Mendip Times
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VOLUME 15 ISSUE 8
FREE
Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas
JANUARY 2020
WISHING ALL OUR READERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR! Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news
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MENDIP TIMES
CONTENTS
Welcome
IT’S been a bit of a whirlwind month flying around so many different events and festivals, many of which are featured in the magazine. We also publish the January issue before Christmas, so it’s been a very tight deadline this month. But, as usual, our contributors and advertisers have risen to the challenge, giving you a double helping of Mendip Times to enjoy over the festive season, if you haven’t already finished the December issue. This month we go in search of a lost castle near Longleat and pay tribute to the man who was probably the last of Shepton Mallet’s D-Day veterans. We meet the actor Jeremy Irons, who is giving his support to a Chew Valley Arts centre, and the young athlete from Street who has been named Young Sports Person of the Year. Phil Hendy brings us the annual Mendip cave digging awards, while Sue Gearing has a ridge walk around Compton Dundon. Dr Phil Hammond writes about the trauma of loneliness, particularly prevalent at this time of year, and how some charities are working hard to help. As usual we have many pages devoted to charities, community groups and voluntary organisations, who help make Mendip such a lovely community. With all of our regular contributors and features, may we wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! February 2020 deadline: Friday, 17th January 2020. Published: Tuesday, 28th January 2020. 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 What’s On listings: Annie Egginton annie@mendiptimes.co.uk Publisher: Mendip Times Limited Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG Contacts: For all enquiries, telephone:
01761 463888
or: email: news@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk Design and origination by: Steve Henderson Printed by: Precision Colour Printing, Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ Copyright of editorial content held by Mendip Times Ltd. and its contributors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the Publisher. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or its associates. Front cover: Face painter Tara Joy at Glastonbury Frost Fayre. Photo by Mark Adler, see page 12.
Frost Fayre fun – Glastonbury on song
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37
Kings of the castle – hidden history near Horningsham
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72
Save our shop – villagers in Draycott celebrate
Riding high – school gets a top national award Plus all our regular features Environment ...................................6 Farming Nick Green .....................10 Internet and Crossword ..............14 Food & Drink ...............................16 Business.........................................22 Arts & Antiques ...........................40 Charities........................................44 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......49 Walking Sue Gearing ....................50 Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........52
Gardening Mary Payne MBE.......54 Health Dr Phil Hammond .............62 Community ...................................68 Caving Phil Hendy ........................77 Property ........................................80 Homes and Interiors ....................84 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE.....88 Sport ..............................................90 Music & Theatre ..........................92 What’s On.....................................94 MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • 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
Once again Christmas is approaching fast. By the time this edition is published we will have had our annual Christmas lunch and be ready to wind down for the festive season. Our offices will be closed from 5pm on Monday, December 23rd until 9am on Thursday, January 2nd while our staff enjoy a well-earned break and time with their friends and families. We are expecting a busy start to the year. Traditionally, Christmas is the time of year to be thankful so . . . a big thank you to all our staff whose energy, enthusiasm and diligence enables us to provide the service of which we are justly proud. Thanks also go to our professional and other business contacts. We have very much enjoyed working with you this year and we hope to do more in 2020. Most of all we give sincere thanks to our clients. Whether regular or occasional, we value each and every one and we are touched by the loyalty shown by those that return to us, sometimes after several years, because they remember our good service. We are grateful to all of you and wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Castle Cary: e Old Exchange, Church Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7EJ. 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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MENDIP TIMES
NEWS
Eady’s big adventure
FAMILY and friends of a seven-year-old girl from Cranmore with a genetic illness are planning a fundraising walk with her to the summit of Snowdon. Eady Body suffers from a severe neuro development disorder leading to profound and multiple physical and learning disabilities. Mum Charly and dad Matt are trying to raise money for Eady to continue to receive ABR treatment in Glasgow; the costs, including accommodation and transport, are estimated to be around £7,000 per year. They are also fundraising to buy an all-terrain wheelchair to enable Eady to climb Snowdon; Charly and Matt hope friends will join them on the trip in either May, July or August next year. Calla, aged ten, from Croscombe, is pictured braiding the hair of friend Indi. Calla has helped to raise more than £1,000 for Eady through various events, including completing a triathlon
A Christmas wish
Eady and brother Mitch with mum and dad Charly and Matt at a Christmas fundraising fair in Cranmore Memorial Hall
Jo, Leanne and Jo serving refreshments – the fair raised more than £700 for Eady’s Journey
For details, find Eady’s Journey on Facebook
A GROUP of students from Ansford Academy at Castle Cary are trying to raise more than £4,000 each to pay for a trip to Kenya to help some of the country’s poorest communities. They are due to visit Kenya for one month over the summer of 2021 to work with Camps International on a series of community projects ranging from conservation work to housebuilding. As part of their fundraising, the students opened a Santa grotto at the school as part of a Christmas craft and gift fair. Other events include a 32-mile sponsored walk, long distance cycle ride, craft making and dog sitting.
Santa and his elves at Ansford Academy
Hayley Spencer, whose son Ciaran is one of the students fundraising to go to Kenya, ran a stall at the fair selling her wildlife photos in aid of the trip
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 5
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Village’s sustainable festive season
WITHAM Friary has hosted it first sustainable Christmas Fair. A total of £450 was raised to help fund “how to be more sustainable” workshops next year and organisers said there was a huge amount of enthusiasm and aspiration to achieve a more sustainable Christmas. Lots of ideas were displayed and Festive – and sustainable – demonstrated at the fair decorations on display at Witham from making Christmas Friary Village Hall wrapping paper from brown paper, to salt dough decorations and parcel tags, bees wax wraps, homemade cotton dishcloths and flannels plus ways to make parcels look beautiful without plastic bows, tape or foil wrapping paper. The fair followed the success of a composting workshop in the village hall in November. For ideas and helpful hints find Sustainable Witham Friary on Facebook
Mendip volunteer of the year
MARTIN Parsons, from Hutton, is the Mendip Hills AONB Partnership’s Volunteer of the Year. The award is made to the volunteer who the AONB unit think has gone above and beyond a normal volunteering role. Malcolm was chosen for the award as he is such a central part in making the AONB volunteers such a welcoming community. He gets involved at all levels from helping at practical tasks to supporting the young rangers. The AONB said: “He is one of the unsung champions of the area, giving up his time to make sure the Mendip Hills remain amazing for residents, visitors and all the other volunteers.” Lauren Holt, ranger volunteer co-ordinator, said: “Malcolm has been volunteering for the Mendip Hills AONB for a few years. He made me so welcome when I started earlier this year and is the first to make new volunteers feel part of the community.“He's always the first to respond whenever we ask for help and is an amazing ambassador for our work on the Mendip Hills.” The AONB partnership strive to involve people in the management of the nationally protected area and offer a wide variety of opportunities. Details: http://www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/caringabout-the-aonb/volunteering/ or call 01761 462338
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Improving access to Westhay Moor
A marsh harrier – Westhay Moor is a breeding ground for them
SOMERSET Wildlife Trust is seeking new grants to improve visitor access to Westhay Moor, by resurfacing the car park, building a wheelchair-friendly boardwalk and a dipping platform. In August, the trust announced that it had raised £60,000 in record time in donations to buy a vital 11 acres of peat works next to its reserve on the Avalon Marshes. Now it is bidding for £50,000 from Viridor Credits to create the boardwalk; the trust also wants to improve the layout and surface of the main visitor car park and resurface the existing “easy access” footpath that takes visitors from the car park to the Viridor Hide. The trust said: “Purchases of this kind never happen overnight. We are continuing to work with the current owners to complete all the necessary paperwork and legal requirements. “We’re now on the home straight and are really hoping to exchange on the purchase before Christmas. What a great gift to wildlife the land will be! “In the meantime we have been working with the owners to deliver some of the basic restoration work as part of their commitment to leaving the land in a good place for us to manage the land for maximum biodiversity gain once we own it and to connect it to the wider reserve in a way that ensures we can manage the hydrology of the site in a much more efficient way for the special and fragile habitats that exist there.”
Bitterns are resident all year-round at Westhay Moor
(Photos courtesy of Somerset Wildlife Trust/Graham Hall/Jamie Hall)
MENDIP TIMES
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New dates for climate emergency drop-ins
RESCHEDULED public events to discuss the creation of Somerset’s first Climate Emergency Strategy have been confirmed. The “have your say” drop-ins will take place in each district council area in January and February, being run by the Somerset Climate Action Network on behalf of Somerset’s four district councils and the county council. The events will be held on Saturdays, between 10am and 4pm at the following venues: January 18th: Somerset West and Taunton. The Glassbox, Taunton Library, Paul Street, Taunton February 8th: Sedgemoor District Council. The Sedgemoor Room, Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater February 15th: Mendip District Council. The Council Chamber, Mendip District Council Offices, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet February 22nd: South Somerset District Council. Vicarage Street Methodist Church, Vicarage Street, Yeovil Earlier in 2019, all five councils declared or recognised “climate emergencies”, agreeing to work together to produce a joint Climate Emergency Strategy. The strategy will identify ways for Somerset to work towards being carbon neutral by 2030 and adapt to predicted climate change impacts. Open to residents, businesses, groups and anyone with an interest, the drop-ins will be a chance to discuss the initial thoughts of the five councils set out in a framework document. They will be seeking feedback on whether the work so far focusses on the right areas, covers everything it should and whether there are actions that communities could take forward themselves. An online survey will also be available between January 6th and February 19th. The events were initially due to take place before Christmas but were rescheduled for the New Year due to the general election.
Climate change – community ideas in Frome
RESIDENTS of Frome came together to discuss a range of ways that the town can meet its climate change targets during Frome Town Council’s recent climate change panels. Ideas ranged from community-owned solar and wind installations to walking buses to “fit bits for carbon” and safer cycle routes to a children’s shoe library to local food growing and shared delivery points. Councillor Lizzie Boyle said: “It was great to hear so many good ideas and such enthusiasm for getting these done. The benefits of taking action are huge – cleaner air, healthier lifestyles, easier to heat homes and local jobs.” Anna Francis, the council’s resilience officer, will be collating the ideas from the panels and putting them into an action plan over the next few weeks. The first draft of the plan will be discussed at a council meeting on Wednesday, January 22nd.
ENVIRONMENT
Community solar project launched
BWCE solar panels on Lewis House, Bath
BATH & West Community Energy has announced the launch of Community Solar 2020, a new programme to install community-owned solar power in Bath & North East Somerset and surrounding areas, including Bradford-on-Avon, Corsham, Trowbridge and Marshfield. The scheme will offer free solar panel installations for non-domestic buildings e.g. business premises, schools and community buildings. BWCE will raise the money, install the systems, own and maintain them. They will then sell the solar-generated electricity to the building owner at least ten percent cheaper than the grid and help them slash their carbon emissions. In addition to the reduced cost of electricity, organisations that install community-owned solar (and anyone involved with them) will be given an opportunity to invest in BWCE and earn an annual return of up to four percent. Because BWCE is a community benefit society, any surplus income from their solar power, after paying our community investors, is donated to local community projects to reduce emissions and fuel poverty through the BWCE Community Fund, with £155,000 donated so far. BWCE managing director, Pete Capener, said: “The primary mission of BWCE is not to make money but to reduce local carbon emissions. Since our inception in 2010 we have installed solar power equivalent to the annual demand of 4,000 homes on schools, public buildings and at our ground-mounted solar arrays. “We believe that Community Solar 2020 offers a great opportunity for anyone concerned about the climate emergency to do something practical to reduce emissions, cut costs and increase the amount of community-owned renewable energy.” They are asking everyone concerned about the climate crisis, including schoolchildren, to become Solar Roof Spotters to help find potential roofs for the project. Details: www.bwce.coop/community-solar-2020 or call Alex Lockton on 07771 865115
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 7
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MENDIP TIMES
ENVIRONMENT
Young volunteers brighten the approach to Winscombe A GENEROUS donation has enabled the Millennium Green Trust of Winscombe and Sandford to purchase species trees as part of an enhancement scheme at Woodborough Bridge on the approach to Winscombe. The trees were planted by young volunteers from Sidcot School who
regularly attend work parties on the fiveacre community owned industrial heritage and conservation site. Last year the trust’s volunteers with others from the Strawberry Line Society cleared an overgrown area which was obscuring the finely constructed masonry of the Bristol and Exeter Railway bridge.
People travelling from Banwell can now look forward to entering the heart of the village through a bright display and the 150-year-old monumental bridge which has stood the test of time! The young trees are specially chosen to have blossom in spring, attractive foliage and berries for the birds in winter.
Rewilding programme gathers support MORE than 70 people have already expressed an interest in getting involved in North Somerset Council’s rewilding programme. Rewilding involves creating more habitats in North Somerset to enable wildlife to flourish, increase biodiversity and help address climate change. It also means managing sites in ways that are appropriate to their needs. This may involve restoring rare habitats such as limestone grassland or even felling trees that are diseased or are damaging structures. Rewilding areas of the council’s 2.5 million square metres of verges, parks and open spaces, where currently the grass is mown regularly, will be done by planting 50,000 new trees and allowing the grass to grow taller. Planting the 50,000 young trees, called “whips”, will be done in phases over the next three years with planting of the initial 5,000 starting in February. The tall grass sites will also be introduced over the next three years, starting next summer. The council is currently consulting on its plans and seeking volunteers to help with rewilding projects such as planting trees and monitoring rewilding areas.
Wood is good
ONE hundred trees are being planted on land off Tor Hill Lane in Wells as part of Mendip District Council’s climate change initiative. A combination of beech, hazel, field maple and oak saplings will be used in the green scheme to help replace tree stocks due to natural loss. The area is popular with walkers and a natural haven for wildlife. The 100 trees have been gifted to the council by their grounds and maintenance contractor idverde, who are celebrating a centenary in business. The council is actively exploring other locations across the district suitable for green initiatives, and are in conversations with experts at The Woodland Trust to determine the most appropriate species of trees and planting schemes to embark on.
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Residents, town and parish councils and community groups are being asked for their views on the suitability of the sites identified for rewilding and for their suggestions of any other potential locations in their area. The consultation has already attracted around 150 responses. John Flannigan, the council’s community and environment service manager, said: “Thank you to everyone who has responded so far and to all those who have offered to get involved in the project. “We need your help. There’s a lot of work to be done to make all this happen, so the more volunteers we get to help with rewilding in their local community the better. It’s a great opportunity to get involved in a practical way with helping to address the climate emergency.” l Consultations will run until Friday, January 24th after which the sites for rewilding will be finalised and the council will prepare the specification for its new grounds and tree maintenance contract. For details or to comment, visit: www.nsomerset.gov.uk/rewilding See Wildlife page 49.
Climate assembly in Glastonbury
GLASTONBURY’S Climate Emergency Group will hold a People’s Assembly in the Town Hall on Saturday, January 25th, 11am-3.30pm. They will focus on transport, food and the environment, with presentations by Robert Macbeth, Glastonbury Growers Group, Anna Francis, Frome Resilience Officer, Sonya Bedford, Avalon Community Energy and Jon Cousins, Green town and district councillor. Indra Donfrancesco will facilitate the assembly. Details: serena.roney-dougal@glastonbury.gov.uk
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MENDIP TIMES
FARMING
The Mendip farming community
I HAVE some very big shoes to fill following Mary James’ sterling work over the last 13 years. She has written interesting and informative articles just as though she was speaking them. She is a fantastic ambassador for farming and all things rural. Well done Mary! With NICK My professional role is to oversee a GREEN farming enterprise and as such I have the good fortune to work with a great team of people. I also meet lots of interesting local, national and international producers and a
Your main Kubota dealer for Somerset and South Gloucester Main Road A370, Hewish, Weston-super-Mare BS24 6SE
whole host of others involved in the food and farming industry. Aside from my day job, I am involved with various organisations all based around rural interests. As such I am involved with a variety of communities. Look around you and there are communities everywhere. The villages we are so lucky to live in thrive around their communities. The businesses we work in, regardless of size, are a series of communities and the various organisations we belong to are collective communities each with a common agenda members engage with. Farming is no different. As an industry we have a community of growers, producers and land-based business people each working to produce for the consuming public. It might be beef, lamb, chicken or pork; eggs, milk, cheese or yogurt; rape, barley, wheat or oats; or a service of some sort. Whatever it might be, the common cause of providing good wholesome food with known provenance draws the farming community together. The farming community on Mendip and surrounding areas is an important part of the UK farming community in its own unique way. Whether it’s moorland milk production, upland sheep or broad field arable production we have it in abundance. So what will 2020 bring to the farming community? In the recent general election each of the political parties majored on environmental concerns often above food production. As farmers we will be under pressure to consider what we can do on our farms to improve the wider environment. I have no doubt our farmed livestock produce things that have the potential to cause environmental damage. But think about the damage done by shipping food around the world or jetting off on holiday. Locally-produced food eaten in season and taking less flights would help protect the environment much more than making dramatic changes to an industry that has been producing food sustainably for thousands of years. Nick Green is Farms Director for Alvis Bros Ltd based at Lye Cross Farm. He is responsible for the farming and estate business and is passionate about British food and farming. As well as the business, he is involved with a number of local and national farming charities.
St Katherines Farmhouse Downside Road, Lulsgate Bristol BS48 3DZ
Contact: 01275 472471 www.jwandtjpearce.co.uk
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MENDIP TIMES
Fabulous Frost Fayre Glastonbury
Glastonbury Male Voice Choir at the Market Cross
Jersey, aged ten, and Adele, aged four, enjoy painting Christmas decorations with some help from Angela, from Children’s World, and Caroline, from sponsors Thorndown Paints
Uphill and Still opened the music on the main Melodrome Stage
Wyvern Jubilee Morris; new members welcome. Email: wyvernbagman@gmail.com One of the drummers at the opening fayre ceremony
PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
The cast of Moonlight Theatre’s Cinderalla, being held at the Meyer Theatre at Millfield School in Street from December 21st-30th
Artist Tara Joy in the High Street
Crowds throng the High Street – record numbers attended
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CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Dickensian Fayre Wrington
Wrington’s Explorer Scouts Max, James, Ollie and Riley selling seasonal treats
Jeremy Birkett, left, and Jim Swords welcome visitors
Young shoppers admiring the Christmas decorations
Pupils from Wrington Primary School entertain visitors
(Photographs courtesy of Bob Bowen)
Jim Swords in Christmas attire leads the cheers as Wrington’s Christmas lights are switched on
East Harptree
Becky, left, and Julie who play the Wicked Witch and Mrs McCready in Wrington Adult and Youth Drama group’s January production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Father Christmas dropped in on East Harptree for the sale of Christmas trees outside the community shop
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 13
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INTeRNeT
January refunds
HIGH street shops don't have to accept returns unless an item is faulty, but returns for online purchases are covered by the Consumer Contracts Regulations. When you buy goods online you have additional rights to return them. This is because your decision may be based on a brief description or a photograph – so what you receive isn't always quite what you’d expected. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, you are allowed to return an item if you simply change your mind. online returns timelines You have the right to cancel (usually by email) at any time from the moment you place your online order, and up to 14 days from the day you receive your goods. You then have a further 14 days from the date you notify the retailer of your cancellation to return the goods. Read the individual terms and conditions for more info – there are only a few exemptions to getting a refund. exemptions to online returns There are some circumstances where the Consumer Contracts Regulations won’t give you a right to cancel – such as for CDs, DVDs or software if you've broken the seal on the wrapping, perishable items and tailor-made or personalised items. They also include goods with a seal for health protection and hygiene reasons that's been broken. Also included are goods that have been mixed inseparably with other items after delivery. You must cover the delivery cost for returning unwanted goods, unless the retailer says it will pay for returns. Some retailers offer free returns labels, so you don’t have to pay to return. You should get proof of postage, just in case the retailer later disputes you've returned your goods. Proof of postage should be sufficient evidence to prove you returned the goods. If your goods are faulty, you shouldn't have to pay to return the goods. For more info, check out www.which.co.uk/consumerrights More about returns next month. 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.
PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
CRoSSWoRD
The Mendip Mindbender
ACRoSS 1 Describes a diamond without a blemish (8) 5 Village on the Axe, close to Wells with a well known hole as a sister village (6) 9 People who sin (9) 11 Noise of a musical instrument’s plucked string (5) 12 He is wearing aftershave. This town is on the river Brue and noted for its dovecote (6) 13 Person who deliberately annoys (8) 15 ATM (4,9) 18 Parish and Village lying halfway between Street and Somerton (7,6) 22 Showing signs of having been on sale too long! (8) 23 Country with capital Kampala (6) 26 Garment worn by male Hindus, the end passed through the legs and tucked in at the waist (5) 27 A principal or standard that may be judged (9) 28 1960 thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock (6) 29 Where to find a crow's nest or newspaper’s name (8)
DoWN 1 Information returning to it's source as a basis of intelligence (8) 2 Old French farewell (5) 3 Village of four settlements; on Fosse, East, West and Fairplace (7) 4 Have the appearance of (4) 6 Musical series of eight notes (7) 7 Broken or exhausted (9) 8 Dairy product of fermented milk (6) 10 Forces rank earning three stripes (8) 14 Abstruse and mysterious (8) 16 Study of the structure of society (9) 17 . . . from no merit or work (8) 19 Over sentimental, sloppy (7) 20 Greasy stuff to make massage easier (7) 21 Finished or employed in an erect position (4,2) 24 Wet behind the ears (5) 25 'The Fat Lady' in opera ! (4) Clues in italics are cryptic by greendandelion
This month’s solution can be found on page 97
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MENDIP TIMES
Easing into the New Year
With JUNE MACFARLANE
I am approaching 2020 on tiptoe, stealthily. There are lots of possibilities, not all good, but my glass is half full and I am optimistic. We can do this, folks, so let’s line our tummies and get on with it.
WINTER SQUASH AND BORLOTTI BEANS
There are lots of lovely varieties of INGREDIENTS squash around (for four) now, spoiling us 1 kg squash for choice. Vegetable oil Borlotti beans are 6 medium shallots beautiful and Small bunch of thyme mealy, even if 750ml vegetable stock they do lose 400g borlotti beans, their splashes of drained colour when cooked. Butter beans are a good substitute.
METHOD Preheat oven to 200°C. Halve the squash, remove seeds and cut into wedges. Fry in a little oil on both sides until golden. Remove and reserve. Peel the shallots and brown in the same pan. Add the thyme and season well. Return squash to dish and add stock. Cover and simmer for ten mins. Add the beans, cover and bake for 40 mins, removing lid for final ten mins. Check for tenderness and serve hot.
Squashed for choice
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Make 2020 a banger of a year
TOULOUSE SAUSAGES AND CELERIAC
I’ve been hankering for a good sausage for weeks – a simple one pot dish full of flavour and depth. The much-overlooked celeriac goes perfectly INGREDIENTS with Toulouse sausages. (Serves two-three) 6 Toulouse sausages METHOD Oil In a big frying pan brown the sausages 3 carrots, halved really well in a little oil. Slice off the 6 medium shallots, peeled outer jacket of the celeriac and cut into 1 small celeriac wedges. Add the carrots, shallots and Bunch of thyme, bay and celeriac to the pan and brown. Add the rosemary herbs and seasoning. Add the stock, Seasoning place a lid askew and simmer for 15 300ml chicken stock mins, until tender.
