Issue 2 - Volume 14 - Mendip Times

Mendip Times

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Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

JULY 2018

IN THIS ISSUE: SPORT • FARMING • WEDMORE • COMMUNITY • SUMMER EVENTS • BUSINESS• THE GREAT FLOOD Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

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Welcome

THERE’S a lot of energetic people across Mendip – literally hundreds have been running or walking for good causes and we have picture specials from two of the big events in Wells and the Chew Valley.

Weston Hospicecare’s Mendip Challenge saw nearly 900 people taking to the hills in blazing sunshine. It’s just one of the events featured in our charity pages this month.

We have a picture special from the Royal Bath and West Show and pictures from fetes and festivals right across the area. We also preview the Mid-Somerset Show.

With the 50th anniversary of the Great Flood approaching, we hear this month from people in Chew Magna, Long Ashton and Woollard. There will be anniversary events on July 7th and 8th.

Phil Hendy tells of the effects on Mendip’s caves when the deluge came on July 11th, 1968.

We report on campaigns to save our local libraries and an appeal for more people to support Priddy Friendly Society and our local history societies. We’ve also been making news ourselves by being named finalists in the Mendip Business Awards.

Percy the former race horse has also been celebrating. We were there for his 30th birthday party. Go to our riding section to find out more!

With all of our regular features and contributors, let’s celebrate summer on Mendip.

August 2018 deadline: Friday, 13th July 2018.

Published: Tuesday, 24th July 2018.

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

01761 463888

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

Front cover: Somerset Schools Dance Festival from Wells Cathedral.

Photograph by Mark Adler. See page 60.

CONTENTS

12

43

Now in business – Mendip’s newest market

Cow-tastic – Open Farm Sunday pulls in the crowds

60

Dancing on the green – schools’ folk festival

95

Happy birthday to him – party present for Percy Plus all our regular features Environment ...................................6 Farming Mary James MBE ..........10 Arts & Antiques ...........................15 Business.........................................24 Food & Drink ...............................38 Internet and Crossword ..............46 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......65 Walking Sue Gearing ....................66 Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........68 Gardening Mary Payne MBE.......70

Charities........................................80 Education ......................................88 Health Dr Phil Hammond .............92 Caving Phil Hendy ........................96 Community ...................................98 Homes and Interiors ..................104 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE...110 Sport ............................................112 Music & Theatre ........................120 What’s On...................................124 MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 3

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Our Services Include: Commercial and Residential Property Wills and Probate Litigation and Personal Injury Criminal and Family Law Agricultural, Business and Commercial Employment Shepton Mallet: 57 High Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5AQ. Tel: 01749 330330

Glastonbury: 11 Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8DL. Tel: 01458 832510

WE would like to announce that we shall be merging our offices at Castle Cary and Glastonbury with effect from 1st August 2018.

After 40 years in the present building, Robin Weelen and his staff at Castle Cary are to move into considerably larger, detached premises in Church Street with a car park for staff and clients. Robin and his staff are really excited about the proposed move. This opportunity led to the decision to merge the two offices and transfer the Glastonbury staff to the new premises in Castle Cary.

We shall be sorry to leave Glastonbury, but our premises there are some distance from the town centre and both Castle Cary and Shepton Mallet are fairly close by. Karen Lucas (the Director in charge at Glastonbury) will relocate to Castle Cary, whilst the conveyancing department will relocate to Shepton Mallet.

We believe that this arrangement will benefit both clients and the firm but if you are a client of the Glastonbury office and will find it difficult to attend one of our other offices, please call us and we will make alternative arrangements. In appropriate cases we will visit you at your home.

After closure, calls to the Glastonbury office number will be answered by our central switchboard and transferred to the individual best placed to help. If you require further information, please contact the Shepton Mallet office on 01749 330330 or e-mail Sheptonmallet@bgw-solicitors.co.uk or contact the Castle Cary office on 01963 350888 or e-mail CastleCary@bgw-solicitors.co.uk

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

Cheddar: Bath Street Chambers, Bath Street, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3AA. Tel: 01934 745400

Website: www.bgw-solicitors.co.uk

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Support the society – it’s part of village history THE outgoing chairman of Priddy Friendly Society has called on members to play a more active role in the historical organisation and for more people to join.

Mike Brown made his plea after the annual roll-call at the start of the society’s annual club day.

The current society was formed in 1883 after the original 1814 one went into bankruptcy. Its role remains to support members who suffer hardship and organises various fundraising events in the village.

Priddy – along with Westbury-sub-Mendip Friendly Society – is one of the last in the country still active. Membership was opened to women as recently as 1987.

Following the roll-call outside the Queen Victoria Inn, members were led by the band of Weston Sea Cadets in a procession to the village church before a celebration lunch.

NEWS

The parade makes its way to the village church

Mike Brown makes his rallying call

Alex Barlow and Roy Turner chat outside the Queen Victoria Inn

Three generations together

The Rev. Paula Hollingsworth, vicar of Priddy with the order of service

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Ridding Somerset of plastic waste A SOMERSET “Pledge Against Preventable Plastics” has been launched to identify some of the simple practical steps we can all take to cut waste and recycle more.

The pledge coincided with the annual World Environment Day, whose theme this year is “Beat Plastic Pollution” with the slogan “If you can’t re-use it, refuse it”.

The call is for a commitment to cut back on the tide of plastic we buy, which should help reduce the litter in our countryside, waste in the oceans and rubbish sent to costly, polluting landfill.

The new pocket-sized Pledge Against Preventable Plastic, which is printed on 100% recycled paper, has been created by Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP).

It has been introduced at a time when SWP’s six partner authorities, as well as many parish councils, companies and other organisations, are all looking to help reduce or eliminate preventable or single-use plastics in their own operations and more widely in their communities.

On one side of the pledge is a checklist of easy plastic actions under six headings, from “things to bring” – reusable water bottle, refillable coffee cup, bag for life – to “choose to re-use” about avoiding plastic cutlery, plastic straws and condiment sachets.

The pledge includes a call to “be a local hero” by organising litter picks and to proudly pick up and bin any street rubbish, and to “say yes to less” by buying loose fruit and veg and only picking the packing you really need.

There is also a “lobby locally” reminder to raise the issue of plastics with others who can make a difference, such as letting local businesses know how you feel and asking them what they can do to help. And it concludes: “Do what you can.

Every little helps!”

On the other side of the plastics pledge is a quick reminder of all the materials that you can recycle now at the kerbside,

including all plastic bottles from around your house, from milk to bleach, shampoo to soft drinks.

And the pledge also highlights the all-important new service taking plastic food and other household pots, tubs and trays at all 16 Somerset recycling sites, while a future kerbside collection of these items is being planned.

The new recycling site service is already proving a big, taking plastic pots for yoghurt, soup, face cream, hair gel; plastic tubs for margarine, ice cream and laundry tabs; and plastic trays and punnets (including black plastic) for meat, ready meals, fruit and mushrooms.

Site staff are reminding visitors to remove all foil, film covers, absorbent pads and card, to rinse out any contents, and to squash items to fit more in.

Details: https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/act-on-plastics/

A trolley good show!

Part of their entry

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THE federated schools of Priddy and St Lawrence's in Westbury-subMendip are celebrating after they were awarded gold for their creation at the Royal Bath and West Show’s Thriving Trolleys Competition 2018.

The theme was “Perfect Partners: Plants, People and Pollinators”. The children worked hard during their forest school

Pupils discovered they had won when they visited the show

sessions designing, growing plants from seed and making resources to link into the theme and gain a better understanding of pollination and pollinators.

The children then went to the showground to build their creation, which was then displayed within the horticultural village over the four days of the show.

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ENVIRONMENT

The value of volunteers

THE Mendip AONB unit’s annual review reveals the real value of volunteers. It says “an amazing” 3,700 hours of effort were given by volunteers to the area, up by more than 1,000 hours on the previous year. It’s estimated that in financial terms it’s worth £26,500.

The AONB unit co-ordinates about 60 volunteers with more supporting the Mendip Society, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts and other organisations.

The review captures the breadth of work the AONB unit and partners do to conserve and enhance the designated landscape of the Mendip Hills. Four key areas are focused on: practical conservation, planning matters, involving the community and raising awareness to foster a strong rural economy.

Volunteer co-ordinator, Sammy Fraser, said: “We’re constantly amazed and humbled by our volunteers. They always give so much and feel so passionately about the area. They are real ambassadors and we’re so proud Details: www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk

of them.

“People help with practical work but they also help in the office with planning matters, keep our workshop organised, lead walks, do site checks at visitor spots and much more!”

Town wins “walker welcome” status FROME has joined more than 100 other towns across the country in being recognised formally as a welcoming town for walkers.

Walkers Are Welcome has approved Frome’s bid to join the likes of Cheddar, Keynsham and Bradford-on-Avon on the scheme first launched in 2007.

Pepita Collins, chair of Walkers Are Welcome in Frome, said: “This accreditation is something the people in the town can benefit from but also a great business opportunity for the town.”

There are many benefits for communities and businesses who embrace walkers including well-maintained paths, a boost in footfall and an increase in local spending.

For local accommodation providers and organisations who are keen to encourage walkers to stay the night, stop for a drink or bite to eat there is a “Walkers are

Frome welcomes its designation as a Walkers Are Welcome destination

Welcome” badge.

Town councillor Tricia Golinski said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive Walkers are Welcome status. Anything that gets people out and about our beautiful town is a good thing and I am pleased to have been able to support the steering

group.”

A new website www.FromeWalkersareWelcome.org is currently under development and will have a variety of downloadable local walks as well as links to the many local walking groups in Frome.

August 25th to Monday, August 27th and will offer a series of three walks each day, ranging in distance from up to six miles, up to eight miles and up to ten miles – all

starting at 10am - with one shorter walk of three to four miles, starting at 1.30pm.

All walks start from the Jubilee Hall in Ditcheat and everyone is welcome.

Ramblers heading for Ditcheat MENDIP Ramblers’ free walking festival for 2018 will explore the area around Ditcheat.

The festival takes place from Saturday,

For full details, visit: www.mendipramblers.co.uk

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Wildlife in Glastonbury

ENVIRONMENT

AN exhibition of award-winning wildlife photography will be held in Glastonbury to help raise funds for the work on Somerset Wildlife Trust.

The Red Brick Building will again host the images from the prestigious British Wildlife Photography Awards, launched nine years ago to recognise the talents of photographers working in the UK and to capture amazing images of Britain’s diverse wildlife. Amongst the winners is Victoria Hillman, from Somerset.

Admission to the exhibition – running from July 17th until August 25th – is free, but donations will be split between the trust and the community interest company which runs the venue.

Alison Belshaw, from the Red Brick Building, said: “We’re really pleased to be bringing the British Wildlife Photography Awards exhibition to Glastonbury again and working with Somerset Wildlife Trust. Last year more than 1,000 people saw the amazing photographs and we’re looking forward to welcoming more this summer.”

The Coast and Marine category winning image by Caron Steele

Exploring the Somer valley

THE third Somer Valley Walking Festival will take place on the weekend of September 14th, 15th and 16th and will feature new walks as well as trusted favourites from previous years.

The aim of the festival is to introduce local people and those from further afield to the attractive local countryside and also the fascinating industrial heritage of the Somer Valley.

All the walks are free and led by experienced walk leaders and are of varied lengths so that both experienced walkers and those new to exploring the countryside will find something to enjoy.

The festival opens on the evening of September 14th at Radstock Museum with a talk on The Romans in the Somer Valley delivered by a member of the B&NES heritage team.

New walks this year are a walk from Peasedown St. John on the afternoon of Saturday, September 15th to enjoy some of the folk music events at the Priston Festival and a nature walk through the Wellow Valley led by the Cam Valley Wildlife Trust on the morning of Sunday 16th.

Paula Cooper’s award-winning black and white entry

Edges, by Victoria Hillman

The programme will also include the usual short walks exploring Radstock, Paulton and Westfield on Saturday, 15th plus a new more challenging long walk setting out on Sunday morning. There will three other walks on Sunday morning, including a visit to the Somersetshire Coal Canal plus an art walk led by a local artist.

All events are free except for a small charge for the museum talk.

Details: www.bathscapewalkingfestival.co.uk info@bathscape.co.uk or phone Lucy Bartlett on 01225 477265

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A message for Michael Gove

THE last month has seen more outdoor events in the Mendip area, mostly with good weather. My husband and I attended the Royal Bath and West Show on three days this year, two days as working volunteers and one just looking around – there was plenty to see.

The local food area was tremendous. It was With MARY a shame the weather was so dull on the first JAMES MBE two days. Agricultural shows are just a great way to not only entertain the public but they can learn about agriculture as well.

Becoming a member will help support any show. Membership of the Royal Bath and West allows you entry on all four days plus other benefits and membership is for anyone to apply. See their website.

Another farming event was Open Farm Sunday which was well attended at many farms including Jeremy Padfield’s farm at Stratton-on-the-Fosse. In Flax Bourton also on June 10th a Rogation Sunday service was held at Birches Farm, home of Henry and Julie Butler. Just over 80 adults and children attended from the parishes of Barrow Gurney, Long Ashton and of course Flax Bourton. Held in a barn, the altar was constructed with straw bales and of course everyone sat on bales. Children were entertained with a talk on sheep and wool, with a lamb bleating in the background! They also heard about wheat and the process it goes through to make bread. The service finished with the congregation walking to the fields for a blessing of the crops.

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Members of the Royal Bath and West Society were invited to Prince Charles’s 70th birthday celebration at Buckingham Palace. Pictured (l to r) are Allen Cotton, Mary James, Les Davies and Edwin White.

The society’s chief executive Rupert Cox also attended.

If there is one thing that saddens me more than anything else it is to see the creeping of more and more milk substitutes appearing on supermarket shelves. Pure milk is an almost perfect food, it contains fat, protein calcium and enzymes and water of course.

The highest amount of fat would be five percent this coming from Channel Island cows. From black and white cows the percentage is 3.9% to 4.5%; then there is semi-skimmed and skimmed with the far content even lower. What a versatile product milk is.

It can be turned into cream, butter, cheese and yoghurt. One sees very little advertising of milk nowadays. Some of us will remember the “White Stuff”, dancing milk bottles and “Drink a Pinta Milk a Day”.

Dairy farmers pay a levy into something called the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, but it does not actually advertise the benefits of drinking milk.

To its credit the AHDB does provide information to the dairy farmer on feeding and genetics and it does try to highlight the actual working of the dairy farms as well as promoting things like Open Farm Sunday to get more consumers on the farm BUT it does not pay to advertise milk. It looks as though they want the milk processors to do it! Well, I haven’t seen pigs fly yet!

All farmers are holding their breath as the Brexit negotiations go forward. We can stand by the fact that as far as food production and animal welfare is concerned the UK has the highest standards and Countryside Stewardship has given many benefits.

Indeed, I have just read that a select committee has recommended that government must not enter trade agreements that allow food imports that do not meet our environment, welfare and food safety standards. I hope Mr Gove is listening.

Y-FARM PARTNERSHIP ATV Spraying and Slug Pelleting Specialising in small paddocks and game cover plots

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Long Service awards

FARMING

FARM and rural workers from across the West Country were recognised at the Royal Bath and West Show in the annual long-service awards. Between them they have 382 years of experience. They received their awards from show president, Mary Prior.

Malcolm Teague, from Congresbury, has worked for Alvis Bros at Redhill since leaving school 43 years ago, specialising in agricultural technology

Norman Clothier, from Wells, has been farming for 64 years and runs Home Farm at Ston Easton, a successful dairy and sheep unit

Martin Sperring, from East Harptree, has spent 43 years since leaving school with Colston Gay’s family on their farm at North Widcombe

Peter Harding from Marksbury will soon be celebrating half a century in farming. For the last 42 years he has been at Manor Farm, Corston

John Taylor is dairy farm manager at Worthy Farm Pilton. He started his farming career 44 years ago in Devon.

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Welcome to our farms

FARMS across Mendip welcomed the public as part of a nationwide scheme called Open Farm Sunday which aims to be educational as well as fun.

Neil Macdonald, who organised the OFS event at Orchard Park Farms at Hornblotton with wife Emma and their team Xavier tries his hand on a mini-digger under the guidance of Mike Mitchell from Smart Agri at Orchard Park Farms at Hornblotton

Olivia on one of the machines on display at Orchard Park Farms at Hornblotton

Friends picnic in the orchards at Orchard Park Farms at Hornblotton Sue and Jeremy Padfield who organised the OFS event at Fosse Farm at Stratton-on-the-Fosse

Emma Macdonald (left) with Megan and Niki Atkins, who helped organise the event Orchard Park Farms at Hornblotton, with their dog Tilly PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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Brothers Sebastian, Austin and Otis at Orchard Park Farms at Hornblotton

FARMING

Flying the flag for British agriculture at farmer Rob Addicott commentates on a machinery display at Fosse Farm at Strattonon-the-Fosse

Piglets in a playful mood at Fosse Farm at Stratton-on-the-Fosse James, Belle and Ellie relax at Fosse Farm at Stratton-on-theFosse

Farmer John Padfield prepares to lead a tractor trail around the farms at Stratton-on-the-Fosse

Holy cow! SJ Smallpage was one of the volunteers from Strattonon-the-Fosse church who helped out at Fosse Farm at Strattonon-the-Fosse

Shire horses Captain and Betty pick up a trot as they take visitors on ride at Fosse Farm at Stratton-on-the-Fosse. The team came from Silver Shires, based in Keynsham

Visitors pass some of the thousands of apple tree saplings waiting to be planted at Orchard Park Farms at Hornblotton

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Demand for jade still strong THE Chinese have long been fascinated by jade and they often relate the semi-precious stone to a beautiful woman, prosperity and success and attribute it to healing and wisdom.

For them, jade is a precious stone of great beauty.

They say when you wear a piece of jade, you are wearing a beautiful stone that is personal to your body. And legend has it that if a woman wears jade, she would marry a rich and powerful husband.

It was little surprise therefore to see a good entry of jade at the latest sale of antiques and collectables at the Mendip Auction Rooms greeted with very strong Asian interest with a number of pieces selling well above estimate.

Once again, there was an excellent entry of some 800 lots going under the hammer. Another good entry of jewellery was on offer with strong prices achieved. A modern yellow metal pair of single stone diamond

stud ear rings achieved £1,500 and an 18ct white gold emerald and diamond bracelet £1,100.

Two Rolex Oyster perpetual datejust watches sold for £2,500 and £1,900 respectively.

Quality pictures were viewed by specialist buyers visiting the auction rooms for the first time and were excited at what they saw. An original painting by Edgar Hunt (1976 – 1953) achieved £5,200 and a small pencil and watercolour portrait believed to be of The Princess Sophy Mertschersky £2,200.

There was an interesting entry of militaria that attracted strong bidding.

A Japanese Katana with scabbard made £550, a Third Reich Luftwaffe dress dagger £390 and a double flintlock pistol £380.

The next sale of antiques and collectables will be on Saturday, July 7th and entries are invited. General sales of more modern effects will take place on Tuesday, July 3rd and Tuesday, July 17th.

ARTS AND ANTIQUES

A Chinese jade carving of a robed man recently sold for £950

Remember, the auction rooms are open every weekday morning, 10am1pm or contact the team to arrange a free home visit. The auction rooms can also arrange professional and trusted house clearances ensuring items that can be sold are!

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“Service is the greatest path to happiness” IT has been a busy spring at Clevedon Salerooms culminating in a hugely successful June quarterly specialist sale that saw many estimates eclipsed and strong internet bidding from all around the globe.

The spring jewellery and silver valuation day held at Wells Town Hall saw a local resident consign an Art Deco diamond double clip brooch to the June specialist sale that sold for £6,200 (pictured opposite).

Also from the Wells valuation day was an Arts and Crafts silver dish in the shape of a Tudor rose, measuring just 16cm diameter and hallmarked for celebrated silversmith Omar Ramsden that sold for £2,700.

Following quickly on the heels of the Wells valuation day, auctioneer and valuer Toby Pinn was back in the town once again, this time hosting an Antiques Roadshow style charity valuation evening

Silver Arts & Crafts Tazza from the successful Well Town Hall Jewellery & Silver Valuation day, sold for £2,700

JUNE will draw to a close with Toby conducting the charity auction at the Frenchay After Burns Children’s Club annual summer ball, held at Tortworth Court in South Gloucestershire. The FAB Club as they are known raise money to put on events and a summer camp for children who have received burn injuries.

Having only missed one of these events in 18 years, Toby is amazed they keep inviting him back to wield the gavel each year as he used up all of his charity auction gags years ago!

Preparations are already underway for the September 6th quarterly specialist sale which has a closing date of August 7th but there is no rest beforehand with

at the Seager Hall on behalf of the Wells branch of Save the Children.

With over 70 guests present the night raised over £1,000 during an evening that saw Toby discuss and value more than 70 items, notwithstanding time to break for a ploughman’s supper enjoyed by all!

The largest “roadshow gasp” of the evening was reserved for a 19th century mahogany-cased marine chronometer that Toby was confident would achieve £3,000 at auction without a tailwind.

As the daffodils were in bloom, a routine valuation visit to a property south of the Mendips resulted in the consignment of over a dozen items direct from the Voysey picture letter sold for £13,600 descendants of celebrated architect and designer C. F. A. Voysey (1857-1941).

Latest recruit to Clevedon Salerooms, Voysey is best known for his arts and valuer and cataloguer Mark Huddleston has crafts work across a broad spectrum from settled in very well and his experience as a textiles to buildings. The highest price was former head of department at Bonhams is realised by a charming blue print picture being put to good use. letter by Voysey intended for his Mark’s arrival takes the tally of full-time grandchildren. By decoding the drawings, valuers bearing that name at Clevedon letters and occasional word, a child would Salerooms to three, so please be patient read: when telephoning the salerooms asking for “My dear grandchildren, I hope you are a Mark! Mark H. is available each fortnight busy working at something nice for at the free valuation days so why not go someone. Service is the greatest road to and happiness. You will delight in realising the meet pleasure you give to others. I would like to him. know what things you most delight in, and do something that adds to your wellbeing.”

Measuring just 25cm x 16cm, the rectangular sheet of paper estimated at £500 – £800 achieved a remarkable Godwin table – discovered in a house being £13,600. Voysey’s own desk-top letter used as kitchen table sold for £3,700 scale to his design sold for £3,600. a full calendar of the hugely popular, fully illustrated antiques and interiors sales with internet bidding, throughout

A younger looking Toby in action at a charity auction!

the summer.

In Voysey’s own words: “Service is the greatest path to happiness” and service combined with experience is what sets Clevedon Salerooms apart. If you have items that you may be thinking of selling and would like to be part of the success of Clevedon Salerooms, why not get in touch with them for professional advice.

You will be assured a warm welcome and expert advice that comes with many years’ experience. All Clevedon Salerooms’ valuers are either RICS regulated Chartered Arts & Antiques Surveyors or Society of Fine Art Auctioneers associate valuers regulated by strict codes of conduct.

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

PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

June Specialist Sale Results

Marble Venus Aphrodite

£5,200

Diamond clip

£6,200

African neck rest

£8,000

Zsolnay eosin vase

£4,950

Gold pocket watch

Portrait: Mary of

£2,700

Modena

Transitional period Chinese vase

Meissen figure group

£11,400

£4,950

Let our expertise combined with internet bidding technology achieve similar results for you

Mark Fraser ASFAV Senior Valuer & Cataloguer 40 years experience

Marc Burridge ASFAV Auctioneer & Valuer 44 years experience

Toby Pinn MRICS Chartered Arts & Antiques Surveyor 21 years experience

Mark Huddleston ASFAV Catalogue & Valuer 21 years experience

For a free verbal valuation of items that you may be thinking of selling why not attend one of our free valuation days at the Salerooms on the 9th, 10th & 23rd, 24th July from 9.30 – 1pm and 2pm–5pm, or alternatively email images of items to info@csrauctions.com.

Next Quarterly Specialist Sale 6th September | (Closing date for entries 7th August)

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

Tel: 01934 830111 or 0117 325 6789

The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT www.clevedon-salerooms.com MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 17

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Fusura is a first for Frome Festival

SCULPTOR Ian Marlow will be unveiling a new range of glass sculptures and other affordable pieces when he opens his studio and garden as part of the Frome Festival.

Ian, based in a One of Ian’s new Fusura pieces former chapel in Buckland Dinham, has called the range “Fusura”, the Latin word for “melting”.

Ian said: “The Frome Festival is a wonderful event which I have always tried to support. Last year I added to that by opening the sculpture garden and studio throughout the festival week so that residents and visitors were able to see a professional sculpture exhibition on their doorstep.

“That exhibition was a great success so this year I’ve decided to open the sculpture garden and studio again.”

He added: “Glass is a beautiful medium to work in and the way it reacts to the light makes it a perfect complement to the bright stainless steel of the larger sculptures.”

It has already been another busy year of exhibitions and commissions as demand for Ian’s work grows each year.

Among the commissions so far is an eight-feet-tall sculpture to celebrate a multi-national corporation’s sponsorship of extreme sports. That sculpture, which features the silhouette of a mountain biker perched at the top of a narrow sweep of stainless steel, is due to be unveiled soon.

Ian’s studio and sculpture garden will be open every day of the Frome Festival (July 7th-15th, 11am-5pm). Visitors are always welcome at other times by appointment. Visit: www.marlowsculpture.co.uk

Free exhibition at museum LAST August Michael Brobson held a one-man

PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

exhibition in the small meeting room at the Wells and Mendip Museum that proved to be very successful.

He’s now decided to run a larger show in the superb gallery at the museum in collaboration with other artists.

The result is that in the first two weeks of August the museum will host a collection of inspirational work by more than 20 West Country artists entitled Somer Inspirations. The exhibition runs from August 1st-11th and entry is free.

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ARTS & ANTIQUES

Fantastic results from online sales SINCE the introduction of the online Antiques and Collectables sale last year Cooper and Tanner have seen fantastic results, with lots being purchased from all over the world.

Their continuing success with these sales has firmly placed Cooper and Tanner as an auction house with a global reach.

The advantages of the online sales are clear when you see the results that have been achieved in the last year. Some of the most successful lots to go abroad are a pair of Chinese plaques that sold in October 2017 for £7,000 and went to a buyer in Hong Kong; a Chinese white jade table screen that sold in the same sale for £6,200 and went to a buyer in Beijing; and in February 2018 a beautiful cameo glass vase sold for £3,600 to an American buyer.

The clear benefit of being able to reach a global audience is reflected in the results of these sales. Lots are fully illustrated and catalogued through the-saleroom.com, where prospective buyers can view lots, request further information and bid.

In March 2018 two rings were spotted by valuer Gareth Wasp in a collection of costume jewellery that was set to go to a charity shop, the vendor was never even aware that she owned them. Luckily these went to auction and a Cartier single stone diamond ring sold for £42,000 and a stunning sapphire and diamond ring sold for £28,000.

At the saleroom, in Standerwick near Frome, the focus is to provide the best possible service to clients through professionalism, attention to detail and conscientiousness. The saleroom team are always happy to assist clients in any way.

The Antiques and Collectables sales are held every six weeks and entries are accepted every Thursday and Friday and they are now accepting entries for their September 5th sale. The closing date for this sale is 22nd August. ● Gareth Wasp is available for specialist jewellery valuations by appointment, please contact the office to book.

The Macallan Anniversary malt whisky sold for £1,700 at the December 2017 sale

SALE ROOMS HAVE ANTIQUES TO SELL? LOOK AT OUR RECENT RESULTS! An early 20th/late 19th century cameo glass vase £3,600

A pair of early 20th century Chinese plaques £7,000

A 20th century Chinese table screen £6,200

Cartier, a single stone diamond ring £42,000 A tan leather shoulder bag belonging to Jimi Hendrix £2,000

A sapphire and diamond ring £28,000

A painted horse drawn gypsy caravan £2,600

Free specialist jewellery valuations available by appointment, please contact the office to book Gareth Wasp Telephone 01373 852419 The Agricultural Centre, Standerwick, Frome BA11 2QB Gareth.wasp@copperandtanner.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 19

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NEWS

Country market catwalk

You wear it well – some of the models prepare to leave the town hall

MEMBERS of Glastonbury Country Market took to the streets of the town for a fashion show with a difference.

Instead of waiting for customers to walk into the town hall, they decided they would

Trash? No, cash!

