Mendip Times
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VOLUME 16 ISSUE 6
FREE
Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas
NOVEMBER 2020
IN THIS ISSUE: • COMMUNITIES IN ACTION • FOCUS ON WEDMORE • HOMES & INTERIORS • FOOD & DRINK • CHARITIES • FARMING • SPORT
Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news
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MENDIP TIMES
CONTENTS
Welcome
THE curse of the pandemic continues to dominate our lives – but, as ever, Mendip folk are finding some ingenious ways to cope with it. One church held a drive-in service, while the Hash House Harriers staged their 29-mile charity run from Uphill to Wells, while observing social distancing. In Farmborough more than 500 painted rainbows appeared, distributed by a secret Rainbow Fairy – we can reveal who she is. In all we have nearly 20 pages this month devoted to the remarkable response to Covid-19, charities and community news. June MacFarlane offers us some tasty treats for bonfire night, while Phil Hendy offers advice on various guides to Mendip’s famous caves. We visit a living memorial to Somerset’s miners and look back on some of the good times at East Harptree Village Club, which has sadly closed. We turn the spotlight on Wedmore, busy preparing for Christmas, and have a special feature on education. Last month Dr Phil Hammond wrote about Gerald Titcombe’s idea for running a tractor on hydrogen. A farmer in Scotland has done just that! With all of our regular contributors and features, let us keep you company as the nights draw in. December 2020 deadline: Friday, 13th November 2020 Published: Tuesday, 24th November 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 Accounts accounts@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: Planting bulbs in Stanton Drew. Photo by Ros Anstey. See page 79.
45
Still fundraising – charities hard at work
63
Lockdown heroes – chairman’s award
94
89
Still working – memories of life in Frome
Flying high – speedsters enjoy a practice Plus all our regular features Environment ...................................6 Farming Nick Green .....................10 Internet and Crossword ..............12 Food & Drink ...............................16 Arts & Antiques ...........................24 Business.........................................30 Charities........................................44 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......49 Walking Sue Gearing ....................50
Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........52 Gardening Mary Payne MBE.......54 Health & Family ..........................62 Caving Phil Hendy ........................72 Property ........................................74 Homes & Interiors .......................76 History...........................................88 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE....90 Sport ..............................................91 MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 3
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MENDIP TIMES
Weston-super-Mare remembers Double Hills
The Rev. Ian Girling and legion members at the graves
OWING to Covid-19 restrictions it was not possible to stage the usual annual Double Hills Memorial Service at Milton Cemetery in Weston-super-Mare this year. Instead, the town’s Royal British Legion branch held an abridged commemoration at the war graves section. Led by the branch chaplain, The Rev. Ian Girling, committee members placed poppy remembrance crosses at each headstone of the 23 casualties of the glider crash at Paulton, where the main ceremony had taken place a week earlier.
Scarecrows defy bug
THE 13th Great Uphill Scarecrow Festival defied the pandemic, with scarecrows to be seen all over the village. The pupils of Uphill Village Academy created a NHS hero and Captain Tom.
Details: Stewart Castle 01934 415581
Villages get footpath link
CONSTRUCTION of a new footway has begun to connect Hallatrow with High Littleton and improve safety for pedestrians. The new path on the A39 Hallatrow Hill is being built by Bath & North East Somerset Council to make it safe for residents to walk between the two villages and access local facilities without having to use a car. As well as creating the new footway, the scheme will also divert some existing overhead cables underground. Councillor Joanna Wright, joint cabinet member for transport services, said: “The increase of traffic over many years on this rural route has effectively separated these two communities, as the only option for pedestrians was to walk in the road. “This much-needed footway will rectify that and ensure that residents are able to travel to local facilities on foot, encouraging people to ‘shop local’ as well as connect with their neighbouring communities. We apologise for any inconvenience while the works are carried out.”
Snowdrop festival cancelled due to Covid
NEWS
THE 2021 Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival has been cancelled after organisers said they could not manage under the current Covid restrictions. Plans were underway already for a festival in February with a different shape and style to take account of social distancing, but they say the constraints would make any of the Time to plant snowdrops. Selling bulbs face-to-face outside Tesco were festival supporters elements of the (l:r) Chrisi Kennedy, Royston Cox and festival extremely Ann Strik difficult and could impose unnecessary risks to the public. In a statement, the festival organisers said: “Our theme for 2021 – Hope in Nature – was very much a reflection of the challenges we’re facing as a community and as a country. “The healing power of nature and gardens is widely recognised. In these extraordinary times they’ve been a lifeline for many people confronted with lockdown, loneliness and loss. In light of this it was especially difficult to make the decision to pause the 2021 festival.” But they still hope to see the town blanketed white with snowdrops and they’re calling on people, businesses and communities in the town to help. They hope to go ahead with the distinctive street planters and want people to put displays of snowdrops in their windows and gardens. They were also due to go ahead with their annual planting schemes at key town centre locations as Mendip Times went to press.
Volunteers at the first of three snowdrop planting sessions in the town
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 5
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MENDIP TIMES
Bags of rubbish collected around Writhlington
The clean-up of Doulting about to begin
Attention to detail on Catherine Street
Members of the hoedown team at work around the Valentine Lamp in Catherine Street
Writhlington Village Neighbourhood group Picking up litter near St Aldhelm’s primary school in Doulting
Just some of the rubbish collected in and around Doulting PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
(Photograph courtesy of Mark Brookes)
RESIDENTS in Frome have taken to their streets for a community-led tidy up of pavement weeds and rubbish. Members of Frome Hoedown say it saves the local authority money, prevents the use of weedkiller – and is a great opportunity to get together. Amongst the streets they cleared were Catherine Street, home to the Valentine Lamp, Locks Hill, Lower Keyford, Victoria Road and Mafeking Terrace. Elsewhere, members of the Writhlington Village Neighbourhood group were out on their monthly clear-up. Since resuming in June, the group has collected more than 30 bags of rubbish. They plan to carry on through the winter on an ad-hoc basis until March. In Doulting, residents gathered to tidy the parish as part of the nationwide Keep Britain Tidy clean-up.
(Photograph courtesy of Mark Brookes)
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to hoe we go!
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Outdoor project to tackle mental heath issues
(Photo courtesy of Matthew Roberts)
A THREE-year countryside project has been launched in Somerset to support people most vulnerable to mental health issues. Somerset Nature Connections is a partnership between the Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills and Blackdown Hills areas of outstanding natural beauty, providing better access to nature spaces to encourage and increase self-management for individuals, and develop a network of skilled volunteers who can support communities for the longer term. The project will also be working closely with mental health charities Mind and Chard WATCH. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, significant funding has also been received from the Hinkley Point C Community Impact Mitigation Fund and Somerset County Council. Further financial support from other funders is currently being finalised. Jim Hardcastle, Mendip Hills AONB manager, said: “Somerset is blessed in having three AONBs that can be used as a 'natural health service' for the community. The Blackdown Hills, Quantock Hills and Mendip Hills are all designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, these are special areas rich in nature and wild places. The combination of the AONB
Nature can help wellbeing
Outdoor activities will play a key role in helping people combat mental health issues
teams and Somerset Wildlife Trust working together for the benefit of the community in Somerset is really powerful and will have a long-lasting legacy.” The partnership says that even prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, which has seen a surge in the number of people turning to nature for their mental wellbeing, there was a glut of strong evidence that time spent outdoors helps improve people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing. Somerset Nature Connections will run a targeted programme delivered in six-week blocks at various locations across the county for people experiencing poor mental health. The programme will include practical outdoor activities, including conservation tasks, wildlife walks and natural crafts, adapted to to meet the specific needs of each group in order to help them connect with nature. Volunteers will be recruited and trained to provide peer support to those who may need extra help to attend activities and to access mainstream nature volunteer groups. Others will volunteer to provide health and wellbeing support at local community groups. Jolyon Chesworth, Head of Engagement at Somerset Wildlife Trust said: “There are individuals and communities in Somerset who stand to benefit hugely from time spent in natural spaces, but access is often limited. “It’s vital that we support people and communities in need in these particularly challenging times, and that we do something positive and long term to empower particularly vulnerable people or groups to connect with the project so they don’t feel isolated and alone, and can meet people in a safe, supported, nature-based environment to self-manage their mental health.”
Climate emergency proposals for Somerset DRAFT plans have been drawn up on how Somerset will tackle climate change in its new Climate Emergency Strategy, developed by the five councils in the county and based on public consultations. The key themes in Somerset’s strategy to become carbon neutral by 2030 are energy, transport, built environment, business and industry, natural environment, farming and food, water, waste and communications. Two surveys were carried out earlier this year for 11 to 18-year olds and another for over-18s to help shape the draft plan. A series of “have your say” drop-in events were held in each district area along with a business summit. The surveys revealed 62% of adults and
30% of 11 to 18-year-olds cited transport as a priority focus which generates 46% of carbon emissions in Somerset. Meanwhile, 49% of adults said councils need to lobby government for better planning and building regulations, while 39% of 11 to 18-year-olds said that all new buildings should be built to the highest energy efficient standards. A total of 46% of adults said energy use was a major priority and 37% of 11 to 18year-olds said that renewable energy generation was important. Elsewhere, 42% of adults said that everyone should recycle more and if that wasn’t possible to generate energy from waste. More recycling and recycling facilities was cited as a priority by young people.
Sculptor Fiona Campbell, who specialises in using found and recycled materials, held a workshop during the drop-in session at Mendip District Council’s offices
For details, visit: www.somerset.gov.uk/climate-emergency
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 7
(Photo courtesy of Matthew Sweeting)
ENVIRONMENT
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MENDIP TIMES
Reserve managers join wildlife team
Phil Thorpe
Wildlife award
NATURAL England has appointed two new permanent managers for its Somerset national nature reserves, based at Shapwick. Louise Treneman joined the team from Avon Wildlife Trust, where she has been a Living Landscapes Assistant looking after a number of reserves in North Somerset and working with local communities. As well as working with the team at Shapwick, Louise will look after Gordano NNR and, when Covid restrictions are eased, will run the organisation’s engagement and events programme across the reserves. Louise is joined by Phil Thorpe who was a reserves assistant for the Brue Valley for the Somerset Wildlife Trust; as well as Shapwick, he’ll be looking after Ebbor Gorge and Rodney Stoke NNRs.
ENVIRONMENT
Louise Treneman
LILy Stevens, aged seven, from Pensford, has won a Blue Peter Green Badge for making a video about wildlife in her area. The badge is given to those who care about nature and the environment, who can show how they are helping to save our planet. Lily said: “My video shows a visit from one of our local badgers, Stripey, and describes how it eats with its long snout.” Mum, Natalie, said: “She did a little video about wildlife in our area with fun facts about badgers etc. Lily, and her younger sister Daisy, also did some litter picking on some of our walks.”
Taking flight this winter
VISITORS hoping to see one of the famous starling murmurations on the Avalon Marshes are being asked to stay away this winter. The RSPB is asking people to try to find alternative, less crowded places from which to watch the murmurations, because of Covid-19 and the need for social distancing. PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
Helping hedgehogs
PRICKLES Hedgehog Rescue in Cheddar is warning that hedgehogs will not fully hibernate until the cold winter weather sets in. If they are still visiting your garden, it suggests supporting them with cat food and water to drink. Do not give bread or milk. If injured, or if they look distressed or underweight, contact the charity on 07806 744772.
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MENDIP TIMES
Tastes like chicken
THERE was a time when having roast chicken was a treat. Just the same as having turkey for Christmas dinner now, the same status was afforded it. So, what’s changed? Pre 1960s the main source of a chicken was one that was reared by the consuming family, rural relatives or sold by the local butcher. With NICK They were kept on a small scale and took GREEN months to rear. Compare that to chicken production now. About 20 million chickens are reared each week in the UK for eating. In the most common production system, the “broiler system” they are reared in batches of many thousands. The houses they live in are climate controlled. The birds have food, water, bedding, scratching materials, warmth and light and grow to the desired weight in 42 days. There are also free-range producers who allow their chickens to roam the fields by day whenever they want to. These birds take longer to reach slaughter weight, have more flavour and cost more to buy. Whatever the system, on average each bird weighs 2.2kg. This equates to 44,000 tonnes of chicken produced for human consumption each week. Once the bones and other inedible bits have been discarded, the meat eaters amongst us eat about 25kg of
chicken each year. Even with the growth of plant based diets, poultry and eggs are the fastest growing protein market. Much of the growth has been fuelled by massive growth of out-of-home consumption. Consider the likes of KFC and McDonalds. They aren’t just selling chicken. They are selling chicken as a source of protein and a flavour carrier. It’s an accelerating trend with many more fast food outlets opening with multi-generational patronage. I heard a great phrase recently – conscious consumption. This might have something to do with the continued increase in chicken consumption. We are being told on a regular basis too much red meat isn’t good for us. Chicken is a white meat and perceived as being good for us. With that, and it being viewed as more climate friendly, we might just find our appetites for chicken keeps growing.
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.
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FARMING
(Photograph by Aisling Magill Photography)
Support in tough times
SOMERSET Young Farmers set up a “pop-up public living room” at J24’s Sedgemoor Market in Bridgwater ready to welcome anyone and everyone for a catch-up and a chat. Calling themselves the Farmerados, they have recently completed mental health first aid training with specialist Becky Wright from New Leaf Life Design. The Farmerados are a group of volunteers, based on the principles of the Camerados global movement, who believe that the best way through tough times is to look out for each other. The 15 Somerset young farmers decided they wanted to show support and do some good within their farming community. Becky said: “When we go through hard times we often forget the two most essential things: friends and purpose. You get both when you look out for someone - a connection and a real sense of purpose, and you get away from your own problems for a bit too." Details: www.newleaf.uk.com becky@newleaf.uk.com
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MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 11
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INTERNET
Pay with your phone
APPLE Pay and Google Pay are easy and work with the devices you use every day. You can make secure contactless purchases above the £45 limit in shops, apps and on the web. It’s a safer way to pay, and just as simple as using your physical card. Most banks also have an app you can use for payment as well. You can pay with your phone wherever you see the contactless symbol. It is as safe as using a card, but reasonable precautions would be wise. Make sure you have a password on your phone of course, and using thumbprint access (or whatever lock your phone provides) would be a good idea too. You need to check out the various implications and procedure, but this article just runs through the basics of setting up etc. For Google Pay: https://support.google.com/pay#topic=7625138 1. Open the Google Pay app . 2. At the top left, tap Menu (three horizontal lines) and > Payment methods 3. Next to the payment method you want to set up for contactless payments, select Enable contactless. 4. Follow the instructions to verify your payment method. Important: when you set up contactless payments in the Google Pay app, your payment method automatically adds to your Android device settings. For Apple Pay: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204506 Go to Wallet and tap + Follow the steps to add a new card. Watch the demo to see how it works. If you're asked to add the card that you use with your Apple ID, cards on other devices or cards that you’ve recently removed, choose them, then enter the card security codes. You may be required to download an app from your bank or card issuer to add a card to Wallet. Tap Next. Your bank or card issuer will verify your information and decide if you can use your card with Apple Pay. If your bank or issuer needs more information to verify your card, they'll ask you for it. When you have the information, go back to Wallet and tap your card. After your bank or issuer has verified your card, tap Next. Then start using Apple Pay. Submitted by IT for the Terrified • Not training at the moment, but contact us for a word of advice on your computer use. Cheddar Village Hall, Church St, Cheddar BS27 3RF www.itfortheterrified.co.uk itfortheterrified@btconnect.com 01934 741751 IT 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.
PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
CROSSWORD
The Mendip Mindbender
ACROSS 1 American term for stretch of extremely fast flowing river (6) 4 A beetle revered by the ancient Egyptians (6) 8 We are using a lot of this on our hands to stop the spread of Covid 19 (3) 10 Road built over another (7) 11 William? Landscape painter 1852-1950 (7) 12 Damocles sat beneath one! (5) 13 Kidney shaped speckled seed (5,4) 14 These items of clothing will identify alumni (3,6,4) 17 Supposed principle that events of the future will turn out to balance those of the past (3,2,8) 22 Straitjacket or device that prevents freedom of movement (9) 23 Choose, even when it does not start (5) 24 Brogue, unspecified accent (7) 25 Al fresco or word that can precede chance, half, or interest (7) 26 Fruit of May (3) 27 Generates or gives way (6) 28 Publication of The Salvation Army (3,3)
DOWN 1 Don’t accept rubbish (6) 2 Will you be on it after the furlough scheme ends? (7) 3 and 7 down Internationally acclaimed bowls Champion and member of the Clevedon Promenade club. Died 22nd August 2020 (5) 5 Federations or coalitions (9) 6 Synonym of 18 down (7) 7 (see 3 down) (6) 8 Grey china path leads to a small plant of the lily family (anag.) (5,8) 9 Pub in Bristol said to be the inspiration for ‘The Admiral Benbow’ in ‘Treasure Island’ (9,4) 14 Liquid insoluble in water (3) 15 National Trust property once owned by the Hoare family. Lies in Wiltshire with part in Somerset (9) 16 A “mayday” ( 1.1.1.) 18 Moderate cooked sausage (7) 19 Mournful, funereal (7) 20 Village near Wells. Up to 2013 it was noted for its sheep fair but nowadays a folk festival (6) 21 Cold-hearted (6) 23 A spearcarrier in the film business (5) Clues in italics are cryptic by greendandelion
This month’s solution can be found on page 98
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NEWS
Night shelter scheme returns
A NIGHT shelter for homeless people facing freezing conditions is to resume in Frome this winter. Homeless organisation Elim Connect and Fair Housing for Frome will work with Frome Town Council on the project which is triggered when the temperature is predicted by the Met Office to drop below zero for three consecutive nights. The Zero Night Shelter is now appealing for volunteers to help run the service which aims to avoid preventable death and illness, to connect rough sleepers with agencies who can assist them getting access to housing and to raise awareness of homelessness within Frome. A spokesperson for the scheme said: “The current situation with Covid-19
This winter will be particularly challenging, says the Zero Night Shelter scheme
doesn’t help the homeless situation and the Zero Nights team will be ensuring that all precautions necessary are taken to ensure the safety of the homeless and volunteers involved. “Since the lockdown period earlier in 2020 the situation for some renters who
have lost income and struggled with housing costs has become precarious. The temporary ban on evictions has come to an end and Frome will be no different from other towns in England with some tenets facing potential homelessness over the next few months.”