HONEY, GINGER AND VANILLA BAKED PERSIMMONS INGREDIENTS
(for three) 3 ripe persimmons 1 cinnamon stick 1” ginger, roughly chopped 2 star anise 1 tsp vanilla extract 4 tbsp honey 1 lemon, zest and juice 200ml boiling water
You can eat persimmons raw, but they bake well too, holding their shape and texture. This is a sublimely fragrant dish!
METHOD Preheat oven to 200°C. Cut a thin slice off the top and bottom of the fruits so they sit firmly. Cut each into four rounds. Arrange in a baking dish. Put remaining ingredients into a small bowl, add boiling water and stir to combine. Pour over persimmons. Cover with tinfoil. Bake for about 45 mins until tender. Serve with pan juices and crème fraiche.
Persimmons – sublimely fragrant in this dish
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What’s new from
Myrtle Farm
FOOD & DRINK
A round-up of events from Thatchers Cider in Sandford
We’d like to wish everyone a very happy New Year from us all at Myrtle Farm. It’s been a really exciting 2019, and here are just a few of the highlights.
footprint, we introduced new, In our quest to reduce our carbon e – so saving 381 tons CO2 lighter weight cans for our cider rang this year alone.
The future’s Rosé – our new Rosé cider became the most successful new cider brand launch of the summer! And we also introduced a pink gin, Orchard Blush, in our shop at Myrtle Farm too.
The Thatchers Foundation has been supporting local groups, charities and organisations throughout the year, meeting some amazing people who really do inspiring work in their communities.
In the spring, we planted 5,000 new trees in our Somerset orchards. This year’s harvest has been a good one producing excellent quality apples for our cidermakers.
Our apprenticeship programme, Thatchers Young Talent, has been going from strength to strength. This year we welcomed a further group of amazing young people to the team.
In September, we opened our doors and welcomed visitors to our Open Day. From orchard tours, tastings, craft stalls and plenty of fun, it was a day to remember.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO’S HELPED MAKE 2019 A VERY SPECIAL YEAR!
ENDIP TIMES JANUARY 2017 2020 • PAGE 17 MM ENDIP TIMES • N• OVEMBER
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MENDIP TIMES
Wells Christmas market
WELLS Market rounds off a fantastic year with a Christmas Eve shopper’s special! The final Wells Wednesday Market of the year is being brought forward a day to Tuesday, December 24th, 10am-2pm in the Market Place. Free parking is available all day across council-owned car parks throughout Mendip on Christmas Eve. The Wells Saturday Market is on as normal, on December 28th. Details: www.mendip.gov.uk/markets
Taking Somerset to London
THE
WOODBOROUGH INN
Modern and comfortable bar with traditional log burner and friendly welcome
THE recently-opened Yeo Valley Cafe near Kensington Palace was the venue for a showcase of some of Somerset and Exmoor’s finest food and drink producers. The event attended by national journalists, international media and high profile influencers included presentations on the future of food and the rise of organic farming from Yeo Valley founder, Tim Mead and founder of Mulberry turned spelt farmer, Roger Saul. Tim Mead said: “I think Somerset is possibly Britain’s best kept secret. We’ve got a wonderful array of top quality food growers and producers here and it’s great to show them off.” l Yeo Valley’s Canteen in Blagdon has been chosen as the People’s Favourite Restaurant at the Food Made Good Awards, recognising the restaurant’s sustainable approach to sourcing and producing food. Paul Collins, from Yeo Valley, said: “For us, it is about supporting British farmers and producers that surround us here in Somerset and who share our values and ethos.”
• A real village pub – all welcome • Open all day, every day • Freshly prepared food • Extensive menu and daily specials • Local ales • Freshly-ground coffee • A stones throw from The Strawberry Line • Outside seating area www.woodborough-inn.co.uk
01934 844167 • contact@woodborough-inn.co.uk Sandford Road, Winscombe, Somerset BS25 1HD PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
Karen Barnes with Paul Collins accepting the award from Raymond Blanc
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GARDEN FOOD
Feel the heat
I’VE recently taken to making a lot more use of the horseradish in my garden. I transplanted some wild plants many years ago and they have thrived in total neglect, often being overgrown by nettles and brambles, but always holding their own and gradually With JAKE spreading as an irregular clump. WHITSON A member of the cabbage family, it is probably originally native to south-eastern Europe but thrives in our climate, being a common plant of roadsides. Despite its eye-watering qualities it is beloved of all the cabbage family pests and most often has extremely tattered and threadbare leaves by high summer – indeed I have heard of it being used as a decoy crop, planted away from cabbages and broccoli to attract all the pests away from these more tender plants. I principally make it into a sauce, as a substitute for English mustard or indeed horseradish from the shops, the sweetness and gumminess of which I am not a fan. The roots of wild plants are quite knobbly compared with the cultivated roots one finds in the shops on occasion, which I imagine are cultivars, but nevertheless they must be peeled, either with a small knife or vegetable peeler. They can then be grated on the finest side of the grater – depending on the amount, you may have to do this in short bursts while holding your breath, as fresh horseradish is really quite powerful! I find it unnecessary to add cream or creme fraiche, instead preferring a splash of creamy milk or yoghurt, a very healthy dose of salt, and a spoonful of wholegrain mustard (not strictly necessary, but it does round out the flavour somewhat). I enjoy this sauce with all kinds of meats, not just the usual beef. Horseradish roots vary in strength throughout the season and from plant to plant, but also be warned that on the first day this sauce is really strong stuff – for many people’s tastes it is better to let it mellow for a day. Jacob Whitson is a chef, food writer and smallholder. He is currently working on setting up a small sustainable goose farm in Somerset with his partner Johanna.
FOOD & DRINK
WILD FOOD
A New Year’s warmer
ABOUT 7,000 years ago, vast coniferous forests covered many parts of Britain. Then, as the climate became warmer and wetter broad-leaved trees such as oak, lime, alder and elm began to take over. This was followed by a much cooler and wetter period which, and I don’t know With ADRIAN about you, we still seem to be enjoying at BOOTS present. Today, the Caledonian forest of Scotland is all that is left of this ancient forest. But since the 18th century, pine trees have been extensively planted further south and subsequently naturalised. So what is our only native pine tree? There is a clue in the name – it’s the Scots Pine! Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) has cracked, almost flakey bark with an orange-brown colour at the top of the trunk darkening to a more muted brown at the base. The needles are in pairs and on the female the cones are at first small and green but later mature to a greyish brown. Flowering occurs May to June. What, you may ask, has this ancient and most fascinating of trees got to do with wild food? The answer is – leaves. Well, needles actually. The young needles can be eaten uncooked in the spring along with the pollen, but during the winter there is one other important use – scented bath salts! No, not really (although you could if you really wanted to). Seriously, how about a warming pine needle tea, which I can vouchsafe is much tastier and far less prickly than bathing. Gather fresh pine needles from the tree, place in a cup and fill up with hot water (not boiling as we don’t want to scald the needles) steeping for five minutes. Add a spoonful of honey to sweeten and a tot of your favourite tipple e.g. gin, vodka or whisky. Probably not a single malt though. Traditionally, pine needles have been used to treat chest infections, so you can feel good about this as not only do you get a New Year’s warmer during the coldest time of the year but it can also help alleviate some cold symptoms too. It’s literally a health drink with booze in it. Bargain. Here’s wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year!
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 • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 19
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MENDIP TIMES
CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Christmas in Pensford Pensford
PenSFord Hall committee's final fundraising event, the annual Christmas fair, raised £1,085.76 for the upkeep of the hall. Father Christmas was kept busy, as were the many stallholders as everyone wandered round buying gifts, and also enjoying the refreshments on sale. one of the organisers, Karen Lawrence, said: “I'd like to say that the Christmas Fair was a great success. A great day was had by all, and we had a large variety of stallholders, which kept the customers happy.” Chris and Sarah Carpenter with Penny
Pictured (l to r) Karen Lawrence, Father Christmas, Tracy and Lola King with Emlyn and Arthur
Lights switch-on Cameley
Four Camely Primary School house captains, Louis, Poppy, roxy and Lois, switched on the village’s Christmas tree lights. Temple Cloud with Cameley parish council chairman, Tony Hooper, said: “It was a lovely evening, very well attended and the parish council are absolutely delighted how it went, particularly the mulled wine and mince pies.”
PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
The refreshments team (l to r) Steve Wilcox, Leah Collins with Talia and Elaine Davidson
Page 21 January.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 13:13 Page 1
RH
Windows
THE CHEW VALLEY’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED WINDOW COMPANY WITH A REPUTATION BUILT ON QUALITY AND SERVICE FOR CONSERVATORIES, WINDOWS AND DOORS IN HARDWOOD OR UPVC
HARDWOOD JOINERY SPECIALISTS www.rhwindowsltd.co.uk
Telephone: 01761 452171 Fax: 01761 453342
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MENDIP TIMES
BUSINESS
Quad bike specialists
aTVs R Us Ltd have been quad bike dealers for over 20 years. They pride themselves on their franchise for both Honda and Yamaha, supplying Utility aTVs, Junior Quads, Side x Side Utility and a range of pre-owned bikes to the local community and beyond. as well as the support of their expert product knowledge, they are also suppliers for both Wessex and Logic mowers and sprayers. Further services extend to both workshop and on-site servicing and repairs, sales of accessories to include: sprayers, boxes, helmets and winches, together with a full range of Honda and Yamaha parts and tyre sales. They also offer a FRee winter check for new and existing customers and free trackers on all new vehicles with 0% finance available. Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all at aTVs R Us.
Adam Henson launches new bed range
PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
RaRe breeds farmer and BBC Countryfile presenter, adam Henson, visited TR Hayes in Bath to launch his new beds collection made by traditional bed makers Harrison Spinks, based in Yorkshire. He’s pictured with store owners Derek and Margaret Hayes and their son Richard. TR Hayes, Bath’s biggest furniture store, is one of the first to stock the beds, which use wool from rare breeds and other indigenous sheep in the mattresses, without the use of glues, plastics or foam. adam bought up all the wool available from the Cotswold Sheep Society, as well as supplying it from his own farm at Guiting Power near Cheltenham and from other British farms. He said: “Wool is a sustainable product that grows on the back of sheep. It’s hard-wearing, naturally sprung, antimicrobrial and fire retardant, so doesn’t need treating with chemicals. With the whole conversation about sustainability this is very timely. “also if we can find an outlet for products from rare breeds, farmers are more likely to keep them and so the animals become less rare.”
Business section.qxp_Layout 1 12/12/2019 13:46 Page 23
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MENDIP TIMES
ECATCHER MOL
Pretty Sitting UPHOLSTERY & INTERIORS
NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01761 417100 www.mendipmolecatcher.co.uk
Reupholstery • Soft furnishings Courses • Vintage Furniture
Barrows House, Tweentown, Cheddar BS27 3HU 01934 752725 info@prettysittingvintage.co.uk www.prettysittingvintage.co.uk
P & C Logs Call Phil on 07734 098323, or Colleen on 07785 250033 or on Evenings 01934 741941
Friendly prompt service from Phil & Colleen at their farm in Charterhouse Quality seasoned beech and ash hardwood, chopped and split into a variety of load options (with free delivery).
PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
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BUSINESS
Thinking of formalising your relationship? Understand your options THe idea of “family” is changing. It can no longer be considered as a married couple of the opposite sex with children. The last 30 years has seen a shift in the law and attitudes to cohabiting, the introduction of civil partnerships and same sex marriage. additional changes will be coming into effect. From December 31st an opposite sex civil partnership can take place – a welcome development to ensure equality for all. The team at Mogers Drewett have created an easy overview of the options available to couples looking to formalise their relationship. Cohabitation If you live with your partner, but don’t wish to enter into a marriage or civil partnership, you may believe you are “common law spouses” which provides you with rights over property or assets. However this doesn’t have any legal recognition which can lead to problematic disputes if relationships end. a cohabitation agreement offers some protection as it outlines who owns which
assets and defines how you would split those if there were a separation. This can include bank accounts, pension schemes and debts. It can also detail how you would support any children beyond legal duties. Marriage and Civil Partnership Marriage has always been available for opposite sex couples and was also made possible for same sex couples in 2014. There is now a new option available to opposite sex couples who want to make a public commitment to one another without getting married; a civil partnership. In terms of officially committing to spending your life with your partner, there aren’t many significant differences between marriage and civil partnership. It’s down to personal preference; a civil partnership moves away from any religious connections and the formality of a wedding. When it comes to legal rights, marriage and civil partnerships share the same property rights, pension benefits and the ability to obtain parental responsibility for a partner’s child. They also have the same rights of next of kin in hospitals and are
also exempt from inheritance tax. What’s next for legal reform? With the number of cohabiting couples in the UK expected to increase, and many deciding not to marry or enter into a civil partnership, the next issue will be the introduction of specific legislation for separating unmarried couples, who face unfairness due to the absence of any such statute. Victoria Strode, Associate Solicitor, Family team at Mogers www.mogersdrewett.com
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 25
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MENDIP TIMES
Holiday show returns to North Somerset
Wishing all our customers past, present & future a wonderful Christmas
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 26 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
Last year’s event
aN exciting holiday show is to take place in North Somerset on Sunday, February 9th at the Doubletree by Hilton Cadbury House in Congresbury. The FRee public event hosted by local business Global Independent Travel Centre will present over 25 worldwide travel suppliers. From cruise to escorted tours, honeymoon services to coach and rail, the show will provide a unique opportunity to meet directly with travel industry experts, pick up specialist brochures, discuss your travel plans and seek holiday inspiration for 2020 and beyond. Confirmed travel companies include Kuoni, Sandals, Inghams, Cunard, Cruise & Maritime, TravelPack, Intrepid, MSC Cruise, Bakers Dolphin and many more. Lisa Weakley, managing director at Global Independent Travel Centre said: “Our 2019 holiday show was a huge success attracting over 300 people. I’m hoping 2020 will be even bigger as we celebrate our tenth anniversary in business.” Those attending will be able to discover first-hand the latest travel trends, up and coming destinations and new products on offer. There will also be exclusive travel discounts, low deposits and special promotions available on the day. The first 100 parties through the doors will each receive a goody bag and there will be an opportunity to win a £250 holiday voucher. Global Independent Travel Centre will also be celebrating their ten years in business with complimentary refreshments and cake. The event is free to enter and will run between 11am-3pm on Sunday, February 9th. Registration is now open. You can get your free tickets via globalindependenttravel.com/events Global Independent Travel Centre is a local independent travel agent with branches in Clevedon and Winscombe. Lisa Weakley
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Building extensions
YOU want to extend at the back of your house but an old conveyance contains restrictions including that no alterations or additions can be effected without the original builder’s consent. How can you safely proceed with an extension, bearing in mind the original builder may now well be dead? Covenants of this nature are quite common, but give rise to all sorts of difficulties. The first question to answer is who is now entitled to enforce the covenant? In order to be binding on subsequent owners, the covenant has to be capable of benefiting someone else’s land. Given that the original developer would have sold all the plots many years ago he, or rather his heirs, since it is reasonable to assume that he is no longer alive, would not have any right to enforce the covenant against you. In some cases, however, what is known as a “building scheme” can arise, whereby all the owners of the houses on
BUSINESS
the estate can enforce the restrictions against each other. This might be the case where, for example, the original covenant said that no more than one house was to be built on any plot of land. However, it is likely that a restriction on alterations without the consent of the original builder is not enforceable by the owners of other houses on the estate. Clearly it could not have been the intention that, in order to carry out alterations to your house, you would have to get the consent of all the other owners. Provided that you obtain planning permission, if necessary, and comply with all other statutory requirements, you will probably have no need to be concerned. as and when you come to sell the house, the buyer’s solicitor, who of course will have seen the register entries and presumably know that you have built an extension, may raise the matter. This is not uncommon and is usually dealt with by taking out an indemnity insurance policy against the very remote risk that
anyone would try to enforce the covenant at some later date. Because the risk is so remote, the premiums for these sorts of policies are fairly modest. It is always sensible to consult your solicitor on an issue such as this. EDWARD LYONS
Email: enquiries@lyonslaw.co.uk Website: www.lyonslaw.co.uk Telephone: 01275 332168
An established and progressive law firm providing a personal and costeffective legal service for commercial and individual clients. lFamily & Divorce Law l Co-habitation disputes lInheritance disputes l Wills and Living Wills lPowers of Attorney l Administration of Trusts lProperty – sales and purchases Chew Magna 01275 332168
OFFICES AT: Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506
Kingswood 0117 967 5252 MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 27
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MENDIP TIMES
GALHAMPTON Country Store
Happy birthday to us!
A FAMILY-RUN SHOP & STORE ON THE A359 BETWEEN CASTLE CARY & SPARKFORD
Horse feeds & supplies
agricultural merchants
TOOLS, CLOTHING, GIFTS, FOOD-TO-GO, PET, POULTRY, LIVESTOCK FEEDS & MORE
Home essentials & hardware
extensive range of pet food
Open seven days a week: Mon-sat 8am-5.30pm/sun 10am-4pm
Fir Tree Business park, High Road, Galhampton, yeovil, somerset, Ba22 7BH • Tel: 01963 440464 email: sales@galhamptoncountrystore.co.uk
PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
Nearing completion – the new office units for rent
a YeaR on! In January 2019 Charles and Katie Bradley-Hudson purchased the Galhampton Country Store site on the a359 between Castle Cary and Sparkford as a base from which to run their growing events
business. The site came with a country store and shop which they also purchased as a going concern. Selling everything from animal and pet feeds, hardware, agricultural supplies, outdoor and country clothing, solid fuel, home essentials, fresh milk and more, the couple have maintained the extensive product range and enhanced it during the year. also nearing completion on the site are two new-build, selfcontained office units which will be available to rent. Katie said: “It has been a very busy 12 months for us, but all good fun! The country store is continuing to grow – wherever possible we source locally and with the wonderful support from our local community, we really are a local country store!”
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I’m an accountant – get me out of here!
“RePORTS that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. “But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know. and if one looks throughout the history of our country and other free countries, it is the latter category that tend to be the difficult ones.” In his much-quoted news briefing response back in 2002, former US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, perhaps unwittingly described the UK’s current political, economic and tax landscape. With the “B-word” still looming, a new parliament, tax cuts, tax increases and tax policies that seem to change almost daily – it seems fair to say that
there are plenty of “known unknowns” for business owners to be concerned about – and maybe a few “unknown
BUSINESS unknowns”. It’s not easy to advise clients in such times in terms of say the most tax efficient business structure or perhaps whether to sell an asset before tax rates or rules possibly change. all cases and circumstances are different, that’s why we avoid giving generic advice to our clients but rather spend time getting to know the client and their individual business and personal tax positions and tailor our advice and support accordingly. Getting to know the “knowns” enables us to help clients achieve the best business and tax outcomes and be best placed to deal with whatever “unknowns” they may face. Having been established for over 60 years, we’ve helped clients through uncertain times in the past and we’ll be here for them again – you know we will. Rod Podger of Underwood Lamb Accountants
Rod can be contacted on 01275 332612 or by email rod@ulco.com
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 29
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MENDIP TIMES
Village pantomime Ashcott
Ashcott village pantomime celebrated its 25th anniversary with a production of the traditional favourite cinderella, rewritten and adapted by sam Lewin, directed by sophie huntDavison with choreography by sam Lewin and Katy Jamieson.
Chew Magna
The village school choir
Chew Magna Society members (l to r) Jennine Hendy, Kate Kew, Angela Ardon and Zoe Gough
PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
The snow machine was fun
Rebecca Lloyd making her tree decoration
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CHRISTMAS EVENTS
May the force be with you Radstock
(l:r) Cathy Newbury, Jenny Newbury and Marie-Suzanne Magee on their Mother of Peace Community UK stall in Radstock Museum. The charity supports orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe: www.motherofpeace.org.uk
Radstock Town Council chair Rupert Bevan after the lighting-up ceremony
Village pantomime
Caleb and Joshua enjoy some light stick fun
Christmas cheer ahead on the switching-on of the lights
Wellow
chiLDren from st Julian’s school in Wellow put on a show-stopping performance at the egg theatre in Bath, which wowed their parents, teachers and friends. After several
weeks of preparation and planning, the children performed Polly Parrot and the Pirates a one-hour play written by Janet hodge.
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 31
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MENDIP TIMES
Market off to flying start
SHEPTON Mallet’s first independently run Sunday market has been hailed a great success by organisers. More than 30 traders took part in the event which included live music and a Santa grotto. The market was run by a team called Shepton Revival CIC, trading as The Shepton Experience, and supported by Shepton Mallet Town Council. Jude Jackson, market officer, said: “We hope that everyone continues to support these events going forward and our aim is to grow bit by bit, month by month so it is sustainable and becomes an even bigger success, not just for us but for the businesses and residents of Shepton Mallet as well as the surrounding villages.” l The next market is a Victorian fair on Sunday, December 22nd.
Four soldiers, one boat – 3,000 miles
NEWS
Chris (second left) with (l:r) Alex, Rich and Kian get into the festive spirit
Members of Shepton’s Men’s Shed
Fay Alice was selling woolen ecoculture as well as promoting the Food Forest Network
The Happy Landings animal rescue centre at Pylle was the market’s chosen charity
Al Cosnett entertaining visitors PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
AN Army fitness instructor, who grew up in Coleford, is part of a four-strong team aiming to row across the Atlantic in an extraordinary test of endurance. Captain Chris Hames – now based in Yorkshire but who still has relatives in the village – has been in the army for almost 30 years, 20 years of which with the Royal Army Physical Training Corps. The team – called Force Atlantic – is taking part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, a 3,000-mile unsupported international rowing race across the North Atlantic Ocean which was due to get underway as Mendip Times went to press. It is the first time an army team will have competed. Billed as the world’s toughest row, this is the ultimate test of physical and mental endurance. Over approximately six weeks, the team will row in shifts throughout the day and night as they battle their way from the Canary Islands to Antigua. Force Atlantic is one of 15 four-strong teams taking part. Within his time in the army, Chris has been involved in almost every major British Army operational deployment. Chris has always competed in sports from rugby to downhill mountain bike racing. He says rowing an ocean has been a long-term goal for a while, and this challenge is an opportunity he couldn’t let go by. The team – based at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate – is being led by Lt. Col Rich Hall. Alongside Rich and Chris will be Private Kian Helm and Captain Alex Walsh. They are hoping to raise £100,000 for the Army Benevolent Fund. Chris said some of his favourite memories of Coleford were skittles nights at the Royal British Legion. He added: “I have been away from there for a while now but still love going back to Coleford.” Chris said: “The fastest crews will cross inside five weeks, but 100+ days at days at sea is not unusual. Fewer people have rowed the Atlantic than have climbed Everest or been to space. “Rowers race not just against the other crews, but over 40 days of rowing, eating and resting on a small vessel at sea, it is also against the deterioration of their bodies and minds.” l To follow their journey and support or donate visit www.forceatlantic.com find them on Facebook at Force Atlantic 19 and on Twitter and Instagram at Force Atlantic.