A VINTAGE, antique and collectables valuation day at the Somer Centre in Midsomer Norton has led to Somerset Coalfield Live at Radstock Musuem receiving a cheque for more than £1,000.

Last October, the museum’s Bygone Days Talks team held the Trash or Treasure event in conjunction with Mendip Auction Rooms. Experts were on hand to value items at £1 each, raising £500 on the day.

The auction rooms them donated a further £500 as a donation from their commission on sales of the items. The money will go towards the cost of installing historic local photographs on the museum’s shop windows. Another Trash or Treasure Day will be held at the Somer Centre on Saturday, October 27th.

Meanwhile, the museum is running a creative writing competition for children, based on an unusual find made during a clean-up of Snails Brook behind St Nicholas Church in Radstock – an iconic

Stepping out in style

head out wearing items on sale. Outfits featured accessories made from greetings cards, hats and fruit and vegetables – all available at the market, held each Tuesday morning.

Country market stallholder Karen Shaw, who organised the Artisan Collection catwalk, said: “We certainly turned a few heads. Rather than wait for people to find us, we went out and about.”

Mendip Auction Rooms valuer Nicky Houston (second left) with some of the museum’s volunteers who were involved in running the Trash or Treasure event

“hobnail boot” – currently on display. The brook was used as a bathing pool by

miners. The competition asks: “How did the miner lose his boot?”

The competition closes on August 31st. For details, visit: www.radstockmuseum.co.uk

PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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Cheddar Duck Race

The start Sorting out the winners

The Cheddar Vale Lions’ duck race team

Nearly there

The finish

PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Del Starr rounding up the stragglers

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EVENTS

Family fun in Westfield

Michael Eavis borrows the conductor’s baton at the start of the event

GLASTONBURY Festival founder Michael Eavis was the guest of honour at the opening of the annual Westfield Family Fun Day. Started in 2012, the event – at Westhill Recreation Ground – is now a firm fixture on the parish calendar.

Michael opened the day by joking that the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band had refused to accompany him with a version of My Way – a song he has sung in public on many occasions!

Members of the Limelight Dance School with teacher Kirsten Stevens Spiderman helps out on the bottle raffle with Chloe (left) and local councillor Lesley Mansell

Ruby (left) and Amy enjoy a donkey ride on Joseph and Danny, led

by Kelly Baker from Mike’s Donkeys

Members of the Westfield Allotment Garden Society are fundraising to improve access to the children’s summer house and the club centre. They’ve already received £500 towards the £700 cost, including a £100 grant from the Radstock Big Local Dragon’s Den. WAGS will be hosting an open day in September with a WWII Dig For Victory theme

Michael Eavis with Geoff Fuller, chair of Westfield Parish Council

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 23

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Making tax digital (MTD)

We are a local company based in Chew Valley and Frome, with access to Bath, Bristol and other surrounding areas.

We specialise in:

YOU have more than likely heard of MTD and of HMRC’s ever-changing ideas of how to implement it. The most recent update is that from April 2019 all VAT registered businesses will be required to submit quarterly returns from a digital system, with other businesses, landlords etc following on a year or two later.

Under the new rules, businesses will have to use a software program, or set of compatible software programs, which can connect to HMRC systems in a specific way. Commercial software will be required as HMRC will not be providing their own and you will not be able to manually input the figures into a VAT return as before.

The use of spreadsheets is being reviewed, and it looks like they will be allowed, but have to be combined with add-on software to comply.

As a firm, Williams and Harris have joined the HMRC pilot scheme to give them the practical experience of how it works before the implementation date arrives. This helps them provide specific, detailed assistance to their clients and they would be happy to help you with any issues arising from MTD. They say: “So please start to give it some thought, check if your accounting software provider will be MTD compliant, and you are running the most up-to-date version. And of course give them a call if you have any questions. Much better to start work now on a strategy for how your business will best comply than to get caught out next spring.”

Winner of 'Best Luxury Chauffeur Service Bristol' SME South West Enterprise Awards

Top quality transporta on services in Somerset and Bristol Bristol Execu ve Travel provides corporate travel, airport and train transfers, meet and greet for students, wedding hire and private vehicles for spor ng events Luxury travel now available in Somerset and Bristol

01934 261 598 info@bristolexecu vetravel.co.uk PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

www.wellsfuneralservices.co.uk

07149 670100

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Probusiness – anti-plastic! New campaign in Wells I’M one of those who needs a coffee first thing – definitely! If I am in a hurry, this occasionally means that I am forced to bring a takeaway coffee into the office to kick-start the morning.

Nowadays, though, I am increasingly aware of the problems associated with plastic-lined, take-away cups.

Very few of us can have missed the glaringly-obvious evidence that too much single-use plastic is of no help to anyone – least of all our fragile and delicately-balanced natural world. Out of this knowledge positive actions are beginning and some of them are right here, in Wells.

You have to hand it to Wells, it’s a little city with attitude and not slow to shift when the need arises and it felt the need arise with single-use plastics! Already there are a number of “Plastic Free Ambassador” businesses in the city and others are doing their best to make helpful changes where they can. With support from Surfers Against Sewage and many volunteers, Wells is now not far off being granted plastic-free accreditation.

It isn’t always easy to know what one can do to help but, in this case, there was a bit of a “light bulb moment” at the offices of Probusiness in Chamberlain Street. Given that much of their client base is

BUSINESS

from the local area, they felt that they could give something back in the shape of re-usable coffee mugs, which could be made available to small local cafes and coffee sellers to hand out, free of charge, when people who live and work locally bought a takeaway drink.

Having taken advice from local businesses, the consensus was that a cup which holds 8-10ozs would be of most use. Several hundred of them have now been produced and are being distributed where required. There are some still available, although they are going pretty quickly now, so Probusiness would like to invite anyone who sells coffees and teas from a local business in Wells to apply to them if they would like to be able to offer this free gift to customers.

There is no charge to the café owners either – and Probusiness wants to assure businesses that they are donating these mugs to the Plastic Free Wells cause (part of Sustainable Wells) because they believe in it – no more, no less.

If you wish to take part and would like some free mugs, just email your request to mail@probusinessuk.com, and we’ll try to make sure you get some.

Have a good, caffeine-fuelled month!

Jane Bowe, Probusiness Thanks to the following businesses for their help in working towards Wells achieving Plastic Free Status: Rugatino’s; Kitty Banks; The Bishop’s Table; The Cathedral Café; The Sherston Inn; Daniel’s Sandwich Bar and The Square Soft Play Area.

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 25

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Balloon flights over the Chew Valley, Mendips and Somerset Levels

CAMELEY LODGE LAUNDRY

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

Tel 01761 451787

A Professional Company serving the South West

www.cameleylodgelaundry.co.uk

PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

LECATCHER MO

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

Mendip Times reduces travel costs 100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business

RUBBISH CLEARANCE SERVICE

Licensed Waste Carrier Single items to whole houses, garages and gardens cleared For a free no obligation quote, please call

John: 01761 410424 or mobile 07919 584737

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

Relax knowing your property is protected

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BUSINESS

Walton Press scoops double win at the Mendip Business Awards WALTON Press directors Sandy and Martin Smith were delighted with the accolade of being double award-winners at the recent Mendip Business Awards dinner and ceremony at the Royal Bath & West showground.

Having first carried off the award of Family Business of the Year 2018, to their surprise and delight they swiftly returned as winners of the Best Small Business of the Year 2018.

Glastonbury-based Walton was the only finalist to receive two winners’ awards at the prestigious event!

Managing Director Sandy Smith said: “As a small, family business for over 30 years, I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of working with both my dad and my husband – remarkably, we’re all still here to tell the tale and I’m glad to say that I’m still married (to Martin that is)!

“So, my thanks to both of them and, of course, to our marvelous team at Walton. We wouldn’t be here without them – their loyalty, dedication and professionalism is a great asset and hugely appreciated.”

She went on: “Having had the good fortune to live and work in the Mendip area for so many years, we’ve been surrounded by an amazing and diverse community – amongst which we have many loyal customers, from major businesses to small organisations and individuals.

“On behalf of the team at Walton Press, I’d like to thank them for all their support for so long, and we look forward to working with them in this fantastic community, for many years to come!”

The awards highlighted the successful strategy that the company has pursued since the family took it over in 1985.

Having weathered several recessions and a complete change of culture within the print industry, they’ve made major investment in cleaner, greener and faster digital print technology.

Sandy Smith said: “Whilst embracing these changes we still regard the traditional values of customer service as paramount – we’re friendly and approachable, offering consistency and reliability but don’t over promise or under deliver!”

“We’ll continue to support the local community in our supply chain and further our environmental credentials –

Sandy and Martin Smith (both centre) with the team from Burton Sweet, sponsors of Small Business of the Year award.

Sandy and Martin Smith (both centre), directors of Glastonburybased Walton Press, with Family Business of the Year award sponsors Mike Garbutt and Sue Rushforth of Melhuish & Saunders Ltd

we’re already committed to recycled papers/materials, and our growth plans include sustained organic growth in the local area, developing our existing customer partnerships and seeking out vibrant new local businesses to work with.”

The team at Walton Press look forward to welcoming new customers across the Mendip region – to get in touch you can ring them on 01458 832829 or visit waltonpress.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 27

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Get set for summer BBQs

www.bbqfirepits.co.uk 01934 734662

IT’S BBQ time! If you’re looking to upgrade your BBQ this summer, why not consider a stylish BBQ and fire pit in one?

BBQ Fire Pits have a superior range of fire pits that are designed with a swing arm BBQ rack allowing for easy cooking. Simply swing the grill to the side to add more fuel or to save food from burning.

Once you have finished the cooking you can remove the grill and build up the fire again with logs (or anything else you find in your garden that needs burning) to enjoy sitting around until the early hours!

So here’s to a lovely hot summer, and some of the best cooking on a UK made BBQ Fire Pit. www.bbqfirepits.co.uk

P & C Logs SUMMER PRICES 1st JULY - 1st S EPTEMBER C al l P h i l o n 0 7 7 3 4 0 9 8 3 2 3 , o r C o l l ee n o n 0 7 7 8 5 2 5 0 0 3 3 o r o n E v e n in g s 0 1 9 3 4 7 4 1 9 4 1 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).

TOPSOIL AND STONE SUPPLIES Dry high quality screened or unscreened Topsoil. Recycled aggregates and quarry stone supplies, road planings and building stone.

DEMOLITION AND STRIP OUT All types of demolition works. From small household to main contractor projects, including rail, schools and city centre redevelopments. Complete range of specialist equipment and services available.

ASBESTOS Asbestos removal and collection. Roof sheets, tiles and guttering. Call for information.

TRANSPORT 4,6 and 8 wheeled tipper Lorries for hire and muck away. Low loader, beaver tail and road brush hire.

PLANT HIRE Wide range of plant. 360 excavators, Dumpers, Bulldozers and Crushers.

EXCAVATIONS Large and small excavations. Specialist works include Equestrian all weather surfaces, drainage and bulk excavations.

PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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Domestic violence and abuse: the modern law DOMESTIC violence and abuse has always been with us – for years it was downplayed but nowadays attitudes have changed and the law has adapted to meet them.

Domestic violence and abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to: psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional.

Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.

Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

A coercive or controlling behaviour

offence came into force in December 2015. It carries a maximum 5 years’ imprisonment, a fine or both. Victims who experience coercive and controlling behaviour that stops short of serious physical violence, but amounts to extreme psychological and emotional abuse, can bring their perpetrators to justice. The offence closes a gap in the law around patterns of controlling or coercive behaviour that occurs during a relationship between intimate partners, former partners who still live together or family members.

Disclosure of Police records-Under the domestic violence disclosure scheme an individual can ask police to check whether a new or existing partner has a violent past.

This is the ‘right to ask’. If records show that an individual may be at risk of domestic violence from a partner, the police will consider disclosing the information. A disclosure can be made if it is legal, proportionate and necessary to do so.

Domestic violence protection orders

BUSINESS

(DVPOs) were implemented from 8 March 2014. DVPOs are a new power that fills a gap in providing protection to victims by enabling the police and magistrates to put in place protection in the immediate aftermath of a domestic violence incident.

With DVPOs, a perpetrator can be banned with immediate effect from returning to a residence and from having contact with the victim for up to 28 days, allowing the victim time to consider their options and get the support they need.

Before these reforms there was a gap in protection because police couldn’t charge the perpetrator for lack of evidence and so provide protection to a victim through bail conditions, and because the process of granting injunctions by the Family Court took time. That said in less urgent cases the use of the Family Court is still very helpful in obtaining injunctions restraining matrimonial misconduct including financial misconduct when an injunction can be obtained to prevent disposals of assets intended to defeat legitimate financial claims. If in doubt as to what course to take you should seek legal advice.

Edward Lyons

Please contact Barbara Calcutt (Bristol Office 0117 950 6506) or Anna O’Hara (Kingswood office 0117 967 5252) to discuss this further.

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. ● Family & Divorce Law ● Co-habitation disputes ● Inheritance disputes ● Wills and Living Wills ● Powers of Attorney ● Administration of Trusts ● Property – sales and purchases Chew Magna 01275 332168

OFFICES AT: Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506

Kingswood 0117 967 5252 MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 29

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Factory Bargains opens second store

FACTORY Bargains is to open a new store at Worle after nearly three years of successful trading in Cheddar.

The store at North Worle District Centre near Sainsbury will open on Friday, June 29th, employing eight people and with 8,000 square feet of floor space.

Owner, Steve Brown, said the formula will copy that of Cheddar: “We’ve grown our stock based on what customers ask for. And great service is at the heart of everything we do.”

After 25 years of retailing experience, he says he has the contacts at home and abroad to beat internet prices and buck the trend of recent retail closures.

The new store will be based in premises formerly occupied by the Store Twenty One group, which collapsed a year ago.

Factory Bargains’ Cheddar store, in Saxon Place now employs five people and its 5,200 square feet is packed with a huge variety of goods – the new shop will have the same.

You will find men’s and women’s clothing, garden products, garden furniture, parasols, barbecues, pots, pans, cleaning products, camping gear, outdoor toys, plastic storage – and a whole lot more.

The company also has a wide range of furniture – ready assembled, not flat-packed – and offers free delivery up to 25 miles away.

Steve said: “We found that people were coming over from Worle to shop in Cheddar, so it makes sense to open our second store there.

“We’ll be offering the same range and the same high quality

PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

of service. Customers can expect some amazing deals – so come on down and have a look. It’s a nice big unit and we’ve already had a great welcome, with people tapping on the door wanting to take a look.

“I’m really excited to be in there ready to meet new customers.”

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BUSINESS

Keep the fires burning – 40 years of Mendip Fireplaces THE team at Mendip Fireplaces, on the edge of Shepton Mallet, will be hanging out the bunting in July to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of one of the most respected family companies in the area.

THEY are busy preparing for two days of events featuring everything from product demonstrations to wood fuel workshops – and some great deals. Expect to see a pizza oven being fired up and an amazing range of outdoor fires and furniture!

Mendip Fireplaces was incorporated on July 13th, 1978 and director Jeremy White, the son of the founder, says the company remains true to its core values of offering quality products and quality service.

A relaxed atmosphere during a team meeting in the showroom at Mendip Fireplaces

It is a testament to those enduring principles that Mendip Fireplaces, based at Windsor Hill, has forged strong relationships with many of Great Britain and Europe’s leading names in the manufacture of wood burners, range cookers, outdoor stoves, gas and electric fires and more.

Jeremy said: “It is because of our experience and our family principles that Mendip Fireplaces is able to work with names such as Charnwood, Esse, Stuv, Gazco and Contura, just to name a few, and offer the very best products on the market.

(Continued overleaf)

Open Days – July 13th & 14th

Join us on July 13th & 14th to celebrate our 40th anniversary with demonstrations, tutorials, great deals, refreshments & more!

Introducing “The Outdoor Fire Company” with its amazing range of outdoor firepits, BBQs & efficient glass fronted fires, burning wood or gas. Made from corten steel, our Quaruba range will grace any garden or patio for years to come.

We are ahead of the game with eco designready stoves for both indoors & outdoors. A distributor for premier brands such as Charnwood, Contura & Esse, we are at the forefront of meeting new low emission targets.

www.mendipfireplaces.co.uk Tel: 01749 344015 • E-mail: sales@mendipfireplaces.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 31

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recondi on | revive | re-love

Congratula ons Mendip Fireplaces on becoming vintage!

01749 347524 • sales@reclaimedfire.co.uk

“Catering for all budgets and tastes, we also work alongside leading architects and interior designers to make sure customers find exactly what they are looking for from the outset of a project.”

The same high standards apply to any outside contractor recommended by Mendip Fireplaces, from installers to chimney sweeps.

The celebrations take place on Friday, July 13th and Saturday, July 14th and come hot on the heels of Mendip Fireplaces winning a gold award and trophy for best non-agricultural 6m12m trade stand at this year’s Royal Bath and West Show – days of preparation go into their display each year.

As well as being able to see and discuss the wide range of products available at Mendip Fireplaces, Jeremy and the team will also be on hand to guide visitors through the forthcoming legislation which aims to reduce pollution.

All of the appliances sold through Mendip Fireplaces already meet and some are even cleaner than the new Eco Design standard due to come into effect in 2022.

Visitors to the open event The original certificate of will also be able to learn incorporation has pride of place in about the new legislation the office

Happy 40th!

www.charnwood.com PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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covering the burning of wood with details on how with the right appliance, correct flue system, installation and well-seasoned wood the new standards can easily be met.

Ced Wells, from A. J. Wells, who produce the Charnwood range, said: “Since 2011 wood smoke in London has fallen, but you can say more installations have been done.

“Therefore, by replacing open fires with SIA eco-design ready stoves we can reduce emissions.

“Of the 30% smoke emissions associated with wood burning – 70% of this is open fires leaving a small amount from stoves which we can reduce by 80-90% with SIA eco design-ready stoves.”

BUSINESS

The award-winning Mendip Fireplaces stand at this year’s Royal Bath and West Show

MCH Installations Limited Well Done Mendip Fireplaces on reaching the grand old age of 40!

Ray Holder of Robert Neave Ltd 40 years in business is such an achievement. We are privileged to have shared the years with you and helped you along your journey.

Long may it continue.

Specialising in Fireplaces & Flues 07852 898720 | mchinstall@gmail.com

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 33

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Radstock knows its arts from its elbow!

ARTISTS from all over the Somer Valley and further afield came together for a family arts day in Radstock.

Visitors of all ages packed the field behind St Nicholas Church to enjoy and take part in street theatre, music, food and more. The Natural Theatre Company, based in Bath, co-ordinated the event as part of its ongoing work with DNA Arts to provide opportunities for local artists to develop their skills and showcase their work.

Emma Louvelle with her magical dancing red shoes

Liberty Rocks Productions, based in Peasedown St John, enter the field with their work The Lost Luggage

Friends gather to enjoy the day

Lauren Diffee and Oli Crawford-Craig, from Peasedown St John, perform in the live music area PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Peddlars Pick So Many Things You Never Saw Before – street theatre all the way from Milton Keynes

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EVENTS

Kilmersdon Village Day

A RESCUED racing greyhound called Jimmer was the star of the show at Kilmersdon’s annual village day.

And Jimmer, who was named best-inshow at the dog show, will have a key role at a summer wedding – as the ring bearer for his owner and her husbandto-be.

The four-year-old was taken on by Sally Hall who discovered the gentle lad had a remarkable impact on her stepson-to-be Matthew Masland, 23, who had become withdrawn and refused to leave the house. However, the bond between Jimmer and Matthew has become so strong that Matthew is happy to take the dog out for walks and visited the show with the rest of the

The Blues Others tribute band after their stunning performance in front of the village hall

family.

Sally, who travelled with her family from Wellington to compete, said:

The start of the junior race in the Jack and Jill Challenge to climb the village’s hill made famous in the nursery rhyme and return with a bucket full of water

An ice cream to match her dress – Daisy enjoys the sunshine

Richard Lovegrove’s passion is for carnivorous plants. Richard, from Chilcompton, grows the plants as a hobby

“Before we got Jimmer, Matthew couldn’t leave home; the transformation is incredible.”

An eye for an investment: Charlie, aged eight, with comics he bought at the car boot sale

Jimmer with owner Sally Hall, dog show compere Stuart Green and guest judge Vini Jeeves, from Silva House veterinary practice

For details about the rescue charity’s work, visit: www.foreverhoundstrust.org

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 35

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School’s legacy for future generations PUPILS at a Leigh-on-Mendip first school have filled a time capsule with stories, pictures and memorabilia for a future generation to discover.

The capsule has been placed in the roof of the nave of the village’s St Giles church, which is undergoing extensive renovations.

Pupils visited the church to see how work is progressing before presenting the capsule to Mark Taylor, the architect overseeing the project, being supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The roof of the church is being replaced, along with many of the supporting timbers. Once complete, it is hoped that no-one will need to discover the time capsule for at least 150 years!

Pupils from Owl Class and staff meet some of the team behind the restoration project

The capsule is presented to Mark Taylor, the architect supervising the work

The renovation team is hoping to preserve as many of the roof features as possible, but some will be recreated PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

NEWS

Site manager Blake Brockway, from specialist contractors Ellis and Co., places the capsule in the roof space . . . … and discusses progress with priest-in-charge, the Rev. Anthony Dickson, who climbed onto the scaffolding beneath the roof for a first-hand view

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Cool dishes for hot days

With JUNE MACFARLANE

NOTHING is nicer than finally being able to eat outside. That means thinking about food that is good at outdoor temperatures, not dishes that go cold, or melt in the sun. Here’s to easy dining, bright summer colours and delicious flavours.

POACHED CHICKEN SALAD WITH GREEN BEANS AND CHERMOULA

Baked aubergine looks good and tastes good too!

BAKED AUBERGINES WITH LABNEH AND PUMPKIN SEEDS

This vegetarian dish is great as a starter, or a light meal. Packed with flavour it is lovely to look at too.

Chermoula is the key to the success of this chicken dish At this time of year I like to poach a whole INGREDIENTS chicken slowly with (For six) aromatics and herbs and make it the 1 free range chicken centrepiece of a big sliced 1 onion, salad with lots of d choppe celery, 2 ribs fresh vegetables. sliced carrot, 1 large Chermoula is a mild garlic 2 cloves spice paste made with Small bunch mixed fresh coriander, herbs cumin and lemon.

500g fresh green beans, You can make your trimmed own, but there are 250g flageolet beans very good brands 250g baby broad beans available too.

170g jar chermoula METHOD 2 baby gem lettuces In a large lidded pot poach the chicken whole with the onion, celery, carrot, garlic and herbs for about an hour until tender. Cool in the liquid. Remove meat from the bones, shred and reserve. Simmer all the beans in salted water until tender. Drain. Slip the skins off the broad beans. Add all the beans to the chicken and stir the chermoula through. Check seasoning.

Cut the lettuce into wedges. Heap everything on a big plate and let everyone help themselves.

PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

METHOD Mix the salt into the yogurt and drain in muslin in a sieve over a bowl for an hour or so until thickened. Now you have labneh!

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Cut the aubergines in half lengthways and score the flesh. Do not pierce the skin. Place on a baking sheet cut side up with the garlic, drizzle oil over and roast for about 40 minutes, until very soft. Remove from oven and gently take out the flesh, reserving shells. Mash flesh in a bowl with the soft garlic.

When cool add the labneh, coriander and pumpkin seeds. Check seasoning. Pile into the shells, scatter fennel and rose petals over. Serve immediately.

INGREDIENTS

(For four) 1 tsp salt 500g plain Greek yogurt 2 aubergines 2 cloves garlic, unpeeled 2 tbsp olive oil Handful chopped coriander Handful pumpkin seeds 1 tbsp fennel fronds, chopped Pickled rose petals (optional)

VANILLA BAKED PEACHES WITH FRESH RASPBERRIES INGREDIENTS

(For four) 2 ripe peaches 500g fresh raspberries 80ml white wine 2 tbsp honey 1 vanilla pod, sliced open Pouring cream to serve

Sweet peaches and fresh raspberries – add a vanilla pod and it’s a marriage made in heaven!

METHOD Preheat oven to 200°C. Halve and pit the peaches. Place cut side up in a roasting dish with the raspberries, saving a few for decoration. Pour over the wine and honey and tuck in the vanilla pod. Bake for about 20 mins, until the peaches start to bubble. Remove from oven. Take out peaches and reserve.

Remove vanilla pod.

Whiz the raspberries and syrup and sieve to remove seeds.

Serve half a peach with raspberry coulis and a few reserved berries, with cream on the side.

Peaches and raspberries – a marriage made in heaven

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What’s new from

Myrtle Farm

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FOOD & DRINK

A round-up of events from Thatchers Cider in Sandford

Apple growers share Thatchers passion for quality

Cider days at the Royal Bath and West Show

EMBRACING the philosophy that quality cider starts in the orchard, while the blossom was still on the trees we welcomed our apple growers to Myrtle Farm to meet our cidermakers and have a tour of the mill.

All our growers share one thing, and that’s taking great care of their apples and meeting Thatchers expectations of quality. This day is a wonderful opportunity to get to know our growers more, and for them to learn about our cidermaking.

We’re so proud of the relationship we have with all our apple growers. Going that extra mile means that our growers know they are a part of our extended family producing fantastic, world class ciders.

Thank you for supporting the Thatchers Foundation

THANK you to everyone who so generously supported our fundraiser for the Thatchers Foundation. Held at Winscombe Cricket Club, we raised over £2,000, all of which goes to good causes in the local area.

During the evening guests were treated to local ciders (of course!), and a fantastic selection of award winning English wines, as well as great live music.

Pizza on the menu

VISITORS were out in their masses at this year’s Royal Bath and West Show. Amongst those who came to say hello and quench their thirst with a pint of Somerset cider were members of HMS Somerset, who joined Martin Thatcher at our cider bar in the Sparkford Building.

For the first time we took Vat 12 to the four day agricultural show. Vat 12 is our eyecatching new cider sampling truck, which certainly drew attention from the crowds.

We’ll be at a number of public shows and events over the summer, including the Bristol Harbour Festival, Bristol Volksfest and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, please come and say hello!

DON’T forget, our Pizza Oven will be in full swing between 12 and 6pm every Saturday and Sunday over the summer at The Railway Inn (weather permitting)! See you there.

Cheers from us all at Myrtle Farm

www.thatcherscider.co.uk • Don’t forget you can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Thatchers Cider, Myrtle Farm, Sandford, Somerset, BS25 5RA

MT ENDIP • JULY 2017 2018 • PAGE 39 MENDIP IMES T • IMES NOVEMBER

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E OF FEATHER M U S PL

DUCK RACE SATURDAY 7th JULY

Starting at 5pm. Great family fun evening with a local band playing, best dressed duck competition, duck racing, BBQ, pig roast, face painting, ice cream stall, 3 bars open. Come and get your ducks from the Plume, decorate at home or at the Plume from 5pm and enter them before 6pm.

All monies from the duck racing, best dressed plastic duck competition and car park goes to Burrington primary school, Blagdon cubs and to get a defibrillator for Rickford village.

Rickford, Somerset BS40 7AK

01761 462682

Visit www.theplumeoffeathers.com

PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

New Menu New Chef Restaurant Bar Accommodation 2 course special Mon–Fri 12 midday to 5pm – £9.95 The Langford Inn Lower Langford Bristol BS40 5BL 01934 863059 www.langfordinn.co.uk

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GARDEN FOOD

Runner beans

THIS year I'm pushing to try to grow a much greater of my own food than usual and something I'm particularly interested in is growing more of my own staples – dry peas, grains and beans for the winter.

To that end, something I'm trying With JAKE this year is that familiar British garden WHITSON classic – the runner bean. But instead of growing them for their green pods for use as a vegetable, I'm setting aside a bunch of plants for dry bean production.

Runner beans as a green vegetable are, I've recently found out, something of a British speciality – they're not widely grown in Europe, and where they are, in Spain and Greece, it tends to be mainly for their large, starchy dry beans (or sometimes as an ornamental!).

They are a separate species from the French bean and in their native Mexican highlands they are grown as a perennial (I've even seen then over-winter in Britain in the mildest of winters) and there they eat both the starchy roots, which seem to take several years to develop, and the dry beans.

It seems that they are popular in Britain largely because they thrive much more in our cool summers than the French bean and, as anyone who has ever grown them can testify, they are phenomenally productive.