To find out more about the scheme email Fair Housing for Frome at: info@fairhousingforfrome.org.uk
Kids and crocus – the fight against polio continues
MEMBERS of the Rotary Club of Midsomer Norton and Radstock spin-off Rotakids at St John’s Primary School in Midsomer Norton have been helping members of the adult club plant 4,000 purple crocus bulbs around the town and surrounding area. Purple crocus is Rotary International’s symbol in its campaign to eradicate polio from around the world. Nick Candy, president of the rotary club, said: “We’re proud to be planting these purple symbols of the polio campaign and working with the Rotakids Club at St. John’s Primary School makes it even more special.”
Some of the members of Rotakids who planted 200 bulbs
Villagers step up fight against new homes
REPRESENTATIVES from the planning protest group Chilcompton Against Rural Over-development have won the support of their local MP in their struggle against unwanted new housing. James Heappey, the Conservative MP for Wells, met members of CARO who say five proposed developments – totalling more than 70 new homes – are excessive for a village the size of Chilcompton. He told the delegation: “I think Chilcompton has taken a significant amount of development in the last ten years and therefore I agree with the community in questioning whether the village should be expected to take more and I hope the planning inspector respects the judgement of our local planning committee.” When an inspector has been appointed Mr Heappey said that he would be writing to the person concerned to re-enforce all of CARO’s key messages. He added: “I don’t want to see somewhere like this become a town of 20,000 or even 5,000 – it would become just Radstock.” CARO spokesman, Rich Morgan, said: “It was very gratifying
PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
(Photo courtesy of Mark Brookes)
MENDIP TIMES
Taking a stand. (L:r): Macolm Rigby, Richard Morgan, James Heappey MP and Jane Undery
to hear the sympathetic and understanding words from James Heappey. It was clear that he comprehended our explanations and arguments about the sustainability of Chilcompton. We are a village and we want to stay that way – he understood and agreed with that.” Rich added: “The school is full, the surgery is full, flooding is a constant threat and the narrow lanes are overstretched and dangerous. This is not NIMBYism – this is sustainability.”
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MENDIP TIMES
FOOD & DRINK
November is the time to get cosy Forget hygge; our word is cosy. Soups and casseroles and mugs of hot chocolate, the winter duvet and the warm socks. This month we have bonfires (socially distanced, of course) and an American With JUNE election, so you might like to break MACFARLANE out the sweet potatoes or even the bourbon. I’m cooking our own delicious mussels and looking forward to raiding the flapjack tin.
Sweet potatoes – American style
BAKED SWEET POTATO WITH BACON, APPLE AND MAPLE SYRUP Sweet potatoes belong to the Morning Glory family, are rich in vitamin C and taste more like swede than potato. Their fudgy texture works well with bacon and apple.
METHOD Preheat the oven to 180°C. Scrub the sweet potatoes and pat dry. Rub with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Put on a lined baking tray and bake for 50 mins or until tender. Lay the
CHOCOLATE ORANGE FLAPJACKS
bacon on a lined baking tray with the apples, sliced into thin wedges. Bake in oven with sweet potatoes for last 20 mins. Remove. Slice sweet potatoes in two and top with bacon and apples. Drizzle maple syrup over and serve hot.
A nice treat for Bonfire Night. Very rich. Very orangey.
Flapjacks are a bonfire night treat
INGREDIENTS (for two) 2 sweet potatoes Olive oil 4 rashers bacon 2 apples Maple syrup
INGREDIENTS
200g porridge oats 120g unsalted butter 80g demerara sugar 100ml golden syrup 1 orange, zested and juiced 100g dark chocolate, chopped
METHOD Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan. Line a 25x18cm baking tin. Put oats in a bowl with a pinch of salt. Melt the butter with the sugar and syrup. Remove from heat. Add orange zest and juice. Mix thoroughly. Pour into oats, stir to combine, add chocolate and stir. Pour into baking tin and press down with spoon. Bake for 20 mins or until firm. Remove from oven and mark into squares. Cool in tin.
MUSSELS WITH FENNEL, TOMATO AND CREAM Mussels from our cold waters are sweet and delicious.
INGREDIENTS
(for two) 500g fresh rope grown mussels 1 tbsp olive oil 2 shallots, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 bulb fennel, trimmed, cored and thinly sliced 1 large tomato, cubed 200ml white wine 50ml Pernod 50ml double cream Handful basil leaves, torn
PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
METHOD Clean and debeard the mussels, discarding any that refuse to close. In a medium pot soften the shallots and garlic in olive oil. Add the fennel and tomato and cook gently for five mins. Add the white wine, Pernod and cream and bring to a simmer. Add mussels and basil Rope grown mussels from our own shores are delicious and cover. Cook for five mins to open mussels. Serve with good bread.
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MENDIP TIMES
A new Somerset sparkler – Mowbarton Estate wine PETER Wright remembers very well his first taste of Mowbarton Estate Somerset Sparkling Wine: “It was clear, had sparkle and tasted like wine!” Mowbarton is made from grapes grown on farmland next to his home in Mudgley, near Wedmore. It had taken four years since Peter and his wife Dorothy, with help from their family, had planted over a thousand vines. The vines are a mixture of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Meunier; three of the seven permitted Champagne varieties. The wine is made in Bagborough, near Evercreech, by Steve Brooksbank, an experienced winemaker. It is produced exclusively as a sparkling wine, using the traditional method. This includes a 16 month wait while the bottles mature on the lees. So after waiting four years from planting, then picking, to that long wait after bottling, Peter understandably admits to being a little apprehensive when the cork on the first bottle was popped! The plan to turn the land into a vineyard came about after Peter and Dorothy’s house was flooded in September 2012. New drainage ditches had to be dug to try to prevent it flooding again and this revealed a clay and limestone soil – perfect for vines. The field is south facing, frost free, with a breeze from the Bristol Channel; an ideal climate for making a classic cool climate wine at 12%.
Peter knew very little about wine production but was introduced to Colin Gillespie, one of the early pioneers of English winemaking who used to own North Wootton vineyard, near Shepton Mallet. Colin gave the project the thumbs up, as well as a lot of advice and contacts. The 2017 vintage, which made 2,200 bottles, is the first to launch. Peter said: “We’re very pleased with the product and people who buy it always come back for more.”
Harvest time: this year’s grapes were due to be picked in midOctober
The wine is available from Wedmore Village Store and the Swan at Wedmore or online. For details, visit: www.mowbartonbarnestate.co.uk
PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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WILD FOOD
Cauliflower fungus
RECENTLY I was lucky enough to be out in a beautiful forest full of pine trees. The air was heady with autumnal aromas, the smell of petrichor: moist air, damp earth, decaying pine needles and unmistakable fungal aromas. Two of my favourite things right there – being out in the forest and can With ADRIAN you guess the second thing? Finding edible BOOTS fungus of course! In this case it’s the unmistakable cauliflower fungus. When I say “edible fungi” that’s not how I would describe this particular specimen. Unfortunately it had seen better days. Someone beat me to it and rather than pick it for the pot it seems that it was bashed about, there were bits everywhere. Cauliflower fungus (Sparassis crispa) is a mass of thin convoluted lobes looking rather startlingly like a brain. It actually has a stem beneath all that crazed outer mass with the edge of the white to creamy yellow lobes being a darker colour. A not insignificant 30cm or more across it is found at the base of pine trees from late summer through the autumn. Fortunately it doesn’t taste anything like cauliflower, with a mild mushroomy flavour and interesting texture. Just be aware that it also may be home to fallen pine needles and many, many bugs. I suppose you could call that free protein... Not sure why but recipes call for cooking this fungus in a cheese sauce, much like a cauliflower cheese. Whilst I adore cheese, it baffles me why you would do this just because it’s called “cauliflower” fungus. How about calling it the appealing sounding creamy brain fungus instead? Maybe not. Anyway, I was unable to do anything apart from a little taste in situ as it were, so here is a suggestion. Given the size of an intact one, why not cook the ultimate mushroom soup? Much like a Christmas turkey, there will be enough left over to feed a large family for days! 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.
FOOD & DRINK
GARDEN FOOD
Winter spinach
WE’RE enjoying a lot of winter spinach at the moment and it’s the first time I’ve tried growing it on this scale. We direct sowed it around the middle of September, with the plants spaced around 15cm apart in a grid pattern and they’ve come up really nicely. With JAKE I’ve come to appreciate the joys of WHITSON true spinach, as opposed to the “spinach beet” or perpetual spinach – really a chard variety with less stalk than usual – that’s more commonly grown by home gardeners. True spinach is Spinacia oleracea and is more closely related to fat hen, whereas chard is Beta vulgaris – the same species as beetroot or sea beet. And to me the textures and flavours are quite distinct, with true spinach having a much more delicate, crinkly crunch to the leaves and more delicate flavour. Spinach and eggs are a natural pair and I’ve come up with this recipe we often have for breakfast that is based on eggs Florentine – but without the hassle of making a Hollandaise. First, make a thick wholegrain mustard dressing – I like to mix roughly equal parts wholegrain mustard, cider vinegar, and olive oil, along with a smidge of Dijon mustard and salt and pepper, and shake them all up in a jar until smooth. Then, poach a few eggs. For the best results add a touch of vinegar to the poaching water, crack the egg into a cup and whisk the water into a vortex before tipping your egg into the middle – this should leave you with a nice pretty poached egg in an almost ball-shape. Next make some toast and once ready and buttered add your poached egg and pile on lots of raw spinach and lots of dressing – the perfect Sunday morning breakfast.
Jacob Whitson is a chef, food writer and smallholder – he divides his time between the Mendips and Pembrokeshire.
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 19
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MENDIP TIMES
eat:Christmas food festivals are coming
THE team behind the eat:Festival multi award-winning food and drink festivals are determined that Christmas won’t be cancelled this year. They are planning to deliver four outdoor winter markets, all designed to get shoppers in the mood with some festive cheer. Being held in Taunton (Saturday, November 28th), Burnham-on-Sea (Saturday, December 5th), Minehead (Saturday, December 12th) and Weston-super-Mare (Sunday, December 13th), each will bring together a great range of local producers with gifts and some added sparkle! Festival organisers, Bev and Sarah Milner Simonds, said: “We love bringing the town centre to life for our one-day events and we wanted to spread that cheer into the winter months with these festive festivals. “Christmas is traditionally a time for feasting and we hope that many visitors with use the festivals as an opportunity to stock up on local produce to share with friends and family. “We are also working with the local Foodbanks to provide a drop-off point for donations for those in the local community who aren’t in a position, for whatever reason, to have enough food on the table at this time of year.” Planning an event during the pandemic means that visitors can expect a few changes – like more space between the stalls, producers taking extra precautions to enable social distancing, elves reminding you to keep a safe space, hand sanitiser
Boulton Spirit, from Bristol, are regular traders at eat:Festivals
stations and the opportunity to order in advance for ‘click and collect’. The team will be inviting producers with farmers’ market favourites like cheese, ales and pies alongside artisan chocolates, gin and charcuterie. All the hot food providers will be offering a low-priced option and there will be lots of vegan, gluten free and other dietary options available. There are also opportunities for local community groups to raise their profile and for crafters and gift makers too. Entertainers will be on hand to add some sparkle, all abiding by the latest government guidance.
For detais, visit: www.eatfestivals.org
PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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FOOD & DRINK
• Fresh produce and dairy • Freshly baked food to go • Smokin’ Bean coffee to go • Fresh flowers • Local Suppliers • Laithwaites wines • Remarkable COOK ready meals
IT’S OUR FIRST BIRTHDAY!
We would like to thank our local suppliers, particularly Arthur David, Greenacres Farm Eggs, Cam Valley Foods, Lye Cross Farm, Hunts Foodservice, Cotteswold Dairy, Chew Moos and West Country Honey, Butcombe Brewery, Twisted Oak Brewery and Rapide Stationery Supplies
SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 21
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MENDIP TIMES
Talking turkey
buTCHERS * FISHMONGERS * DElICATESSEN
l NOW TAKING CHRISTMAS ORDERS l Find our new online shop on – www.cobbsofcheddar.com l Hog roast bookings being taken for 2021 onwards l Christmas cheese towers, gift hampers and pork pie towers made to order
NEMPNETT Turkeys are produced on Nempnett Farm, a small family farm located in the picturesque hamlet of Nempnett Thrubwell, famous for its unusual name. We produce free range bronze turkeys, which are traditionally grown slower than most out on lush pastures to enhance the flavour and quality
Open: Monday – Saturday 7am-6pm • Sunday 10am-4pm
e Cross, union Street, Cheddar, Somerset bS27 3NA 01934 742521 • email cobbsofcheddar@outlook.com
Cosy bars and restaurant
Family and dog friendly
A traditional family run country pub tucked away in a beautiful corner of the Chew Valley with a delightful garden and front patio Monday to Friday 4pm From 12noon Saturday and Sunday
Regil, Winford, Bristol BS40 8AY
01275 472388
www.thecrownregil.com info@thecrownregil.com
PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
FOOD & DRINK
(L to r) the Ford family, George, Tilly, Maggie and Meg
of the meat. All of our turkeys are hand processed and game hung which results in succulent and juicy meat with crispy golden skin, the perfect combination. Nempnett Turkeys are well loved and looked after with the utmost care to produce a bird that has had a stressless life and ultimately tastes perfect on Christmas day. To order and for more information or more lovely photos check out our new website www.NempnettTurkeys.com or give George a call on 07843 805949.
A warm welcome this winter Sunday lunches a speciality
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
Banwell Garden Buildings – make the most of your space DO you need more space but don’t want to move or extend? The answer could be to utilise your outside space with a bespoke building from Banwell Garden Buildings. Banwell Garden Buildings design, manufacture and install bespoke garden buildings of the highest quality. Owned and run by two brothers, Laurence and Edward Pole, Banwell Garden Buildings is part of their manufacturing company, Avocet Engineering Services. All the buildings are designed and made in their own North Somerset factory and both Laurence and Ed have a personal and
hands-on interest in every building delivered. Working from home? Banwell Garden Buildings can make a garden office or studio in traditional or contemporary style so that it perfectly complements your garden while providing exactly what you need to work efficiently from the comfort of your own home. Need more room for a growing family or dependant relatives? A garden annex can provide ideal accommodation for teenagers or older relatives, offering a degree of independence and extra space without needing to move house. Annexes can be made to full building regulations and can be fitted with bathroom and kitchen facilities. Need more space for socialising outside? Outdoor kitchens are becoming more popular as people make the most of their outdoor space. Banwell Garden Buildings can produce kitchens manufactured from waterproof materials so they will resist the elements and remain in excellent condition for many years. Another fantastic way to maximise the potential space outside is to build a bespoke treehouse – a fantasy for many kids and a fair few adults. Treehouses can be fully insulated and weather proof to provide the ultimate sleepover and play space in the garden. Whatever your garden building requirements why not call today for a no obligation discussion of your ideas.
Tel 01934 824092 or email sales@avocetproducts.co.uk www.avocetproducts.co.uk/banwell/
We design, manufacture and install superb quality bespoke garden buildings for virtually any purpose you can imagine.
HOME OFFICE Office or studio space for working from home
ANNEXE Accommodate a growing family or use as guest accommodation
LEISURE Summerhouse and entertainment spaces, outdoor kitchens, playrooms and treehouses
HOLIDAY Holiday accommodation, Air B&B
STORAGE Strong, dry, secure storage All produced here in our own North Somerset factory. Why not call or email for a no obligation discussion of your requirements and see how we can turn your ideas in to reality?
www.avocetproducts.co.uk/banwell/ • email info@avocetproducts.co.uk • Tel 01934 824092 MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 23
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Gallery inspired by lockdown A NeW studio gallery showcasing work by local artists has opened at the entrance to Cranmore Wood, near Stoke St Michael. Art and Craft @Mendip lodge – close to the entrance to the car park at the wood – is the result of Jenny Vestey and her friend and fellow artist Julia Blaker being unable to sell their work through their usual outlets such as craft fairs and village events. The gallery is housed above a garage at Jenny’s home
The gallery space is open whenever Jenny is at home
Welcome to Art and Craft @Mendip Lodge
Arts trail goes global
PeoPle from all over the world viewed this year’s Chew Valley Arts Trail online exhibition. Whilst there was disappointment among the exhibitors that they couldn’t open their studios, they were delighted that people were able to join in from further afield. organiser Sandy Bell said: “We had a thousand visits to the site and each exhibitor had more than 230 views of their individual page. “For some people, especially those a bit off the beaten track, that’s actually more people looking at their work than they would have got with the conventional trail.” Details: www.chewvalleyartstrail.co.uk to view exhibits
ART AND CRAFT @MENDIP LODGE * A new studio on Mendip
* Work by local artists * Original, folk and botanical art * Great ideas for Christmas * Greetings cards £2 * Look out for the open signs or call 07926 384606 Mendip Lodge (by entrance to Cranmore Wood), Old Wells Road, BA4 4LF PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
and is open whenever she is there. Dogs are also welcome as the wood is a popular location for walkers. Jenny and Julia hope more local artists will join them in the venture which features everything from botanical art to greeting cards and craft items. Jenny said: “We’d been working away in readiness for the usual season of fairs and such like and then they came to a dramatic halt because of the pandemic. “We had all this work and nowhere in which to sell it, so I thought ‘why not use the room above the garage?’ and it went from there.”
Virtual arts trail
The Cam Valley Arts Trail will go online from Saturday, october 31st until Sunday, November 8th showing the works of ten painters, including Gina Belford, Catherine Beale and Gaynor leverett-Jacques. As well as being able to buy affordable, local artworks direct from the artists, you will also be able to take a virtual wander into artists’ studios, watch video demonstrations and techniques, follow featured artists and enjoy workshops. Keep an eye on their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages for regular updates. Details: www.camvalleyartstrail.co.uk
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Selling by auction at Killens isn’t scary!
BuyING and selling at auction is much easier than many people imagine. Some are anxious to get involved but there is nothing to fear. For those unfamiliar with selling items, here is a simple step-by-step introduction. If you need to know more, do contact the friendly and professional team at Killens at the Mendip Auction Rooms who will be delighted to explain more. Valuation At the Mendip Auction Rooms, it is possible to call in with your items without appointment in order to gain a free
valuation. you are not obliged to enter the items into auction but the valuer can explain the selling process in more detail. Killens also conduct home visits free of charge and can arrange the collection of items. If you want to enter an item then it may be possible to set a reserve price below which the item will not be sold. If an item is sold then Killens charge a commission rate of 15% plus VAT and a lotting fee of £1 per lot.
Cataloguing If you enter your items for sale, the valuers will then work hard prior to the auction in order to prepare a detailed description and a price guide. Preparing for sale All items are photographed by a professional photographer and all illustrated catalogues are displayed online on the main auction websites prior to sale and known potential buyers are contacted.