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Shopping Night
CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Winscombe
Winscombe Community Singers
Father Christmas arrives
The RNLI stall
Olaf from Frozen was there courtesy of Global Independent Travel
Winscombe Warriors
Nativity trail Pensford
PENSFORD’S Nativity Trail will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas Day and has already attracted good crowds. Sally Reynolds and Tom Wilding provided music for carols as everyone walked round the trail. Details: Jane Flower 01761 490234 / 07703 699123 or email flowerj@live.co.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 33
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MENDIP TIMES
Bath College ranked sixth in the country THIS year’s NICDEX rated 172 FE colleges across England in four categories: employer satisfaction, learner satisfaction, 16 to 18 positive progression and adult progression into work. The criteria is based on performance measures published by the Department for Education. Bath College is ranked sixth in the country overall, beating the two previous years’ rankings of 17th and 16th. Some 52% of Bath College’s adult learners on benefits progressed into work, while 80% of 16-18-year-old learners went onto positive progression, whether this be employment or higher education. Employer satisfaction with the college is at 86.6% while learner satisfaction is at 82.7%. The annual college league table, now in its fourth year, was created by FE Week editor Nick Linford. He said: “The NICDEX was an enjoyable intellectual challenge to create an annual performance table with
PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
an overall score, from a mix of key measures. “Most importantly, NICDEX is transparent. The four measures that make up the NICDEX are published by the DfE.” Laurel Penrose, principal and CEO of Bath College is delighted with the
ranking: “We’re really proud to be listed as sixth in the country. This is a brilliant reflection of the passion, commitment and hard work of Bath College staff. “It is great to see that our learners have a positive experience with us and that we aid them to reach their full potential after they leave college.”
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Going above and beyond the classroom
PUPILS at Wells Cathedral School benefit from a diverse and exciting programme of outdoor education activities, which allows them access to countless courses, adventure camps and qualifications to provide further experience above and beyond the classroom. They have found that learning through adventure, preferably in the outdoors, is one of the most effective ways to develop essential character traits such as resilience, resourcefulness and self-confidence. Each year hundreds of Wells pupils take part in the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, which combines physical activity, honing a skill, demonstrating community involvement and completing outdoor expeditions in challenging terrain, to complete Bronze, Silver or Gold levels. Wells has a vibrant and active Combined Cadet Force for senior pupils, led by Director of Outdoor Learning, and former Royal Marine, Stuart Elks. The Wells CCF has four sections: the Army, the Royal Marines Band, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force; and cadets enjoy an enormous range of activities. Naval cadets regularly sail on the local Axbridge Reservoir; whilst RAF cadets take to the skies in training aircraft with senior RAF pilots at Boscombe Down.
EDUCATION
Cadets have the opportunity to try gliding, complete parachute jumps and experience adventure caving in the famous Mendips caving system. There is leadership experience, including the completion of Cadet Centre Adventure Courses across a range of activities, such as canoeing, orienteering and caving. Furthermore, there are multiple opportunities for adventurebased trips home and abroad, including trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, climbing in the Atlas Mountains and camping in the wilds of the Snowdonia National Park. Wells has recently augmented its offering of the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) for children of services families, offering an extremely competitive package for those who qualify.
For further details on this or for further information about Wells Cathedral School, please do contact the admissions team on 01749 834441 or at admissions@wells.cathedral.school
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 35
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MENDIP TIMES
What matters when choosing a school? IF you’re in the process of choosing a school, you’ll be looking for one that cares about the same things you do. I’d like to tell you something about what matters to us at Sidcot. It matters that children are treated as individuals. Experience has taught us that one size does not fit all. Children learn in different ways. Here at Sidcot we have the luxury of space and time to tailor our teaching to suit the learning style of each individual child. We believe in fostering curiosity, creative thinking and questioning minds rather than a narrow focus on passing tests – that’s why we are proudly a “SATs free zone”! We use a variety of teaching styles to engage your child and develop learning environments that suit everyone. We take the time to get to get to know them, to understand their strengths, their likes and dislikes; their funny little ways.
Our Quaker principles encourage us to “Live Adventurously”. That’s how we approach school life at Sidcot, in a
EDUCATION way that develops curiosity and confidence and a life-long love of learning. We appreciate that choosing a school is not a tick box process, it’s about the atmosphere and the way people treat each other. I’d like to invite you to come and visit the school, to get a feel for the place and see how we do things here. Wander round the grounds and the buildings, meet the staff and pupils and sit in on a lesson. Most importantly, be curious. Ask as many questions as you can. We’re very proud of our school and we are always happy to talk about what life is like here. You are welcome to attend our Open Morning at 9.30am on January 31st or arrange a personal tour of the school at a time to suit you.
Natalie Bone Head of the Junior School
Contact our admissions team on admissions@sidcot.org.uk or 01934 845236
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“Lost” castle was a childhood fascination TWO friends who met as schoolchildren have published a book about the mysteries surrounding a forgotten castle on Longleat Estateowned land near Horningsham – more than 40 years after they first had the idea of researching and writing about its history. Woodhouse Castle – more likely to be a fortified manor house – was destroyed in the 1600s during the English Civil War. Nearby sits Woodhouse Farm where John Snelgove – one of the authors – grew up. He had always been fascinated by the area’s history. John, who now lives in Frome, met his co-author, Michael Forward, in the 1950s at an auction where their fathers were bidding at a sale of ex-army huts on the Longleat Estate – and their fascination for the history of Woodhouse was born. John and Michael stayed in touch over the years, meeting now and again to carry on their research. Historical documents held by the Longleat Estate were not available to them, but they carried on regardless, talking to various experts and visiting museums and archive collections The pair believe that the castle stood on ground which had been occupied as far back as the Mesolithic Period with a Romano-British site close by. The The castle foundations as surveyed by Fred Heywood in the mid-1970s
NEWS
John and Michael in the White Hart Inn at Trudoxhill where they spent many hours discussing the book
castle was probably built in medieval times and appears to have been triangular in shape; just part of the tower remains. Stone was reclaimed and used in other buildings; the fireplace at the Bath Arms at Horningsham is said to have been made from a window from the castle. The site is on private land and the pair say it was a strategic location for many generations. John, who has found
a variety of items in the area ranging from a flint axe head to pottery and clay pipes, said: “Both Michael and I went off to have different careers but we kept in touch and when we met up would always discuss the mystery of the castle. “We first had the idea of writing a book about it in the 70s, but it has now become a reality. It’s a historical book, based on our research, not just of the building but within the context of the times and it also looks at the lives of some of the people who lived around there.” Michael, of Corsley, added: “We’re not trained historians, the book contains our views of what went on there and hopefully our fascination with the castle comes through.”
The flint axe head
Woodhouse: The Lost Castle costs £10 and is published by Ex Libris Press. It is available through them at www.ex-librisbooks.co.uk and Amazon
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Amazing lanterns in Frome Frome
HUNDREDS of people packed Frome Town Centre for its annual Light the Night lantern parade and Christmas lights switch-on. The parade marked the end of a year-long celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of bronze foundry pioneer J.W. Singer.
e
Boudicca led the lantern parade – Singers created the Boudicca statue in central London
Light Night, they said – and they did!
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The lantern parade arrives in the town centre Mark Dorrington, the mayor of Frome with Lucas Ashby who helped to switch on the lights
Emma Webb, leader of Frome Rock Choir who entertained the crowds
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CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Reindeer Parade brings out the crowds Wells
An inquisitive reindeer before the start of the parade; the event raised money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
The winners of the painting and poetry prizes with John Osman, the mayor of Wells
The parade attracted yet another large crowd A family enjoys the winter wonderland opposite opposite the Swan Hotel
It’s a long way down; youngsters on one of the fairground rides in the Market Square
Joyful Spirit on stage
Kirstie Harris (centre) with helpers selling programmes and reindeer headgear
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Sculpture with “added significance” THe past year has been another busy and successful one for sculptor ian Marlow, with exhibitions, commissions and private sales. ian, of Buckland dinham, near Frome, said: “people buy sculpture for a variety of reasons, from investment to just the sheer pleasure of owning something that will give them endless hours of joy. “i’ve found one increasing reason people buy one of my sculptures is to celebrate special events such as a birthday or anniversary, and occasionally as a way of remembering a loved one. The sculpture then takes on an added significance, far
beyond what i the artist created; something personal to the owners that remains with it throughout its life. “That is a wonderful way to enjoy sculpture, endowing it with a personal value far beyond its monetary one.” ian added: “now, as the quieter months of winter set in the pressure eases. This becomes the time when i explore new ideas, and One of a series of sculptures called “Together design and develop the next series of sculptures that will feature in the coming year’s exhibitions. “Those exhibitions begin in March, which sounds a long way off but in reality, is only a matter of weeks away. Like winter, it will be here before we know it. “The last year started with me having a new sculpture studio being built, allowing me to make the old studio into a design room. it has enabled me to be able to return to my love of drawing, especially life drawing. i’m currently working with a range of life models of all ages on a new series of drawings which i hope to unveil in the summer.”
Artist supports Mendip fund
Mendip Hills community based projects have benefited as the result of an online auction held by Mendip artist Andrea Bonetti. Andrea, who exhibited in October's Chew Valley Arts Trail, donated her artwork “Happy” to raise money for the Mendip Hills fund to help people to access nature-based health experiences. The fund, run by Mendip AOnB and Somerset Community Council, supports community led
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projects in the area. Andrea said: “The online auction went really well and raised £270 for the Mendip Hills Fund. ‘Happy' went to an anonymous bidder who didn't want any publicity. The buyer said he was really pleased with the artwork.”
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ARTS AND ANTIQUES
Marc is 50 not out!
AS we enter 2020, Marc Burridge, managing director of Clevedon Salerooms in north Somerset, celebrates his 50th year in the auction business. in 1969 Marc commenced work in Clifton, Bristol for Lalonde Auction Rooms and made the move to Clevedon in 1974 when the saleroom was part of Alonzo dawes & Hoddell (later Hoddell pritchard).
Marc Burridge, 50 years in the auction business
Toby Pinn, director (left) and Mark Huddleston, valuer, with St Peters Hospice managers
Marc undertook joint ownership of Clevedon Salerooms in 1991 and has since overseen its development from in-town premises in Herbert Road to today’s more convenient location outside the town. Recent advancements in the business have included photography and online bidding for every lot, a re-vamped website, and an increased social media profile to reflect the changing times and demands of buyers and sellers alike. Marc actively continues to sell and value, with a particular passion for watches. Towards the end of 2019 Clevedon Salerooms hosted one of their training days for St peter’s Hospice charity shops, attended by 30 of their charity shop Details: www.stpetershospice.org.uk
managers. Toby pinn and Mark Huddleston presented to the group on topics including identifying ceramics and jewellery as well as the legal aspects of endangered species, the imminent ivory ban and current trends. Clevedon Salerooms have a long association with St peter’s and are pleased to be able to offer these events in a busy auction calendar, in addition to selling items commission-free for the charity. Such days have proved their value to the hospice in the past with the sale a number of years ago of a £360,000 Chinese bamboo brush pot donated to one of their shops, spotted by the staff who had attended a previous event.
Every lot in every auction, illustrated and sold with live internet bidding
RESULTS FROM THE RECENT SPECIALIST SALE
Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers
FREE AnTiquE VALuATiOn DAYS
13th, 14th & 27th, 28th January 9.30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm Held at the salerooms – no appointment necessary
1975 Krugerand Sold for £1,100
Antiques, Interiors, Collectables & Jewellery Sales 9th & 23rd January Sales start at 10.30am On view day before 10am – 6.30pm
Tel: 01934 830111 The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT www.clevedon-salerooms.com
Pair of Cantonese enamel vases Sold for £1,900
Bristol Family DCM Group Sold for £1,700
Omega ‘Ed White’ Speedmaster Sold for £6,000
Wishing all of our Clients a Happy New Year MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 41
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ARTS & ANTIQUES
Busy 2020 in prospect at the Mendip Auction Rooms THe team at the Mendip Auction Rooms have produced a busy calendar of sales for 2020 with general sales being held every two weeks and a sale of Fine Art, Antiques and Collectables once a month. in addition, there will be two specialist sales of Sporting items, Fine Wines and Spirits, each being held in April and October. entries are always invited and valuations are conducted at the auction rooms each weekday between 10am and 3pm and the reception and valuation
A silver five piece Rococo decorated tea and coffee service by Edward Barnard and Sons Sold for £1500
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area can get very busy! in addition, senior valuer, nicky Houston, is often out on the road conducting home visits free of charge whilst Aaron Rogers and his team undertake house clearances. The team at Killens and the Mendip Auction Rooms are keen to support the local community and nicky is often invited to visit groups in order to do talks on the auction world whilst Tom Killen regularly conducts auctions for a wide range of local and regional charities attempting to squeeze the most he can out of those present for a good cause. Keen to support local charities, Killens charge 0% commission for items sold through the auction rooms for charity whilst items that have failed to find a buyer after a few sales are also passed to local charities to be used by those in need in the local area. Our next sales will be of Victorian and Later effects on Tuesday, January 7th and of Antiques and Collectables on Details: www.clevedon-salerooms.com
An early 20th century carved and painted rocking horse by F H Ayres, with Hamleys label Sold for £3900
Saturday, January 11th, both starting at 10am. The team at the Mendip Auction Rooms aim to make selling and buying at auction straight-forward and great fun. do call in for professional advice on how to sell. The auction rooms are open from 10am until 5pm Monday to Friday and can be contacted on 01749 840770.
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CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Church market Publow
All Saints Church in Publow extended the hours for its Christmas market, giving people time to sit and enjoy soup and bacon butties and explore the many stalls which were set up around the church.
Brenda Stone and Karen Page, who were raising money for Operation Christmas Box, which supports service personnel at Christmas
Santas get on their bikes Wellow
Some 22 decorated motorbikes, along with a wide variety of Santa Clauses, rode from Keynsham to Wellow, raising money for Wellow Riding for the Disabled. Trail Riders Fellowship organiser, Ian Abrahams, said: “A very big thank you to all who attended, or gave on the Santa Cruz (Santa Run). We managed to raise £360 for the RDA stables at Wellow –- a very fine achievement.”
Christmas fayre Blagdon
ST Andrew's Christmas Fayre in Blagdon was ablaze with Christmas goodies, which everyone enjoyed, as well as their mince pie and a visit to Father Christmas. The photo shows organisers lyndsay Hatherall and Helen Barnes. MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 43
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Church helps young women in Africa
Purple in the pink after donation
Sue Willis from Purple Elephant (right) with members of Frome Rotary Club
YATTON Methodist Church have been helping young Zambian women stay in education – using their sewing skills to fight period poverty. The congregation have been supporting a charity called Sew Powerful that supports young African women who don't have access to sanitary products. YMC have been providing beautiful brightly patterned bags which are sent to Zambia, where they are filled with washable sanitary towels, made locally, and laundry soap. These are given to the young women with some advice so they can get on with their lives and their schoolwork all the way through the month. The bags go to a place called Ngombe. Almost half the young women have HIV and two-thirds of them have lost both parents to AIDS, TB and malaria. Ginny Buckley, of Yatton Methodist Church said, "More than a dozen of us have worked together to make 80 bags. Each one goes with our love and a message of encouragement to the young women who receive them. “We have also raised over £700 through coffee mornings and other events to give advice on managing their periods better and the locally-made products themselves. “We’ve learnt that many schoolgirls take several days a month off school if they don’t have access to sanitary products. This affects their education at a crucial time, as the girls only get one chance to pass their Grade 7 exams. “Without a ‘pass’ they cannot go on to secondary education. It's really lovely to stretch out a hand to these women and help them deal with what is a very basic part of life for most women." The Rev Jill Flowers, minister at YMC said: "Helping people out is an important part of our church life, whether for people in Yatton, elsewhere in the UK or in the wider world. This project has been a privilege to be part of!” Details: www.yatton-methodist.org.uk www.sewpowerful.org
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ROTARIANS in Frome have purchased and installed a special container to house toys and equipment used by the town’s Purple Elephant children and families organisation. Purple Elephant is a small, not-for-profit, organisation in the town running more than 40 different activities including a one-day children’s festival, family day and Christmas party. Meanwhile, the club has funded the purchase of a specially adapted cycle to bring new sports opportunities to children and adults with physical disabilities. Nova Sports Coaching, a not-for-profit community interest group, runs a club in Bath which covers the whole of Somerset and Wiltshire. Races consist of participants sitting on a tricyclelike frame and using their feet instead of pedals to walk or run.
The children’s festival is a popular event in the town
Rotarians fix a club sticker to the new cycle watched by Jenny Rutter and Alex Johnson from Nova Sports Coaching
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CHARITIES
Successful Christmas fair
DESPITE the weather gods and the final of the Rugby World Cup conspiring against it, the Mendip Christmas Fair still managed to make a fantastic £16,000 for the Children’s Hospice South West and the Guild of Friends of the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. Organisers said: “Thank you to all our intrepid shoppers who made it through the flooded lanes to and from Aldwick Estate. We couldn’t have done it without you. “And a huge vote of thanks to our incredibly generous sponsors, from local food wholesalers Arthur David, who provided so many of the ingredients for our café lunches, to Knight Frank, who for several years have helped pay the postage for the thousands of invitations we send out.” Next year’s fair will be on October 31st and November 1st.
Details: www.mendipchristmasfair.org.uk
Riding the GWR – the Great Weston Ride
THE highly-acclaimed Great Weston Ride cycling challenge from Bristol to Weston-super-Mare will be back next year after its tenth anniversary outing this year was rated another major success by the people who matter most – the riders themselves. The spectacular city-to-coast route starts in Bristol and then takes riders through some stunning countryside and picturesque Somerset villages as it weaves its way through the Mendips and across the Somerset Levels before finishing on the seafront in Weston-super-Mare. The next ride will be on Sunday, July 19th, with a choice of eight routes and distance options. The event has raised £355,000 in total, £235,000 for Prostate Cancer UK Event organiser Darren McKimm said: "One of our main aims is to provide a friendly, inclusive, and memorable event and the riders' comments, together with the huge smiles that we see on their faces throughout the day – and especially at the finish! – tell us that we're meeting that objective. And that's exactly what we'll be looking to do again in 2020."
Dedtails: www.greatwestonride.com
Helping hedgehogs
STAFF and students from Frome College travelled to Prickles Hedgehog Rescue in Cheddar to present a cheque for £65.50, proceeds from a cake sale. Pictured with one of the rescue staff are (l-r) Lucy McCormick, Riley Myers and Josh Woodward.
TelePA supporting Surviving Winter appeal
WESTBURY-sub-Mendip business TelePA is celebrating 15 years of trading by offering to support telephone calls for local charities free of charge for two years. Somerset Community Foundation is taking advantage of this offer to manage the extra phone calls during their Surviving Winter appeal. Judith Ludovino from TelePA said: “By using TelePA’s services, free of charge, small charities such as Somerset Community Foundation can always be responsive to donors – nobody wants to decide to donate then be greeted by an answerphone. “Our very experienced local team will make sure every caller knows how much their contribution is valued." Laura Blake, development, director at Somerset Community Foundation, said: "With TelePA’s support, we can answer every single call from our donors and ensure we raise as much as we can to help older people experiencing fuel poverty across Somerset.” Details: www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter or call 01749 344949
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Community transport scheme seeks help MENDIP Community Transport, which operates minibuses in the Mendip and Sedgemoor areas as well as providing a hospital car service, is appealing for new trustees to join their board. MCT provides essential services for community groups, schools, including special educational needs, and many others whose requirements are not met by conventional public transport providers. Other services include the Tor Bus in Glastonbury and the Slinky buses which are funded by Somerset County Council and offer an accessible door-todoor service. The hospital car service is provided by volunteer car drivers who use their own vehicles and offer their time free of charge in exchange for mileage expenses, to provide essential transport to medical appointments. Across the various services, MCT has completed about 500,000 miles a year, with 100,000 passenger journeys, so needs a keen and dedicated staff to manage and co-ordinate its customer focused activities. Leading the team based at Waterlip, near Shepton Mallet, is Tim Blackburn. He, in turn, is supported by a board of trustees, unpaid volunteers who help provide an overview of the enterprise and give support and guidance from an
(l:r) CEO Tim Blackburn, chair of trustees Jane Gregory-Hook and trustee Bob Powell
independent point of view. In recent months, some of the trustees have retired, so there is now need for some “fresh blood” on the board of trustees. If you feel that you can get involved, then please get in touch. The basic commitment is only for a couple of hours, four or five times a year, plus some ad hoc events as required. By Bob Powell, trustee
For more information, visit: https://www.mendipcommunitytransport.co.uk/ or contact Tim on tim.blackburn@mendipct.co.uk
Golfers support hospice and heart foundation
Fundraiser needed
A VOLUNTEER fundraising officer is needed by Cats Protection’s Frome & District Branch to help plan and organise events and activities to raise money for cats in need. The branch, which is run entirely by volunteers, re-homes unwanted and abandoned cats, promotes neutering and provides cat care information to the public. Angie Newing, area branch development manager, said: “The branch helps scores of local cats in need every year, whether it’s taking in and caring for cats, finding them loving new homes or promoting neutering to reduce the number of unwanted cats. “We now desperately need to recruit a fundraising officer to plan and oversee events and activities so we can raise money to continue this work.”
Details: 07733 390345 or email fromecp@gmail.com
ORCHARDLEIGH Golf Club members raised nearly £11,000, which was split between Dorothy House, Winsley and the British Heart Foundation. Pictured (l to r) are Mare Cusworth, ladies captain, Jim Worsley, seniors captain, Steph Cox, fundraiser, Dorothy House, Jo Millard, who talked about how much Dorothy House has helped her and her family and Gary Jeffries, club captain. The presentation was also attended by Peter Newbery from The British Heart foundation.
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“Singing for the Brain” comes to Wrington
THE Alzheimer’s Society, in partnership with Yeo Valley Lions, is to run a number of sessions of Singing for the Brain in Wrington. Singing for the Brain sessions use singing to bring people living with dementia together in a friendly and stimulating activity. The sessions start on Friday, January 31st and will then be held every other Friday from 11.15am-12.45pm at Wrington Memorial Hall in Silver Street, Wrington, BS40 5QE.
For details call Alison on: 0300 1234589
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CHARITIES
Chew Valley Connect has a new home!
Air ambulance wins top awards
Frome food scheme wins European award
Pictured (l to r) Sponsor Ged Jones (CEO of Lottery Fundraising Services), Tracy Bartram (DSAA communications manager), Bill Sivewright (DSAA CEO) and awards host Charlotte Hawkins, Good Morning Britain
CHEW Valley Connect is an informal way to get older people together to meet, chat with old friends and make new ones. They held their November and December meetings at The Woodford, by Chew Valley Lake and will be meeting on the third Wednesday of the month at 3pm at the venue from now on. Older people in the area are warmly invited to . The next gettogethers will be on Wednesday, January 15th and Wednesday, February 19th. There is plenty of parking. Organisers, Ann English and Jocelyn Ryder-Smith, said: “Please come! And if possible bring anyone who cannot drive but would like to join us – we look forward to seeing you!”
FROME’S Community Fridge, the first of its kind in the UK, has won a European-wide Innovation in Politics Award for best community project. Set up by Edventure Frome CIC in partnership with Frome Town Council in 2016, the project was chosen from 402 projects from 40 countries by an independent jury of 1,067 European citizens. The fridge and neighbouring larder share over 90,000 items of food a year that would otherwise be thrown away. This saves the same amount of greenhouse gases as driving round the world 14 times. Food is available for anyone to use; the scheme is inclusive and based on trust. Anna Francis, Frome Town Council’s Resilience Manager, who attended the award ceremony in Berlin – by train – said: “It was so inspiring hearing about all the amazing projects happening across Europe. Winning the award was very humbling. “Although the project was initiated by the town council and Edventure, it’s really down to the amazing team of volunteers who collect surplus food and clean the fridge every day that the project is so successful, so this award is for them.”
