Mendip Museum from Saturday, October 12th until Saturday, October 19th, 10am–4pm, closed Sundays, entry is free.

Called Sea, Shore and More there will be a variety of work on display which will include mixed media and machine embroidery alongside traditional hand stitching.

As well as members’ individual work, there will be a group project depicting a “continuous seascape”. Also there will be both completed and “work in progress” pieces from workshops throughout the last two years since their previous exhibition in the museum.

Avalon Embroiderers’ Guild is a branch of the National Embroiderers’ Guild and usually meets on the fourth Saturday of the month in Ashcott Village Hall TA7 9PZ where members either work on their own projects or participate in workshops.

They are a thriving growing group of textile artists and new members or visitors are always welcome.

Details: www.avalonembroiderersguild.weebly.com

Inspirational art

LOOKING for a piece of art to hang in your newly-refurbished kitchen? Go along to Natasha Clutterbuck’s exhibition as part of the Chew Valley Arts Trail. She may have just what you need.

Over the last few years she has been developing her collection of charcoal vegetable drawings, creating murals for the Yeo Valley Café in London and the Vegetable Diva on Bristol Harbourside.

Her work is inspired by seasonal, local vegetables and is created using locally found, natural raw materials. She will be showing a selection of her work at her studio in Stanton Drew.

Chew Valley Arts Trail – see page 30.

OPEN STUDIO EXHIBITION

Chew Valley Arts Trail Originals| Prints|Postcards Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th October 10am - 6pm Church Lane Cottage Stanton Drew Bristol BS39 4EW Phone: 07464 951180 email: info@natashaclutterbuck.co.uk www.natashaclutterbuck.co.uk PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Painting prize – still time to enter draw

Brenda Fisher (second from right) with Tony and Carrie and their daughter Elswyth

RAFFLE tickets for a signed print by the late acclaimed railway artist David Fisher will remain on sale until the end of September at Swan Artworks at Paulton.

Tony and Carrie Osborne, who are celebrating the tenth anniversary of their bespoke framing business, are raising money for Cancer Research UK in memory of David, of Midsomer Norton.

David’s widow, Brenda, donated the rare signed print of the iconic painting Let Battle Commence, celebrating Radstock’s railway heritage. The picture is valued at £250 and tickets cost £1 each.

Tony, Carrie, friends and family celebrated the tenth Tony, who plays guitar with several anniversary of Swan local bands, had this instrument Artworks with a party and hand built and painted to match the live music at the workshop colour of a Toyota Supra owned by on the Old Mills Trading the couple’s friend Jen Massey, a singer/songwriter Estate.

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ARTS & ANTIQUES

Look out for dinosaurs and vintage toys in October AN interesting 1970’s yellow Motobecane Mobuxis Scooterette/Moped is sure to draw interest in Cooper and Tanner’s upcoming Antique and Collectables Sale on Wednesday, October 2nd.

The piece was part of a house clearance locally and has been hidden away for some years; it is need of a loving new owner to bring it back to its former glory!

As ever there is an excellent selection of jewellery, watches, coins and silver in the sale; including two lovely diamond five stone rings and a Chinese export silver spill vase decorated with prunus by Wang Hing. There is also an interesting collection of studio pottery in the sale from makers such as John Bedding, Paul Quere and others.

Arts and Crafts style furniture is particularly popular at the moment and this sale contains some lovely pieces from H. Chapman & Co. and Harris Lebus.

Pieces by Harris Lebus were retailed at both Heals and Liberty & Co. Another area of auction that there is always demand for is vintage toys. In the October sale there are a number of Aurora dinosaur models, with unmade examples and ones that have been constructed. In addition to these there are several lots of vintage Meccano, and boxed Hornby Dublo railway carriages, models and track.

On the horizon for the November sale is a fantastic entry of long case clocks, bracket clocks and silver. Some of the long case clocks are particularly unusual, including an example which is almost eight feet high with a heavily carved dark wood case.

Cooper and Tanner will be holding a free antiques valuation morning at their Glastonbury office on Tuesday, October 29th from 9am to 1pm; no appointment is necessary just pop along to see Gareth Wasp their valuer and auctioneer.

Part of the large collection of studio ceramics included in the October sale

COOPER AND TANNER SALE ROOMS A PREVIEW OF OUR OCTOBER 2nd SALE

A Harris Lebus oak inlaid wardrobe.

Estimate: £100-£150

A boxed Hornby carriage and track set. Estimate: £40-£60

A Motobecane Mobuxis Scooterette/Moped.

Estimate: £100-£150

A diamond five stone ring with carved setting.

Estimate: £120-£180

SALE ROOMS Gareth Wasp Telephone 01373 852419 The Agricultural Centre, Standerwick, Frome BA11 2QB gareth.wasp@cooperandtanner.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 29

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MENDIP TIMES

CHEW VALLEY ARTS TRAIL

Stunning displays

LOCAL artists and crafts people are putting the finishing touches to the work they will unveil in this year’s 17th annual Chew Valley Arts Trail, featuring 25 venues right across the area.

As always there will be a wide variety of high quality paintings on show, along with sculpture, jewellery, ceramics, glass, textiles, engravings and even a spot of astrophotography!

New entrants and some returning artists will ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy during the event on Saturday and Sunday, 12th and 13th of October.

It will be a great chance to take a trip around the valley, either by car, bike or on foot, travelling the whole trail or just popping into a few local venues.

Either way people enjoy the chance to have a chat to the artists, browse or buy without any pressure. It will be a fun weekend for participants and visitors alike.

Brochures are widely available and all the details about directions and disabled access are on the website.

Details: www.chewvalleyartstrail.co.uk

PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

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Keener interest in jewellery seen at MAR WITH some local auction houses struggling for entries, Killens saw a healthy entry of over 650 lots in their sale of Antiques and Collectables held on September 7th. Once again, a wide variety of items was entered with particularly strong entries of jewellery, silver and paintings.

Keen interest was seen for the excellent entry of jewellery on offer with strong bidding over the telephone and the internet. A yellow metal ring, hallmarked 18ct gold, set with three round diamonds achieved £2,200 whilst a white metal cluster ring, tested to be platinum, set with rubies and diamonds made £1,300.

A yellow metal heavy curb link bracelet, hallmarked 18ct gold, sold for £1,800. Yet again, there was a good entry of watches with specialist buyers in attendance and a boxed Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch realised £1,900 with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Airking wristwatch making £1,800.

Model train enthusiasts were spoilt for choice once again and a large quantity of Graham Farish ’N’ gauge trains and rolling stock sold for £1,800 with a further collection of train carriages and engines realising £1,100. Amongst the collectables selling to advantage were a charming 19th century rocking horse that made £440, a fine 19th century Carrara marble bust of Apollo £380 and a late 18th century blonde tortoiseshell tea caddy that sold for £270. Amongst the pictures, a fashionable early 18th century portrait of a

ARTS & ANTIQUES

lady realised £600.

During each month, the team at the Mendip Auction Rooms run a busy schedule of sales with two sales of Victorian and Later Effects, including household effects, and a sale of Antiques and Collectables. It is possible to drop items off at the auction rooms between 10am and 3pm each weekday with valuers being present. Alternatively, members of the team are content to visit you free of charge at home.

Our next sale of Antiques and Collectables will be staged on Saturday, October 5th starting at 10am

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 31

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MENDIP TIMES

NEWS

Death of Pete Baker

AVON & Somerset Search and Rescue team members are mourning the death of Pete Baker, who has died at home in Bristol of natural causes, aged 54.

Pete, an engineer, had a huge role in ASSAR since 2008, attending hundreds of call-outs to help people both across Mendip and further afield.

Ron Thomas, chair of ASSAR said: “Pete’s sudden death has come as a real shock to us all. He was very fit and technically skilled, enjoying mountain biking, mountaineering and kayaking outside of the team.

“I know fellow members will remember him for his big grin, his sense of humour and willingness to get involved.

He’ll be sadly missed.”

Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue is an emergency service staffed by volunteers, who undertake land searches and technical rescues from cliffs and water.

Birds fly their Nunney nest – but they’re not going far DAVID Bird and his wife Sarah have said goodbye to the village shop in Nunney which has been run by the family for almost 100 years.

The couple retired at the end of August from the Spar shop where David has worked for 49 years, receiving his first wage packet in August 1970.

The first shop to be run by the Birds was opened by David’s grandfather Sidney around 1922 just around the corner from the current premises – it is now home to a café. His sons Ronald – David’s father – and Ken then took over the former Co-op shop in the Market Place after the Second World War. David and Sarah once had nine staff working for them; the couple were famous for their homecooked hams, especially at Christmas time when they would prepare around a ton of meat for customers.

David and Sarah will continue to live in Nunney and say they will have more time to spend with their four grandchildren. David said: “I’m Nunney born and bred; there’s no way I am leaving the village.”

Sarah said: “Customers are our friends and we have

received so many cards and gifts. We’ll probably miss the children coming into the shop the most; they’re all so well behaved!”

The original shop c1925 – David’s grandparents with his father Ronald sitting on the barrel watched by Laddie the labrador

The shop that Ronald bought from the Co-op, before Sarah and David had their flat built above in 1986

Sarah and David Bird with some of the cards they received from well wishers at their retirement party

The shop was due to reopen after renovations by the end of September

PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

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MENDIP TIMES

Understanding family finances EARLIER this year news broke about the numbers of us who know nothing about our finances. Apparently, of those who live with partners, 33% of women and 19% of men have no idea how the family finances work and wouldn't know where to begin if, for some reason, they had to suddenly pick up the reins.

I remember that when my father died many years ago now, my mother was in just such a position. Luckily for her, her son-in-law is an accountant and was able to guide her through the complexities of the situation.

Not everyone has that luxury and at an emotionally difficult time the last thing we need is to find that we don't know where the next penny is coming from – even when it's definitely somewhere, but we just have no idea where.

This can be one of those issues that we would rather not face because it makes us think about the less happy times in life, but it can cause real worries if we aren't prepared, so on balance, it seems like a good idea to grit our teeth and get familiar with the details of our financial world.

PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Now, for someone like me, married to a financial professional and not being of a naturally mathematical persuasion (that's my way of putting it anyway, and no-one in the family has seen fit to argue with me) it can be easy to ignore the family finances, expecting them to take care of themselves. Or rather, expecting that they will magically be taken care of elsewhere by the Finance Fairy.

Over the years, we have had clients who have sadly lost partners and who we have helped through the financial maze which has faced them. As everyone is different, we have tailor-made our help to suit each client and, on occasion, this has included such crucial tasks as changing lightbulbs and fixing a microwave. Who knew?

Thinking about these issues recently, and having been called to help a client, has been making us think. We are a family firm and family is at the centre of what we do; so we thought it might be useful to offer a free 30 minute consultation to anyone who is afraid of their family finances but feels the need to

understand them at some level.

Our idea is to begin to give people a strategy for facing their fears and to assist them to begin to understand how their financial world works.

Currently we can only offer a limited number of these meetings because autumn is now upon us and the workload becomes heavier towards the end of the year. So they will be offered on a first come, first served basis, and appointments will be available until November 20th.

If these concerns affect you, call soon to make a confidential appointment with us and we will do our best to guide you on your first steps to financial know-how.

As in all things, my advice is: don't leave things to the last minute!

Our contact details are printed below and we promise to stick to our Plain English policy so you will leave us understanding what we've been talking about.

I wish you a stress-free autumn . . .

Jane Bowe Probusiness

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Fourth generation at Haskins in Shepton Mallet HASKINS Retail Park is at the heart of Shepton Mallet and this year they are celebrating over 80 years. The business is in its fourth generation of family members with Jade Farthing, great granddaughter of the founder, Jack Haskins. An interview with Jade reveals some of her thoughts on the business.

Right from a child I always wanted to work in the family business and to be the fourth generation working in the business makes me very proud. I am determined to build on what we have for the next generation.

It’s important we keep the local business values and culture which remains in our hearts and has been instrumental in our continued success for over 80 years.

We are in our fourth generation of family members including my cousin Christopher who works in Shepton Mallet Motors and my beloved Nan is still involved, not to mention my dad and uncle. There’s nothing better than to know we are all striving to make a future for our next generation of family but also the community of Shepton Mallet.

Thirty years ago we were possibly the largest furniture store in the country and furniture is still at the heart, but we have adapted over the years and now have many fantastic retail outlets within the site.

We are always looking for ways to expand and improve; this last year we have seen refurbishments from ScrewFix and Aldi alongside welcoming a new outlet Greggs. Subway and

BUSINESS Jade Farthing

South West Children’s Hospice will be opening shortly, and we are excited to offer customers more variety.

We have many tenants from multi-nationals to independent companies and with over 100,000 square feet there is a lot to see and something for everyone from clothes to food shopping and hair and beauty at the lodge.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 35

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MENDIP TIMES

Wonders of willow

HAND-made by a small team of weavers, Coates baskets are created to last a lifetime. Willow baskets are sustainable, durable, strong, and surprisingly, they fit well into many differently styled homes.

You will find a vast variety of products at Coates English Willow, from baskets to furniture and even artists’ charcoal.

Not only does the visitor centre provide beautiful homeware items, you can also enjoy a lovely visit and a dive into the history of willow.

Browse around the basket shop safe in the knowledge that all their willow work uses their own home-grown willow and is woven on site. Nothing is imported.

Visit the unique museum or take one of their willow walks.

Enjoy a delicious cup of coffee or some lunch and take a peek at the retail courtyard.

Go and see what wonders you can find at Coates English Willow Visitor Centre, Stoke St Gregory, TA3 6HY.

Can you help military charity?

Experienced Welder/Fabricator Wanted!

We are a small business with a big heart and tackle virtually anything on wheels. A family business of over 80 years situated in Bruton. We are seeking an experienced Welder/Fabricator to supplement our existing staff. You must have proven relevant welding/fabrication experience and a can-do attitude. We are looking for a multi-skilled person who is able to hit the ground running and support our Commercial Workshop. Training will be provided for MIG, TIG and coded welding. We are a MOD contractor and a trailer manufactures agent and can offer a varied and diverse role. Full time position – standard hours (not shift), some overtime, pay commensurate to experience and efficiency and a good environment with a happy crew!

Interested? Apply now by ringing 01749 813655 and ask to speak to Gordon Fry.

PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

SSAFA, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, is currently recruiting new caseworkers in Somerset who facilitate support for those in need.

Specific experience is not necessary but rather an ability to work with people and having a practical outlook at solving problems and assisting others. A volunteer branch treasurer is also being sought.

SSAFA was formed in 1885 and is the oldest military charity in the U.K. The organisation provides practical and emotional support for serving personnel, veterans and military families.

The Friends of SSAFA Somerset organise fundraising and awareness events throughout the year. One annual event is the SSAFA Golf Day at the Isle of Wedmore Golf Club which was held in September and had excellent support.

SSAFA will attending the Mid-Somerset OXFAM Group One World Fair at Wells Town Hall on Saturday, October 19th between 10am and 4pm.

Anyone interested in the vacancies can contact SSAFA for an informal chat on 020 8938 3633 or email somerset.branch@ssafa.org.uk

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BUSINESS

The complexity of inheritance tax: the latest report

THE Office of Tax Simplification recently published their findings after being asked to assess Inheritance Tax (IHT) rules. Although these proposals may not make it into law, if they were put into place they would significantly change estate planning.

The review provides recommendations on lifetime gifts, the seven year rule, Capital Gains Tax (CGT), term assurance plans and Alternative Investment Market (AIM) shares. To help, we’ve summarised three of the key proposed changes…

Lifetime gifts There are varying types of “gifts” – annual, small, wedding, and gifts out of income. There is a suggestion to replace all of these with a single annual allowance.

The seven year rule One must survive seven years for larger gifts to be effective for IHT – gifts known as potentially exempt transfers (PET). The report proposes to reduce this term to five years. As people often leave it late in life to gift, reducing the time by two years would be a welcome change.

Tied to the above is the idea to remove taper relief – it is complex and misunderstood. Scrapping this would make tracking gifts and establishing any tax due much simpler.

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) There is a capital gains “uplift” on death which can drive planning decisions.

Often individuals hold onto assets in later life, knowing this will be more tax favourable than gifting during lifetime which can trigger significant CGT liabilities. Once assets pass through the estate, the probate value becomes the new “base cost” and gifting or selling the asset may then be more tax favourable.

This is particularly relevant where assets are passed to a surviving spouse, or where assets qualify for Business Property Relief (BPR) or Agricultural Property Relief (APR). This change would be controversial and the proposals are complex.

IHT can be complicated but we’re here to help. To see how we can assist you, please get in touch.

Suzanne Williams

01749 335008 • suzanne.williams@om.uk MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 37

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MENDIP TIMES

P & C Logs Call Phil on 07734 098323, or Colleen on 07785 250033 or on Evenings 01934 741941 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).

Autumn/Winter collections now in store.

We look forward to showing you the super new clothes and accessories

J&D WASTE REMOVAL House, Garden, Garage and Shed clearance Registered Waste Licence

15, The Borough Mall, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB

01934 710479

01749 675 636 07961 892 014

LECATCHER MO

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

Experienced HGV Technician/Mechanic Wanted!

We are a small business with a big heart and tackle virtually anything on wheels. A family business of over 80 years situated in Bruton. We are seeking an experienced and passionate HGV Technician who is looking for a varied role including a full range of servicing, safety inspections, repair work, and general maintenance. We are a MOD contractor and a trailer manufactures agent and can offer a varied and diverse role. Full time position – standard hours (not shift), some overtime, pay commensurate to experience and efficiency and a good environment with a happy crew!

Interested? Apply now by ringing 01749 813655 and ask to speak to Gordon Fry. St Katherines Farmhouse Downside Road, Lulsgate Bristol BS48 3DZ

Contact: 01275 472471 www.jwandtjpearce.co.uk

Can-am ATV’s and SSV’s Westwood ride on lawnmowers Ariens zero turn and push mowers Echo Power tools Agricultural Machinery and servicing Call into our shop to find: u Tools u Fasteners u Fixings u Timber u Fencing u Electric fencing u Oils u Lubricants u Water fittings u Clothing u Spares u Parts

PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

5% Discount for NFU members on Can-am ATV’s and SSV’s

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BUSINESS

Preventing family money being caught up in the divorce process PARENTS concerned that family money intended for their children will fall into the hands of an estranged partner after a messy divorce can take encouragement from recent court decisions which showed the way how to keep hold of family wealth.

In a recent case money which was part of a trust for the wife set up by her father before the couple got married was held not to be a matrimonial asset and so not capable of being divided between the parties. Such a decision confirms the principle that non-matrimonial assets remain protected, including those held in trust structures.

Gifts, advancements or inheritance from one spouse’s family, are on principle generally treated differently by the divorce courts than matrimonial assets generated by the parties during their marriage.

The tactic of entering into arrangements before a marriage is increasingly common where parents are seeking to protect family money. Here are some examples: Prenuptial agreements Far from the preserve of the couple, prenuptial (and postnuptial) agreements are also being used by parents to protect family wealth and any contributions they may make, or have already made, to their children.

If you want to make gifts, transfer properties or assets, or leave inheritance to your adult child, but protect them from division in a divorce, a prenuptial agreement is essential. Some parents make it a condition of a gift or advance that an agreement is entered into.

Prenuptial agreements state what

should happen to each side’s assets in the event of a divorce. They set out what each has come to the marriage with, which should not be shared on divorce.

After marriage a postnuptial agreement serves the same purpose and can be entered into at any time. There is no Act of Parliament in England and Wales making these agreements binding but in practice they will be enforced so long as they are freely entered into and do not lead to an unfair outcome for one party.

Loan agreements If you are making contributions to your adult child’s finances and want repayment at some point, put it in writing when the money is advanced. A court will be far easier to persuade that the contribution from a wife’s parents towards the deposit on the family home was a firm loan which needs to be

repaid, rather than a gift, if there is a clear, contemporaneous agreement drawn up and signed setting out the sum to be loaned, the purpose of the loan and detailing repayment terms and conditions.

Trusts Family trusts are set up for a number of reasons, including to control and protect family assets, when a person is too young to handle their affairs, or to pass on assets while the giver is alive. The trustees, who act out the giver’s wishes, are the owners of the assets held in a trust, not the beneficiary, keeping them safe from gold diggers.

However if a couple’s lifestyle during marriage had been heavily supported by income from a trust that might operate to persuade a court to view the trust as a financial resource of one party and make orders accordingly. A discretionary trust is harder for a court to treat in this way than a fixed trust. Any letter of wishes advising the trustees as to distributions can be a help when looking at the reality of whether the trust is likely to advance assets to that particular beneficiary now or in the foreseeable future.