ARTS & ANTIQUES Prior to a sale day, the items are laid out for sale and Killens take a great deal of time in presenting their Antiques & Collectables sales laying out items as they may be seen in a home, just like Ikea!
Viewing days Salerooms are busy places and it is not possible to visit every day in order to view items. At the Mendip Auction Rooms, sales are put on view one or two days prior to the sale. extra photographs and condition reports are provided to those potential buyers requesting them.
A successful sale! once the items are sold, you will be informed of the result and payment is made 21 days afterwards. So dig out those unwanted items and go along to the Mendip Auction Rooms to get a free valuation from their friendly team or, alternatively, attend one of their viewing or sale days to get a better insight into this exciting but not scary world of auctions.
Contact the auction rooms on 01749 840770 or email enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk for further assistance.
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 25
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Inspiration in isolation but it’s Christmas as usual! One of the pieces of work inspired by isolation
loCKDoWN affected members of the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen in contrasting ways. Many were inspired by the tranquility, the light and the stillness while others needed the therapeutic benefit of creating to help them keep
to a routine and feel productive. As a result, the guild is to host a special “lockdown” exhibition at its gallery in Wells, opening on Tuesday, November 10th. Inspiration in Isolation will showcase the work its talented members have created during lockdown. each piece will be accompanied with some words from the maker to offer some insight into the inspiration behind it. Inspiration in Isolation will run until Thursday, December 10th and will be in the front section of the gallery at 23A Broad St (behind Pickwicks Café). Gallery manager Tanith Tothill said: “We will, of course, still be open for Christmas gifts and our usual treasures throughout the exhibition. “under the current circumstances, we can safely accommodate six people at any one time so your patience is very much appreciated if the gallery is busy.”
Mythology and more
Jon Minshull’s Ophelia
PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
GlASToNBuRy’S new gallery heart of the Tribe has announced its first solo exhibition showcasing the work of Jon Minshull, a local painter who is inspired by mythology, geometry, science and nature. Running from Wednesday, November 4th to Tuesday, December 1st, this exhibition brings together new and old works, including exquisite landscapes, impressionist nudes and symbolist pieces with compositions reminiscent of the baroque period. Already well-known for his stunning murals which adorn the Goddess hall, the Glastonbury experience and the Glastonbury Information Centre, Jon draws much inspiration from the energy of Glastonbury and the landscapes of the South West. As one of the artists who has worked on-site at the gallery on the high Street, he epitomises the communitarian and collective spirit that exists at heart of the Tribe.
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Time to sell at Clevedon’s specialist sale TueSDAy, November 3rd is the closing date for entries for Clevedon Salerooms’ Quarterly Specialist Sale. Take advantage of the two free valuation days on Monday, 2nd and Tuesday 3rd when the valuers will be on hand in a Covid-secure environment providing free verbal auction estimates on all items. Consignments to date include this fine 19th century French ormolu and porcelain mounted clock garniture beneath glass
ARTS & ANTIQUES
domes estimated at £3,000-£4,000. of a similar date are two almost identical Arts & Crafts salts by celebrated silversmith omar Ramsden. The star burst design will light up any dining table and they are estimated at £500-£800 each. If you have items you may be thinking of selling either email images to info@clevedon-salerooms.com or attend one of our Covid-secure free valuation days.
One of two Omar Ramsden Arts & Crafts Salts, estimate £500-£800 each
19th century French clock garniture, estimate £3,000-£4,000
Every lot in every auction, illustrated and sold with live internet bidding
ENTRIES INVITED FOR THE 3rd DECEMBER SPECIALIST SALE (Closing date 3rd November)
Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers
FREE & Safe, Drive-through VALUATION DAYS 2nd & 3rd November
19th Century oil portrait
£600 - £900
Lowry signed print – The Family
£1,500 - £2,500
Antiques, Interiors, Collectables & Jewellery Auction ONLINE ONLY AUCTION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS 12th November at 10.30am VIEWING STRICTLY BY PRIOR APPOINTMENT – Contact the Salerooms
Silver Salver - 99oz
£1,200 - £1,800
J A J Falguiere – Bronze figure of Phryne
£500 - £800
Rolex Oyster Chronometer
£3,000 - £4,000
Tel: 01934 830111
Quarterly Specialist Sale of Antiques, Fine Art, Collector’s Items, Jewellery, Silver and Watches
The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT www.clevedon-salerooms.com
Thursday 3rd December at 10.30am Live online only sale – Viewing by prior appointment MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 27
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MENDIP TIMES
ARTS & ANTIQUES
Virtual art in Wells Cathedral
The Dean of Wells (right) prepares to cut the ribbon helped by WAC chair Paddy O’Hagan as Samuel Powell, from local sponsor, Greenslade Taylor Hunt, looks on
ThIS year’s Wells Art Contemporary exhibition has opened online – but visitors to Wells Cathedral will be able to enjoy viewing the entries on a big screen in the South Transept. Despite all the Covid-19 challenges of 2020, WAC has managed to retain its twin rationale: to support and inspire artists, and to offer local people an opportunity to experience the best of international contemporary art – on their doorstep. The Very Revd Dr John Davies, Dean of Wells Cathedral, cut a ribbon on the screen to “open” the exhibition, which runs until February 1st. l The show can be viewed at: www.wellsartcontemporary.co.uk/2020-wac-awards where votes can be cast for the People’s Choice.
Spot the birdie!
AS a result of the cancellation of the usual floral hanging baskets in its town centre due to the pandemic, Shepton Mallet Town Council decided to commission a different kind of display instead: a bird-themed art trail. The authority contacted the Rubbish Art Project and Art Bank Café in the town, who approached seven local artists and asked them each to create a large-scale, three-dimensional bird to be displayed across the town. Rather than looking to the exotic and unusual, the artists focused on birds that locals are likely to encounter in their everyday lives: a seagull, a heron, a blackbird, a curlew, a buzzard, a kingfisher and a barn owl. The Somerset Wildlife Trust also advised the team on the trail’s educational message. Heron, by Eleanor The art trail can be enjoyed Wdowski until December. For details, visit: https://sheptonmallettc.gov.uk/2020/10/07/the-shepton-bird-trail/
PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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Blagdon sale
(l to r) Clare Day and Naomi Lyons serving customer Janice Dean
AFTER the success of a recent pop-up sale, which raised over £700 for Blagdon Church funds, a sunny Saturday morning saw another pop-up sale of produce and other items held again on the Mead in Blagdon. One of the organisers, Penny Crawfurd, said: “The total profit of £524 raised, which included a generous donation, meant we were able to send £180 to each of the three chosen charities – the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), Water Aid and Domestic Violence.” Fellow organiser, Tina Smith, said: “Numbers were certainly down but maybe people are feeling a bit spooked by the virus numbers going up. “We thought it still a worthwhile sum which in present times, when many charities are really suffering, we hope will be welcomed.”
Kay Clarke and Susie Barton on the all sorts stall
Tess Collingborn and Jane Wroath on the plant stall
Still going strong – a 60-year-old champion
EVENTS
Ken takes a fellow exhibitor for a spin around the campsite at the Tucker’s Grave Inn
A MOTORBIKE with sidecar specially built to compete in one of the world’s most prestigious trials championships was one of the stars at a vintage vehicle event in Faulkland. BSA’s competition department supplied the machine to the Holoway motorbike dealership in Bath in 1959 with the sole aim of winning the then twoday Welsh Trial, a 200mile-a-day speed trial across mountain tracks. Ernie Timbrell, at Holoway’s, built the sidecar with a narrow track designed for the Welsh conditions and rider David Holoway duly won the 1960 event with his cousin as passenger. They went on to repeat their success at the 1961 three-day event. The bike has been owned for more than 50 years by Ken Rees, of Radstock, who had the engine rebuilt; otherwise The show attracted a wide range of it is virtually in its original vehicles including this tractor which condition. claimed first prize It’s a dog’s life…
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 29
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MENDIP TIMES
Bennetts is a niche and boutique commercial law firm operating out of modern offices at Barley Wood Stables, Long Lane, Wrington. Our lawyers combine specialist legal knowledge with broad practical experience. We can be relied on to give clear and positive advice on a wide range of complex or routine matters whether preventative or remedial. Bennetts Solicitors Attorneys & Notaries Barley Wood Stables, Long Lane, Wrington Bristol BS40 5SA Phone: (44) 1934 862786 • Fax: (44) 1934 862404 Webpage: www.bennettlaw.co.uk e-mail: info@bennettlaw.co.uk
l Seasoned hardwood logs l Nets of Kindling l Home/business delivery l Competitive prices
ECATCHER MOL
NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01761 417100 www.mendipmolecatcher.co.uk
P & C Logs Call Phil on 07734 098323, or Colleen on 07785 250033 or on Evenings 01934 741941
Tel: 01761 472140 • Mob: 07591 574399
PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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).
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Accident claims
Accidents do happen and under civil law you are entitled to recover compensation for injuries and financial losses caused as a result of another individual’s fault. Over recent years accident claims have come in for some poor publicity largely as a result of aggressive marketing and pursuit of unmeritorious claims often generated by unscrupulous personal injury claims factories. However a variety of reforms have brought the market under greater control but still leaves people perfectly free to pursue genuine claims. in the vast majority of cases there is no requirement to fund a claim at the outset as it can be pursued either through before the event legal expenses insurance or by use of a conditional fee agreement (commonly known as a nowin no fee agreement). Your solicitor will gather together all the relevant information and if the claim remains good to take forward will then obtain medical evidence as well as documents to prove past or future loss of earnings and any other losses. commonly there is then a negotiation with the insurance company on the other side which in the majority of
BUSINESS
cases results in a settlement but if there remains a significant dispute about who was at fault or the value of the claim then a court claim can be started and the outstanding issues decided upon by a judge. claims commonly arise out of road traffic accidents, accidents at work, pavement tripping accidents or clinical negligence. Other claims include those arising from premises being in a dangerous state or accidents involving animals. Occasionally there is publicity about spectacularly large compensation awards and typically these arise as a result of serious injuries which may prevent an individual being able to work again so that the majority of the compensation awarded relates to loss of future earnings. Assessing the value of a claim is usually based on comparing awards made in previous cases where the facts may be similar. this is an area which in due course could be susceptible to the use of algorithms to work out the value of the claim but this must presently be viewed with some caution for there are a whole variety of factors involved in a valuation of a claim which may not be
capable of computerised valuation and could result in significant inconsistencies and unfairness. the personal injuries department at Lyons solicitors has been long established and is led by duncan shaw whose extensive experience embraces the conduct of complex and high-value personal-injury claims. He is readily available to give advice on whether a claim may be worth pursuing.
EDWARD LYONS
Email: enquiries@lyonslaw.co.uk Website: www.lyonslaw.co.uk Telephone: 01275 332168 An established and progressive law firm providing a personal and cost-effective legal service for commercial and individual clients. 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 OFFICES AT: Chew Magna 01275 332168
Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506
Kingswood 0117 967 5252 MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 31
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MENDIP TIMES
Farming divorces and collaborative law – a better way sOrting out a financial settlement on divorce can be complicated, especially for farming families whose personal and business affairs are often inextricably entwined. However, this does not mean that such a dispute can only be resolved through a long, expensive and stressful court battle. Alternative dispute resolution (Adr) offers husbands and wives several different ways of potentially settling family conflict without going to court. We find that one of the most successful forms of Adr and one best suited to farming divorces is the collaborative process. collaboration involves both parties and their collaboratively trained solicitors agreeing that they will work together to try to find the best settlement for the whole Alastair family; especially for any MacLeod children. All negotiations take place at “fourway meetings” in which the husband and
wife discuss possible settlement terms supported by their solicitors. this means that there is far less correspondence between solicitors than more traditional negotiations, which helps to keep legal costs down! Also, unlike mediation, the solicitors are present at the meetings, so advice on the law can be given immediately a point arises. in farming cases it will sometimes be necessary to bring in other professionals to assist, such as accountants or pension experts, and in the collaborative process they can be invited to come to meetings to give their input direct rather than having to be instructed separately in writing. this obviously saves considerable time. As farming businesses are often family enterprises, involving not just one or both divorcing spouses but also other family members, it is possible in the collaborative process for the other affected members of the family to be involved in the negotiations, if this is agreed. the whole emphasis of the collaborative approach is that the couple is in charge of finding the best settlement for their family and as such it is a far more flexible way of achieving settlement than by an application to the court. if you feel that the collaborative process may be able to help you and for more information on this or any aspect of divorce and Family law, please contact Alastair MacLeod,
Alastair.macleod@clarkewillmott.com, 0345 209 1696
Berry Barn’s tenth anniversary
Sale starts November 28th PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
it’s all smiles as Berry Barn celebrates its tenth anniversary this month! Founded by two mums with a dream, it has grown into a thriving business, gradually expanding and opening Mini Mooos, child and baby gifts in 2014. the minute you walk in the door you are struck by the lovely scent of bath melts and candles Pictured (l to r) Sheryl Hucker, Claire and immersed into a Burton, Sam Easton world of pretty jewellery, bags, scarves, textiles, ceramics and glass. co-owner sam said: “We are so lucky to love what we do.” Her partner, sheryl, said: “We put everything into it, it’s like our second home and we’re so excited about making this christmas our best yet!” if you love original, stylish, exclusive, fun, affordable gifts, you will love Berry Barn. A small, family run gift shop based at Farrington’s Farm shop. Follow them on Facebook to find out more.
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BUSINESS
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 33
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Is your Lasting Power of Attorney ready to use if needed?
We all know the importance of having an Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), in place when it comes to planning for our future but what is not often talked about is how to use an LPA if and when the time comes? Chartered Legal Executive, Kat King discusses what needs to be done when you want to use your LPA.
Don’t just file it away Once you have your LPA in place and it needs to be used, you (the donor) or your attorneys (those that you appoint to act on your behalf) will need to share the document with all relevant parties and institutions. Banks, pension providers, investment companies, and care homes, for example, all require sight of either the original document, or a certified copy before they are able to take instructions from attorneys. Certify it is always advisable to obtain certified copies of your LPA as in the majority of cases a certified copy is acceptable instead of the original document. to certify your LPA either ask a solicitor to stamp and sign each page to confirm the copy is a true copy of the original or you as the donor can certify your own copies. Please note, specific wording needs to be written on every page (the wording can be found on the official Office of the Public guardian website) and the donor has to sign as well. if this is not done correctly then the certified copies will not be valid.
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Go online the Office of the Public guardian (the government body dealing with LPAs) have recently introduced a new service called “Use a Lasting Power of Attorney”. this service is only available for LPAs registered on or after 17 July 2020. the new service allows donors, or their attorneys, to create an online account so that a summary of the documents can be viewed online. the donor and the attorneys can also give access to institutions, which will only be able to view the LPAs if they are provided with an access code. to put your LPA in place or for advice on ensuring your LPA is ready to use when needed speak to Kat King today on 01749 342 323 or email kat.king@mogersdrewett.com. Kat King
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BUSINESS
Council’s Covid visits MeMBers of Mendip district council’s public protection team have paid personal visits to more than 150 premises across glastonbury and street to remind them of the steps they must take to ensure customers are safe when visiting. the awareness campaign is in response to a rise in covid-19 cases in the glastonbury and street area. Bars, pubs and licensed premises, cafes, restaurants, shops and hairdressers/ barbers in glastonbury and street have all received information leaflets on how to avoid “rule of six” breaches and other violations such as large gatherings, lack of social distancing, the ban on live music and unrecorded test and trace details. non-compliant businesses
could face action including closure, prosecution and licence review. But Mendip officers have noted only minor infringements to date, (such as absence of face coverings on staff, or no Qr code poster displayed), and report that most high street hospitality venues are compliant and responsive.
Tony Hucker TV Service – Sales – Rental
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Satellite Installations Aerial Systems TV wall mounting Custom Installations Networking Signal Solutions
01275 332888 www.tonyhuckertv.co.uk Email: tony@tonyhuckertv.co.uk Unit 4, Fairseat Workshops, Chew Stoke BS40 8XF Open: Mon – Thurs 9.00am – 5.30pm Fri – 9.00am – 5.00pm Friendly - Reliable - Insured Experienced Horse Handler Mowing • Rolling • Harrowing Hedge Trimming • Stock Fencing Tractor fitted with Turf Tyres Areas covered: Somerset and surrounding counties For free quotations Tel: 01934 615396 • Mob: 07702 095607
WEST COUNTRY TREECARE & GARDEN MAINTENANCE
ALL TYPES OF TREE WORK UNDERTAKEN
NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL ALL WASTE REMOVED AND JOB LEFT TIDY DRIVEWAYS, PATIOS AND MUCH MORE
PLEASE ASK FOR RYAN T: 0800 292 7079 M: 07480 592 759 REGISTERED WASTE HOLDERS UNIT 4, BRISTOL ROAD
We offer a 14-day cooling-off period MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 35
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MENDIP TIMES
Bus needs more support
THE Isle of Wedmore community bus has continued running throughout the pandemic, but with very few passengers. It has four scheduled routes with a Covid-19 compliant capacity of eight passengers. On several recent occasions the bus has run with only one passenger or has been cancelled because no-one wished to travel. Spokesman, Mike Bewick, said: “These figures are reported to Somerset County Council, who I am sure may well re-allocate the bus if a greater need is perceived elsewhere. “So please, can I encourage everyone to make use of this valuable local asset whenever they can. Sadly it is a classic case of ‘use it or lose it’.” The bus runs to Taunton on Tuesdays, Bridgwater on Wednesdays, Weston-super-Mare on Thursdays and Street on Fridays. all services leave Wedmore village car park at 9.30am and also pick up en-route. Limited private hire is also available. Details: bewick.mike@gmail.com
See our Christmas goodies Visit our new conservatory
Thanks for your support in this difficult year Open: Monday-Saturday 8.30am-5.00pm
01934 713289 www.pumpkinwedmore.co.uk andrea@pumpkinwedmore.co.uk 1 The Borough Mall, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB
PISCES
FISHMONGER & GREENGROCER
Direct supply of Cornish Sea Food. Loch Fyne Smokehouse stockist. Northern Water and Continental seafood specialists. Fruit and vegetables personally selected at market, exotics and the unusual, fresh herbs and the best local produce. Selection of culinary ingredients. Open all day Tuesday to Friday plus Monday and Saturday mornings.
PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
5 The Borough Mall, The Borough Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB Tel: 01934 710318
Christmas is coming
WEDMORE’S Living advent calendar, a community art project started in 2018, will be held from December 1st24th. Volunteers from 24 houses in the village will illuminate their windows with festive decorations. One window is “opened” each day and they will all remain
illuminated until 12th night. It has been a wonderfully successful community project run by St Mary's Church involving lots of families and volunteers since it started.