For details, visit: www.edventurefrome.org
DORSET and Somerset Air Ambulance came out winners in two categories at this year’s National Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence and was runner-up in a third. It won Campaign of the Year for a book it has written with Haynes, which includes a detailed insight into the work of air ambulances across the UK. Haynes Publishing are donating 75p from every copy in support of all 21 air ambulance charities. Maisie Sheridan, from Weymouth, was named Outstanding Young Person of the Year. Dorset and Somerset were also a finalist for the Special Incident Award, when Tony Doyle, Leonie Middle, Steve Westbrook and Mario Carretta treated a child who fell 200ft down a sea cliff. Cornwall were winners. Bill Sivewright, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance CEO said: “We were thrilled to have been shortlisted in three categories at this year’s Association of Air Ambulances Awards and absolutely delighted to have won two of them.”
Cuddle time thanks to freemasons
THE Connaught Lodge of Freemasons, which meets in Midsomer Norton, has presented 20 Teddies for Loving Care to Paulton Hospital to be given to young patients who are upset or distressed. Teddies for Loving Care is a charity formed by freemasons to provide cuddly teddy bears to accident & emergency and minor injury units for the medical staff to give out at their discretion. The teddies are used to calm down children or to reward them for being brave when being treated and, in some cases, to demonstrate treatment procedures such as bandaging. All the children who are given a teddy can then take them home. The charity is locally led by freemasons across England and Wales. Their support and enthusiasm for this initiative has meant that more than one million teddies have been distributed nationwide. Connaught Lodge meets at the Masonic Hall in Redfield Road
Details: www.aoaa.org.uk
Lodge secretary Tony Cooper and the immediate past master Chris James present the teddies to Sister Julie Davies and Sister Karen Hunt.
and members would be pleased to hear about any local charities or organisations that might benefit from their support; they would welcome new members.
For details about the lodge, visit: www.connaughtlodge.com or email Tony Cooper at: secretary3573@btinternet.com
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Pumpkins and trees – did you notice?
IT’S been a fantastic year for pumpkins. They were all shapes, sizes and types and they were to be seen everywhere, especially at Halloween. Being told by the council’s waste services that pumpkin flesh doubles the size of their collections and with the present universal call for recycling and cutting waste, we had the bright idea of using spare pumpkin flesh for making soup for our hedge laying days in February next year. Traditionally there is warming soup and rolls as well as a bit of the sweet stuff for energy at midday; where to get enough pumpkin for 30 or more hungry people was the puzzle. Then our hedging tutor, Tina Bath, offered as many of her “spares” as we wanted. From the picture of her son’s entry at the Mendip Ploughing Match previously in these pages, we knew it would be big – but were overwhelmed by the size and number growing in the yard at the family farm – how did they grow them to that size? Then I remembered being told, nearly 50 years ago now, by the lady who came to our redundant church in Pensford to teach us lace making, that to make plants grow, get the male members of your family to urinate on them. “Did you get your men folk to p—s on them?” I asked Tina. “No,” she said, “it was the dung heap that did it.” However, I digress from my intended subject, which may not be such a bad thing sometimes, because you can learn really interesting facts. The lady in question will be well known to readers of Mendip Times being the gardening correspondent Mary Payne, and who better to know? More on the pumpkin use later. But now, the winter season is fully upon us and our Mendip landscape has begun to look a little “beautifully bleak”; so look with a loving eye and there is beauty there – the lonely tree that looks spectacular surrounded by a misty or snowy backdrop or the frost encrusted stones of the iconic walls. We tend to forget that the large topmost stretch of our hills will have an empty bleak presentation to them, synonymous with a limestone plateau such
as ours. This high treeless area is definitely one of the 12 Special Qualities Character Landscapes of the Mendip Hills, but another very important one is the north facing slopes and wooded coombes, classed as woodland areas. Amongst all the political issues surrounding us at the moment, one of the biggest is the arguments and opinions relating to climate change, already making its presence felt in many different ways. While sections of society still argue about it all, others are making plans to counteract the effects it will have on our landscape and environment. I think we all agree that “trees are good” and several environment groups and all political persuasions have campaigns planned or in the pipeline to plant millions of them in as many places as possible, because as that remarkable young lady Greta Thunberg says, “it is the most obvious natural climate solution”. There may be many thinking of filling these “bleak” empty spaces on top of our hills with as many different trees as is possible – what better place is there and it must be good, mustn’t it? But just hold on a minute. Before we go rushing off to plant trees everywhere, let’s just give a thought to this – what type and species of tree do we want, need or even can plant in a chosen place so that it thrives? One of this winter’s projects planned for The Mendip Society is to work closely with the groups that can make sure we all get this right. We do not have the luxury of having a second go or a fallback position. We need expert advice as to the quantity, types and places that will be best served by our planting, and of course the Mendip Hills team will be heavily involved as all
THE MENDIP SOCIETY
the land inside the AONB boundaries has legal protected status. So planting trees is on our, and their agenda, (motto “The right tree in the right place”) and should keep us busy for some time to come. But, however busy we might be, we can still find time to enjoy ourselves. Our president, Les Davies, will be hosting our annual wassail evening in Burrington on January 11th, together with Barley Rye choir and the ladies of Somerset Morris, an evening of traditional fun and noise. We are also running the regular and very popular event of two days hedge laying tuition in our reserve in Ubley on February 14th and 21st with Tina Bath – now here’s where we mention the pumpkins again – there will be hot soup and lovely tasty rolls for lunch. Full details of all events, along with our walks programme, are on our website. The best of New Year 2020 wishes to everyone from The Mendip Society. Richard Frost and Judith Tranter
Tina and her pumpkin
For details of all events visit www.themendipsociety.org.uk and Facebook ‘The Mendip Society’
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A happy New Year to all
THANK you so much to everyone who responded to my recent request for owl information and to those landowners that requested advisory visits to your farms; I will be visiting you all early in the New Year. A lot has happened during 2019, from the By CHRIS rise of public engagement with regards to SPERRING climate change and the demise of the natural MBE world globally, to the creation of new local people-led groups; a ground up approach trying to do something in their own localised areas; even to the astonishment of some people our local authorities acknowledging the poor state of our natural resources and our resilience to climate change by declaring a “climate emergency”. In the case of North Somerset Council, they are going a step further and planning to re-wild the district by easing up on managing grass verges and parks and undertaking a massive tree planting exercise. As I write this in early December 2019, we don’t yet know the outcome of the general election and, to be honest, it doesn’t matter who won; all the parties must start taking this subject very seriously, with literally people’s lives and livelihoods at stake. As I’ve always said: “How we look after the nature that supports our very being on this planet, is a measure of how we support each other.” I’ve had a request to write about ravens this month; this magnificent bird is of course the largest member of the crow family and if you have ravens in your area, then this is the top bird of the crow apex. Noticeably larger than the carrion crow in flight, the raven is recognised by its diamond-shaped tail and very often they can be heard before they are seen with their
Listen out for the “cronking” of ravens in January
WILDLIFE
The raven can be recognised by its diamond-shaped tail
famous deep, cronking calls. Their vocabulary is, in fact, very wide and, indeed, some scientists have discovered that members of the crow family have what we would recognise as language. Most of these studies are based on crows or ravens to which, of course, language has been used to test just how intelligent they really are. Ravens are one of the earliest birds to begin breeding and can be settled on nests by February, the nest site can be tree or cliff face and is a large cup-shaped nests constructed with sticks often broken off trees and shaped to fit by the raven. They can have up to five eggs, the determining factor may well be the number of other ravens nesting close by so, although very sociable particularly with past family members during the nesting time, rivals will be seen off. This then takes me back nicely to the subject of the apex. Clearly members of the crow family bring with them some controversy in terms of what they do; it’s often said that too many magpies and crows for example is to the detriment of nesting birds, so what governs their success becomes even more important to understand. I have witnessed many sites where magpies nests are predated by carrion crows no doubt the reverse of this also happens, but when you add the raven into the equation you have a larger family member disrupting not just the day-to-day behaviour of the others, but also an effective and natural regulatory factor for the others as well. What nature tries hard to do is to create that balance and the classic apex of similar species is one very effective way of doing this. In mainland Europe, an example of raven predation is especially on nest sites; I have seen Egyptian vultures combing the cliff faces looking for raven nests. I know we don’t have these vultures anymore in the UK, but space and lack of it between breeding sites will lead to reduced productivity, this then will level out the population creating a peak and trough situation in different years. The balance of nature in our very humanised landscapes is an incredibly tricky thing to get right and sometimes we have to intervene; but all too often we intervene without knowledge, which can lead to chaos. Listen out for ravens in January and watch their amazing displays, showing off to each other as the breeding season edges closer.
Chris Sperring MBE is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust. Contact him on 07799413918 or Chris.Sperring@btinternet.com Or for the latest information on Chris’s walks and talks via Facebook @ChrisSperringWildlife
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 49
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Much to enjoy on this ancient ridge walk
THIS month we head south from Mendip to join the Polden Way on a ridge walk just to the south of Street. It offers great views across the Levels and goes to the impressive Hood Monument before dropping down through woodland. Then, following a quiet country lane, we come into Compton Dundon village with a very welcoming country inn. We cross fields and follow the old paved coffin route to the church at Dundon with an amazing veteran yew, believed to be 1,700 years old. The rest of the circle is on tracks and paths across part of the Levels before a climb back up on to the hill. It is a walk with some uphills and descents but nothing too serious. After rain don’t be surprised at some slippy and muddy sections. An alternative start is the inn in Compton Dundon, thanks to permission from Simon the landlord. This slightly shortens the route.
With Sue Gearing PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • JANAURY 2020
PARK: South of Street, just off the B3151 Somerton Road. Come to Marshall’s Elm cross roads up the hill out of Street. Turn right a short distance to a NT car park on each side of the road on Ivy Thorn Hill by the youth hostel which looks like a Swiss Chalet. ALTERNATIVE START: at the Castlebrook Inn on the main road in Compton Dundon. Just follow the B3151 straight on down to the village. The landlord has given permission to park behind the inn in the car park or on the grass around. Follow the route from ‘4. Inn’.
START: Go towards the youth hostel and read the information board explaining its history, starting out as a summer house for two sisters. It has a superb view over Street towards Glastonbury. Facing the hostel turn right on the Polden Way path and follow this under trees and through humpy bumpy ground, the result of former quarrying. Maintain direction and when you reach a deep hollow ahead, go to the right and then the path bends left and drops down less steeply. Then continue on to reach the B3151 at Marshall’s Elm. During the Civil War there was a skirmish here which left the Royalists’ victorious, taking their prisoners back to Street.
1. MARSHALL’S ELM Cross the side road first and then the main road, with great care, to reach a NT information board about Collard’s Hill and the reintroduction of the Large Blue butterfly. Go through the gate and start the climb onto the hill on the Polden Way which may be slippery after wet weather. Go straight on, keeping to the right of the fence ahead. This ridge was probably once a very valuable route above the flooded Levels. You get an amazing view over the
Levels. Notice the preponderance of anthills, otherwise known as emmet tumps. Ahead you start to see the sailing ship crafted top of the Hood Monument rising from the trees. Continue along the ridge all the way to a lane. Cross and choose the path that goes straight on up Windmill Hill and soon, when there is a fork, take the right one, climbing steeply for a little while. Carry on through the trees to reach the monument, which is 110ft high. 2. MONUMENT The monument culminates in a band of laurel wreaths beneath a naval crown, composed of the sculpted sterns of four galleons interspersed with four mainsails. It was carved by Gahagan of Bath. It was originally linked to the Hood family home at Butleigh by a mile-long avenue of cedar trees. The inscription, composed by Sir James Mackintosh, is now sadly difficult to read. Hood was the son of the vicar of Butleigh and became a notable naval commander in a number of wars. Following the outbreak of the French Revolutionary War, Hood became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet in February 1793. Nelson was recorded as saying that Hood was "the best officer, take him altogether, that England has to boast of". Later he was promoted to full admiral in the spring of 1794 although he had been recalled from the Mediterranean after some kind of misunderstanding with the ministry. He was appointed Viscount Hood and when he died in 1796 was governor of the Greenwich Hospital in London. Notice the amazing view over to Glastonbury Tor down the avenue of emerging trees. Continue on past the monument in woodland, dropping down.
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WALKING
Go through a gate by the road and turn sharp right, leaving the Polden Way, and follow the path, dropping downhill almost back on yourself.
Le
3. LANE Continue to a quiet lane and here turn left down the lane, known as Behind Town, which as the name implies takes us behind Compton Dundon village and not through it. Ignore a lane going right and carry on to a junction. Go more or less straight over, cross a small concrete slab bridge and take the short path into a recreational field. It is also the campsite of the Castlebrook Inn. Head straight down, past a children’s play area to the pub and the car park where you may have started the walk.
4. INN This friendly pub is run by Simon and Kerry who have managed to keep the flavour of a traditional country inn, with stone flag floors. Open every day (12-3pm lunchtimes) as well as in the evening, it has a simple menu offering good home-cooked food. Turn right from the pub along the pavement in the village and then cross and take the first lane on the left, Ham Lane by a large thatched cottage. Note the flagstones along the way. This is part of the old coffin trail linking Dundon village church with Compton Dundon. We are going to leave it shortly and then rejoin it later. Continue for a few minutes and at another thatched cottage, take the footpath
4.8 miles, or 4.3 (if starting at the pub) OS Explorer map, 141 Cheddar Gorge & Mendip Hills West, grid ref: 480 346 Car park, BA16 0TX, or alternative start Castlebrook Inn postcode, TA11 6PR
alongside on the left. This leads to a paddock. Cross it and follow the fenced grassy track straight on. A gate leads into a field where you turn right along the hedge through a couple of fields until you rejoin the flagstone path. 5. COFFIN TRAIL It has joined us from the right. Keep straight on soon joining Tarmac and coming to Dundon village, having passed the primary school on the left. At a junction, turn left briefly and then turn up right on the drive which leads to St Andrew’s church and rectory.
6. YEW In the churchyard is an amazing veteran yew tree, said to be 1,700 years old, and still looking healthy. Just think of the history that this incredible tree has lived through. Return down the church drive to the lane and turn left, ignoring side turns. The lane leads down to a junction. Go straight on, passing the village cricket ground, walking now on flat land crossed by rhynes – part of Compton Dundon and Street Moors. 7. FARM Pass Hurst Farm and continue on to reach
the end of the track at Lower Hurst Farm. For the next part of the walk we head on towards Ivy Thorn Hill. For this, take the footpath straight on at the side of the farm and shortly cross a stile on the left and then it’s right along the field edge. Go right through a gate and then left, in the same direction with the hedge now on your left and still heading for the high ground. Cross a stile in the corner left and then go right, parallel with the field edge, in the same direction as before. Cross a stile ahead and go up the hedged track. 8. MANOR At Ivy Thorn Manor, the track/lane bends right and then left and climbs more steeply. Continue to just before Marshall’s Elm junction. If you parked near the youth hostel, turn left on a path through woodland. It runs parallel with the road, goes on through a meadow, then more woodland and reaches the parking area at the start. If you started at the inn, go up to the junction and follow directions from ‘1. Marshall’s Elm’, crossing the main road. Castlebrook Country Inn, 01458 448902.
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OUTDOORS
West Countryman’s diary
SO another New Year approaches as this one slips away. I’m not really a New Year person, not because of any “Bah-Humbug” attitude, but more a sense of loss. Sometimes I have been quite happy to see a year end, but generally it’s a feeling of time moving on, perhaps even a feeling of With LES my own mortality. DAVIES MBE I much prefer the seasons to the calendar year and the shortest day will have nearly passed by the time you are reading this. Our world is becoming faster and faster, but some things still move at a slower pace. I started out before first light on a day during the week. It’s something that lots of people do every day, but for me this day was a little different. The mist was hanging in the valley as I drove toward the M5 motorway and the sun was only just starting to show the top of its fiery red ball on the eastern horizon. The undulations of the land showed up quite clearly, with the higher ground as it must have looked several thousand years ago during the fenland period of Somerset. Much of our modern day development was still hidden beneath this cold and clammy blanket. It was lying in a cold sweat, waiting for the sun’s warmth to breathe life into it once again. On the motorway, the whole world was hell-bent on getting to where it wanted to be as fast as it could. Still though, on either side of this super highway the mist held sway. The land was starting to wake up and night-weary creatures began their daily routine of survival. This is much as it’s always been. The backdrop will have changed but the natural environment carries on as we “whizz” by in our own isolation bubbles. I love this Somerset landscape! From the hills to the moors it’s so different and absolutely “soaked” in history. To be a part of this land is for me, something so very special. Lumbering out of this mist, I could imagine an army of peasants from the Monmouth Rebellion, just as much as the herd of beef cattle following a tractor in hope of breakfast. There is something almost primeval about the moors in the mist, something that if you let your imagination run away with you, it could conjure up all sorts of things! A recent chance email, the result of someone reading this very magazine, led me to a meeting with Lester Durston. Lester and his two brothers, John and David were brought up at Well House Farm in Tickenham. The land belonging to Tom Durston was next to Hales Farm. I knew of John and David, but I had never met Lester, or even been aware of him until he contacted me. He had read one of Sue Gearing’s walks that we had done together a while back. This particular perambulation had crossed the land they then owned. I remember that walk so very well. It had been quite an emotional experience to look across the fields of my childhood and still be able to recognise their boundaries. There was a hedgerow gone here and there, old ponds filled in, but the general character of the land was still recognisable. How good it was to sit down and talk with Lester about this land, the woods, hedgerows and trees. How it was then and what it is now.
Time moves on and change is inevitable. I will be returning to talk to Lester, but this time with a 1:25000 scale map to try to answer a few questions I still have. Just goes to show that although my youth is a lane I can never travel again, I am still able to walk a few of those paths and fields of my youth. A New Year and a whole round of seasonal events to keep you interested. Yes its wassail time again, when the trees and orchards are blessed, driving away all the negative stuff and bringing on the good. I shall be doing my master of ceremonies bit at the Mendip Society gathering in Burrington on January 11th, together with the Somerset Rural Life Museum Glastonbury on Saturday, January 18th. This is followed by the Manor House in Street, which is part of the Gillett Trust next to Clarks Village on January 19th. Finally I will be helping the National Trust’s Tyntesfield Estate with theirs on Saturday, January 25th. For more details on any of these, please go to the relevant website. Bookings may be required, so check before you go. The end of a year is always a time for reflection. You will have heard of my visits to the Pit Stop sandwich van in Wells and they are normally tinged with a little humour. This time, however, it’s sad news, with the death of one of its regulars. Michael Vowels, known as “Mike the Hat” became disabled. He would still visit most days on his electric scooter (with a big poppy cable-tied to the front) for a cup of coffee and chat with others. He lived alone and was somewhat vulnerable. The van was his only chance to socialise and a place to go when he was worried, for him it was a safe place. On the whole these trips made him laugh, but there were days when he wasn’t quite so confident. Such days made this contact even more important. Mike was discovered by a family member, after a concerned phone call from the van’s owner Clive Higgins. Mike had not been down for several days. He had at some stage during this period fallen in his house, but failed to regain consciousness and later died in hospital. I suppose the message for me is two-fold: do what you enjoy doing whilst you can, you don’t need to make a New Year resolution. The second is look out for others, especially elderly or vulnerable neighbours. One day we may all go there! Finally, let me put a little light back into this column. Well it’s end-of-the-day-light actually and a picture taken from Deer Leap on the south side of Mendip. Under this shroud of mist lies the City of Wells and the Vale of Avalon. Above it, well use your imagination, you could be looking out to sea! Have a very, very Happy New Year.
You can always contact me through my website: Westcountryman.co.uk
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Jobs for January!
ONE might have hoped that January was a quieter time in the garden, but no such luck. There is still plenty to do. If you lifted your With MARY dahlia tubers and PAYNE MBE dried them off, check that all is well and that they are not developing any rot and ensure that they are kept frost free. If in doubt pop them in a large cardboard box with dry leaves or straw. Check that their name labels are still attached. I like to leave fallen leaves if they are on the soil for the worms to pull down, but if they have blown onto the clumps of perennials and even worse, rock plants, ensure that they are removed to prevent the crowns rotting. When the weather outside is not inviting, snuggle up with the latest crop of seed catalogues and make a list of all you would like to grow. Review the list in a couple of days and you will be able to shorten it! It is always worth trying something new. If you suffer runny eyes from peeling and chopping onions, you will be delighted to know there is now a tearfree onion for you to grow called Walla Walla originating from the Walla Walla Valley in the USA. Plan your vegetable growing area to make maximum use of the ground. Many vegetables can be grown at closer spacing than the book or packet suggest if space is limited. Slow growing annuals such as antirrhinums, begonias and pelargoniums (geraniums) need to be sown in January. Try to use a proprietary seed compost rather than a multi-purpose one as some of these plants can be very sensitive to the levels of fertiliser found in multipurpose composts. I wash my trays or pots into which I am going to sow seeds which helps prevent damping off disease, but I rarely wash pots when potting up plants and cuttings. If you have not already sown your sweet peas these can be done as well. Once the plants’ seedlings have four leaves, pinch out the top to encourage lateral shoots. Recycle the remnants of your real Christmas tree once all the needles have fallen by shortening the side branches, PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
Hellebores
and keep it as a support for annual climbers such as sweet peas, climbing nasturtiums or morning glories. The side branches can be used to lay over seed drills in the vegetable garden to deter cats from digging. If you have not already removed the old leaves from your Lenten Roses (hellebores) remove them now. This helps prevent the unsightly black leaf spot fungus from spreading from the old leaves to the flowers, and then to the new leaves. It also shows off the flowers better. Apple and pear trees can be pruned during the dormant season. Take care to avoid over heavy pruning as this encourages the development of strong upright growths called “water shoots”. A simple method is to remove the dead, diseased or damaged wood, such as canker lesions. Then look for branches that are crossing over and perhaps rubbing against each other and remove them. This keeps the tree open, with good air circulation which helps prevent disease. Do not prune plums or cherries at this time of year as they are prone to silver leaf disease, the spores of which are in the air during the winter months. Don’t get too enthusiastic about pruning roses in January, they are better left until late February, after which the new growth is less likely to be damaged by frost. Trees can still be planted if the ground is not frozen. Root-balled and bare-root trees represent good value at this time of year, but remember to put the stake in the ground before you plant the tree to avoid root damage. Check
the tree ties on others in the garden and slacken off if necessary. Bare-root roses can be ordered online and planted on arrival. I like to just bury the graft union. Take care not to plant a new rose where an old one had died as the new one may not establish well due to a problem know as “rose replant sickness”. Changing the soil will help as will using mycorrhizal fungi e.g. Rootgrow in the planting hole. We all like to get something for free, so take a few hardwood cuttings using last year’s wood of about pencil thickness. Cut above and below a bud into 12” (30cm) lengths and stick them in the ground with two thirds of the length buried. Leave them there all next year and with luck you will have new plants. Forsythia, flowering currant, roses and coloured stemmed dogwoods can all be done this way. The watering of evergreens in pots, such as bay, box and camellias often gets neglected in the winter months so take care to check. The dense foliage tends to shed rainwater over the side of the pot. Water plants in greenhouses as little as possible, especially if there is no heater, and cover plants with a double layer of fleece if the weather gets exceptionally cold. Enjoy the wealth of scented winter flowering plants that are in our gardens at this time of year. A posy on the kitchen table will give much pleasure and remind us that spring is not far away. And the snowdrops will soon be out.