The Family Investment Company To reduce the value of an estate for inheritance tax purposes in a way that retains control, either for the parent or chosen directors (in a position akin to trusteeship), a Family Investment Company or a Family Limited Liability Partnership can fit the bill. Such a company is run by its directors and overall control by the shareholders, the children, can be tempered by careful allocation of shares and voting rights.

Edward Lyons

Email: enquiries@lyonslaw.co.uk Website: www.lyonslaw.co.uk Telephone: 01275 332168 An established and progressive law firm providing a personal and cost-effective legal service for commercial and individual clients. l l l l

Chew Magna 01275 332168

Family & Divorce Law l Co-habitation disputes Inheritance disputes l Wills and Living Wills Powers of Attorney l Administration of Trusts Property – sales and purchases

OFFICES AT: Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506

Kingswood 0117 967 5252 MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 39

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MENDIP TIMES

Approved Drivers

Offering competitive quotes on all ground works & agricultural services Foundations • Agricultural Tracks Fencing • Sewage Treatment & Pipeworks Driveways • Water Pipes • Hedge Cutting Round Baling & Wrapping

And much more, its always worth asking, Call James on 07968 876499

Balloon flights over the Chew Valley, Mendips and Somerset Levels

WASTE CLEARANCE

Call Nigel 01275 852 971

PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Meet, chat and mingle

IF you’re a theatrelover but your friends and family don’t share your passion, then the Matinee Mingle may be just the answer! Supported locally by National Friendly, it brings together lone theatre-goers aged 60 and above before certain matinee performances, giving them the chance to make new friends, meet like-minded people and enjoy a complimentary hot drink before a show.

National Friendly, the Bristol-based mutual society, has joined forces with The Bristol Hippodrome to help strengthen the connection between older people within the community and its local theatre.

The Bristol Hippodrome launched Matinee Mingle in collaboration with LinkAge Network, a Bristol charity which empowers older people to lead fulfilled and satisfying lives and also works with Age UK, an independent charity working in the community to support older people, to ensure it is opening its doors to the whole community.

Jonathan Long, chief executive officer at National Friendly said: “This partnership looks to develop National Friendly’s community initiatives. The Matinee Mingle encourages individuals and theatre lovers aged 60 and above to meet and come together.”

The Matinee Mingle is free to attend and takes place an hour before selected mid-week matinee performances in The Bristol Hippodrome’s Piano Bar. Members need to purchase their ticket for the show they wish to see at the discounted mid-week matinee rate by calling 0844 871 3012*, at www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome/or popping into the Box Office. If you’d like to join in contact Sarah sarahwalker@theambassadors.com.

l Fees may apply. All sales including, but not limited to, tickets, promotions, discounts and concessions are subject to terms and conditions of sale and availability, cannot be used on premium seats, in conjunction with any other discount or applied retrospectively. Calls cost up to 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

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BUSINESS

“Local lad” Tom Chiffers takes the lead at Mogers Drewett, Wells

AT Mogers Drewett, we are proud to have roots planted firmly in the South West. With a rich history, it’s this heritage of serving the community that sets us apart from other law firms.

With a team of legal experts who are locals themselves, our knowledge of the region, people and values means we truly understand your needs. Legal issues affecting farming and rural businesses are at the heart of what we do, alongside support across all manner of requirements – whether buying a business, seeking advice on employment issues, writing a Will or buying a home.

Keeping things local is as important to us as it is to you, which is why I was delighted to return to my home roots in my recent appointment as Lead Partner at Mogers Drewett, in Wells.

Having been a qualified solicitor since 2010 and member of the Society of Trust Practitioners (STEP), I’ve been based in Bath and have managed the Trust team at Mogers Drewett for the past six years. This involved assisting clients with the use of trusts for tax planning, succession planning

and the protection of assets; as well as advising on the creation, administration and winding up of existing trusts.

I will continue to manage the Trust team following my move to Wells while also focusing on growing and developing our contacts, particularly agricultural ones, in the Mendip area.

However, my particular interest lies in the transfer of farms and businesses to

the next generation and I enjoy nothing more than helping ensure family businesses are successfully passed down to children. Perhaps our team could help you with yours...

If you have any concerns about a legal matter, visit www.mogersdrewett.com or call 01749 342323.

Tom Chiffers, Lead Partner

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 41

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MENDIP TIMES

Crowds follow the plough

THE 177th North Somerset Ploughing & Hedging Match and 32nd Craft & Produce Show was held at Willow Farm, Wick St Lawrence, courtesy of the Mead family, in glorious sunshine and with hundreds of spectators.

One of the sets of heavy horses

Admiring the cakes

The ground was heavy Lunch is served

Craft and produce show judges Anne-Mette Jacobsen (left) and Patsy Mead. The event was held at the family's Willow Farm in Wick St Lawrence There were six sets of heavy horses

PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Members of the Ashman family and relatives from Cleeve

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EVENTS

Taste of Somerset Hutton

Judging the produce St Mary's barbecue was busy

Reuben Smith, aged 94, from Cheddar, a former strawberry grower, showed some of his agricultural models Colin Clutterbuck from Stanton Drew in the hedging competition

Nite Shift provided music

Jenny Spence showed her classic 1984 Mini, with grandchildren Kieran, aged nine, and his sisters, triplets (l to r) Caitlin, Lilia and Isla, aged two and a half

What a beauty - 1951 Ford 8N

Made in Hutton supporters

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 43

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A doctor’s progress

RETIRED GP Nicholas Hooper has succeeded in driving his 82-year-old Austin Ten from Land’s End to John O’Groats, raising £7,000 for the Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association.

He lives in Wells and practiced in Wrington and Churchill from 1975-2009. He has owned the car since he was 19.

His diary of the journey shows it was not without incident: “Weather has been marvellous except for a couple of hours of torrential rain which put the new windscreen seal to a demanding test. It was faultless.

“Not the same can be said for my windscreen wipers which refused to budge. Just as well I could manipulate them manually which is no easy procedure…

“However my car does not enjoy hills. There is no chance of competing in mountain races. I have been overtaken by a lady pushing a pram. Not often, you understand, but such a moment does stick in the mind.”

Generally though he said the car sped along, covering 2,101 miles just inside two weeks, clocking up four cathedrals – Chester, Glasgow, Durham and Lincoln, deciding against York

Minster because of rain, lack of parking and lack of time.

He said: “I may be in danger of becoming a cathedral nerd.”

Bowie fundraiser supports cancer charity A “GLAMTASTIC” fancy dress fundraiser in celebration of David Bowie will be held at The Club, Shepton Mallet, on Saturday, September 28th in aid of leading cancer charity Penny Brohn UK, which supports people affected by cancer to live well.

The event was established by the host Dr Love Vinyl Revival as an opportunity for fans to gather and grieve following Bowie’s death in 2016.

This colourful occasion is now an established part of the Mendip calendar. It has evolved into a glamorous evening of music, film and dance with Bowie characters represented throughout the audience in fabulous, gender-neutral, fancy dress.

Dr Love, aka Mark Weller, said: “Bowie was an extraordinary artist whose example has had an empowering effect on many a young misfit and outsider. His songs remind us we are not alone in a troubled world.”

Once again, fans are promised an auction of authenticated Bowie-signed memorabilia, raffle prizes donated by local traders and awards for the best-dressed. Shepton boasts a flourishing, affordable vintage sector on Town Street, ideal for picking up authentic 70s/80s fashions for the evening.

Tickets at £5 are available from The Club (phone 01749 344104), Shepton Mallet Tourist Information Centre, The Fairy Godmother Shop or by telephoning Deborah on 07501 740939.

All proceeds will go to Penny Brohn UK. Last year’s event raised over £1,600 for the charity.

YMCA Mendip and South Somerset is calling on the local community to make their mental health a priority this World Mental Health Day, October 10th and take an hour for themselves to improve their mental wellbeing.

As part of its #IAMWHOLE campaign, the charity is encouraging people to throw their support behind WHOLE

HOUR, an initiative that champions the importance of self-care and tackles the stigma surrounding mental health difficulties to encourage more young people to speak out, seek help and get support.

It offers mental health advice and counselling through all its services. Last year they provided 30,717 safe nights, engaged with 3,659 young people with educational activities, assisted 188 adults with housing support to access benefits, and helped 324 people to move on to their own home.

As part of WHOLE HOUR, it is calling on everyone in the local community to do something that benefits their mental health between midday and 1pm, whether that is something active and healthy, creative and fun, mindful and thoughtful, or restful and relaxing.

Details: www.pennybrohn.org.uk

Make time for yourself – an hour a day

PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Details: www.mendipymca.org.uk

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Heaven’s above: moat boat races are not for weeds

COMPETITORS ploughed their oars through thick weed during the annual Moat Boat Races at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells.

And one of the teams boasted not one – but two – bishops: the Rt Rev Peter Hancock, Bishop of Bath and Wells, and the Rt Rev Ruth Worsley, Bishop of Taunton, competed alongside each other in a Bishop’s Palace craft.

The annual charity event – the 18th – was organised by City of Wells Lions Club and City of Wells Air Cadets and was raising money for various organisations including the Wells Connect Centre, nominated by Bishop Peter.

Having a cracking time – the Wookey Hubsters

The Likely Ladies – one of the teams from The Venue in Wells

CHARITIES

I’m not weedy: a member of the safety team

Bishop Peter and Bishop Ruth prepare to take to the water with the rest of the palace team

The Tobinators – the Swan Hotel team led by Mark Tobin (back, right)

One of the cadet teams crosses the finish line

Ready for the off – races took place all afternoon MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 45

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MENDIP TIMES

Cat woman

A RUNNER who has clocked up over 3,000 miles to raise money for the Cats Protection charity is preparing to complete her 100th marathon.

Emma Challis, of Shepton Mallet, has raised over £2,000 in sponsorship for the Glastonbury & Wells Branch of the charity over the past six years.

The 46-year-old, Emma Challis who is also a volunteer cat fosterer for the branch, will complete her 100th marathon in October at the Clarendon Marathon in Winchester.

Her achievement is all the more remarkable because she suffers from Factor V Leiden, a genetic condition that causes potentially deadly blood clots.

She said: “I’ve always loved running, but when I turned 40 I became more focussed and started running marathons. I had no idea I had a health condition until three years ago when I developed some blood clots.

“It could have put me off, but I started on medication and found I was more determined than ever to continue running.

“I used to be a veterinary nurse and I’m a huge cat lover, so I’ve always raised money for our local branch of Cats Protection. It gives me a huge amount of satisfaction to know that the money I raise will go to help give cats in need a second chance in life.”

As well as running for the charity, Emma devotes her spare time to fostering cats for the charity’s Glastonbury & Wells Branch, caring for anything up to ten cats each year.

She said: “No two cats are the same, and it’s always a huge privilege to get to know cats while they’re with me.

And it’s really special when they go to their forever homes, as I know they’ll bring so much joy to their new homes.”

Details: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/emma-jane4 or visit www.cats.org.uk

Strictly for charity

WESTON Hospicecare is looking for couples to take part in Strictly Fun Dancing 2020. The grand finale, which has delivered plenty of sparkle over the last two years, is set to return to the Winter Gardens in Weston-super-Mare for a third year on Saturday, March 21st The event has been running for two years and has raised more than £40,000 to support the work of the charity.

Details: grace.dibden@westonhospicecare.org.uk

PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Charity donation

CANCER counselling charity We Hear You (WHY) have been chosen as one of Radstock Co-operative’s charities of the year.

Following an initial donation of £1,000, the charity will have the opportunity to hold bucket collections and events in stores as well as working with staff on fundraising activities throughout the year.

Lottie Ardeshir, volunteer co-ordinator at WHY is pictured receiving the cheque from Jeremy Fricker, vice president of the society.

She said: “Our counselling service in Midsomer Norton has supported adults affected by cancer or a life threatening condition since 2017 and we added sessions for children and young people in 2018, so it’s great to have an opportunity to increase our local profile.”

WHY now provide 115 counselling sessions every single week across Somerset, BANES and Wiltshire, at a cost of more than £5,000, and receives no central government funding.

Details: 01373 455255 or email info@wehearyou.org.uk

Oxfam charity fair

THE One World Fair, organised by the Mid Somerset Oxfam Group, is returning to Wells Town Hall for its sixth consecutive year on Saturday, October 19th. Now a well-established feature in Wells’ annual calendar, it’s an opportunity for local and national charities to show how they all come together and work for the common good of a fairer and better world for everyone.

Michael Eavis, a long-time supporter of Oxfam, will be guest of honour again. Each charity at the fair will have its own stall and will use it to showcase its particular cause. Some will be raising funds by selling gifts, books, cakes, handcrafts or fairly traded goods.

Others will want to enthuse visitors about their causes and projects and will be very ready to talk about their activities and projects. As well as Oxfam, visitors will find charities including Christian Aid, Save the Children, Amnesty, Send a Cow, Dementia Action, Royal Voluntary Service, Fairtrade Wells, Ethiopiaid and many more.

Details: owf.wells@gmail.com

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Wear it blue

WESTON Hospicecare is calling on supporters to take part in its brand new #WearItBlue initiative, which will see supporters at schools, workplaces and community groups encouraged to dress in blue in exchange for a suggested minimum donation of £1.

It will take place during national hospice care awareness week, which runs from October 14th-18th.

The hospice is encouraging supporters taking part to use the hashtag #WearItBlue on their social media channels.

The hospice’s shops across the region will be running promotions on blue menswear, ladieswear and kids clothing on Wednesday, October 16th as part of the campaign.

Details: www.westonhospicecare.org.uk

Flying high for hospice

LAURA Williams wanted to do something to remember her amazing brother-in-law Nick Bird from Hinton Blewett and to show the family’s gratitude to Dorothy House Hospice.

Nick was just 46 when he passed away in February this year after a very unfair battle with cancer. Dorothy House supported Nick in his final months in keeping him at home where he wanted to be.

They are also helping to support his wife Kelly and daughters Maisy and Molly as they learn to live without their wonderful man by their side.

So Laura took to the sky on a wing-walk to raise muchneeded money for the hospice. She set out with a target of £2,000 but has been overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity and has now reached over £3,000! The money raised will continue to help families in similar situations.

Details: www.justgiving.com/lauralwilliams1982

Charity challenge

CHARITIES

A TEAM of 27 local people took part in the Three Peaks Challenge and raised more than £30,000 for cancer counselling charity We Hear You (WHY). The team climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon with no breaks apart from travel time over a single weekend.

Team leader and fitness trainer Alice Starr said: “Back in June 2018 our Starr Fitness team took part in Rachel Clark’s world record row which we smashed as a community. Everyone was buzzing and asked me what we could do next.

“So, I looked on the WHY website and searched events and came across the Three Peaks Challenge. As it was WHY’s 25th anniversary I wanted to get at least 25 people on the team, which we did.

“It’s the most emotional challenge I’ve ever done and the weather was not kind to us – pouring with rain, hailstones and just awful weather, some of it in the pitch black with only a head torch.

“But as my team-mate Kerry said, it’s nothing compared to going through months of chemo and we’re all so proud to have raised a fantastic amount of money for WHY.” Fundraising and communications manager, Gemma Wilkes, said: “Events like these are incredibly important to WHY, as we receive no central government funding and need to raise more than £5,000 every single week.

“Due to the demand for places, our partners at Global Adventure Challenges have offered extra Three Peaks dates for Team WHY participants in 2020 from September 1113th.”

Details: https://www.wehearyou.org.uk/events/

Charity climb

JAMES Everett, who turns 64 this October, has known his friend Andrew Hind since they were four years old and decided they did not just want to have a party to celebrate 60 years of friendship.

Instead they will undertake the Three Peaks challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Sca Fell with a friend, Bob Luton, who asked to join them.

The three friends from the Chew Valley, will be raising funds for Help for Heroes and the RFU Injured Players’ Foundation.

Bob’s son was in the army and is still in the reserves. James’s nephew, Ben Smoldon, was paralysed when he was playing rugby. He is now 45 and is supported by the RFU foundation.

Details: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JamesEverett11

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 47

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MENDIP TIMES

Miners share memories over lunch

MORE than 40 ex-mineworkers gathered at Somerset Coalfield Live at Radstock Museum for their annual reunion lunch, organised by the Somerset Miner’s Welfare Trust.

Committee chairman Bryn Hawkins (second left) with secretary Mo Duery and committee members Dennis Chedgy and Selwyn Reed A chance to catch up over a pint and a ploughman’s. The reunion welcomed several new faces

The former mineworkers gather by the iconic miner’s wheel in Radstock

Showtime in Street

YOU’LL Be in My Heart, an evening of dance, music and song held at Strode Theatre, raised £2,068 for the British Heart Foundation and £2,068 for the charity Above and Beyond.

Hosted by Claire Carter from BBC Radio Somerset, there were appearances from The South West School of Dance, Glastonbury and Street Musical Comedy Society, members of Weston Operatic Society, The All Seasons, Jess Michelmore, Katie Peters, Jake Halsey-Jones and Sophie Hutchinson.

Vicki Carswell, fundraising manager for Dorset and Somerset at the British Heart Foundation said: “A huge thank you to Sarah and the South West School of Dance for your wonderful support putting on the show to raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation, it is PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Michael Eavis, trust president, signs the visitor book

hugely appreciated and it’s thanks to our supporters, that the BHF is able to fund world-class research into heart

disease, stroke, vascular dementia and diabetes.”

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Mammoth auction

AUCTIONEERS Greenslade Taylor Hunt are staging a mammoth charity auction to benefit four deserving causes in memory of former chairman and partner Charles Clark who died of cancer earlier this year at the age of 59.

During his lifetime Charles raised over £2million for various good causes by conducting charity auctions.

To honour his legacy colleagues are staging an auction in aid of The Farming Community Network, Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, St Margaret’s Hospice and the Somerset Bowel Cancer Support Group.

The sale will take place at Sedgemoor Auction Centre, Junction 24, North Petherton, on Saturday, December 21st, from 12noon.

Details: 01278 410250 or charity@gth.net

CHARITIES

Celebrations as shop reaches 30

Town crier Len Sweales joins in the celebrations outside the shop. Len’s mother-in-law, Edith Oakley, aged 99, was one of the founders of Leukaemia Research, now Bloodwise

STAFF, volunteers and customers enjoyed bucks fizz and cake to celebrate the fact that the CLIC Sargent Wells shop has been open for 30 years on the same site.

Manager Vanessa Nelson, who has worked at the shop for 20 years, was joined by retail director Jason Webster to thank everyone for their support.

The shop has raised around £5m for CLIC Sargent, previously CLIC, since it opened. The CLIC Sargent Wells shop is one of 25 shops across the south west which raises vital funds for young lives facing cancer.

The shop currently boasts 22 volunteers but more would be welcome to join the team. Visit www.clicsargent.org.uk or call in.

Golf day and merriment for Glastonbury and Street Rotarians A GOLF day organised by the Rotary Club of Glastonbury and Street has raised more than £2,500 for charities including Somerset Age UK. The event – which also included the Rotary district

competition was supported by 18 teams of four. The overall winners were The Searchers. Club members then went on to support Street’s Merriman Park Fun Day.

All in a good cause at Merriman Park Fun Day

Winning golfers The Searchers

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 49

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MENDIP TIMES

High Littleton and Hallatrow Village Day

Parade of banners

One of the banners from the parade

Fancy dress contestants High Littleton and Hallatrow WI members

The dog show was popular

PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

First prize – the theme was Fairy Tales

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EVENTS

Transported back in time

THE East Somerset Railway always offers a chance to step back in time, but its 1940s-themed The Way We Were celebrations were a dream come true for people nostalgic for the era – or to discover more about how people lived in those days.

Dozens of re-enactors transformed the car park into one huge military camp whilst the Women’s Land Army set up an office on the platform next door to an authentic-looking Victory grocery store.

Steaming back in time: 46477 is one of the line’s two main engines

I’ve got a complaint: Land Girl Carrie Horler in the WLA office run by Bronwen Jones and Kate Spanswick. They are all members of the re-enactment group Land Girls at Large

Butcher Paul Collings and shop assistant Jenny Sloper in their 1940s Victory Stores with customers Elizabeth Norris and Katherine Taylor

Lynne and Derek Sharpe dance to the music of “Dicky Lines”

The Forgotten Battalion: members of the 3rd Battalion Airborne 506 living history group from West Wiltshire recreate the time the US military in the shape of the 101st Airborne were based in the county

ENSA-style entertainment on the platform.

The Entertainments National Service Association saw many famous actors and musicians sign up to entertain the armed forces during the Second World War

One-year-old Primrose Haskell with mum Louise; the family had travelled from Hampshire

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 51

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MENDIP TIMES

NEWS

Diesels delight at rail weekend

TWO diesel locomotives in action at the same time attracted hundreds of rail enthusiasts to Midsomer Norton Station.