Wedmore food project
aN exciting new project is well underway to bring a new outdoor community space to Wedmore. The partnership between the Food Forest Project, the parish council and Green Wedmore takes a previously unused piece of land to turn into a vibrant, sustainably managed food growing site, where members of the community can visit and help themselves. Using permaculture techniques to work in harmony with the soil and wildlife, The Food Forest Project are generously giving their skills and resources to help create this new space. a group of volunteers have been helping to prepare the site and planting is due to begin in November. The site, at the Lerburne, will have a diverse range of fruit and nut trees as well as soft fruit shrubs for the community to enjoy in years to come. If anyone would like to find out more, or volunteer, please contact greenwedmorev@gmail.com
Order now for Christmas
DEaN Downer at Pisces says he would like to thank all his customers old and new for their custom through this difficult time. With the support of his long established suppliers, he will continue to maintain stocks to serve the Wedmore community with the usual large and eclectic range of goods. Plans are now being made for the usual busy Christmas holiday and he reminds you that the fish markets close over the holiday period so if you require fish for Christmas or New Year then advance ordering is advisable. Pisces vegetable order forms will be available in early December. He says: “Please remember to follow health instructions to protect your local independent shops. Stay safe!”
Wedmore charity ride goes ahead
CYCLISTS of all ages and abilities turned out in force for the third Wedmore 40/30 after organisers were determined not to let the coronavirus put the brakes on the popular event. Originally due to take place in July, the annual charity bike ride was rearranged for September. Over £6,500 was raised for Weston Hospicecare and the Friends of St Mary’s Church, Wedmore, after 197 bike enthusiasts took on either a 30, 40 or
a combined 70-mile course. a familyfriendly 12-mile route also returned by popular demand. all observed social distancing. The course started and finished at sports venue the Post and Wicket at Wedmore playing fields and took riders through the heart of Somerset landmarks such as Cheddar Gorge,. One of the organisers, John Ford, said: “The routes were tailored for those who are elite-level cyclists right the way through to the shorter family ride. This is a real community event and we are
WELCOME TO WEDMORE!
FOCUS ON WEDMORE
Tackling the Gorge
extremely grateful once again to all the helpers without whose support we could not run Wedmore 40/30.” Next year’s event will take place on Sunday, July 11th.
(Photography by A1 Camera Club)
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WE HAVE MOVED! MORE ROOM, MORE STOCK!
Lime is brimming with wonderful clothing and accessories. Come and treat yourself to a lovely shopping experience in these strange times, new clothes give a lift and a feeling of wellbeing, so pop in and see us, a warm welcome and plenty of fun awaits!
Look forward to seeing you all. Claire and the lovely team!
Come and see our Organic Cotton range
15, The Borough Mall, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB
01934 710479
4, The Borough Mall, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB • 01934 708181
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 37
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MENDIP TIMES
WEDMORE
The Borough Mall Co Ltd would like to wish all our tenants and their customers a prosperous 2021! Pumpkin Deli Bumble Tot’s Clothing Pisces Susie Kingston Shoes Borough Beauty Dimity Button The Foot Clinic The Hair Barn Lime Post Office
Free parking for our customers
Bronze and Traditional Turkeys All types of poultry, meats, games and Christmas Fayre
Orders taken for Christmas now!! Orders, telephone or email:– 01934 712384 Shop Alan, James and Mike would like to thank all our customers who have supported us through 2020
PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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The Swan – an autumn delight
THE Swan is an award-winning pub at the heart of the lovely village of Wedmore. among cosy corners, stoneflagged floors, leather sofas and open hearths, executive chef Tom Blake and head chef Sam Sperring-Trendl cook locally-sourced delights. Sunday lunch is a firm favourite and is a leisurely and laid-back affair. Served from midday until 8.45pm, it's the perfect time to relax and eat at a leisurely pace. Starters include crispy polenta and slow cooked courgettes; sweetcorn chowder with smoked mackerel and crab fritter; and ham hock terrine. Sunday lunch for many means a roast and The Swan doesn't disappoint with slow roasted pork belly with fennel and sea salt crackling, dry aged sirloin of beef and free range roasted chicken breast with apricot and sage stuffing. If you can't choose between them plump for the showstopping Triple Roast which combines all three.
There is also a delicious beetroot, mushroom and quinoa roast. all come with herby roast potatoes, Yorkshire puds, carrot and thyme puree, roast parsnip and seasonal greens. Desserts are equally delectable offering treats such as espresso Martini cheesecake and sticky toffee apple and stout pudding. The Swan's excellent food places great emphasis on the homemade and seasonal local produce and its meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheeses and yoghurts, all come from named West Country
FOCUS ON WEDMORE
suppliers. Regional drinks are given equal prominence and there is a cracking range of local ciders, real ales, and gins. The lovely countryside around Wedmore is perfect for easy cycling, great walking, and, from November, the eye-catching starling murmurations. a Sunday with a reviving autumn walk and afternoon hunkering down at The Swan is highly recommended. The festive December menu begins on Monday, November 23rd and bookings are open for Christmas Day.
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 39
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FOCUS ON WEDMORE
Spectacular views from new development
We are open!
aT the practice our vision is ‘Better Teeth for Better Health’ and our mission is to be the dental practice that patients recommend to their friends and family, that healthcare professionals recommend to their patients and that local businesses recommend to their clients. Over the years the concept of a dental examination has moved far beyond looking for decay and gum disease. We routinely check soft tissues for lesions, and assess teeth for the following: signs of tooth wear including acid erosion, the way your teeth meet together (occlusion), gum recession and bony defects. We also look at medical and lifestyle factors that may impact on oral and general health. and many patients are keen to explore and discuss the aesthetic options that are available at the practice, including tooth whitening, anti-wrinkle treatment and fillers. Cross-infection control in the dental industry is rigorous, evidence-based and regularly inspected; dentistry is one of the most highly-regulated industries in the world. at our practice we have invested in state-of-the-art air filtration systems for each of the surgeries. These machines purify the air in the surgery by filtering out harmful viruses, bacteria, odour and pathogens. Their sterilisation rate is over 99.99%. We are taking on new patients. We are also happy to see patients for one-off hygienist appointments if your regular practice is closed; please ask for a ‘direct-access’ hygienist appointment. Coronavirus has been demanding for all of us, whether in terms of mental health, finances, illness or loss. But it has also given us the opportunity to think differently, re-evaluate what is important and re-shape our lives for the better. Investing in your health and wellbeing is fundamental; we are here to help. @wedmoredental
PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
CROSS Farm is a collection of two, three and four-bedroom contemporary apartments and houses located in Wedmore. Developed by acorn Property Group, Cross Farm’s contemporary new homes have been carefully designed to blend in with existing architecture in the village to deliver traditional country living with a contemporary edge. Prices range from £295,000–£750,000. The homes have been designed to a beautiful standard and boast open plan living, generous room sizes, private gardens, allocated parking with many also including a garage. Finished to a high-quality specification, the homes at Cross Farm also feature underfloor heating, mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems, a highly efficient gas boiler, smart meters and high-performance windows. With plenty of open space and spectacular views of the Mendips, these homes are perfect for those who want to be able to enjoy the great outdoors. For information visit: https://www.acornpropertygroup.org/development/crossfarm-wedmore/
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Farewell to East Harptree Village Club
The coronavirus pandemic and the cancellation of the summer skittles competition has meant the current management committee have closed East Harptree Village Club for the time being. Here club chairman Nick Houlton looks back on some of the good times members enjoyed. IT seems only yesterday that I slid the last part of the bar back into place, ready to open, though it was June 1983. At first no-one was sure how long the club would last as a joint venture between the village hall and the football club. The first chairman was Bill Carruthers, who served until 1986 when Dave Blannin took over, followed by Brian Clavey and then myself in time for the Millennium. Early misgivings were soon forgotten and the club thrived. At first the bar was staffed by the committee, but soon Wendy Childs became full-time bar steward and stayed until 2000, when Brenda Bishop took over; for the last 18 months their long-term assistant, Graham Currell, was in charge. Sue Currell kept the books in order, followed by Liz Currell, who has done so for over 30 years. Madge Atkinson got involved providing food, and soon the coffee shop, started by Wendy and Sandra Blannin, moved into the club. Christmas dinners followed, much appreciated by the older
Chairman Nick Houlton
Joyce presenting the Ray Millard skittles cup PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
people in the village. There were some great evenings: themed fancy dress nights, New Year’s Eve parties and special events, including VE Day. They were all very popular. The club became the centre of the village for parties and sadly, as time went by, we found ourselves holding wakes for members who had passed away. Skittles became a major linchpin of the club, with teams from Wrington Vale, Nova and Mendip Farmers. A four-a-side competition in the summer, with up to 70 teams, was particularly well supported. An early stalwart of the club was Ray Millard, in whose memory the local teams competed for a cup; more recently a lifelong supporter of the club, Barry Weston, was given the same honour. The dartboard was always in demand, and darts was played competitively until the Millennium and enjoyed by many members. Hugely entertaining was the Pumpkin Night, always a favourite of Roly Currell and his brother Mick. Roly tried to grow the biggest pumpkin in the Valley but was often thwarted; far more
Christmas dinner
Preparing a buffet
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Wendy and Dennis Childs celebrate
successful was his sterling work keeping the brewery’s prices down. Later we would enjoy the spectacle of grown women and men playing conkers: really dangerous! Quiz evenings, run by Bob and Jenny Handford, were a great success, especially with the losers, as they too got prizes. Great pride was taken in decorating the club for Hallowe’en and Christmas, particularly by Georgie Berry. Well now we have closed and I would like to thank all who have enjoyed being involved, playing games or helping to make it a very special place of fun and friendship; I am sorry you cannot all be named. We wish whoever comes next all the best.
NICK HOULTON Chairman
FEATURE
Fancy dress night
Brenda Bishop and Graham Currell
Pumpkin men (l to r) Mick Currell, Sam Stride, Rob Stenner and Roly Currell
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 43
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Tackling disadvantage and discrimination
ThE Midsomer Norton Schools’ Partnership have chosen the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust as their chosen charity for this academic year. It says the charity does excellent work supporting disadvantaged children and also tackling discrimination. Chief executive, Alun Williams, who is head of Writhlington School, said: “We live in a society where prejudice is still at large, often unseen and unreported. It is our duty in schools to do all that we can to educate children about right and wrong; to support children and our communities to understand why prejudice is so destructive and to help those who are disadvantaged. “The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust has a long and deeply impressive record of supporting young people to achieve more than they thought possible. We want to support this work to grow, so that more communities and individuals can benefit from the support they offer. “We know too, that our own work fighting prejudice and disadvantage in schools and the communities we serve, will be enhanced still further from a partnership with The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.”
Hospice appeals for support
WITh shops closed and events postponed, Weston hospicecare is launching a new community fundraising initiative to support its work. Each year, the hospice supports 2,000 people at a cost of £7.64 every minute and says it needs help. The new initiative #FromMyheartToMyhospice is designed to galvanise support with a new focus every three months. Fundraisers who raise funds and donate or make a donation instead will receive a blue heart badge reminiscent of the #FromMyheartToMyhospice logo as a symbol to show they are supporting the movement. In addition, supporters of the campaign will be invited to an inclusive Facebook group where tips, tricks and fundraising tales can be shared. Community fundraising manager, Sue Kingman, said: “Like everyone, the hospice has taken a huge financial hit with many fundraising events being cancelled and shops being closed for business. “your hospice depends on incredible supporters, like you, to fund this vital care given to those who need it most.” The #FromMyheartToMyhospice campaign kicked off on Monday, October 5th. To support it visit Weston hospicecare’s Facebook page to join the #FromMyheartToMyhospice group. Details: https://bit.ly/36nGRBV
PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
Headway is looking for buddies
hEADWAy Somerset say that their rehabilitation centres and hospital liaison team are now providing face to face services again and thanks to funding from the Lottery Community Fund they have been able to develop a new service, Making headway. As people make their recovery from an acquired brain injury (ABI) they want to support them in reconnecting in their local communities and interests. They will be expanding their volunteer pool and developing a team of volunteer befrienders, buddies, who will help their befriended person to plan that reconnection and support them in putting that plan in to action. They also need buddies who can offer befriending at a distance, providing a social contact through telephone, Zoom, letter and email as well. volunteers may be people who have enjoyed playing a role in their community during the Covid-19 lockdown, those with skills and experience they would like to use in a different way, and those looking to develop skills to support their career path. Or maybe just wanting to do something new themselves. They say students involved in health, social care, physical and emotional therapies studies would gain valuable knowledge and practical experience in a unique way. Many of those affected by ABI are themselves younger people and would welcome a buddy of their own age. There are around 3,000 brain injury cases a year in Somerset. headway is also interested in hearing from people who have a friend or relative with ABI who they would like to support but feel they lack sufficient knowledge as the training and support they offer is also available to them. All volunteers will receive initial and ongoing training, regular supervision, and be part of a supportive team. Details: www.headwaysomerset.org.uk or call 01823 618519
Golf day for Jessie May
EvEry year yeo valley Lions, who serve the area around yatton, organise a golf day and donate all the proceeds to a selected charity. This year they chose the Jessie May children’s charity. Originally planned for April this year, the event had to be postponed until September due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event took place following strict restrictions and was a resounding success thanks to organiser, vice president Derek White, with 33 teams raising £5,500. Jessie May provides home care for terminally ill children in the Bristol and North Somerset area. It was set up in September 1994 by the parents of Jessica May Purrington who died of a genetic condition, aged four.
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CHARITIES
Fighting cancer continues – despite Covid lockdown
Members of the Weston Chain Gang made their annual trip from Weston-Super-Mare to Castle Cary to support the town’s fundraiser. The charity was founded by Douglas Macmillan, who lived in Cary
ThE teas and coffees were largely missing, but that didn’t stop many Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising events from taking place. Under the new pandemic-influenced name “Cake Away”, the popular annual coffee mornings took on a new, socially-distanced look.
Organiser Suzy Furber moved her annual fundraiser from her hair salon in Faulkland to a barn at the nearby Tucker’s Grave Inn. Suzy raised £2,800 including £500 collected via Facebook by inn owner Jo Watts
Henry, aged four, and Olivia, five, tuck into cake watched by Janet Loe from the Castle Cary fundraising committee. The event raised more than £600
Crafty! (l:r) Josy, Chrissy, Rose, Emma and Kelly held a cake sale and raffle outside Norton Craft Shop in Midsomer Norton, raising £215
Quartet strengthens team in B&NES ANgELA Emms, an experienced charity fundraiser for national and local charities, has joined Quartet Community Foundation as their new philanthropy executive for B&NES. She will work alongside Claire Wynne hughes in Quartet’s Bath office in Northgate house. These two part-time team members will continue Quartet’s work connecting B&NES based philanthropists with local charitable causes. Angela went into charity work after she graduated from the University of Bath and has worked for Action for Children, The rainbow Centre for
Children and NSPCC. She said: “It’s so exciting to join Quartet as they celebrate a recordbreaking year for grant-making. Looking at how local organisations respond to and recover from the impact of the Covid-19 crisis means the need for philanthropic funds to support our small, local causes has never been more pressing. “I’m fortunate to know many local charities through the Bath Fundraisers group and I look forward to meeting many more and being the bridge to our wonderful fund holders in the B&NES area.”
Angela Emms (left) and Claire Wynne Hughes
Last year Quartet awarded 984 grants worth over £3.9m to small, local causes. Their Coronavirus response Fund has supported 40 charitable groups in B&NES and its endowment fund is now worth more than £50million.
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 45
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Cobi’s donkey marathon ANIMAL lover, Cobi Snelson from Cranmore, near Shepton Mallet, braved torrential rain to run the virtual London Marathon for The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon. Like thousands of others, Cobi was
Cobi Snelson with Precious and Cudos
preparing to take part in the London Marathon in April, but the world famous event was postponed due to Covid-19. Instead she planned her own personal 26.2 mile route in Collett Park, Shepton Mallet. Setting off at 8.20am and faced with atrocious conditions, Cobi was determined the rain wouldn’t dampen her spirits, and just over five hours later, she was cheered over the finish line by family and friends.
She started training a year ago, having not run before. Cobi, aged 47, said: “There were times when it felt so tough and really hurt. At these points I just remembered the poor donkeys in the world who suffer neglect and cruelty.” She and husband Mark are donkey guardians to Precious and Cudos, a pair of donkeys on the charity’s rehoming scheme.
deserve the very best.” In the current situation, with travel abroad being restricted, the rNLI is expecting more demand for help and
rescue over the next few years. The Chew valley committee is appealing to anyone wishing to donate to get in touch.
Details: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cobi-snelson
Supporting the RNLI
AS with many organisations during the pandemic, the Chew valley fundraising branch of the rNLI has been unable to carry out vital fundraising activities to support this life-saving charity. Through their local events, store and box collections and other donations, they raise up to £10,000 each year. So far this year they have managed to achieve only £1,850, with little prospect of adding significantly more. A spokesman said: “We are obviously disappointed, as the wellbeing and success of rNLI rests entirely on the generosity of public donations. That is the only source of revenue, which provides the state of the art lifeboats and the crews’ equipment and training. “The vast majority of crew members are ordinary people who are unpaid volunteers, prepared to venture out in all conditions to save lives at sea. They
Details: rnli.org or contact Tim Gracey tandbgracey@gmail.com
PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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Edie’s first steps – thanks to Rotary gift EDIE Browne, aged seven, of Chew Stoke has come a long way since we first reported her plight back in 2016. It was then that the rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge was approached by her family with a request for help in buying a specialised walker. Edie, their youngest daughter, was born with a rare chromosome abnormality which resulted in her having open heart surgery. She also has learning difficulties, spinal and joint problems, reflux and was nonverbal. At first she was solely tube-fed and during this time suffered four seizures. She was unable to walk for some time but learnt to crawl and eventually pull herself up to stand.