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JANUARY GARDEN TIPS
• Apply a general fertiliser to all borders. Growmore, Vitax Q4, Bonemeal or Blood Fish and Bone are all good. • Gather up and burn diseased leaves from under roses and fruit. This will help to limit the carry-over of disease from one season to the next. Applying a generous mulch helps to suppress the disease infection too. • Check tree ties and stakes. Adjust those that are too tight and tighten those that are not! Make sure the top tie is near to the top of the stake so that it prevents the tree rubbing. Make certain that the stake is still sound and that it isn’t the tree that is holding the stake up! • Plant when the weather is mild and when the soil is not wet, sticky or frozen hard. Improve the planting area with well-rotted compost or manure • After frost, check around shrubs and roses for signs of soil upheaval and wind-rock. Firm the soil back down with your feet. • Root hardwood cuttings this month. Always choose healthy shoots as cuttings. Easy ones to root include Forsythia, Escallonia, Ribes, Cornus and Salix. • Trim Virginia creeper, Boston Ivy, rambling roses and other climbers away from windows, gutters and eaves. • Inspect Leylandii hedges closely for aphids. This is a newish pest and leads to dead patches if not controlled with a pesticide now. • When the days and nights are very cold, move plants away from cold windowsills into a warmer place!
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Merry Christmas to all our customers old and new MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 55
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GARDENING
Saying goodbye to volunteers
THE Somerset and Dorset Heritage Railway at Midsomer Norton has said a fond farewell to from the town’s Sainsbury’s store who have been working with them as volunteers. They joined the station’s gardens team on Mondays over the summer. They have made a project of finishing filling in the front border by the road with compost and topsoil and then designing a replanting scheme. The last job was to plant a Magnolia tree in memory of one of their colleagues and to celebrate with a glass of Prosecco. Railway trustees offered the volunteers free train rides in November. Gail Coleshill, a trustee and volunteer gardener, said: “When I gave them the front border I was a bit worried that it would be too much for them but I am so impressed. They just got on with the job without complaint and contributed many plants including those in the old coal truck.
Margaret Stocks, Sara Tomlinson, Karen Simmons, Sue Plumley, Anne Henge, Jan Jewel, Diane Winless, Avril Beaucham and Caroline Lorimer
“They have done so much in the gardens at the station, which have been excellent this year. Their help has been a contributary factor to us achieving an ‘outstanding’ award from
the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood scheme. This would not have happened without the ‘outstanding’ work from all our volunteers.”
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NEWS
Mystery of trophy missing for 70 years
THE organisers of the Mid-Somerset Show Hedge Laying Competition are appealing for information after a valuable silver trophy was rediscovered after going missing for 70 years. The R.A. Hobhouse Cup was presented to the society in 1932 by Sir Reginald Hobhouse, who lived in Oakhill and once owned the Oakhill Brewery, for the best ditching and hedging at the annual competition – won that year by Harry Dukes, of Ditcheat. Albert Bryant was awarded the trophy the following year before Arthur Denning won it two years running – and then the trophy disappeared, only to be found a few months ago by a company clearing out a food unit in Sparkford. Show secretary Christine Barham said: “They had found this cup which had the Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society on it so rang the general enquiries line Missing for 70 years – the trophy will have a to see if we new name engraved on it in 2020
Roger Noble with the R.A. Hobhouse Cup
wanted it back. I literally had about an hour to get down to Sparkford to pick it up as they were going to be finished by lunchtime and once they were gone, they were gone, and so would the cup. “Finding the trophy has opened up a whole load of questions as to where it has been for the past 70 years!” The trophy will be presented to the winner of one of the classes of the 2020 hedge laying competition, to be held at Hill House Farm at Launcherley, near Wells, on Sunday, February 16th. There will be open, amateur and junior classes with prizes for the best over-60 and under-20 entrant. A vintage tractor run and a Land Rover display will also take place. Roger Noble, one of the event organisers who has created an archive of previous hedge laying competitions, said: “I would be delighted to hear from anyone else who might have material relating to previous competitions so we can add it to the archive.”
For details, visit: www.midsomersetshow.org.uk
Farewell to D-Day veteran
THE funeral has taken place of Reg Hiscox, thought to be the last of the Shepton Mallet D-Day veterans, who died in November at the age 95. Reg, who was married for 73 years and had ten children, was a coxswain of a landing craft tank, guiding his craft onto Sword Beach to deliver a cargo of six Sherman tanks. Under small arms and mortar fire from the enemy, he ensured two Sherman flail tanks were the first to hit the beach, so they could clear mines and allow the scores of soldiers landing behind to advance. The crew then returned to Portsmouth to reload. In the following weeks, Mr Hiscox made five more trips to the Normandy coast. On the fifth trip, while heading for home, his ship struck a sea mine and the craft was disabled. Thankfully, a tug towed the craft to Arromanches and dropped it off on the relative safety of the beach. Reg Hiscox was given the Légion d'honneur by the French Government in Reg Hiscox – thought to be the last of Shepton Mallet’s D-Day veterans 2016.
Reg as a young man
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 57
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Songs and film in Wedmore REMARKABLE film footage of life on Mendip dating back to the 1920s will go on show in Wedmore at the 2020 Reel Back the Years event in January. The evening will combine live music with the footage which will include peat digging on the Somerset Levels, beautiful colour film of working horses, a flying boat at Burnham in the 1930s, Cheddar Fire Brigade on a call-out to Rodney Stoke and more. The films are drawn from a remarkable archive that illustrates country life in the west country, curated by Trevor Bailey from the Windrose Rural Media Trust. The aims of the trust are to bring the films back to communities across Somerset, Devon and Wiltshire where they were collected. This new show will feature recentlycollected material and prompt more memories of how life was once lived on
the Mendips. Many of the early films in the Windrose Trust’s vaults are without sound. They give a visual glimpse back to a different age and once, perhaps, would have been accompanied live by a pianist. But for the show in Wedmore on Friday, January 31st, out goes tinkling ivories and in come the Axbridge Singers, more than 30 of them! The choir meets on Thursday evenings at St. John the Baptist Church in Axbridge and their repertoire ranges across folk, popular ballads – including Beatles songs – to music that has French and even African links. On that tentative list of films to be screened is one of the Axbridge Pageant by local cameraman Nick Barrington. The pageant is staged every ten years; the next takes place this coming August. The singers are already working on their
Frames from some of the footage to be shown in January at Reel Back the Years
From cabbages to choir – Amanda Boyd recognised her fellow choir member from this film of Axbridge Pageant
The Axbridge Singers rehearse “Where did you get that hat?” which they will perform on the night PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
contribution. Watching the old footage Amanda Boyd, well-known folk singer and choir member, pointed to a child carrying a cabbage and said: “She’s now a member of the choir!” l The show takes place at 7pm in Wedmore Village Hall. Tickets (£18) are available from James Macalpine on 01934 863074 or from January in Wedmore Village Store.
Axbridge Singers leader Stella Moore
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Seventy years on, but the memories are still vivid
HISTORY
By Mark Adler
ALAN Knight sometimes refers to handwritten notes as he talks about his two years of National Service as an infantryman in the Malay Emergency of the late 1940s and 1950s, but the memories are still pin sharp. He is a veteran of what has been described as a “forgotten” conflict which saw Commonwealth forces overcoming a Communist-led insurgency, whilst most people at home were still coming to terms with the aftermath of the Second World War. Alan, who was born in Street and who has lived in Glastonbury almost all his life, believes people of all ages should know more about the crisis and what the military endured. Entering National Serve in 1949, Alan became a soldier in the Kings Own
Alan in his National Service days
Alan at home in Glastonbury with an album of photos from his time in Malaya, medals and his Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry cap badge
Yorkshire Light Infantry and, after landing in Malay, was on constant patrol in humid, dense jungle conditions where attacks from scorpions, red ants and leeches could be just as deadly as a guerrilla ambush. His company’s role was usually to try to penetrate the jungle to hunt down the “terrorists” – as Alan calls them. Usually all they found were makeshift camps abandoned by the fighters but, during one encounter, a hand grenade was thrown at him – it failed to explode. Alan learned to drive lorries as a teenager at the family firm – now Woollens – a skill which was potentially lifesaving when a driver taking a company back from patrol was taken ill in a highly-dangerous location. Alan said: “I offered to drive and we returned safely but was up on a charge for driving a military vehicle without permission!” A bout of peritonitis led to an
Harptrees History Society’s new season FOR their first speaker of the New Year on Wednesday, January 29th the Harptrees History Society welcomes back Chris Eldridge. Last year he spoke about Alfred the Great but this time he will be talking about the Normans in Somerset. Chris is a history teacher who is particularly interested in the medieval period and once again his well-researched subject is likely to be fascinating. The Harptrees History Society meets at West Harptree Hall on the last Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm and new members and visitors are always welcome. Entry is ￡1 to members and ￡3 to non-members.
emergency operation in Penang where, Alan said: “I was treated like a celebrity by all the staff because I was a soldier who was there to protect them.” There were rest periods; Alan was a keen footballer and the camps would be visited by the AKC touring cinema. There were also periods of leave to Hong Kong and even Japan. Alan still keeps in contact with some of his fellow veterans and with his wife, Mary, has returned to Malaysia several times for reunions but would like to know if there are any other Malay veterans in Somerset. The story of the Malayan Emergency and life as a conscript in the Far East was immortalised in novels by Leslie Thomas – including Virgin Soldiers – but Alan earns several mentions in an historical book about the crisis: A King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantryman in Malaya, 1949-51 by John Scurr.
Details: Ross 01761 221758 or Andrew Sandon 221941
Chris Eldridge
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 59
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MENDIP TIMES
Westfield is on song Westfield
Frosty the Snowman; children from Westfield Primary School were in fine voices
Father Christmas and an elf with Sam Wood, aged seven, and Olivia Merko, aged eight, in Santa’s grotto
Members of Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band
Fun at Rookery Farm
Westfield Parish Council chairman Geoff Fuller with (left) Ewan Davis, from Fosseway Special School, and Archie Collins, from Westfield Primary School; they shared the honour of switching on the lights
HUNDREDS of visitors packed Rookery Farm at Binegar for the complex’s Christmas Market.
Taco the terrier in a festive outfit at Yonder Brewing
The craft marquee was a new attraction for this year PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
Seasonal songs from a local choir
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CHRISTMAS EVENTS
East Harptree
Jenny and Rosa Finch
Santa Scramble promoters Jo Burke and Ann Booker
EAST Harptree primary school’s PTA were delighted that their Christmas market raised £1,094. Head, Jane Bailey, said: “It was such a lovely few hours.” Besides the many stalls and Father Christmas, representatives from the Chew Valley Santa Scramble were giving out details about the event on Sunday, December 15th.
Inside Santa’s grotto
Christmas elves, (l to r) Cathy Brown, Lynette Banks and Rachael Stride
Some of the hand-made crafts by Dawn Stevens MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 61
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MENDIP TIMES
Tackling loneliness
“CoNNeCTING for health” is one of my favourite slogans, sadly ruined when it was appropriated for a disastrous NHS IT program. Human beings are social animals and we connect best face-to-face rather than via distant social media. When bad things happen in your life, it’s generally not your Twitter followers who come By Dr PHIL running. HAMMOND There is a great need for human beings to feel we belong, to be leaves on the same tree. Sadly, our orchard has been divided into Leave and Remainer trees, both suffering from Brexit blight, and it remains to be seen if our political leaders have the skill and desire to unite us, or if they prefer to let us whither under divide and rule. If our politicians can’t fix us, can we fix ourselves? Perhaps the biggest health and social care crisis we face is disconnection. Socially isolated and excluded people feeling as if they don’t belong, have no meaning and purpose in their lives and nothing to live for. Can we help reconnect them? We know that loneliness is as bad for you as ten cigarettes a day and a punch in the stomach. And millions of people are lonely, with profound consequences for their mental and physical health. By the time people reach us in the NHS, a lot of harm has already been done. Instead of diving deep into the river of illness to pull people out and put them back together again, we need to wander upstream and stop them falling in in the first place. That starts with reconnection. I recently became a patron of two brilliant local charities. At their heart, both are trying to reconnect those who feel isolated and excluded. The Heads Up charity is situated in wonderful buildings and a surrounding garden in South Horrington, just outside Wells. It is a joyous place to visit, where those suffering with dementia and other mental health conditions, and crucially their carers, can come and connect, support, share and create. No matter where we are on our journey from cradle to grave, we all need joy, kindness, hope and inclusion. Heads Up provides that in abundance. Julian House is another extraordinary charity that helps people rebuild sustainable, independent lives. It’s a tough world getting funding and donations, but its wonderful services provide extraordinary results. In a single year, 11,790 bed spaces were provided in the Bath hostel for the homeless and 73% of people moved on from supported housing into independent living. The community rehabilitation service has a 72% success rate in reducing further reoffending. Some 45 individuals and families fleeing from domestic abuse were given refuge accommodation; 22 clients secured paid employment last year. Stories are more powerful than statistics and Julian House recently pioneered a Human Library, where people could choose to hear the stories of those who’d used the service. Bad and sad things happen in all our lives, but if we experience cruelty in those first few years, it can take a lifetime to recover. Yet people do recover, and turn their lives around, thanks to enormously dedicated (and not very well paid) staff. They are extraordinarily committed and compassionate people dedicated to serving those most in need, irrespective of the political flavour of the day. If you’re fed up with politics, and I suspect many of you are, get involved in charities. Heads Up and Julian House would love your support. Happy New Year. See Charities, page 44. Just email me at phil@drphilhammond.com
PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
Plop the Raindrop
Do you want it to snow during the holidays? Some of my friends and I were rolled into a big fat snowball last year and became part of a snowman until the weather got warmer and we melted away. It was great seeing all you human beans outdoors enjoying yourselves, although we weren’t too impressed about being pelted with snowballs. We got our own back when some friends slid down a roof sending a load of slushy snow down the back of the guilty boy’s neck. Revenge of the snowman! of course, things can be a lot more serious if you get too much snow. In 1963 places like Priddy were cut off for several days by huge snow drifts until diggers could get through. People weren’t too badly off, safe inside their homes, although they had to manage without electricity. Think about what that means. And the sheep and other creatures really suffered, too. Avalanches are probably the most dangerous phenomenon. Thousands of tons of snow can go cascading down mountainsides, smashing everything in their path. You don’t get too many of them on Mendip these days, thank goodness. Years ago the Mendips were massive mountains and I’ve seen the changes over literally millions of years. In fact as a tiny water droplet I’ve played a small part in some of those changes, sliding over mountains in glaciers or rushing through in underground streams. Glaciers are extremely slow and boring. or they were before we started to get global warming and they started to melt. Streams are much more fun. Rushing through the dark, hissing and skipping over boulders, the air full of the tinkling sound of water, it’s an amazing world down there. No wonder they sometimes call them fairy grottoes. Is that the sound of sleigh bells? The echoes in the caves could be elves hammering. Robins dance around the cave entrances, singing. Some of the berries on the hillside look like Christmas jewels, especially in the snow. I once remember brushing through them on my friend the mammoth. I’m still looking for him. But to see all this you need to go outside. I hope that you will. otherwise I can imagine the scene if I land on your window over Christmas. Mum and dad snoring by the fire, the dog getting singed and farting and you kids watching TV or some other brightly lit screen. Remember, there’s a wonderful world outside. Ride a bike. Kick a football. Throw sticks for the dog. Go for a walk and enjoy the sights, the sounds and the smell of fallen leaves. Pretend you have dragon’s breath on cold frosty mornings. Look for icicles. Whatever you do don’t throw snowballs at a snowman – he might take some dreadful revenge! Have a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year MENDIP GRANDAD
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Hemp on the high street as new shop opens
A SHoP specialising in hemp-based products for wellbeing and skincare has opened in Radstock. Running on Hempty was launched by emma Mannings after using CBD oil – cannabidiol – to improve her sleep. CBD does not have a psychoactive effect. emma, of Dunkerton, also used CBD to help ease the conditions of two of her three daughters who had M.e. after trying other natural therapies and Emma in her new shop in Fortescue acupuncture. Road in Radstock After extensive research into the benefits of CBD oil, emma began selling products through various craft markets and other small events but jumped at the chance to open her business full time when the premises in Fortescue Road became available. Running on Hempty stocks a wide range of products, ranging from shampoos and conditioner to lava bracelets and even car diffusers. emma is also looking to expand into other sustainable products such as bamboo tableware.
HEALTH & FAMILY
emma said: “I am trying to make the business as sustainable as possible, using only the minimum of plastic and sourcing many of the products from UK-based suppliers who share my ethos. In the future I hope to be able to offer a refill service.” emma’s last markets were at the Rookery Farm Christmas Market and a charity Christmas fair in Peasedown St John in aid of a homeless project in Bath. emma added: “The markets were great to do and I met some really lovely people, but couldn’t say no when this shop came up. “My family has been fantastic. Without their support, I couldn’t have done this.” NEW SHOP NOW OPEN IN RADSTOCK
For all your hemp-based products – shampoo, conditioner, balms, lotions, soaps – CBD oil, lava bracelets and more
9b Fortescue Road, Radstock BA3 3PJ. Tel: 07745 016277 Web: www.hemptyonline.co.uk Hempty products are either food supplements or beauty products only. They are not intended to diagnose, cure, or prevent medical conditions. Contain no THC.
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Puddle Ducks arrives in the Mendips TRUSTeD local swim school Puddle Ducks has launched its classes at the newly-opened Mendip Farm Pool, in Chilcompton, as it expands its baby and pre-school lessons into the area. The newly refurbished pool has been especially adapted for babies and young children from new-born to ten years. The pool overlooks a beautiful landscaped garden and the pool temperature is an ambient 32 degrees to accommodate Puddle Ducks’ exacting requirements. The first baby and toddler lessons were delivered earlier last month by experienced local teachers Stephanie Wills and Laura Hoskins on Monday, Friday and Saturday mornings. Steph said: “Mendip Farm is a brand new pool for Puddle Ducks and I’m so excited to start teaching there – it’s just ten minutes from home, so I jumped at the chance to bring Puddle Duck lessons to the area. It’s a gorgeous place to start swimming, with toasty warm water and a tranquil garden view from the pool.”
emma Radford-Jones was one of the first parents to swim at Mendip Farm Pool with her two-month-old baby Tilly. emma said: “Tilly is my first baby so I was a bit apprehensive before the class, but our teacher Steph made us both feel so relaxed. In fact Tilly was so relaxed she fell asleep towards the end of the lesson. “The Mendip Farm venue was lovely too. I’ve driven past so many times and had no idea that there was such a hidden gem of a pool so close by.” Mendip Farm Pool has two brand new changing rooms complete with hairdryers and a travel cot to keep little ones safe. Baskets to store swimmers’ belongings are available to use and a new pool-side shower area has been installed to allow swimmers and parents to rinse before and after swimming. Puddle Ducks provides innovative, fun and confidence-building swimming classes for babies, toddlers and children. Teachers focus on creating a nurturing environment, which supports independent swimming for
children of all abilities. From January 2020, the Puddle Ducks’ Swim Academy expert lessons for ages four-ten will take place after school on Mondays and Thursdays. During launch week, children will be able to swim for free on January 6th and 9th (booking essential). Also in the local area, Puddle Ducks teach on Wednesdays at both The Campus pool in Weston-super-Mare and Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa and at Harry’s Hydro pool in Frome on Saturdays.
Details: 0117 9717165 or visit https://www.puddleducks.com/bb
PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
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HEALTH & FAMILY
COURT HOUSE
Ground Floor & Courtyard Rooms Currently Available
e Care Home with a difference. We offer all that you would expect from a high quality, family run Care Home set in a Georgian House in the lovely village of Cheddar, Somerset.
You can live your life to the full and choice is our favourite word. Rooms now available with full en-suite facilities and total personal care is offered. Rated by the CQC as good in all areas and outstanding for Care
The Manager – Chris Dando • 01934 742131 • chriscourthouse@gmail.com Court House Retirement Home, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RA www.courthouseretirementhome.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 65
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MENDIP TIMES
Clare Hall offers flexible care
CLARe Hall Nursing Home can be found in the peaceful Somerset Village of Ston easton and is a homely and intimate home with 47 single rooms, most of them with en-suite facilities. They have four very spacious rooms specifically designed for couples. They also have newlyrefurbished premium rooms available, which are available for viewing now. Clare Hall is surrounded by impressive well-maintained grounds. There is a water feature, a sensory garden and a greenhouse for any green-fingered residents. The majority of the wellappointed rooms overlook this magnificent view. Activities are arranged daily for residents to enjoy in the communal lounge or on a one-to-one basis. Their chef manager has a varied and tasty menu on offer which can be enjoyed in their nicely decorated Tudor style grand dining room. Clare Hall has the ability to care for people both under and over the age of 65 who have general residential, nursing or complex nursing care needs.
Registered Member of the British Association of Foot Health Professionals Theas’ Footcare, Mobile Foot Clinic Mobile: 07849 033 055 email: thea-m-1@hotmail.co.uk
CLARE HALL NURSING HOME PREMIUM ROOMS DESIGNED WITH FAMILY IN MIND NOW AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING Ston Easton BA3 4DE • E-mail: admin@clarehallnursinghome.co.uk • Tel: 01761 241626
PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
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ENDIP TIMES MM ENDIP TIMES
Four seasons in one day: (l:r) Sue Begg (spring), Liz Anderson (summer) Ann Simon (autumn) and Gillian Sinclair (winter)
Christmas shopping
CHeDDAr Vale Lions Club played host to 75 local senior citizens, treating them to sherry and mince pies on a shopping trip to a local garden centre. This annual event has grown over the past few years and is well supported by those from Cheddar and the surrounding villages. Transport is provided, organised by the club’s community services officer, Lyn Wood, who did a fantastic job making sure everyone arrived safely and were then returned home. A spokesman said: “This is one of the most rewarding events in the Lions’ calendar, which members enjoy. Chatting and laughing with the participants makes it all worthwhile, plus the attendees always express their appreciation by all the kind comments and smiles the Lions receive.” The club is always looking for new members to assist with their community work. Details: 0345 8337402 email information@ cheddarvalelions.org.uk or go to www.cheddarvalelions.org.uk or Facebook @cheddarvalelions
Support for services
Simon Reaks and Anne Lewin
MeMbers of the Yatton branch of The british Legion travelled to bishops Lydeard to present a cheque for £1,000 to Dunkirk Memorial House. Anne Lewin is pictured receiving it from branch chairman simon reaks, after which the group had a tour of the house, which provides nursing and personal care as well as short-term respite care for the armed forces community and their families. PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
COMMUNITY
President’s award for legion standard bearer
Alun and his wife Sarah with the President’s Award
sHePTON Mallet’s royal british Legion Mess Dinner saw the presentation of a new President’s Award to the branch’s standard bearer Alun stewart. The award was made for Alun’s “outstanding service” to the branch, representing them at events including county and national conferences and at the 2019 Festival of remembrance at the royal Albert Hall. Certificates of Branch honorary life president appreciation were Major General Ray Pett awarded to two members, James Morris and Caroline ransom. Another certificate was awarded to steve Goodland, chairman of 1182 rAF Air Cadet squadron recognising the support shown by the cadets to the branch. A further certificate was presented to Tim bickerdike, vice-chairman of Wells rbL branch, for his support. shepton rbL’s new president brigadier Tony DalbyWelsh presented his predecessor, Major General ray Pett, with the rbL Gold badge recognising his 25 years’ service as president. ray is also honorary life president of sMrbL.