D2128 – a British Rail Workshops Class 03 – from Derbyshire and D4095 – the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust’s own loco – took part in doubleheader journeys alongside the line’s steam loco Joyce during the Mixed Traffic Gala.

All three locos on the platform at Midsomer Norton Station

Enjoying a ride in the guard’s van

Lottery winners

Lottery winners (l to r) Ann Gawthorpe, Brian Parker, Ann Parker, Max and Brigitte Maslen

EIGHT lucky neighbours from Claverham ended their weekend on a high after winning £270,000 between them on the People’s Postcode Lottery.

The Whitehouse Road winners landed the windfall when their postcode, BS49 4LJ, was announced as a winner on Sunday, August 15th. Seven residents pocketed £30,000, whilst the eighth scooped £60,000 thanks to playing with two tickets.

PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Preparing to leave the station for a trip up the heritage line towards Chilcompton

Carnival time in Castle Cary!

CASTLE Cary and Ansford are looking forward to another great year of carnival with their children’s and evening processions taking place over two Saturdays in October.

The Ann Hallett Children’s Carnival takes place on Saturday, October 5th from 3pm with more than 100 children participating, followed by entertainment including mask making and a circus skills workshop at the Market House.

The main evening illuminated carnival will be held on Saturday, October 12th from 7pm. Part of the Wessex Carnival Circuit, the procession will leave Ansford Academy before winding its way through the town.

As well as the spectacular carts – look out for some new entries – HMS Heron Volunteer Band will be joined by the young talent of the Dolphin Marching Band. Blackdown Samba Band will provide some South American rhythms and the Desert Divas will once again be belly dancing through the streets.

A spokesperson for the carnival organisers said: “Our carnival could not happen without the great help and sponsorship we receive from so many.”

For details, visit: www.ccacs.org.uk and www.facebook.com/CaryCarnivalSociety

Reader's Opinion DPS.qxp_Layout 1 19/09/2019 15:09 Page 40

Dear Mendip Times, Page eight of your September issue featured a festival at Westbury Quarry. The owners, Alford Technologies, offered a young girl a prize – of blowing up a car.

The explosives activities at Westbury Quarry have for years involved battles over planning consent, and the recent illegal construction of a bund over an SSSI, to the horror of environmental groups, including the AONB and Mendip Society .

I can’t quite see how encouraging a schoolgirl to blow up a car blends with inspecting wildlife and studying geology. Is this how the owners aim to inspire the young and improve their environmental credentials?

More worryingly, the Alfords blow up cars and train others to do so, in order to help our brave soldiers fight in today’s wars.

I just hope that none of your readers happens to be the parent of anyone killed or injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq. The trivialisation of this grim contest would only add to their pain.

Colin Booth, Westbury sub Mendip

Dear Mendip Times, I have just read the excellent summary you published of the consequences of Bristol Airport's planning application, written by Peter Brownlee.

I was dismayed that the airport authority apparently fails to take into account the carbon emissions from road transport and aircraft using the airport, when it assesses their future pollution (proposed to be “Carbon neutral” by 2025).

What are they including in their carbon output, shops and coffee bars? I append my objection to their planning application and encourage others to submit one.

Objection to Bristol Airport expansion plan: This application seeks to increase the overall use of the airport and yet the airport authorities claim to be expecting to be “carbon-neutral” by 2025. The two are clearly not compatible, especially when the carbon emissions from both aircraft and road transport to and from the airport are omitted from their assessment of the carbon footprint.

This is at best a misleading claim, some might think it deliberately so. The obvious degradation of the local ecology and residential amenity, with the self-evident increase in air pollution, noise disturbance and road congestion, all make the whole project one which should be refused planning consent.

Peter Hardy, Ubley

Dear Mendip Times, There is a very interesting stone carving of the crest of the coat-of-arms of the 1st Duke of Wellington, the “Iron Duke”, in the house I occupy in Street. It is made of stone from the Doulting quarry and measures 2ft x 2ft.

It is installed in the wall of the breakfast room, formerly part of the large kitchen. The crest shows a lion holding a banner waving in the wind, surmounted by a coronet.

To find out more about the crest I contacted the College of Arms, London, and received a reply from Robert Noel, Lancaster Herald of Arms, who identified the crest as belonging to the Iron Duke's coat-of-arms.

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, was born in

READER’S OPINION

Dublin to Anne and Gareth Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington, in 1769. He spent much of his childhood at Dangan Castle, County Meath, but later went to Eton.

He was commissioned as an ensign into the British Army in 1787 and went on to have an illustrious career, never losing any of his 60 campaigns, the most famous of which was the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 when he beat Napoleon.

The house in Street was built by Allen & Sons in 1952 and occupied by his son John, and family, until 1982. It was then sold to various buyers, the last one being Philip Oakley who bought it from Bob Malone in 2008.

Philip Oakley knows nothing about the origin of the stone carving and to date I have been unable to trace Bob Malone.

Is there anyone who knows who installed the carving and what their connection is to the Duke of Wellington?

Janice Robertson Street Dear Mendip Times, There’s been a lot of whingeing in your columns about Bristol Airport and its effect on the local environment.

I’m one of the millions who use it regularly, who appreciates having a first-class airport on the doorstep, without having to go to Birmingham, Exeter, Cardiff or London.

I’m sure all the people who work there also appreciate having a convenient workplace without having the slog of getting into Bristol each day.

But I agree that the airport have been too greedy for their own good. I’m now able to use the Metrobus, which has easy access to the airport via Bristol’s new south ring road.

If it invested in public transport like this, the airport might make a lot of new friends. Instead when Puxton Park suggested an airport park and ride on its land the airport had a fit.

The fact is that it relies on parking and various franchise operations for its profit, so that it can offer the airlines that use it cheap fees and lure them away from rival airports.

Hopefully the change in local authority control will be a wake-up call. The airport is a great asset but needs to consolidate what it has and make allowances for climate change rather than consider ruinous growth, Polly Davies Bristol

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 53

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MENDIP TIMES

Gone, but not forgotten

Words and pictures by Mark Adler

ONE of the largest gatherings of people in its 40-year-long history took place at Paulton for the last Double Hills ceremony of its kind.

The mood was sombre, yet celebratory, as villagers and visitors remembered the 23 servicemen who were killed on Sunday, September 17th 1944 on their way to the Battle of Arnhem when their glider crashed onto farmland.

Organisers felt that the time had come to scale down the annual memorial service – despite the presence of many youngsters, most were getting on in years, especially the veterans of the Second World War. In a moving tribute, the multi-faith event featured an address

by Rabbi Mendi Singer, of the Chabad of Bristol. The last review officer was Brig. John Clark, Commander 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Peter Yeates, the main organiser who witnessed the crash of the glider, told the gathering that the crash would be commemorated on a much smaller scale in future years; the next will be on Sunday, September 6th 2020.

Some repairs to the memorial have been carried out already, but more funds are needed to complete the work.

Standards are lowered ahead of a two-minutes silence

Lt Col Nick Nicholls, of the Glider Pilot Regiment, shelters from the late summer sunshine Peter Yeates, the driving force behind the annual service

Members of the 2nd Paulton Scout Group played a key role in the commemorations

Time to reflect – the service was attended by many serving and ex-military personnel

PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Ex-paratroopers before the start of the service

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Rabbi Mendi Singer accompanied by his daughters, gave the address

DOUBLE HILLS ARNHEM SERVICE

Amongst those who laid wreathes was Bath and North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg and his family

A chance to catch up with old friends and colleagues

A fly past by the Historic Army Aircraft Trust

Piper Ian Wylie leads VIPS to the service

A member of the Women’s Royal Observer Corps, from Bath, walks to the memorial to lay a wreath

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 55

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MENDIP TIMES

EDUCATION

Gold award for Burrington village school BURRINGTON Church of England Primary School has just been awarded a School Games Gold mark for the third year running.

The mark recognises its excellent sports provision and engagement across the whole school in lessons, in extra-curricular activities, and in inter-school competitions.

Headteacher, Sarah Joskey, said: “We are thrilled to receive this award which recognises the wonderful sporting opportunities that the school offers for all, as well as its success in competitions.

“The staff’s encouragement and enthusiasm for sport is reflected in the number of children who take part in the many sporting activities and after-school clubs, from hockey to football, netball to multi-skills. We are delighted that some of the children have even gone on to represent the county.

“A broad curriculum with a strong emphasis on health and wellbeing is something we value and our inclusive sports provision sits alongside our forest

school in being fundamental to this.

Swimming, dance, cross country, tag-rugby – there is a physical activity for everyone at Burrington!”

Burrington Primary welcomes pupils from all backgrounds and locations and children don’t have to live in the village to attend. The school offers a breakfast club

from 7.45am and an after-school club until 6pm each day.

The Cherry Buds Nursery/Pre-school takes children from their third birthday and is open daily offering extended hours.

Prospective parents can arrange to visit the school or nursery by contacting the school office.

Details: 01761462662 or at www.burringtonprimary.co.uk

Helping youngsters cope SAPLING CBT offers specialist Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and mood disorders and can help your child or adolescent make sense of overwhelming problems by breaking them down into smaller parts.

In CBT, problems are broken down into five main areas: situations, thoughts, emotions, physical feelings

Sapling Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Specialist Child and Adolescent CBT

Private 1:1 and group therapy, delivered in the home and educational settings

PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

www.saplingcbt.co.uk Hannah Byrne 07969 593184

and behaviours.

Sapling CBT is based on the concept of these five areas being interconnected and affecting each other. For example, thoughts about a certain situation can often affect how young people feel both physically and emotionally, as well as how they act in response.

Details: Hannah 07969 593184 for further details on how she can help.

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WILDLIFE

Nature trying to repair itself

THERE is still time before the first frosts to see some impressive insects and maybe even some summer visiting birds passing through our area.

As I write this, the weather is very nice indeed; occasional rain showers mixed in with some amazing warm, sunny days.

By CHRIS Earlier in the season it was a case of doom SPERRING MBE and gloom once again, with many species of insect and bird being affected by the high rain fall and low temperatures, but now as we enter autumn we are seeing nature trying to repair itself.

Barn owls, for example, laid good-sized clutches back in April, with six, seven and even eight eggs being recorded.

Hopes were high for a bumper crop of owlets, but the weather of June hampered the adults’ hunting ability and right across our region brood sizes began reducing before fledging.

Indeed, the nests I monitor averaged just two-three owlets fledging per nest. Not a disastrous breeding season, but certainly not a good one either. Those pairs which started nesting later fared much better and fledged more chicks successfully, but many of those who’d struggled early in the season are now raising a second brood.

This is a risky strategy as parent birds will be going into winter without a period of recuperation after the stresses of raising a family, but it is one way to increase their number of offspring, which is important in a relatively short-lived species.

This numbers game doesn’t tell the whole story, though, as owlets fledging in October or November will inevitably have a lesser chance of survival than those which fledged in the summer months and were able to hone their survival skills during the warmer, more plentiful months.

This is a clear case of nature attempting to repair itself, and if the environment that some animals live in is robust then these tactics will help them pull through some of the extreme and

I WILL be leading owl walks to search for wild owls throughout the autumn and winter period, if you wish to come on one of these please like or follow my Facebook page @ChrisSperringWildlife.

If you have a group that wish to go on an owl walk, then let me know by phoning/texting on 07799 413918. I will also be speaking at the Camerton Village Hall on Friday, October 4th at 7pm; the subject will be “Local wildlife conservation and how you can make a difference”.

Barn owlets – two to three fledging is about average

unseasonal weather events that are becoming more frequent.

Of course, not all birds can do what the barn owls have done and produce second broods; for some species if their first brood fails then the breeding window will be closed until the next year.

This is the case for the tawny owl, whose breeding window opens in late February and closes (for egg laying) by mid-April, and second broods are unheard of. Tawny owls are still our commonest owl and are familiar to most for their classic “toowhit too-woo” song.

A barn owl in flight

They are, however, now afforded an amber listing on the Birds of Conservation Concern list, which means up to a 25% decline in 40 years. Brood sizes in this country rarely exceed two, so it is important that they nest each year in order to maintain a healthy population.

During this summer, at a prime time for tawny owlets to be calling at night, I lead an all-night wildlife walk from Cheddar Gorge to the top of Black Down. On that walk we passed many woodlands and copses where we heard adult tawny owls calling (a bad sign in itself as they should be quieter at this time if they have owlets) and no owlets at all.

This is very unusual and a worrying sign that perhaps June’s weather had taken its toll on this species too. But, during late August, I received a series of photographs from a local person with an owl box, the pictures clearly showed a tawny owlet sat in the entrance of the nesting box.

Now, if this was a first brood then it was fledging nearly four months later than normal, or was it in fact a second brood? Or, did the parents try again after losing their young early in the season?

It really is unheard of for tawny owlets to fledge so late, and a second brood would be a celebratory moment, but maybe this shows that even the rigid-to-time tawny owl is now adapting and changing its behaviour in our fast-changing world. More study is needed!

Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust You can contact him on 07799413918 or via chris.sperring@btinternet.com Facebook or Twitter

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 57

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MENDIP TIMES

A Litton of what you fancy

ENJOY this easy circle from pretty Litton, along the two Litton reservoirs, alongside the River Chew, through fields and into East Harptree. There is a stretch on a quiet lane before joining the Mendip Ring long distance path through fields. After a few minutes on a road head along a quiet route and footpaths to the reservoirs again where we retrace some of our steps. The pub in Litton is a wonderful way to start and or end this attractive circle which is more or less flat. On the way pass historic Harptree

With Sue Gearing PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Court and Eastwood Manor. Although there are several stiles these are not dog proof so your canine companion should find this a good outing too. By and large it should be mud-free except sometimes around gates where cattle congregate.

PARK: in Litton, a hamlet on the B3114 West Harptree to Chewton Mendip road.

The walk starts down Litton Lane by the village hall at the back of the much praised Litton pub (formerly The King’s Arms).

The management has given permission to park in the spacious car park, except on Sundays when lunch customers fill it. In which case, park in Litton Lane which runs down the side of the pub and loops back to the main road.

START: By the village hall on Litton Lane at the back of the Litton. If you are having a drink at the pub beforehand you could walk through to the back. If not, go out of the car park and turn right down Litton Lane which loops round to the village hall and back of the pub. On the bend, by the village hall, take the footpath into a field at the side of the hall. Follow the left edge alongside the River Chew looking across to gardens. Cross two stiles close together and continue on following the Mendip Ring. This is a 117-mile walk in nine legs around the boundary of Mendip supported by the Mendip Ramblers. Go over another stile and after a few yards, cross left over a stile and footbridge. Turn right alongside the river

and come out onto a lane through a kissing gate.

1. LANE Turn right a short way to a wooden kissing gate on the left and the entrance to Litton Reservoirs. Also known as Coley Reservoirs, they are operated by Bristol Water in conjunction with the Line of Works to bring water from Mendip to Bristol. Several species of birds are frequent visitors including moorhen, coot, mallard, swan and tufted duck. Fishing under permit is for rainbow and brown trout and fish breeding takes place in the netted area immediately below the upper dam. Follow the edge of this, the Upper Reservoir, all the way to the end and a dam. Don’t cross.

2. LOWER RESERVOIR Keep straight on joining a Tarmac track which drops downhill and follows the Lower Reservoir, still on your left. Soon pass a wooden fishing hut. Reach another dam at the end of this reservoir and cross it. Then go on through a kissing gate and bear right on the path which leads out past Coley Manor Farm to a lane in the hamlet of Coley.

3. COLEY Here turn right, passing impressive Coley Court and cross the Chew. Immediately at the junction go left on the quiet lane. After a few minutes, on a slight bend, reach a very visible footpath on the left.

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WALKING

4. FOOTPATH Go into the fields following the meandering Chew on your left. At the end of the first field go left into the corner by the river to a gate and footbridge and then continue through the next field towards Tudor Farm ahead. Leave through a marked gate at the side of the farm coming onto the farm track.

5. FARM TRACK It’s left now, crossing the River Chew. Go ahead into the field and head down the length, gradually coming over to the right edge. Near the end of the field, cross a footbridge right and then go left along the left hedge all the way to a kissing gate ahead. Go through and follow the path past a sewage farm and straight on through gates to a Tarmac drive. This leads past cottages and on to a lane in the hamlet of Townsend. Turn left, passing a playground and recreation field in East Harptree and continue to the main B3114.

6. EAST HARPTREE Go straight over where ahead you can see an entrance to Harptree Court, built in the late 18th century. Take the road ahead climbing slightly into the village, past cottages and reach the rather special clock tower at the end dating back to 1897. It was built to commemorate the 60-year reign of Queen Victoria. A minute or so to the right will bring you to the welcoming Waldegrave Arms. But for our main route, cross and turn left, going across the side lane, passing the village club and theatre and community shop. Stay on the lane with Harptree Court over left of which you may get the odd glimpse.

Le

5.6 miles, 3-3.5 hours walking.

OS Explorer 141 Cheddar Gorge & Mendip Hills West, Grid ref: 593546; postcode of the Litton, BA3 4PW.

7. LODGE After about a third of a mile pass a pretty lodge house, go round the bend to the right and carry on, climbing very slightly. Go left through a kissing gate, immediately right over a footbridge and you will see you have joined the Mendip Ring again.

Go ahead with the hedge on your right, getting pleasant views across country. Pass over on your right the Grade 2 listed Eastwood Manor, built in the Gothic Revival style in 1871. In 1892 it was sold to William Bateman Hope who extended it and installed electrical wiring, making it one of the first houses in Somerset to have electric lights.

8. FARM Continue ahead looking down on Eastwood Manor Farm Steading, which includes impressive Victorian farm buildings. It included a flax mill, cider press and threshing machine powered by a water mill originally. This farm was for several years open to the public as a fine example of a Victorian model farm. I can remember having an interesting trip there.

Go through into the next field and bear down left towards the left side of the farm.

Go down the left side of the large modern barn and once past start to bear slightly left towards the woodland ahead. Come to a kissing gate and footbridge. Cross into a field and head on through two fields all the way to a kissing gate in the far right corner, and down steps to the road. Turn left to the main road.

9. ROAD Turn right with care. There is no pavement and there is traffic along here. But after only about six minutes just past the Somerset sign reach the first lane on the left. Follow it down to a junction in the tiny hamlet of Sherborne and here go straight on along the No Through section past a metal bollard (along here try to spot the memorial to buried pets on the side of a low wall on the right). Ignore the footpath left over a stream and instead go straight on into woodland where the path becomes narrow and follows the stream, going through a kissing gate. Watch out for slippery patches on the uneven surfaces.

Soon come back to the Lower Reservoir with the fishing hut on the far side. The path continues along the edge, goes up and down steps, and gradually ascends to reach the dam between the two reservoirs.

10. DAM Turn left over metal footbridge over the overspill and then across the dam and now you retrace your steps back to Litton – so go to the right along the edge of the Upper Reservoir. Reach the lane, turn right a few yards, and then left through a kissing gate, along the stream, cross a footbridge on the left, over another stile and then turn right through fields back to the stile by the village hall in Litton.

The Litton, tel: 01761 241554 Waldegrave Arms, tel 01761 206859

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 59

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MENDIP TIMES

OUTDOORS

West Countryman’s diary

THERE is a feel of autumn! It’s darker in the mornings and the evenings are closing down as well. I’m hoping that all is not over just yet and that there will be some good days still to come. I like sunny days at this time of year – they are cooler and I appreciate them even more because there With LES will be fewer of them.

DAVIES MBE Time seems to go faster and faster, turning my plans and good intentions upside down. There is however an answer to all of this and that is: what gets done gets done and anything else will have to wait.

Do not get bent out of shape and don’t criticise yourself for bad time management. The most important thing is being here right now and enjoying what you have.

Everywhere and everything in the countryside is getting ready for autumn. It’s not only our harvest that needs sorting, it’s the wildlife as well. The ground around my hazel bushes in Foxwood is scattered with empty nut shells where the squirrels have been feeding. No doubt they will bury some as well, forgetting what they have done and where they stashed them.

This in turn will lead to some new bushes that will have to survive the attentions of the deer population. Life is tough out there for everything that lives and grows in the countryside.

I have carried out some bracken crushing for the Avon Wildlife Trust on their fields at Dolebury Warren. This effective small-scale method involves the use of a roller that looks very much like the cutting cylinder on a lawn mower. The edges of the blades are not designed to cut, but to crush and in doing so, bruise and rupture the cell structure of the plant stem.