CHARITIES
By ros Anstey
Despite all of this, Edie constantly exceeded the expectations of health professionals and was the happiest, joyful, most determined little girl you could wish to meet. The family was right to feel that Edie would greatly benefit from the use of a hart walker. This is a telescopically adjustable, young person, walking device that encourages the most natural gait pattern possible. This walker was not available through the NhS and would have to be funded privately. The Chelwood club unanimously agreed to help and the walker was bought in April 2016. Edie took to the walker straight away. her ability to move when and where she chose was a real thrill for her. After that she used it on an almost daily basis. however what was never expected was that in February 2017 she stunned everyone by taking some independent unaided steps. Earlier this year, former rotary president, Spike Parker, was invited to visit her parents Sharon and Jason to see for himself the progress that Edie had made. Edie didn’t take just a few steps but was able to walk short distances and took great joy as she walked around the streets around her home in Chew Stoke. Since then progress has been good and the club has just heard from Edie’s mum, who sent some photos of Edie. She said: “The rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge very kindly helped us
Church supports good causes
ThE parishioners of Peasedown St John and Wellow churches have given away £17,500 this year to local, national and international causes. St John’s Church has adopted the biblical principle of giving away the first ten percent of its income each year in a bid to practice what it preaches. Church leader, the rev Matthew Street, said: “Both churches feel extremely blessed to be in a position to donate this money each year. “As we continue to move further into a culture of collaborative working, with grassroots organisations running services, the church can play an increasingly key role in supporting projects which in the past would have received their support from elsewhere.” Details: www.stjsgroup.church
purchase a hart walker for our disabled daughter and we are sure that is what kept our daughter, Edie going on the road of walking independence as it enabled her to get in the rhythm with the confidence of putting one step in front of the other. “Edie is doing very well and is now a confident walker but due to her severe and worsening scoliosis she is starting to get tired more quickly and becomes uncomfortable so her walking stamina has weakened a little bit but her spinal surgeon has said her learning to walk will have had a profound positive effect on slowing the progression of her curvature down. “She remains the happiest, joyful and determined little girl she has always been.” Present president of rotary, Tony Quinn, said: “Our club was so pleased to have been given the opportunity to help Edie and we all wish her well, in the certainty that she will continue to amaze us all with her progress.”
Online memorial
ST MArgArET’S hospice Care is inviting the whole county to be part of a special Light up a Life remembrance event. The service will be filmed in the Bishop’s Chapel at the Bishop’s Palace and streamed through the St Margaret’s website on Sunday, December 13th at 4pm. It is a chance to reflect on those we have loved and lost and celebrate their lives and the wonderful memories we hold dear. The charity is also using the event to raise money at a time when income generation and fundraising has been deeply affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Details: www.st-margaretshospice.org.uk/light-up-a-life
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 47
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CHARITIES
Supporting bereaved brothers and sisters
ThE Chew valley has been invaded by 76 scarecrows for the annual harvey’s Scarecrow Trail, raising funds for the trust set up by the hext family from Winford
Harvey picking flowers
after harvey died from cancer, aged nine, in 2015. The trust supports the charity A Siblings Wish. During the pandemic it has given out 16 emergency grants to bereaved families, supplied over 275 Memory Boxes and cofunded a book for bereaved siblings that is
Winford
being used widely across the country in hospitals and hospices. harvey’s mum, Sarah, said: “Fundraising has completely dried up so it is great to have been able to go ahead with the scarecrow trail!” It runs until November 1st.
Regil
Details: harveyscarecrow.com www.asiblingswish.com
Chew Stoke
Garden expert digs deep for mentoring group
NO-dig organic gardener Charles Dowding has donated the proceeds from an open day event in Alhampton, near Shepton Mallet, to the young people’s mentoring charity PrOMISEworks. Since lockdown, PrOMISEworks had been offering online mentoring to vulnerable youngsters instead of its usual one-to-one work but mentors can now share some distanced time with them. A spokesperson for the Somerset-based charity said: “Post-lockdown, we've had an unbelievable surge of new referrals
and this reflects how challenging times have been! Now more than ever, we need to nurture our young people and support their mental health and wellbeing.” It has seen an increase in the number of people wanting to become mentors, but says more are welcome: “Thank you to everyone who has stepped up, but 2021 will present even bigger challenges so we are looking for volunteers to train with us in January and March next year.”
PROMISEworks chair Robert Peto (left) receives a cheque from Charles Dowding
For details, visit: https://www.promiseworks.org.uk/
PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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Time to listen to the birds
WILDLIFE
It’s not unusual – wrens will sing on winter mornings
WE are so far now from those wonderful days of spring and early summer; sometimes you want to forget everything that’s happening and remind yourself of that wonderful time, full of birdsong and hope. Well, even at this time of the year, there’s plenty within nature to lift the gloom of the By CHRIS long nights and dark days. There is a dawn SPERRING MBE chorus at this time of the year, well sort of. Ok it’s only a few birds, but others may well join in on sunny warm mornings. Top of the list will come the robin who seems to have a slightly different song for each season; along street lit lanes and roads with good scrubland borders it’s also possible to hear robins singing in the middle of the night. Near where I live, between two and three in the morning seems to be quite popular. The tiny wren will also sing during winter dawns, often hidden deep inside the log and scrub areas of field and woodland. It’s not unusual for two or three male wrens to start up at dawn in my garden and just after their burst of song their evidence of feeding during damp foggy mornings can be found as they skillfully remove the spiders from their webs without destroying the entire web; have a look in your garden this November see if you can find spiders’ webs with holes in them, classic wren activity. On mild, sunny mornings listen out for mistle thrush warming up their song, even very subdued blackbird song as well. A lot of small birds will be making contact calls as opposed to song, an example may be a species such as longtailed tit, which can roost together in sometimes large groups, so that when these groups are moving around there’s is a constant high pitched rattling sound as they use these to reassure each other that everything is ok. A change in pitch and intensification of the rattling will be an alert that there’s a predator around. Many small birds of various species will follow these groups of long-tailed tits around
because they have amazing eyesight for finding food and also they raise the alarm, offering protection from their awareness. If you’re out and about early evening listen out for two birds active during darkness. The first one is obvious, because now is the time of the tawny owl. Its long, drawn out hooting call will be reaching its loudest now, and although both male and female tawny owl can hoot if you’re lucky enough to hear two owls hooting then listen carefully to whether one hoot is a tone higher than the other, the higher tone will be the female. Quite often, when tawny owls are breeding there’s a much easier way of telling the sexes apart, and that is that the male will hoot as normal but the female will respond with pleased high pitched screech sound like “eriee, eriuee”. But to add further confusion the male can also screech but his screech is very harsh sounding “keevic keevic”. The other bird to listen out for in the early evening, just after dark, is the flight calls of a winter visitor and small member of the thrush family called the redwing. These birds begin coming to us during October from areas in Scandinavia and Iceland etc. You’re probably more familiar with them swarming over berried bushes like hawthorn during cold snaps literally. So, listen out for their flight calls the next time you go as they fly overhead under the cover of darkness, with their high pitched “zee zee” calls.
The robin – a song for all seasons
Blackbirds’ singing is subdued at this time of year
I have resumed giving talks again but only online, so if your groups want to book me for a talk please message me through my Walks and Talks page on Facebook @ChrisSperringwildlife MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 49
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The magic of Goblin Combe
A CIRCLE that celebrates the glorious colours of autumn in the woodland around Wrington and includes the spectacular gorge of Goblin Combe. Here the ancient woodland has quite a magical and dramatic quality, whereas the route that follows from Cleeve up through King’s Wood is more open and in spring is memorable for bluebells, wild garlic and other wild flowers. There is a steady and quite long climb at the start up onto Wrington Hill. The only other hill is a short, steep ascent later on up in King’s Wood. The rest of the route is level and downhill, with only two stiles en-route. There is a welcome contrast between the woodland and the open fields towards the end of the walk. In winter, enjoy the numerous skeletal shapes of the trees. START: In Wrington village which lies between the A370 at Congresbury and the A38 at Redhill, south of Bristol Airport.
PARK: At the Plough Inn, where the new landlord has kindly given MT walkers permission to park in the car park behind the pub. Please do try and stop for refreshment or book a meal here or at other venues in the village. We need to support our local hostelries particularly at this difficult time. If your walk spans the busy Sunday lunchtime, ring the pub first to check that there will be room in the car park. If not, find an alternative place in the village. The Plough is tucked back at the beginning of the High Street near the
centre of the village. Turn left from the Plough up the High Street which is quite narrow so keep in single file. Go up between high walls and after a few minutes reach the entrance to Yeomans, Rock Barton and Applegarth on the right.
1. THE DRING Here go through a gate and up the “dring”, as it is known locally, between walls. It leads up to Roper’s Lane. Turn right and shortly, at a lodge house on the left, Ropers Lodge, go left on a Tarmac drive, passing one or two homes. Continue on when the Tarmac ends and the track leads on up. Enter a field and go straight on up the right side, through a kissing gate and arrive at an old track, Bullhouse Lane. 2. BULLHOUSE LANE This is a rocky track for some of the way, steadily climbing onto Wrington Hill with a flatter section later on and then the final steeper ascent before continuing on the level to the road – Wrington Hill.
3. WRINGTON HILL Turn right, and after a couple of minutes, turn left along a straight stony track which heads north across the hill. Continue past Wrington Hill Farm and then at the end, go straight on through a gate and along a path at the side of a house. Come to a noticeboard about Goblin Combe woodland and just past this bear down right, following it steadily down into the gorge. The path becomes sunken and leads down to a broad crossing track.
With Sue Gearing PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
4. GOBLIN COMBE Turn left and now simply follow this all through the deep and rocky combe with
magnificent trees, twisted old dead wood, boulders, mosses and ferns – a very atmospheric landscape. Pass scree slopes. Goblin Combe is a gorge cut into the limestone by melting snow and ice during the last ice age and is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) managed as a nature reserve by the Avon Wildlife Trust. The damp wooded combe is home to the rare moonwort fern which grows under the old yew trees. The woodland and scrub support a thriving population of the hazel dormouse, one of the largest in the area. Above the valley is limestone grassland with many wildflowers and butterflies and up there also is Cleeve Toot an Iron Age hillfort. Stay on this main track. Pass another information board about the geology here and mention is made of previous mining for lead, iron and calamine as well as limestone quarrying. The original name was Eagle Combe then Gobble Combe before its present day name. On the board is a very atmospheric poem by Coleridge when he was walking in a similar landscape to this in neighbouring Brockley Combe. Pass another scree slope and dramatic cliffs on the right. After reaching a board about Cleeve Wood, exit the combe alongside a fence and through a gate. Follow the lane, known as Plunder Street, passing the old school on the right which became an environment centre, but at the time of writing has been sold by North Somerset Council. 5. CLEEVE Come out onto the small road in Cleeve that runs over the hill to Wrington. Turn right and almost immediately cross and go left up the lane which is a No Through
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WALKING
residential route. Follow this to the end and then go left on the marked footpath. Then take the left choice over a stile and start a climb up a rocky area and then straight along the left side of a beautiful meadow. Reach a stile into King’s Wood, a site of special scientific interest because of its botanical diversity.
Le
6. KING’S WOOD This is a glorious area full of bluebells in spring and later carpeted white with wild garlic (ransoms). Keep straight on up – a gentle climb – and the track becomes sunken. Follow the arrow over a long wooden footbridge at the side of which is the evidence of former mining in the wood. At a crossing track, keep straight on along a narrower path. Go over another crossing track and straight ahead through a gate on a fenced path. After another gate, come to houses and buildings and a T-junction with another large track. Here, it’s left, passing alongside a house with several staddle stones. 7. WELL Just past the entrance, left, to the dog boarding kennels is a well with a wooden bar above it. Opposite this on the right is a small signed footpath. It is a steep ascent of 3-4 minutes – the last hill of the circle. Carry on at the top until you reach a wide crossing track where you turn right. Come to a triangle of mainly grass and keep straight on (ignoring the fork left). Reach a crossing track on the far side of the triangle, turn right. It soon bends. Then follow the footpath arrow to the left. After a couple of minutes, keep your eye open for a track branching off left (opposite a smaller path on the right) and going past a yew tree. Make sure you don’t miss this. Go through the crumbling remains of an old wall and turn right on the crossing track, dropping down the hill through the beautiful woods.
5.4 miles, about 3-3.5 hours walking. OS Explorer Map, 154, Bristol West & Portishead, grid ref: 469 626; postcode of the Plough, BS40 5QA.
8. BOUNDARY STONE Soon pass an old boundary stone somewhat hidden on the right which marks the boundary of Wrington and Congresbury parishes. Follow the track all the way down and pass old dog kennels on the right and other outbuildings for the Grove. As you see this fine old house on the left, just carry straight on, going down steps and then turning right on the drive. You get some fine views across Wrington Vale to the Mendips on the way down. Pass another boundary marker, No.26.
9. WEST HAY ROAD Reach West Hay road and turn left a short way. At a crossing footpath, turn right just past a house. The track goes on down past one or two houses, bends right and reaches West Hay Farm bungalow ahead. Take the footpath ahead to the left of the bungalow. This goes down between hedges and eventually reaches a gate into a field.
10. FIELDS Head diagonally across the centre to a large metal gate. This field can get rather boggy after rain. You can see it is crossed by a
series of drainage ditches. Ahead you can see both Blagdon church in the distance and Wrington church. Once through the gate, go across to a Bristol Gate and then you are on the home run towards Wrington church. Follow the left hedge, go left in the corner through a gate and then right passing a pylon. There’s another gate ahead, after which you head across to another gate on the right. Turn left along the hedge in this next field and follow it to the end, going through a gate ahead and then straight on through gates to the end. On the way, pass the fenced Ladywell in the field – a natural spring, from where at one time Wrington Spring Water was taken. At the end, go right along a path to the residential road, Ladywell. Turning left, come back to the Triangle. Here in a cottage on the right, near the entrance to the church, was the birthplace of the famous philosopher John Locke. Go straight ahead in Broad Street, passing Mother Hen, an increasingly popular cafe with outside seating. After the Golden Lion, turn left at the end and shortly reach the Plough.
The Plough Inn, Wrington, 01934 862871 • Golden Lion, Wrington, 01934 861189.
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 51
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West Countryman’s diary
IT’S the middle of October as I write this and the clocks will go back at the end of this month. Maybe that’s one of the very few things that has not been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic! No harvest festivals or bonfire parties this time, but I do hope that some of these things can be kept alive in With LES small family gatherings. DAVIES MBE I am coming to terms with the fact that everyday life has changed and whereas I may not be completely in love with the fact, it is the reality none the less. I saw a wonderful quote: “Never did I ever think that I would walk into a bank wearing a face mask and ask for money!” Just one of the many ways we are all having to change our thinking. Getting out is for me still the best way of lifting my soul. If you can grab one of those splendid autumn days and go find a little bit of sunshine, then the world often seems a better place. I did just that on Sunday and found that there were lots of other people who had the same idea. Chew Valley Lake’s picnic area was full and yet it didn’t feel crowded. Everyone was out to enjoy the day, have a picnic and generally soak up a bit of countryside air. The lake looked amazing and the trees have started to change colour. Looking across the water I could not help but think of what that valley must have been like before the lake was created. My grandfather told me a little of what it was like. He was brought up on Old Herons Green Farm. That, together with many other farms and houses, was knocked down to make room for the huge expanse of water that was needed to supply a growing demand from the urban population. We all take water for granted. Just turn on a tap and it’s there, but a huge amount of work goes into providing us with safe, clean water. Bristol Water have also done an amazing job with their conservation work. The lake is now one of the most important wildfowl habitats in the country. If you would like to find out a
But Still the Land Remains
I remember, I remember the place where I was born, ’Twas full of cows and heifers then, and sheep and pigs and corn; But the country scene is changing, and folks are changing too; And farming’s very different from the farming that I knew.
No geese are on the village green, no ponies roam the moors; No cock crows on the dunghill now, the hens are all indoors, The school’s become a second home; the pub is closing down. The village shop just can’t compete with Tesco in the town.
The dairy herd is long dispersed, the quota’s out on lease. The farmhouse sold to clear the debts and please the mortgagees, And Father drives a lorry now and mum does B&B’s In our semi, on the new estate beyond the churchyard trees.
And there’s new folks in the old place now, we don’t know what they do But he’s something in computers, and a real nice fellow too. But they come to village functions, and she’s joined the W.I.. They’ve not much clue as what to do, but it must be said they try.
OUTDOORS little more about the history of this area, try and get hold of a book called Before The Lake. It was published several years back by the Harptree History Society with an ISBN 0-9548832-0-9 identification. If there is anything good coming from our current crisis, it seems to be that we are all becoming more polite! Can it really be true that people have lifted their heads from the mobile phone screen to look around them and pass the time of day with others? Well, not everyone has progressed to that level yet, but I did notice a difference on Sunday. People were moving aside to allow others to pass and saying hello and thank you. How good is that! Maybe something is coming out of this new way of living after all. With my thoughts on change, I have found something that I must share with you all. My house is having a major clear-up operation and during the process I came across a poem. How I came by it I do not know, but it was no doubt a gift from one of the many Mendip talks I used to do. It brings to life a changing countryside and perhaps a “new normal” that many have had to adapt to. It was written by George Withers. If you are George Withers, or you know of him, please let me know! See below. This month’s photo comes from my family archive. My grandmother standing in the yard at Hales Farm. Must have been the 1940s judging by her dress. Anyway the building in the background is now a very expensive house… along with every other building on the old farm. Finally, it’s here in time for Christmas, the new Mendipity walks book by Sue Gearing and myself. Grab a “Christmas bundle” of this and our last book, Miles More Mendip through the Mendip Times offer. I cannot believe I am talking about Christmas already! The garden’s gravelled over, it’s a TV gardener’s dream With flowers in Terra-cotta pots and a “switch on” wildlife stream. The rockery’s a mockery of what was there before And the polystyrene staddle stone, well they’re the final straw. No rows of spuds and carrots now, and runner beans and peas, No cabbage, no rhubarb, no children climbing trees. There’s a 4×4 for Daddy and an Audi for his wife: There’s lots of ‘country living’ but no real country life.
But Dawn still rises in the East; the sun sinks in the West; We come, we try, we live, we die, we work, we eat, we rest; But love or hate the system, whoever holds the reins Let others learn, we’ve had our turn, but still the land remains!