There are cultivars available bred just for the dry beans, such as this white flowered Gigantes, a Greek variety that has white seeds two or three times the size of normal runner beans. The popular variety Czar also has fairly large beans, though to be honest any runner bean can be left to dry out and podded for dry beans – this a good use also for pods that have been left a bit long on the vine for fresh use.

They can be cooked in most ways that kidney beans are, and there are many Greek recipes for the Gigantes – cooked and served cold with lemon juice, olive oil, oregano and salt, or cooked in a savoury tomato sauce.

Jacob is a former chef turned food writer, smallholder and mycologist. He divides his time between the Mendips and his nine-acre forest garden project in Pembrokeshire. Details: www.chaosfungorum.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

WILD FOOD

A sunny seaside adventure

WE have been blessed with some great weather recently, so when the sun comes out I always think of the seaside. My wife was due to go on a course in Dorset so I saw my opportunity to get a sneaky bit of coastal foraging in.

The date was set, so there was nothing we With ADRIAN could do about the weather. It turned out to be BOOTS a glorious day. With rucksack packed (seashore ID book, camera, brew kit, windproof jacket and of course my hat) off we set on a jolly adventure. Well I did, my wife was on a course.

Once in Dorset and heading to my final destination for the day I realised that I fancied some additional nourishment to supplement the day’s collecting. A not-so-quick diversion led me to my favourite pie shop in Axminster. Then it was back on track – to the coast!

I found the most dazzling patch of cowslips. Then on through scrub, carr woodland and a reed bed before spilling out onto the gravel beach. Not there yet, once on top of the gravel hill that was masquerading as the beach, what a glorious sight to be greeted with.

Hazy blue sky, blazing hot sunshine and breaking waves with a crisp on-shore wind blowing through the manes of the white horses before they leapt crashing to the shingle. Breathtaking! Time for a spot of lunch . . .

Amazingly, just from my pie munching spot I recognised many edible species of plants including: sea rocket, sea kale, sea beet (pictured). So I added sea beet to my sea pie and “wow” what a wonderful combo. Sea beet tastes like a cross between spinach and cabbage but with such a rich flavour due to the salt and iodine content.

It’s much fleshier too, with a waxy finish designed to survive the desiccating coastal conditions; what a superb accompaniment to the pie. With water boiling it was time for a cup of tea to wash it all down.

So next time you are near the coast, remember it is a fantastic location for wild food. Have a walk along the edge between liquid and solid, you’ll be amazed at what you can see.

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 • JULY 2018 • PAGE 41

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Pub traditions preserved

GREAT beer, great cider, great food and a great atmosphere – that’s the philosophy of Sarah and Richard who run the quirkilynamed Pickled Inn at Evercreech.

As Sarah says: “We want everyone who comes in here from a regular to a first-time visitor to enjoy themselves – and we want to enjoy ourselves also!”

It is called the Pickled Inn for a good reason – when the couple first saw the freehouse on Queens Road it was in a bit of a sorry state and in urgent need of TLC. Sarah said: “We joked it was in a ‘bit of a pickle’ and the name stuck. We could have called it ‘the pub that Richard built’ because he put so much work into bringing it back to life.”

With three interconnected areas, the Pickled Inn is a welcoming place for a drink, snack or full meal – the couple began serving meals from 5pm from Tuesdays to Sundays, before expanding into Saturday and Sunday Chef Ian lunchtimes and, from July, Pauffley will open for food on Tuesday to Friday lunchtimes also.

Richard’s son Ian is the chef. Largely self-taught, he gained his skills working at the award-winning Queen’s Arms Inn at Corton Denham, amongst others, and is gaining a worthy reputation

Serving food Tuesday to Sunday

Relax over a pint, have a snack or enjoy a full meal

Sunday lunches are our speciality – served until 6pm

Parties, events and outside bars catered for

Now licensed for weddings and civil ceremonies

Regular live music (open mic night every second Thurs)

The Pickled Inn, Queens Road, Evercreech, Somerset BA4 6JT Tel: 07557 648219 • Find us on Facebook PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Richard and Sarah are determined to make the pub part of village life

for the quality and imagination of his food. Sunday lunches are especially popular.

In one of the rooms stands a large dining table capable of seating 16 and Richard encourages strangers to join each other for meals – it soon gets the conversation going! He said: “We don’t stand on ceremony and we don’t want people to come in here and not feel they are able to join in the conversations around the bar.”

Live music is now well established the Pickled Inn; there are well-attended open-mic nights on the second Thursday of each month with an in-house PA system available. The Pickled Inn is also now licensed for weddings and civil ceremonies.

The team are now planning to celebrate Christmas early with a Christmas Day in summer event as a trial run for their first festive season serving food – that just about sums up life at the Pickled Inn!

Inspired to grow

Tea and cakes welcomed visitors to the Whitstone allotments

ALLOTMENT gardeners in Shepton Mallet have been inspired by a visit to the gardens of “no dig” pioneer Charles Dowding, who lives near Bruton.

The members of the Whitstone allotments held an open afternoon to raise money for Sustainable Shepton’s Incredible Edible Charles Dowding explains his methods project.

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FOOD & DRINK

Farewell Stuart, hello Street

CIVIC leaders, traders and shoppers gave Mendip markets manager Stuart Beeton not one but several send-offs when he retired from the post he has held for 30 years.

A former market stallholder selling china and glass himself, Stuart’s role was to organise the pitches – keeping traders happy – and make sure the events passed off smoothly.

Stuart, who lives near Weston-super-Mare, worked in London and across the south of England before taking charge at Frome and later the rest of Mendip’s markets.

His retirement came shortly before Mendip District Council launched a new weekly market in Street. Supported by Street Parish Council, the Thursday market will alternate between the High Street and Farm Road. On the first Thursday of the month it will run from 1-8pm in Farm Road.

The Street market will alternate between the High Street and Farm Road

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Litton Village Fete

The duck race Members of Litton and Hinton Blewett WI

Phoebe, aged three, and Tilly, aged five, who entered the fancy dress competition

Serving Pimms Laurence Canning and Cathy Lee

Dancers from Chewton Mendip school PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Alison Schneider preparing teddies to be fired from the church tower

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EVENTS

Peasedown parties

ALMOST 3,000 villagers supported Peasedown St John’s tenth annual Party in the Park community festival.

The Sara Holley Community Award, set up in 2011 in memory of a life-long resident, was won by Linda Day who has been a part of Peasedown St John Methodist Church since the early 1970s.

Boogie Bounce in action

Susan Hill School of Dance entertain the crowd Crowds enjoy the sun

Linda Day with some of the organising team

The push-car challenge

Flying high, Isla, aged six

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 45

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INTERNET

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Advice on GDPR

(General Data Protection Regulations) AS I’m sure we all know, the new Data Protection Act is now in place, which is helping to keep our personal contact information safe from being used by people we don’t want to have it.

I’m sure we’ve all had emails saying that the law has changed and they now need our permission to contact us. If you haven’t given specific consent to allow firms to contact you, they should take you off their list. If you shop in the future, you should be giving consent for someone to contact you (otherwise they’ll have a job to let you know about your purchase!) and therefore they will pass your information onto the courier (otherwise they will have job to delivery it!)

There is one simple thing we can all do to keep all our email addresses safe from being passed onto someone we might not want, and that’s to use BCC when emailing more than one person.

When you click/tap Compose/New mail, you will be ready to type in the To: box, but all the recipients will be in the same box and everyone will know and be able to record everyone else’s email address, which could then be passed on. So just click/tap on the Bcc box, which opens another box with your cursor flashing ready for you to use. Enter all your email addresses in this Bcc box, then all the recipients will receive the same email with the same attachments etc, but will not know who else received it and therefore their email addresses will be kept private.

You can put your own email address in the To: box if you wish to check that the email has been delivered, but it’s not necessary.

If you wish, you could start the email with – Hello Committee etc, then everyone will know who else has received it, which makes clear it’s not a personal email as such.

Submitted by IT for the Terrified: Cheddar Village Hall, Church St, Cheddar BS27 3RF 01934 741751 (usually goes to answer phone) www.itfortheterrified.co.uk itfortheterrified@btconnect.com I.T. for the Terrified – for all your computer training needs. A skill-sharing, community project.

Run by a Committee – Staffed by Volunteers Registered Charity No. 1130308 : Company No. 06779600 This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. For more in depth information, please contact us.

We offer individual training, at a pace to suit you. We can cover a range of subjects – including absolute basics; photo management; shopping online; emailing; Word processing, spreadsheets; basic web design; etc. on a range of devices, including Windows: Macs: Tablets: iPads: smartphones. Or if you would like to share basic skills with others, please get in touch.

PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS 2 Village on the Somerset Levels and birthplace of 12D (8) 4 West or East ____, hamlets in the parish of Bankland (4) 6 Village found on the River Fivehead, 7 miles south east of Taunton (12) 10 Slang for an inhabitant of Australia (6) 11 A hunting lodge in Axbridge carries the name of this English monarch (4,4) 13 ___ Valley 15D, Blagdonbased dairy producing foodstuffs (3) 14 ––––– Welles, star of Citizen Kane (5) 16 A manufactured fabric using cellulose (5) 17 A sombre song expressing mourning etc. (5) 19 Gin – Mother’s –––– (4) 21 National Trust-owned country house in Wraxall (11) 23 Somerset harbour town (7) 24 –––––– Graves, W-s-M born actor, played Freddy Hornchurch in the movie ‘A Room With A View’ (6)

DOWN 1 & 3D Taunton-born actor and star of 2011’s ‘Iron Clad’ (5,7) 4 Village 6 miles west of Axbridge (8) 5 Village 4 miles south west of Wincanton (9) 7 ––––– Rift, cave found near Charterhouse (5) 8 Village 2 miles north east of Chard (8) 9 Kingsbury ––––––––, village on the River Parrett featuring an octagonal lock-up for drunks (8) 12 ––––– Fielding, 18th century novelist, born in 2A, author of ‘Tom Jones’ (5) 15 See 13 across (7) 18 & 22D Company’s internal network system (5,3) 19 Hamlet in the parish of Beckington (5) 20 ____ Vincent, late rock’n’roller (6) 22 See 18 down.

Answers on page 129

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Tel: 0800 097 8611

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

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

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Wedmore Street Fair

WEDMORE’S colourful Street Fair will be held on Saturday, July 7th, 10am-4pm, offering a wide range of stalls, entertainment – and refreshment.

The Borough will be closed from 10am-4pm for the event, which raised £3,600 last year for local good causes. Money this year will go to Wedmore First School Academy and Nursery, Wedmore Green Group, the village hall and harvest home.

The fair was established by Royal Charter in the 13th century. It was revived in 1978 marking the 1100th anniversary of the Treaty of Wedmore between King Alfred and the Danes.

With over 70 stalls, craft demonstrations and children’s attractions, it promises a day of fun for the whole family.

Find us on Facebook and Trip Advisor

PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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Hair and beauty specialists

FOCUS ON WEDMORE

Music and ale

LAST year’s Wedmore Real Ale Festival raised £17,500 for 18 local worthy causes, bringing the grand total raised since it started in 2001 to just over £168,000.

Planning is already well underway for this year’s 18th festival which will take place on Friday, September 14th to Sunday, September 16th at Wedmore Village Hall.

Alongside a great musical line-up there will be over 65 different choices of real ales, ciders, perry and wine, with food available throughout the weekend.

Details: www.wedmorehh.com

SHARON Lewis and her sister Becky Fowler offer unrivalled hair and beauty treatments at King Alfred Mews in Wedmore.

Essence Hair and Beauty has now been operating for six years, with an experienced team ready to meet you.

Sharon is in charge of hairdressing, her team specialise in colouring, weddings, proms and all other aspects of hair care.

Becky is across the courtyard specialising in nails, facials, intimate waxing and eyelash extensions, whilst their specialist Holly offers aesthetics treatments such as permanent make-up and cosmetic fillers.

They will both be open for Wedmore Street Fair on July 7th with a hog roast and bouncy castle adding to the day’s fun.

All types of poultry, meats and game. For those lazy Summer days, BBQ packs and our award winning sausages Produced on our own farm or supplied locally

Just pop in or we can take your orders over the telephone, call us at the Shop on 01934 712384

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 49

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Charity cycle ride

WEDMORE’S first 40-30 charity cycle ride was a great success, attracting about 150 riders on a variety of distances around the area.

The event raised funds for Weston Hospicecare and the Friends of St Mary’s Church in Wedmore.

Ready to go

Paul Winspear, chief executive of Weston Hospicecare

1st Wedmore Guides helped on the day The registration desk

Coffee, cake – and curtains

Selling an exclusive range of fabrics on the roll.

Made-to-measure hand-sewn curtains and blinds, cushions and re-upholstery and measuring service.

10, Borough Mall, Wedmore BS28 4EB T: 01934 708953 M: 07708 340 750 E: julie@dimitybutton.co.uk www.dimitybutton.co.uk

PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

TO mark a year since Victoria and Scarlet opened their curtain and blind shop in Wedmore, they have opened a “Vintage Inspired Tea Room” in the adjacent shop.

At Coffee, Cake and Curtains you can enjoy great fresh coffee, afternoon teas, light lunches, cakes and cream teas all in the comfortable surroundings of their tea rooms or outside in the sunshine in the yard.

It means you can relax and enjoy refreshment whilst browsing their fabrics and trying out their upholstered furnishings.

They also cater for cycle groups, with pit-stop essentials like water refill and use of the toilets. The tea rooms are available for booking for private events.

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Warm welcome at The Swan

THE Swan is a bustling village pub with seven en-suite bedrooms in the heart of Wedmore. It’s open all day, every day for a quick drink, a snack or a delicious meal. There’s a lovely bar and restaurant and lots of space on the terrace and in the garden for al-fresco dining.

At the helm in the kitchen, is head chef Jack Stoodley. Jack works closely with executive chef Tom Blake, formerly head chef at River Cottage. Tom and Jack are champions of local produce and the meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheeses and yoghurts, all come from named local suppliers.

Wherever possible they buy from local farmers and growers and they rarely buy out-of-season or use imported produce.

Breads are baked daily on the premises, as are cakes and biscuits, so there’s always gluten-free options available.

Current favourites on the menu include: bream ceviche, citrus and chilli dressing, radicchio and radish salad; spring green and potato dumplings, grilled Wye asparagus, romesco sauce and baked ricotta; and Gloucester Old Spot pork belly, wild garlic and apple with spring bubble and squeak and heritage carrots.

There’s a comprehensive and accessible wine list featuring artisan producers with a wide range available by the glass.

Regional and West Country ciders are always on tap and there’s a fantastic new gin list with perfect accompanying garnishes.

They say: “Bring the dog, bring the kids, bring the family, all are welcome.”

FOCUS ON WEDMORE

Happy 30th to Wedmore Opera

WEDMORE Opera is celebrating its 30th anniversary. In July 1988 a group of opera enthusiasts presented Verdi’s La Traviata in the village hall, after discussing it around a kitchen table.

This year many of the same (if a little older), are presenting Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni. This short but powerful operatic work is set in a Sicilian village in the mid 1950s and has been described as a perfect introduction to the art form.

Last year’s rollicking performance of The Pirates of Penzance inspired a new wave of opera enthusiasts which means the chorus is now bigger and better than ever before – perfect timing for this particular production.

In traditional Wedmore style, the opera features a cast of talented professionals Alan Philps (Alfio), John Pumphrey (Turiddu), Merryn Gamba (Santuzza), Francesca Bowkett (Lucia) and Claire Filer (Lola).

But the chorus and backstage crew are mainly villagers.

The opera will run over three nights, July 11th, 13th and 14th and tickets are on sale now from the Wedmore Village Store.

Details: wedmoreopera.com

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2017 • PAGE 51

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Summer at Lime

Harvest time

WEDMORE Harvest Home will be held on Friday, August 17th, promising a full day of entertainment, starting with a church service and procession through the village, led by the harvest home king, queen and princess.

The traditional lunch will be held in a marquee on the playing fields, followed by children’s tea and sports in the afternoon.

The day is rounded off with an evening of music in the packed marquee.

Details: www.wedmorehh.com

Teaching traditional skills

Summer SALE starts 10am Friday 13th July 2018

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

01934 710479

Pale Blue

Women’s clothing and other lovely things

KAREN Boyce has called her business Casalana because she started her business working with wool when she lived in Spain – and in Spanish it means wool house.

Since moving back to England into a farmhouse near Wedmore, working with wool has become a much more serious business.

She chooses individual fleeces by selecting them from sheep on local farms before the sheep are shorn and then

prepares the wool herself.

She also goes foraging locally for any natural ingredients – nettles, docks, blossoms, pine cones, dandelion etc – from which she makes dyes.

Now, at the farm she has space to accommodate the workshops and is ready to start sharing her expertise on residential and day courses there. Courses cover all things fibre related including knitting, crochet, spinning, dyeing, weaving, felting etc and are held weekly as half-day or full day.

She said: “I was five when I first learned to knit. As I got older I wanted pure wools, but they were so expensive I decided to prepare my own. “Making natural dyes is fun – whatever you throw in the pot, it never comes out the same twice.�

Karen also runs Bristol Executive Travel with her partner Maurice Golding.

CASALANA

Weekly workshops held for all things fibre related

1 The Borough, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB Email: paleblueclothingltd@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: 01934 713773

PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Learn to spin your own yarn from eece, foraging and dyeing with natural organic dyes, fel ng and Tunisian crochet along with tradi onal crochet and kni ng.

All materials and equipment included in the price as is as much tea/coee as you can drink with home made cake.

Courses are held weekly half-day or full day available (full day cost includes a light lunch).

For more informa on or to book on one of the workshops call 07842133216 or email: casalana.thewoolhouse@gmail.com

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Wedmore leads the way

Mike Ripley with the new panels on the village hall roof

WEDMORE has reached a major milestone in its drive to become England’s first zero carbon village. As part of the Zero Carbon Wedmore initiative, solar panels and a storage battery system have been

FOCUS ON WEDMORE

Ethical and beautiful

ERICA Sharpe is one of the UK’s leading contemporary jewellers. The natural environment, landscape, flora and fauna are intrinsic to her creations.

The challenge to portray life, movement and ideas within the tight technical tolerances of jewellery making informs and develops her work with every piece. Erica showcases her expert knowledge of gemstones with jewels that sparkle with colour and style. Working exclusively in Fairtrade Gold for all her bespoke jewellery, Erica goes to great lengths to ensure the precious materials she uses and the exquisite items she creates, are ethical as well as beautiful.

installed at the village hall.

Local environmental group Green Wedmore supported the village hall’s management committee in fitting the four kilowatt renewable energy system at the well-used building.

Electricity generated by the 14 photovoltaic (PV) panels can either be used to meet much of the hall’s immediate energy needs or it can be stored in the Tesla Powerwall battery for later use.

Any excess power generated is sold into the national grid.

Mike Rippon, village hall treasurer, said: “From what we’ve seen so far, the PV panels are not only generating enough electricity to meet the requirements of hall users during the day but they store enough power in the battery to meet the needs of evening users as well.

“In addition, we’re also exporting spare electricity to the grid, so all in all it’s a very elegant solution.”

The installation will help Green Wedmore achieve its ambition of enabling an already thriving sustainable community to become England’s first zero carbon village by 2045.

New bridal studio

OLIVIA Hooper Bridal Studio has opened in Wedmore and its expert staff are on hand to help women find their perfect wedding dress.

Sarah Eaton and Naomi Dunham have 25 years’ experience in the bridal industry and decided to launch their own venture in the village. They believe that knowledge will stand them in great stead for the years ahead.

Sarah said: “It’s all about offering a totally personal service right from initial consultation through to final fitting. Finding the right dress is such an intimate experience and our product knowledge, relationship with designers and fitting experience will make brides feel very special from the very beginning.

“Our focus is to only use UK-based designers, as we believe these are the best in the world.”

Designs by the likes of Alan Hannah, Suzanne Neville and Mia Mia are available for brides-to-be to try. The studio is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and women must make an appointment in advance.

Naomi said the pair hope to make future brides’ “dreams come true”. She said: “All the gowns and dresses from our studio are made using hand-crafted techniques which are at the forefront of modern dressmaking.

“We chose Wedmore not only because I’m originally from the village but because it’s a beautiful place to come where brides along with their friends and family can visit to find their perfect dress.”

BRIDAL STUDIO

4 Providence House The Borough Wedmore BS28 4EG 01934 707 550

www.oliviahooper.co.uk • E-mail: hello@oliviahooper.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2017 • PAGE 53

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Shepton Mallet’s day in the sun THE annual Collett Festival in Shepton Mallet brought out the crowds for a community fair, evening concert and children’s festival.

Above and left: Shepton Mallet Gymnastics Club staged a dramatic display in the main arena with children of all ages taking a turn to impress Joining in with Mendip All Drummers

Some of the team on the Shepton Mallet Royal British Legion tombola stall. The branch is busy preparing for special commemorations to mark the end of WWI

The Rubbish Art Project held fun sessions for youngsters – find them on Facebook

The 1st Shepton Mallet Guides were running various fundraising activities

The festival was opened by Chris Inchley, chair of Shepton Mallet Town Council and guest-of-honour Helen Reader, known as the Fairy Godmother of Shepton Mallet

PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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Draycott Strawberry Fayre

Last year's outgoing and this year's Strawberry royalty

Youngsters get up close with Miss Scarlett

Timsbury Fun Day

EVENTS

Timsbury WI stall with (l to r) Nicky Carroll, Phyllida Russell, Gill Miles, Brenda Hale and Josie Pownall

Leo enjoyed the sandpit provided by Timsbury Churches Together

Avon Dance Academy

Strawberry and cream ladies Pat Webster and Maureen Richardson

Timsbury Pre-School's stall

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 55

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So what caused the flood to happen?

THE STORM

Janet Walker, from Chew Magna, was a student at Keynsham Grammar School when she wrote a comprehensive project about the causes and effects of the floods, quoting many victims and official sources. The Environment Agency used it as the basis of its own investigation into what happened. Janet is now bursar of Eton College. Her mother, Sheila, lived in Chew Magna High Street until her death in April. We are grateful for her help with our Great Flood series. These are extracts from Janet’s report.

There was a heavy storm during the early afternoon and about 6.30pm a prolonged heavy thunderstorm developed which continued until about 1am on the 11th of July. Most of the rain fell between 8pm and midnight. The chief centre of the storm area was around Chew Stoke where 6.8 inches of rain fell in in six and a half hours.

THE FLOOD

One very significant point should be stressed and that is the obstructive nature of most of the bridges on the River Chew and its tributaries, most of which are masonry arch bridges with solid masonry parapets up to four or five feet high.

Flood water, carrying tremendous quantities of debris, very quickly blocked a number of these bridges and water levels built up to such a height that the parapets gave way with the result that a “tidal wave” swept downstream causing extreme damage with its sudden force and height.

THE EFFECT

Between Chew Magna and other centres of destruction the countryside was laid waste, power supplies, telephones and communications were wrecked, farm land swamped, cars washed away and the inhabitants of the valley suffered in hardship to a degree that had never before been equalled by a flood of this scale in the area in living memory.

THE VICTIMS

The most deeply flooded house in the whole of the Chew Valley area was in Silver Street. This belongs to Mr and Mrs Gunter, two old-age pensioners. They spent most of the night sat in the windowsill of their bedroom with only an oil lamp to provide light.

At one time the water was up to their armpits and not being agile enough to climb up on to the roof, they were convinced they were going to drown. At about 3 o’clock in the morning the police called from the churchyard to ask if they were still alive and tell them that it was impossible to rescue them.

Strangely enough neither of them felt cold or frightened at the time and when the water went down they were able to go to a relative to recover. The Gunters were lucky not to lose their lives – they certainly lost everything else. There had been 17 feet of water in their home and it had washed away almost everything, even the stairs.

In total 240 houses were badly flooded in the Chew Valley.

The Land Rover did not get far on this journey. By the time the firemen reached Chew Magna cricket field they were sat chest high in water. Meanwhile back at the fire station Alfie Clements had been forced to retreat to the top of the fire tender to escape the flood water.

COUNCILLOR BETTY PITT

Although not flooded herself, Mrs Pitt realised before daybreak on the 11th of July that the situation was very bad. She decided that what people would need was moral support and food so that they would be able to cope with all the chaos of a flooded home.

So very early in the morning she took the family caravan down to the church hall and set it up outside. Next she visited all the shops in the village and asked them to open an account in her name or in the name of Clutton Rural District Council so that food could be acquired immediately by anyone she sent to get it.

“I never really thought about where the money would come from,” Mrs Pitt confessed, “I just knew that people had to be fed.”

At the same time, the caravan became the headquarters for all those concerned with the flood. The church hall, the school and the local public house had all been flooded and the caravan was in the centre of the most severely damaged part of the village.

Many people whose homes had been flooded used the caravan as the only place where they could go just to sit down and cry in an atmosphere of sympathetic understanding. The strain of being constantly surrounded by mud, filth and the debris of ruined possessions might have proved too much for some if it had not been for the help of Mrs Pitt and her volunteers.

CONCLUSION

Although I live in Chew Magna I had not realised just how many people were involved in the floods nor how rare an occurrence they were. It seems sadly true that it is only at such rare times that a genuine community spirit prevails. Out of the devastation and chaos grew friendship and understanding and the best side in human nature was revealed.

THE RESCUERS

Undoubtedly the unsaluted heroes of the flood were the local parttime fire brigade and the sergeant and policeman who came to help them. One call came for the firemen to proceed to Compton Dando, approximately six miles away, where two old ladies wished to be evacuated from a bungalow.

PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

The dark stain shows the height the water reached

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THE GREAT FLOOD – CHEW MAGNA

How my father went to the rescue I WAS working at Fairfield Nurseries, run by a Mr Tony Hiron and his wife and family, on that Wednesday, July 10th, 1968 as a 14-yearold schoolboy to earn some pocket money and learn some gardening skills as I would be leaving school at 15 to start work as a gardener.

We had been working in the greenhouses when the rain started. The sky started to turn a really strange colour when the thunder and lightning started – something I had not seen before or since.

The rain had got more heavy and the Butham Lane that runs to the side of the nursery started to flood with water flowing off Chew Hill and Blacklands, the hills that surround Chew Magna. This water was about 18-20 inches deep.

Seeing the depth of the water, the owner’s son attempted to take me home to 12, Lower Batch, Chew Magna, where my mother and father, Charlie and Vera Gill, were wardens of the old people’s bungalows.

We attempted to go via Silver Street but the water was too deep so we backtracked and just managed to negotiate the deep water past the junior school back to the nursery, where I had to spend the night and several days after.

Our home was flooded to about four inches above the fireplace and left muck and mud two inches thick on the floors.

Everything was ruined.

My father was at home on his own as

my mother and brother were visiting relatives in Pensford, where we used to live. They left to return home but a landslide on the B3130 at Belluton stopped them. They had to stay with the owners at Model Farm for the night.

My father had to rescue many of the residents from the old people’s bungalows and take them to a bungalow on higher ground, wading waist-deep to do so. The lady that lived next door was the first person he rescued, as she had an artificial leg and there was no time to put it on.

One couple refused to leave the property and they ended up standing on the dining table.

The family managed to meet up the next day and start to clear up the mess.

My parents, brother and myself started helping the older people before trying to sort out our own home. We being homeless were kindly asked if we would like to use accommodation above a

hairdressers shop near the old school room.

As a tribute to my mother and father’s heroic efforts on the night of the floods and the following days, I will be having a sponsored walk along the side of the River Avon from Conham Park to Keynsham and then follow the River Chew as near as possible and walk through the villages of Chewton Keynsham, Compton Dando, Woollard, Publow, Pensford, Stanton Drew and Chew Magna, ending up at Chew Valley Lake.

ROD GILL

Rod is looking for people to sponsor the walk, raising funds for Chew Magna’s church hall. Cheques can be made payable to Chew Magna Church Hall Fund and sent to Richard Westropp, Little Barton, Chew Magna BS40 8RS.

Excerpt from Treasured Memories – Days in the Village of Chew Magna

by Annie M Gunter of Brook Cottages, Silver Street, Chew Magna

AS the night came, so the water came and we were finally driven upstairs with the flood still rising, and very little we could save except on the window shelves of the bedrooms.

The noise of the water was almost deafening and Tom and I were obliged to sit on our bedroom window with our legs in the water and see our mattress on the bed in the floods, and everything we possessed.