This has the effect of stopping the movement of water and food up and down the stem, thereby denying the essentials of life and weakening the plant’s ability to grow again. I am usually accompanied by a buzzard during these operations. It keenly watches for anything that breaks cover in front of or from behind the roller, flapping from tree to tree at the field edge.

This time I had a flying escort of dragonflies. I don’t think I have seen so many at one time – they darted to and fro, then into the hover before shooting away again. Just like fighter aircraft from a WW2 dog fight, they climbed, turned and dived, chasing the small insects that had been disturbed in a true feeding frenzy.

No doubt lots of protein was being acquired whilst it was still available... I have the same issue when passing Clive Higgins's Pit Stop sandwich van in Wells!

Whilst on the subject of bracken, many of you will no doubt have seen the difference on Black Down brought about by last year’s spraying of the bracken. The northern slopes are now being re-colonised by grass and heathland species such as heather, that previously have been subdued by the dominant bracken.

Your Sunday afternoon walk can now take in much more of the common than has ever been possible before. New views can be experienced and a genuine feeling of openness felt on the side of the hill. The cattle and ponies also have a wider area over which they can range and graze. They are constantly on the move, always looking for that extra special bit of vegetation to eat.

There were a couple of areas that needed another treatment this year, including the “hill fort” on Burrington Ham. This has all been a great success in widening the diversity of the area.

Patchwork is the name of the game, not total eradication. There will be more work into the future to enhance and protect the “Decoy City” from WW2.

The bunker to the west of Black Down is suffering from the erosion of time and weather, also added to by some human activity. A programme of work is now being pulled together to protect, enhance and interpret the site. More on this as work progresses!

I have been apple picking in the Burrington Orchard. Only eight bags this year, but it’s a start and I’m hoping for more next year. It will all go into apple juice for sale through a small locally-owned cafe and takeaway in Bristol called the Vegetable Diva, well worth a visit if you are in town, so check out their website.

Blackberries and sloes are also on my picking list for home consumption. No field mushrooms yet, or am I too early? Those clean white caps that push up through the grass, were Christmas and birthday all rolled into one for me as a child. An early morning expedition to hunt them down was pure dedication.

I preferred to wait a little later in the day for my picking. This was normally on the return journey from some expedition or another with Bob McEwen-Smith around the woods and fields at Hales Farm. A receptacle was always the problem. We wouldn’t go equipped to bring this bounty home, it would be pure chance that we happened on them.

So it was a hat, handkerchief (clean of course) or carry them in your hands. This last option seriously limited the bulk carrying capacity, but was preferable to stuffing them into coat pockets, where they would be ground into a mush with all that other stuff that small boys tend to carry in them!

Today most of the mushrooms have disappeared from the grassland. In fact much of the older pasture has gone with them as agriculture has intensified. We can’t go back, so the only way is forward, but this prize within the fungi world can still be found and is normally kept a secret by those in the know – that knowledge is important as not everything that sprouts from the meadow is an edible mushroom.

Finally, this edition will be out too late to talk about the 150th Mendip Ploughing Match at Charterhouse, so that and no doubt lots of photos will have to wait until the next edition.

Meanwhile here’s a picture of some old man picking apples at Draycott!

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

PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

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YEO VALLEY

Well, what a summer we’ve had The biggest Valley Fest so far, record visitors to our Organic Garden and, recently, getting ready to celebrate the 25th birthday of our Yeo Valley Organic brand!

The lovely Vanessa Stinchcombe from Compton Martin has been on-hand to welcome visitors to the garden again this summer. She is in charge of our ticket office on Thursdays and Fridays and also sells her fabulous plants. She’s reported another record year as well.

The end of September will see us close the garden gates for another season. I’m sure the next one will swing around in no time at all, so why not pop the dates in your calendar now.

In 2020 the garden will be open from

Thursday, April 23rd – Friday, October 2nd.

We’ll also be open every weekend in June and, if you want to be first to get a glimpse in 2020, we’re taking part in the National Garden Scheme on Sunday, April 19th.

By then, many changes will have taken place. Big plans lie ahead for the annual meadow as it’ll be completely floored, then we’ll be impregnating it with perennials.

And bulb planting for next year has already commenced – tens of thousands of bulbs are arriving in boxes just as I write this!

Now, something strange has been going on in the compost yard recently.

A picture has emerged of my right-hand man Tim Collins – looking somewhat furtive – creating some sort of mixture!

And he seems to have a peg on his nose.

I think it’s safe to say we’re planning something. Something massive. And cow-shaped.

Something you probably won’t be able to miss.

But I’m giving the game away now, so I’ll say no more. Just keep your eyes peeled!

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 61

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MENDIP TIMES

Watch out there’s a moth about!

ASH dieback is threatening our woods, whilst Dutch elm disease is still making its presence felt. Oak processionary caterpillar keeps With MARY cropping up on PAYNE MBE imported trees, even on those with all the required certification, and now another bug has moved west and is threatening the very structure of English gardens.

Box hedging and topiary have been the stalwarts of the English garden for centuries for creating parterres, balls, knot gardens and much more. A fungal disease, commonly known as box blight, has been threatening us for some years now with some gardens requesting that visitors do not touch box plants, while others have been forced to remove affected plants.

The first symptoms of box blight are browning of the foliage and leaf loss with vertical black streaks on affected green stems This time it is the box tree moth, whose handsome caterpillar is causing big problems. Common in the London and South East this pest has now moved west.

The eggs are laid on the underside of the foliage and the “very hungry caterpillars” hatch and eat the foliage voraciously.

They pupate cunningly concealed in webbing to make control even more difficult. If prompt action is not taken the plant can be defoliated and look a sorry sight. This pest is native to East Asia but appeared in Europe in 2007.

The life cycle is not yet fully understood, but there may be two or more generations in one season. The adult moth is typically whitish with brown edges to its wings and long antennae with a wingspan of about 4cms.

What can we do about it? The first thing is to start looking out for it. If you have box in your garden inspect them regularly for signs of the webbing and eaten foliage.

Control is not easy due in part by the dense nature of box bushes, especially those that have been clipped.

Picking off the caterpillars by hand is ideal for a small attack, just as one might pick cabbage white caterpillars off your cabbages. A pheromone trap is available for this pest which, although unlikely to give full control, is a useful way of PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

monitoring its presence.

This consists of an open-ended plastic tent with a sticky piece of cardboard on the base in the centre of which is a “pill” which gives off the scent of the female moth. Thus, male moths are attracted to the tent and get stuck on the base. A microscopic eelworm (nematode), sold as Fruit and Vegetable Protection, is also available.

However, this is applied as a spray to already wet plants and a direct hit on each caterpillar is necessary to achieve good control and weekly treatments are recommended. A bacteria-based biological control product is available exclusively online, but care must be exercised with this product as all caterpillars, good and bad, are affected by it, so limiting its use on box would be wise. Birds eating sprayed caterpillars are not affected.

Chemical control by spraying must be extremely thorough in order to contact every caterpillar.

Many folk are looking for alternatives to box for use as dwarf to medium-sized hedges. I must admit that I am reluctant to use box when designing gardens and planting schemes. For evergreen hedges I use Euonymus japonicus Green Rocket, an upright form of the species with dark green shiny foliage.

Green Spire is very similar. For low evergreen hedges I have used Euonymus japonicus Microphyllus, a tiny leaved form or for a change the white and green variegated form of Euonymus fortunei Emerald Gaiety or the yellow and green variety E. f. Emerald ‘n’ Gold.

Many articles are recommending Ilex crenata, a very small-leaved evergreen holly, but my experience with this plant is poor and it has very little “will to live”. A

delightful edge to a border can be made using the sub-shrub Teucrium chamaedrys, known as wall germander, or the hybrid T. x lucidrys. Both are evergreen and bear pink flowers in summer, after which they can be clipped to shape.

I am reluctant to recommend the shrubby small-leaved honeysuckle Lonicera nitida as it needs clipping several times a year to keep it to shape. For a 1.2 metre high or more alternative to box, I would also suggest using the evergreen Phillyrea angustifolia f. rosmarinifolia, rather a mouthful for a shrub with narrow leaves and a bonus of scented clusters of small flowers in May and June.

For replacements for box balls I am trying Pittosporum tenuifolium Golf Ball, a relatively new variety that is naturally rounded in shape and can be clipped. For the adventurous the purple leaved form Tom Thumb can be used. Regular seasonal clipping of these New Zealand natives is required as they do not recover well from hard pruning.

For sheltered locations Myrtus luma Glanleam Gold is worth trying. This small-leaved evergreen has a creamy edge to the aromatic leaf and bears white flowers in late summer.

It is not often I get so concerned about a plant problem, but I have seen the devastating results of this pest on box hedges in the London area.

Another problem is that many of the plants that are recommended as alternatives are not yet propagated in sufficient numbers to make them cheap enough as a hedging plant. This will lead to another problem in that more will be imported from Europe bringing other problems with them and so life goes round and round.

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OCTOBER GARDEN TIPS

• Transplant evergreen shrubs. Dig them in with a generous ball of soil to protect the roots and minimise disturbance. Mulch the roots and shield the tops from drying winds.

• Reduce the height of bush roses by trimming them back by a third to a half their height. This will reduce the likelihood of the roots being damaged if the tops rock around in the winter gales. Clear up and burn any diseased leaves.

• Plant new roses. If you can only replant where roses were before, put some of the new ‘Rootgrow’ in the bottom of the planting hole. This contains beneficial mycorrhizae fungi which roses seem to need to do well.

This is true of fruit trees too.

• Towards the end of the month, wrap the stems of Torbay palms, bananas and tender palms with fleece.

Use their leaves to give added insulation to the all important growing tip inside.

• Put a generous wedge of straw in the tops of tree ferns and wrap their stems too if they are in a very cold place.

• Plant any sort of tree, shrub, climber, perennial, conifer, rockery plant and heather this month, as long as they are hardy. This is the very best month for planting!

• Plant wallflowers out to provide a great display and fantastic scent in spring.

• Plant winter flowering pansies out now but look for those that are already in flower or have buds showing.

GARDENING

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MENDIP TIMES

Banwell puts on a show

BANWELL Gardening Club’s horticultural show was one of the best for some years, with entries well up and over 300 exhibits.

Chairman, Tom Couch, said: “Considering the growing year we have had when plants or veg did not know if they had to grow, flower or go to sleep the show as I have said was one of the best.”

Michael Young got most points in men's section

Club president Amber Williams with Isla Parkinson, who got most points for children under seven years old

PERFECT PAVE

Jackie Parkinson winner of the domestic section

Margaret Purkiss had the best rose exhibit

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

Now supplying – as well as installing – landscaping products to the commercial and domestic trade Wider range and cheaper prices than builders’ merchants or garden centres

Showroom open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12noon Sat PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

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GARDENING

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WELLS ROAD, CHILCOMPTON BA3 4RR Telephone: 01761 232137 www.nortongreencentre.co.uk Open: Mon to Sat 9.00am to 4.30pm Sunday 10.30am to 4.30pm MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 65

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MENDIP TIMES

Re-enactors take a bow

A MEDIEVAL archery and weapons display team – Bowlore, based in Taunton – set up camp in the grounds of the Bishop’s Palace in Wells over the August Bank Holiday weekend for three days of entertainment, education and hands-on activities.

Taking aim – Bowlore comprise family and friends

Looking very fletching – the vanes are used to stabilise an arrow in flight

Felton Flower Show

Visitors were welcome to try their hands at archery

Body piercing – medieval-style

Cultural X-CHANGE in Pilton

Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis with at the launch party

Admiring the flowers PAGE 66 CTOBER 44 • MENDIP TIMES • O JULY 20192019

MORE than 100 guests celebrated the art, food and music of Botswana – in Pilton!

The event was the launch of X-CHANGE, a new cultural exchange venture by Pilton residents to bring Somerset people together with those from Africa; to create links, foster mutual understanding – and learn from each other.

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EVENTS

Flaming brilliant!

Baltonsborough Village Show The children’s rainbow run

Sheila Melluish, from Winscombe, in a 1953 Sunbeam Alpine she owns with husband Ray

Hot stuff – fire and circus performer Simon Chainey

This F1 is no hybrid – one of the entries in the children’s vegetable model making classes

George Pickford in his new uniform on board the family-owned 1961 Dennis fire engine that was stationed at Paulton in the 1960s and 70s

Ann and John Diment, from John D Revelator on stage

Tommy Allen, organiser of the farming area

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 67

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MENDIP TIMES

Heritage on their doorstep

BUTLEIGH celebrated the official launch of its own heritage trail with a visit by the oldest working self-propelled, passengercarrying vehicle in the world, designed and built by the man who would later become the village squire.

The visit by the 1875 Grenville Steam Carriage was due to the generosity of the National Motor Museum of Beaulieu – where it is kept – and Lord Montagu who was determined to bring the carriage back to its original home. The carriage was the centrepiece of the celebration of the grand opening of the Ann Heeley Heritage Trail.

Robert Neville Grenville – born in 1846 – became squire of Butleigh after the death of his father in 1886. The carriage was used for many years by the family. Grenville died in 1936.

The permanent trail around the village is named after local historian Ann Heeley.

Ann, who died in 2017, was awarded the MBE for voluntary services to the Somerset Rural Life Museum and this included the creation of the Somerset Voices oral history archive, a nationally important resource that records the life of Somerset people in their own words. Ann contributed more than 700 recordings to the archive.

After a speech of thanks by Martin Day on behalf of the heritage trail research The launch also celebrated the Butleigh Revels, a 19th century pageant in the team, trips were village mostly involving estate staff. The available on the steam photo shows head gardener Tom Carter carriage for all who (played by Matt Lovegrove) wanted one.

The heritage trail took more than two years to complete and was a true village project with many villagers involved in the many aspects of it. It has 39 points of interest, with most having a sign outside illustrated with an old photograph and tells the story of the property and the people who lived there.

Robert Neville Grenville (played by Grahame Millroy) and his wife Agnes (played by Pam Gane) aboard the vehicle Martin Day, from the trail research team

PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

The Grenville outside Butleigh Court

(Photos courtesy of Geoff Corris)

Giving rides to villagers

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HISTORY

Village history told in pictures – a seven-year labour of love

SARAH Pettifer and Margaret Jordan started working together seven years ago on the history of Weare which contains two villages, Upper Weare and Lower Weare.

They realised as they began to gather evidence and stories that there were very few old photographs of these villages and the people who lived there in the past.

With the help of many people they have now gathered an interesting collection of photographs showing these villages in the past. Lower Weare, on the main A38, had several small inns, a blacksmith, shops and various traders.

Upper Weare contained the parish church, village school and many farms producing milk that was made into cheese and also huge quantities of cider.

They will be showing over 80 of these photographs at a presentation in the Church Room in Weare on November 1st along with some interesting commentary on the history of these villages.

Tickets cost £10 to include a cheese supper. Proceeds will go to the Friends of Weare Church and the Church Room refurbishment.

Blacksmith shoeing horses on the main road in Lower Weare, now the A38

Village memories

IN his 90th year, Michael Clark has published his first book, A Miscellany of Writings, “reflections on a long life, a love of history and a passion for France” and dedicated it to his wife Margaret, who died two years ago.

Although he has lived in Trowbridge for the past 22 years, his home for 67 years was Camerton, where he could trace previous generations of his family back at least to the beginning of the 19th century.

In Camerton he was involved in the life of the church, the school and the parish council, as chairman for six years, as well as serving as church organist across the area and forming the Camerton Choir with his wife.

The book is now available at Amazon and bookshops and a copy has been accepted by the Radstock Museum library.

19th century Post Office in Lower Weare

The bell ringers of Weare Church c1930

Details: tickets are available from Sarah 01934 732578 or Margaret 01934 732451 MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 69

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MENDIP TIMES

Doulting Show celebrates its 50th anniverary SPECIAL classes and trophies including a new category called the Great Doulting Bake Off marked the 50th anniversary of the Doulting Produce and Handicraft Show.

EVENTS Sophie Compton was awarded the Scott Pike Cup for the most points in the section for children aged ten years old and under

There was a special moment when show secretary June Stott (right) was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Joyce Godden; June has been involved in the show from the start

Some of Mike Shepherd’s prize-winning dahlias

Looking good enough to eat – a trug of five vegetables

Harry Godden was once again crowned champion vegetable grower, receiving one of many trophies on the day from show secretary June Stott

Jeremy Bruton tries a sausage roll made by bake off winner Ann Robbins. Jeremy, Ann’s partner, won several prizes in the baking competitions also

PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Neil Sales won the 50th anniversary Terry Ruddick Cup with his entry of three long carrots

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East Somerset Railway wins National Lottery support

An artist’s impression of the completed “down” platform

Dick Masters, chairman of the ESR board of trustees said: “To secure its future, the East Somerset Railway is in the process of making some substantial investments which will fund a whole range of improvements aimed at giving our visitors more to enjoy from their visit.

“We are delighted to have received support, thanks to National Lottery players, which will make a big improvement to Cranmore station. We are confident that the project will further enhance the heritage experience we can offer to our visitors, tourists, local people and those people living with dementia or reduced mobility.”

Anne Martin, chair of Shepton Mallet Dementia Action Alliance, said: "This is wonderful news for all who know and love the railway and those who will know it because of the National Lottery grant. The Mendip DAAs will be ready to help the ESR in whatever we can to make the project a success."

The building on the far left of the photo will be turned into a museum

(Photo courtesy of David Wrigley)

(Photo courtesy of Richard Williams)

THE East Somerset Railway at Cranmore, near Shepton Mallet, has been awarded £58,700 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (HF) to help complete an important project.

The work focuses on renovating and refurbishing the former 1858 station building on the main platform as a museum, reinstating the second half of the "down" platform and making the heritage attraction dementia friendly via improved access arrangements and staff training.

The completed down platform will enable access for people with reduced mobility to enjoy the Discovery Centre provided under a previous grant and this will be complemented by a renovated and refurbished museum.

Initial renovation and construction work is expected to start during the last quarter of 2019 with the museum reopening in 2020 followed by events targeted at people living with dementia and their carers. The project will also enable volunteers and staff at the ESR to be trained as "dementia friends".

NEWS

See Transported Back in Time – page 51

As though it were yesterday . . .

SECOND World War evacuees from London who were moved to Somerset and later settled in the county gathered at Somerset Coalfield Live at Radstock Museum as part of the 80th anniversary commemorations of the mass operation to save lives.

Margaret Simes, Geoffrey Thomas and Les Layzell shared memories with museum volunteers as part of a week of events.

Geoffrey, a retired vicar from Uphill, came to the west country from Ilford in Essex as a five-year-old in June 1939; he

Margaret, Geoffrey and Les at Radstock Museum

still treasures a diary of events kept by his mother surrounding the evacuation.

Margaret’s recollections were recorded in a book Paulton Remembers The Two World Wars,

by Paulton History Society, whilst Les, originally from Bromley in Kent, lived for a time in Canteen House in Wellow, built for workers on the Radstock arm of the Somersetshire Coal Canal.

Mendip Times

FREE Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 11 APRIL 2009

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IN THIS ISSUE: EASTER WHAT’S ON • ARTS & ANTIQUES MARATHON MAN • PALACE PLANS • EXPLORING PRIDDY Local people, local history, local places,

local events and local news

The front cover of the April 2009 issue of Mendip Times, marking a recreation of the 70th anniversary of the evacuation.

Museum volunteer Eileen Burchill is in the photo taken at Midsomer Norton South Station MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 71

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MENDIP TIMES

Comedy and politics

I TOOK some magic potions up to the Edinburgh Fringe this year and by far the most popular was Dr Phil’s Rainbow Referendum Rescue Remedy. It wipes out all memory of the EU referendum ever having happened.

Thousands of people lined up for a sip.

By Dr PHIL Sadly, it was only tap water. Back in the real HAMMOND world, Brexit has at least taught us how badly our politics is broken. The people were given the power to choose whether to leave or remain in the EU, but parliament kept the power to decide what “leaving the EU” means, and how to do it.

It could be anything from Norway to Armageddon. After three and a half years, MPs still can’t agree what to do. The very least they could do is apologise, particularly those who voted to trigger Article 50 and whose parties promised to honour the referendum in their 2017 manifestos.

Those MPs and their parties will be very vulnerable at the next election if we have it before Brexit. Boris Johnson will have to admit his “do or die” strategy to leave by October 31st has failed. Jeremy Corbyn will campaign to agree another Brexit deal and then offer a confirmatory referendum versus remain, knowing that his party would campaign against the deal he negotiates.

And the Lib Dems appear to be going all-out to revoke article 50, which will hoover up the most ardent Remainers but is hardly likely to unite the country.