You can always contact me through my website: Westcountryman.co.uk
PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
By George Withers
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Minimum effort for maximum effect
There are so many ways we can make our gardens easier to manage so we have more time to do the things we like doing so let us make a start With MARY on the basic layout of PAYNE MBE your garden. So often our gardens evolve rather than follow a prepared layout plan and this is no bad thing. Sadly, the show gardens we see at Chelsea and hampton Court are often high maintenance theatre, perfect for the show days, but often impractical as real longterm gardens. Paths must be wide enough especially if they are grass. Too narrow, and the feet and the wheelbarrow wheel go down the middle, compressing the soil which discourages the grass from growing, while the grass nearer the edges grows well. Paths should also be wide enough to take whatever size of machinery is used in the garden, be it mower or mini-tractor and trailer. Corners should also suit the machinery width and avoid right angles. Paths should have a purpose and be fit for that purpose. Narrow grass paths are often associated with vegetable gardens, but the trouble is that when they are edged the path gets narrower and the bed or border gets wider. I have seen cases where the beds either side of a narrow path are two feet wider and the path two feet narrower than they were 20 years ago! Paths intended for two people to walk down, side by side, need to be a minimum of 1.5m (five feet) not allowing for social distancing! The point at which an area of lawn meets a planted border takes a considerable amount of maintenance. The edges need to be neatened up using a half moon, usually once a year and the grass needs to be clipped with edging shears virtually every time the lawn is mown. Plants at the front of the border, especially catmint, often flop onto the grass which annoys the mower operative or worse still kills the grass beneath. The solution to this problem is to install a mowing strip (see picture). It is vital that the paving pieces are set into the lawn such that the mower can run over them without snagging. The edging catches the flopping plants, does away with the need for edging shears and defines the edge of the bed clearly adding a feature to the garden in winter. If wide enough, and PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
that depends on the scale of the area, it can also be used as an access path. Decorative borders are often positioned with a hedge as a backdrop, but it is important to leave an access path between the planting and the hedge, to make it easier to cut the hedge which is usually done around August/September when the planting is in full flow. The “path” can simply be surfaced with a woodland bark mulch on its own or laid over a landscape fabric for a “belt and braces” approach to weed control. The shape of border edges should be kept simple so that the mower can easily follow the edge without repeated stopping and reversing. Laying down a hose pipe on the grass on the proposed edge and then seeing if it can be mown easily is a useful tip. Trees dotted in grass make mowing more difficult. Grass grows up around the base of the trunk so the mower tries to get close often knocking the tree; the alternative is even worse if a strimmer is used as it is too easy to fatally damage the tree. For the health of the tree we know that young trees, particularly, should have a one metre diameter circle kept free of grass. This is based on work done by the Forestry Commission. Grass is a huge competitor and will compete with the young tree for water. The grass-free circle makes mowing easier and can be mulched to help retain moisture. It is however permissible to plant spring bulbs or autumn cyclamen around the base of your tree, but not grass! removing the lowest branches of established trees will also help the mower operative. Growing your own vegetables became extremely popular this year when folk had
Mowing strip
time on their hands during lockdown and the seed companies had a bumper year. Many will have found that this is quite a time-consuming operation albeit a very pleasurable one when times were tough but the whole process can be made easier by dividing up your vegetable plot into a bed system. In an ideal world each bed should be no more than 1.2m (4’) wide by 4m (12‘) long. It is easy to reach across the bed from either side and you will not be tempted to take a short cut across the bed if it is not too long. Once the soil has been cultivated, adding organic matter, there is no need to stand on the soil again. This reduces compaction and therefore the need to dig each year. Thus a “no-dig” approach can be adopted. Organic matter is put on the surface each autumn and the worms do the “digging” for you. each bed can be edged with treated timber, but old sleepers are not recommended due to the phenol compound contained in the tar that oozes out in hot summers. “New sleepers” are ideal and the depth enables the soil level to be raised slightly to improve drainage, particularly helpful on a clay soil. Beds are easily covered in fleece or netting to prevent insect attacks, reducing the need for chemical sprays and the area looks more attractive. Indeed, you are now the proud owner of “potager” rather than a veg. plot! Grow what you enjoy eating and make repeated small sowings to get a continuous supply. Next month I will look at various ways to help with routine maintenance in the garden including the use of mulch, staking, weed control, and coping with pests and diseases.
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OCTOBER GARDEN TIPS
• If you are not planting up your tubs and hanging baskets for winter and spring colour (why not?) take them down, empty them out and put them away for winter. • Move plants in pots together so that they protect one another in cold weather. • Protect tender Alpine plants from the cold and wet. Many are protected by several feet of snow where they grow in the wild. • If you haven't done it already, trim the dead flower heads off summer and autumn flowering heathers. • If the soil is not too wet or actually frozen it's still a good time for planting of hardy plants. • Fork over borders and work into the soil a slow release feed such as fish, blood and bonemeal. • Plant tulip bulbs (if not done already). Urgently plant any other bulbs. • Check potted bulbs that you are going to force into flower early. Make sure that they are well watered. If they have made sufficient roots and, in the case of hyacinths, the flower bud has emerged from the bulb, they can be put into a well-lit warm place to start the forcing. • The winter flowering Cyclamen coum will be in stock this month, plant with the autumn flowering Cyclamen hederifolium for an extended display of colour. • Dust gladioli and begonia corms and dahlia tubers (after drying) with yellow sulphur dust to stop rots developing and store in a frost-free place.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NURSERY MASBURY, NR. WELLS, SOMERSET BA5 3HA TEL: 01749 841014 FAX: 01749 841055 www.rockymountainnurseries.co.uk COME & SEE OUR FINE RANGE OF FRUIT TREES, SHRUBS, GERANIUMS & FUCHSIAS
Visit our MASBURY’S CAFE
Serving breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea Delicious homemade meals. Sunday Roasts, Outside catering, buffet lunches delivered, themed cuisine events. Telephone 01749 841155 for further details.
BROWSE AROUND JAMES STORE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS WWW.ROCKYMOUNTAINNURSERIES.CO.UK
ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES –
GARDENING
Our garden and pond shop is now fully open to the public Plants now in stock – vegetables, bedding, patio and water plants, shrubs and climbing plants Customers must keep to our social distancing rules
Timberwork Buildings Bespoke buildings to suit you
We specialise in the manufacture of quality standard and bespoke garden buildings to suit your individual needs including:-
WORKSHOPS/GARAGES GARDEN SHEDS SHELTERS & STABLES PLAYHOUSES Let our dedicated team assist you in your choice whatever your budget . . . Full design, installation and delivery service available – customise your shed to suit your needs
We also do: Chicken Houses Dog Kennels • Bin & Log Stores YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT US AND SEE OUR SHOW MODELS – OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
THE TIMBERYARD • SHUTE SHELVE • CROSS • NEAR AXBRIDGE Tel: 01934 732 396 • www.timberworkbuildings.co.uk e.mail: timberbuildings@aol.com
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 55
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A busy time for Aaron
The onset of winter might suggest a quiet time ahead for Aaron Coleman at Mendip rural Services – but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Lockdown over summer meant many people rediscovered the joys – or necessities – of gardening and Aaron’s workshop at haydon, near Wells, is full of garden equipment waiting to be serviced ready for next spring. Aaron is expanding the amount of space available in the workshop to showcase more new stock for 2021 – principally Mitox and AL-KO. Once again, Aaron will be selling Christmas trees along with logs and kindling and, despite all this is, is still out fencing, carrying out drainage works and maintaining paddocks.
Mendip Rural Services Ltd. Springfield, Haydon Drove, Haydon nr Wells BA5 3EH
Christmas trees for sale from December 1st Logs & kindling now available Free local deliveries
Our services include: • Lawnmower & garden machinery winter servicing • Fencing & drainage • Paddock maintenance • New stock for the 2021 season
Phone 07974 259766 • Workshop 07491 665290 www.mendipruralservices.co.uk email: mendipruralservices@outlook.com
PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
Helping bees and other insects
MeNDIP District Council is launching a Plant for Pollinators guide, encouraging people to plant spring bulbs to help hungry bees and other pollinating insects next year. It says planting now allows bulbs to develop their root systems and the soil is still warm – which means they’ll flower in the spring, rather than summer. Some top bulbs to plant now for springtime include alliums, camassia, chionodoxa, crocus, iris, snakes head fritillary and bluebells. The guide is part of the council's plan to deliver on its climate and ecological commitment and help local communities make environmentally friendly decisions. Details: Mendip Climate Action Plant for Pollinators pack
A rose for Rose
JeNNIFer rose Sell is to have a floribunda rose named after her, following huge support for a fundraising appeal which saw volunteers knitting and crocheting hundreds of roses to raise funds. Jenny died in a car crash in the summer of 2019 just a month shy of her 21st birthday. After attending Clutton Primary School and Norton hill Secondary School, she was working at Tesco in Midsomer Norton while she decided whether to go to art college. renowned rose grower Philip harkness, with David White of Planet Gardening, are cultivating the rose, which Jenny’s parents say best represents the qualities of their beautiful daughter. Janice and Colin Sell said: “In whatever way people have supported us we would like to thank each and every person for their kindness and desire to help. Our heartfelt thanks also go to all the amazing people from far and wide who made the roses – giving their time and a little part of themselves in each unique knitted or crocheted rose. “We would like to give a massive thank you to the wonderful ladies who had the idea of how to remember our Jenny in such a beautiful way. We continue to be overwhelmed with the compassion shown to us. Jenny would be amazed at it all!” The beautiful Jennifer rose Sell bloom will be launched at either rhS Chelsea Flower Show or the hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. Profits from the sales of Jenny’s rose will be going towards a nominated cause or charity.
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Apple harvest in Blagdon
BLAGDON residents were invited to help themselves to apples from eldred's Orchard, with members of Blagdon Orchard Group on hand to help identify suitable apples for storage and the use of their pickers for any too high to be reached. Suzanne Wynn from the group, said: “One thing everyone seems to have learnt from our lockdown experience and food shortages is to make better use of the food we have around us and to preserve some of the plenty for leaner times.” eldred's Orchard is a community orchard that Blagdon residents are free to pick from.
Niki Martini and Hariette, with their apples Dylan, aged eight, trying to get apples down by using an apple picker
Renee Bolton with a box full of apples
Mike Atkins handing apples to Andy Chastney
Pressing goes ahead despite Covid ThIS year’s Kilmersdon apple day was a much quieter affair due to the pandemic, but many people still brought their apples to the home of Martin and Frances horler to be crushed into juice – some of which will be turned into cider! Kilmersdon Gardeners group had a plant sale outside whilst the apple pressing took place in Martin’s workshop.
Press day! (l:r) Judith Stanford, from the Kilmersdon Gardeners group, Frances Horler, Tony Matthew and Martin Horler with Roger Smith, Suzie Bentley-Smith and Heather Bentley-Smith, who brought three bucket fulls of apples to be crushed; Roger plans to turn the juice into cider
PERFECT PAVE
Perfect Pave, based on the Valley Line industrial estate, in Cheddar, has built an enviable reputation over the last 16 years for the quality of its work installing block paving and other landscaping products. Now founders Alex Howley and Simon Bethell have set up a new service run by James Starmer supplying these products to both the trade and public, as well as continuing to expand their installation team. e company now has contracts all over the South West and offers a wide choice of projects. It’s not only friendly, professional service that sets us apart, we can’t be beaten on price and ensure our prices beat those of builders’ merchants and garden centres.
Showroom open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12noon Sat MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 57
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St Mary’s C of E Primary is tucked away in the historical, rural village of Writhlington. Our school has the most amazing grounds – including a sensory garden and a conservation area with fire pit and pond. Our early years ‘Woodland’ building has both an inside and outside classroom. ‘Pupils in Reception are well prepared for their next stage of education’ ‘Pupils develop the self-confidence and enjoyment of learning needed to help them in the future’ - Ofsted 20 19 We would love to offer you a personal tour – please contact the school to arrange an appointment. All social distancing guidelines will be adhered to
PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
Heart of the community
At St Mary's Primary School and Nursery we create a happy, lively and stimulating environment where EVERY child is able to achieve and enjoy their learning. We equip children with the skills needed for later life by developing confidence and independence and providing them with the foundations of learning on which to build their future achievements. We are a very popular school, with an excellent reputation for high standards and an exciting curriculum that gives pupils a breadth of engaging activities and experiences. We particularly value outdoor play and learning and have the Platinum award in recognition of our great provision. Our nurturing nursery provides an excellent introduction to school life. We value our close links with parents and are proud to be based at the heart of the local community. Recent reports have said: “Parents...are very positive about the care and encouragement their children receive. the school atmosphere is positive and welcoming.” “the vision for the school is one where children have high expectations that they can be successful, living in a community based upon Christian values which they experience for themselves.”
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The Lighthouse Schools Partnership continues to shine a light in learning thE past few months have been challenging times and Lighthouse Schools Partnership (LSP) staff have been working incredibly hard to offer support and education to thousands of children across Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset. the partnership is made up of 24 schools with Blagdon Primary, Bishop Sutton and Stanton Drew Primaries, East harptree and Ubley CofE Primaries, Whitchurch Primary, Winford CofE Primary and Chew Valley Secondary School making up the Chew Valley hub. the schools worked together during the lockdown with key worker provision having been centred on Bishop Sutton Primary and Chew Valley School. the schools also worked collaboratively on their remote learning offer which is now
based on Microsoft teams. the trust’s Chief Executive, Gary Lewis commented: “Working together gives us the capacity to tackle challenges that might be too great to manage for any individual school. We have really seen that during the Covid19 crisis and I feel confident that our schools have kept improving and developing their offer to children and families even in these difficult times.” Collaboration is at the heart of Lighthouse’s ethos. Although many of
EDUCATION
the schools are small, together they can plan and deliver on a much greater scale. this has been true of the schools’ new curriculum offer that they have developed together and it has also been evident in the new building and refurbishment projects at Blagdon Primary and Chew Valley School. All primary schools in the trust are welcoming applications for September 2021 and information about them can be found on their websites or by contacting the heads at the schools.
Email: enquiries@lsp.org.uk • visit our website: www.lsp.org.uk or follow us on Twitter: @lighthouse_MAT
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Preparing the ground for learning
ChEWtON Mendip C of E VA Primary School aims to create and maintain a pleasant, happy school environment in which courtesy and tolerance are important qualities, founded on Christian values. Our children will have a positive picture of themselves, the confidence to develop their talents and grow into independent, caring members of the community. Our pupils will develop lively, enquiring minds, the basic skills of literacy and numeracy and knowledge of themselves as learners. We provide opportunities for the growth of their imagination, creativity and physical skills. they will learn how to lead healthy lifestyles and ways to keep themselves safe. they will develop an understanding of the world and its people and their responsibility to it; they will respect their own and other cultures and beliefs. As the bible says “the seed fell into good ground and grew up increasing and yielding thirty, sixty and one hundred times as much,” Mark 4:8. We strive to be that “good ground” where our children can grow in knowledge, skills and wisdom, with hope, aspiration, dignity and respect. Our ambition is that they can thrive and contribute to their communities and live well together. We embrace the Church of England’s vision for education that all children will have “life in all its fullness” (John 10:10).
Memorial to Lauren
thE family of Lauren Mead joined staff at Frome College for the unveiling of a wooden bench and plaque in her memory. Lauren passed away a year ago of sudden arrhythmia death syndrome at home, peacefully, in her sleep. her family have been working tirelessly to ensure that her memory will live on by raising money for charity and donating the memorials to the schools she attended, including hayesdown First School and Selwood Academy. the family and Frome College will continue to support and fundraise for SADS UK and Nyota Ing’arayo (shining star) trust in her memory.
Growing Together
l Happy school environment founded on Christian values
l Nurture and encourage children to grow into independent and caring members of the community l Develop lively and enquiring minds through a curriculum that is innovative, meaningful, rich in opportunities and creative in its approach
l Extensive grounds and outdoor learning opportunities through Forest School and KS1 play area Please contact the school for more information Tel 01761 241465 Email chewtonmendip@educ.somerset.gov.uk PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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The Downs School – thriving on teamwork hAVING all the Downs School community safely back at school this term has been a welcome sight for all. Laughter can be heard spilling out from classrooms as the children reconnect with their friends and they have enjoyed exploring the school’s 70 acres of uninterrupted outdoor space and woodland. New headteacher, Debbie Isaachsen, says: “the success is down to the fantastic teamwork between staff, parents and pupils. Everyone is working together to ensure the school operates as close to normal as possible, whilst learning and teaching remains at the core.” Remote learning was highly praised during lockdown. All pupils had access to live lessons with their teachers and even assessments took place remotely to ensure individual academic progress. As well as a full curriculum of academic and creative lessons, pupils had group sessions with tutors, our school counsellor and in response to a pupil wellbeing survey more fun social time including Virtual Family Quiz nights. Pupils also had access to a range of
fitness challenges which evolved into a school challenge to race around the world! Online provision has continued this term and any child who needs to self-isolate has access to work and the school is ready, should a repeat lockdown happen. Pastoral care was the theme for staff at the beginning of term, our philosophy is quite simple happy children will thrive. Pupils’ physical and mental wellbeing is a regular discussion at the weekly Pastoral Care meetings; additional form times have been timetabled to focus on pupil wellbeing and surveys have already been sent to pupils and staff to see if there is more support the school can offer. Although external sporting fixtures are yet to start, staff at the Downs have continued to be creative with outdoor pursuit days, park runs and house events all on the agenda for this term to ensure everyone remains fit and healthy. Childhood is cherished at the Downs and within this happy, healthy and wholesome environment, all our young children are encouraged to have good manners, composure and humility.
EDUCATION
We applaud the qualities of friendship, excellence and respect and have a high regard for individuality and quality of character. teamwork and kindness are considered as equally important as achievement. they say “A picture is worth a thousand words” so why not come and see our school for yourself and have a tour with our exceptional staff team – we look forward to meeting you. Next open day Saturday, November 7th.
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We are not alone – balancing the risks of coronavirus
LIke the Uk, many countries are experiencing a second wave of the SARS virus, even Germany. So why is it so hard to stop? By Dr PHIL Well, for a start it HAMMOND spreads invisibly in the air and on fingers and until we have a vaccine for it, it will wax and wane like the tides for some while yet. Prof Chris Whitty, our cheerful chief medical officer, has promised us “we will be better at dealing with it by next winter.” hurrah. The other reason it’s so hard to stop the spread is that you usually can’t tell if someone is passing it on. True, some people have the classic symptoms (persistent cough, high temperature, loss of taste or smell), but most “spreaders” have no symptoms at all
Good news . . .
and don’t even know they have it. In one university, it spread to over 700 students very quickly and only 78 had any symptoms. The good news is that not only do most people have very few symptoms, they come to very little harm from the virus. People were surprised (and some disappointed), that Donald Trump got off so lightly, but most 74-year-old men survive. The problem is that a small proportion of people die and about three times as many will suffer long term serious health consequences. Can we protect them, and at what cost? The average age of a death in the Uk from Covid is 82.4 years, a little above the average life expectancy. In contrast, many people under 65 died from heart disease during lockdown because they were too frightened to get help. We may end up doing more harm than good, particularly if mass
The mighty Mendip Times reaches as far as Scotland, where a reader sends great news that Gerald Titcombe’s dream of a hydrogen powered tractor (last issue) is up and running. It even featured on the BBC Scotland farming programme, Landward (available on iplayer, episode 14, 16 minutes in). The farmer also runs his car on it, at far greater fuel efficiency and fewer toxic emissions. This particularly delighted me because I’d also received several emails saying it simply wasn’t possible. It’s amazing what humans can do if we put our minds to it. Now, save our planet.
unemployment follows. even if we had a “world class” test and trace system (and believe me, we’re not there yet), it could only reduce the spread if people did what they were told to do, and the British don’t always do that. We are not China or South korea. One study found that in May, at the peak of the deaths, less than 20% of people were isolating for the full two weeks and only 11% were doing the full quarantine. It’s easy to point the finger of blame, and some behaviour has clearly been reckless, but for those at risk of losing their jobs, you can understand why they might prioritise putting food on the table over the risk of a virus. We can’t just let the virus run free, because it would completely clog up hospitals as it has started to do in the North West again. But in the South West, we appear to be getting the balance right. Life is for living, not just avoiding infection. If you can, try to get outside, stay active, socialise safely, eat food that’s delicious and nutritious, take vitamin D, have five portions of fun a day, relax and sleep well. In our area, you might frequent local cafés, pubs and restaurants but follow the rules. Well ventilated venues are safest. If you’re peeing blood or have a new lump, ring your doctor. If you don’t have long to live, make up your own rules. Some 28,000 more deaths have happened at home this year, partly because people don’t want to be separated at the end of life. Who can blame them? At 58, I’m the average age of a Covid hospital admission, and I’m taking all sensible measures to avoid infection. however, my personal risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and mental illness is far higher and there’s no point in reducing one risk if it increases others more. Life is about balancing all sorts of personal risks and then helping out those who are less fortunate. If you can’t remember the rules, then for every decision, think: “Is it intelligent? Is it kind?” Follow intelligent kindness and you won’t go far wrong. Politicians too. We need an intelligent kindness party. It’s time for IkIP.