A night to remember indeed; no phone, no light, nothing but rushing water and hearing people call for help. It was impossible for anyone to get any nearer than the churchyard, and that is where the police were, calling out to ask if we were still alright.

At three in the morning we realised the flood was subsiding and we could see the skirting board around the bedroom floor.

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 57

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Memories from Long Ashton IN response to your request for memories of the 1968 flooding the attached photographs taken on 11/7/68 show the damage to bridges over the main railway line from Bristol to Taunton where it runs through the cutting south of Long Ashton.

They show where the river Land Yeo overflowed the aqueduct over the railway lines opposite Gatcombe Farm and cascaded down the embankment causing one of several landslips in this area. The tracks were covered by three to four feet

(1 to 1.3m) of debris and the bridge wall was undermined.

At the next two bridges towards Bristol carrying Wild Country Lane and the Monarch’s Way footpath water flowed down from both sides to pool on the bridges until the weight caused the east walls to collapse onto the tracks.

Our house was about 200m from the bridge shown. The intensity of the rain driving against the walls at the rear and running down the roughcast surface

IT was a very exceptionally wet day, very heavy rain all day. It was sometime around 9 o’clock in the evening while my husband was reading a book and I was writing a letter.

We decided to have a look outside our back door as the rain always collected there.

When we opened the door the water had risen so much it was just about to come into the kitchen so we decided to get buckets and collected the water and poured it down the drain on the road. Then we decided to have a look at the front door and as we opened the lounge door the water started to pour into the house. It took less than ten minutes to reach about three feet.

There were the four houses at the bottom that got flooded. They lost a lot more than we did because they had families and had been living there for a number of years.

We eventually went to bed and all you could hear was the water lapping up the stairs.

It was very frightening. Next morning when we came down the sun was shining and no sign of water at all.

The reason for the flooding was that they were building the by-pass and had not made the culverts under the road big enough, so when it rained all the rubbish they had cut out was washed into the culverts and there was nowhere for the water to go.

One of the most amazing things after was the fact we had a brand new cooker and SWEB took it back and dried it out and we had it working for another 30 years. Our neighbours lost a lot more than us and also were not able to save their cars. We got to know our new neighbours very quickly after that night.

Mike and Ann Birbeck

caused water to run over the tops of the window frames on the ground floor and down the insides of the glass.

About five inches (13cm)) of rain fell in two hours or so. Local press reports were very graphic and we were very fortunate compared with dwellings in Yeo Meads only 400m away where the brook from Birdwell overflowed.

John Gilbert

FIFTY years ago Long Ashton by-pass was being built. In heavy rain, construction materials were washed down blocking drainage and flow of the brook.

When the flood water rose to window sill level we blew up the lilo to rescue the three children, then nine, seven and four years old. The car lights came on under water, which was rather eerie.

People came to observe our plight.

The rain stopped and a bright moon came out. The pet guinea pigs were rescued from their elevated hutch at the top of the garden. My husband read our insurance policy. Some unwanted and damaged items went back in the flood water!

With nothing to do until the morning.

We opened a bottle of booze and our opposite neighbours waded over for drinks.

The clearing up operations lasted for months along with a horrible smell.

The vivid memories will be forever.

Chris Williams

We want to hear your stories. Write to: The Great Flood, Mendip Times, Coombe Lo

PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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THE GREAT FLOOD

The night that Woollard lost its historic old bridge ON July 10th, 1968 I was working at Rode in Wiltshire. We had rain before we left for home, but nothing like what was to come. When I arrived home the rain was heavy, but no reason to panic.

The first call for help came from Colin and Beryl Wallace up the street at No.182, Montrose Cottage. The ditch flowed down from the Mountain hill direction and where the ditch entered a large pipe in my father's garden it was either blocked or just could not take the volume of water going into it.

All this time the rain kept coming down really hard.

The water from the ditch overflowed into Colin and Beryl's garden and was likely to go into the house by the front door. I assisted Colin and John Light cutting turfs to prevent the water flowing into the house.

As far as I remember we went down the street to look at the river which was rising quickly, but we had seen this before so to begin with although it was raining we were not overly worried. Soon this changed and the water from the river was well into the road.

Going into my own house, 189 Woollard, my wife Margaret was already taking things upstairs together with our children Lester and Michelle. Next the water had risen so much that it was across Mill Lane – known by the locals as "the Slip".

Bill and Cheryl Keays lived in Chew Cottage and asked John Light and myself if we could get their cooker upstairs. So I did what I thought was right and disconnected

By Mike Coles

the cable without damaging it – I could have done it a lot quicker had I cut it with the hacksaw!

By the time we got the cooker upstairs the water was flying through the letter box.

We had to get out via the window on the corner of the house and retreated to our respective houses.

The water continued to rise and Margaret and I put as much of our belongings as we could upstairs. There was no way that we could all sleep up there as well. The grandfather clock case was floating around the front room like a boat after I had removed all of the working parts.

There was no way to stop the water coming into the house, so before it reached its peak I carried Lester, aged four, and Michelle, aged two and a half, across to the kitchen window and passed them through the window where someone took them up the path and passed them over the wall above where the water had risen to be taken to Harold and Iris Baker’s.

It wasn't long before Margaret and I joined them for the night! Harold and Iris were very kind and took in a few others who were stranded and not able to get out of the village. They certainly had a full house but we were all dry!

The next day we all awoke to find the river had dropped back to almost normal.

There was mud and mess in every affected house. In our cottage the water had risen up to the light switch in the front room, the cooker was completely covered in a thin layer of brown mud.

The cooker was probably about ten years old but was easy to take apart. A neighbour of my father's, David White, came down to give us a hand and we set about cleaning up the cooker inside and out.

It was a lovely sunny day that followed

be Lodge, Blagdon BS40 7RG, email news@mendiptimes.co.uk or call 01761 463888.

the flood, so drying out things was easy if you could get them into the sunshine. So by taking a few chances the cooker was back working again by mid-day!

The whole of July 11th was taken up with washing and cleaning all things that were salvageable. The damage to the Cottage was considerable. The floor in the front room had heaved up from the pressure outside and the drains etc. The water had risen to about 4ft 6" in the front room. The walls were saturated and floor coverings ruined. I would say that every house that was affected had similar damage.

In the days that followed the weather was kind to us and people were able to put belongings worth saving out in the sun to dry. It was a few days before help came to try to dry out the houses. This was in the form of large hot air machines brought in by the Army or RAF. It did not have a lasting effect – by the next day the damp walls which had looked dry after the blowers had been in use were showing damp again! Fresh air and dehumidifiers seemed to be much more effective.

It was obvious that our lives were to be upside down for the rest of the summer.

There was one blessing and that was that no-one was injured that I can remember.

Mr Charlie Duckett who lived in the bungalow near to the river (now known as "Whispers") and was one of the lowest properties to the river, spent the night in the roof of the bungalow.

He was very lucky the water did not rise further. He was rescued early in the morning by a helicopter.

I spent a couple of days getting our house in a somewhat liveable condition and then made my way to Pensford to resume my job with A J Parfitt electrical contractors in Pensford.

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 59

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Ra in d anc e s i n We ll s MORE than 1,000 children representing more than 50 Somerset primary schools celebrated the annual folk dance festival on Wells Cathedral Green.

Now in its 44th year, the Somerset Schools’ Folk Dance Festival began with a procession by the youngsters through the city. A brief hailstorm halfway through the event sent children scurrying for cover under tarpaulins the schools have brought along to provide seating on the grass.

Councillor Nigel Taylor, Somerset County Council’s chairman who opened the ceremony, said: “This is always a wonderful spectacle. The children work hard on their dance steps before coming together in this popular annual festival, often watched by parents and grandparents who themselves once took part.”

Long Sutton primary children

Christ Church pupils from Frome PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

The view from the north tower of Wells Cathedral

Laughter on the green

Pupils from Mark First and Pre-School Academy

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Villagers’ big day out

EVENTS

LEIGH-on-Mendip’s annual summer fair offered everything anyone could want from a traditional village fete.

There were stalls, food and drink, classic cars and a fun dog show before the evening gave way to live music.

Excited youngsters from the village school arrive on the field to take part in maypole dances Judging time in a crown competition

One of the harness goats from Holcombe who gave carriage rides

Above and below right: Maypole dancing in progress – the dances are a traditional fixture of the village day and the dresses and waistcoats are passed down to the next generation of pupils

The Sunshine Clowns, from Trowbridge, entertained visitors with walkabouts and a show in the marquee

Bella, a rescue dog who’s deaf, relaxes on the Forever Hounds Trust stand

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 61

Mendip Times

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FREE! access to all of our recent magazines from our website FREE! links to all of our advertisers’ websites FREE! links from our features and editorial pages More information – more enjoyment No annoying pop-ups – Mendip Times pure and simple FREE! service for readers and advertisers

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NEWS

Banner headlines from 1918 to 2018

A RARE suffrage banner created by the Weston-super-Mare branch of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies alongside a contemporary banner created by students from Strode College in Street has gone on show at the Somerset Rural Life Museum at Glastonbury.

It is the first time in many years that the original banner has gone on public display and commemorates the centenary of the Representation of the People Act which gave British women the right to vote.

The UWSS was the “moderate” arm of the women’s rights movement – the iconic Emily Pankhurst represented the “militant” wing.

The students worked with Bristol-based artist Dorcas Casey, from Somerset Art Works, to create the banner. It is one of 100 commissioned centenary banners that formed part of PROCESSIONS, a mass participation artwork that took place in June. Students from Strode joined women and girls from across the UK to parade the banners in London.

Curator Bethan Murray from the South West Heritage Trust said: “The exhibition will allow visitors to discover how the women of Somerset played their part in the fight for women’s suffrage and their continuing roll in working for women’s rights today.” ● The exhibition is on display until September 2nd.

Strode students in front of the Weston-super-Mare banner with Beccy Swaine, from SAW, college textile lecturer Sue Green, curator Bethan Murray and artist Dorcas Casey

Raise a glass to Wells Lions

TICKETS go on sale in July for the first charity beer and cider festival to be held in Wells.

Wells Lions are organising the two-day event at the Bishop’s Barn, which will feature more than 50 beers and ciders from across the country. The festival – on Friday October 26th and Saturday, October 27th – is part of the community initiative Into the Barn, which aims to make more use of the medieval tithe barn and surrounding Recreation Ground.

The banner on the procession in London

(Photograph courtesy of D Jelley)

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Artist Dorcas Casey with Strode students Elsie Plimmer, Charlotte Langdon, Julia Wrzesinska (back) and Catherine Hyde and Maddy Young (front). The Strode banner was influenced by original Suffrage banners and incorporates the unique culture of Somerset. Glastonbury Festival wrist bands are woven into the design

Visitors to the festival can enjoy up to three sessions – Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening, with live music, entertainment for children and food.

Rod Major, one of the organisers from Wells Lions, said: “We are determined to make the weekend something which all the family can enjoy and we would like it to become a regular feature on the city’s annual calendar in the same way as our May Fair and the Moat Races.”

Ticket are on sale online from July 1st at: www.wellsbeerfestival.co.uk via email rod@nchq.co.uk or call 01749 670 100 or 07506 221 223

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 63

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The walls are Mendip

AT last summer has finally arrived and all growing things are coming alive and the Hills are showing their “fullon” face. So why did it take a recent touring visit, to the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales to stop me in my tracks and make me think?

The people of this undoubtedly beautiful area claim it is “God’s own country” but I think the Mendips can give it a good run for its money.

However, in one respect they may well have a point!

All over, on my travels the most noticeable feature of the landscape was the characteristic stone walls, in most cases standing straight and whole, doing the job they were built to do – keeping livestock in and protecting crops.

It got me thinking – we have similar walls all over our Mendip Hills – it’s the first thing that visitors comment on. If asked what is most noticeable and iconic about their visit, they will invariably say “the miles of dry stone walls marching across the wild open spaces”. And significantly, if you take a look at the Mendip Hills AONB logo, a dry stone wall is its most prominent feature.

I know that it is a costly and time consuming process to build, or repair/rebuild a stone wall and that grants are few and hard to secure. There are, thankfully, several skilled voluntary groups actively working on Mendip to help farmers and land owners restore these structures; the AONB task volunteers have been

Every stone in its right place – dry stone walling training

THE MENDIP SOCIETY

Signing the transfer deed, l to r: Richard Frost, chairman; Judith Tranter, secretary, and Peter Janes, membership

involved in several walling work days. Sadly, it seems that dry stone walls are in long term decline, they collapse with age and need regular maintenance; in several places on our walks we have noticed where there is now a heap of stones where once a wall had been a strong useful structure.

However, in our constitution, the objects of the Mendip Society are “the conservation and enhancement of the beauty and character of Mendip and its surroundings paying due regard to it being a living, working and recreational environment”. We are committed to pursue this object “with particular regard to landscape, wildlife habitat, archaeological, historical and natural features”, it seems to me that this iconic feature of our landscape would certainly come into that category. So, to this end in August Tina Bath, who knows a thing or two about this skill, will be running a weekend’s dry stone wall building training, for us. Keep an eye on our website and programme for the details – the venue will be the Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Chancellors Farm, Priddy, where there are many walls, as bizarrely, we can’t muster a single one on either of our two nature reserves!

And talking of nature reserves, we are very glad to announce that the society finally became the legal owners of the lovely two acre Tania’s Wood in Ubley, a deeded gift from Glyn England, (former society president). Legal wheels turn very slowly sometimes and the process started by Glyn, before his death four years ago, was completed by his two daughters just last month, when three society trustees signed the transfer deed.

They have in fact very kindly allowed us to work in the wood for all this time, and to create a Forest School site for Blagdon Primary School children; in addition we have run hedge laying and coppicing courses, as we have a couple of miles of hedges there – but no stone walls!

We are extremely grateful to the England family for this valuable gift and assure them that it will be lovingly looked after by the society, to the best of our ability- fulfilling the object and aims of our constitution.

Richard Frost and Judith Tranter

Details: www.themendipsociety.org.uk or ring 01275 874284/472797

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WILDLIFE

A midsummer catch-up

AS we reach the midway point of the year it’s good to reflect on what’s actually going on around us and how the climax of the bird

By CHRIS breeding season has SPERRING gone so far.

MBE It’s time once again for me to start my annual visits to farms that have barn owl nests and collect essential data and to ring the owlets. I do this every year and if you’re a farmer that has barn owls breeding on your farm and you’d like me to visit you then please do get in touch.

Well the interesting thing this year is that I’m starting nearly a month later than last year. This is because the owls commenced their breeding season much later than normal, but they are not the only ones. For example, it’s interesting to note that in my garden the same situation seems to be taking place with insects.

Butterflies still seem almost non-existent, although the migratory painted lady has graced with its early presence. This particular butterfly is thought to come here from Africa, and the one in the picture is attracted to the magnificent insect-pulling flower red valerian. Bees have had a woefully slow start, but are now finally recovering their numbers.

For most small birds we are now at the post-fledging stage, that time of the year when on your woodland walk you can hear all the young birds now on the wing and foraging through the green leaves for insect material. To me that traditional sound of fledglings seems patchy this year, in some

areas it seems almost as loud as normal and in others there is a deafening silence, implying that many birds have had a bad season.

This could be because of the late start to the season or simply a lack of the appropriate insect-rich habitat, and such is the thirst of some people for not tolerating over-grown vegetation then I suppose this is no surprise.

Of course, there is always a high mortality in fledglings. Predation is quite natural (unless by domestic cats), but in my own garden this year has been particularly bad. We started with a really good year (although slightly late), with blackbird, robin, wren, dunnock, great tit and longtailed tit all building nests and going through egg laying, all seemed well and we seemed on course for a potentially recordbreaking year for our garden.

However, come fledging time the three advanced blackbird chicks were predated by a domestic cat, high winds destroyed the long-tailed tit nest, and the male blackbird killed two of the five great tit chicks as they left the nest. The dunnocks hid their nest very well and the first we knew of their breeding was when we observed their young out of the nest and being tended by their parents, and the wrens (nesting in an old budgie box left in our shed) were the most successful, with at least four chicks still foraging in the garden alongside their parents.

Following the bad year for invertebrates and small birds are the predators. We have regular four-five pairs of jackdaws nesting in the chimney pots around our home, but this year we have yet to hear a single youngster. Similarly, a pair of magpies nest

in the conifer trees beyond our garden every year and although we watched them building their nest as normal, the pair are now out and about with no sign of chicks, so presumably they have also failed. And the crows have only reared one youngster this year.

I am shortly to begin checking barn owl nests, but judging by the signs from other species I am expecting to see small broods, or even no broods, in many areas. This has certainly been the case for tawny owls this year, which have failed to produce chicks in most of the woodlands I regularly patrol.

For some in nature, the healing process will already be underway, but others will have to wait for another year. ● I’m leading barn owl watching evenings for the Hawk and Owl Trust in July and if there’s enough interest we will add more dates. Please visit https://hawkandowltrust.co.uk/ (choose the event you want to come on and click the REGISTER button to book a place and pay). For more information please contact me on 07469 857 783.

Painted lady butterfly – an early appearance this year

A hungry wren

A feeding bumblebee in a foxglove

A fledgling great tit

Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust Contact him via chris.sperring@btinternet.com

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Wonderful views on this walk around the Wye Valley

HERE is an away-day walk for us Mendip folk – a quiet Wye Valley circuit, off the beaten track, not far from Chepstow, and very quick and easy to reach. For much of the route there are amazing views over the Wye and the spectacular valley as well as

across the Severn. It’s a mixture of woodland and open countryside and we follow the Wye Valley Walk for a while, visit one of the best viewpoints in the Wye Valley, the Eagle’s Nest, and also a glorious old church in a field and the site of the nearby medieval village. Some stiles may not be manageable for less agile dogs.

With no refreshment en-route, why not take a picnic. Walking should mainly be fairly good underfoot but don’t rule out muddy sections, after rain.

PARK: In Fedw Wood spacious car park. From the Severn Bridge take the A466 towards Chepstow and stay on this to St Arvans. Just past the Piercefield pub (if coming from the bridge) turn left on the road signed to Trelleck and Devauden. After about two miles reach woodland. Ignore the first barrier on the right and continue to the next entrance on the right to take you into Fedw Wood parking.

With Sue Gearing PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

START: Take the wide track through a barrier, straight on (not left) through Fedw Wood. Ignore all side paths.

When the main track swings right, go straight ahead on a slightly smaller track.

1. END OF WOOD Leave the woodland. Come to a gate

and then alongside a field, passing a house with shepherds’ huts and cottages. Continue straight along the main track, climbing a little. At a lane, turn left a few yards and find a stile on the right. Cross. At this point ignore the stile to your right, and instead take a four minute detour left across the field, with beautiful views over the Wye Valley ahead. This field was the site of a medieval village, decimated by the Black Death. It is now conserved as a glorious wild flower meadow.

2. CHURCH Come to the remote and peaceful church of St Mary’s Penterry. The church is kept closed but with planning you can get a key (see end for details).

St. Mary's stands alone on a ridge above the Wye Valley. Once the parish church for a community believed to have been wiped out by the plague, St. Mary's fell into disrepair before being restored in Victorian days, and was again at risk of closure until local residents formed a fundraising committee to breathe new life into the church, to provide a focal point for the scattered community and carry out restoration and renovation.

Retrace your steps back to the stile by the lane and now take the other stile. Head diagonally down the field to

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WALKING

a stile in the bottom far corner. Come onto the lane and turn right. By a pond take the first drive/track which climbs up past houses to the farm at Porthcasseg.

L

3. PORTHCASSEG Keep straight on along a track, cross a stile and follow the right hedge to reach woodland and a stile.

4. WYE VALLEY WAY Enter the woods (bedecked with bluebells in spring) and turn right on the Wye Valley Walk. This long distance path extends for 136 miles through Wales with startling contrasts – from ravines cloaked in woodland, through meadow and orchard, to rugged and remote uplands.

Notice several hollows, evidence of earlier iron workings. Ignore a footpath on the left and just continue on the WVW until you reach a sign and steps left down to the magnificent viewpoint, the Eagles Nest at Wyndcliff.

5. EAGLE’S NEST It looks out over the sweeping curve of the Wye around the Lancaut Peninsula.

The Severn estuary and both bridges are clearly visible. Over left are the dramatic cliffs of Wintour’s Leap.

Coleridge, one of the Romantic poets, described the Wyndcliff view as “the whole world imaged in its vast circumference. The river here forms almost a circle and the rocks, richly wooded, an amphitheatre, over which a wide extended country appears spread out including the river Severn beyond”.

OS Leisure Map 14, Wye Valley, grid ref: 504 984 5.25 miles walk, about 3.5 hours.

Follow the WVW until it ascends and winds down to a parking area. Continue to a lane on a bend.

6. LANES Here go straight ahead on this very quiet lane, climbing, with wonderful views over the Severn Estuary. At a Tjunction, turn right on another lane and climb steadily for about four-five minutes. Look for a public footpath left and a gate into a field. Head across to the far left corner and through a gate.

Follow the left hedge to reach another gate. After this bear across right to join a drive which leads uphill to Gaer Hill Farm.

7. FARM Go to the right of the house and then stay on the main track going round left.

Go through gates and alongside a barn and cross into a field. The direction now is across the field to the far right corner. Cross into the next field and see on your right a very unusual but practical stile. This is a crossing footpath and we need to go left (so don’t cross the stile) heading in the direction of the far Severn Estuary.

Keep straight on parallel with the left fence, cross the remains of a wall and a pond where Canada geese were nesting when I came. Maintain direction all the way the end, go through another of these unusual stiles and out to a road.

Turn right for a few yards and then right by an electricity sub-station.

8. WOODLAND Go on the footpath into the woodland and along the top by the wall. The path turns left briefly and then continues in the same direction as before. Reach a marker post and here turn left. The path soon becomes much clearer. Keep on to reach a crossing track. Go over this and continue on the path walking through an area of pines. Reach the main track and turn soon reaching the car park.

To see inside Penterry church contact Fr Michael Gollop on 01291 622064 or email at info@penterry.org.uk if possible a few days ahead.

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OUTDOORS

West Countryman’s diary BY the time you have picked up this copy of Mendip Times, the longest day will have passed and half the year has gone. I always like to think With LES “half full” but DAVIES MBE confess to feeling more than a little loss at the passing of this year’s halfway point.

Up until now I have been pleasantly surprised with the weather. Having made several disparaging remarks a few months back, it now seems as if we might still be in for a good summer!

I also thought it a good idea to give you a rest from the “All My Yesterday’s” series that I have been re-writing over the past three months. Your past, I am told, is for your reference and not your residence, so maybe it’s time now to catch up on what’s been happening on and around Mendip.

I don’t think I have seen such an amount of blossom as there has been this year. That’s not just the apple blossom, but the blackthorn and hawthorn have showered the countryside with an “icing” of white, which was then followed by the elder. There will no doubt be a lot of elder flower cordial and wine made this time.

However, I will wait until the sundrenched berries, loaded with natural sugar, can be turned into the most pleasant of red wines, that will chase away the darkness and cold of a winter’s evening in front of the wood burner.

The countryside is catching up after a slow start. It’s not only the greenery of hedgerow and field that seems to spring from the ground, it’s the crops as well.

Winter wheat and barley are now “heading” up and it won’t be long until they start to change colour as the grain ripens. I hope there will be enough moisture to prevent the grain from shrivelling, yet enough sun to ripen it…I don’t ask for much, do I! My garden has also started moving after a very late start. I can’t remember potatoes going in as late as I planted them this year. Most of it would have been my fault, not getting on when I probably should have, but I always find there is a right moment to get on and get things

done. It’s what my mother calls “the nudge” and she is so right, things seem to go much better when directed by instinct!

Both the agricultural shows in our area went well this year. For the first time in a while I visited the North Somerset Show at Wraxall. It was a scorching day and the crowds flocked in to enjoy a great family day out. The Royal Bath and West however was not quite so fortunate with the weather, but it has to be said it was not a wash-out.

First day numbers will have been down, but the Friday brought a pleasant change to the weather after the sudden downpour of Thursday. A sense of humour is always important, and there was none more required when in the midst of a sudden heavy shower (that had caught many without cover or an umbrella) Environmental Youth Award steward Gerry Webb grabbed a microphone and burst into the most wonderful rendition of “Singing in the Rain”.

I must however add that HE was in the dry and those who skipped around outside to his crooning were NOT… they really had the sense of humour!

These agricultural shows showcase what is the very best of our rural heritage.

Agriculture is, after all, responsible for much of our heritage and for our survival.

With less than 1.4% of the population engaged in it, we need all the promotion possible.

Farming and our landscape are woven together and interdependent. No-one who works the land wants to see it destroyed.

It is beholden to all of us to ensure we hand on the importance and special values of our environment to future generations.

In line with this the Royal Bath and West of England Society, with

sponsorship from HSBC UK, have now extended the Environmental Youth Awards (EYA) to cover six counties within the South West.

This year, for the first time, entries from East Devon and South Gloucester joined with Bristol, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire in the final line-up on presentation day at the Royal Bath and West Show. The judges are always worked hard in arriving at their decision, not only of county winners but especially the overall Champion of Champions.

The EYA scheme is aimed at all youth groups, not just schools, who can show how young people are making a difference to the environment. Now in its 22nd year this scheme has encouraged and rewarded hundreds of young people for their drive and determination to protect and enhance the natural environment.

Congratulations to Avalon School in Street who won the Somerset nomination and Hannah More School in St Phillips for the Bristol entry. This year’s overall winner was Dumpton School near Wimborne in Dorset. The awards were made by James Shepherd, head of commercial banking for HSBC in Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

As you can see from the picture there were a lot of happy young people there that day – I think you can just about see my hand at the back!

Finally, still at the Bath and West, congratulations to Mendip Times for reaching the top three in the local Business Awards small business category.

OK so they didn’t win the top prize but they can “punch” well above their weight and have more of an impact on the local population, and indeed well beyond the local population, than many others could ever lay claim to!

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

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Gardening jobs for July

IF, by some miracle, you have managed to keep control of the weeds in April, May and June then July ought to be a more relaxing time in the With MARY garden. However, the PAYNE MBE lifelong aim of weeds is to be persistent and keep you on your toes all summer.

The foliage cover of intended plants has, by now, covered the soil, reducing the light levels so weed seeds do not germinate. It is the persistent perennials that are out to get you. If only bindweed had blue flowers like its close relative the annual Morning Glory, we might even encourage it carefully.

Very many gardens claim June as their best season, a fact borne out by the number of private gardens that open for the National Gardens Scheme, village fundraisers and for other charities in midJune, while the number opening in July slumps.

Perhaps this is because the owners want to get their opening over early on the year or maybe folk do not plan their gardens to keep going all summer, or indeed all year round. Late summer can be a challenge, but there are plenty of late summer flowering perennials and shrubs to be had.

One task that will help your plants continue to bloom is removing faded flowers. Dead heading is also a useful opportunity to inspect your plants closely for pests or diseases and take appropriate action before the problem becomes a disaster. For many plants, if you prevent them setting seed they will continue to produce more flowers. This is particularly true of annuals.

Towards the middle or end of this month is an appropriate time to take cuttings of many deciduous shrubs, such as forsythias, weigelas, deutzias and hydrangeas. Heel cuttings of this season’s growth, about 4” to 6” (10 to 15cms) long are ideal.

Trim off the lower leaves, pinch out the growing tip, and large-leaved shrubs can have the remaining leaves trimmed in half with scissors. The purpose of this is to reduce water loss from the cuttings.

Put the cuttings in a well-drained compost, water and cover with a plastic PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Dahlia 'Pooh'

bag sealed with a rubber band.

Then stand in a shady place. Once rooted the bag can be removed but wait until next spring before potting them up individually. Evergreens such as Hebe, Ceanothus and Euonymus can also be done in this way.

If your dahlias have not been ravaged by pesky molluscs then it is time to give them some support, along with gladiolus and other tall plants. It is much easier to do this before they have fallen over than after! Sweet peas should be in full bloom and it is vital to keep cutting the blooms or at least dead heading them to ensure continuity of flower.

July is the ideal time to spray persistent perennial weeds like ground elder, bindweed, couch grass and enchanter’s nightshade as they all have the maximum amount of foliage to receive the chemical and translocate it to the root system. In some cases, it is worth spraying everything in a bed to get rid of the weed and then plant again into clean ground.