Pollsters divide us simplistically into Leavers or Remainers, but I and many people I know are Releavers. We voted for Remain, are strongly opposed to the potential harm of No Deal, but accept the result of the referendum and would accept a Brexit deal that Parliament and the EU agreed.

That’s what we pay ministers and MPs for and if they’d all been on performance related pay over the last few years they wouldn’t have earned much. You can never really know how dysfunctional parliament is until you’re inside it, which is why I’ll be standing as an independent candidate in North East Somerset at the election.

If you strongly believe in a party, its leader and its agenda, then vote for your party. But if you’d like someone independent who will always be free to vote with his conscience, tell the truth and do everything to improve the health and wellbeing of constituents, it could be me.

Above all, we need a kinder, more constructive way of doing politics. I’ve met the Labour candidate, Mark Huband, and the Green candidate, Fay Whitfield, and I like them both and think they’d make good MPs. I’ve also met Jacob Rees-Mogg several times, recognise the good work he’s done for constituents (e.g. helping Max Sewart to get the drugs he needs for his Batten disease) but I think his behaviour and his party have got this country into a terrible mess and we need a change.

I’ve tried to connect with the Lib Dem candidate Nick Coates, but he currently refuses. However, once an election is called I’d be happy to come to any village hall in North East Somerset and lead a civilised debate with other willing candidates to help you make your choice.

Just email me at phil@drphilhammond.com

PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Plop the Raindrop

DO you know about poetry? That’s usually when words rhyme, like “Plop the rain drop”. But sometimes it can mean something beautiful that doesn’t necessarily have to rhyme as well as my name does.

I was once stuck in a smelly, damp thatched roof watching a man called William Shakespeare writing all kinds of stuff with a quill pen. Do you know what a quill pen is? Ask a swan. That man became quite famous, I believe.

Many years later my friends and I were described as “mist” in a famous poem by a man called John Keats. That poem was called To Autumn: “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.”

I was in that mist, not the fruity bit. Though I’ve been in a few apples in my time, often ending up as cider, which can leave you quite mellow. Grapes can do the same.

William Shakespeare also mentioned mists a lot. So what is mist? Well it’s basically a low cloud on the ground, a bit like fog, which tends to be thicker, then clouds, which can reach higher and higher.

We water droplets all float about invisibly in the air and only appear when the air gets colder and you get something called condensation.

That’s when we move out of the mist and stick to something on earth.

As the air gets colder, now it’s autumn, you’ll begin to find us everywhere. We’re the ones that make the grass wet with dew so that your shoes get damp when you walk on it. Just try blowing air out of your mouth on a frosty morning and you will look like a dragon or steam train.

Once it gets seriously cold we can stick to branches as frost and look like diamonds.

I wrote a poem myself once, or rather we arranged a few shapes in the clouds to make one. What it said was: What a beautiful place is earth!

Born soon after the birth Of space and time The only place of rhymes Unless the universe Has any other verse?

Perhaps out in the depths of space there is poetry? There’s definitely a kind of poetry in the way all the planets, constellations and galaxies move about. Perhaps you could write something?

Like you, my home is earth. I arrived here millennia ago, probably as part of some giant lump of ice, torn from goodness knows where. But I’m not complaining.

Earth has given me the opportunity to see life in all its forms, as well as all the wonders of the natural world. But at the moment I’m stuck inside a giant cow pat in East Harptree, which is not an ideal place to consider poetry. I just hope it doesn’t freeze or I might be stuck here for a few months.

Mind you some human beans found a huge horde of treasure not far from here recently.

You never know what life will bring next!

MENDIP GRANDAD

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HEALTH & FAMILY

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For viewings please call 01761 241626 or email: admin@clarehallnursinghome.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 73

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MENDIP TIMES

Keeping fit

A NEW way of keeping fit is coming to Peasedown St John. Organised by the village’s new Dementia Friendly Peasedown group, Seated SOSA (or chair dancing) classes will start at St John’s Church on Monday, October 7th.

Project manager, Nathan Hartley, said: “These new inclusive seated SOSA dance fitness classes give everyone the chance to dance. If age, disability or illness have become barriers from stopping you being physically active, these new chair-dancing classes are just for you!”

Local professional dance teacher, Kay Alford, will be running the classes. These free sessions are open to anyone.

The Monday afternoon sessions will be held at St John’s Church, Church Road, Peasedown St John, BA2 8AA at 2pm – and should last no longer than 45 minutes.

Refreshments are Chair dancing included.

Details: 01761 300451/07745 959900 email jane.street@stjsgroup.church www.facebook.com/dementiafriendlypeasedown

Somerset Care – seven local care homes

SOMERSET Care offers nursing, residential and dementia care across 26 homes throughout Somerset.

In the Mendip area, they have homes situated in Somerton, Castle Cary, Street, Shepton Mallet, Wells, Frome and Cheddar.

Somerset Care say they offer warm, professional care and are committed to helping you lead the life you choose. They support your wellbeing through rich and varied social activities, freshly prepared nutritious meals and encourage you to personalise your room so that “our home quickly becomes your home.”

They are here to help, whether you decide to live in your own home, in a supported setting or in a care home. They put you at the heart of what they do, by listening to and understanding your wishes.

They provide professional advice and assessment to develop a service that is tailor-made to meet your requirements.

So why not join them? You can sample a free taster, visit occasionally for day and respite care or choose to reside with them. Whatever your care needs, they are here to help.

For more information, visit: www.somersetcare.co.uk

Setting the gold standard for foot care

EXPERT chiropodist and podiatrist Sue Boothroyd has a simple question for everyone: “If you take care regularly of your teeth and eyes, why not your feet?”

Known as the Foot Faerie for her gentle nature and methods, Sue has just started studying for a master’s degree in podiatric medicine. It is something she has Sue and Lisa in the Foot Faerie been interested in keenly for consulting and treatment room many years: “It’s a two-year, part-time remote course being run by the University of Huddersfield. I enjoy research and learning more about my profession but a master’s degree like this is quite unusual.”

Now based full-time at Rookery Farm at Binegar – Sue has ended her surgeries in Street – she has been joined by two clinical assistants/receptionists: Lisa Trott and Maricel Abesanis.

Sue now offers injection therapy – dermal fillers for people who might be suffering from loss of padding under the feet such as in their heels: it’s known as fat atrophy – and has recently introduced MOT-style annual foot checks for established clients.

Sue added: “I am trying to encourage clients to be proactive about their feet.”

For details and to book an appointment online, visit: www.footfaerie.co.uk

PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

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HEALTH & FAMILY

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 75

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MENDIP TIMES MENDIP TIMES

COMMUNITY

Wells is a city of culture – Sikh culture

WELLS once again welcomed members of the Sikh community to the city as part of a fun awareness event.

Live music, free vegetarian food and a chance to chat were all on offer at the Meet the Sikhs event on Cathedral Green, organised by Wells Rotary Club.

The link between Wells and the Sikh community began after Sikh humanitarian relief charity Khalsa Aid came to offer help to people on the Somerset Levels during the floods in 2014.

Most of Khalsa Aid’s work is overseas, including in the Punjab which has been stricken by severe floods.

Parv Kaur (left) and Lina Chefri, from the all-female Bhangra group Eternal Taal

Langar Aid were serving dhal and rice to visitors. The charity, set up to fight worldwide hunger, is an offshoot of Khalsa Aid

A dance workshop led by Eternal Taal

Harjeet Singh, from West London, from www.basicsofsikhi.com PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Teamwork: Ravi Singh, founder of Khalsa Aid (third from left), with members of the Mendip-based Rotary Waterworks Project

For details about Khalsa Aid, visit: www.khalsaaid.org

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Welcome to Wells

THREE young people, who were taking part in the Lions International Youth Exchange, received a warm welcome from town crier Len Sweales when they visited Wells.

He had prepared a message especially for them in his customary humorous verse. The students, Mette from Denmark, Emir from Turkey and Josip from Croatia were hosted by Cheddar Vale Lions Club and Radstock and Midsomer Norton Lions Club.

They enjoyed a varied programme of visits and events during their stay, climbing Glastonbury Tor, viewing the Weston-superMare sand sculptures, city tours of Bristol and Bath, sampling real Cheddar cheese and playing traditional pub skittles.

After their week in Somerset they travelled to Doncaster to join other students from many parts of the world for the Lions International Youth Camp.

The Lions Youth Exchange Programme was launched in 1961 to give the leaders of tomorrow an opportunity to learn about people and cultures other than their own, in an effort to create and foster a spirit of understanding amongst peoples of the world.

COMMUNITY

Lions’ sale

CHEDDAR Vale Lions next jumble sale will be held in Cheddar Village Hall on Saturday, October 12th.

Hundreds of items were handed in at their last event, raising hundreds of pounds for their charitable work in the local community.

Items can be delivered to the hall on the day after 12noon, so that they can be sorted ready for the opening at 2pm.

There is an entrance fee of 20p, with refreshments available.

Details: 0845 833 7402 or email information@cheddarvalelions.org.uk

Treasurer needed Joy Fraser with husband Andrew

Details: information@cheddarvalelions.org.uk

Town’s link with Germany

SHEPTON Mallet's German twin town of Misburg, near Hanover, has hosted a visit by members of the local town twinning association.

All members stayed with host families and a programme was arranged for the duration of the stay. A visit to the Hindenburg locks on the Mittelland Canal was included as well as to the famous Herrenhausen Gardens.

Since 1961 the link in Germany has been maintained by the Misburg male voice choir but due to falling numbers they disbanded at the end of last year. So a meeting was arranged to discuss how the link would continue in the future.

Representatives from a ladies choir and the Misburg sports group (which includes swimming, judo, aikido, table tennis and athletics) attended and expressed interest in forming alliances with like groups in Shepton Mallet.

Although they were not present, the rifle club would also be interested in a friendship with their counterparts. If you are a member of one of these groups, or any other, contact chairman Michael Kennett on 01749 342170 or secretary June Trask on 01460 242829 for further information.

JOY Fraser, one of the founders of Peasedown St John’s Party in the Park, is planning to step down after 11 years in which the event has raised almost £100,000.

Organisers are now looking for an assistant to join her, ready to take over after next summer’s event.

Party in the Park was established in 2008 to build pride in the community and put the village firmly on the local cultural festival scene and attracts up to 3,000 people.

Details: www.peasedownpartyinthepark.org.uk

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 77

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MENDIP TIMES

This means a lot-ment!

Henton celebrates

Ava Gardener with mum Elizabeth Pow and (l:r) WAGS chairman Martin Bates, Ava’s dad Kieran Gardener and WAGS member Jackie Bryant

MEMBERS of the Westfield Allotment and Gardening Society held their second annual fun day to thank supporters and raise money for a young girl who has been receiving hospital treatment.

Ava Gardener, aged two, who suffers from Williams Syndrome – a developmental disorder – has touched the hearts of WAGS members. They decided to use the fun day to help the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Bath Royal United Hospital.

WAGS runs an allotment site at Waterford Park in Westfield and has also taken on some more land at Larch Court nearby.

THE annual Henton Village Fete was a success, providing a fun afternoon for local families and generating funds for Henton Church and their nominated charity, the Cinnamon Trust, which supports elderly, disabled and housebound people in looking after and re-homing their pets.

Liz Jeanmaire from the trust is pictured accepting a cheque for £350 from Ian Tinsley, representing the Henton fete committee.

Community awards

Alison Perry on one of the fundraising stalls

THE search for unsung heroes in Bath and North East Somerset has begun with the launch of the annual community awards to celebrate volunteers, charities, carers, community leaders, staff and businesses that make a positive contribution to the community.

Council leader, Dine Romero, said: “The community awards are an important celebration of the people who are most dedicated to our community but their work often goes unrecognised.

“We would particularly like to encourage nominations for those who protecting and care for the most vulnerable people in our community and those who are helping us address the climate emergency.”

Details: www.bathnes.gov.uk/communityawards

Rotary handbag stall

THE handbag stall run by Rotary Nailsea and Backwell will be open for business on Saturday, October 19th as part of the Nailsea and District Community Market. They are keen to have good condition, quality handbags.

Charlotte Atkins meets Kyra the barn owl

PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Details: Roger 01275 854076 or roger.jan@blueyonder.co.uk

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Shed loads of success

Members with Kate Humble

STREET Men’s Shed won the Health and Wellbeing project award at the UK Men’s Shed Association annual Shedfest for their work in the local community with older men who have suffered from bereavement, mental health issues and depression.

It is estimated that 22% of males over 65 have some form of depression and in a rural community like our area it is difficult to find and help them.

The Men’s Shed is a place where they can talk to people who may have had similar experiences, but also there are people there to listen and offer advice to help them.

Street was also the runner-up for the Shed of the Year award which was won by the Sunnyside Men’s Shed in Tower Hamlets, London for their work in their multi-cultural community.

In late August the TV presenter Kate Humble visited the Street Shed to research her new book due out next year. Kate spent over two hours talking to members about what they felt about being elderly in the modern throwaway world and what problems it caused the older person.

The shed has also announced it will be opening its doors to lady members from Tuesday, October 8th from 1-5pm. If this is a success they will look at opening longer on other days if required.

The Shed is situated at Hempitts Farm, Hempitts Road, Walton, BA16 9QS. Details: Brian Bastable brianbastable123@hotmail.co.uk

COMMUNITY

Legion branch welcomes new president

MAJOR General Ray Pett has stood down as president of the Shepton Mallet branch of the Royal British Legion after 25 years in the post and has been succeeded by Brigadier Tony Dalby-Welsh.

A soldier for 37 years, Ray commanded both British and Gurkha companies in Great Britain, Ray Pett passes on the presidential chain Northern Ireland, of office to Tony Dalby-Welsh at the branch’s annual meeting at The Club in Malaysia and Shepton Mallet Hong Kong amongst other postings, and taught at both Sandhurst and the Staff College. A member of the Royal College of Defence Studies, he held senior posts in the MOD and NATO, prior to his retirement in 1996.

Tony became a brigadier in March 1993 commanding the Royal Logistic Corps Training Group, becoming the first one-star director. Retiring from the army in August 2002, he retained strong connections being Colonel Commandant, The Royal Logistic Corps.

After retirement he became chief executive of the Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association supporting reserve units and cadets across the South West, retiring from that position in September 2015.

Disaster appeal

Fete cancelled

WHITCHURCH’S traditional August Bank Holiday fete was called off this year. The organisers said: “Sadly, after much discussion, it has been decided that, for various reasons, the annual Whitchurch Village Fete will no longer continue.

“This was a difficult decision for the fete committee to make, having held yet another successful event on the fete’s 41st birthday in 2018.

“But with increasing health and safety considerations and fewer volunteers (not to mention the fact that those on the committee are unfortunately not getting any younger!), it was felt that it was time for the fete, in its traditional format, to come to an end.”

FOLLOWING the awful disaster in the Bahamas caused by Hurricane Dorian, Wrington Vale Rotary Club launched an appeal outside Budgens Supermarket at Churchill to help the bereaved and homeless families.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 79

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MENDIP TIMES

Runners support Mendip fund

THE Mendip Hills Fund has received a donation of £3,100 from the organisers of the Butcombe Trail Ultramarathon.

This exceeds their donation from last year and is now the single largest donation to the fund.

Runners on this year’s event had to battle through very windy conditions, with the winner completing it in 8:06:20.

The run is based on the Butcombe Trail walk, a 50-mile route in the Mendip Hills.

Some 110 runners entered this year’s event, which is now achieving national recognition and is worth three qualifying points for the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB), one of the world’s most prestigious races.

The Mendip Hills Fund awards grants to local projects that benefit the environment or communities of the area. So far it has awarded over £25,000 to a range of projects.

Matt Claydon, race director from the Town and Country Harriers who organised the ultramarathon, said: “The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty provide an amazing backdrop for our race and we know the runners love the tough route with iconic views.

“It's great that we can help a wide range of community groups look after this area through our donation.”

Time for tea

ONCE again the opening of Compton Dando's village church for afternoon teas during the summer has done well, this year raising £2,224, which is well up on last year's figure of £1662.85. This will go to the upkeep of St Mary’s Church funds.

Pictured (l to r) are Cathy Hole, with one year old Schnoodle Elliot, Jenny Insall, Kim Norris, Kathy Wright, Sue Underwood and Anne Gurner, with Golden Retriever Ruby.

PAGE 80 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Support for foodbank

THE Somer Valley Foodbank, which has fed over 7,000 people since it was launched in 2013, has been presented with a £500 cheque by the organisers of Peasedown St John’s Party in the Park festival.

Volunteers from the foodbank spent a day at the summer spectacular on June 8th offering their services with gate marshalling and other duties.

Somer Valley Foodbank chairman, Paul Woodland, said: “We have a foodbank distribution centre open at the Methodist church in Peasedown St John every Friday. We meet people who really need help and come to us with a range of emotional and other wellbeing problems.

“Despite only being able to provide three days of emergency food, we try to signpost them to other agencies that might be able to help.”

The photo shows Karen Walker, Party in the Park bookings manager (far right) with foodbank volunteers and service users.

Details: www.somervalley.foodbank.org.uk www.peasedownpartyinthepark.org.uk

Brownies anniversary

BROWNIES are celebrating 70 years in Clutton with an anniversary party and would love to hear from you if you have any items they can borrow, or any stories you want to share.

This party will be held on Saturday, October 19th, from 11am-3pm at Clutton Village Hall.

There will be displays of photos and newspaper cuttings of current and past Brownies, leaders and past events.

There will also be soup lunches, homemade cakes, a raffle, and children's crafts, plus music performed by some of the Brownies.

Details: cluttonbrownies@yahoo.co.uk

150 years of Felton Church

ST KATHARINE’S Church, Felton, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, with the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt. Rev Peter Hancock and his wife Jane.

The church was founded in 1869 by the Rev Dr Joseph Hardman on Felton Common to provide gipsy and traveller families with a place to worship. There has been an active church on this site ever since and Joseph Hardman’s descendants still remain patrons of the church.

The present patron Nigel Pullman and several of his relatives joined the service after which the congregation went out to the churchyard to Joseph Hardman’s grave where Nigel laid a wreath.

The church marks this anniversary every year but this was a special occasion which was followed by lunch at a local tearoom, where Bishop Peter and his wife were welcomed and enjoyed talking to many of the local people.

Lions’ awards

COMMUNITY

CHEDDAR Vale Lions combined an open day with an awards ceremony at which president Keith Cook presented Isobel Ebdon with her Youth in Service Award. He also presented a cheque to Emma Parker of Children's Hospice South West.

Supporting sea cadets

AXBRIDGE Chamber of Commerce has presented the Axbridge and Cheddar Valley Sea Cadets with a cheque for £2,000, raised at a race evening in March.

Chamber chairman, Liz Scott, is pictured making the presentation to Sub Lieutenant Jamie Long, the cadets’ commanding officer.

She said the chamber is pleased to donate profits from the race night to organisations such as the sea Cadets because they contribute so much to the community and offer so much to the young people in and around Axbridge.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 81

(Photo courtesy of Nick Spratling)

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MENDIP TIMES

COMMUNITY

Historic buildings charity receives donation

Ubley supports play plan

Joni Stoker, from Wainwright’s (second left) presents the cheque to alms house charity trustees

THE Wainwright Futures Foundation – a community initiative by the owners of Wainwright’s Quarry at Stoke St Michael – has donated £1,000 to Shepton Mallet Alms Houses.

The houses are run by Shepton Mallet United Charities which has carried out extensive repairs and renovations to the properties, some of which date back to the 17th Century.

Parish clerk retires

A GROUP of mums and grandparents have set up a small working group in Ubley in the hope of developing a completely new play area for the village at the Glebe, behind the church.

They were over the moon at the recent turn-out for their latest fundraiser, a street party, which was supported by more than 100 people.

They are now applying for a range of grants to help them meet their target of £57,000.They will also be launching a village lottery in due course and would love to hear of any fundraising ideas people may have.

Libby, Abigail and Sadie who were selling home-made lemonade

A SPECIAL presentation was made to John Harvey, who has been parish council clerk with Stanton Drew parish council for 31 years. Council chairman, Liz Richardson, is pictured presenting him with some of his gifts.

PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Details: ubleyplayarea@gmail.com

Hurricane appeal

IN the aftermath of the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, Rotary Nailsea and Backwell quickly funded a Shelterbox costing £568. The club also arranged a collection at Tesco’s Nailsea and in the Crown Glass precinct.