Dr Phil Hammond is author of “Staying Alive – How to Improve Your Health and Your Healthcare” (Quercus, £9.99).
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HEALTH & FAMILY
Covid-19 heroes get civic award
The chairman of Somerset County Council, Nigel Taylor, has presented a prestigious chairman’s shield and gifts to staff at Court house care home in Cheddar, to recognise how they cared for residents during the coronavirus lockdown. For four months they moved in to live with the residents to protect them from outside infection. Cllr Taylor, who represents Cheddar, said their action had been an inspiration for the whole country.
Chris Dando and Nigel Taylor
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
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 • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 63
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Affordable food scheme for struggling families COMMUNITY groups, churches, charities and family centres are being supported by Bath and North east Somerset Council to help families on low incomes access high quality affordable food. The projects are supplied with fresh, chilled and store cupboard food from a variety of sources including Fareshare Southwest, a charity which works to redistribute surplus in-date food from retail suppliers to individuals and families on low incomes, and CropDrop, a partnership project between Transition Bath and members of the Sustainable Food Partnership to share abundant fresh, seasonal produce grown in
local allotments to community organisations. For a nominal weekly fee, residents can a become FOOD Club or Pantry member and carry out a small shop for a fraction of the price they’d pay in a supermarket. Sally, a member of the FOOD Club at the Radstock Brightstart Children’s Centre, said: “I love the FOOD Club, there is so much choice. I’m able to cook different meals every week and all for a bargain price too. It’s amazing value for money. Thank you!” Megan Mehnert, who works with Family Action to manage the FOOD Club at the children’s centre, said: “The FOOD Clubs are making a huge difference to people’s lives at
what is a really challenging time. The quality and variety of produce we are able to offer is fantastic. We’ve recently put together recipe kits to encourage families to cook together, share skills, learn about healthy eating and nutrition and try new foods and these have gone down really well with club members.” The FOOD Club is one of three across Bath and North east Somerset funded by Family Action and located in Brightstart Children’s Centres. Family Action originally developed the FOOD Club model in Manchester and now operates FOOD clubs in many parts of the country including the South West.
For details, visit: http://banesfoodfinder.org.uk/listing/food-clubs-pantries
Charity will-writing scheme returns
The ever-popular RUh Will Month is returning in November to help the general public make or update their will at a reduced cost. You can now book your appointment for November to have your will written with local legal firms. Ten professional firms across Somerset, Bath and Wiltshire, including Mogers Drewett in Wells and Goodwills Legal Services
Ltd in Radstock, are offering their time and support towards the will writing scheme. RUh Will Month will run throughout the month of November, with the participating solicitors helping as many local people as possible to put their affairs in order and provide them with peace of mind. Costs for a standard single will have been discounted to £125 or £175 for standard mirror wills. This special fee is donated to the RUh’s fundraising charity, The Forever Friends Appeal to support patient care at the RUh. Jan Witt, legacy manager, The Forever Friends Appeal, said: “It may come as a surprise that fewer than half of the population have an up-to-date Will, despite its importance in offering you security for both you and your family. “It is easy to take part in this offer, simply call any one of the participating solicitors listed on our website and make an appointment for November, quoting ‘RUh Will Month’. At the meeting the solicitor will guide you through the process and will ensure that your will reflects your wishes.” This is the sixth consecutive year that RUh Will Month has run with substantial funds being raised every year for various projects across the hospital. This year funds raised will be put towards the charity’s Speech and Language Special Appeal, which is raising £50,000 for a portable machine to help patients who have swallowing difficulties. The need for the mobile equipment has become even more pressing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Patients who have been on a ventilator have a 30% chance of suffering from swallowing difficulties. however, participants can choose to support another campaign or special appeal if they prefer. kat king, from Mogers Drewett, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the RUh Will Month for the sixth year and after the challenges we have all faced in 2020 we feel it’s more important than ever to support local charities as our communities need them more than ever.” Details: Jan Witt 01225 825819 or email jan.witt@nhs.net
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Luxury new care home to open in Wells CRANDON Springs Care home, Barchester’s luxury new care home in Wells, will welcome residents from spring 2021 – offering a premium care experience, with personalised residential, dementia and respite care, all in stunning surroundings. The home offers a choice of lounges, spa bathrooms for that luxury bath time experience, a café to socialise and enjoy our freshly baked cakes, an in-house hair salon for a little bit of pampering, and beautiful en-suite bedrooms, each fitted with a smart TV as standard. Our life enrichment programme provides a choice of daily activities and events to support mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing, and keep the fun in everything we do. And, with a varied menu of nutritious home-cooked meals prepared by our team of talented chefs, there’s always something delicious on offer. The home will also feature dedicated facilities for those living with dementia, including an interactive, multi-sensory projector called a “Magic Table”, which offers opportunities to increase physical and social interactions, and most of all allows residents to have a bit of fun. All our staff are trained in dementia care to understand how to communicate well with residents to reduce potential distress, to provide meaningful activities, enhance nutrition, and deliver personcentred care. Barchester balance the well-being and safety of residents, with the wishes of relatives and infection control. All staff are
HEALTH & FAMILY
trained in infection control to keep our residents as safe and well as possible. And we know how important keeping in touch with loved ones is, that’s why Crandon Springs will have a specialist indoor visiting area to meet relatives, whatever the weather, and an online visitor booking system to allow for flexible family visits. If you’re considering care options for yourself or a loved one, the expert team at Crandon Springs Care home are here to support you. The marketing suite is open to visitors from November 9th, to book an appointment, please call 01749 302052 or visit www.barchester.com/CrandonSprings.
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Amidst all the gloom and uncertainty, here at Mendip Times, we thought we would celebrate some of the positive stories still happening around the area we cover.
Jean’s special day
Rotary cheque
Pictured (l to r) Linda Quinn, Heather Curtis, Jean’s daughter Pat Bushell, Jean Parfitt behind her gate, Janet Dando and Janet Smith
PensFoRd resident Jean Parfitt’s plans to hold a 90th birthday party in the village hall were ruined by Covid-19 restrictions. instead the party went to her. Her doorbell rang and there stood five members of Pensford evergreen Club, plus a photographer, on the pavement outside her house, armed with a table, a birthday cake, a bottle of bubbly, banners and balloons as well as a bouquet of flowers. They all sang Happy Birthday as she cut her cake and raised a glass to her health. Umang Patel from Pensford Post office also popped along to present Jean with some flowers and chocolates. evergreen Club member, Linda Quinn, said: “Jean does love flowers and her lounge was like a florist’s shop.”
Vine Counselling, in Congresbury has received a cheque for £400 from the Rotary Club of Yatton. Vice president, Tony Watkins, is pictured with Liz Linnitt, director of Vine. The charity has seen a surge in enquiries during the pandemic, while fundraising has dried up. it’s launched a Friends of Vine and is also looking for new trustees.
Keynsham food bank gears up for redundancies
KeYnsHam food bank is introducing a new way of supporting people who are being made redundant and have to claim Universal Credit (UC). Because new claimants for UC usually have to wait at least six weeks before they receive their first payment, the food bank is hoping to make it easier for them by marking the e-voucher they need to claim a food parcel with a note stating “redundancy”. so a newly-redundant client of Keynsham food bank will not need to request another e-voucher during this time. They will be able to visit the food bank each week for six weeks to collect food for seven days for each member of their family. The food bank will continue to offer normal support to all who are experiencing a food crisis for other reasons. People are able to access food bank vouchers through local Citizens advice Bureau, through B&nes Welfare advice scheme on 01225 477277 or more widely, in all areas, through their local GP, health visitor, church minister, social workers and many other professionals working in partnership with a food bank.
Keynsham food bank co-ordinator alan Hale said: “For some time we have been anticipating the potential for a wave of redundancies and we have built up our stock levels. our message to anyone suffering redundancy is that we are here to food support and signposting to other help and advice. “We don’t want people who are suddenly out of work to feel that they have to expend their savings before they seek support. i recall a lady who spent all her life savings on feeding her family before seeking help and support. Please don’t put yourself in that position.” The food bank covers saltford, the Chew Valley and a small section of neighbouring south Gloucestershire as well as Keynsham. anyone wishing to donate food can do so at “drop boxes” based in Waitrose, Tesco, saltford Hall, Chew magna Co-op and Pensford Post office. anyone wishing to donate financially to Keynsham food bank can do so via BaCs to 60-12-11, acc no. 26641860.
Details: https://keynsham.foodbank.org.uk/
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Fund supports local communities GRanTs worth nearly £21,000 have been awarded to 19 smaller, grassroots charities and community groups in the latest round of The somerset Fund, managed by somerset Community Foundation. Laura Blake, development director, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to award these grants at such a difficult time for so many local charities, many of whom have lost out on donations and fundraising due to the coronavirus outbreak. “We can only do this thanks to the generosity of local individuals and companies who have donated to The somerset Fund, and thanks to somerset County Council, who match every donation to the fund by 50%.” The latest groups to have benefitted include: Cheddar Community Partnership – £1,500 towards a therapeutic garden at The space, supporting young people’s mental health; Cheddar Village Hall – £1,500 towards maintenance of the community’s hall; Fibromyalgia HeaRT of somerset support
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Group – £500 for peer support sessions in Burnham-on-sea; Phoenix House and Court social Club, Frome – £873 for an outdoor space for older residents of a sheltered housing scheme; Purple elephant Productions – £1,500 towards the group’s core costs of running activities for children and young people in Frome; the Friends of the Blue association Trust – £1,500 towards tree planting and conservation work at the Blue school in Wells; david Fothergill, leader of somerset County Council, said: “These grant awards show how The somerset Fund can make a really big difference at a very local level. it also illustrates what great work parish councils, community and voluntary groups are doing to make a real difference to people’s lives. “The money is helping so many age groups, from activities for children to improving the lives of older people. i’d like to thank all involved for helping to make somerset such a great place where people and places are really valued.”
Details: www.somersetcf.org.uk/somersetfund or call Somerset Community Foundation on 01749 344949
The God squad!
CoRonaViRUs restrictions affected the ordination of 17 new clergy in the Bath and Wells diocese. instead of one large service with all their friends and family around them, they were ordained in four separate services in the Lady Chapel of Wells Cathedral. afterwards they had a socially distanced photocall on Cathedral Green. The Rt Rev Ruth Worsley, Bishop of Taunton, said: “it was really strange doing this in such a small group of people, but it was no less awesome and magnificent.” Those ordained included Julian davies, Timsbury with Priston, Camerton and dunkerton; sam Healey, The isle of Wedmore; Philip Hopper,
Pilton with Croscombe, north Wootton and dinder; sue Hoskins, Wrington with Redhill, Butcombe and Burrington; michele Kitto, Glastonbury st John and st Benedict with meare and also
More financial help on offer Wessex Water is providing more financial help for community groups in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Wessex Water Recovery Fund aims to strengthen communities following the Covid-19 outbreak, with an emphasis on local rather than national projects. it is being administered by local community foundations, including somerset and Quartet. The fund is part of the new Wessex
Water Foundation, a multi-million pound initiative which was launched in June and
chaplain of millfield Preparatory school; Thea oliver, Cheddar, draycott and Rodney stoke; shaula Reilly, saltford with Corston and newton st Loe.
provides a dedicated funding stream for charitable and community projects across the Wessex Water region. The fund opened for applications on october 5th and will close on Friday, december 4th. Justin sargent, chief executive at somerset Community Foundation, said: “small, local charities are vital to somerset’s social fabric and funding from partners like Wessex Water will help to keep our communities strong.”
Details: https://quartetcf.org.uk/grant-programmes/wessex-water-recovery-fund/
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Farmborough fairy reveals all THe secret Rainbow Fairy of Farmborough has revealed her identity, after distributing around 550 rainbows around the village in the last six months. Ruth Wiltshire said it started quite by accident when her husband, Chris, had been testing some old cement. The cement broke in half into two perfect rainbow shapes when turned out of the bucket and that gave her the idea of painting a rainbow or two! she said: “i decided to paint them, ordered some brushes and paint over the internet and so it all began. This was mid-april. i had originally only planned on making a few
Lucia, aged seven, holding a rainbow which was received by her mum, Kate Maher, who said: "Thank you Rainbow Fairy.”
Pictured (l to r) Ruth Wiltshire, Val Webster with Billie and Andrew Lloyd
rainbows for friends and family to cheer them up.” about secretly delivering around 200 rainbows, her cover was nearly blown when she left one of them on the doorstep of Val Webster, who asked her directly if she had left it. Ruth said: “i couldn’t deny it. i told her that i was going to leave rainbows anonymously on doorsteps and planned on targeting those who positively supported the nHs or homes of the elderly. Val promised she would never tell and then offered to help.” Then along came andrew Lloyd, who spotted the rainbow she was carrying. He also promised to help and keep her identity secret. so the Rainbow Fairy was making her deliveries very early in the morning, helped by Val while walking her little
Venues get Covid-19 support
some of our most important historic sites have received support from the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. Wells Cathedral is set to receive £201,300 from the fund, which will help cover the cost of keeping the cathedral open over the winter, staffing and equipment required to enable Covid-safe measures, and essential maintenance for its unique buildings. The Bishop’s Palace received £364,000 from the fund, which will be used to ensure that the site can remain open throughout the winter months for the public to visit and enjoy. Glastonbury abbey received almost £340,000. director, Janet Bell, said: “This funding is a lifeline to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of all.” among arts venues strode Theatre was awarded £246,911, Black swan arts £54,000, the Cheese and Grain £98,000 and shangrila Glastonbury Ltd, £61,059. PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
dog Billy, with andrew delivering at night while walking his two dogs. Ruth said: “my very patient husband Chris made the mix, usually enough for around 20 rainbows at a time. From mixing and allowing them to dry out to painting and then sealing takes about seven days. We had rainbows in the garage, in the kitchen and along the window sills. at one time recently i had over 60 rainbows drying off in our kitchen. “some of the messages have brought tears to our eyes, especially those from people who have said they arrived home from a particularly difficult day at work to find a rainbow on their doorstep. “it has been incredibly timeconsuming and very rewarding, but like all good things i think now is the time for our little adventure to end.”
Keeping busy
LiKe other Wis, Bishop sutton and stowey Wi have been staying positive throughout the pandemic and managing to keep meeting within the guidelines set by government. Their second bring your own picnic in a member’s garden saw Janet Thornhill being presented with a prize for growing the tallest sunflower, over 10ft high. They have also started a walking group and a monthly knit and natter group, making twiddlemuffs for dementia sufferers. Their next project is to restore neglected planters in the playing fields behind Bishop sutton village hall.
Popular café reopens
BisHoP sutton Community Library has now reopened its café too. seating inside is limited but there will be tables outside whenever the weather permits and there’s a new takeaway service for coffee, cakes and their famous saturday morning bacon butties! The café is now table service only, with new screens donated by Bishop sutton stores and Post office. The library, which serves the whole of the Chew Valley, is open Thursday and Friday afternoons and saturday mornings.
Preparing for Christmas
THe pandemic is likely to mean a lonely Christmas for many people this year. somerset Community Foundation (sCF) would like to support community groups that can help to reduce loneliness and spread Christmas cheer through food and festive activities. many people who would normally come together for a community Christmas meal won’t be able to due to the coronavirus restrictions, so sCF wants to fund groups who can help to bring festive food – and the spirit of Christmas - to people at home. The Festive Fund for somerset offers a £250 grant to groups if they can tell sCF how their work can combat the isolation and loneliness that many people can feel in the winter months. Groups will need to think about how they can safely prepare and deliver food and gifts, or think creatively about how they can bring people together virtually to create happy Christmas memories. Grants will be awarded for work that supports people of all ages who may experience loneliness or disadvantage at Christmas. To apply, you will need to complete a short application form by Friday, november 13th. sCF will let applicants know if they have been successful by the end of november at the latest, so they will have plenty of time to plan their activities. Details: www.somersetcf.org.uk/festivefund
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Mayor supports town trust
Glastonbury mayor Cllr. Jon Cousins handing the cheque to John Clare, chair of the Glastonbury People’s Trust, with (l-r) Joan Lewsey, Margaret Morris, and David Burton
(Photo courtesy of Susan Thurgood)
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THe Glastonbury People’s Trust has received a donation of £400 from Glastonbury Town Council, handed to the trustees by the mayor of Glastonbury, Cllr. Jon Cousins. The trust, this year’s official mayor’s charity, makes grants to local people to help them with essential purchases which they would otherwise find very hard to afford. The trust was set up originally in 1873 to administer the Glastonbury almshouse buildings, which housed 22 poor people, 11 men and 11 women, over the age of 60 and continued doing this until 1962 by which time the almshouses had been allowed to deteriorate and were sold as unfit for habitation. The proceeds were invested in the fund, which is now known as the Glastonbury People’s Trust, from which regular payments have continued to be made every year to assist people of Glastonbury of all ages. Cllr. Cousins said: “Coronavirus and the lockdown have impacted on so many local people’s lives that my fellow councillors and i agreed it was much more appropriate to allocate some of the funds that would normally have been used for mayoral events to Glastonbury People’s Trust – a long-standing charity that provides much needed support for residents in need.” Details: https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/charity/theglastonbury-peoples-trust
North Somerset Show on hold
a daTe has been set for next year’s north somerset show, but organisers are holding back on the organisation of the show until december or January. secretary, Tim Ledbury, has written to exhibitors: “We are of course hopeful that we will be able to run the event next year and welcome you all to north somerset showground. However, with the situation as it currently is we will not be sending out booking forms until nearer the time. “Please put the north somerset show in your diary on the Bank Holiday monday, may 3rd, 2021 as normal. i hope to be able to send you a more positive message, together with the booking forms, towards the end of the year. “in the meantime stay well and safe.”