Another thorough spray in September should see off these annoying weeds and the time spent and “scorched earth” policy is well worth it.

Tomatoes are growing fast and hopefully the fruits are setting well. Keep up the high potash feeds and do not neglect regular watering. Failure to do this invariably results in a problem known as blossom end rot, where the base of the fruit goes black. This is caused by the inability of the plant to move calcium to the fruits due to a lack of water. Shading the greenhouse will help reduce leaf curling.

There is often a reluctance to give lawns a summer feed claiming they will need mowing more frequently, but a summer boost of a high nitrogen feed will dramatically improve the colour and density of the sward thus making it more difficult for weed seeds to get established.

A spell of damp, humid weather may well see a rise in the incidence of box blight. Leaves go olive coloured, then brown and fall showing black streaks on the bare shoots. Act fast if this occurs, clear affected leaves, a vacuum cleaner is very effective for this, then spray thoroughly with Bayer Fungus Fighter. It really works.

Philadelphus and Weigela have flowered magnificently this year and can be pruned now. Remove some of the older wood cutting back to the base of the shrub. This will allow free air movement through the bush and encourage the development of wood that will flower next year.

Now is also a good time to prune deciduous magnolias. Try to avoid cutting out too much as this will simply encourage lots more young growth that grows even faster. Light pruning at this time of year on a regular basis will enable a plant to be kept to shape.

If you are up to date with all your garden jobs then take time out to visit one of the many gardens that open in July in our area such as Stowey Gardens BS39 5TL on July 15th, 2-6pm or Benter Gardens, near Oakhill, BA3 5JB, on July 22nd, 10am-5pm or Ston Easton Park, BA3 4DF, on July 25th, 10.30am-4pm.

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J U LY G A R D E N T I P S

GARDENING

It is time to sow wallflowers, winter flowering pansies, primrose and polyanthus. All are best sown in seed compost in seed trays.

Cut back long shoots on firethorn (Pyracantha) and briar suckers coming from the roots of roses – remove them flush with the roots to avoid getting more.

Vigorous shrubs will benefit from having over-long shoots pruned back and this will stop them hiding the attractive berries which should have formed on old growth.

Feed rose bushes. Spread a handful or two of fertiliser around the plants and lightly hoe it in. Remove dead flowers and the tip of each shoot to encourage a strong new shoot to grow.

Ventilate your greenhouse on a regular basis. If it is still too hot inside, keep the doors open too and paint liquid white greenhouse paint on the outside to reflect the sun’s heat.

Trim herbs back, remove flowers and give them a good soaking with liquid feed to encourage new shoots. These are always the tastiest.

Loosen onions and shallots and lay them out in the sun to ripen. If you don’t do this they may not store so well.

Turn your compost heap regularly and water it if dry.

Watch out for slow worms which love the heat generated in a well-tended compost heap. They are harmless and a real gardeners ally.

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MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 71

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NAILSEA PATIO SUPPLIES

The Miller’s tale

CAROLINE Toll will be opening her Miller’s House garden at Nunney on Saturday, June 30th in aid of Somerset Wildlife Trust.

The garden is set in a small valley with the main garden above a mill pond. It is now planted mainly with perennials and shrubs with an eye to attract butterflies and be perfumed.

The following Saturday, July 7th, there is an opportunity to get to know the wildflowers, bumblebees and butterflies at SWT’s Edford Meadows nature reserve near Holcombe.

For details of both, visit: www.somersetwildlife.org

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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 72 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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Add a room to your garden

THE words “al fresco living” don’t normally spring to mind when thinking of life here on the Mendips. It can be tricky having the right outdoor environment to enjoy those balmy days of summer, however fleeting.

It was the frustration of having just a picnic table in the garden with no shelter from the sun and the possibility of having to scurry back indoors when the rain arrived or the wind set in, that gave Mendip Gazebos the idea of creating an outdoor space that could be enjoyed in all our summer weather and on into the autumn and spring too.

Mendip Gazebos provide an elegant and sophisticated addition to your outdoor area, a garden “room” made by hand in solid wood.

Their circular construction can incorporate curved seating for 4–12 (depending on the model) with seat and loose cushions in a choice of colours to suit, with the additional option of a round table. A roof provides shelter from the rain and can be made of either cedar shingles or thatch.

Interchangeable canvas panels with windows can be rolled down to create a comfortable area for dining and relaxing even Their circular construction can when the weather cools incorporate curved seating for 4–12 or the wind gets up. (depending on the model)

Mendip Gazebos

GARDENING

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ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES – MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 73

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Here’s to the 156th show!

THE 155th Royal Bath and West Show once again celebrated the very best of British agriculture, entertainment, food and drink with four days of sights and sounds to suit all tastes and ages.

Hannah Edmonds, from Dorset, was raising money for cancer research with the help of Una

CLA South West director John Mortimer with Alfie Cooper. The organisation is campaigning for improved communications in rural area

Doncombe Mulungu – a British Blonde – enjoys a cuddle from handler Minty Mayhew, of Chippenham during the grand parade of livestock in the main arena Oska Zaky, from Glastonbury, on stage in the Pilton Tent

Ollie and Freddy share a poncho handed out by the Royal British Legion’s Somerset team PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Brian Kemplay, from Mendip Morris

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Isobel Holly, from Bath, on stage in the Pilton Tent

ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW 2018

One of the prizewinning cattle on show in the main arena

Farrier Harry Meek

As far as the eye can see – crowds throng Avenue A

Nadine Bierton, from Essex, on her herb stall

A parade of large and miniature steam vehicles in the BGW Power of the Past parade ring

David Mouland and Emma Collis with Benny, a seven-year-old Canadian Belgian heavy horse, on their way to a parade in the main arena

Cider maker Harry Fry’s single variety bottled cider made from Dabinett apples was crowned supreme champion in the British Cider Championships. Harry and his family are from Long Sutton

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 75

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Wheelchair athlete Jordan Bryant in action during a slalom race

Flower power

Fox and Owl from Bournemouth The Duke of Windsor made its first appearance at the show in 1895

One of the heavy horses PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW 2018

Waiting for the judges

Open cob shoeing

Fairground fun

The Knight family from Portbury with their champion animals

Lottie Hill from Nyland

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 77

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Keeping the past alive – society celebrates 20 years

Some of the society's publications

THIS summer we have been remembering the 1968 floods with some wonderful articles in this magazine, brought to life with photographs and memories of local people. Keeping such events alive not only fascinates readers of all ages but illustrates just how important it is to hear from people who experienced what happened at first hand.

As we travel further back in our local history we may no longer have those voices, making it so vital that our older residents are asked to share their memories and to have those memories recorded. But how to keep those recordings available for future generations – they may not have the devices needed to replay our current CDs or MP3 files.

Already some recordings deposited with the Somerset Heritage Centre can only be listened to at the centre because

PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

they are stored on mini-discs. And what about the audio cassettes and VHS technologies which are fast being superseded?

Local history groups try to keep up with the times by digitising as much of their material as possible but even this will become a problem as software changes.

Remember the floppy disc? One answer is to commit as much as possible to print, time consuming as it is and raising issues of where such texts will be stored.

Our area has many local history groups which not only provide programmes of speakers for their members but carry out research into local topics. The centenary of WW1 has been fertile ground for many groups who have held exhibitions and written leaflets or books.

Research has been hugely aided by the records now available online – military records, census and electoral registers, births, marriages and deaths records – and importantly by talking to relatives of those involved.

In Rickford a small group set out to find out about those who died in the parish of Burrington but soon expanded their research to include all those who served and their families. To create a context the group described the local environment in the early 20th century, the rural economy, including those who went to look for work in the Welsh mines or in Canada, and gathered evidence from parish records, the school register and newspaper archives.

The 1911 census was invaluable, the latest publicly available. When the 1921 census comes on stream it will give a very interesting snapshot of the post-war

changes. The resulting book, supported by a Heritage WW1 Lottery Grant, was WW1 in Burrington Parish.

Unlike Rickford, which set up a group for a single purpose, the nearby villages of Blagdon and Langford have had thriving history groups for many years.

Both have programmes of monthly talks open to members and visitors and both have produced some fascinating books, all still available.

For their first book, Every House Tells a Story, Langford members encouraged local residents to research their own houses and included background about the history of the village and some notable residents. Such was its success that a further book followed, More Stories from Langford.

The group also has a website on which you will find details of their programme, a gallery of photographs including some old and valuable maps, publications and research articles: www.langfordhistory.com Blagdon Local History Society (BLHS) is fortunate to have use of Court Lodge, next to the village shop, giving it a meeting and exhibition room and an archive store with computer. The digital and material archive includes an impressive collection of maps, books, photographs, parish magazines and documents ranging from copies of wills to census and electoral rolls.

Ongoing research keeps the digital archive up to date, all catalogued and cross referenced. Over the last 20 years members have spent many hours transcribing documents such as the handwritten church registers, tithe

Details: email research.bla

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HISTORY

High Street restaurant and lodge

digital archive freely available at htpps:// addicottsarchive.wordpress.com The most recent project has been to discover as much as possible about the history of the houses in Church Street; many residents had deeds dating from the 1760s. Inevitably the research has been much more than about stone and mortar – the people who inhabited the houses have brought the project to life, providing a social history too.

As with so many rural villages, links between families through marriage over many years became very apparent. The project resulted in a digital record, a printed file of summary documents and two very well attended talks to present and past residents. Such projects rarely have an end-date as more information

keeps coming to light.

An exhibition to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Blagdon Local History Society will take place over the weekend September 21st-23rd in Court Lodge showcasing the history of the village. The archive has many photographs like the one shown, newspaper cuttings of notable events, documents and maps, some of which will be on display.

Why not make a note of the date and come and meet us? If you have Blagdon connections we may be able to help you with any questions you have about your family or you may be able to give us information for our archive. All will be made most welcome. All the books mentioned above are priced at £5.

Jacky Kerly

Picture courtesy of the G. Symes collection

documents, old wills and deeds while a Recent History Group concentrated on interviewing residents and transcribing the oral recordings.

In the 1980s the parish magazine published a Memories series written or dictated by residents who had lived in Blagdon all their lives, highlighting the importance of ensuring that memories are not lost when people die.

A Heritage Lottery Grant helped with the production of five volumes of The History of Blagdon. Volume one sold out some time ago but is soon to be reissued with some editing and updating. Volumes two to five are on sale along with a CD of Blagdon Voices and a DVD, Blagdon on Film.

A past resident, Andrew Addicott, was a collector of local photographs and postcards, now owned by the history society. Many have been scanned into a

h.blagdonhistory@gmail.com or telephone 01761 462491

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 79

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Dog show aids charity

Sarah Schranz of Holly Hedge receives the cheque

WESTON Rotary Club president Marian Barber is pictured presenting a cheque for £2,000 to Sarah Schranz, manager of Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary, at Barrow Gurney.

The money was raised at their very successful Fun Dog Day. The next will be held on the Beach Lawns on Saturday, May 11th next year.

Details: www.westonrotaryclub.org.uk and www.facebook.com/westonrotaryclub or telephone secretary George Horsfield 07900 160111

Keeping afloat

Jill’s close shave for charity

JILL Warren, from Sandford, has had her head shaved for the Little Princess Trust charity, raising £1,300.

She had set a target of £1,000 at her charity night at the village’s Railway Inn. Jill said: “Having so many people around me go through the trauma of chemotherapy and emotional pain of losing their hair made me wonder what I could do to help.

The Little Princess Trust charity donates wigs that would normally cost hundreds of pounds to young girls who, at such a young age, must feel incredibly conscious and protective over their hair and appearance.

“My years of caring over my hair are over, and my hope is that it can give a much-needed and deserved confidence boost to a brave little girl or young woman.”

As well as a charity auction and raffle to help raise money, The Railway Inn also made a donation from the ticket sales of a three-course meal hosted in the restaurant for Jill’s friends, family and supporters.

The night was capped off with Jill’s hair being shaved by friend and hairdresser Olivia Paisey. There were cheers of encouragement and rapturous applause from start to finish, as well as a continual beaming smile from Jill.

Dan Townsend, joint manager at The Railway Inn said: “We’re thankful to Jill for allowing us to be a part of her charity evening, and of course grateful to all those who helped towards such a valiant cause.”

Details: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jillianwarren and http://www.littleprincesses.org.uk

Walking for charity WESTON RNLI’s annual lifeboat pull raised £947.50 towards the new lifeboat station needed in the town.

About 40 volunteer crew and fundraisers marched along the seafront behind the D Class lifeboat Anna Stock.

Mike Buckland, lifeboat operations manager, said: “We are a charity who receive no money from the government. We are entirely dependent on the generosity of the general public.

“Once again they showed that they do wish us well as they give us the money we need for our work of saving lives at sea.”

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A RECORD 300-plus people registered for the 2018 Nailsea Charity Walks and Runs which took place on Sunday June 10th, raising more than £22,000 for local good causes.

This is the seventh year of the walks and they have grown in popularity progressively over that time.

The event is organised by Rotary, Nailsea and Backwell whose spokesman, Graham Hunt, said: “We have had some great feedback telling us how much people have enjoyed each of the routes and clearly the weather helped to make it even more enjoyable.”

Ali Groves, from Young Carers Development Trust, said: “I want to thank the Rotary team for all the hard work that went into the organisation of Sunday’s walk. We were so happy to be a part of it and it went smoothly for all our participants!”

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A rocking good time in memory of Lucia

A DAY of live music in Westfield has helped to raise several thousands of pounds in memory of a teenager who lost her life to cancer.

Lucia Robinson, from Hemington, set up Go Blue before her death to support children and their families affected by the disease. Blue was Lucia’s favourite colour.

Railway Rocks – the fourth event of its kind – was held at the Railway Inn with a Star Wars theme. The day, featuring local bands, raised more than £1,000 whilst a number of regulars at the pub also took part in a sponsored skydive, raising a further £2,600.

Joanne Cullen, one of the organisers of the music event, said: “We are always

Page 81

Stun Seymour, lead singer of The One Tones

supported so well by local businesses who donate raffle prizes and the local people who come along.

“Lucia left a wish list before she passed

Some of Lucia’s family who attended the fundraiser

Luckington Carnival Club ran the barbecue

CHARITIES

of ideas of how any money raised in her name could be spent on her charities and this money will help tick a few things off that list.”

May the force be with you

The One Tones after their ska set outside the pub

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 81

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No bean feat!

A DAY spent in a bath full of baked beans – with some soup thrown in for good measure – has helped two work colleagues and friends achieve their fundraising target for two local charities.

Jill Cox and Emma Holcombe have raised more than £8,200 for Time is Precious, based in Coleford, and the Forever Friends Appeal for the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

The pair, who work at Mulberry in Chilcompton, took to the bath outside ASDA in Frome. Customers were invited to donate £2 a time to pour soup onto their heads.

Jill and Emma are now training for a trip to the summit of Kilimanjaro in August as part of the fundraising appeal.

The event at ASDA raised more than £460. The food was not

Emma and Jill with Louise Coate, from Time is Precious (left), with the Forever Friends Appeal mascot and Laura Rankin from the appeal

Brave faces: Emma (left) and Jill

wasted – it was sent to a pig farm as feed.

Emma said: “It took a couple of showers to clean off the food, but the smell did linger in my nostrils.”

To support the pair, visit: www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/MulberryKilimanjaro

Skittles in aid of dementia research

Not-so-serious skittling in aid of RICE

A FRIENDLY skittles tournament along with a BBQ and live music has raised £600 for the internationally-recognised Research Institute for the Care of Older People in Bath.

RICE in a leading dementia research and treatment centre, working with sufferers and their families in the area. The weekend fundraiser was held at the Tucker’s Grave Inn at Faulkland and was organised by the team at Midsomer Norton’s Sparkling Solutions for staff, friends and family.

PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Putting children first

MEMBERS of Frome Inner Wheel have donated £500 to a family centre in the town run by the Mothers Union of Frome which enables Club president Yvonne Colvill (right) presents a cheque to Mother’s Union representative Jenny young Alderton people from separated families to spend time with their parents and other relatives.

The money was raised through a pop-up shop in Frome run

by Frome Rotary which Inner Wheel members staff every Monday.

Club spokeswoman Sue Ruddick said the contact centre was “a safe and friendly mutual place where children of separated families can spend time with one or both parents or family members. This is a child-centred environment that puts the needs of children first."

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Hundreds hit the hills for hospice’s Mendip Challenge NEARLY 900 people trekked the Mendips in blazing sunshine to help raise money for Weston Hospicecare.

The charity’s 29th annual Mendip Challenge fundraiser saw 873 people walk or run routes of ten, 20 or 30 miles along the West Mendip Way, which runs from Wells to Uphill and takes in some of Somerset’s most picturesque countryside.

Scorching temperatures made this year’s event an even tougher challenge than usual, but virtually all walkers – aged from three to 79 – successfully made it to the end of their chosen distance.

Participants have since heaped praise on an event they described as “amazing”, “wonderful” and “incredible”.

Fundraising totals are not yet known, but with participant numbers more than 100 up on 2017, it is hoped that the money raised could exceed last year’s total of £56,056.

Event organiser, Kelsey Dehaney, said: “This year’s Mendip Challenge was a huge success, and we were bowled over by the amount of people who signed up to take part.

“Completing the event really was an impressive feat this year, with temperatures hitting 26 degrees on parts of the course, and it means so much to everyone at Weston Hospicecare to see walkers making such an immense effort

on our behalf.

“We’re enormously grateful to everyone who took part, and of course everyone who sponsored them too –

Siobhan’s date with royalty

The royal invitation

SIOBHAN Coles, from Pensford, was a special guest at Prince Charles’ 70th birthday celebrations, which were also attended by other members of the royal family.

She was invited in recognition of her voluntary work and youth involvement at the Children's Hospital in Bristol and raising awareness of Cystic Fibrosis (CF), from which she suffers.

She said: “I was chosen as a young person volunteer from Above and Beyond, the Bristol Royal Infirmary charity. I am also a young governor for NHS Trust Bristol

CHARITIES

every penny really is appreciated.”

Next year’s Mendip Challenge – in Weston Hospicecare’s 30th anniversary year – is set to take place on June 2nd.

Siobhan is pictured second right with other guests

and have also been involved in campaigning for the fight for Orkambi, which is a precision drug which has been denied on the NHS because of its cost.”

Just two or three weeks prior to the royal event she was on oxygen in Bristol Children’s Hospital and receiving emergency intensive physiotherapy after becoming ill and being unable to breathe.

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 83

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Charities support Inner Wheel Trudy Jupp, who is one of the trustees of the Akamba Aid Fund

A NUMBER of charities have agreed to consider supporting Inner Wheel in distributing sanitary wear to women and girls in Africa.

District 20 Inner Wheel clubs met at Edgar Hall in Somerton, with international chair, Shamim Govani, being the guest of honour. She joined 114 ladies from the district to hear from three local charities and a possible supplier, about the programme.

Pam Brewster from Frome Inner Wheel Cub, who is the international service organiser said: “Mission 20:20 Restoring Dignity developed from an idea when the executive committee travelled back from the Leicester assembly in July 2017.

“It was considered that as a women’s organisation we should do more to help women and girls. Out of that conversation and many hours of work later, writing papers and putting proposals to the charities, the idea of providing sustainable sanitary wear is becoming a reality.”

Three local charities have offered to help with distribution and were at the meeting: Akambas Aid, represented by Trudy Jupp; School in A Bag, represented by Lis Foy; and Water Survival Boxes, represented by Tony Quinn.

Kathryn and David Crosweller, from the charity Women and Girls, talked about Saafkins, which are reusable sanitary products.

Kate Crosweller from Women and Girls

Tony Quinn from Water Survival Boxes and Frome Inner Wheel club member Pam Brewster

Pam Brewster said: “I never thought when taking on the role of international chair for District 20 that I would be so involved but also having so much fun trying restore dignity to other ladies!”

Rowers’ success

A TEAM of 678 volunteer rowers in Frome hope to have set a new Guinness world record for covering the greatest distance in 24 hours on a static rowing machine.

Organisers Rachel Clark and her brothers Daniel and Matthew also succeeded in raising more than £7,000 for local charitable causes during the record attempt.

Rowers aged between 16 and 73 took their turns, each covering 500 metres.

Avon and Somerset chief constable Andy Marsh (pictured) was one of those who took part.

PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Manager wanted

THE charity, Cards for Good Causes, is looking for a manager to run its Christmas card shop in St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells.

The pop-up shop will run from midOctober to mid-December selling cards for both national and local charities.

No previous retail experience is necessary, the role can have flexible hours and could be shared by two people.

Training is provided and a modest remuneration is paid at the end of the season.

Details: Jasmine Dyer, area manager jasmine.dyer@cfgc.org.uk 07834838377

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Frome fashion show raises money for charity

New charity group

CHARITIES

THE charity Contact the Elderly is looking to set up a group in the Chew Valley. It hosts monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for elderly local residents who are isolated and can’t get out to meet people.

Organiser Lisa Townsend is looking for potential guests, volunteer hosts and drivers for the group. The parties will be held on the fourth Sunday of the month, from 3-5pm, but dates and timings are flexible.

Guests should be over 75 and have no independent means of getting out.

Details: Lisa Townsend 07980362223 lisaanneparker@hotmail.com

Inner Wheel celebrates 40th

FOLLOWING the first ever Frome College student-led fundraising fashion show, the college has presented the charities MIND South Somerset, and We Hear You, with cheques totalling £456.15.

Principal, Emma Reynolds is pictured with David Fields from MIND, and Gemma Wilkes from WHY, together with two of the students who organised the event, Tiffany Lee and Bethany Woodham.

Charity concert with music in mind

TWO new performers have been confirmed for Music for the Mind, a charity concert in aid of mental health charities in Bristol, Bath and south Somerset.

Essex-based singer-songwriter Georgia Box will be one of the soloists at the concert, which takes place on September 15th at Cedars Hall in Wells.

Georgia is a 22-year-old pop and R&B singer who gained a large global audience by posting her music on social media.

Georgia will be backed by the Bath-based Vocal Works Gospel Choir, who will be performing throughout the concert.

Hosting the evening’s entertainment will be broadcaster Richard Wyatt, a former presenter on both BBC Radio Bristol and HTV. Richard served as compère at the previous Music for the Mind concert in 2008.

He said: “We’re all different and not everybody copes equally well with the stresses and strains of life. Mental health issues can affect anybody in any situation and in any family.

“In many ways, there are now more people adrift in modern society – people who need someone to put their arms around them and give them practical help.”

Funds raised by the concert will benefit the local region, where branches of Mind are involved in practical help.

Details: Cedars Hall Box Office 01749 834483

WRINGTON Vale Inner Wheel Club Celebrated its 40th Anniversary at Cameley Lodge, with four founder members, the district chairman and husbands in attendance.

The club has 40 members and over the years has raised money for numerous local and International charities. The club also helps Rotary with catering.

One weekend each year they cater for young carers from the Weston area whilst Rotary entertain them to give the children a great time.

District chairman, Lynne Evans, and founder member Pam Small azre pictured cutting the cake.

Charity donations

WRINGTON Vale Inner Wheel Club has made two donations to charity. Retiring president Tina Forsey presented a cheque for £1,500 to Springboard, a local charity supporting young children with disabilities and their families.

Another cheque for £200 was presented to Garry Carr for the Shiva Project in Nepal to buy computers for teaching children there.

Garry’s wife Pauline Carr is the club’s new president.

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 85

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Ubley Village Fete

EVENTS

Congresbury Brass Band played throughout the afternoon

Bea, aged three, managed to hook a duck

Jan Gibbs and Liz Holt on the raffle stand

Children enjoying the bouncy castle

Edward Owen, Ian Harvey and Christian Crawfurd manning a very hot barbecue PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Chairman of the fête organising committee, Steve Blanchard, presenting a bouquet to Dr Christie Peacock, thanking her for the use of her gardens for another year

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PROPERTY

Making houses into homes

Lisa on site at one of the company’s latest developments

HERE’S something unusual – property developers who not only believe fundamentally in creating inclusive “neighbourhoods”, but who actually live in a house on one of their small-scale, select developments.

But Glen and Lisa, who own Graham Building and Developments, are nothing if not true to their beliefs that a house is more than just bricks and mortar.

The couple live in Meare where, on Saturday, June 30th, they will unveil the showhome for their latest development just a short walk from their own house.

The Pastures features eight properties – ranging from two to four bedrooms – each with its own distinctive interior. Children from the village primary school were invited to design one of the bedrooms of the showhome. The winning pupil will not only cut the ribbon to reveal their bedroom design, but see their entry brought to life.

Similar, low-density, high-quality developments are available at West Pennard and will shortly come on stream at Wookey and Somerton.

Glen has around 30 years of experience in the industry as a building and renovations contractor before he and Lisa began the property development side of the business.

Lisa, who has a background in finance, said: “We pride ourselves on making houses into homes.

“We want to create inclusive neighbourhoods and take a personal interest in providing the best home for potential buyers.”

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Pebbledash coated with pro-flex ultimate colour Waterlily

Front of completed bungalows

Mobile: 07774 816990 e-Mail: info@everlastingcoatings.co.uk www.everlastingcoatings.co.uk Address: Towerhead, 13 Towerhead Road, Banwell, North Somerset

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 87

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Promoting a lifelong love of learning

FAIRFIELD is a small school where everyone knows everyone and the school strives to create a family atmosphere in which everyone feels valued and appreciated.

At the heart of everything is the strength of the relationship between child, family and school.

Fairfield’s philosophy is based on one overarching question: what is in the best interests of their children? The Fairfield team plans a stimulating and vibrant creative curriculum to encourage children to develop a lifelong love of learning.

At Fairfield, the children are fortunate enough to enjoy the benefit of being taught by an outstanding team of teachers who put the children at ease, nurture and encourage them, as well as developing their self-belief.

The school specialises in the field of primary education for children aged two-11. It has an excellent reputation

within the North Somerset and Bristol areas, sending the children at age 11, with many of them in receipt of scholarship awards, to all of the Bristol independent senior schools and to the local maintained sector senior schools.

Fairfield’s nursery classes are an integral part of the school and provide a

significant number of their intake for the reception class.

Upper nursery children also benefit from access to all of the facilities on the school site and they receive specialist music and sport teaching.

There are limited vacancies throughout the school for September 2018.

For further information, or to book an individual tour of the school, contact secretary@fairfieldschool.org.uk call 01275 462743 or visit the school’s website www.fairfield.school

PAGE 88 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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EDUCATION

Like and share the Sports Academy on all 3 of the below to win some branded Under Armour stash!

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 89

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Summer fete helps school funds

STANTON Drew primary school’s summer fete raised £725 for the school’s friends for new equipment. Pictured (l to r) are teacher Zoe Abbotts, Marie Stevens, Lin Broadrick and deputy head Andy Marriott on the tombola stall.

EDUCATION

All Hallows clay pigeon team wins national competition

ALL Hallows school performed exceptionally well at the recent IAPS National Clay Pigeon Shooting competition which was held at the West London Shooting School. The U-12 team won their group and the U-13 team came sixth; for many of the team this was their first year of competing.

At All Hallows school an Enrichment Programme runs every Saturday for years six-eight. This is a voluntary scheme and the vast majority of pupils choose to participate in one of the many activities on offer from drama, bushcraft, photography, animation, Exmoor challenge, nutrition, leadership and clay pigeon shooting.

Clay pigeon is fast becoming one of their most popular clubs for both boys and girls. The children train at the Mendip Shooting ground and are really relishing learning a completely new sport.

School head, Dr Trevor Richards, commented: “This is an excellent result from our team, who have shown great skill and enthusiasm for clay pigeon shooting. We are delighted we can offer our pupils the opportunity to take up different sports and hobbies as part of our Saturday morning programme.”

Award winners

PAGE 90 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

THREE students at Frome College, Ben Manning, Dan Weston and Rebecca Marshall, received their Duke of Edinburgh gold awards at Buckingham Palace, meeting the Duke of Cambridge in the process.

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EVENTS

Bikers raise funds for air ambulance WELLS Classic Motorcycle Club’s eighth Tortoise and Hare run attracted over 160 entries from various parts of the country from as far afield as Yorkshire, Surrey, South Coast, Isle of Wight, Wales and Devon.