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Axbridge Rumble in the Jumble

Cressida Humphries, event organiser, with Jules Peel and Lou Cooling from Ripley Antiques

East Harptree Craft and Flower Show

EVENTS

Organisers Lin Gwyther, Annabel Bowen and Helen Edgecombe

The cake stall (l to r) Carley Hollier, Anne Vowells, Debbie Matthews, Kath Williams

Cath Frith, Bev Davies and Susan Binns members of the Axbridge Blackberry carnival fund-raising committee

Getting their stall ready

Admiring some of the entries

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 83

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MENDIP TIMES

ONE of the least known and least researched mining areas on Mendip is at Green Ore around the crossroads where the A37 between Wells and Bristol crosses the old Roman road, now the B3135, between Old Sarum and Uphill.

Today the Ploughboy Inn and the garage With PHILIP are the dominant features, for traces of the HENDY extensive workings were destroyed many years ago. Motorists may briefly wonder at the hamlet’s odd name as they wait for the traffic lights to change in their favour.

Although the name Green Ore suggests mining, in fact the place was once called Greenworth, a “worth” being a Saxon name for a farmstead.

Conversely, Hillgrove, which lies half a mile to the south-west, has nothing to do with trees, the name being a corruption of Hillsgruff, the gruff being a surface trench dug by miners in search of ore.

There are no known caves in the immediate vicinity, although the large Hillgrove Swallet has been dug sporadically for more than 100 years without success. An auxiliary unit of the Home Guard dug a hide-out in the side of the depression; now uncovered, it provides a useful store for digging kit.

Mining for lead at Green Ore took place from the Roman period onwards. In 1956 Mr. Thompson of Rookery Farm found four pigs of Roman lead on his land, which were stamped with the name of the Emperor Vespasian (AD 69-79), although it is not known where exactly the lead was mined.

In medieval times, the monks of the Carthusian Priory of Charterhouse Hinton established a grange there, turning the area into a sheep walk or sleight. Although they were granted permission to mine for lead by Edward I in 1283, there were also independent miners working in the area, and though there were provisions for reducing the impact on agriculture, disputes arose.

This led King Edward IV to send “Lord” Chocke or Choke to Mendip to settle matters. This led to the drawing up and sanctioning of the previously unwritten mining laws. The tenth of these commands that if any miner is killed underground, his fellow miners have a duty to recover the body. The same principle applies today to cavers, although we also rescue those who are merely injured or lost.

After the dissolution of the monasteries, the Green Ore workings came under the jurisdiction of the Chewton Liberty.

Surface grooves had been worked out, so the miners began to dig shafts in search of ore at greater depths.

Later zinc ore (calamine) and possibly haematite were sought, but the area had been pretty well worked out by the mid to late 19th century and the mines fell into disuse.

There were many open shafts and cavers began to explore some of them in the 1930s and 1940s. The photograph shows Messrs.

Wigmore, Devenish, and Bowsher exploring Green Ore mine in 1933. The photographer is Gerard Platten, a keen cave explorer of the time, whose activities ultimately led to the formation of the Wessex Cave Club.

The Wessex and Mendip Nature Research Committee (an offshoot of Wells Natural History and Archaeological Society) continued to investigate. In 1938 the MNRC explored Ores Close

Exploring Green Ore Mine

Cave, a 17-metres shaft with natural cavities at three levels, ending in a boulder choke.

In the same year a joint venture between the two clubs explored a six metre shaft which they named Orr’s Close Mine. This was partly natural, with around 225 metres of passages. The ores of lead and zinc were visible, as well as cave formations including cave pearls.

A boulder choke was passed and the mine was bottomed at 43 metres. The Bristol Exploration Club in 1947 found Ores Close Shaft to be 64 metres deep. More than 200 shafts were known; most were mainly of an exploratory nature, though at least two led to extensive workings, among the longest known on Mendip.

These mines have now been lost, as after the war Luke Devenish used the skills he had gained with the Armoured Corps in the Western Desert to blow up tree stumps for farmers. He also fitted a bulldozer blade to his Jeep, so he could fill in mineshafts and flatten spoil heaps, to bring the land back into agricultural production.

Some of the mines around the farm were noted on a sketch map, but none on the east side of the road. Some of these shafts can only be lightly covered and several collapses have occurred over the years, some of which caused disruption to the flow of road traffic.

One mine which is still accessible, however, is Ore’s Close Folly, an 18th–19th century lead and calamine mine. The 36-metre loose shaft was first descended by the MNRC in 1966, but Oxford University caving club actually explored the mine, which is 500 metres long and 50 metres deep.

The entrance shaft, which gradually changes from vertical to an incline, leads to grovels and a 45º inclined upward stope. Most of the mine is virtually horizontal. There are indications that there were originally two entrances. The place is muddy and unstable – a real collector’s piece!

There is a worrying development at the time of writing, as permission is being sought to build an agricultural machinery depot, cynically just outside the boundary of the Mendip Hills AONB to the east of the A37.

The proposed site would measure 200 by 200 metres and the building would be 60 metres long and 15 metres high. The incongruity of this, and the detriment to the view is obvious, but to build on an area known to be riddled with old and unrecorded mine workings seems less than sensible.

The parish council has rejected the idea, but it now goes to Mendip District Council planners. Where large profits are at stake, aesthetic considerations fly out of the window.

Phil has been caving for more than 50 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in producing several caving publications and until his retirement was a caving instructor at Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves

PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

(Photograph courtesy of Platten Collection, by kind permission of Wells & Mendip Museum)

Mining at Green Ore

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MENDIP TIMES

Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Day

Some of the youngsters from the village-based Enigma Twirlers.

They will be a familiar sight at this year’s carnival processions

Silver Shires, from Priddy, offered rides around the village field

Winford Village Show

Downside School’s Pipe and Drum band opened the event which raises money for community projects

They aren’t dragons, but these ladies were selling Dragon’s Delight produce on behalf of the local SS Vigor’s and John’s church – St Vigor slayed a mythical dragon

The show committee (l to r) Neil Sales (chair) Hugh Gregor, Ann Morris, Jackie Morris with Joe Herring behind, Sheila Pemberton-Cummings with daughter Claire behind, Toni Stickley, Alan Morris, Pippa Herring and Annette Walsh Alan Parker with his giant Coleus

Faith, aged five, and Ava, nine, with some of their entries

PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Juliette and Gregor King with their entries in the show

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EVENTS

Evercreech Village Show

Charles Bullzini, from the locallybased Bullzini Family Circus on the slack wire

Fun in the arena

Member of the show committee and Evercreech WI

Neil Hatch with his haul of trophies

Jenna Turner won the Acreman Cup for this exhibit

“Inmates with attitude” – these youngsters enjoyed visiting the mobile Jailhouse Tours exhibit MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 87

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PROPERTY

Impressive country estate comes to market with Killens SITUATED on the edge of the Chew Valley at Redhill, Thrubwell Farm has come to the market with Killens. Historic records suggest that the property may have been the old Thrubwell Manor.

A driveway leads to the impressive sixbedroom farmhouse which now offers exceptional character accommodation and overlooks manicured gardens and grounds extending to 8.5 acres. It is south facing and boasts lovely features including wellpolished flagstones, open fireplaces, original beams and sash windows.

The property includes a substantial range of traditional stone-built farm buildings surrounding a courtyard with planning consent to be converted to five impressive and significant dwellings.

Separated from the farmhouse by grass areas, the buildings also have potential to be used for a range of commercial uses and could readily be converted to offices, leisure uses or holiday accommodation.

The impressive grounds surrounding the

farmhouse and buildings have been lovingly brought to life with immaculate lawns, borders, a kitchen garden and a large wildlife pond. An orchard has been restored with 100 new apple trees which provide a crop suitable for cider

production and the remaining land is divided into paddocks.

Situated just ten miles south of Bristol with easy access to the A38, the property is in a very convenient location but set in very attractive open countryside.

Viewings are strictly through the agents, Killens, who can be contacted on 01275 333993.

The asking price is £2,500,000.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 89

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Winscombe Michaelmas Fair Winscombe Community Singers

Aiming for the top

The event had a Viking theme

The tombola stall

Chew Stoke Harvest Home

Some of Chew Magna's firefighters with some fans

Zara, aged nine, with her cress head egg, which won first prize

PAGE 90 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Competitors giving their all in the tug o' war

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Clutton Carnival and Fun Day

Clutton Brownies, who were manning a cake and soft toy stall (l to r) Tabitha, Isobel, Izzy, Olivia , Amy and Snow Owl Carnival queen Chloe

EVENTS

The school's PTA stall with Louise Johnson face painting Eliza

Local church members taking a turn on teas (l to r) Margaret Hillier, Jo Buckle, Helen Lundberg and Iris Haydon Sarah Porter, with her Colliepoo Mila after taking part in the agility class

Visitors admiring the cake entries

Chew Stoke WI (l to r) Mary Somerville, Jane Weaver, Pat Peel, Jan Osborne and Joan Williams

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 91

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Annual concert

CHEDDAR Male Choir’s annual concert, will be held on Saturday, October 19th starting at 7.30pm at St John the Baptist C of E Church, Axbridge.

The choir’s 24th annual concert will be a great celebration of songs from the musicals, pop charts, spirituals and some traditional male voice songs.

They are also fortunate to have the renowned soloist Richard Lennox performing. Tickets £10 are available from Deane’s of Cheddar, a choir member or on sale at the door on the night.

Legion concert to launch Poppy Appeal

FRIDAY, October 25th will see the Wells branch of the Royal British Legion present the 98th Annual Poppy Concert to launch the start of the Poppy Appeal.

Taking place in Wells Town Hall, the music will be provided

by Wells City Band including the usual favourites "Entry of the Standards" and "Fantasia on British Sea Songs." This year the concert will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings.

Tickets are available from Wells Town Hall and Wells Film Centre priced £10 adults, £8 OAPs and £3 for children (cash only please).

The Big Sing

THIS popular event is returning to Farmborough Church on Sunday, October 13th at 11am giving keen singers the opportunity to sing some of the most popular worship songs and hymns that are sung in churches, schools and places of worship throughout the UK – not always on Sundays!

You can request your favourite by just completing one of the slips in church, or by contacting the Rev Jan Knott 01761 479311 before October 6th.

Singing will start at 11am and will last approximately 60 minutes. Afterwards everyone is invited to stay for coffee and a BBQ. Details: Jeannette Jones 01761 750840 jeannette.jones@gmail.com

PAGE 92 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Chew Valley writers

CHEW Valley Spoken Word returns in late October, following its sell-out first event back in April. The event will take place on Friday, October 25th in the School Room at Chew Magna Baptist Church, Tunbridge Road, BS40 8SP, as the chapel itself is undergoing repairs to the floor.

Following a very busy time as a judge in the National Poetry Day celebrations, Liz Brownlee, from Chew Magna, hopes to attend again and Colin Emmett, local Mendip storyteller, will be the M.C. for the evening.

Performance slots are available to reserve in advance and proceedings will kick off at 7.30pm. Slots are a maximum of ten minutes so plenty of variety is assured. It's your chance to share your contribution with a relaxed and supportive audience.

Refreshments will also be available during the interval. Entry is free, with a suggested £3 donation in the hat.

Details: Colin Emmett 01275 332735 chewvalleyspokenword@gmail.com

Nailsea concert

NAILSEA Concert Orchestra will be performing a classical concert at Nailsea Methodist Church on Saturday, November 23rd, including Dvorak’s New World Symphony and Bach’s Oboe Concerto in F with soloist Mircea Mutulescu.

The orchestra has gone from strength to strength in the last two years and recent concerts have played to a full house! Tickets are available from Nailsea Music Shop and on the door, £12 adults, £10 concessions, £2.50 U-18s.

The conductor, Ben England, gives a pre-concert talk at 6.45pm, which is both informative and entertaining and adds to the enjoyment of the music if you can get there early.

Another recent and popular “extra” is an open rehearsal at 2pm on the day of the concert when parents with younger children are welcome to attend to introduce the younger generation to the exciting sight and sound of a full, live orchestra.

The orchestra supports a local charity at each concert and this time there will be a collection for the Curzon cinema’s roof appeal.

Details: www.nailseaconcertorchestra.org

Centenary celebrations for choir continue

THE centenary year celebrations for the Mendip Male Voice Choir continued with a gala dinner at the Centurion Hotel in Westfield.

The evening was attended by more than 70 choristers and friends and by the choir’s patron Michael Eavis. At the end of the meal the entertainment was provided by the multi-talented Martin Cox, who performed his Elton John tribute act.

The choir’s hectic concert programme continues on Saturday, September 28th with their centenary concert at St Mary’s Church, Bathwick. The Mendip Men will be joined by two other choirs, Vox in Frox and Cantilena Youth Choir in aid of the RUH Forever Friends appeal.

Tickets from 01761 414070, 01761 413842 or 01225 463362

Valley Arts plan stunning festival THIS November sees Valley Arts bring a really remarkable line-up of live performances to the Chew Valley, with a packed programme for audiences of all ages.

The 2019 Fringe Festival is bigger and better than ever – and for the first time it has the backing of Arts Council funding.

The plan to build a state-of-the-art theatre next to Chew Valley School now has pre-planning approval and fundraising is underway.

A cabaret style dinner at Yeo Valley in November will be supported by the actor Jeremy Irons and local celebrity Dr Phil Hammond.

Chair, Geraldine Hill-Male, said: ‘It’s great to get recognition

Deep Sea Seekers

John Kirkpatrick

MUSIC & THEATRE

Strictly Sherlock

and support for what we’re trying to achieve here. This is our fourth annual performing arts festival and each year our audience gets bigger!

“This autumn we’ve put together a wonderful range of performances and free workshops, designed to appeal to a really wide audience, right across the Chew Valley and beyond.”

The festival line-up is truly eclectic, with 20 events staged at local venues around the valley, including a singalong with folk legend John Kirkpatrick. It kicks off on Sunday, November 3rd in Ubley with Deep Sea Seekers, an exciting adventure for three-eight-year-olds, from Wardrobe Theatre Ensemble.

Meanwhile Strictly Sherlock will have you on the edge of your seat, as Jonathon Goodwin brings the most famous detective to life at East Harptree theatre on Saturday, November 9th.

Something not to miss is Strange Face – Adventures with a lost Nick Drake recording. This extraordinary series of tales has been The Times newspaper’s top pick of the Edinburgh Fringe two years running.

But you’ll find it at The Old School Room, Chew Magna on Saturday, November 16th. And there’s plenty more. The festival runs throughout November, at local venues across the Chew Valley.

Julian and Noel in Strange Face, Adventures with a lost Nick Drake recording

Details: www.valleyartscentre.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 93

(Photo courtesy of Louis Smith)

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MENDIP TIMES

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Info@glastonburyskiphire.co.uk PAGE 94 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

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HOMES & INTERIORS

JMI Bathroom and Kitchen Centre relaunch JMI Bathroom and Kitchen Centre have announced an exciting launch event coming soon! They are a family-run business who install bathrooms and kitchens from design to completion.

They have been running since 2001, though John Gibbs, managing director, has over 35 years’ experience in the industry.

They employ their own project management and installations teams many of whom have been with JMI for over 15 years. They have two showrooms in Brislington and Chipping Sodbury with their Brislington showroom currently being comprehensively refitted to showcase some of their latest kitchen designs and styles.

To celebrate, they’re going to throw a relaunch party! So be sure to make a note in your calendar, because on Friday, October 11th and Saturday, October 12th they open their doors to the public for the official launch party from 10am-4pm both days. Whether you’re an existing customer or a potential new customer you’re welcome to pop in and meet the team!

They have installed four large stylish displays that cover every taste from ultra-

modern to timelessly traditional.

These displays are packed with the latest technology, clever storage ideas and stylish finishing touches such as Arenastone, Corian, Granite and Neolith work surfaces.

Their launch party will be supported by the UK’s leading name in built-in appliances, Neff, who will be sending along one of their own home economists, who will be showing cooking and baking techniques on some of Neff’s latest cooking appliances.

These appliances feature Neff’s brilliant Slide & Hide oven door, Home Connect single and compact ovens and Flex Induction venting hob. As part of their showroom upgrade, JMI have been awarded Neff’s converted five-star Masterpartner status reserved for UK kitchen showrooms that offer excellent service, stunning design and display everything Neff from ovens and hobs to laundry and refrigeration.

There will be the chance to sample the food cooked by one of Neff’s finest home economists, enjoy a glass of fizz from their

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Any customer who books a home design appointment at the launch or up to October 19th after visiting the launch will be entered into a prize draw with the prize being a Neff hamper worth over £300!

Their Brislington showroom is located at 52, Bristol Hill, Brislington, Bristol, BS4 5AB. They look forward very much to seeing you there and will have gift bags with goodies in them for customers to take away!

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Mon-Fri 9am–5.30pm Saturday 9.30am–4.30pm • Sunday – Closed E-mail: sales@jmibathrooms.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 95

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MENDIP TIMES

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HOMES & INTERIORS

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 97

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Pilton Show goes to the dogs

A SHOW by a canine display team was one of the highlights in the main arena at this year’s Pilton Show.

Paws for Thought – based in Hereford – put the four-legged performers through their paces with displays of obedience and agility.

The show followed the previous evening’s Pilton Party at Worthy Farm – a fundraiser for Pilton Pre-School and the following day saw a family sports festival.

Flaming marvellous – one of the stars of the canine display team MC Maurice Davies with Ralph, Archie and Elliot who counted down to the opening of the show

The trophies on the main stage ahead of the presentation ceremony

Big Street party

THE residents of Street came out in numbers to support the fifth Merriman Park Fun Day, enjoying a day of music and entertainment supported by many local organisations, including the Men’s Shed, Sea Cadets, Baptist Church, Street Twinning Association, Scouts, Crispin Community Centre and YMCA Mendip.

Numerous other small businesses and individuals also supported the event.

Next year’s event will take place on Saturday, September 5th.

PAGE 98 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Flushed with success – a loo roll throwing game was a popular attraction

Paws for Thought on parade

The Glastonbury Dragon Drummers open the fun day

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Cocklake, Crickham and Clewer Harvest Home

EVENTS

Hector’s Farm Shop supplied the meat

Enjoying the day with her grandchildren

Amanda Carver and Trevor Prideaux are served their meal

Youngsters had their own table

Cheers! Here’s to another great event

The U3A Ukelele Band

Phoebe from Cirque de Silk MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 99

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Let’s Trec! Long-distance riding tests horse and rider FOLLOWING last month’s warrior theme, here on Mendip we have recently waved a fond farewell to a horse warrior who is With RACHEL definitely in a class THOMPSON of her own.

MBE International GB Team Trec rider Hilary Barnard has shaken the Mendip mud off her boots and headed off to the Shropshire hills. Has she left because the riding is better, I inquire? Hilary agrees but the move was also designed to get hard working husband Jonathan to properly retire – impossible if “he has easy access to his workplace!”.

Back in the 90s, Hilary and I used to spend the odd hour in the New Inn pouring over OS maps plotting desirable hacking routes. We shared a passion for crossing country on horseback, the wilder and more remote or challenging the better. Like many older riders, as a child Hilary would do almost anything to get access to a pony. I seem to remember a story of long treks by bus across Bristol clutching a saddle and bridle and, like many of us, I suspect she bunked off school to ride too.

Hilary blames Jonathan entirely for getting her hooked on Trec. Spotting this new sport advertised in a British Horse magazine he encouraged her to have a go.

Ever up for a challenge, Hilary bought a rule book, tacked up her daughter’s 13:2

Hilary and Harvey competing at Tankey Lake, Gower

tubby pony Poppy and sallied forth.

Trec is a sport intended to test the skills of horse and rider in planning and executing a long-distance ride in unfamiliar country. It originated in France as a way of testing and improving the skills of trail ride leaders, and was introduced into the UK in the early 1990s.

The first phase (POR) involves finding and riding a cross country route over varied terrain and varying in length from 10km for level 1 to 40km for level 4.

Points are deducted for using an incorrect route or travelling at the wrong speed.

The second phase is the slow controlled canter up a 150m corridor with a fast walk on return. Points are determined by the time taken for each pace. The third phase, the PTV is a (16) obstacle course over a distance of up to

(Photos courtesy of Steve Wall Equestrian Photography)

Hilary and Harvey competing at Holwell Lawn, Dartmoor

PAGE 100 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

5kms. Anyone who hacks long distance on Mendip ought to excel at that!

Following some success with Poppy, a second pony, Harvey, entered Hilary’s life. Harvey excelled at bucking whilst cantering backwards – clearly a potential athlete. Now 25, this special pony has competed for a total of 3,100 kms, never been vetted out or lost a shoe. Crossing the English Channel 18 times – travelling to Germany, France, Austria and Italy – he and his riders have represented Great Britain brilliantly at International FITE and European Cup competitions as well as all the British levels.