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Leg-up for club
COMMUNITY
Celebrating VE Day
GArY Wilkins, president of rotary Nailsea and backwell, is pictured presenting a cheque for £1,741.21 to Carole brooke, chair of Nailsea and District Leg Club, part of the £20,000 proceeds from the Nailsea Charity Walks and runs organised by rotary. The next run is on sunday, June 7th. Details: www.nailsearotary.org
Village shop gets a new look
THe new-look Winford Community shop and Post Office is now open and joins the network of community shops in the south West that are entirely community owned,
managed and run. The shop has been completely refitted and has a brand new fresh look inside and is gradually being restocked with new products and ranges to tempt regular customers and to bring new customers in. Post office services include banking, bill payment, travel money, insurance as well as postal services. A good selection of greetings cards, stationary and packaging complements this service. There is fresh bread daily, fresh veg, local eggs and potatoes, local bacon, ham, milk cheese, pies and quiches as well as general grocery and household goods. reducing plastic waste is a priority and you can refill your laundry and dishwashing liquid at the refill station. A milk vending machine is on order and milk will soon be available in refillable glass bottles. The shop is entirely run by volunteers so that someone can be employed to work in the post office. Additional volunteers are needed to work in the shop for two hours a week – just call in and arrange a training session. Organisers said the shop would like to express their thanks to the West of england rural Network for their support and for the funding for the refit provided mainly from the Leader Programme, the eU fund for rural Development.
PLANs are already being prepared in Peasedown st John to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Ve Day next year. The government has announced that the traditional May Day bank Holiday, always held on the first Monday of the month, will be moved back by four days next year, with Friday, May 8th being recognised as a bank Holiday instead. This will kick start three days of celebrations across the country, including the participation of pubs, which will toast war heroes and churches, which are being encouraged to ring their bells for peace. The Peasedown st John commemorations are being led and co-ordinated by the village’s local councillors, Karen Walker and sarah bevan. Cllr Walker said: “We should never forget the sacrifice that our country’s service personnel made for the rest of us. Their bravery and determination helped defeat the Nazis and bring peace to the UK and the rest of europe.” On Friday, May 8th, a celebratory event will be held at st John’s Parish Church Hall to thank all local veterans for their service and to raise a toast to all those heroes who are no longer with us.
Pamela weaves her magic
A pick-me-up for Inner Wheel members
bAsKeT weaving with a difference caught the fascination of Midsomer Norton and radstock Inner Wheel members when Pamela Pontin visited their meeting at The Old Down Inn at emborough with a collection of her decorative and useful creations. Using an amalgamation of skills, gleaned from her passion for reading craft books, Pam has devised strong baskets woven from strips of cardboard cartons that are then decorated with coloured paper, painted and varnished and finished off with handles and blanket stitch supports plaited from washing lines. Club members are now looking forward to January and their annual bring and buy coffee morning at the home of Mollie Arnold in aid of the rUH’s oncology department, their Christmas dinner and their Inner Wheel Day at the home of Audrey and Peter Hoskins. l New members are always welcome; contact president sue Hopkins on 07944 298036 or secretary elaine Muir on 07543973666.
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MENDIP TIMES
Art group supports hospice
Blagdon Christmas fair
Pictured (l to r) Angela Smythe, leader of the support group, Janet Dench, Joan Rockliffe and Tina Smith
CHILCOMPTON Art Club has presented a cheque for £250 to Dorothy House Hospice, raised at its annual winter exhibition, which was well supported by many visitors from Chilcompton and the surrounding area. The club meets in st John’s Church Hall, Chilcompton, each Wednesday and Friday morning, 10-12noon. They are a very mixed group of artists with many and varying talents and welcome members of all ages, and abilities. John sibley is pictured presenting the cheque Jo bodman from the hospice. The cheque was accompanied by a donation from Poppies of Paulton and the commission of a dog portrait by one of the members.
Caring for the carers
A CArer’s support Alliance now operates once a week as a drop-in centre for young carers at 65, High street, Nailsea. The alliance provides a well-deserved break for youngsters from their on-going responsibilities. rotary, Nailsea and backwell’s Ken rock, recently presented a keyboard to the group. He’s pictured with support workers sophie West and emma Harraway. A cheque was also given towards the group’s drop-in centre costs, from rotary’s Child Assist Programme. PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
bLAGDON's Weston Hospicecare support group raised £750 for the hospice at its Christmas fair. sue Harding from the hospice said: “The blagdon friends group is one of our most active, and members work tirelessly throughout the year holding a range of fundraising events including fayres, big drops, soup lunches and big breakfasts. We are very grateful to them.” One of the organisers, Tina smith, said: “We would like to thank everyone one for supporting us that day, and helping us raise this amount. The knitting ladies did particularly well taking with their knitted soldiers, Christmas puds etc. “We are lucky in blagdon to have a loyal band of supporters who are prepared to give up their time to help the local hospice.”
Christmas lunch
PAULTON’s senior citizens’ annual Christmas lunch was organised by the senior citizens’ lunch club, led by June Drake and other members of the committee. They enjoyed food supplied, cooked and served by the Tesco Community team, led by the Tesco Community Champion, becky eschele. They were then treated to a delightful rendering of Christmas songs and carols from the pupils of Paulton Junior school.
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New funding for Yatton café
COMMUNITY
Library’s happy anniversary
Volunteers at Timsbury Library Hub have issued 3,000 books in the past year.
THe strawberry Line Café in Yatton has received a grant of £3,000 through Quartet Community Foundation towards the cost of a pilot work experience placement for people with learning disabilities. The café on the platform of Yatton station was set up by local people in 2010 to employ and train adults with learning disabilities. Ann ramsay from the café said: “Adults with learning difficulties still face many barriers to getting employment and very few opportunities for paid employment exist. “This express grant from Quartet Community Foundation means we can offer local people with learning disabilities greater opportunities for work experience and help in gaining work skills.” Julie Newman, philanthropy officer from Quartet Community Foundation, said: “Our Vital signs research shows that people with a disability are far less likely to be in employment than people with no disability and even when they get work, they earn a lot less. “This project is one practical way we can support the strawberry Line Café to offer this opportunity to local adults with learning disabilities.” Details: Other grants are available. Small, local causes interested in grant funding can contact Quartet Community Foundation at https://quartetcf.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant
VILLAGers in Timsbury celebrated the first anniversary of their library hub with a visit from local author, Katherine Webb, tea and cakes and a children’s treasure hunt. set up by Timsbury Parish Council, the library has attracted 130 new members and 3,000 books have been loaned during the year. It is part of the full b&Nes council library system with 3,000 books in stock and access to two million books that can be ordered from Libraries West. Josie Pownall, chairman of the parish council said: “The Timsbury Hub has been a great new service for residents to drop in, read the papers and have a cuppa. There is a fun kids’ area and the Kids storytime is popular. It is a real boost for the village.” The hub, in the YMCA building beside the Co-op, is open afternoons on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and on saturday mornings. Organised sessions include gadget busters, parent and baby group, cabinet of curiosities reminiscences and a carers’ wellness cafe.
Festive fundraiser in Wookey
A FUNDrAIsING event at Wookey Hole Community Hall raised £200. Visitors enjoyed delicious home-made cakes, teas, coffees, and impressive displays of work produced by two groups who use the hall on a regular basis. The community hall sewing group meet monthly and the painting for pleasure group meet on Monday mornings to paint in watercolour with tutor David simmons. The money raised may go towards enhanced insulation for the building. It was announced during the event that the hall is applying for a grant from the parish council of £95 for a water heater for hot drinks. The painting group currently has space for a small number of new members. Details: Alec Lewis 01749 670772 or David simmons 01749 672199. similarly, if anyone would like to know more about the sewing group, they can call Jenny Lewis on 01749 670772.
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 71
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MENDIP TIMES
Lantern Festival is here
PrePArATIONs are being finalised for the tenth shepton Mallet Lantern Parade on saturday, December 21st after a series of workshops took place for all ages. The parade will begin at 5pm in the town’s Collett Park and will make its way to the Market Place for the main celebrations.
Hard at work against a backdrop of images of previous parades
Flying high with this space-themed creation
The workshops took place at the Paul Street Community Rooms
Village celebrates community shop DrAYCOTT Community shop celebrated its official opening with mulled cider and mince pies for villagers. Ariane and bella cut the ribbon after winning a poster competition. Tim Cook, committee chairman, said: “The
PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
Artist Mandy McKenna has been working on a giant version of a sheep-themed lantern which will be unveiled on the night; it will take four people to carry it
announcement earlier in the year that we might lose our village shop – a vital hub for the community – was a blow, but thanks to the determination and commitment of the entire village, we were able to raise the funds we needed to save it.
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Church future is almost “secure”
AN ambitious project to transform the interior of st John’s Church in Glastonbury into a modern, multipurpose venue is almost complete. Under the banner of securing the Future, work has been carried out for
Early and late-Norman plinths have been found which will remain exposed and covered by viewing panels
Wells gets a makeover
the past year to create a fresh and flexible space for worship and community use for decades to come. Aided by a £465,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project team have overseen the levelling of the floor – with underfloor heating – and the installation of glazed glass porches to the west and south entrances. In the coming weeks, work will be carried out to restore the organ and complete the installation of audiovisual facilities and multi-purpose lighting to open up the church for concerts and other events. Nearly all the Victorian pews have been removed – some by Gilbert scott will remain – to be replaced by flexible seating for around 300 people. A planned refurbishment of the kitchen area could not go ahead, but st John’s will work with the new operators of what was the bay Tree Café next door – owned by the church – who will provide catering for the events. Project manager Larry schenk said: “We have come in on budget, so we
Larry Schenk – excited by the imminent reopening of the church
are able to spend some money on the café which will complement the new facilities here.” Larry praised the work of all the contractors, including ellis Construction, and added: “Our aim remains to reopen the church for the first service on sunday, February 23rd, with a rededication by the bishop of bath and Wells in May.”
WeLLs was about to get “yarn bombed” for Christmas as Mendip Times went to press, organised by Project Factory and Wells big Knit 2020. Organisers say the practice of “yarn bombing”, sometimes known as “guerilla knitting”, is a fun, eye-catching and creative way to raise awareness, build community engagement and have fun! residents and visitors may have noticed the wonderful knitted
poppies adorning the tree outside the Wells & Mendip Museum since November. Next on the list was Wells Market Place which was due to be yarn bombed with a Christmas theme on December 12th. Organiser, Nile bourne, said: “Activity so far is all a teaser for the big Yarn bomb in March 2020 which will coincide with International Women's Day and will include a tableau of women's achievements. “The bus station will be made beautiful and, later in May, there are plans in the pipeline to coincide with the bishop's Palace 800.”
Details: email: wellsbigknit@gmail.com or join the Facebook Group Wells Big Knit 2020
MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 73
(Photo courtesy of Nick Spratling)
COMMUNITY
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MENDIP TIMES
Community hero
Christmas gifts Community chair, John Palmer (left) presenting Peter Sherborne with his award, with club president Mike Hedges
CHeLWOOD bridge rotary Club’s community award for this year has been won by Pete sherborne for his lifetime of voluntary devotion to the Chelwood community and to celebrate his service on the parish council from which he has just retired after 55 years, 33 of them as chairman.2019. Pete, in his 70s, who farms at Glebe Farm in the middle of the village with his wife Ann, has lived there all of his life. He has also served on the village hall committee for many years during which time he was also the chair. He has also run the whist club for 15 years. This year there were 14 nominations from 12 parish councils.
THe Inner Wheel Club of Chelwood bridge heard that the salvation Army in Midsomer Norton was co-ordinating Christmas hampers for health visitors to distribute locally to families and decided to collect toys and gifts, as well as food. They presented their donations recently at the salvation Army collection point in Midsomer Norton. Pictured (l to r) are elizabeth Maggs and Major sharon robinson, who organise collections and food bank donations, plus Kate Atkinson, from Chelwood bridge Inner Wheel Club.
Winter fuel appeal
QUArTeT Community Foundation has launched its surviving Winter Appeal, saying new data reveals there were 200 excess winter deaths in North somerset in the winter months of 2017/2018. They are asking those who can afford it to donate their Winter Fuel Payment, or other contribution.
Countdown to community show auditions in January
WeLLs Theatre Festival has announced the second of its two community shows which will be cast entirely from the local community and performed in front of Wells Cathedral in July. Auditions will begin in January for Jacqueline Wilson’s Hetty Feather, adapted for the stage by emma reeves with music by benji bower and directed by Louise Merrifield. The Olivier Award-nominated production will be staged alongside The Comedy of errors directed by ros Johnson. Auditions for both are open to anyone who would like to play their part either in a speaking role or as a member of the ensemble.
Directors Louise Merrifield and Ros Johnson – on the lookout for local talent
No previous acting experience is required to audition for either community production, just a passion for theatre. To be part of The Comedy of errors, people must be over 15 years old. To audition for Hetty Feather, would-be actors need to be aged between nine and 16. ros said: “We are so excited to be staging two community productions in front of the cathedral this year. being part of the Wells Community Theatre is such fun. Whether you are an aspiring performer or you just want to get involved we can promise a truly special experience you will never forget. We are waiting to hear from you!”
If you would like to audition for either of the community productions please email info@wellstheatrefestival.org
PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
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A pink rose for a rose
A bIG fundraising effort is going on in memory of Jennifer rose sell, from Clutton who was killed last summer in a car crash in Midsomer Norton, a month shy of her 21st birthday. The plan is to grow and cultivate a pink rose named after her and to fund that lots of people are busy knitting pink roses. These are being sold at Tesco, where Jennifer was working while deciding whether to go to art school. she was a pupil at both Clutton Primary school and then Norton Hill secondary school. One of the fundraisers, becky Tovey from High Littleton, said: “she was a beautiful girl inside and out and it was a total tragedy. “As some of the family’s friends – all our daughters went through school together – we wanted to do something for their family that would be a lasting legacy of their beautiful daughter and we came up with the idea of cultivating and growing a rose named after her. “It’s a hugely costly business however so we’re fundraising. Tesco at Norton came up with the idea of selling pink knitted roses, Jen’s favourite colour and pink roses were worn at her funeral. “We have been busy getting as many knitters as possible – Jen’s one grandma has designed the pattern herself. We have various knitting groups helping us plus lots of mums and friends but we are selling them quicker than we can knit them. “We have so many people are on board but we still need more. We have a Facebook page so people know to buy them in Tesco and various other outlets.” The group are also fundraising by holding events with a quiz night in Clutton raising over £1,000. Details: Facebook page – Jennifers Rose or donate at GoFundme Jenny’s Rose or Instagram jennifer_rose_legacy
Kate’s charity shave
KATe Lippiatt of blagdon has had a sponsored head shave in aid of Weston Hospicecare, while her hair has gone to the Little Princess Trust which makes wigs for children
going through chemotherapy. Kate said: “Those of you who know me well will understand why I want to support this amazing place. They not only gave care for our loved ones but cared for us after they had gone, something I will be forever grateful for.” Details: See Kate’s JustGiving page
Accolade for Lions club member
COMMUNITY
Richard Munden is presented with the Melvin Jones Fellowship by club president Sarah Oughton
rICHArD Munden, who has been a member of radstock and Midsomer Norton Lions Club for the past 25 years, has received an international honour for his service. richard has been awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship; Melvin Jones was the founder of Lions Clubs International. The fellowship is the foundation’s highest honour and represents humanitarian qualities such as generosity, compassion and concern for the less fortunate. During richard’s time as a member, he has served the club in a number of roles, having been president, chaired of its Activities or Fundraising committee and also its social committee. richard was sponsored by fellow member rex Gregory, who has himself served in the club for more than 33 years. rex is best-known for organising a monthly quiz which has been running for the past 16 years raising thousands of pounds for local good causes. The quiz is currently held at the High Littleton recreation Club.
Leap into singing
A COMMUNITY Festival of singing will take place in Wells on saturday, February 29th with an afternoon of workshops led by four local choir leaders before an evening of music. The event takes place from 2pm in st. Thomas Church, where participants will have the opportunity to share in the experience of learning new songs in a welcoming and friendly environment. everyone is welcome, no auditions, previous singing experience or affiliation with a choir is necessary. The free evening concert begins at 7pm, with a retiring collection for Heads Up. emma Wheat, one of the festival organisers, said: “The Community Festival of singing is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the fun, friendship and community that accompanies the quality music-making of our local singing groups and singers.” l Participation in the festival workshops costs £10 and places are limited. To book or for more information, contact emma at: ewheattuition@gmail.com
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CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Festive Night
Cheddar
Prickles Hedgehogs stall
Cheddar Vale Lions had pig racing
Father Christmas arrived courtesy of the fire brigade
Cheddar hockey club
Rotary Big Pitch contestants (l to r) Ella, Evie, Jorgia and Sophia from Kings of Wessex School
Feed the Homeless team from Weston PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
Cheddar First School singing carols
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A kilometre of new cave
EVERY year in November Mendip cavers gather to learn about discoveries made in the past 12 months and to see the J-Rat Award presented to the digging team which has made the most progress. Around 100 cavers and diggers gathered on November 23rd at the Hunters’ Lodge Inn to see the award go, With PHILIP for the first time in three years, to a Mendip HENDY team. The award is given in memory of Tony Jarratt, a fanatical cave digger, who sadly died 12 years ago. Tony concentrated on digging under Mendip, although he was also responsible for discoveries in the north of Scotland and so discoveries made in these two areas are eligible to compete for the award. It is given to the team which has found and surveyed most new cave in the preceding 12 months. Although the Scots have won the award three times, this year they only managed fourth place, with a mere 52 metre extension in Uncabac cave, in Sutherland. Two leads here are on-going digs. In third place came the Cheddar Caving Club team led by Andy Sparrow, with 100 metres found in Gough’s Cave. Bagpit Fissures came second, with 130 metres. I have previously described this interesting cave, with its cryogenic (glacially-derived) calcite crystals and broken formations. The well-deserved award went to Trevor Hughes and his mainly Bristol Exploration Club team, for an amazing 638 metres found in Stock Hill Mine Cave, at Priddy. A sizeable chamber was found in May 2017, but rapid progress in 2019 led to a complex series of passages. The cave in plan is roughly X-shaped, resembling the skeleton of a spread-eagled frog, with the entrance roughly in the centre of the cross. A choked descending passage was enlarged with explosives, after which lay open passage, followed by a squeeze into a dip passage around four metres high and up to six metres high. A steep slope leads to a side passage which connects with a streamway, ending in a shallow sump at a depth of 68 metres. In March, a larger passage was entered heading downstream, heading south. This led to another sump. Each is being explored by separate teams from the Cave Diving group. One sump, Diving Board, was named after a thin slab of rock 8cm thick, partially obscuring the water. Sadly, this had to be destroyed to allow access. So far, this sump has only been explored for about five metres. Upstream, the cave splits into two inlet branches, heading north, towards Stock Hill Swallet. One is a narrow rift with a small stream, with a narrow dry rift running parallel to it. A greasy four metre climb leads to the other upstream section. A phreatic tube was enlarged by digging out the floor, and around 450 metres of passage was then entered. Much of the cave is narrow and contorted, but there are some sizeable chambers. The Far Rift Dig in Gough’s Cave lies beyond the limits of the show cave and started in a pit on the route of the Adventure Cave. It was first dug in 1985, when a duck filled with sticky mud was passed to enter the foot of an aven three years later. This ended in two impassable fissures. Digging was resumed a few years ago, when the roof of the
CAVING
duck was made higher to ease access. At the top of the aven, explosives were used to enlarge the passage to enter Pretty Passage, through the snug Portcullis Squeeze. This is 120 metres from the start point. A bedding plane was dug to enter Resignation Rift, an impressive chamber ten metres high and two–three metres wide. The Gods is a high-level extension, but the bottom of the chamber, Great North Dig, was excavated, to end in impassable boulders. Half-way up Resignation Rift, another dig, Cystoscopy Passage, led to The Catheter, an upwards draughting rift. The whole area is very dry and there are very few formations. The passages seem to be in line with larger chambers below in the show cave and start of the Adventure Cave, so it is hoped that eventually a descending dig might be found which would enter a possible continuation of these lower chambers. The assembly was also treated to reports from other digs. 18 Acre Swallet was opened with a Hymac digger in 1991, but abandoned after several groups of diggers failed to make progress. It lies directly over the St. Cuthbert’s Swallet streamway. In 2016 cavers mainly from the Wessex Cave Club restarted the dig. In February 2019 the terminal choke (Jericho, because the walls kept falling down) was passed. The boulders have now been stabilised with scaffold, heavy mesh and cement. There were two options – a loose boulder choke (A Special Place in Hell) and a small passage at the base of a six metre aven. The choke was dug to Meaningful Pitch 3 (MP3), below which was a chamber, Plenty of Space in Hell. A climb up led to a boulder choke. In early February the boulders were removed, leading to a 35m phreatic tube and a vadose trench, Wayne’s World. There is a four metre climb into a small chamber, with three ways on. A vadose trench in the floor of Plenty of Space in Hell takes a small stream, and leads to a boulder-filled pot, Dead in the Ditch. The cave is 166m long, and 41m deep. In Cheddar Gorge, Spider Hole, another Wessex dig, is going relentlessly downwards, and is now 97 metres deep. There are sections of horizontal passage, mainly dug through boulders, and the total length is in the region of 177 metres. On western Mendip, members of the Axbridge Caving Group have located a passage in Bleadon Cavern shown on William Beard’s map of 1833 and subsequently lost. A dig near the surface bottomed out at three metres, although it did contain shotholes dating to around 1840. Excavating in the lower part of the cave finally located the lost passage, very dry and sandy, and some ten metres long. Afterwards, the bar was crowded with cavers discussing the presentations and planning future work in their various digs. There is still a lot of potential for significant discoveries under Mendip, and the scientific research that will accompany it.
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
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MOTORING
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MENDIP TIMES
Grand designs on contemporary living in Bruton
ACORN Property Group has launched Cubis Bruton, “eco-chic’” homes that skilfully merge indoor and outdoor living. Located off Cuckoo Hill, on the northern side of the sought-after medieval town of Bruton, the scheme provides 56 contemporary designed three- and fourbedroom homesvwith features including green roofs, timber cladding and superior insulation. Providing iconic architecture ensuring nature and design come together in harmony, Cubis Bruton was devised by highly regarded land artist Mark Merer. The flexible living spaces include biparting glass doors and terraces, with each house having its own private garden. With Scandinavian-inspired facades created from expanses of glazing, timber
cladding and stone, the timber-frame houses have flat or angular roofs. Selected houses have a sedum/green roof which allows for a range of planting options and provides important microclimates for birdlife and other species: additionally the development has an “ecology corridor” designed to protect wildlife including birds, bats and hedgehogs. The beautifully-dressed four bedroom
Cubis Bruton: “eco chic” on the edge of a medieval town price of £1million
show home at Cubis Bruton, now open, has a courtyard entrance, terraces and landscaped garden, with interiors designed by local interior designer, Emily Bisley. Government backed Help to Buy is available at Cubis Bruton, enabling you to reserve with a 5% deposit. If you have a house to sell, ask about Acorn’s Assisted Move scheme, which can help take the stress out of moving.
Prices at Cubis Bruton currently start at £315,000 for a three-bedroom terrace house, rising to £675,000 for a four-bedroom detached house.
PAGE 80 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
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Are you looking at selling in the New Year?