It also attracted a large crowd to admire the wide range of machines on display. The mayor flagged off the various run groups, assisted by the town crier, onto their various routes, stopping for coffee and biscuits at Castle Cary RFC, before returning to Wells Football Club for lunch.

In the afternoon they followed more scenic routes across the Mendips and Levels before returning to Wells for tea and cakes.

The event raises money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Next year’s event is on June 2nd.

Mayor of Wells Celia Wride sends the riders of on their way

Wells Town Crier Len Sweales lives the dream

Details: www.wellsclassicmotorcycleclub.co.uk

Taking pride in their baking

THE third annual Pride Festival was held in Midsomer Norton's Town Hall, featuring a cake bake competition with a unicorn theme, followed in the evening by a drag night of cabaret and live musical entertainment. Money raised will be donated to the Russian LGBT network.

Tilly Walters with her unicorn themed cake

Drag queens Donna Trump and Meth with the mayor of Midsomer Norton Paul Myers, sponsor Marjorie Taylor of FDC Law and organiser Nik Jovic Sas

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Can music save your life?

DOES performing life support to music improve the chances of survival?

And would coming round to “Another One Bites the Dust” put you at risk of going back into

By Dr PHIL fibrillation?

HAMMOND We may have half the answers thanks to a study of 164 medical students asked to perform continuous chest compressions on a dummy for two minutes.

The target compression speed of 100-120 beats per minute was hit significantly more often with students using a metronome App (91%) or doing it to the Macarena (74%) than the control group (24%). The Macarena group got up to speed most quickly.

The music was not played aloud, but remembered inside the heads of students who first had to prove they knew it. A few even knew it was a nineties global dance sensation for Spanish silver foxes Los del Rio, but this was not critical for survival.

Previous research has shown Staying Alive by the Bee Gees also keeps you in the compression groove. I was trained in Bath, that hot-bed of Radio 4, where the referred rib-cracking accompaniment was the theme from the Archers.

However, I found it was very hard to keep it in my head and had a habit of humming it out loud, which didn’t always go down well with any on-looking relatives.

Given that The Archers has become a hotbed of international crime and carnage, how long before an errant Grundy falls off a slippery roof at Brookfield Farm whilst trying to retrieve a stash of cocaine hidden in the weather vane, only to be resuscitated to the theme tune?

Resuscitation is stressful, and I’m all for making it both more fun and successful.

However, to think clearly under pressure you need to focus on your own safety first, make a quick assessment of urgency, call for help and focus on Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability and Exposure (ABCDE).

We should all be trained, and retrained, in these basics. Spanish disco delights are just the icing on the community defibrillator. By the way, do you know where your nearest one is, how to access it and how to use it?

Dr Phil’s new show Happy Birthday NHS? is at Arnos Vale cemetery on July 12th. Details www.drphilhammond.com

PAGE 92 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Plop the Raindrop

LAST month you may remember I had been in Scotland. I’ve been round the world a couple of times since then.

I’ve also had a tour inside an elephant and dropped in on the football world cup in Russia. That was really boring. What’s the point of chasing a bag of air around a field?

We water droplets have much better games.

I was minding my own business in a watering hole in Africa when I got drunk by an elephant. We do get drunk from time to time, as you may recall.

I remember a whooshing sound as I got sucked into his trunk and then seeing a tongue the size of a paddling pool as I was sprayed into his mouth.

Then it was down into the smelly, gurgling depths, full of green gunge and massive gooey lumps of grasses and leaves. Imagine living on a diet of broccoli and spinach. I expect you love those don’t you?

Eventually the elephant decided to have a pee the size of a stream, which let me escape. It ran into a small pond, where I then got drunk by a swallow which was heading for Spain. Drunk again!

As it flew over the airport, the Spanish football team were boarding a plane to Russia. The swallow pooed on one of them and that’s how I got a lift to the world cup.

Obviously I didn’t stay long. I used my power of evaporation to escape into a cloud.

Unfortunately I then got stuck on a rocket passing through it and ended up on the Russian space station.

The views up there were pretty epic. Earth is so beautiful. You people should take more care of it. But the cosmonauts just spent all day watching the football on their television, which drove me mad.

So I hopped on the next flight back to earth, after spinning round it for a while. Once back in earth’s atmosphere I jumped into a cloud, just passing over another silly football match.

Fortunately we were soon far away, bouncing over mountains and tipping rain on everyone’s barbecues.

Now that’s a really good game!

Mendip Grandad

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H HEALTH EALTH & &F FAMILY AMILY

COURT HOUSE A beautiful Georgian Retirement Home set in the lovely village of Cheddar, Somerset.

You can live your life to the full and choice is our favourite word

The Manager – Chris Dando 01934 742131 chriscourthouse@gmail.com Court House Retirement Home, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RA MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 93

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SUMMER LOVIN? TELL ME MORE THIS JULY Caroline Crowther is a truly local personal introduction agency helping you meet someone new in your area. We offer a long term personal service until you find your perfect match.

HEALTH & FAMILY

Orchids on show

For a professional and personal service call 0800 180 4788 or 01934 744788

THE orchid project at Greenhill House in Timsbury recently won a bronze medal at the RHS Orchid Show and Plant Fair in Westminster, London.

The specialist orchids will be on sale at a community summer garden party at the home, which is run by disability charity Leonard Cheshire, on Saturday, June 30th, 2pm-4pm.

All are welcome to go along and enjoy a BBQ, tea and cake in the home’s beautiful garden. As well as orchids for sale, there will be a raffle, various crafts stalls, and educational treats including a beekeeper showcasing his hive.

The care home began an orchid project in July 2017, concentrating on growing tropical varieties. They use specialist polytunnels to grow the orchids in a hot, humid environment, reflective of their natural habitat.

Jane Harding and Debbie Hicks, residents of Greenhill House, said: “We really enjoy the hands-on practical activity with orchid growing – everyone here can get involved in whatever way we want.”

• Headed by an experienced Home Manager with a dedicated Care Team • We offer permanent and respite nursing and residential care, set within picturesque surroundings and beautiful gardens • Daily activities program including movement and art-work • Home cooked meals, desserts and cakes – special dietary requirements catered for • For further information or viewing please call us on 01761 241626 or email admin@clarehallnursinghome.co.uk PAGE 94 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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Royal sheep show

BUTCOMBE farmer and livestock exhibitor Brenda Wear had a job at the Royal Cornwall Show in June “By Royal Appointment”.

Brenda was approached earlier in the year and asked if she would select a team of the Prince of Wales’ sheep to prepare and show as a part of his 70th birthday celebrations this year.

A group of his Cotswold and Shropshire sheep were duly selected and transported to North Somerset for show treatment. The effort paid off with a selection of Reserve Champion, first, second and third rosettes being sent home to HRH with his sheep.

As well as competing, Brenda’s team of sheep participated in a Countryside Celebration Parade reflecting the Prince’s interest in all things rural. Helping lead the seven sheep around the ring were a group of Duchy tenants and her Priddy based nephew Kyle Wear.

Commenting after the event, Brenda said all the effort was made worthwhile with the results achieved – and she was lucky enough to have a nice conversation with Prince Charles.

Party time for Percy the Braveheart star

NEWS

T

Owner Caroline Taylor

Doctors retire

ABOUT 160 people attended a farewell party for long-serving Winscombe doctors John and Kathy Ruddell, who have served the Winscombe and Banwell community for a total of 65 years.

Many wanted to thank them for their hard work. Dr John explained that they met at university over a Star Wars poster.

The gathering signed a community card with collage images, a page of thoughts about what doctors do when they retire from Banwell Primary school reception and hand prints from Banwell Buddies.

One of the organisers said: “We wish them a happy and fulfilling retirement and a great time together being in their garden and with their friends and family.”

FRIENDS and neighbours gathered at a stable yard in Binegar to celebrate the 30th birthday of one of the most famous horses on Mendip.

Percy, equine patron of the Veteran Horse Society, is best known for appearing in the Hollywood blockbuster Braveheart.

And a birthday treat for the gentle giant - a Hanoverian x Thoroughbred standing at 16.3hh? A cake made up of a doughnut and biscuits!

Wellwishers outside Percy’s stable

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CAVING

Great Flood’s effect on Mendip’s caves

THE first part of July in 1968 was marked by a heatwave, the likes of which we seem to experience very seldom these days. That was to end on the evening of July 10th, when a series of severe thunderstorms, which had been seen to be coming our way, broke over Mendip.

With PHILIP The greatest rainfall occurred between HENDY Cheddar and the Chew Valley and the ensuing floods affected much of the area, reaching as far as the outskirts of Bristol.

Over the past few issues, readers of Mendip Times have been recounting their experiences of the floods, often with tales of endurance, fortitude and heroism. Lives were lost and homes devastated.

The way that the floodwater affected Mendip caves is small beer by comparison, but changes occurred both above and below ground that can be seen today – and some changes are still taking place. The worst affected cave was Swildon’s Hole, where the water reached the roof in most of the passages.

Although a party had been down the cave in the early evening, luckily they had made their exit before the rain started to fall. The first explorers after the water levels fell were amazed at what they found – they could hardly believe that they were in the same cave.

Mown grass awaiting baling had been washed into the cave and was draped in the roof, earning the name ‘haylictites’. The biggest change was to the upper streamway, where the famous Forty Foot Pot had been replaced by a narrow rift ending in a three-metre drop.

Large pieces of broken rock and stalagmite littered the passage beyond and the floor of the streamway back up to the entrance became unstable. Over the years many changes have taken place here and the first few metres inside the entrance are completely different.

Beyond the Forty, the Double Pots, normally only about a metre deep, had doubled in depth. Sump One, a flat-out crawl under water, became walk-through, although still submerged, and the two Ducks in Swildon’s Two became deeper and in one case sumped.

Cheddar Gorge, Horseshoe Bend

Carbide lamp Swildon’s Hole. Hay on roof in Water Chamber

Ultimately, the loss of the Forty was seen as a good thing, as previously it had been the frequent cause of rescues due to tiredness and the force of falling water. It was now easier to get to the farther reaches of the cave, which aided further exploration.

Some other caves suffered from blockages in various parts due to mud and rocks being washed in and a few entrances became unstable. The iconic photographs of Gough’s Cave entrance surrounded by water are well known.

The flood there first occurred when the causeway at Blackmoor, Charterhouse, collapsed after the weight of water backed up behind it proved too much. A large flood pulse tore down Velvet Bottom and into the Gorge, ripping up Tarmac and washing away several metres of the floor. Some of the water entered Gough’s Cave; the rest continued on into the village.

Later, the water engulfed by the swallets at Charterhouse emerged from the subterranean River Yeo deep inside the cave, adding to the flood.

Elsewhere on the surface, the Twin Brook Valleys at Burrington took an increased flow of water, scouring out the stream beds and depositing the debris in the Combe. The rainwater also caused several depressions on the top of Mendip to collapse. Some were quickly filled by farmers, but others were earmarked by cavers as potential dig sites.

Often over the years, they have been vindicated. A 20-metre shaft at Manor Farm, Charterhouse, opened up with a choked rift at the bottom. This was close to an ongoing dig, which spurred the diggers on to discover Manor Farm Swallet, a sporting and well decorated cave.

Collapses in the Blackmoor Valley have been dug to reveal Waterwheel Swallet, used by miners to dispose of lead tailings, and Grebe Swallet, a lead mine leading into natural cave. This still had lumps of galena and artefacts left by the 18th century miners.

The best find in the valley was made by the Mendip Caving Group. Upper Flood Swallet was dug for many years, until in 2006 a long crawl in loose rock was passed, to enter a long and superbly decorated cave. This has since been extended further – 38 years of effort finally paid off!

Although the effects of climate change are hard to predict, many experts believe that it will bring more extremes of weather, which will inevitably involve powerful storms. It is to be hoped that the unusual circumstances which led to the storms and floods of 1968 will not occur again – but who knows?

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 96 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

(Photograph by Phil Hendy)

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MOTORING

Morgans on the Mendips

For servicing, repairs and sales of all makes of caravans and motorhomes

Bailey approved body shop and workshop

An impressive display of the iconic cars at Emborough

OWNERS of Morgan sports cars took to the roads around Mendip for a summer tour which included a visit to Shepton Mallet prison!

Members of the Mendip and Wessex branches of the Morgan Sports Car Club joined forces for the day which saw around 20 of the iconic vehicles being allowed inside the prison walls. The day – called the Mendip Tinney – ended at the tea rooms in Cole, near Bruton.

UBLEY MOTOR SERVICES MG ROVER & LAND ROVER SPECIALIST

Sales – Service – Parts – Repairs ALL MAKES SERVICING – VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS, AIR CONDITIONING, MECHANICAL & BODY REPAIRS Collection/Loan Car by arrangement

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ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRE QUALITY USED CARS BREAKDOWN & RECOVERY SERVICE Your peace of mind is our priority

CLEEVE HILL, UBLEY BS40 6PG Telephone: 01761 462275 (24hrs) www.ubleymotors.co.uk

● Caravan Servicing ● Annual Habitation Checks ● Alu-Tech Bailey Approved Repairers ● Warranty Maintained ● Damp Repairs ● Accident Repairs ● Insurance Repairs ● Accessory Fitting

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Marchants Hill, Gurney Slade BA3 4TY Call: 01749 841051 Mob: 07778 465520 Email: sales@caravanrepairs-sw.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 97

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Caring for carers

IF you are a carer for somebody in an unpaid capacity you can access free support and advice from the Somerset Carers Service.

It has carers’ agents in each district across Somerset, as well as a dedicated advice line, text service, online “live chat” and online carers’ forum.

The service is working in partnership with the Somerset Partnership NHS Mental Health Carers Service and Spark and Engage, who support the service by finding volunteers.

Carers Karen, Cherry and Ann are pictured at Hannah Moore Cottage, Cheddar during National Carers Week.

Page 98

Westminster visit

SOME 50 members of the Women’s Institute from across Somerset visited Westminster for a tour of parliament and to catch up with the county’s MPs. The visit was co-ordinated by Wells MP James Heappey, with fellow MPs David Warburton, Marcus Fysh and Rebecca Pow joining the group for a brief break from the Brexit battle.

Repair Café a total success

Gone fishing

ORGANISERS of a repair cafe in Frome say 100% of the items brought in were successfully fixed at the June meeting. Run by SHARE and Edventure in partnership with Frome Town Council, the monthly repair sessions are growing in popularity. Items fixed ranged from bikes to electrical items to clothes and furniture.

Aliss Vaas, SHARE co-ordinator, said: “The room was buzzing and it was fantastic to see so many people working together to fix things that would otherwise be thrown away. A massive thanks to all the repairers and everyone who came.”

Repairs included fixing IT issues for the first time and several people had help sorting out their computer and tablet issues. Other items fixed included: a hedge trimmer, a dementia clock, a coffee grinder, a favourite cardigan, a Hoover, toys, bikes and lots of guitar leads. ● The next repair café will take place on Sunday, July 8th from 35pm at the Welshmill Hub on Park Hill Drive. For more information visit: www.sharefrome.org

THESE members of a disabled angling club at Greenhill House, the Leonard Cheshire Home, in Timsbury, are delighted with a new storage shed donated by a local construction company.

The club currently has 19 members, all adult wheelchair users, and is led by Keith Pope, a Sport England Level 2 angling coach.

They fish at various sites in the Mendips, including Tucking Mill at Midford, Hunstrete Lake and Withy Pool, owned by Bathampton Angling Association.

One of the members, Jackie Holt, said: “Fishing is calming and relaxing.” Another, Jane Harding, said: “It's great to be outside having fun catching fish.”

The home is looking for more volunteers to go fishing with them.

The repair café underway in Frome

PAGE 98 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Details: ann.birtwhistle@leonardcheshire.org

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More than just books . . .

Abi and Richard Young were joined by Richard’s mother Carolyn on the harp for a reading of Peter Rabbit with musical accompaniment

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep Shepton Mallet’s library in the town centre organised a day of family fun to try to persuade Somerset County Council to keep it open.

Love your Library featured readings by local authors and storytellers for children and workshops for adults. It was organised by the Friends of Shepton Mallet Library.

Somerset County Council is consulting on whether to move the library to the Shape Mendip Hub, move it elsewhere and run it with volunteers or to set up an outreach service.

Keeping the library in

the Market Square is not an option.

Consultation on the future of Shepton Mallet and other libraries in Somerset closed on Wednesday, June 13th. A final decision on the library service is expected later this year.

Youngsters were inspired by a storytelling session to draw pictures

Author Kathryn White, from Wells, with her latest children’s book

. . . as Norton’s new library opens

COMMUNITY

Robert Phillips hidden by his protest placard as council chair Karen Walker cuts the ribbon. B&NES later staged another ceremony inside

A LONE protestor greeted guests at the opening of the combined One Stop Shop and library in Midsomer Norton.

Robert Phillips was angry over the closure of the existing library in the High Street and the decision to move the service to The Hollies as part of a £350,000 investment programme.

Bath and North East Somerset Council says the aim is to put learning, advice and information as well as council and partner services together and create the opportunity for people to study, discover, access information, make use of IT or hold community events for everyone’s benefit.

Councillor Karen Warrington (Conservative Clutton), cabinet member for Transformation and Customer Services, said: “Now Midsomer Norton Library and Information Service is a really bright and well-resourced community space which everyone can benefit from. We listened to what people asked for and have invested in the building and the services giving it a sustainable long-term future.”

Consultation over the future of Paulton’s library is still underway whilst there are plans to move the library in Radstock to a proposed new health park in Bookstart Bear with a pupil from the town.

Midsomer Norton primary school

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School celebrates 300 years

THIS year marks the 300th anniversary of Chew Stoke Church School. The school first opened its doors in April, 1718, with John Holway as the head teacher on a salary of £10 + £1 for coal.

The school has always been central to the life of the village and has many celebrations in the diary to mark this historic event.

Next term the children will be taking part in a competition to decide what should go in a time capsule to represent the school in 2018. The winning entries will then be buried in the school grounds.

On Sunday, July 8th Bishop Ruth Worsley will be leading a service at St Andrew’s Church in Chew Stoke at 3pm. This will be followed by tea and cakes back at the school. This event will be open to villagers and parishioners if they would like to join them.

Starting on July 9th, pupils and staff will be holding a learning theme week to celebrate the 300th anniversary and the history of the school. This will include a birthday tea-party on Friday, July 13th, when they invite the local community, past and present families to an evening celebration/barbecue at the school, 6-9pm, run by the PTA. There will also be a display that evening of the children’s work and lots of old photos and information about the school to look at. Entertainment will be supplied by the children’s entertainer Nutty Noah.

If you do have any old photos of the school or any information that would add to their celebrations they would love to have copies.

Details: office@chewstokeacademy.org PAGE 100 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Club turns back the clock

Inner Wheel past and present members enjoyed the fantastic gardens of Stoberry House when they attended the club’s 70th charter year celebrations

HATS and gloves as worn in 1948 was the order the day when the Inner Wheel Club of Wells celebrated its 70th charter year with a celebratory afternoon tea at Stoberry House, Wells.

Some past members joined in the celebrations and were treated to reminiscences by former president Pat Robinson.

Current joint president Margaret brought everyone up to date with events through the decades from 1948 to the present day.

Lynne Evans, the Inner Wheel District 20 chairman, proposed the toast.

Scout badge revived

BRISTOL Channel Sea Scouts walked the North Somerset Coast path, Portishead to Clevedon, reviving the 1914 scout badge, Coast Watchman, to commemorate the scouts who served in WW1 in the place of coastguards who had joined the forces.

The walk ended with a service of remembrance – and the award of badges – on Clevedon Pier.

Church plans update

THE latest proposals for renovations and improvements at St John’s Church in Glastonbury will be unveiled at an open day on Saturday, July 7th.

Architects and heritage consultants will be available to answer any questions about how the proposed work will open up the church to more community use.

The project is called Securing the Future and includes essential repairs to the floor of the nave, installing modern, glazed porches at the south and west entrances as well as flexible, multi-function lighting and audio-visual facilities and modernising the servery.

Responses from the open day will help the church finalise its bid for £465,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

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RAF centenary

THE Mid-Somerset branch of the Royal Air Forces Association has been holding a series of events celebrating the 100th anniversary of the RAF, formed under Taunton-born Major General Hugh Trenchard.

A Token, a large Field Marshal’s baton containing a pull-up banner highlighting the role of Major-General Trenchard, was greeted in the Mid-Somerset area on June 1st at a ceremony in front of the Harry Patch Memorial on the Wells Cathedral lawns.

Then the Token was present throughout a commemoration walk led by the branch president from the Cenotaph in Shepton Mallet, via a convivial stop at The George at Croscombe, to the Harry Patch Memorial in Wells.

The Token was also the focus of the annual branch lunch held at Wells Golf Club before members took it on a visit to the Bristol Aerospace Museum at Filton.

Finally on Saturday, June 9th the Token joined RAF air cadets of 1182 (Shepton Mallet) Sqn at the Collett Park Day at Shepton Mallet.

Details: https://www.rafa.org.uk/mid-somerset/ or contact rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com

Great Flood exhibition

Triple celebration

COMMUNITY

A SPECIAL barbecue was held for Royal Voluntary Service volunteers from Wells, Shepton Mallet, Street, Frome and Glastonbury to mark Volunteers’ Week, the Royal Voluntary Service’s 80th anniversary, and Nikki Copleston’s fifth year of volunteering for the organisation.

The event was an opportunity for volunteers to get together and share their experiences of volunteering for the service and the home library service and for organisers to be able to say a huge “thank you” to them for giving up there time and supporting people in their local communities.

Nikki was presented with her badge by Kirsty Jenssen, service manager for the home library service. Nikki has been volunteering since retiring to Wells some five years ago. She supports a new number of housebound clients who can no longer get to the library but still have a passion and enjoy reading books.

She will choose and deliver the books and often stay for a cup of tea and a chat. The home library service is available free of charge to anybody who cannot easily get to their local library.

Royal Voluntary Service volunteers deliver books and talking books from their local library on a regular basis, providing reading materials as well as a regular visit.

Details: 07920 250834 or email kirsty.jenssen@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

Marines support RNLI SUNDAY teas have now resumed at St Mary’s Church, Compton Dando, 2pm-5pm, and will continue until bank holiday Monday, August 27th.

In June the church held an exhibition on the suffragettes, marking the 100th anniversary of women getting the vote. In July they will have memories of the Chew Valley floods 50 years ago.

Chris Dibble, Maureen Collings and Ann Bibbings are pictured enjoying their tea.

THE Royal Marine Band from HMS Raleigh has agreed to perform at a concert to help raise funds for a new lifeboat station in Weston-super-Mare.

The station, the oldest and busiest on the Somerset coast, has been in temporary accommodation for five years now. The crew are operating from a rusty group of shipping containers and still need to raise significant funds towards a new home.

The Royal Marines will perform at the Playhouse in Weston on Sunday, September 23rd at 2.30pm.

Details: 01934 645544 or online at the www.playhouse.co.uk

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Oakhill Village Festival

Brothers Isaac and Alfie scooped one of the raffle prizes A hands-on metal working display organised by villager Bill Bolton

A first time at playing skittles

Community shop opens

FARMBOROUGH Community Shop is finally set to open its doors for the first time on Saturday, June 30th at 10am after six years of planning and fundraising.

Manager, Chris Bullock, will be running it alongside volunteers from the local area, providing groceries and local produce, a coffee shop and takeaway, plus a village hub and meeting space.

A garden party to celebrate this new venture is also planned to take place at the shop and village hall on Sunday, July 15th, 1pm-4pm. Provisional opening hours will be Monday-Friday, 8am-6.30pm and Saturday, 10-1pm. It is hoped to extend the weekday opening hours and also open on Sundays in the future if more volunteers come forward.

Details: Chris Bullock 01761 470811 or email volunteer@farmboroughshop.co.uk

PAGE 102 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Bubble-wrestling for all ages

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Rotary honours

President Vic Clarke presenting the Paul Harris Award to Barry Gillett, who was accompanied by his wife Doris

VIC Clarke, president of Chelwood Bridge Rotary Club, has presented Paul Harris awards, Rotary’s highest accolade, to members Ray Lithgo and Barry Gillett, praising their work for Rotary and their communities.

The presentation was made at the club’s president’s dinner, where the speaker was local MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg.

COMMUNITY

Villagers asked to pledge cash for new hall

CONGRESBURY’S new village hall project team is looking to raise up to £400,000 as the scheme enters its critical fundraising stage.

The target is to raise an optimum of £400,000 with an absolute minimum of £250,000, explained Ian Sheppard on behalf of the project team.

He said: “At this time we are asking for pledges so that we can show potential funders that the community can raise a significant sum towards the total build cost. The share offer and brick scheme will open sometime at the end of this year or early next.

“Failure to reach at least the £250,000 minimum could mean the project is not progressed any further.”

The team say the new building will provide a broader range of facilities and activities to benefit all age groups including potentially for services offered by groups such as North Somerset Community Partnership.

Details: http://www.congresburyvillagehall.co.uk

Celebrating end of war

Chelwood Rotary president Vic Clarke presenting the Paul Harris certificate to Ray Lithgo,who was accompanied by his wife Jacky

New Rotary bid

AXBRIDGE resident, Ric Canham, is hoping to set up a new Rotary club for the Axbridge area.

He said: “I feel it is the time that Axbridge and the surrounding villages can form and support another club that will be deeply involved in local projects, support many worthy causes and do great things worldwide!”

Details: 07780 963738 rick.canham@btinternet.com

THE villages of Draycott and Rodney Stoke intend to celebrate the end of WWI in a light-hearted and jubilant way, just like those people who happily welcomed loved ones home 100 years ago.

On the weekend of August 4th and 5th bunting will break out, with villagers being invited to decorate gates and doorways in recognition of the services and all those who helped the war effort.

There will be a walking trail around the villages, starting at the grave of Sapper Percy Burlington in Draycott churchyard.

On August 4th the trail will end with a barbecue at Valleys Edge Farm and on Sunday, 5th with cream teas in St Peter’s Church, Draycott. The event is being organised by SOSP, Supporters of St Peter’s Church.

One of the organisers, Karen Percival, said: “Over the past four years various commemorative events have taken place around the country to mark significant events during the First World War. These have of course been relatively sombre events, in keeping with the times being remembered. However, now it’s time to relive the joy and relief of a country welcoming its young men and women home.”

Details: Tricia Lumley 07886733840

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The wonder of Wells WE Mendip folk get a bit tired of being reminded that Wells is England’s smallest city. In contrast we never get tired of Wells itself.

Penny and Mark Burrows have loved Wells ever since they first set eyes on it. Ten years ago they moved in to one of its delightful mews homes and they’ve seldom been happier.

Penny said: “The shops and restaurants are within easy walking distance and the grandchildren really look forward to their visits to us – there’s so much to see and do.”

Both Mark and Penny had interesting careers and have relocated on a number of occasions, with a 32-year stay in Draycott being by far the longest time spent in a single place. Penny was in banking and Mark worked as a computer engineer for DEC (later acquired by Hewlett Packard).

They met in the Isle of Wight and married in 1967 and to celebrate their first date they revisited Shanklin last year.

Mark said: “On our 50th anniversary

HOMES & INTERIORS

we actually went back to the restaurant in the Charing Cross Road where we had our first meal as a married couple and we sat at the same table!” He points out that it was a different waiter though.

Despite the attractions of Wells, the Burrows like to spend their winters in places where the sun makes more regular appearances. Perhaps not typically they also like buying local produce and doing their own cooking.

Penny said: “It gives us the opportunity to be part of the local community but at the same time ensure we know we’re going to enjoy what we eat.”

So when it came to replacing some of the windows in their property, Mark and Penny determined to find a company that offered a great deal more than simply being competitive on price.

Mark said: “Having looked around, we ended up getting two quotes. One company was very pushy and we didn’t like that. On the other hand

Kingfisher was helpful, knowledgeable and left us to make our decision without harassing us. The fitters were not only skilful but tidy too; when they’d finished their work I went in with the vac only to discover they’d beaten me to it!”

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MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 105

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PAGE 106 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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Top award for Tincknell

HOMES & INTERIORS

THIS year’s Which? Trusted Trader of the Year award has gone to Tincknell Heating, based in Wells.

Established over 60 years ago, the family-owned company

specialises in plumbing and boiler installations.

The award rewards smaller businesses which have gone “above and beyond” for their customers.

Tincknell Heating joined Which? Trusted Traders 18 months ago and received early commendation by winning Which?