Harvey has been Level 4 British Champion twice, English, Welsh and Scottish Champion through the years winning Level 4 league several times. He excels at show jumping never touching a pole and won dressage trophies with scores of 79.2% at Prelim, 74.1% Novice and 71% at Elementary.

Other ponies followed: Lily, a cheap New Forest Mare, Lulu, on loan from a friend, and Theo, a recovering nervous wreck. Hilary says that Trec is a fantastic and engaging sport, suitable for horses of all shapes and sizes, you ride over some amazing terrain, making great friends at the same time.

So why not give it a go, practising the obstacles is something to do through the winter months. Visit https://www.trecgb.com/WhatIsTrec.html or join the Trec Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/gbtrec/ Farewell Hilary, your enthusiasm for getting others engaged in Trec will be much missed.

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Why spending time with horses is good for you SIR Winston Churchill is reported to have commented: “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”

The team at Divoky Riding School in the hamlet of Downhead, near Shepton Mallet, certainly believe that to be true – they are dedicated to helping adults of all ages and abilities to discover that for themselves.

They say just spending time with ponies and horses will improve physical and mental wellbeing and, with their new indoor centre about to open, people can enjoy being around the animals whatever the weather.

Divoky, headed up by Pat Bishop, has a large outdoor floodlit school with jumping lane – visited in recent years by the Countess of Wessex. It also has a grass canter track and an all-weather

Pat Bishop talking to a rider on the extensive outdoor school

RIDING

track in addition to the small indoor school with mirrors.

Pat said: “Don’t worry if you are currently over our maximum weight for riders; we can begin with horse care and training horses working on the ground, starting by helping to our miniature horses and working your way up.”

Pat added: “For our riders we have a range of horses whether suited to nervous or confident riders, complete beginners, experienced and those returning to riding.

Our coaches will help you to enjoy taking up riding in a fun and supportive environment.”

Divoky enjoys a 5* rating from Mendip District Council and is a British Horse Society approved school with highly skilled coaches with experience with both able bodied riders and those with disabilities.

Divoky welcomes people to meet the staff and enjoy a tour, but please call 01749 880233 in advance.

A personal invitation from Divoky Riding School Pat, Martin and the team welcome you to meet them and their horses and take a tour of the yard

Adult lessons

Wide range of facilities

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of the man” – Sir Winston Churchill Divoky boasts a small indoor school with mirrors, a 60m x 40m (approx.) outdoor floodlit school with jumping lane as well as a grass canter track and an all-weather track

Disabled riders welcome

We also welcome people who are looking to work on the ground with horses to improve their physical and mental health, increase fitness and reduce weight Please telephone to make an appointment to meet us and please mention Mendip Times when you call

Divoky Riding School, Manor Farm, Downhead, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4LG Email: pat.divoky@gmail.com • www.divoky.co.uk • T: 01749 880233 • M: 07971 207037

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 101

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Try and “Tri” again

CYCLING is a varied sport with disciplines ranging through track, road racing, mountain biking and BMX. Either on a competitive or recreational level there is something for everybody. For many people it is just a good way to exercise and maintain fitness.

CYCLING Besides being a sport in its own right it with EDMUND LODITE also features in the triathlon, a multisport race which is becoming more popular in the UK. This involves three consecutive endurance activities of swimming, cycling and running.

The standard distance (known as Olympic) consists of a 1500m swim, 40km of cycling and a 10km run. Shorter distances are used for the sprint versions of the race or for juniors and longer distances fall into the Ironman category.

Triathletes compete for the fastest overall course completion, including timed transitions between each activity.

It had been a few years since I last competed in one so it was with a bit of trepidation that I headed down to Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth to join the 100 plus other competitors. At 7am I was standing on the beach in my wet suit waiting for the race to start. The unattractive small fun fair at the back of the cove was quiet and I thought that this may not be fun after all. Then, before I knew it we were off and it was a rush into the sea.

It took a few minutes for the swarm of bodies rushing into the sea to form an organised pattern. Front crawl is meant to be the fastest stroke to use and most efficient because it conserves the leg muscles for the cycle and run which

PAGE 102 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

follow. However, being stronger at breast stroke I soon found a comfortable rhythm and headed out to the marker buoys along the course.

Returning back to the beach I entered the transition zone, often called the fourth discipline for those at the top of the sport. Nowadays triathletes are coached on how to save valuable seconds as they move from one discipline to another. But for many people transition is simply where you keep your swim-to-bike and bike-to-run kit during the race.

Of all the activities, it is not surprising that cycling is my favourite so the 40km ride was not too daunting and a decent hill climb near the start soon warmed me up.

Running after cycling is very different to “normal” running. After completing two other disciplines so many muscles are already tired. The effect of switching from cycling to running can be surprising. The first time I did it I was astonished at the muscle weakness in my legs. It was as though someone had strapped weights around my thighs. The bizarre sensation lasts for a short time but then it gets easier as you continue to run.

The evolution of triathlon as a sport is difficult to trace.

It’s generally considered that early 20th century France saw the beginnings of the triathlon with many three activity events taking place. The earliest record is from 1901 which advertised an event for "the sportsmen of the time" consisting of a run, bicycle ride and canoe segment.

By 1921 the event had become more like the event we know today with the canoe element being replaced by a swim.

The sport was loosely run and it wasn’t until the 1980s that international bodies were created to govern the sport. The triathlon was added to the Olympic programme as a medalearning sport at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Great Britain is currently top of the table in terms of Olympic medals, mainly due to the success of the Brownlee brothers.

As I headed towards the finish there was one final hill to run up and it was hard. At this point I was reminded of the post on the organiser’s website “pain is weakness leaving the body . . . and death is nature’s way of telling us to slow down!”

By the time I crossed the finish line the winners had already collected their prizes and were on their way home, but I think I felt just as good as they must have done. The sun was shining, Bowleaze Cove looked stunning and now that funfair at the back of the cove provided a striking splash of colour.

Triathlons are a great way to keep active and by taking on the three elements of swimming, cycling and running you can keep the training fun and varied too!

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Running for their lives

A FAMILY fun run around the village of Ditcheat has raised £2,200 for Child Bereavement UK. Organised by friends Danielle Baker and Amy Derham, the event was held in memory of Danielle’s late brother Dominic.

As well as a 5km run for adults and a 1km run for families, dog owners were also able to take part in a walk around the circuit, which included part of champion trainer Paul Nicholls’s Manor Farm Stables gallops. Some of the stables team took part in the event and amongst the sponsors was the Owners Group racing syndicate.

Danielle and Amy are currently raising money to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro in February in aid of the charity.

Youngsters at the start of the 1km run

Waiting for the start of the family run

And they’re off: dog owners at a more leisurely pace

Ben Bryl (centre) was the first runner home in the 5km event. He is pictured with (l) Matthew Metcalf (who finished third) and Thomas Kenrick (second)

Jockey Harry Cobden with event organisers Danielle Baker (left) and Amy Derham, who was the first female runner home in the 5km

The start of the 5km race

For details, visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DanielleandAmy_Kili2020 MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 103

(Photography courtesy of Mike Lang)

SPORT

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SPORT

(Photography courtesy of Chris Challis)

Coast to cathedral

Runners on Wells Cathedral Green

TEAMS of runners tackled the 13th West Mendip Way Relay from Uphill Beach to Wells Cathedral to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. Organised by Mendip Hills Hash House Harriers, the route was 90% off-road and followed the West Mendip Way along footpaths and bridleways.

A spokesperson for the harriers said: “Special thanks must go to all those who helped and organised this event, especially Waitrose of Wells for providing water on such a hot September day, and all who provided prizes.”

Fastest team home was Clevedon 1 in a time of 3hrs 48mins; first ladies were Clevedon 3, first Mixed Group were The Unfamous Five, first whole distance runners were from Cheddar and Cotham.

Mixed start for Chew Valley CHEW Valley Rugby had a dream start following their promotion to South West 1 Rugby, beating St Ives at home 89-14.

Tom Bryan only missed one conversion out of 13, but his day was slightly marred by smashing the windscreen of his pregnant wife's car

with the only attempt he missed!

Their first away game was a different story, losing 34-10 to Bridgwater and Albion. The club’s match report said: “Chew can take some positives from the game but they will ultimately be left to rue a complete lack of discipline which

Sports survey in Sedgemoor

SEDGEMOOR District Council is asking for resident’s views about sports facilities and open spaces in an online survey.

The authority say it wants to make sure that local communities have access to facilities, services and spaces such as playing pitches, play areas, indoor sport facilities and informal spaces for recreation such as country parks, allotments and village greens that meet their sporting, leisure, play and recreational needs, both now and in the future.

The study will incorporate a playing pitch strategy, a play audit, a built facilities assessment and an assessment of informal recreation space.

To take part, visit: https://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/3070

PAGE 104 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Clevedon 1 were the fastest team home

resulted in far too many penalties for the opposition.

“If Chew are going to make an impression in this league they need to learn the importance of keeping on the right side of the referee and respecting his decisions no matter what they think of them.”

Support for skittles team

Tincknell Fuels are sponsoring the shirts for the Brit Boys skittle Team in Wells

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EVENTS

Burrington Fete and Dash

Thrills and spills

Warming up

Face painting was popular

Having a splashing time

Getting ready for the race

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Cricket club’s music festival hits the right notes Photos by Mark Adler

THE Outfield Festival at Midsomer Norton Cricket Club will return in 2020, say organisers, after this year’s fundraiser was a virtual sell-out.

Hundreds of people of all ages took to the outfield for a day of live music ranging from the academy section of the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band to local heroes Avalon Highway and headliners East 17 and Toploader.

Glastonbury Festival’s Michael Eavis welcomed families to the Withies Lane ground for the event, which raised money for the Time is Precious children’s charity and club funds.

Flipping marvellous – Verdisa lead singer Sam Evans

Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Academy Band

Modern disco band Patawawa, from the Midlands, had festival goers dancing from the start of their set

Glam rock? Festival goers were in party mood in glorious sunshine

Local heroes Avalon Highway backstage PAGE 106 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

Toploader backstage with Neil and Nicky Halford, from the Coleford-based charity Time is Precious

Avalon Highway fans in front of the stage

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EVENTS

Toploader frontman Joe Washbourn

East 17 rolled back the years

Glastonbury glamour? No, Midsomer Norton

Keith Horler, another locally-based musician For Es are jolly good fellas …

Michael Eavis was presented with a MNCC club tie and honorary membership by club chairman Graeme King, club president Ian MacDonald and Outfield main organiser Matt Dando

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PHOTO, optics and art specialists D.H. James and Somerset Frames – the new name for the Armandine Gallery – in Wells are hosting another of their hugely-popular shows in the city in October, featuring experts from their main manufacturers demonstrating their latest products.

Camera equipment, binoculars and art products will all be showcased at the one-day event at the Swan Hotel on Saturday, October 26th.

D.H. James is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary and brothers Nick James and Chris Goodwin, who run the business, say they felt the time was right for another exhibition.

As well as demonstrations of the latest products – and some special one-day promotional offers – there will be plenty to see and do.

Amongst the highlights will be two talks by photographer Rod Fountain, who has worked behind the scenes for 16 years on the BBC’s Top Gear show as one of their reportage and media photographers.

Secret World Wildlife Rescue will be bringing along a bird of

Discover some of the skills behind the scenes of Top Gear

Rod Fountain has travelled around the world on assignments

prey for people to admire and try out the photography equipment, whilst Winsor and Newton will have an artist demonstrating their range of paints and brushes.

Illustrator and street artist SPZero will be creating a piece of art using Posca Uni Pin pens; St Cuthbert’s Paper Mill at Wookey will be there with their Beckingford and Saunders Waterford Papers whilst Pebeo will demonstrate their fabric colours and acrylic ink.

Chris said: “This will be our third show at the Swan Hotel and it promises to be something rather special.”

Nick added: “As well as it being our 50th year, we felt we should also mark the fact that the Armandine Gallery is now called Somerset Frames.”

Rod Fountain will be speaking at 10am and again at 2pm

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(Photograph courtesy of Rod Fountain)

It’s all about the image at free show in Wells

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Wincanton ready for new season

Daniel Cooper in the new clerk of the course at Wincanton and Exeter racecourses

WINCANTON Racecourse will be saluting the winners on Thursday, October 17th when racing returns to the Somerset track.

It will be the first of 16 meetings that will provide a feast of entertainment over the next seven months as jump horses battle it out.

October sees a second fixture at the award-winning course – the Combat Stress Centenary Raceday takes place on Sunday, October 27th. The charity offers specialist mental health treatment for veterans. There are due to be seven races on the card, including the Desert Orchid Handicap Steeple Chase, named after the famous grey.

Meanwhile, Daniel Cooper has been appointed as the new clerk of the course at both Exeter and Wincanton Racecourses.

Daniel will be responsible for turf husbandry, liaison with owners and trainers and for all other duties associated with the role in the lead up to and during racedays.

Daniel said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to Exeter and Wincanton Racecourses, and having been brought up at a jumps yard in Shropshire, I’m really look forward to the return of the jump racing season in the South West.

“Both courses stage top quality races, which will be highlights, and it is exciting to work alongside a passionate and committed team.”

WHAT’S ON

Trafalgar dinner in Axbridge

THE annual Trafalgar dinner will be held in Axbridge town hall on Saturday, October 26th to mark the victory of Admiral Horatio Nelson over the combined fleets of France and Spain on October 21st, 1805.

It will raise funds for the Axbridge and Cheddar Valley Sea Cadets, Training Ship Goathland.

The black tie dinner follows the traditions of the Royal Navy with a guest speaker and the customary toasts. If you are entitled to wear uniform it is positively encouraged.

Tickets are limited but they will be available from Ripley Antiques, the Post Office and the Pharmacy in the Square, Axbridge for £26 each.

The French Navy also celebrates Trafalgar. Although they lost the battle they no longer had to face a British fleet commanded by Nelson and that, for them, was worth celebrating!

The Axbridge and Cheddar Valley Sea Cadets are going from strength to strength with their cadets enjoying a full range of water-borne training and specialist courses in addition to the core syllabus subjects.

Details: 01934 733939

Racing returns to Wincanton on Thursday, October 17th

For details about the coming season visit: www.winantonracecourse.co.uk

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Celebration of crafts

CRAFT4CRAFTERS run a successful craft and textile show which has evolved into one of the best crafting events in the South West. In the main pavilion at the Royal Bath and West showground there will be over 150 of the finest craft and textile suppliers.

There are over 100 daily workshops and demonstrations from many guilds and textile artists including West Country Embroiderers, Machine Knitters Guild, Avon Spinners Weavers Guild, Wincanton Guild of Lace Makers, Gill Burbidge Felting, Quilting Guilds, Guild of Blacksmiths, The Beading Guild, Creatives Textiles South West, Ace Arts Somerset, Jo Whiteland Batik and many more.

Workshops include needlecraft, crochet, knitting, batik, macramé, papercraft and stamping, card making, felting, weaving, glass work, jewellery wire work, sculpture, paper lamp shades, lace making, blacksmithing and much more.

Plus there will be an extra quilt and textile hall with wonderful displays and exhibitions including an amazing 4m x 4m embroidered White Walker of Game of Thrones created

by The Embroiderers Guild and other exhibitions by The Beading Guild, Sue Ryder Trust, Alicia Merrett Contemporary Quilts, Walton Textiles, Bath Quilters, Bath Textile Artists, South West Quilters, North Dorset Quilters, Avalon Quilters, UK quilters and Rebecca Bruton Textiles to name a few.

The show takes place from Thursday, October 17th to Saturday, October 19th, 10am-5pm, £9 adult/£8 concession, U-16s free.

Details: www.Craft4Crafters.co.uk

Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD

Starts Friday 4th October Starts Friday 11th October

Starts Friday 18th October

EVENT CINEMA FOR OCTOBER

Judy (12A), Joker (cert tbc) Abominable (U) Shaun The Sheep: Farmageddon (U), Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil (cert tbc) Official Secrets (15) Don Giovanni 8th 6.45pm Wise Children (15) 9th 3pm Elvis Unleashed (PG) 10th 7pm Don Pasquale 24th 7.30pm

l Book in person l Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk l Over the ’phone: 01749 673195

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Inspiring and controversial – women writers in Wells

THE 2019 Wells Festival of Literature offers a rich crop of women writers with a 13-strong line-up covering everything from neuroscience and forensic science to music and cookery.

Inspiring and controversial women include television presenter Kate Humble, locally-based writer and cookery school owner Caroline Waldegrave, Angela Gallop, a forensic scientist with an interest in dogs; Gina Rippon, a neuroscientist who will question the wiring of our brains; Joanna Cannon, a novelist who is also a psychiatrist, Nicci French, a novelist who knows more than most about dementia, Alison Weir, who recreates historical women; Emma Smith, a Shakespeare critic; Tracey Thorn, punk singer from another planet; pioneering orchestral conductor, Fiona Glover; Roma Agrawi, the engineer behind the Shard; Keggie Carew, an intrepid, disastrous traveller; Felicity Cloake, the Guardian gourmet; Fiona Maddocks, chief music critic of the Observer and writer of three books and Joanna Nadin, creator of Rachel Riley and comic author of teen and children’s fiction.

WHAT’S ON

Free workshops in Shepton

SHEPTON Mallet’s Art Bank is hosting a new series of free workshops, courtesy of funding from Somerset Skills and Learning.

Starting at the end of September, on Mondays and Tuesdays, the course of workshops will enable people to create their own artwork in a supportive and guided environment. The Tuesday workshops – led by Mandy McKenna – specifically focus on the creation of masks from materials otherwise destined for landfill.

For details, visit www.facebook.com/artbankcafe and www.facebook.com/therubbishartproj

Tickets for the festival, which runs from October 18th until October 26th are selling fast. Brochures are available at many outlets including Wells market on Wednesdays and Saturdays or visit: www.festivalofliterature.org.uk

Be afraid – be very afraid!

THIS October, darkness is descending on Puxton Park as they open their doors to bring your worst nightmares to life. After three years of planning, Puxton is hosting one of the most terrifying, haunted attractions in the South West.

PHOBIA encapsulates all things dark, dreadful and horrifying into a 2.5 hour experience across six of the country's newest, haunted attractions including Freak Show, Doll House, Claustrophobia, The Old Parlour, and a Haunted Tractor Ride.

As you make your way through the park, you enter each maze of terror at your own risk, as around every corner, you will meet a new strain of evil. Once hidden amongst the cover of darkness, these unnatural beings have re-emerged and are looking for bodies to torture and souls to feast on.

Managing director, Alistair Mead, said: "PHOBIA at Puxton Park has been a long time coming. Over the past three years, we have studied the science behind fears and phobias to make our attraction as authentic as possible.

“We have always loved the idea of hosting adult-only events where the parents and families that visit the park during the day, can leave the kids at home and enjoy a terrifying night out."

Running across four days, the event takes place on October 25th and 26th and October 30th and 31st. Doors will open at 6.30pm and close at 11.30pm. Tickets cost £12 each and give you access to each of the haunted attractions. This event is not intended for children.

Details: www.puxtonphobia.co.uk

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Please send entries for these listings as a single paragraph of less than 25 words. We’re happy to list entries for charities and voluntary groups free of charge – but please submit them in the format below. We may not be able to use entries which are too lengthy or submitted as posters or leaflets. Commercial entries cost £25.

Until Sunday October 6th Somerset Art Weeks, various venues around the county. Details: somersetartworks.org.uk The English Woman’s Flora exhibition of the beauty of Britain’s vanishing wildflowers. Black Swan Arts, Frome BA11 1BB, Mon to Sat, 10am– 4pm. Details: www.blackswanarts.org.uk 01373 473980.

Thursday September 26th Mendip Ramblers moderate 6.5m Orchardleigh, Buckland Dinham: Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk.

Somer Valley Singers ladies’ choir "open practice" evening to welcome new singers, 7.15pm Somer Centre, Midsomer Norton BA3 2UH. Friday September 27th Last Night of the Proms, to support MARLENS, the charity behind Clevedon Marine Lake. Princes Hall, Clevedon BS21 7SZ. Details: info@clevedonmarinelake.co.uk Shared Reading groups, every Friday. Join in, or drop in to relax with coffee and listen. Glastonbury library 10.30am-12; Wells library 11am -12.30.

Details: 0151 7292200.

Saturday September 28th Cats Protection Autumn Fayre 10am-12 Midsomer Norton Methodist Hall. Entry free.

"One Night of Elvis" 7.30pm Frome Memorial Theatre. Tickets £23 from 01373 462795 www.fmt.website Yatton Music Society: Harry & Alisa NowakowskiFox (piano-cello), 7.30pm St Mary’s Church. £10, YMS members £8. Details: www.yms.org.uk Mendip Society walk from Backwell. Mod 5m. Meet 2pm station car park BS48 1TJ. Details: Richard 01275 852786.