HOW do you choose a good estate agent? The team at Killens tell you what to look for: 1. Traditional or online estate agency? A traditional full-service estate agency should have an office that you can visit and will normally take care of the whole selling process on a no-sale, no-fee basis. Online agencies can be cheaper and charge an up-front fee but you may need to deal with a lot of the selling process yourself. As most sellers use traditional estate agencies this is what we look at below. 2. To start with – make a shortlist of estate agents Which ones catch your eye? Which ones have the knowledge and expertise? All estate agents must belong to an Ombudsman scheme and the best belong to an industry body such as the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and operating to codes of conduct. 3. Narrow down the choices – take a closer look Find out more. Look at their websites. Look at the properties they are listing. Are they similar to yours and well presented? Would you be happy to see your property on there? The best agents advertise on the three main property portals to reach a larger audience. 4. Find out if they are the estate agents for you – go and see them Get a better sense by visiting an agent’s offices to make the valuation appointment. Is the office in a good position? When you go in, do you feel welcome? Is it a professional and friendly
PROPERTY
environment? If so, make the appointment. 5. The valuation of your property – what to watch for Pay attention to the agent’s politeness, professionalism and knowledge. Opinions should be justified and don’t always be tempted by the highest valuation – you may lose out by more in the end. 6. Assess the agent – ask them lots of questions Ensure that you know what the agent is going to do for you individually and how they will go about marketing your property, finding a buyer and making sure the sale goes through. A good agent should be able to readily answer your questions. 7. The estate agent’s fees – what you can expect Fees are usually a percentage of the selling price and these should be explained in detail with no hidden costs. Don’t assume that cheapest is best and good agents don’t tie you into an onerous selling agreement. 8. You and your agent – working as a team Once you have chosen your agent, call them up and give them the good news. Think of you and the agent as working in partnership to find a buyer who will pay the best price for the property within a time-frame that suits you and this requires openness and honesty to gain success. Killens operate from offices across North and Central Somerset and are worth talking to. Contact them to arrange a free valuation and to gain comprehensive advice on how to sell. Their agency teams can be contacted on 01275 333993 and 01749 671172.
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Catering professionals
Topline Catering was established in 1986. Their reputation is founded on quality and a personal approach to each customer. They can tailor any of their services to suit your individual requirements and preferences for your wedding. They understand that you want everything to be perfect for your wedding day and their professional wedding catering service guarantees that you will not be disappointed. Whatever you have in mind for your wedding, be it formal or informal, large or small, you can trust Topline Catering to provide a friendly and efficient service. They provide the highest quality service for a wide range of events, from finger and fork buffets to banquets and barbecues.
PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
Enjoy a country house wedding
Feel like royalty for the day and entertain your wedding guests in style in one of latona’s two stunning country house hotels, both
ideally situated on the outskirts of Bath. The leigh park, a magnificent Grade 2 listed country house, set in five acres of landscaped gardens, combines the very best in traditional elegance with contemporary design and facilities and is available for exclusive use or for wedding parties of all sizes. The limpley Stoke Hotel, a sought-after wedding venue set in its own grounds with wonderful far reaching views across the Avon Valley, offers a variety of period bridal suites that can accommodate celebrations of any size. offering total flexibility with packages to suit all budgets, The limpley Stoke and leigh park invite you to meet the teams, share a glass of prosecco and talk to their dedicated wedding co-ordinators on how they can make your day the perfect day.
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Luxury at your convenience!
We all enjoy a daily refreshing shower and a visit to the loo in the comfort of our own homes, but this can be a bit tricky when you attend increasingly popular outdoor functions in remote locations! Help is at hand though, Chew Valley Hire ltd can provide both gleaming loos and sparkling showers at your celebration at the location of your choice just as easily as at iconic local events such as the Glastonbury Festival and Bristol Balloon Fiesta.
Traditional look
JG mArqUeeS have now moved into vintage, traditional look marquees with their new petal pole marquee. For a number of years customers had been requesting a more traditional tent for their weddings and parties. The petal pole marquee fits the bill perfectly, with a stylish, traditional look, wooden poles, scalloped canopy and scooped ridge line giving an eye-catching finish. Their core market will still be framed marquees which normally have linings and starlight linings for weddings. To complement the petal pole marquee, they will stock rustic trestle tables and festoon lights with the option of vintage bulbs. And, new this year is high-powered outside lighting that can change colour, or be set as one colour.
Keeping wedding memories
AmY Atkins is a wedding and events videographer based in north West Somerset between the countryside and bustling cities but other areas in the UK or europe are never an issue when capturing memories! She believes in capturing raw moments of your special day as well as the more memorable moments like the first dance and speeches for the happy couple and everyone involved. it's important for her not be intrusive so that the stories of the people she shoots are authentic and cinematic. Amy says it is important for her to get to know you on a personal level, which in turn will allow her to produce a wedding film that's handcrafted to fit your personalities and individual requirements. Amy not only produces bespoke wedding films but does it at a reasonable price and although not a professional yet, she considers herself to be a good amateur.
FOCUS ON WEDDINGS Central heating, soft lighting and background music are just a few of the finishing touches in their luxury mobile toilets. As a testimony to their high standards of design and workmanship, they have won the Canon Hygiene loo of the Year Award. For the ultimate in portable shower units Chew Valley Hire ltd can provide a range of luxury shower units with gas powered boilers and electrical power for heating and lighting so your guests will be treated to the ultimate shower experience. Contact Chew Valley Hire Ltd on 01761 221 105 for all your mobile toilet and shower hire requirements in Bristol and surrounding areas.
If you are looking for quality mobile toilet and shower hire, or Trackway hire in the Bath, Bristol, Shepton Mallet, Wells & Glastonbury areas, call Chew Valley Hire Ltd on 01761 221 105
QUALITY MARQUEES FOR YOUR SPECIAL EVENT • Petal Pole Marquees • High Peaked Roofs • Clear Roofs and Window Walls so ‘Conservatory Ends or Entrances’ can be created. Also Flame Towers.
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WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER
amyatkinsweddingfilms.com amyatkins1026@gmail.com MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 83
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MENDIP TIMES
Mendip Times reduces travel costs
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HOMES & INTERIORS
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Graham and Lesley’s final project . . . “THE bottom line is pretty straightforward,” Graham Tonkinson assures me, “if you are going to start on a building project you have to be 100% committed, understand fully what you’re taking on and expect the unexpected.” Graham and his wife Lesley have shown that commitment ever since they bought their first home back in 1973. They started (as perhaps many of us do) with some fairly simple DIY improvements but if you see the size and scale of their current project in Weston, you’ll appreciate that their skills have developed massively since those early days. The bungalow they moved into last January is going to be their last project before they settle for a more traditional retirement. Having said that they have worked tirelessly and there is still between one and two years work before everything is complete. And as if to underline the warning to expect the unexpected, Lesley was injured in a car accident earlier in the year and this has, in the short term,
limited her role. It is only when you hear firsthand what is involved in a project like this that you begin to understand how organised you need to be and how much planning is involved. The bungalow itself was originally built in 1934 and was on a plot on which four similar properties were developed. The other three have all had extensions and the Tonkinsons have used the same architect for their extension. Additionally they have had some invaluable advice from their neighbours. Lesley said: “One thing many people don’t really take into account when embarking on something like this is the part the weather plays in dictating the tasks you can and can’t do. Too hot or too cold for jobs like plastering and pointing and you’re likely to be wasting your time.” The Tonkinsons have endured everything from the Beast from the East
to record high temperatures, so they know what they are talking about! Sitting in the kitchen/diner area I get a real feeling for how special everything will be when the project is complete. The care that has gone into every detail is not only apparent but testament to the 46 years Graham and Lesley have devoted to mastering their art. “Having the new bi-fold doors fitted has been a real boost,” comments Lesley, “and is a true sign of progress. As you can imagine we’re quite demanding about the people we ask to work with us. They have to be expert at their craft. We chose Kingfisher.” Tony Thurling
Continuing success of local joinery business
LOCATED in the heart of Somerset, DB Joinery is a family-run company that has been producing top quality joinery since 1982. During that period they have built up an enviable reputation as The Mill at Rode one of the South West’s leading joinery businesses with a very diverse customer base ranging from individual home owners and local builders to some of the country’s leading housebuilders. The joinery’s versatility and experience is one of the keys to their success. Their innate ability to understand all the technical details involved in site work, new builds, extensions, renovations and conversions affords their customers a first class service. Staircases, windows and doors are a speciality and all are built entirely to specification, ensuring that it blends with your existing joinery and décor. A fully comprehensive quotation is provided for each joinery item and where appropriate one of the joinery’s highly qualified estimators will visit you at your home to assess your needs in more detail. For more information or to arrange a site survey by one of the joinery’s estimators call 01761 451 123 or visit the website at www.dbjoineryhallatrow.co.uk
PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020
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MENDIP TIMES
HOMES & INTERIORS HOMES & INTERIORS
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Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 8.30pm – 5pm & Sat 10am – 3pm MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2020 • PAGE 87
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MENDIP TIMES
Riders and farmers can join forces in the new year
“WHAT’S up with you?” I ask a dejectedlooking sheep standing alone on the other side of the paddock wall. I am definitely a sheep worrier, fretting With RACHEL over the lame, the lost, THOMPSON the stuck in a bramble MBE all-night types and those-that-are-down-and-can’t-get–uptypes. Only the other day we had to leap off the horses and push a sheep with its head stuck in the wire backwards to release it. A beautiful flock of ewes and rams have arrived up the hill where we love to ride. In winter sheep follow cattle in a rotational grazing practice that benefits the grassland – fertilising, weeding and encouraging growth, keeping our ancient landscape beautiful. Please expect sheep everywhere you go, even if you can’t see them and keep the dog on a lead. We have pledged to ride around them as often as we can – a recent shocking dog worrying attack on an unfortunate ewe, which then had to be euthanised, underlines my December column discussion of the need to be watchful. Whatever you do with your horse it’s good to have a purpose. I ride active miles checking sheep, delivering the odd thing and visiting friends and neighbours. Mendip District Council recently caused a storm amongst the equine community by omitting equestrians from the proposed creation of a walking and cycling network in a green transport bid to tackle climate
change, whilst boosting tourism and the rural economy. I admire this strategy but it needs to be inclusive. Sometimes I wonder if anyone even thinks about how we got around in times gone by – by horse; the horse has been ridden for 5,500 years! Land managers and countryside users can have a beneficial symbiotic relationship. All it takes is education and understanding. Farmers work hard to produce our food whilst we countryside users travel through the landscape for mental and physical health reasons and to admire the view. Horse riders, mountain cyclists and those on foot moving quietly can be the ears and eyes of the countryside, helping farmers by reporting suspicious activity to Farm Watch or directly to the farmer – if we know a name and number. All users must remember the need to be careful around stock though – pregnant ewes are easily frightened, so walking past quietly is necessary. Facilitating green active travel is becoming imperative. Every mile travelled on foot, by bike or with/on a horse benefits the health of people, place and planet so we need our paths, tracks and country lanes to be safe and accessible. Users can help
Before . . .
After … work by Bath and North East Somerset to improve a byway near Farmborough
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Expect sheep everywhere you go
by trimming overhanging branches and reporting problems such as fallen trees to the local highway authority. Moving around the countryside is difficult if rights of way are obstructed by sheep wire, ploughed and not reinstated, or the gate is falling off the hinges. Farmers please help us to help you by ensuring the specified width is available (three metres for a headland and two metres for a cross field bridleway). If a horse inadvertently touches electric fencing and bolts that can result in tragedy too. Getting the small network jobs done locally means local authorities have cash for larger green travel projects, repairing badly damaged byways so that everyone can use them. In the Pentland Hills, just to highlight the usefulness of our woolly friends, boggy tracks are repaired using the ancient technique of folding and rolling fleeces, donated by a local farmer, to create a "floating path" which is then layered with stones. The wool stops the stones from sinking into the mud, protecting the peat and soil but allowing water to drain more easily. Sounds like a solution for the boggy paths on Blackdown.
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RIDING
New lives for ponies left for dead A GROUP of ponies who were rescued as part of a major welfare cruelty case have had their lives transformed, thanks to local charity HorseWorld. In August 2015 the charity took in over 60 horses and ponies from Ingst Farm, in Olveston, where hundreds of animals were found dead, dying or living in states of extreme neglect. The farmer was jailed for 18 months and banned from keeping animals for life. Vicky Greenslade, assistant yard manager at HorseWorld said: “I have never seen anything as horrific as the conditions the animals were living in at Ingst Farm. There were hundreds of animals. Those who had managed to survive were starving; the bodies of the ones which hadn’t were covering the ground around us. “The horses were running totally wild. Stallions, mares and foals, left to
Honour for Pat
Nova and Kia
fend for themselves, had formed family groups. They were all totally feral and terrified of being anywhere near us.” HorseWorld, in close collaboration with a number of other organisations, including the RSPCA, Redwings and World Horse Welfare, were able to remove the surviving horses and take them to safety. But the challenges didn’t end there. Vicky said: “We had over 60 totally wild horses to try and separate into groups so that they could be transported to other welfare organisations. Only then could we start their lengthy rehabilitation.” Other equine welfare organisations were then able to take some of the herd and 13 remained at HorseWorld. That number quickly increased to 15 when two of the mares gave birth to foals. Vicky said: “It’s hard to imagine what was going through their minds when
THE owner of Divoky Riding School at Downhead, near Shepton Mallet, has been recognised for her work with disadvantaged young people with a prestigious award from the British Horse Society. Pat Bishop was named the recipient of the Helen Barton-Smith Silver Stirrup Award at a glittering Pat receives the Helen Bartonceremony in London. The Smith award from BHS chairman award is named in honour Tim Lord of the late Helen BartonSmith, who ran a successful riding school near Cheddar, and is presented to an individual for meritorious work in support of young riders. Pat runs a BHS programme called Changing Lives Through Horses, which aims to use equine-facilitated learning to inspire young people to improve their self-esteem and confidence and to reconnect with education and society, through educational or vocational qualifications. Pat said: “Working with horses is a very powerful way to reach young people who may be struggling at school or home for whatever reason. “Winning the award is a great honour both for me and all the team who work here at Divoky.”
they were literally having to fight for survival every day. As soon as our welfare team started to try and work with the group, we knew that these were exceptionally traumatised animals. “In some cases, it has taken years to try and help them to feel that being around humans is a good place to be.” Now some of the ponies are ready to start new lives and HorseWorld is looking for suitable families to take them.
An award-winning riding school in the heart of Mendip
Wide range of facilities
Adult lessons
Divoky boasts a small indoor school with mirrors, a 60m x 40m (approx.) outdoor floodlit school with jumping lane as well as a grass canter track and an all-weather track We also welcome people who are looking to work on the ground with horses to improve their physical and mental health, increase fitness and reduce weight Divoky Riding School, Manor Farm, Downhead, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4LG Email: pat.divoky@gmail.com • www.divoky.co.uk T: 01749 880233 • M: 07971 207037
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MENDIP TIMES
What you learn from cycling on Mendip
MENDIP has a wide variety of terrain and scenery that can be explored by walkers, horse riders and cyclists alike. From the flatlands of the CYCLING Levels to the top of with EDMUND LODITE the Mendip Hills there is something for all to enjoy. But there are some things you only learn or discover by being on a bike. Let’s start with the hills. Cycling uphill may not be everybody’s cup of tea but the view from the top is always more rewarding if it’s taken a bit of effort to reach. The most iconic of them all is Cheddar Gorge rated as one of the most visually spectacular climbs in the country. Weaving through imposing sections of rock it easily resembles something out of Jurassic Park, yet the truth is that it’s not as hard to cycle up as first appears. The lower bends are the most demanding but then the gradient eases and the further you ride, the easier it gets. Don’t be putoff by its appearance and go when there’s little traffic to enjoy it at its best. If you want more of a challenge you can head across to Wells and the climb up Ebbor Gorge. With some short 20 percent slopes to deal with you’ll be working too hard to admire the views behind. In complete contrast the Somerset
Levels to the south, are blessed with panflat roads that can look like something straight out of West Flanders. If you ever imagined what it’s like to ride in the Belgian Classics then this is good place to start. The flat terrain might make it a good place to knock out some easy miles and experience longer rides. But if you get caught here on a windy day (particularly a head-wind) you are completely exposed and your energy and will-power will slowly seep away. As well as learning about the different terrain across Mendip you can also learn about human behaviour from riding a bike. If cyclists pass each other they acknowledge it briefly with a minor movement of the hand or a small nod of the head. And, if a cyclist sees another cyclist in trouble they will always stop and help.
Speedway rider aiming for number one!
SPEEDWAY rider Ben Barker has joined the Somerset Rebels for a second time in his career and says he hopes to become the number one rider next season. Truro-born Ben joins fellow British riders Anders Rowe and Josh Bates at the club, based at Edithmead, near Highbridge. By the time the 2020 season gets underway in April, Ben will have turned 32 and it will be 14 years since he last rode as a regular Rebel, scoring 215 points from 46 appearances in 2006. Ben almost joined the Rebels last season when, clubless, he approached manager Garry May. Ben said: "I am really looking forward to linking up with Somerset again. Strangely enough it almost happened last year as I spoke to Garry May when I didn’t have a club, but there was no place available at the time. “Then I got the opportunity to do an initial 28-day stint with Scunthorpe and during those 28 days Gazza found himself
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Whether cycling makes you calm or only calm people cycle I don’t know, but I have never come across an angry cyclist (or horse rider). Unfortunately the same is not true for a minority of car drivers and perhaps some elements of modern society. Finally, Mendip has so much to offer for all forms of cycling, that it’s only fitting that it should also harbour several great pit stops to soak it all in. Coffee and cake after a long bike ride is a wellearned and necessary reward and many cafes across the country are a hub where cyclists meet. The best known in Mendip is Sweets Tea Rooms near Wedmore but there are plenty of others dotted around. Discovering a new place to stop is a good motivation for trying new routes! So, Happy New Year and enjoy your cycling.
looking for riders but I was already committed, so missed out on the chance to ride for Somerset. “As it happened Scunthorpe extended my contract and Gazza went a different route. But I have always been keen to come back to Somerset if the time was right and I think it is now. My aim is to build on my average and become the club's number one this season, but I am also looking to help bring on the youngsters if I can. I get on well with Anders and it will be fun working with him for sure." Garry May said: "Ben ticks all the right boxes for me. He is the sort of rider that can turn a good team into a great team. You know what you are going to get from him in terms of efforts and I’ve never seen him give up until he has completed four laps in each race. He won't start at number one, but he has the ambition to become our number one by the end of the season, and to do that he is going to need to score well and that can only be good for the club."
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SPORT
Athlete wins TS5C Young Sports Person of the Year award
CHARLIE Cook, a 16-year-old athlete from Street, was crowned the TS5C Young Sports Person of the Year 2019 at the recent Somerset Activity & Sports Awards. The awards, organised by Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership, highlight the achievements and successes of inspirational volunteers, outstanding coaches, talented athletes and high quality and friendly clubs from across the county. The TS5C Young Sports Person of the Year Award is given to one of the athletes supported by the charity who have stood out in the last 12 months. Despite stiff competition, Charlie was a worthy winner, showing extreme resilience in a challenging year which included injury setbacks and the pressure of GCSEs. Despite it all, he represented Somerset in the National School’s Cross Country Championships, the British Elite Super Series and the UK School Games. He has now secured a triathlon scholarship at Millfield School. Alan Gloak, chairman of TS5C, said: “Charlie’s season was plagued with unfortunate injuries, but he demonstrated the rare streak of determination that is crucial for every successful athlete. It is just as important to celebrate endeavour through adversity.” Charlie said: “Despite some setbacks during the season, I am proud to have represented Crispin School and the County of Somerset at national level for both cross country and triathlon, with my best UK finish being sixth place at British Elite Series race at Blenheim Palace. I have recently undertaken a sports scholarship at Millfield School which I am thoroughly enjoying and hope this opportunity will allow me to fulfil my potential over the next two years. “To be even nominated for the 2019 Sports Achiever award amongst so many local talented athletes was a fantastic achievement, but to have won on the night, was even better. This recognises how hard I’ve worked to overcome injury and accidents and gives me great pride and confidence for the forthcoming season. “I am so grateful to Alan and all of the team at TS5C for their continued belief and support which has gone a long way to help me compete at this high level of racing.” Meanwhile, Joe Nelson, also from Street, and Bertie Kelly, from Bridgwater, received TS5C awards for Outstanding
Joe, Charlie and Bertie at the awards ceremony
Achievement. It has been an exciting year for 17-year-old handball player Joe, who played international tournaments this summer as part of the GB U18 team and gained his first two GB caps. He has now been selected to join GB U20 for training at Loughborough. Table tennis player, Bertie, 14, joined the Somerset Sabres and competes in the Senior British League as well as U15s competitions. He enjoyed a great deal of success in events such as the National Championships, the National Cup, The Prague Grand Prix, plus numerous domestic junior and senior events – adding to his collection of almost 200 medals and trophies. TS5C grants funds to young aspiring athletes in the county, helping towards the travelling, kit and training costs. Alan said: “TS5C is funded entirely by voluntary contributions. We are a small charity and finding funds is not easy. But I am proud to say that we have made a significant contribution towards these expenses for almost 150 young athletes in the county since we began in 2007.” Charlie in action
Alan Gloak with Charlie’s father, John, and Kim Gloak, Alan’s niece, on the TS5C fundraising stand at the Glastonbury Frost Fayre
For details, visit: www.ts5c.org
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New man in charge
LOCAL chamber choir, The Maesbury Singers, has recently appointed a new director of music to lead its concert programme. Matthew Redman, the Wells-based organist and choral conductor took the helm in September and is already putting the choir through its paces with an exciting programme for its Christmas concert. He said: “I had the good fortune to conduct The Maesbury Singers a couple of times over the last few years as a deputy, so I knew what an able and versatile group this is. To be able to sing beautiful and sometimes challenging works is very exciting. “I have introduced new pieces to the choir which they are learning with great enthusiasm and skill. I am delighted with the polished sound they are making.” Matthew is organist and director of music at St John’s, Glastonbury and has been playing the organ at Wells for many years.
Strictly come Wedmore
WEDMORE Dance Group are a group of local people who meet once a week in Wedmore Village Hall. Led by their expert and enthusiastic leader, Viv, who is herself a professional dancer, they are led through a sequence of steps to explore iconic dances from decades ranging from the 20s to the 70s and beyond. These early years in history embodied a time of rapid social change, including women's emancipation and multiculturalism and this is very much reflected in the music and dance styles of the time. These dances include The Charleston, Lindy Hop, Big Apple, Turkey Trot, Black Bottom Stomp and Rock n’ Roll, to name but a few. Much laughter along the way is absolutely guaranteed! There is no age limit to the group, the youngest member is 45 and the oldest is in her 80s. The classes are adapted by Viv to suit the needs and mobility restriction some members might have. There are opportunities throughout the year to take part in local community events such as Wedmore Street Fayre, Glastonbury Frost Fayre and local school events, but there is no compulsion to take part if you don't want to! The classes are "pay as you go" from 10.30-12pm on Thursday mornings during term time in Wedmore Village Hall, and cost just £5 per session. They are looking to increase their group of men and women in 2020. Details: Nikki Pryn nikkipryn@gmail.com or by mobile 07519 630365.