Trusted Trader of the month in March 2017. This spurred the team on to even higher levels of customer service for their growing customer base.

Rob Ormond, managing director of Tincknell Heating, said: “We are over the moon at winning such a huge award and to be recognised for our quality of service by our own customers is the highest accolade we could ask for.

“To be nominated ahead of the other 8000 eligible companies is a dream come true, it's all down to the wonderful staff we have here at Tincknell's and to their dedication to get it right.”

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HOMES & INTERIORS

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Follow your dreams

I ADORE the Royal Bath and West Show, a four-day festival with a carnival atmosphere – showcasing all that is traditional, good and beautiful about Somerset life and people, reconnecting our human selves with the animals and plants that nourish and sustain our health, With RACHEL environment and well-being.

THOMPSON I love the mixed aroma of dung, warm MBE grass, wood, cheese, coffee and bacon and the sound of the brass band striking up amidst laughter, neighing, bleating, crowing and the ring of hammer on anvil, the perfect backdrop of trees, flowers and grass.

On the way in each day I listen to BBC Somerset. The presenter asks a show goer: “Tell me what’s good about the show?” “It’s the horses,” she replied, “they are just so beautiful.”

And indeed they are. Beautiful and compelling to watch, a thrilling main arena spectacle of fast and competitive pony club games, elegant carriage horses, lean and athletic show jumpers, solid and powerful heavy horses gleaming with brass, hunters and hounds and the sound of the horn. Every horse expertly turned out, loved and cared for. A happy contrast to my June column featuring the equine welfare crisis.

Where there are horses there are stories – happy or sad and sometimes tragic. One family that knows all about that are the Mellor family from Upper Weare. Emma and Stuart have a diverse horse family – successfully breeding, showing and training sports horses, heavy horses and point-to-pointers

Stuart Mellor with his parents and Clydesdale filly Newmill Loch Maree

Emma Mellor and John Ford showing Greenends in the Shadow and Greenends Ain’t No Fool at the Royal Bath and West Show

with the odd Welsh pony thrown in!

Circumnavigating the show rings I catch up with Emma Mellor and John Ford showing lovely Oldenbourg 16:2hh mare Flossy (Greenends in the Shadow) and her foal Greenends Ain’t No Fool (born on April Fool’s Day) by the fabulous local stallion Wessex Starring Role TB, co-owned

by John and Head of Shows Alan Lyons.

Best thing that’s happened, I ask Stuart? “Apart from getting my children Tabitha and Thomas?” he jokes. Carrying out building work on a horse disposal unit four years ago Stuart noticed a young sports horse mare languishing in a pen sadly awaiting potential disposal following a farm’s bankruptcy. The Mellors managed to acquire her, tracking her breeding through phone calls and DNA. And here Flossy is today, a beautiful mare in the show ring at the Bath and West Show with her second foal. “It’s been an amazing journey with this mare,” Emma says. Out of the shadows indeed.

In contrast to the acquisition of Flossy, Stuart took seven years to acquire his rare Clydesdale bloodline mare MGK Virginia, successfully fending off nine other potential purchasers by proving himself to be the most suitable candidate. I watch him showing this mare’s lovely rare breed Clydesdale filly Newmill Loch Maree (Moo). “He’s following in his great granddad’s footsteps, he was a Waggoner,” says Stuart’s dad. The filly is traditionally shown with a roughed-up coat to add body, a small tale sprig and no mane flights. Stuart fell in love with this breed during a visit to the Canadian Calgary Stampede years ago and became determined to own his own.

What’s the worst thing? The recent loss of lovely, talented point-to-pointer Elizabeth’s Wish from equine peritonitis coowned by the Mellors and Jeff Fear. This lovely TB mare featured in the May issue of Mendip Times, winning the Tincknell Restricted Steeplechase in such convincing style and with a great feature ahead of her. Many different conditions can cause peritonitis and it can occur in horses of all ages. “What advice would you give to others?” I asked Stuart later as we stood by the Woodland Ring, the sunshine hot on our faces. “Follow your dreams,” he said, “don’t give up or let go!”

Phone the RSPCA locally on 01823 253729 or 0300 1230100

PAGE 110 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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RIDING

Riding school expands to meet demand

IT’S been an exciting time for the Divoky Riding School, winners of the Best Rural Sporting Business award, with a visit from the Countess of Wessex and being presented to the Princess Royal at Cheltenham in recognition of their work with Riding for the Disabled.

Senior coach, Pat Bishop, said: “The staff are all so professional they don't let it go to their heads – the team treat everyone as V.I.Ps. You can be working with a member of the Royal Family one day, a movie star and their children the next. With all the local children in the mix it makes for a really fun and happy place to be.”

The next big event for the team is summer camp,

Opportunities at Divoky Part-time Qualified Instructors

Weekdays and some weekend work

Two Apprentice Vacancies

RDA volunteers to side-walk or lead ponies in sessions Full training will be given Seasonal work: Winter Groom – mornings only Send application to: P. Bishop, email: pat.divoky@gmail.com INTERVIEWS BEING HELD NOW!

HRH Sophie countess of Wessex and Pat Bishop watching riding lessons at Divoky

when children from all over the country camp, learn how to ride and look after ponies, with lots of fun and games involved. New this year is the tiddlers and toddlers ride on the half-mile allweather track, a great introduction to riding for little ones.

Helmets are provided and parents are encouraged to go along.

Pat Bishop is recruiting new staff, including two full-time apprentices to train as riding instructors, with part-time vacancies for qualified instructors, with full and part-days available.

The RDA lessons are so busy they need more help from people able to lead ponies or side walk. Tea and biscuits are always on offer and regular get-togethers and social events help make training and volunteering fun.

Children’s Residential Summer Camp

July 31st ~ 2nd August riders ages 7–16yrs

SUMMER SPECIAL

2 ½ hrs Riding and horse care £32.00 5yrs–16yrs Tiddlers and toddlers 20min lead rein ride £20 Riding lessons by the hour or half hour All abilities welcome Or explore local Asham Woods (as seen on TV) by horseback through quiet bridle paths with a knowledgeable guide.

Divoky Riding School Manor Farm, Downhead, Shepton Mallet BA4 4LG Tel 01749 880233 www.divoky.co.uk email: pat.divoky@gmail.com

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 111

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Tour of Wessex is a magnet for cyclists

CYCLING with EDMUND LODITE

THE Tour of Wessex is regarded as one of the biggest and most challenging multistage cycling sportive events in the country.

Based near Somerton, the event once again attracted hundreds of cyclists from across

the UK and abroad.

Set over three days the event takes in the best scenery of the South West passing by ancient monuments and historic sites.

On each day the tour completed a circular loop from Somerton to explore the stunning scenery and unique terrain across Wessex. Although it is a noncompetitive event, results are timed and graded by stage and overall classification.

In addition, there were shorter versions for each stage making the event attractive to a wide range of cycling abilities.

The first day was a 101-mile loop around the best of Mendip. The route headed north across the Somerset Levels to reach the first major climb of the day at Cheddar Gorge. With its stunning scenery the Gorge is regularly voted as one of the UK’s top ten cycling roads.

It is also going to be in stage three of this year’s Tour of Britain when professional teams head south from Bristol in a loop around North Somerset.

Young boxers compete in Weston JUNIOR boxer Cameron Walker and senior fighter Rhys Morgan represented Norton Radstock Amateur Boxing Club at a tournament in Weston-super-Mare.

Cameron fought intelligently against home boxer Mason Stewart, winning a unanimous decision.

Rhys lost to Elijah Carrol of Chepstow ABC in the top-of-the-bill contest, but head coach Sean Jenkins said there were plenty of positives to take home.

Sean, who was joined at the fight by Katy Simmons, the club’s first female coach, added: “With a couple of additions ready for next season and these two boys improving with every bout, the future is good for our great little club.”

PAGE 112 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

After crossing the Mendip AONB the route dropped into the historic city of Wells. From there riders faced lumpy hills past Bruton to reach the hardest climb of the day at King Alfred’s Tower.

Skirting around the estate at Stourhead riders then passed Glastonbury Tor on their way back to Somerton, appropriately the ancient capital of Wessex.

The following day’s stage headed south-east on an out-and-back 120-mile trip through Somerset and Dorset, to the Jurassic coast.

The final day’s 104-mile stage headed west over the Quantock Hills to reach the gruelling climbs in the Exmoor National Park. After reaching Porlock the route back was equally difficult. With 3,000m of ascent/descent this is the hardest stage

of the tour.

In cycling terms it would be called the “queen” stage – strangely from chess, where the queen is the most powerful piece, and typically has the biggest effect on the game.

Several hundred cyclists completed the full Tour of Wessex. Many others opted to take in one or two of the stages or the shorter distances.

This unique event has now seen cyclists making the annual pilgrimage to Somerset since 2006. It’s not just to experience the challenge of riding three days back to back that attracts them. It is West Country hospitality and stunning scenery set against the backdrop of the ancient kingdom of Wessex that makes this one of the must-do events for many cyclists in the UK.

Norton Radstock fighter Jordan Dimery-Seek practices with head coach Sean Jenkins during a display at the Somer Valley Arts Festival

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SPORT

Sun shines for Women’s Cricket Festival at Midsomer Norton MIDSOMER Norton Cricket Club hosted its first women’s cricket festival following the successful launch of the club’s Midsomer Mavericks women’s team this season.

Players aged 14+ of all abilities and their families and friends gathered at the club’s Withies Lane HQ to ensure that the softball event was a great success.

The eight-a-side format also ensured that every player had the chance to bat and bowl in the round-robin tournament. Players from other sides joined in if teams did not have enough players.

Ten teams from across Somerset took part in the festival which was supported by the Somerset Cricket Board and Western Storm, the 2017 winner of the Kia Women’s Super League. Norton first organised women’s cricket training sessions last year and women’s cricket at the club is going from strength to strength.

Mavericks’ captain Jennie Webb said: “I am very excited by the prospects for women’s cricket at Midsomer Norton. We had two new players this week, one of them playing her first game and taking two wickets.”

Club chairman Graeme King was also very enthusiastic. He said: “The festival was a fantastic day and a credit to all who played and helped make it happen. All the teams said that the event was brilliantly organised and that Midsomer Norton Cricket Club gave them a great welcome.”

Street Ladies – find them on Facebook @streetladiescc

Sunshine and softball made for a great afternoon

Striking a blow for women’s cricket – the softball format is aimed at players of all abilities

The Midsomer Mavericks team

Wembdon (back) and Weston-super-Mare

New players are welcome. Anyone interested should visit the Withies Lane ground on Thursday evenings at 7pm. For details about the ECB-backed initiative in Somerset, visit: www.somersetcricketboard.co.uk

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Andy’s birthday gig!

ANDY Littler, from Pensford (front right) celebrated his 68th birthday by taking part in the annual World Pilot Gig Championships in the Isles of Scilly.

He’s previously rowed for the Bristol Gig Club and with a crew from Gloucester in Massachusetts. This year the American team weren’t attending and he was unable to fulfil the training criteria for Bristol due to his work, so he joined the Portishead Pilot Gig club, which was formed last October.

Andy said: “Some training in Portishead Marina and out in the Bristol Channel followed and I was selected for the crew, first in the veterans' race, then in two of the other men's heats, and then, because someone else dropped out, in all the men's races.

“On Saturday morning, in a field of 148

gigs, we knew we had our work cut out.

On the long row out to the start line I started a bit of sea-shanty singing to help motivate the crew. This was a high risk strategy as it may have put them off all together, but after a really exciting race, we finished with over two dozen other gigs behind us.”

Snooker and billiards winners

IT was a night to remember for Marksbury B when the Radstock and District Billiards and Snooker League held its presentation dinner at the New Inn Farmborough.

Jamie Thornbury with Alan Weaver

Marksbury B snooker team

PAGE 114 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

They won both the Snooker League Division 1 and the Knock-out Cup with Clutton D runners-up in both events.

Clandown were Billiard League champions for the third year in a row with Writhlington just nudging out Clapton B for second place.

Paulton RBL won the Billiards Knock-out Cup beating Timsbury A in the final.

Clapton C will be tasting first division action next season after winning the Snooker League Division 2 and will be joined by Timsbury H. The Snooker Plate was won by Haydon X who beat Writhlington C in the final.

Jamie Thornbury who won the Open Snooker Singles and was runner-up in the Division 1 event was chosen as the

There were 158 gigs taking part from Britain and overseas, with a prediction there will be close to 200 next year.

Andy said: “Thereafter it is expected that the numbers will be restricted, so I am going to try and take part in the 30th championships at the age of 69 – fingers crossed.”

Liam Horler with Alan Weaver

Division 1 Player of the Year while Liam Horler who won the Division 2 singles and joined up with his father Steve to win the Divisional pairs was the Division 2 Player of the Year.

The presentations were made by long serving league member Alan Weaver from Paulton RBL.

Clandown billiards team

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Presentation night in Timsbury TIMSBURY Athletic looked back on another highly successful season when it held its annual presentation night at the cricket clubroom.

The first team finished third in the Somerset County League Division 1 East and after a thrilling cup campaign reached the final of the League Cup competition for premier and Division one sides before losing out to a strong Shirehampton side.

The strength of the club was also highlighted by the successful resurrection of the A team under the guidance of Paul Hallett.

Young defender Callum Taylor was the big winner on the night after another outstanding season. He received the Roy Lockyer Memorial Trophy as Supporters’ Player of the Year and

Manager Dom Eatherden with Rhys Cook

SPORT was named both Young Player of the Year and the First Team Players’ Player of the Year which was presented by James Allen of Allen Residential.

Rhys Cook was the manager, Dom Eatherden’s, Player of the Year after a superb first season with the club when he grabbed 44 goals.

The reserve team manager, Kevin Abbott’s, award was shared between Declan Murphy and Mark Hancock with Cain Murphy the players’ choice. For the A team Joe Gordon-Hallett was the Players’ Player of the Year with Zak Cox the manager’s choice.

Paul Hallett was named as the Clubman of the Year and received the James Adams Memorial Trophy from the president Chris Fear.

President Chris Fear (left) with Paul Hallett

Club supports youngsters

CLUTTON Social Club has presented Chew Valley Football Club under-10s with £1,000 for new goal posts and nets. The club currently has 22 members in the squad, who were encouraged to seek donations for the equipment.

Clutton Social Club committee members were moved when they received a handwritten letter from team player Riley Nash asking for a donation – and offered to donate the full costs of the new equipment.

A cheque was presented at the club by social club charity secretary Janet Taylor. Afterward the awards the teams tucked into pizza and chips for tea.

If any youngsters aged six to ten years are interested in joining the team, which is based in Dundry and trains on Thursday evening and Saturday morning, contact Andy on 07576633060.

Sponsor James Allen with Callum Taylor

The terrain in Spain . . .

Oliver with his car and main sponsors

OLIVER Margetson, from Holcombe, is to represent England in the Pro Mod Class of the Eurotrial2018 4x4 competition in Spain in July.

The engineer has himself carried out most of the modification work to his vehicle in which he will be lead driver. Teams complete a total of 16 sections over the two-day event, each section requires the 4x4 to pass through five marked out gates as they negotiate some of the most extreme terrain that Spain has to offer, testing both driver and vehicle.

Penalties are given to any vehicle that fails to complete or successfully clear a gate.

He’ll compete against 4x4 teams from 17 other countries for the title of trial champion. ● To follow Oliver’s progress find Team AF Eurotrial 2018 on Facebook.

MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 115

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Run for home

Photographs by Mark Adler

FROM first-timers tackling their first competitive run to some experienced athletes, the annual Wells Fun Run once again attracted hundreds of people of all ages.

Organised by Wells City Harriers, it was a former member, Jack Bancroft, now running for the Bristol & West AC club, who won the 10km race in a fraction over 33 minutes. The first woman home in the 10Kkm was Cornwall AC runner Ruby Orchard in 39.25.

The Wells Fun Run 10km race is part of the Somerset Race Series 2018, where competitors have to complete eight races out of 19 over the year to count.

But for many, including those being nurtured in their running as part of the harriers’ “Up and Running” course to encourage people to take up the sport, it was simply a question of crossing the finish line. ● The next local race being supported by Wells City Harriers is the Baltonsborough five-mile road race being held on Bank Holiday Monday, August 27th as part of the annual Baltonsborough Show. For details and results of the Wells Fun visit www.wellscityharriers.co.uk

Wells mayor Celia Wride (right) and her daughter Sarah started the races Ruby Orchard was victorious in the 10km run

The 10km run underway

Now in his 80s, this was the oldest runner at the evening

Children’s fun run winner Harry and brother Alfie, from Shepton Mallet PAGE 116 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

The Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt. Rev. Peter Hancock, took part in the 10km run

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SPORT

Warming up before the youngsters tackle the junior fun run around the Recreation Ground . . .

. . . and setting off on the run

Burnham Harriers turned out in force for the event

The team from Wells Cathedral Junior School ahead of the 5km run

Some of the Somer AC team

Members of the Wells City Harriers Up and Running team

Doli, Mike, Dave and Jo were part of the team running in aid of the Time is Precious charity

10km winner Jack Bancroft (left) with the Harriers’ own Nathan Young 29 seconds behind

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Chew 10k run

THE Chew Valley 10k attracted 720 runners from a wide area, with another 275 youngsters taking part in the 1k races.

The event raised funds for Bishop Sutton Primary School PTA, Chew Valley School Society, the NICU Support charity and St Peter’s Hospice.

Some of the local runners

Warming up for the 1k race

Westfield TT had the biggest team - it's grown from six members to

Georgia "Porge" Bryant with race commentator Dr Phil Hammond - there's been a massive fundraising effort for her to have pioneering treatment for leukaemia

PAGE 118 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Some 720 people took part

620!

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Valley Cats rugby players ran to support the Pounds for Porge campaign

They're off in one of the 1K races

(l to r) Mike Burns, NICU charity founder, Denise Mellersh, race director, chief constable, Andy Marsh, trustee, who ran in support of the charity, and Heidi Loughlin, NICU ambassador, who started the race

SPORT

Runners from Cheddar - Sarah Neild (centre) won the women's 5559 age group

James Rogers from North Somerset AC lead from the start finishing in 33'44" just outside the course record

Jasper Pover (left) and Zak Radforth ran a three-legged race MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018 • PAGE 119

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Music festival for the whole community

Photos by Mark Adler

ORGANISERS of the annual Coleford Village Day have held a second music festival to raise funds for the community event in August.

The one-day festival, in the village’s Royal British Legion Hall, featured a wide range of music from punk to folk and also gave young performers vital experience of performing live in front of an audience.

The village day is organised by the Coleford Revival Group and runs alongside the village’s flower and produce show. CRG also aims to raise funds for local organisations. ● This year’s Coleford Village Day takes place on Sunday, August 26th. See www.colefordrevivalgroup.org

Lottie Jones is an up-and-coming Exeter-based singer-songwriter.

Find her on Facebook @LottieJonesMusic

Local singer Tommy Young performs his Celtic-influenced songs, many about the Coleford and Radstock communities

Dan, Lydia and Joe, from Marty’s Fake Family. The trio come from Frome and Trowbridge

SPAG Day (also going by the name of Kings of Limbs) – a group of friends from Writhlington School – relax before their set and performing on stage. The name SPAG Day comes from the school’s Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Day PAGE 120 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

For details, visit: www.colefordrevivalgroup.org

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Open air concert for choir

MUSIC & THEATRE

GLASTONBURY Male Voice Choir will perform in a free outdoor concert in Wells Recreation Ground on Sunday, July 15th.

Wells Lions have teamed up with the city council to stage the afternoon event at the bandstand in aid of charity. The two-hour concert will feature classic and contemporary songs from the popular choir’s large repertoire, performed in glorious four-part harmony.

Donations will be collected by Wells Lions in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society, Glastonbury Male Voice Choir which is the Glastonbury choir’s their own chairs and rugs to sit on. nominated charity for this year.

Lions president Paul Clegg said: “We Refreshments will be available, and all brought the Bristol Male Voice Choir to concert-goers are encouraged to bring Wells earlier this year, and Caerphilly

last year. With this wonderful support from Wells City Council we’re delighted now to have Glastonbury Male Voice Choir in our great city to entertain us.”

The concert starts at 2.30pm. For further information, telephone 01458 210926 or email: millerburt@btinternet.com

Players support charity

SHIPHAM Players staged ‘ALLO ‘ALLO, directed by Jane Dawes at Shipham Village Hall.

The group has donated approximately £2,000 over the last three years to local Shipham groups as well as to national charities, including the Alzheimers’ Society.

Their chosen national charity this year is Parkinson’s UK. New members are always welcome, whether on or off stage.

Details: www.shiphamplayers.org.uk

Choir heads for Wales

CHEW Valley choir Vox in Frox gave a world premiere of a new arrangement of a local folk song, The Crystal Spring, at a concert at East Harptree Church.

They have been selected to take part in the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod this year, so commissioned this new arrangement by local composer Barbara Rusbridge.

It is believed that The Crystal Spring was heard by Victorian folk song collector Cecil Sharpe being sung at The Castle of Comfort by a member of the local King family. It is not known whether the song refers to the spring in East Harptree combe.

A collection after the concert raised over £500 for One25, a Bristol charity working with women trapped in street sex work, by supporting them to help them change their lives.

Theatre for free for volunteers

THE organisers of the first Wells Theatre Festival are looking for volunteers to help run the event in July.

In return for their support, volunteers can attend performances for free and be in with a good chance of meeting many of the performers. The festival takes place between Thursday, July 12th and Sunday, July 15th.

Ros Johnson, artistic director said: “Signing up to be a volunteer for the first-ever festival is an exciting opportunity for the local community to play their part in ensuring the smooth running of the festival. The festival is all about the local community and so the volunteers are an integral part of it.”

Volunteers should be over the age of 18 and able to commit to the whole festival. Roles include stewards, front of house, publicity and bar staff.

For details contact Claire Vincent, productions coordinator at claire@wellstheatrefestival.org

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Harptree Music Festival

NICHOLAS Tall, the organist and choirmaster at East Harptree, is planning a music festival before he leaves in September to study at the Royal Academy of Music.

Since he arrived in 2017, there’s been a series of concerts raising money for the churches in East Harptree, West Harptree and Hinton Blewett. The inaugural Harptree Music Festival promises to be a much bigger affair, with two large concerts and lunchtime concerts in all three churches.

The opening concert on Friday, July 6th, 7.30pm will be given

by Dr David Bednall, organist at the University of Bristol, at St Laurence in East Harptree. Tickets are £15 which includes free programmes and interval refreshments. There will also be a large

Oscar Golden-Lee

Superheroes welcome

Tricia Rees-Jones

NAILSEA Concert Orchestra are promising a fabulous night of live film music at Nailsea Methodist Church on Saturday, July 14th at 7.30pm.

Their spectacular concert for film fans of all ages will feature timeless film scores and Hollywood blockbuster soundtracks, with themes from Stars Wars, Superman, Born Free, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Trek, The Dambusters, Gladiator, James Bond and more.

Tickets can be bought in advance from Nailsea Music Shop (£12/concessions £10/under 18s £2.50) or on the door.

Immerse yourselves in the wonderful world of music and film! For those with young families, join the orchestra for their free open rehearsal between 3pm and 4pm on the day of the concert; super hero costumes optional!

The concert will be in support of Music & Memories and the Memory Cafe (Nailsea Tithe Barn Trust).

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Nicholas Tall

Sarah Poole

screen in the church so the audience can all see the great man in action!

The second large concert, on Saturday, July 7th, also at 7.30pm, will be a grand choral concert – a performance of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle at St Mary, West Harptree.

The united parish’s choir will be under the baton of Tricia ReesJones, conductor of the Swan Singers, alongside soloists Sarah Poole, soprano, Abigail Fiddik, alto, Oscar Golden-Lee, tenor and David Rees-Jones, bass. Nicholas himself will play piano and harmonium. Tickets are £10.

In addition to these two concerts, there will be two lunchtime concerts on Saturday, July 7th at West Harptree and Sunday, July 8th at Hinton Blewett, starting at 1.05pm. These are both free to attend and will have a retiring collection at the end.

Details: Elaine Avery 01761 221450

Al-fresco jazz

THE Friends of St James the Great, Winscombe are planning another of their Jazz in the Paddock events on Saturday, July 7th.

The group was formed in 2009 to help preserve and enhance the only Grade I listed building in the parish and have raised over £30,000 so far.

Projects have included new churchyard gates, restoring the clock face on the tower and, most recently, work on the church’s medieval windows.

The jazz evening sees The Big R Band return with swing jazz of the 1930s and 1940s. People are being urged to take a picnic, drinks, a rug or folding chairs and sit back and enjoy the evening. It will be moved inside the church next door if it rains.

Gates open at 6.30pm with adult tickets £10, children U-16 £5, family tickets £25 available from The Wine Shop or Hampden Clinic in Winscombe.

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All-comers orchestra prepares for concert

Meet the orchestra at Farrington Gurney

FARRINGTON Gurney Memorial Hall will be the venue for a special concert by a genuinely “all-comers” orchestra.

Musicians from Grade Three upwards are busy rehearsing for the event in September – and more players are welcome to join.

The orchestra is run by From the Top which aims to offer anyone who plays an orchestral instrument a chance to

Music spectacular

MUSIC & THEATRE

practice their skills. There are no auditions and no limit to the number of players per section.

Rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings from 7.30– 9.15pm at Farrington Gurney Memorial Hall. The first taster session is free. The concert takes place on Friday, September 14th.

For details email: performfromthetop@gmail.com

THERE were two evening performances of the Mid Somerset Musical Spectacular at Strode Theatre, Street, featuring 18 musical performances by local school groups.

It was organised by Somerset Music in collaboration with the Lions Club of Glastonbury and Street. The proceeds raised from these concerts, which were first established in1988, will be used to make donations to local children's charities.

St Cuthbert's school choir’s Mary Poppins theme

Somerset County Choir

Charlton Mackrell school singers

Cosmic Junior Choir

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THE Somerset and Dorset Railway charity at Midsomer Norton Station has been named Business of the Year by Midsomer Norton Town Council.

It follows a year of successful events at the station which has attracted visitors from across the region.

Summer events at the Steven Lacey (left) with Richard station include trains being Robertson and mayor Paul Myers pulled by Sentinel steam loco Joyce on the Saturday, July 14th and Sunday July 15th and a Family Fun Day on Sunday, August 12th when Wansdyke Play will be at the station with water and sand play, and other outdoor fun.

Councillor Richard Robertson presented Somerset and Dorset Heritage Railway Trust chairman Stephen Lacey with the award, saying that tourism is a key opportunity for Midsomer Norton.

Steven said: “We could not achieve all this without the fantastic support of members of the trust and local people who come up to help. We owe them a huge vote of thanks in helping us achieve this accolade.”

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Fingers crossed for seven authors

SEVEN local writers will be hoping their dreams of publication will take a step nearer reality when they meet the “Lady in the Van” at Frome Writers’ Collective’s Small Publishers’ Fair on Saturday, July 7th.

The seven, all FWC members, will be meeting acclaimed literary agent Kate Barker for 30-minute, one-to-one sessions in a vintage-style VW camper van. They have already sent her synopses and extracts from their novels and will be able to discuss these with her and learn whether she sees their work having a future in the nation’s bookshops.

The fair, being staged on the first Saturday of Frome Festival, will be opened by FWC patron Barry Cunningham OBE, whose Frome-based Chicken House Books is a hugely respected publisher of children’s books.

FWC’s Debs Dowling said: “Kate has over 15 years’ publishing experience, ten of which were spent at Penguin Books where she commissioned a broad range of fiction and non-fiction for the Viking list. She is now actively building her own client list and is particularly looking for compelling fiction, so fingers are crossed that the work of one – or perhaps even more – of the seven FWC members she will be meeting at the fair will capture her professional imagination.” ● The fair takes place at the Silk Mill from 10am-4pm.

Entry is free.

New arrivals at Puxton Park

PUXTON Park has added three new species of animals to the 50-plus it already has. They are three giant Nubian goats, a new cockatoo named Mikey and some very rare and endangered Shetland ducks.

Joseph Huntley, senior animal supervisor at the park, said: "We are also proud to have welcomed two new-born Cameroon lambs to the park this month. We will continue working to protect and conserve various rare and endangered species."