Macmillan Big Coffee Morning 10am-12 the Market House, Castle Cary.

Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books, jigsaws, cds, dvds.

Trotterfest 2 Trotter Inn, Crickham, Wedmore.

Charity music night for WaterAid. Pig roast & veggie, £7.50.

Saturday 28th to Sunday 29th September Harvest Festival Bishop’s Palace, Wells, 10am-5pm. www.bishopspalace.org.uk Sunday September 29th Jazz Vespers, with Bristol band Scythia 7pm, Holy Trinity Church, Cleeve, BS49 4NL. Free, all welcome, great music, food & people. Details: 01934 283340 or nigelbthomas1@gmail.com Mendip Ramblers mod 11m Sherborne Country Way Leg 4: Longburton to Bradford Abbas. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk.

Tuesday October 1st Somerset Wildlife Trust talk: Manu National Park, where the Amazon meets the Andes 8pm Caryford Hall, Ansford BA7 7JJ. Adults £3.

Wednesday October 2nd Backwell & Nailsea Support Group for Carers and ex-Carers, 2pm-3.30, groupwork, fun & games. WI Hall Backwell.

Weston Walking Group, Crowcombe, hilly 7.6m, all welcome. Details: www.westonwalkinggroup.co.uk Organ Recital by Jim Williams 12.30-1.30pm, St John's Church Midsomer Norton. Refreshments available, donations welcome.

Thursday October 3rd Timsbury Art Group: artist Lynda Kettle talking about her work in theatre, TV & demonstrating the use of pastels, 2-4pm Conygre Hall BA2 0JQ. £4.50 includes refreshments.

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7.30pm. Bar www.camertoncommunityhall.co.uk Congresbury Gardening Club talk by Katherine Couch "Plants that should be better known” 7.30 pm Methodist Hall, High St. www.congresburygardeningclub,org Mendip Ramblers moderate 6.2m Dursdon Drove & Priddy. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Mendip Storytelling Circle: tall tales, myths, legends & riddles. Free entry, donations, 7.30pm Chewton Mendip village hall, BA3 4NS. Details: Colin mendipstorycircle@gmail.com Friday October 4th Redhill Club Open Mic Night hosted by Jerry Blythe, 07900 587646. BS40 5SG. Details: 01934 862619.

Winscombe Quiz for Christian Aid, 7pm St James's Church Hall BS25 1BA. Tickets £7 from William: 07960 697874.

Chris Sperring Wildlife Talk 7pm Camerton Community Hall. £5 includes refreshment. Bar www.camertoncommunityhall.co.uk Amphion Consort, a unique concert, Bishop’s Palace Wells. Drinks, canapes from 7pm. Details & tickets £15 from: www.bishopspalace.org Saturday October 5th Mendip Society walk from Shepton Mallet. Mod 5m.

Meet 2pm Commercial Rd CP, off Old Market Rd BA4 5DX. Details: Gill 01934 742508.

Somerset Plant Heritage full day, 11am talk on Camellias, 2.30pm on scented plants, by Jeremy Wilson. Bring & share lunch. Edington village hall TA7 9HA. Non-members £6 (half day £4). Details: 01278 451631.

Kingston Seymour Market 10am-12, village hall.

Fairtrade goods, cakes, crafts. Tables £2. Details: 01934 830553.

Valley Arts presents Packhouse Ceilidh. Live music from Squeeze Fiddle Pluck, organic supper included. £15pp 7.30pm, Community Farm, Chew Magna BS40 8SZ www.valleyartscentre.co.uk Wells SOUP enjoy lunch as four local charities tell you what they do and are each given a cheque. 1pm, Connect Centre, Wells. Details: 07715 770454.

Castle Cary Ann Hallett Children’s Carnival procession at 3pm with more than 100 children, then entertainment including circus skills workshop, at the Market House. www.ccacs.org.uk Jumble Sale Winscombe Community Centre.

Frome Society for Local Study lecture: Clare Lyall – Trowbridge Museum: Onwards and Upwards.

Assembly Rooms at the rear of Frome Memorial Theatre (BA11 1EB). Lecture starts at 2.30pm.

Visitors (£3) welcome. FfIl www.fsls.org.uk West Harptree Memorial Hall opens its community cinema, 7pm, showing Rocketman, with Alien The Directors Cut on November 1st. Details: www.westharptreehall.com Sunday October 6th Mendip Ramblers mod 10m Lamyatt & Green’s Combe Farm. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Monday October 7th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with bingo. Non-members welcome. 8pm War Memorial Hall.

Monday October 7th to Tuesday November 19th Mid Somerset Camera Club Photography Exhibition, Strode Theatre Street BA16 0AB. Tuesday October 8th Mendip Society talk ‘A photographic exploration of Mendip’ 2.30pm Wells and Mendip Museum, BA5 2UE. Non-members £3.50. Free refreshment. Details: Richard 01275 472797.

Poetry & art of the First World War talk by Denis Moriarty for Arts Society Mendip, 11am Bath & West Show Ground www.theartssocietymendip.org.uk Guests welcome, 01934 862435.

Clevedon Art Club, Dick Pope Abstract Art, 7.30pm Sixth Form Centre Clevedon School BS21 6AH. Nonmembers £3.

Poetry & Art of the First World War talk by Denis

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Moriarty to The Arts Society Mendip. 11am Bath & West Show Ground, BA4 6QN. Guests welcome www.theartssocietymendip.org.uk Fosseway Gardening Club talk by Gilly Hayward on pruning, 7.30pm Pylle village hall nr Shepton.

Visitors welcome.

Wednesday October 9th Kilmersdon Gardeners talk by George Always "Cottage garden flowers" village hall BA3 5TD, 7.30pm.

Nailsea Horticultural Society talk by Carole Hamblin of Lavender & Co.7.30pm Nailsea United Reformed Church Hall.

Weston Walking Group, Wedmore 8.5m, all welcome: www.westonwalkinggroup.co.uk Fish Supper Night, 6.30pm Queen Victoria, Priddy.

Cod, chips, mushy peas £10. Only 60 places 01749 676385 or e-mail mark@thequeenvicpriddy.co.uk All proceeds to RNLI. Concert, Claire King, clarinet, Gerry Hoddinott, piano 12.30-1.30pm St John's Church Midsomer Norton. Refreshments, donations welcome.

Wells Civic Society, Gerry Cottle, Wells and Mendip Museum, 7.30pm.

Women's Circle, connect with and nourish the Essence of your Being, 7-9pm, @ The Lounge, Shepton Mallet Baptist Church, Commercial Road, BA4 5BU, also 16th and 23rd. Details: Angela 07856 515040.

Thursday October 10th Mendip Ramblers mod 6.3m Buckland Dinham & Great Elm. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Weston Walking Group: Charterhouse 6m, all welcome: www.westonwalkinggroup.co.uk Health & Mind Matters Event: meet local support organisations, explore ways to improve physical & mental wellbeing. Free, all welcome, refreshments 11am-2pm Mendip District Council offices, Shepton Mallet.

Friday October 11th Frome Memorial Theatre presents "The best of WHAM!" 7.30pm. Tickets £22.50 from 01373 462795 or www.fmt.website Shoscombe Local History Group: ‘Foxcote & the disappeared medieval villages’ 7.30pm village hall BA2 8LX Tickets £5 incl refreshment. Details: 01761 435735 or dawcouk@gmail.com Marvin Muoneke Grand Pier Weston, 7 for 7.45pm, entertainment & buffet. Charity fundraiser for New Beginnings 4U. Tickets £25 from nb4uevents@yahoo.com Inner Wheel Quiz, teams of six, with fish & chip supper, 7pm St James’ Hall Winscombe BS25 1BA. BYO drinks/glasses. Details: Pauline 01934 852481.

Barn Dancing 7.30pm Ditcheat Jubilee Hall, £4.

Music by Jeroka. All welcome. Organised by caller, Peter Bolton: 01749 672911.

Frome Festival: a storyteller & artist sharing myth & magic by candle light 7.30pm The Bennett Centre, Frome: www.pushingupthedaisies.co.uk/Tickets.html Saturday October 12th – Sunday October 13th Chew Valley Arts Trail. www.chewvalleyartstrail.co.uk See page 30.

All Saints’ Church, Castle Cary, Fibrefest exhibition celebrating textile art of all kinds, 10am-4pm. Details: katya.goubsky@gmail.com Leigh on Mendip Arts & Crafts Exhibition 11am4pm, Memorial Hall. Free Entry.

Saturday October 12th Waves of Harmony & Friends – a concert of songs & fun, 7.30pm Blakehay Theatre, WSM, BS23 1JZ. Tickets £10-£14: www.blakehaytheatre.co.uk Ellie’s Walk: 1.5m sponsored walk around the Glastonbury Festival site. £2 to register, raffle, for www.timeisprecious.org Weston Walking Group: Castle Neroche mod 7.8m, all welcome: www.westonwalkinggroup.co.uk Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books, jigsaws, dvds, cds.

Churchill Music: Lyra Piano Trio, Mozart,

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Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, 7.30pm St John’s Church, BS25 5QW.Tickets £4 – £16: www.ticketsource.co.uk Antiques Evening, 7pm St Bridget’s Church Chelvey.

Bring an item of interest. Donations, welcome drink.

Reserve seat: 01275 853138/463702.

Wells Repair Café 10am-12.45 St Thomas' Church Hall BA5 2UZ. Bring items for repair by our volunteers. Enjoy stalls, tea /coffee & cake.

Book Sale Winscombe Community Centre.

Mells 10k raising money for CLIC Sargent in memory of Ben Crutchley. For walkers, runners & cyclists. Details: www.mells10k.com Stoney Stratton Apple Day, Neill Orchard, 12-4pm.

Family activities, local food & drink. All welcome, dogs on leads. Free entry. Details: jane.neill007@btinternet.com or 01749 830513.

Castle Cary evening illuminated carnival procession leaves Ansford Academy at 7pm. Details: www.ccacs.org.uk Jumble sale 2pm Cheddar village hall, organised by the Lions. Deliver items after 12. Entry 20p, Refreshments. Details: 0845 833 7402 or information@cheddarvalelions.org.uk Mendip Society walk from Winscombe. Mod 6.5m.

Meet 1.30pm car park behind Woodborough Inn BS25 1HD. Phil 07733 539018.

Sunday October 13th Redhill Classic Car & Motorcycle Breakfast Gathering 9 -11am. All welcome. Redhill Club, Church Rd, BS40 5SG. Tel: 01934 862619.

“The Big Sing” come & sing favourite worship songs & hymns, followed by BBQ. 11am Farmborough Church, BA2 0AN. Details: jeannette.jones@gmail.com Monday October 14th A Little Kingdom: the Harman Family's Lundy, 1925-1969 talk by André Coutanche to Nailsea & District Local History Society,7.45pm, after the AGM. Green Lecture Room Nailsea School. Visitors welcome £2 www.ndlhs.org.uk Tuesday October 15th Bleadon Horticultural Society talk by Andy Scarisbrick on beekeeping, 7.30pm Coronation Hall, BS24 0PG. All welcome, £2.

Considering Adoption? Families for Children information session 6.30-8.30pm Yeovil Community Church, Addlewell Lane, BA20 1QN. To book: 01271 612004 or www.familiesforchildren.org.uk Congresbury Over-60s Club, “Variety Bandbox 2” talk by Terry Merrett-Smith, 2.30-4pm War Memorial Hall. Details: 01934 832004.

Wednesday October 16th Weston Walking Group: Bowlish moderate 7.5m all welcome: www.westonwalkinggroup.co.uk Mendip Gardening Club 7.30pm Ston Easton village hall. Bulbs: selection & planting. Micky Little www.mendipgardeningclub.com Concert by Somervale School 12.30-1.30pm St John's Church Midsomer Norton. Refreshments available, donations welcome.

Thursday October 17th Frome Memorial Theatre presents "An evening of mediumship with psychic Tony Stockwell" 7.30pm.

Tickets £21, £19 from 01373 462795 www.fmt.website Mountain Music a play by Little Bulb Theatre, 7.30pm Kingsdon village hall. Tickets £10, U16s £6 from community shop or 01935 841402.

Bingo, Camerton Community Hall, 6.30 for 7.30pm.

Bar www.camertoncommunityhall.co.uk Mendip Ramblers moderate 7m Oakhill & Maesbury Castle. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Friday October 18th Mendip Ramblers moderate 5m pub walk from Hunters Lodge, Priddy. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Saturday October 19th Big Drop for Weston HospiceCare 10.30am-12 Wedmore First School Academy BS28 4BS. Please

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donate any items suitable to sell in hospice shops – including furniture & electrical.

Weston Walking Group: East Harptree mod 7.4m, all welcome: www.westonwalkinggroup.co.uk The Sound of Violence: War, Peace & Radio 1922– 1939, Professor Simon Potter, 7pm Caryford Community Hall, Castle Cary. Tickets £10: www.caryfordhall.co.uk Sound of Music Singalong for Youth with a Future, a charity for young homeless. Fancy dress, bring-andshare meal, 6.30-10pm, Oakhill Methodist Church BA3 5AQ. Free, donations welcome. Details: 07504 758263.

The Brue Boys 7.30pm St Mary's Church, East Chinnock, BA22 9DP. Tickets £10 include glass wine or juice, from 01935 863209.

Timsbury Art Group Exhibition Conygre Hall BA2 0JQ. 10am-4pm. Raffles for Dorothy House hospice.

Cheddar Male Choir with soloist Richard Lennox 7.30pm St John the Baptist C of E Church, Axbridge.

Tickets £10 from choir members, Deane’s of Cheddar or on the door.

One World Fair 10am-4pm Wells Town Hall. An opportunity for many different charities to showcase their work. Free entry, lunches, fair-trade goods.

Brent Knoll Harvest Supper with dancing. Music from Axbridge band The Stop Cocks. Tickets £15 from village shop or 01278 760308.

Mendip Society walk from Sand Bay, a hard 4m.

Meet 2pm NT car park, Beach Rd. Details: Richard & Denise 01275 472797.

Frome Society for Local Study lecture: Richard Brunning – The Lost Islands of Somerset. Assembly Rooms at the rear of Frome Memorial Theatre (BA11 1EB). Lecture starts at 2.30pm. Visitors (£3) welcome. FfIl www.fsls.org.uk Sunday October 20th Burnham & Highbridge Band Autumn concert 6.30 for 7pm Princess Theatre, Burnham. Tickets £7, £6 from 01278 784464. burnhamandhighbridgeband.weebly.com Mendip Ramblers moderate 10m Mendip meander from Black Rock gate. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Monday October 21st Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with bingo. Non-members welcome. 8pm War Memorial Hall.

Steart Wildlife Nature Reserve talk by Alys Laver for Timsbury Natural History Group, 7.30pm Conygre Hall. Non-members welcome, £3.

Tuesday October 22nd Chilcompton Garden Club talk by Caroline Packenham on preparing for winter & herbs for Christmas 7.30pm village hall.

Wednesday October 23rd Weston Walking Group: Blagdon Lake moderate 6.5m all welcome: www.westonwalkinggroup.co.uk Concert by U3A Singing for Pleasure 12.30-1.30pm St John's Church Midsomer Norton. Refreshments available, donations welcome.

Thursday October 24th Chew Valley Wildlife Group: Sri Lanka: birds, wildlife, culture. Illustrated talk by David Hedges.

Chew Magna Old School Room, 7.45pm. £2.50.

Mendip Ramblers moderate 6m around Blagdon lake. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk

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Friday 25th October Celebratory Concert, organ, piano & vocals, 7.30pm St James's Church, Winscombe, BS25 1BX. Tickets £10 on door. Details: 07960 697874.

Chew Valley Spoken Word: stories, poetry readings; maybe a riddle or song, 7.30pm Chew Magna Baptist Chapel BS40 8SP. Details: chewvalleyspokenword@gmail.com Wells City Band concert to launch the RBL Poppy Appeal, 7.30pm Town Hall. Tickets £10, £8, £3, cash only please, from Town Hall & Wells Film Centre.

Saturday October 26th Frome Memorial Theatre presents "Joe Brown – the 60th anniversary tour" 7.30pm. Tickets £30 from 01373 462795 www.fmt.website Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books, jigsaws, dvds, cds.

David Bednall Organ Recital 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Yatton, Tickets £10, £8 YMS members: www.yms.org.uk Barn Dance, 7.30pm, Old School Rooms, Congresbury BS49 5DY. Fundraising for new village hall. Bar, hot dogs, raffle. Tickets £8 from Rose: 01934 838800.

Redhill Hall & Club Halloween Party 7pm. Fancy dress optional. Hotdogs, disco. Adults £3, children £1.50.

Climate emergency event organised by Glastonbury Town Council, 10am-4pm at the Town Hall.

Organisations offering information & advice. Details: laiqabrowne@glastonbury.gov.uk Frome Civic Society annual lunch Assembly Rooms 1pm.

Sunday October 27th Mendip Ramblers moderate 12m 5-leaders walk from Templecombe. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Monday October 28th Green Gardeners 7.30pm Parish Rooms, Somerton.

Christopher Bond 'Art in the Garden' Visitors welcome £3.

Wednesday October 30th Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support meeting 1.30pm Backwell WI Hall. Talk on the Calibre audio library. Details Sheila, 01275 462107.

Weston Walking Group: Rodney Stoke moderate 7m all welcome: www.westonwalkinggroup.co.uk Harptrees History Society talk on Henry VIII by Prof Ronald Hutton, 7.30 West Harptree Hall BS40 6EB. Details 01761 221758 or 221941.

Mendip Society walk from Wellow. Mod 5.5m. Meet 1.30pm Station Rd car park BA2 8QB. Details: Martin 01249 720809.

Thursday October 31st Mendip Ramblers moderate 6.5m King’s Wood, Crook Peak. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Friday November 1st to Sunday November 3rd Somerset Festival of Death & Dying over 30 events are planned in Frome, Glastonbury & Wells. “Because not talking about death causes many problems. It deprives the dying of the best possible death and isolates the bereaved.” Details: www.deathfest.co.uk Friday November 1st Vienna Ballet presents Snow White 7.30pm Frome Memorial Theatre. Tickets £21, £20, £16 from 01373 462795.

Redhill Club Open Mic Night hosted by Jerry Blythe, 07900 587646. BS40 5SG.

OCTOBER CROSSWORD SOLUTION

ACROSS: 1. Reassure 5. Proper 9. Unlimited 11.Tweed 12. Dundry 13. Attitude 15. Pinking shears 18. National parks 22. Chastity 23. Infant 26. Smell 27. Croscombe 28. Paltry 29. Per annum DOWN: 1. Round-ups 2. All in 3. Samurai 4. Rota 6. Retsina 7. Precursor 8. Rodney 10. Ditcheat 14. Agnostic 16. Nonpareil 17. Isotherm 20. Panacea 21. Acts up 24. Admen 25. Cove MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019 • PAGE 113

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MENDIP TIMES

Yield and Return at the Abbey Barn

CERAMICIST Emilie Taylor is presenting an installation inspired by historic collections of local pottery at the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury.

The installation, titled Yield and Return, is part of Somerset Art Weeks, but will remain on display in the Abbey Barn until November 9th. During the summer Emilie was Artist in Residence at the museum. The ceramic pots she has created are in response to the distinctive Donyatt slipware collections currently on display in the museum’s exhibition The Art of the Potter.

As well as spending time reinterpreting the historic collections Emilie worked with community and school groups. Among them were students from Heathfield Community School, Taunton, who took part in a workshop. The dishes that they produced are on display alongside Emilie’s work.

Emilie uses traditional slipware to interpret and represent post-industrial landscapes and the spaces that sit

PAGE 114 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2019

between the urban and the rural. She is interested in the vessel as a metaphor for how we seek to contain communities and community rituals within British society. She uses this approach in relation to contemporary issues around food production and distribution, wealth and poverty. She also draws on pre-Christian rituals, once common in parts of Somerset, that symbolise the end of the harvest.

The project was co-commissioned by Somerset Art Works, South West Heritage Trust and Craftspace, and supported by Arts Council England funding. The school’s engagement work was made possible by Department of Education funding distributed through Arts Council England. l Associated events at the museum include: Donyatt Pottery: An Introductory Talk

by Director of Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood auctioneers, Nic Saintey.

Sunday, September 29th. 11am.

Booking required, £5.

Ceramics Family Friendly Activities:

WHAT’S ON

Emilie Taylor at work

drop-in family friendly activities, as part of Somerset Art Weeks’ Family Friendly Weekend. Sunday, October, 6th, 2-4m. Free as part of entry to the museum (£3.50 to fire and glaze artwork).

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