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New music director
THE Chapter of Wells Cathedral has announced the appointment of Jeremy Cole as its new director of music from an “impressive and international field of prospective candidates”. They say he displayed a passion, drive, vision, with a quality of musicianship that led to a unanimous decision to appoint him. He joined Wells Cathedral in September 2017 as its assistant organist and has led the cathedral’s internationally renowned choir since late November 2018, becoming acting organist and master of the choristers in September. He has also taken on the role of musical director of the Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society. Before joining Wells Cathedral he held positions at St Paul’s Knightsbridge and St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, where he was the principal organist, playing for all regular and special services, as well as concerts and special events, and worked as a conductor with its many vocal ensembles. He combined this role with a busy freelance career as an organist, conductor and piano accompanist. While in London he was assistant conductor and accompanist of the Holst Singers, and worked regularly with leading choirs, and as a repetiteur for solo singers and instrumentalists. The head of Wells Cathedral School, Alastair Tighe said: “Jeremy’s appointment heralds an exciting time in the development of music-making in Wells and in Somerset.” Jeremy said: “The cathedral choir has an enviable and richly deserved reputation for excellence which we will maintain and strive to enhance. I am looking forward to continuing to work with superb musicians and supportive colleagues here in Wells as we take the choir forward into the next stage of its life.”
Charity concert success
CHURCHILL Singers raised £423 for Alzheimer’s Research UK at their carol concert in St. Leonard’s Church, Shipham on December 5th. Musical director, Jenny Jeffery, said: “The church was packed; it was overwhelming. I’d like to thank everyone who attended and contributed so generously. “I’d also like to thank the choir for their hard work, our accompanist Anne Oakley, and the choir members who prepared the refreshments and festive decorations in the church.”
A night at the opera to welcome in the New Year Hollie-Anne Bangham
HOLLIE-ANNE Bangham, originally from Cleeve, alongside Welsh soprano Ffion Perrett and pianist Joanne Manning, will present a stunning evening of song to welcome the New Year at St Mary’s Church, Yatton on
Saturday, January 25th. Both singers are graduates of the Royal Northern College of Music and are currently active with prestigious opera companies and choirs. Hollie-anne is currently working with English Touring Opera and Garsington Opera. Ffion is engaged with a number of Welsh choirs, Eisteddfods and the Lost Chord Ffion Perrett charity. They will perform their favourite songs covering a variety of styles, with repertoire from opera classics, familiar show stoppers, avantgarde and folk songs. The concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 YMS members, £10 nonmembers. Details: David Ford, Yatton Music Society, 01934 830255 or e-mail david.ford@yms.org.uk
New singers welcome
CHEW Valley Choral Society is keen to welcome new members to perform Haydn’s Nelson Mass and the Fauré Requiem at its spring concert on Saturday, April 25th at St John’s Church, Keynsham. The society is a friendly mixed-voice choir of people who enjoy singing choral works of all kinds and has vacancies in all sections, with tenors especially welcome. Under its director, the distinguished composer and choral director David Bednall, the society has established a reputation for excellent performances of the masterpieces of the classical choral repertoire supported by outstanding
MUSIC & THEATRE
Jeremy Irons supports Valley Arts
VALLEY Arts held a glittering evening, hosted by Yeo Valley, which raised more than £30,000 towards its proposed arts centre at Chew Valley School. More than 120 people supported the event, hosted by Dr Phil Hammond, with an auction conducted by Richard Nancekivell. The guest of Compere Dr Phil Hammond (left) with honour was actor chair Geraldine Hill-Male and Jeremy Jeremy Irons, who Irons spoke passionately about the importance the arts plays in society. He said: “We know that the arts have the power to transform, to illuminate, to educate, to teach us how to cooperate with each other, to inspire and motivate each other. “We know the knock-on effect this power has in all other branches of education. We know how its qualities benefit mental health and the cohesion of society in general. “We know how involvement in the arts, whether it be through music, drama or singing reduces stress and creates empathy – the understanding of each other’s differences. And yet still to many it is regarded as the unnecessary icing on the cake. “To have such an arts centre in the Chew Valley will cohese, cement and enliven all the generations who love and live in this area.” The event came at the end of another very successful Valley Arts’ fringe festival.
soloists. Sometimes they join with other choirs and with local orchestras such as the Keynsham Orchestra to perform large-scale works. They rehearse on Tuesdays 7.30-9.30pm at the Church Hall, Church Lane, Chew Stoke, BS40 8TX. Rehearsals for the spring term begin Tuesday, January 14th. There are no auditions for new members but you need a reasonable voice and some knowledge of reading music. Prospective new members can go to a couple of rehearsals to see how they get on. Membership subscription is £90 per annum payable in two instalments.
Details: info@chewvalleychoral.org.uk call 01275 333014 or go to http://www.chewvalleychoral.org.uk
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(Photo courtesy of Louis Smith)
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Gala night at film centre
GUESTS are being invited to a charity screening at Wells Film Centre in January to raise money for Medical Detection Dogs. The organisation is the designated charity for the president of Wells Rotary Club’s year in office. The gala night takes place on Friday, January 10th with a special showing of 1917. Tickets cost £12.50 each and include a glass of wine or orange juice. Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to detect the odour of human disease. It is at the forefront of the research into the fight against cancer and helping people with life-threatening diseases.
Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD
Starts Friday 27th December Starts Friday 3rd January Starts Friday 10th January Starts Friday 17th January Starts Friday 24th January
We would like to wish our customers a very Happy New Year.
Spies In Disguise (PG) • Playing With Fire (PG) JoJo Rabbit (12A) 1917 (15-tbc) • Little Women (U) The Gentlemen (18) • Bad Boys For Life (cert tbc) David Copperfield (PG)
EVENT CINEMA Andre Rieu 70 Years Young Sat 4th 7pm, Sun 5th 4.30pm FOR JANUARY Sleeping Beauty Thurs 16th 7.15pm, Mon 20th 2pm
l Book in person l Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk l Over the ’phone: 01749 673195
Three great names to be celebrated at tractor show
Steer a course for the vintage and classic tractors – the show is a day out for all the family, not just enthusiasts
ThE 2020 Somerset Vintage and Classic Tractor Show at the Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet will take place on Saturday, January 25th and Sunday, January 26th and three famous marques will take centre stage. Enthusiasts will be making a beeline for the displays of Nuffield, Leyland and Marshall machines and organisers are anticipating entries of some of the earlier TVO Nuffield models right up to the last of the Marshall 100 tractors and Steyr based models. There will be a good selection of other brands too, with more than 200 tractors on display. One again, the static tractor show is always well supported with a great variety of trade stands, selling tools, models and spare parts. There is also the popular vintage collective auction on the Saturday with, usually, 1,000+ lots, by hJ Pugh & Co, of Ledbury. All show proceeds go to local charities; at last year’s show the organisers, Pat and Nick Bryne and their team, donated £10,000 to local charities including £2,500 each to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Yeovil hospital with donations also to Children's hospice South West, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Ups & Downs South West and Time is Precious. For details about the show visit: www.somersettractorshow.com or visit www.hjpugh.com for further details about the auction.
Society on the move
ThE Arts Society Mendip, which provides monthly lectures on a broad platform of “art” subjects, will be moving from the Bath & West Show Ground to the Strode Theatre, Street at the beginning of the New Year. Club representative, David Cooke, said: “Our last meeting in December was an appropriate highlight to mark this end of an era and we enjoyed a treat when Leslie Primo was our guest speaker.” Mr Primo is the art historian of BBC Antiques Road Show fame. The next meeting at the Strode Theatre will be on Tuesday, January 7th, with a talk from Linda Smith, entitled “Kicking and Screaming: a brief history of post war art”. Details: 01934 862435
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Calling all snowdrop lovers
WhaT’s On (Photograph courtesy of Rosalind Furlong)
PREPARATIONS are well underway for the annual Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival taking place in February and, once again, tens of thousands of snowdrop bulbs have been planted in the town in honour of Victorian plantsman pioneer James Allen,
known as the Snowdrop King. Specialist spring plant and bulb sellers, poets, photographers, artists and craft makers, heritage tours and Shepton Mallet’s growing Sunday market promise to make the weekend of Saturday, February 15th and Sunday February 16th something special. They are being supported by the shops who decorate their windows to reflect the snowdrop theme. This year the festival has partnered once again with the Margery Fish garden at East Lambrook Manor and Kilver Court gardens, with its iconic viaduct backdrop and millpond. For the first time, Yeo Valley Gardens are also opening specially over the weekend of the festival to give garden and snowdrop lovers a glimpse of their winter garden. There will also be the opportunity to visit the gardens of houses in Shepton Mallet where James Allen lived. For full details visit: https://www.sheptonsnowdropfestival.org.uk/whats-on2020.html
COMPeTiTiOn Winner
OUR fiendish spot the rabbit competition, run in conjunction with Ford Farm Cheese and Wookey hole Caves, attracted a huge number of entries. The first winning card drawn was from Mr T. Baker of Frome, who wins a hamper of cheese and wine and a family ticket to the caves. Congratulations to him and thanks to Ford Farm Cheese! For those of you who are still searching, the golden bunnies were on pages 29, 55, 64, 121 and 127 of the December magazine.
Cheddar Stage Society Amateur Dramatics
All abilities welcome Adults and young people over 12 years old – Onstage and Off stage. • Writers • Directors • Producers • Backstage • Costume • Scenery • Set building • Choreography • Make-up • Hair • Lighting • Sound If you are interested in taking part or helping out in any of our future productions, we are holding an open evening at Cheddar Methodist Hall on Thursday 30th January 2020, 6.30 - 8.30pm Refreshments will be available, feel welcome to pop along and chat to some of our members, find out about our past shows and more details about our up and coming shows. Up and coming events: Variety Show, June 2020 • Pantomime February 2021 We are a long standing Society who are predominantly known for musical productions such as variety nights, musical and pantomimes involving dancing, singing, acting and comedy. We meet when rehearsing at Cheddar Methodist hall traditionally on a Thursday evening. Cheddar Methodist Hall, Cliff Street, Cheddar BS27 3PL Cheddar Stage Society
cheddarstagesociety
‘‘Brilliant evening! Well done everybody. Lots of laughs and some great young (& not so young) talent on the stage tonight.’’
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Please send entries for these listings as a single paragraph of less than 25 words. We’re happy to list entries for charities and voluntary groups free of charge – but please submit them in the format below. We may not be able to use entries which are too lengthy or submitted as posters or leaflets. Commercial entries cost £25.
Wednesday december 18th Weston Walking Group: Churchstanton recce mod 7.5m, all welcome www.westonwalkinggroup.co.uk Thursday december 19th Glastonbury Holy Thorn cutting ceremony by children from St John’s Infant School, St John’s Church, Glastonbury. 10.30am. All welcome. Storytime for 0-5yrs, 10-10.30am Midsomer Norton Library BS3 2DP. Free. Bingo 7.30pm Camerton Community hall. Prizes, bar: www.camertoncommunityhall.co.uk saturday december 21st Claverham Village Market 10am-12, village hall, Bishops Rd. Christmas gifts, as well as all the usual foods, crafts & books. Details: 01934 838017. Shepton Mallet Illuminated Lantern Festival Collett Park bandstand 5pm procession to Market Square: www.sheptonlanternfestival.org.uk Thursday december 26th Mendip Ramblers moderate 5m from Coleford. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk saturday 28th Mendip Society Walk: a hard 4m from Cheddar. Details: www.themendipsociety.org.uk sunday december 29th Mendip Ramblers mod 9m walk Castle Cary to Bruton: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Redhill Club Classic Car Gathering 10am-12 on Recreation field. Free entry all welcome. hot dogs, tea & coffee in the village hall. Tuesday december 31st New Year’s Eve Barn Dance, Ditcheat Jubilee hall 8.30pm. Caller Peter Bolton, band Jeroka. Bring & share supper, tickets £8 from 01749 672911. Redhill Club Family Fancy Dress Party from 7pm. Music for all ages. Buffet. Free entry, all welcome (fancy dress optional). Wednesday January 1st Mendip Ramblers mod 6m around Cheddar & Shute Shelve: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Priston New Year Celebration: duck race at 11am then dancing, silver band, choir, mummers play & folk music. Details: colinemmett@gmail.com Thursday January 2nd Mendip Ramblers moderate 7m Page 96 • MendiP TiMes • January 2020
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Swineford & Kelston: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Yatton Cancer café, 2-4pm, St Mary’s Chapter house, for anyone living with cancer, their family and friends. We offer a warm welcome, support, companionship, activities and cake! Mendip Storytelling Circle: tall tales, myths, legends, riddles. Free, donations, 7.30 pm Chewton Mendip village hall, BA3 4NS. Details: mendipstorycircle@gmail.com Friday January 3rd Shared Reading groups, every Friday. Join in or just enjoy listening. Glastonbury library 10.30-12noon; Wells library 11am12.30. Details: 0151 7292200. Friday January 3rd to saturday February 1st Χάος–Chaos: paintings by Barry Cooper, Black Swan Arts, Frome BA11 1BB, Mon to Sat, 10am–4pm www.blackswanarts.org.uk 01373 473980. sunday January 5th Recorders Incorporated Concert 7.30pm St Cuthbert's Church, Wells. Ticket £10, family £30 from church office or on door. Monday January 6th Mendip Ramblers leisurely 3.5m cup of tea walk Wookey www.mendipramblers.co.uk Jazz at The Old Mill pub Portishead, New Orleans, trad, dixie, 8.30–10.30pm entry £5. Tuesday January 7th ‘Kicking and Screaming: a brief history of post war art’ by Linda Smith for the Art Society Mendip, 11am at new venue, Strode Theatre BA16 0AB. Guests welcome by prior arrangement, 01934 862435. Wednesday January 8th Kilmersdon Gardeners talk by Geoff hobson "Butterflies" 7.30pm village hall BA3 5TD. Visitors £3 kilmersdongardeners.org Nailsea Horticultural Society Tony Irons on Desert plants, cacti and succulents, 7.30pm, Nailsea United Reformed Church hall. Somerset Choral Society Spring Season starts 7.30pm Concert hall Sidcot School. SATB singers welcome: www.somersetsingers.co.uk Backwell & Nailsea Support Group for Carers and ex-carers Terry Merrett-Smith (Variety Bandbox), Backwell WI hall 2pm-3.30pm. Wells Civic Society Building a Cathedral, Jerry Sampson, Wells and Mendip Museum, 7.30pm. Frome Civic Society the Normans in
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Wessex with Chris Eldridge, head of history at Wells Cathedral School, 2.30pm Assembly Rooms. Thursday January 9th Chatter Books reading for 7-11s, 3.354.45pm, register in branch: Midsomer Norton Library. Mendip Ramblers mod 6.5m walk Witham Friary area: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Congresbury Gardening Club talk by Julie henderson on pruning, 7.30pm Methodist hall, high St. Friday January 10th and saturday January 11th Cinderella by Sutton Theatre Co. 7.30pm Bishop Sutton hall. Matinee 2pm Sat. Tickets £10, children £5 from 01761 452544. Evenings only, table for eight £70, bar, BYO food. saturday January 11th Mendip Society Walk: moderate 4m from Wookey. Details: www.themendipsociety.org.uk Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial hall. Good quality books, jigsaws, dvds & cds. sunday January 12th Mendip Ramblers moderate 9.1m Charlton to Chilcompton: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Monday January 13th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with bingo, 8pm War Memorial hall. Visitors welcome. “Television Tales” talk by Tim hooper for the Nailsea & District Local history Society, 7.45pm, Green Lecture Room, Nailsea School. Visitors £2 www.ndlhs.org.uk Mendip Folk Dance Club 8pm-10 St James Church hall Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience needed. Details: Pat 01934 742853. Tuesday 14th January Mendip Society Talk: ‘The world of rock climbing photography’ by Ian Smith, introduced by Terry Gifford, 2.30pm Wells and Mendip Museum BA5 2UE. Fosseway Gardening Club meeting “Exotic Plants” by Brian Jaques 7.30pm, Pylle village hall BA4 6SZ. Visitors welcome. Details: 07772 008594. Chew Valley Choral Society rehearsals begin for spring term, 7.30-9.30pm Church hall, Chew Stoke, BS40 8TX. Clevedon Art Club: musical drawing evening with Flamenco dancers and wild guitars, 7.30pm Sixth Form Centre Clevedon School BS21 6Ah. Visitors £3. Wednesday January 15th Mendip Gardening Club “Gardening in
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the Tropics” by Tony habgood 7.30pm Ston Easton village hall: www.mendipgardeningclub.com Henton & District Gardening Club “Crevice Gardening” by Paul Cumbleton, 7.30pm village hall, BA5 1PD. Visitors welcome £3 incl coffee: www.hentongardenclub.weebly.com Somerset Vernacular Buildings Research Group: Three stones of central Somerset, talk by Susanna van Rose, 7.30pm Compton Dundon village hall TA11 6PQ. North Wootton Wassail: bonfire lit 6.30pm village orchard. Tickets £10 incl. ploughmans. Live entertainment, details: www.midsomersetshow.org.uk Thursday January 16th Mendip Ramblers moderate 6m Wellow, Shoscombe: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Storytime for ages 0-5 from 10-10.30am. Drop-in, free. Midsomer Norton Library, BA3 2DP Friday January 17th and saturday January 18th Cinderella by Sutton Theatre Co. 7.30pm Bishop Sutton hall. Matinee 2pm Sat. Tickets £10, children £5 from 01761 452544. Evenings only: table for eight £70, bar, BYO food. saturday January 18th Mendip Society Walk: moderate 5m from Congresbury. Details: www.themendipsociety.org.uk Chew Valley Wildlife Group Jumble Sale for Avon Wildlife Trust, 10am Old Schoolroom, Chew Magna. We would be grateful for offers of help and donations: Claire 01761 463294. Claverham village market 10am-12 village hall Bishops Rd. Food, craft, plant & book stalls. Details 01934 838017. Kilmersdon Wassail community orchard, Ames Lane, BA3 5TB. Crowning the Queen at 4pm, free entry, donations for the hanging baskets welcome. Contact 01761 437372. Wassail Somerset Rural Life Museum 6.45pm. Booking essential: £12 adult, £8 child incl a drink and apple cake: www.swheritage.org.uk/events or 01458 831197. Monday January 20th Fagus Garden Club “Gardens don't have to be green” by Keith Wiley 7.30pm Methodist Church hall Nailsea BS48 2AA. Visitors £4. “China” talk by Andy Davis and John Aldridge for Timsbury Natural history Group, 7.30pm Conygre hall. Visitors welcome, £3. Tuesday January 21st BARN POETS meet at the Bookbarn,
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hallatrow, BS39 6EX. Café 6.30pm for readings 7-8.15pm. Poets, readers, listeners welcome! Wednesday January 22nd Baby Bounce & Rhyme for ages 0-3, 10.30-11am. Drop-in, free. Midsomer Norton Library, BA3 2DP. Thursday January 23rd Mendip Ramblers moderate 6.2m from East harptree woods: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Chew Valley Wildlife Group: Wilder Future: restoring Avon’s wildlife. Talk by Ian Barrett, CEO Avon Wildlife Trust, 7.45pm Chew Magna Old School Room, £2.50. Storytime for ages 0-5, 10-10.30am. Drop-in, free. Midsomer Norton Library, BA3 2DP. Friday January 24th “A life of adventure” talk by Col. John Blashford-Snell, 7 for 7.30pm, North Barrow village hall, BA22 7LZ. Tickets £25 incl. welcome drink & three-course meal, from Peter: graypub@btinternet.com. In aid of the Six Pilgrims Benefice. saturday January 25th Mendip Society Walk: moderate 5m from Cranmore. Details: www.themendipsociety.org.uk Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial hall. Good quality books, jigsaws, dvds Glastonbury Climate Emergency Group People’s Assembly in the Town hall 11am-3.30pm. Presentations on transport, food and environment. Details: serena.roney-dougal@glastonbury.gov.uk Sustainable Witham Friary workshop on wildlife gardening with Eve Tigwell, 2pm village hall. Tyntesfield Wassail, 11am-4pm, normal admission charges, no need to book. Mendip Annual Storytelling Supper, stories for grown-ups, 7pm Farrington Gurney. Tickets £10 from www.ticketsource.co.uk/mendipstorytelling-circle ‘A Night at the Opera’, 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Yatton, Tickets £10 or £8 YMS members, details: www.yms.org.uk Frome Civic Society Francis Greenacre – From Bristol to the Sea – Assembly
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Rooms, Frome 2.30pm. sunday January 26th Mendip Ramblers moderate 12m Tower to Tower, leg 1: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Monday January 27th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with Bingo, 8pm War Memorial hall. Visitors welcome. Churchill Music Young Musician of the Year 6pm St John the Baptist Church. Tickets £4, £8 from 01934 852589. Mendip Folk Dance Club 8pm-10 St James Church hall Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience needed. Details Pat 01934 742853. Green Gardeners Somerton Parish Rooms 7.30. Speaker Christine Brain ‘Barrington Court Gardens’. Visitors welcome £3. Wednesday January 29th Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support meeting 1.30pm Backwell WI hall with a talk by a consultant from Bristol Eye hospital. All welcome. Details 01275 462107. Harptrees History Society talk by Chris Eldridge "The Normans in Somerset", 7.30pm West harptree hall BS40 6EB. Details: 01761 221941 or 221758. Thursday January 30th Mendip Ramblers moderate 6m Frome circle: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Cheddar Stage Society Open Evening, 6.30-8.30pm Methodist Church hall, BS27 3PL. Amateur dramatics, see p?????? Everyone (over 12yrs) welcome! Please come and find out about joining us. Storytime for ages 0-5, 10-10.30am. Drop-in, free. Midsomer Norton Library, BA3 2DP. saturday February 1st RNLI Folk Night: Jez Lowe 8pm St James hall Winscombe. Bar. Tickets £12 from 07703 538861 or winscombe.folk@gmail.com All proceeds to RNLI. Mendip Society Walk: moderate 4 to 5m from Winford. Details: www.themendipsociety.org.uk sunday February 2nd Mendip Ramblers moderate 12m Tower to Tower, leg 2. www.mendipramblers.co.uk
January CrOssWOrd sOluTiOn
ACROSS: 1. Flawless 5. Wookey 9. Evildoers 11. Twang 12. Bruton 13. Provoker 15. Cash dispenser 18. Compton Dundon 22. Shopworn 23. Uganda 26. Dhoti 27. Criterion 28. Psycho 29. Masthead. DOWN: 1. Feedback 2. Adieu 3. Lydford 4. Seem 6. Octaves 7. Knackered 8. Yogurt 10. Sergeant 14. Esoteric 16. Sociology 17. Unearned 19. Mawkish 20. Unguent 21. Used up 24. Naive 25. Diva MendiP TiMes • January 2020 • Page 97
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MendiP TiMes
ChrisTMas evenTs
By Lamplight
Wedmore
Strode College students Ava Hobson (left) and Poppy Landers were raising funds for a teaching project in India Kings of Wessex players
Wedmore scouts in charge of the barbecue
Children around the crib
Rowberrow
Carols by the Christmas tree
ThERE was a huge turnout from Rowberrow and the neighbouring villages of Star, Churchill and Shipham for the turning on of the Christmas tree lights at the Swan Inn. Christmas tree switch on There were carols from Mendip Folk Choir and a very special visit from two rare pure white reindeer, Dancer and Winter from the Somerset Reindeer Ranch. It’s hoped it will become an annual event.
Page 98 • MendiP TiMes • January 2020
Manager Sian Quick with guests and reindeer
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