Since opening in 2007, Puxton Park has expanded massively with the addition of numerous new attractions, including a new Discovery Barn that hosts animal interaction sessions and owl encounters.

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Summer family fun at The Bishop’s Palace

WHAT’S ON

IF the thought of the long school summer holidays is filling you with dread, look no further than The Bishop’s Palace in Wells, which has a huge range of funfilled activities on offer this year from July through to the end of August!

The first of the weekly “Make it Mondays” family craft activities begins on Monday, July 30th with a theme of Animals at the Palace, with other themes during the holidays.

On Sunday, August 5th, the South Lawn will be given over to their Midsummer Mayhem Summer Family Fun Day with fun and games for all ages. This will be the third year that the event has taken place and last year over 1,000 visitors enjoyed a fantastic day of fun-filled family activities.

To bring the holidays to a dramatic close, why not head along to the palace during August Bank Holiday weekend and prepare to be wowed in true medieval fashion by the daring antics of historical re-enactors Bowlore Medieval.

On Bank Holiday Monday, August 27th the palace moat is also home to the annual moat boat race.

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Flying the flag for the Mid-Somerset Show

THE Mid-Somerset Agricultural Show Society was amongst the organisations which were represented in a mass parade watched by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Prince’s Countryside Parade at the Royal Cornwall Show celebrated 58 of HRH’s rural patronages from waterways to farming. Around 450 volunteers – some with animals – took part.

Show society secretary Christine Barham, who attended the parade, said: “It was a great privilege to be there and to see the royal couple taking such an interest in rural life.”

The parade took place with preparations for this year’s MidSomerset Show – on Sunday, August 19th – in full swing.

As well as expanded livestock sections, animals of all shapes and sizes will be celebrated during the day with everything from the Paws for Thought dog display team to duck racing – visitors can even place a bet on their favourites.

PAGE 126 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

Returning for 2018 is the everpopular Sheep Show, whilst entries are being welcomed for the companion dog show. The Grand Parade of Livestock will take place in the main arena at 3.15pm.

Musical highlights on the acoustic stage include a performance by the Barnacle Buoys sea shanty acapella group.

Christine added: “Everyone connected with the show – from traders and sponsors to livestock exhibitors – is determined that this year’s show will be a day to remember.” ● Show organisers are appealing for more people – especially younger people – to act as stewards in the run-up to the show and on the day itself. Roles are available across the site from cattle to craft classes. For details, contact Christine at: secretary@midsomersetshow.org.uk Flying the flag – Christine and partner Trevor Bartlett with the show banner during the parade

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WHAT’S ON

Full steam ahead for Edwardian special There will be the usual impressive display of full-size steam engines

THE Somerset Steam and Country Show will take place on July 21st and July 22nd at Low Ham, near Langport, and 2018 looks to be an exciting year.

The show – organised by the Somerset Traction Engine Club – will have its usual mix of more than 700 exhibits, including more than 30 full-size steam engines, which will be giving free trailer rides all weekend.

This year’s show will allow visitors to step back into Edwardian Somerset. The site will have many Edwardianthemed displays from a traditional blacksmith to steam threshing. On the Sunday there will be a Blessing of the Plough ceremony with parish priest, the Rev Jess Pitman, blessing the club chairman’s 100-year-old steam plough along with a horsedrawn plough.

The club is very fortunate that High Ham Parish Community Project has collected an excellent set of vintage photos of steam working very near to the show site and will be attempting to recreate these photos to bring them to life.

The free children’s area is now in its third year and will be even bigger and better. This year it will include hands-on steam engines and tractors, a bouncy castle, try your hand at stone carving, meet the animals, sandpit, pedal tractors and the most critical area, the parent seating! This is all free and there is no charge for under-16s to enter the show. There will be a preshow steam party for all on the Friday evening.

YEOVILTON INTERNATIONAL AIR DAY TICKET WINNERS

Last month we gave you the chance to win tickets to the Yeovilton International Air Day on July 7th. The first three correct answers drawn were from: Martin Harrington, Shepton Mallet; Leah Weston, Trowbridge; and Pauline Davis, Chilcompton. Congratulations – enjoy a great day out!

Starts Friday 29th June Stepping back in time – organisers are planning to recreate scenes like these

For details visit www.somersettractionengineclub.com or contact the show secretary at contact@somersettractionengineclub.com or on 01761 470867.

Starts Friday 6th July From Friday 13th July From Friday 20th July

JULY EVENT CINEMA

Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD NOW SHOWING: The Bookshop (PG) • The Happy Prince (15)

Mary Shelley (12A) • Swimming With Men (12A) Patrick (PG) Incredibles 2 3D/2D • Adrift (12A) Mamma Mia Here We Go Again! Book Now 5th Everybody's Talking About Jamie 7.15pm 18th Romeo & Juliet RSC 7pm 28th Andre Rieu 7pm

● Book in person ● Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk ● Over the ’phone: 01749 673195

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Please send entries for these listings as a single paragraph of approximately 25 words. We’re happy to list entries for charities and voluntary groups free of charge – but please submit them in the format below. We may not be able to use entries which are too lengthy or submitted as posters or leaflets. Commercial entries cost £25.

Wednesday June 27th Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support meeting 1.30pm Backwell WI Hall. The "Blood Bikes" emergency service. Details: Sheila 01275 462107.

Lunchtime concert by Norton Hill School, 12.30 -1.30pm St John's Church Midsomer Norton.

Refreshments available, donations welcome. www.stjohnschurchmsn.org.uk Thursday June 28th Mendip Ramblers moderate 6m walk Oakhill, Benter, Ashwick. Start 10am Oakhill Village Hall BA3 5AN, ST633474. Details: Mike P 01373 472101 / 07711 090656.

West Mendip Walkers moderate circular walk 7.5m from Draycott Cider Barn BS27 3RU. Ex141 ST514474. Start 1.30pm. Details: David: 01934 710677 07977 768406 david1gannon@yahoo.co.uk Sing with the Jenny Peplow Singers, 6.30pm, Paulton Methodist Church Hall. Everyone welcome. Free. Donations for Singing for the Brain welcome. Details Chris: 01761 471357.

Friday June 29th West Mendip Orchestra Summer Concert, including Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 2.

Churchill School 7.45pm. Tickets £10 (£8, students £2) on the door.

Saturday June 30th Garden Party to celebrate winning a Bronze at Chelsea! 2pm-4pm, Leonard Cheshire Home, South Road, Timsbury BA2 0ES. Specialist orchids for sale, stalls cream teas, etc. Free entry, all welcome.

Magenta return to Banwell! Nostalgia for those at the Bell Folk Club in the early 80s. Banwell village hall 7.30pm. Tickets £10: Mervyn 07970 100252 or Arthur 07970 525826.

Wedmore Guides Jumble Sale, 10am-12, Wedmore Village Hall Frome Memorial Theatre "Open Day & Theatre Tours" Free. www.fmt.website Stereo Jacks “The Do After the Show”, St Andrews’ Refectory gardens, Congresbury, 7.30pm. Tickets: Church House Designs or 01934 838800. £12 (£30 family 2 adults+2U16s) for New Village Hall Development Trust.

Gippeswyk Singers on Tour, Christ Church, Frome, 7.30 pm. Bach to Jazz. In aid of Food Bank. Tickets £10 on door or Festival box office: 01373 455420.

Pig Race Night at The George, Longbridge Deverill in support of the RUH Cancer Centre’s Forever Friends appeal: www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk Mendip Ramblers moderate 6.6m Wessex Wanderer Walk: Spring Gardens, Hapsford, Vallis.

Start 10am Frome Station BA11 1QZ, ST784476.

Details: Mike P 01373 472101/07711 090656.

FUNdraising Baking Competition, Wells Methodist Church, in aid of “Stand Up to Cancer”.

Judging before 12, teas & cakes from 2pm. Entry forms: norman.cowell35@talktalk.net Special Concert: Mendip Consort, The Somernotes & Rotary young musicians, Poppy McGhee, Cristina Dimitrova, 7pm St Andrew’s Church, Cheddar. Details: Jane 01934 743834 email janesburdock@gmail.com The Charltons Village Day, Memorial Playing PAGE 128 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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Fields Charlton Adam TA11 7BE. 1pm-5pm. Live music, bar, hog roast, fun dog show, classic cars & motorbikes.

Pink Bra’ss Concert in aid of Cancer Research UK. Wells Town Hall. Tickets £10 from Specsavers, Wells. Details: www.pinkbra’ss.co.uk Congresbury Village Fete & Gardening Club summer show, from 1.30pm St Andrew’s Church paddock. Details: www.CongresburyGardening.org.uk Mendip Society walk Ubley & Compton Martin.

A hard 5m with steep hill. ST 582 578. Meet 2pm Ubley sawmill car park BS40 6PE. Details: Martin: 01761 462528.

Sunday July 1st Doulting Village Fete. Midday to 4pm. Arena shows, cake stalls, BBQ, beer tent and more.

Cream Teas served every Sunday from 3-5pm in aid of church funds, St Mary’s Church, Timsbury BA2 0LG. All very welcome.

Monday 2nd July Open Day at Frome Heritage Museum. 10am4pm. Behind-the-scenes tours, displays and talks by museum volunteers. 1 North Parade, Frome BA11 3AT. Free entry but donations gratefully received.

Tuesday July 3rd ‘Masquerade, music lessons & monkeys” the world of 18thC porcelain figures’ by Jane Gardiner, 11am Wells Town Hall www.theartssocietymendip.org.uk Guests welcome. Contact 01934 862435.

Taize’ prayers with sung chants at the Ammerdown Centre, Radstock 7.45pm. Join in with the singing or just relax and enjoy. Details: Janet 01225 869337.

Thursday July 5th Mendip Ramblers moderate 7m walk Moat Farm, West Harptree. Start 10am Herriott's Bridge, Chew Valley Lake BS40 6HW, ST572582. Details: Martyn H, 01761 471891/07986 621017.

West Mendip Walkers moderate circular walk 11m around Bradford upon Avon. Ex156 ST825607. Start 10am, Station Road car park Zone B. BS15 1DQ. Details: 07709 024033 or peter.stirling@me.com Valley Arts presents the Scummy Mummies, Ring O’ Bells, Compton Martin, 7.30pm. Details: www.valleyartscentre.co.uk Friday, July 6th to Sunday, July 8th Inaugural Harptree Music Festival. Friday: Organ Recital, 7.30pm, Saturday Choral Concert 7.30pm, St Lawrence, East Harptree. Tickets: Elaine Avery: 01761 221450. Free concerts 1pm Saturday at West Harptree & 1pm Sunday, Hinton Blewitt.

Priddy Folk Festival Details: www.priddyfolk.org.uk Friday July 6th to Sunday July 15th Somerton Arts & Music Festival. Wide variety of music & talks: www.somertonartsfestival.co.uk Friday July 6th “La fille mal gardee”, Charity Theatre trip to Bristol Hippodrome. Details: www.theatretrips.webeden.co.uk or 01458 273085.

Mendip Swing Band 6pm-10pm, Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club. Supporting RNLI. Supper & cash bar. Tickets £15. Details: keithjoanwill@gmail.com Saturday July 7th Holcombe Gala, 12-5pm on the village playing field, BA3 5EW. Entry free. Plenty to keep everyone refreshed and entertained! Details: Simon

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Mendip Society Walk from Wells. A moderate 5 miles, East Mendip Way over Tor Hill to Dinder.

Meet 2pm, east end of Ash Lane, Wells BA5 2LW. Details: Brian: 01749 672457.

Wedmore Street Fair, recognising 100 years since the end of WWI, from 11am.

Plume of Feathers Duck Race, Rickford. Pig Roast, BBQ & band, 5pm until late.

Mendip Rocks! Festival launch: Learn about the Mendip hills 10am-4pm family fun with AONB, Somerset Earth Science Centre & The Mendip Society. Free. Lower car park Burrington Combe.

Chewton Mendip Village Fete, 3-6pm.

Traditional fete, BBQ, bar, teas, stalls & entertainment. Supporting Primary School & Church.

Jazz in the Paddock, Winscombe, 6.30 for 7pm.

Adults £10, U16’s £5, Family (up to 4 children) £25. Details: 01934 843617 or 01934 844650.

Friends of St James.

Spectra Musica’s Summer Concert, ‘A Pastoral Idyll’, 7.30pm King’s School, Bruton. Tickets £12: tickets@spectramusica.co.uk Tel: 01963 350160 or on the door.

Somerset Plant Heritage, plant sale & refreshments from 1.30pm. 2.30pm: “Not just Gertrude Jekyll: other amazing women who have shaped our gardens!” Edington Village Hall TA7 9HA. Visitors welcome. Details: 01278 451631.

Paulton Party in the Park stalls, entertainment, 2pm.

Frome Consort at Frome Festival. Baroque chamber works, 8pm St John's Church, Tickets £10 from the festival office.

Sunday July 8th Romulus & Remus Italian Festival, from noon at new venue: Palace Farm, Wells, BA5 1UN. Live music & children’s entertainment. £15 includes some food. Under 5’s free. Picnics welcome.

Tickets: Julie: 01749 675177/07929 926490.

Mendip Ramblers moderate 10m Mendip Ring Circular: Blacker's Hill, Chilcompton. Start 10am nr Farrington Gurney village hall BS39 6TY, ST631556. Details: Bob & Rosemary 01749 346023.

Monday July 9th Mendip Folk Dance Club Evening, St James Church Hall, Winscombe BS25 1AQ. 8-10pm £3. Details Pat 01934 852758.

Tuesday July 10th Clevedon Art Club, 7.30pm, Clevedon School 6th Form Centre. Members led by Gail Mason will feedback on artists own work prior to exhibition.

Congresbury Over-60s Club The Reflections Singers, War Memorial Hall, 2.30-4pm. Details: 01934 832004.

Frome Memorial Theatre presents “Tom Allen – Absolutely!” 8pm Tickets £14 from 01373 462795 www.fmt.website Wednesday July 11th Weston-s-Mare Music Appreciation Society St. Jude's Hall, St. Peter's Church, Baytree Road BS22 8HG, 7.15pm. Details: simonrawlings9@gmail.com or Dianne 01934 814752.

Clematis & climbing plants – talk by Jon Mason for Nailsea Horticultural Society, 7.30pm, United Reformed Church Hall. Members £2, Nonmembers £3 includes refreshments. All welcome.

Kilmersdon Gardeners talk by Bryony Huntley “Easy growing & harvesting with perennials”, 7.30pm, village hall, BA3 5TD. Details: 01761

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233325. Visitors £2 all welcome.

Thursday July 12th West Mendip Walkers circular walk 6m from Dibbinsdale, Badgworth BS26 2QW. Ex153 ST395522. Start 1.30pm. Park roadside. Details: Carol Jackson: 01934 733568 / 07979 354530 or Caj7599@gmail.com Friday July 13th and Saturday July 14th Wedmore Opera Cavalleria Rusticana, Wedmore village hall, 8pm. Doors open at 7pm.

Details: www.wedmoreopera.com or 01934 743953.

July 12th, 13th and 15th Bishop’s Palace, Wells Theatre Company present King Lear in promenade. Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk 01749 988111.

Friday July 13th and Saturday July 14th Flower Festival, Wedmore Methodist Church.

Arts, crafts and refreshments, 10am-5pm.

Saturday July 14th and Sunday July 15th The Great Timsbury Scarecrow Trail: Family Fun! Maps £2.50 & refreshments available St Mary’s Church, 10am–5.30pm on Saturday, 2pm4pm Sunday. Proceeds to church funds, BA2 0LG. Saturday July 14th Film Theme Music, Nailsea Concert Orchestra, 7.30pm Methodist Church. Tickets £12, (£10, U18s £2.50) Nailsea Music Shop or on the door.

Young families welcome at free rehearsal, 3pm4pm.

Brent Knoll Village Bazaar, Farmers’ Market & Parish Café 10am-12. Entrance free.

Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm at War Memorial Hall. Good quality books, jigsaws, DVDs, CDs & talking books.

Burrington Fete, 2pm, in the village square, BS40 7AD. Classic cars, cream teas, maypole and much more. All welcome.

Mendip Society Walk from Saltford. An easy four to five miles around the village then along the River Avon. Meet 2pm, car park in the Shallows, Saltford BS31 3EX. Details: Roger 01225 872777.

Wells – SOUP! Four local charities pitch for and share £700 at Wells SOUP! lunch’s new venue: Connect Centre, Chamberlain Street/Portway junction, nr Waitrose, 1-2pm. Details: 07715 770454.

Croscombe Funday, 1-6pm, village hall & field, Fayreway, Croscombe. A great family day out with stalls, bar, live music, children's games and races.

Bishop’s Palace, Wells, range of activities, including Reynard the Fox, by Wells Festival Theatre, lunchtime concert as part of Wells Orchestral Weekend, Royal Artillery Band and the BIS Kuala Lumpur Ensembles. Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk 01749 988111.

Sunday July 15th Redhill Club open to watch the World Cup Final on the big screen! BBQ from 3pm, prior to kickoff at 4pm. Bar open 12noon until late. BS40 5SG. Glastonbury Male Voice Choir free open-air concert at the bandstand, Wells Recreation Ground, 2.30pm. Donations collected by Wells Lions in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.

Fair in aid of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, The Mead, Norton St Philip, Nr Bath, from 11am-4pm, free entry, salad bar, strawberries & cream and high quality local crafts.

Monday July 16th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with Bingo. All welcome, 8pm, War Memorial Hall.

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Tuesday July 17th Midsomer Norton Townswomen’s Guild 1.30pm St John’s Church Hall BA3 2HX. Talk by Sarah Harris, ‘The history of knitting patterns”. Details: Glen Hepworth 01761 413528.

Spoken Word Café, Yatton Library, 10-11.30am.

Come to hear poems, share your favourite book.

Suggested donation £4; all welcome, disabled access.

Magnificent Mosaics – a window into the Roman World Arts Society lecture, Caryford Hall, Castle Cary BA7 7JJ, 1100, free parking. £6. Details: 01963 350132.

Wednesday July 18th Mendip Gardening Club, The Cultivation & use of unusual herbs with Caroline Pakenham, 7.30pm Ston Easton Village Hall. Details: Hilary 01761 750139.

Thursday July 19th “The play that goes wrong” Charity Theatre trip to Bristol Hippodrome. Details: www.theatretrips.webeden.co.uk or 01458 273085.

West Mendip Walkers moderate circular walk 10m from Exford. ExOL9 SS855384. Start 10am Free car park TA24 7PP. Details: Kimberley Myers: 07809433627 or myersfamily@btopenworld.com Redhill Classic Car & Motorcycle BBQ Evening Gathering 7pm-10pm. Park up for a chat, meet like-minded people. Recreation Field off Church Road BS40 5SG. Tel: 01934 862619.

Friday July 20th to Sunday July22nd Flower Festival, Doulting Church BA4 4QE. Friday 2pm–7pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am-6pm.

Admission Free. All welcome.

Saturday July 21st Dog show and family fun day, Shipham, 11am4pm www.friendsforpets.co.uk Winscombe Tennis Club Open Day, for all ages & abilities, 10am-4pm at The Lynch BS25 1AP. Half price membership for new members who join today. Details: winscombelawntennisclub@live.co.uk Brent Knoll Music on the Green 7.30pm. “Kick the Cat” Blues Brothers, Soul, Motown & Funk.

Tickets £10 from 01278 760308.

Free tennis: Wells Tennis Club, Rowdens Road, 9.30am-2.30pm. Drop-in children’s & adult coaching. Courts available to all to practice.

Equipment provided. Details: www.wellstc.co.uk Sunday July 22nd Mendip Ramblers moderate 12.5m walk Crook Peak, Loxton: ST420576, start 10am Winscombe, Sandford Road car park BS25 1HP. Details: Gill M & Mary P 07875 797361/07966 934848.

Binegar Open Gardens, 12 to 5pm. Adults £5, children free. Teas & cakes. Supporting Holy Trinity renovation work.

Monday July 23rd Green Gardeners tour of the Walled Garden, Mells. Details Helen: 01458 273753.

Tuesday July 24th Chilcompton Garden Club, Village Hall, 7.30: “The Hidden Gardens of Bath” by Helen Hughesdon.

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Congresbury Over-60s Club AGM & Cream Tea. War Memorial Hall, 2.30-4pm. Details: 01934 832004.

Wednesday July 25th “This is Elvis”, Charity Theatre trip to Bristol Hippodrome. www.theatretrips.webeden.co.uk or 01458 273085.

Thursday July 26th West Mendip Walkers moderate circular walk 7m from Tickenham. Ex154 ST471716. Start 1.30pm Jackman’s Fishing Lakes, Jackman’s Bridge BS21 6SG. Details: Vi: 07711662993 or vihowley@me.com Mendip Ramblers moderate 6.5m Avalon Marshes Walk: Westhay to Panborough: ST456437. Start 10am Westhay Reserve car park BA5 1PT. Details: Brian: 01749 672457 / 07476 797446.

Bishop’s Palace, Wells Britten Youth String Orchestra, 12noon. Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk 01749 988111.

Saturday July 28th and Sunday July 29th North Somerset Tractor Club steam-up vintage rally, North Somerset Showground. Details: 07769 977198 or 01278 671784.

Saturday July 28th Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm, War Memorial Hall. Good quality books, jigsaws, DVDs, CDs & talking books.

Sunday July 29th Bishop’s Palace, Lord Chamberlain’s Men outdoor theatre, The Tempest outdoor theatre and picnic. Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk 01749 988111.

Monday July 30th Wessex Stationary Engine Club, "Titanic & W T Stead, the first investigative journalist” Mr Peter Lamb, the Old Down Inn, Emborough BS3 4SA. All welcome, free entry, details 01225 754374.

Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with Bingo. 8pm. All welcome.

Wednesday August 1st – Saturday August 11th Somer Inspirations exhibition, over 20 artists, Wells & Mendip Museum, 10am-5pm except Sunday. Free entry.

Thursday August 2nd “An officer and a gentleman” Charity theatre trip to Bristol Hippodrome. www.theatretrips.webeden.co.uk or 01458 273085.

Thursday August 2nd to Saturday August 4th Frome Memorial Theatre FMTC present “Seussical The Musical” 7pm (& 2pm on Saturday) Tickets £12/£11/£9 from 01373 462795 www.fmt.website Friday August 3rd to Sunday August 5th Valleyfest, Community Farm, Chew Valley Lake, three days of music, food and fun! Details: www.valleyfest.co.uk Saturday August 4th and Sunday August 5th Draycott and Rodney Stoke celebrate the end of WWI, with walking trails, bunting, barbecue and cream teas, organised by SOSP, Supporters of St Peter’s Church. Details: Tricia Lumley 07886733840.

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MENDIP MINDBENDER ANSWERS FOR JULY ACROSS: 2 Sharpham, 4 Lyng, 6 Beercrocombe, 10 Aussie, 11 King John, 13 Yeo, 14 Orson, 16 Rayon, 17 Dirge, 19 Ruin, 21 Tyntesfield, 23. Watchet, 24. Rupert.

DOWN: 1 James, 3 Purefoy, 4 Lympsham, 5 Blackford, 7 Rhino, 8 Chaffcombe, 9 Episcopi, 12 Henry, 15 Organic, 18 Intra, 20 Gene, 22 Net.

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Saturday August 4th Diabetes UK Weston Group invite you to a Hog Roast, 12.30 – 2.30pm, Banwell.

Details Ann: 01934 822679.

Strawberry Tea, with games, tombola and music, 2pm-5pm at Nailsea Court, organised by St Bridget’s Church, Chelvey.

Sunday August 5th Cream Teas served every Sunday from 3-5pm in aid of church funds, St Mary’s Church, Timsbury BA2 0LG. All very welcome.

Nempnett Summer Fete, traditional family fun, stalls, cream teas and lots more, Berryfield House, BS40 8YJ. Wednesday August 8th Kilmersdon Gardeners, talk by Alan Eason, Gardens & parks of Paris. 7.30pm village hall BA3 5TD. Details: 01761 233325.

Visitors welcome £2.

Weston-s-Mare Music Appreciation Society St. Jude's Hall, St. Peter's Church, Baytree Road BS22 8HG. 7.15 for 7.30 pm. Details: simonrawlings9@gmail.com or Dianne 01934 814752.

Saturday August 11th Draycott & Rodney Stoke Village

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Show, Draycott Memorial Hall, 2pm. Refreshments, raffle, trophies, sale of produce.

Sunday August 12th Cranmore Village Fair. Midday onwards. Punch and Judy, children's races, street stalls/car boots, live music, bar, BBQ, dog show, skittles and more. To book a stall or car boot ring 01749 880512.

Friday August 17th Wedmore Harvest Home, church service, procession, harvest lunch, children’s tea, evening entertainment.

Monday August 27th Whitchurch village fete, Barbarians ground, off Norton Lane, plus other bank holiday weekend events. Details: Ashton Broad 01275 832148.

Wednesday August 29th Rainbow Ramble Sponsored walk & treasure hunt for Children’s Hospice SW. Dogs on leads & children welcome!

10.30am Holcombe Village Hall, organised by St Andrew’s & Holy Trinity, Coleford. Details: Lazydays44@googlemail.com

A season of events to celebrate the 450 million year geological history of the Mendip Hills Family Funday “Rock On Mendip” at Burrington Combe Sat 7 July 10am-4pm “A Story in Stone” Wells Building Stone Heritage Guided walk Thurs 26 July 10am-12.30pm Fairy Cave Quarry Botany and Geology walk Tues 31 July 2-4pm

JULY–OCTOBER

Whatley Quarry Tours Thurs 2 Aug 10am-12pm or 2-4pm Pen Hill Geo Walk “The southern slopes of Pen Hill 200 million years of geology” part 1 Fri 3 Aug 10am-1pm Family Funday - “It’s A Blast” at Westbury Quarry Sat 4 Aug 10am-4pm Torr Works Quarry Tour Tues 7 Aug 10am-12pm or 2-4pm

Pen Hill Geo Walk part 2 Fri 10 Aug 10am-1pm “Mendip Lead Mining” – Guided walk Sun 12 Aug 2-4pm Batts Combe Quarry Tour – a Limestone Legacy Tues 14th Aug – 10-12noon or 2-4pm.

Banwell Bone Caves Tour– "Geological aspects of Banwell Caves and Follies” Sat 18 Aug 2.15–5pm.

Family Fossil Fun Friday at Writhlington, Radstock Frid 24 Aug 2-4pm Family Fossil and Rocky Funday, Somerset Earth Science Centre Wed 29 Aug 10am-4pm Banwell Bone Caves Tour– "Geological aspects of Banwell Caves and Follies” Sat 1 Sept 2.15–5pm

“Mendip Lead Mining” – Guided walk with Richard Frost of the Mendip Society Thurs 6 Sept 2-4pm

“Somerset Coal Field walk Radstock: Middle Pit & Clandown” Sun 14th Oct – 1-4pm

Banwell Bone Caves Tour– "Geological aspects of Banwell Caves and Follies” Sat 8 Sep 2.15–5pm.

Batts Combe Quarry Tour – A Limestone Legacy Tues 16 Oct – 10am-12pm or 2-4pm.

“Sketching the Quarry Faces at Fairy Caves” Adults art workshop Mon 10 Sept 2-4.30pm

Halecombe Quarry Geology Tour Thurs 18 Oct 10am-12pm or 24pm.

"Mendips Natural Resources" Wells Cathedral School Tues 18 Sept 7-8.30pm

“Explore Ebbor Gorge” Family Funday Sun 21 Oct 10am–4pm

Stone Carving Workshop with Tanya Josham at Somerset Earth Science Centre Sat 22 Sept 10am-4pm

Mendip Rocks! Festival Finale at Wells Museum “Geo Resources in our lives” Sun 28 Oct 9.30am–4pm A day of inspiring talks and lunch, celebrating the finale of Mendip Rocks 2018 featuring: Prof Chris King “Mining for Diamonds” Doug Robinson (Bristol University) – “Wells City Building Heritage – a 350 million year old story” £15 to include ploughman’s lunch, tea and cake.

Charterhouse History and Blackdown Industrial Archaeology Walk Sun 30 Sept 10am to 2pm Burrington Combe Geo Walk – with Dr Peter Hardy Sat 13 Oct – 2pm-4.30pm

For more details and online booking: www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/events/ Queries and phone bookings to Somerset earth Science Centre: 01749 840156 or gill@earthsciencecentre.org.uk PAGE 130 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2018

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