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 69
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MENDIP TIMES
NEWS
Lollipop lady’s silver service
VILLAGE school crossing patrol lady Ann Stringer has been honoured for 25 years of continuous service to families in Oakhill. Ann took on the role full-time after noticing how busy the road was outside Oakhill Church School and Nursery when taking her own children to school and back again; she had stepped in as a relief patrol for two years prior to that. Since then, Ann has taken on other roles in the school, helping with the breakfast and afterschool clubs. Ann, aged 60, has no plans yet to retire. She said: “I love the kids and I love the school. Before the zebra crossing was installed, it
Ann on patrol in Oakhill
Smiley faces! Head teacher Phillip Morris with Ann and her certificate of appreciation from Somerset County Council’s road safety trainer co-ordinator
Helping to prevent flooding
LOCAL environmental group Reimagining the Levels have funding, expertise and materials available for small plantings of trees and hedges that will aid water management. They are working in partnership with Somerset Rivers Authority, Farmers and Wildlife Advisory Group South West and the Woodland Trust. In recent years, Somerset has experienced sudden and prolonged flooding from extreme weather events and Somerset Rivers Authority is keen to support local flood management schemes. Slowing the flow of water by allowing it to percolate through the soil into the
was quite dangerous to cross here.” Headteacher Phillip Morris said: “It is impressive that anyone can spend 25 years in the same role and I have to pay tribute to Ann’s diligence. Ann is now seeing parents, who were pupils themselves at the school, bringing their own children here in safety thanks to her.”
aquifers rather than overwhelming streams and rivers is the focus of the scheme. It is a way of working with nature to alleviate flood risk, using trees to infiltrate the soil and intercept heavy rainfall. Landowners and parish councils with small areas of land that would not ordinarily attract funding can apply. Local knowledge of water pathways and areas that frequently flood would be helpful
but is not essential; rather it would be useful to think about areas which are adjacent to watercourses or which will intercept surface water run-off and slow the flow in Somerset’s rivers. Retaining water in the mid and upper catchments will help reduce flooding in the Levels. Reimagining the Levels will offer expert advice on appropriate planting for the landscape, supply trees, supports and protections along with a payment for every tree planted. This programme is available for the planting season of 2020-2021.
Details: Kate 07872 664543 or email katetowers.rtl@gmail.com PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
Mendipidity ad.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2020 12:47 Page 1
Have a Merry Mendipity Christmas! Just in time for Christmas, here is an exciting new book of 12 walks on Mendip, called Mendipity, written by Sue Gearing and Les Davies, both well known to Mendip Times readers, and authors of several walks books together. This year, walking has become an even more popular and this book should be just the thing to give you a range of new destinations and interesting information about the routes – a serendipity of Mendip, in fact. It will make an ideal Christmas present, with circular walks ranging from 3.25 miles to 8 miles all over the Mendip area from Bleadon in the east to Faulkland and Nunney in the west. Also, there’s lots of interesting information about what you see and pass en-route. And there is an EXTRA SURPRISE – the launch in the book of a brand new trail, the Yeo Valley Way, set up this autumn by Yeo Valley Organic on the northern edge of Hazel Manor Estate overlooking the Chew Valley with great views. The walks in the book include a castle, hill fort, crumbling mansion, lake, folly, lavender fields, a gorge, forest, nature reserves, former industrial remains, limestone grassland, high open land and splendid views. They are based on circles that have been in Sue’s Mendip Times column over the last few years, now updated and amended. It is available NOW by mail order through Mendip Times (see form below). Mendipity will also be on sale in local bookshops and outlets. Mendipity is in the same mould as the last walks book by Les and Sue, Miles More Mendip, with full colour pages, ring bound, OS maps, clear instructions and lots of interesting information about nature, geology and history. All of this for only £9.99. Available now through Mendip Times by mail order (just add postage and packing). (See form on right). Also available in local bookshops and outlets.
BUMPER CHRISTMAS BUNDLE For Mendip Times, Sue and Les are also making up a Bumper Walks Bundle comprising Mendipity and their previous Mendip book, Miles More Mendip (published 2016). Normal price would be £19.98, but for Mendip Times readers it will be just £15 (plus p&p).
READERS’ OFFER
MENDIPITY only £9.99 (plus p&p)
A new book of 12 circular walks on Mendip by Sue Gearing and Les Davies Please send me: 1 book @ £9.99 (p&p £1.50).................................£11.49 2 books (p&p £1.95)..............................................£21.93 3 books (p&p £3.40)..............................................£33.37 4 books (p&p £3.40)..............................................£43.36 Total
£...........
SPECIAL OFFER: Bumper Pack of MENDIPITY and MILES MORE MENDIP only £15 (plus p&p) 1 pack @ £15 (plus p&p, £1.95).........................£16.95 2 packs @ £15 (plus p&p, £3.40).........................£33.40 Send cheque payable to Sue Gearing, to 33 Garstons Close, Wrington, Bristol BS40 5QT Or pay by BACS. Details: Nat West, Mrs Susan I Gearing, Book Account: Sort code 60 23 32, Account 81294956. Please mark it for Walks Books. Walking P50 – Outdoors P52
Any queries to Sue Gearing: gearings@btinternet.com
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MENDIP TIMES
A guide to Mendip caving AN essential part of caving is knowing where to go and what to expect when you get there. How do you find the cave, who do you ask for permission With PHILIP to explore and what, if HENDY any, tackle will you need? When caving became popular in the 1920s, most cavers joined a club, whose members could supply the necessary answers. But after the war, with the proliferation of clubs and the increasing number of new caves being found, a guide book became necessary. Of course, caves had been described since the earliest tourists and antiquarians wrote about their adventures, but after stripping away the lavish descriptions, little remained of value to cave explorers. Often the sequence of features in a cave became muddled, or the description was too vague to be useful. As early as 1874, the famous palaeontologist William Boyd Dawkins published Cave Hunting, which draws on archaeological and fossil discoveries in caves across Europe. Six Mendip caves are described, but only in terms of their archaeological content. Herbert Balch (1869 – 1958) began caving in Hyaena Den at the age of 15 or 16. By 1907 he was an accomplished caver and archaeologist and collaborated with northern caver and climber Ernest A. Baker to write The Netherworld of Mendip, which includes caves in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and elsewhere. Some 22 sites are described, but although there are plenty of photographs there are no surveys. The text is an account of the adventures of caving, but with little detail to help future explorers. Balch also wrote five books on Mendip caves, of which Wookey Hole – its Caves and Cave Dwellers deals mainly with archaeology. Later came The Caves of Mendip and three Mendip books: The Great Cave of Wookey Hole, Cheddar, its Gorge and Caves and Swallet Caves and Rock Shelters. The caves are described in some detail, with photographs and surveys, crude by the standard of today, but nevertheless helpful; they could not however in any way be called guide books.
The first cavers’ guide book was published in 1953 by Norman Thornber, A.H. and R.D. Stride and J.O. Myers. The pocket-sized Britain Underground listed and gave brief descriptions of caves in the major areas of mainland Britain. The Stride brothers were alumni of Sidcot School, and with the speleological society were the discoverers and explorer of Longwood Swallet. Their contribution to the book covered Mendip, Wales and Devon, and they listed 69 Mendip caves, plus sites as far north as Bristol. Caves were given an area location, usually an approximate grid reference, length and/or depth (in feet) and a brief description, with details of tackle required, if any. The descriptions were terse – for example, the longest cave, Swildon’s Hole, was dealt with in 100 words. Four years later Nick Barrington, a caver and photographer, published the first guide book dedicated solely to Mendip caves, The Caves of Mendip. It was paperback-sized, but hard-bound, and cost 6/- (30p). It listed nearly twice the number of caves in Britain Underground, which reflects not only Barrington’s dedication in locating caves, but also the fact that new caves were being discovered. Cave descriptions still tended to be brief, but six figure grid references were given, and there were useful maps for locating the caves in the most densely crowded areas, such as Burrington. Caves were listed north of Mendip but not as far as Bristol, though three were described on Steep Holm, which is a westerly offshoot of Mendip. Access procedure was also given. There was a revised edition and two further editions up to 1964, all keeping to the same format but including recent discoveries. Then in 1970 Dr W.I. (Willie) Stanton co-authored with Barrington The Complete Caves of Mendip. The descriptions were more detailed and included information on discovery, archaeology and history, with photographs references and sponsorship advertisements. Due to further discoveries, a second edition came out in 1972. A third edition, The Complete Caves of Mendip and a View of the Hills was published in 1976. It was an update and included essays on Mendip geology, hydrology and archaeology
CAVING
written by Stanton. In 1977 Dave Irwin and Tony Knibbs decided to produce a book which would be of use to a caver who just wanted to be able to explore a cave, but without all of the background information. Mendip Underground included references for further reading, but the main emphasis was on cave exploration. There were photographs and advertisements, but an innovation was the inclusion of solid black line surveys, which gave an impression of the cave’s layout. It was updated in 1987 and 1993, then in 1999 a fourth edition was brought out by Irwin and veteran cave explorer and digger Tony Jarratt. The main change was to give all measurements in metric units. Mendip Underground became the caver’s bible for 26 years, during which time many discoveries had been made, new caves and new passages alike. In 2013 the Mendip Cave Registry and Archive published the fifth edition of Mendip Underground, popularly known as MU. The wealth of detail meant that the pocket-size paperback format had to be abandoned and the hard back book became the “must-have” guide for serious cavers. The quality art paper allowed the prolific use of stunning colour photographs and the surveys were much more detailed. Over the years, several books have been published which serve as descriptions and guides to specific caves and areas, such as Swildon’s Hole, Wookey Hole, and the caves in Fairy Cave Quarry. MU5 has now sold out and an updated sixth edition is currently in production, progress inevitably being delayed by Covid-19. It is eagerly awaited by Mendip cavers and others and will be well worth the wait.
Phil has been caving for more than 50 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in producing several caving publications and until his retirement was a caving instructor at Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves
PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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MOTORING
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Clive and Mary Rides from Congresbury whose AC Drophead Coupe won first prize and topped the 2020 winners' list
The Classic and historic Motor Club's annual Cotswold Classic Run went ahead with a Peaky Blinders theme, following the cancellation of the Mendip run because of the pandemic. It raised £500 for Children’s hospice South West. Local owners were among the winners.
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Property section.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2020 12:50 Page 74
MENDIP TIMES
Why now is the right time to sell your house SEEN the headlines about young professionals leaving London in a hurry, desperate to move to country towns and houses? Well, they’re true. According to leading property industry research company TwentyCI, the number of sales agreed in the last three months are up 47% in rural areas, while Rightmove reports that interest in the South West has soared – for instance, the number of searches for Bruton homes is up 128%. James West, 30, and his young family are a case in point. He explains they moved to Somerset from North London recently because, “we wanted a better quality of life; more space around us, more space, fresh air and locallyproduced food”. Plus he now works mostly from home which has allowed him to move further west. James, his wife and young child made the move using independent estate agency Lodestone Property, which has seen an impressive 150% increase in
Leading the way: the Lodestone team
sales agreed, year-on-year – more than double the 70% average in the UK reported by Estate Agent Today! Priding themselves on a professional approach incorporating good oldfashioned customer service with modern marketing techniques, Lodestone Property is one of the leading local
PROPERTY
agencies, with offices in Bruton, Wells and Shaftesbury. They’re dedicated to putting customer communication – with vendors and buyers – at the top of their to-do list. So, the time to sell is now and the company to contact is Lodestone. Call them to find out why they are different.
Wells t: 01749 605088 e: wells@lodestoneproperty.co.uk Bruton t: 01749 605099 e: bruton@lodestoneproperty.co.uk
PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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MENDIP TIMES
PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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Homes section.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2020 12:53 Page 77
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We understand how important it is to homeowners and businesses alike, to actually see the quality of products up close. So, why not drop into the Seal-Lite showroom? Come in and see the products for yourself!
All Showroom Visits by Appointment Only MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 77
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MENDIP TIMES
Spectacularly spooky – wanderland in Frome Frome Town Hall’s display during the last window wanderland in March
FROME residents won’t miss out on spooky festivities this year as the town council are working with organisers of the Frome Window Wanderland to create a Covid-safe alternative to trick or treating over the halloween weekend. they are keen to bring a smile to locals faces by encouraging as many people as possible to make a colourful halloween, Day of the Dead, Divali, fireworks, or autumnthemed display in their window, house or front garden. Mayor of Frome, Councillor anita Collier, said: “We want to make sure people still feel connected during these unusual times by bringing people together in a way that still maintains social distancing. “although families won’t be able to trick or treat it’s more inclusive than ever because anyone can take part no matter your age or mobility. I look forward to seeing how inventive, creative and maybe spooky, Frome can be.” the special event will be taking place from saturday, October 31st to sunday, november 1st from 5.30-8.30pm.
Wolf window
For details and to add a display to the map visit: www.windowwanderland.com/event/frome-2020-oct/
PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
Lions’ Christmas tree
Last December more than 40 people sponsored a light in memory of a loved one on the Cheddar Lions’ tree of Light. this project has raised more than £5,000 over the last five years for local groups and projects. the club is planning to organise the tree again this year and are inviting people to sponsor a light in memory of their loved ones. It is going to be particularly relevant this year as it recalls those who have been affected by the pandemic. the tree will be lit on thursday, December 10th, 5.30pm at the Bath arms on their front patio in the middle of the village. Due to current restrictions, the Lions intend to hold a short service of dedication, which will be video recorded and available to view on Youtube. Commemorative cards will be sent out or delivered to the sponsors. the names will be displayed beneath the tree and placed on stars hung on a suitable decoration somewhere in the village. l the Lions have presented two guides from axbridge with Gold awards for community service. sisters Imogen and tabatha Fuller gave 107 hours of service to their brownie meetings and events over a year. Because of social distancing, the presentations were made in shipham Village Hall car park. the Lions are inviting any other youth organisations or schools to take part in their youth leadership project. Details: www.cheddarvalelions.org.uk or email information@cheddarvalelions.org.uk
Call goes out for more drivers
ManY community transport schemes throughout the Mendip area need more volunteer drivers this winter to replace those they have lost this year because they are aged over 70 or need to shield themselves. Frome Community Drivers provide transport for people who have difficulty accessing local bus services or are unable to drive. they offer transport for people to access medical appointments and for shopping trips. there are currently 300 passengers on their books but only 14 regular drivers. Chew Valley Community transport (CVCt), covering an area with very poor bus services, are only able to offer transport to medical appointments. CVCt lost all but two of their regular drivers at the start of lockdown. Both schemes ask only for a small payment to cover fuel costs, ensure their volunteer drivers have valid driving licences, MOt and insurance and follow government advice regarding Covid-19 precautions. CVCt also carry out DRB checks. Details: Frome hello@fromecommunitydrivers.org.uk or call Morag 07596 591391 • Chew Valley 01275 333430
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Helping dementia awareness
RaDstOCk & Midsomer norton Lions Club have made a £100 grant to support dementia awareness services in Peasedown st John. Lions’ president Colin Marsh and club members Margaret Burdon and sarah Oughton are pictured with Gavin Heathcote and Cllr karen Walker, who are directors of the Peasedown Community trust, which runs the Dementia Friendly Peasedown initiative. Colin Marsh, said: “Dementia affects us all at some point in our lives, whether directly or indirectly. “there are currently 800,000 people across the Uk living with the condition and that number is set to rise to two million by 2050. “If you are over 80, there is a one in six chance you’ll be diagnosed with dementia and a 33% chance if you’re over 90.” Over the last two years, more than 100 residents have attended a Dementia Friendly Peasedown workshop. Gavin Heathcote, said: “We’ve been running events and workshops on a shoestring budget since we started. We’ve had some local businesses supporting our printing costs and other admin expenses, but we’ve really struggled without a budget of our own.” as well as workshops, the group was also instrumental in designing and creating Peasedown’s dementia-friendly sensory garden, which opened last autumn. Details: www.facebook.com/dementiafriendlypeasedown or email: peasedowncommunitytrust@gmail.com
Don’t mention the “C” word
MEMBERs of the Inner Wheel Club of Wrington Vale are turning their minds to the festive season – and trying to avoid the word “Christmas”. With its regular meetings being held on Zoom, the club has decided to have a big push for the Cheddar Foodbank, rather than collecting gifts in shoe boxes to be sent to Romania. Instead they will be collecting foodstuff and toiletries from the foodbank’s list of needed items. they will be including some treats such as puddings, mince pies and selection boxes. Club members will also repeat their practice of not sending Christmas cards to each other but collect donations in lieu for a local charity. they will also be selling tickets in aid of their international venture for a special festive hamper. the club’s latest response to the pandemic has been its “fiveto-tea” venture to offer everyone the opportunity to socialise.
COMMUNITY
School is a riot of colour
All wrapped up!
PaREnts and grandparents of pupils at stoke st. Michael primary school have “yarn bombed” the entrance and grounds of the school as a surprise for the youngsters.
Planting bulbs for spring
tHE Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge have begun their bulb planting season with a donation of crocus corms and also ground preparation for stanton Drew Primary school and have 1000 corms being planted soon in Paulton by local schoolchildren. they are all coloured purple as part of the Purple for Polio campaign run by Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland. Children at stanton Drew planted the bulbs the next day.
MENDIP MENDIP TIMES TIMES • NOVEMBER • AUGUST 2020 • PAGE 79
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MENDIP TIMES
Pageant postponed
tHE ten-yearly axbridge Pageant, which should have been held this summer, has now been postponed until 2022. Back in March, organisers announced it was being put back to next year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. artistic director, John Bailey, said: “It will come as no surprise then that we have taken the sad but inevitable and sensible decision to postpone the pageant from 2021 as, quite simply, it cannot and will not happen in a forbidding climate which is set to with us for the foreseeable future. “However, we are determined that this unique event, destined to be written in the history books, will not be beaten out of sight. We know that the community of axbridge value it highly and that a huge amount of hard work, goodwill and love has already gone into it. “therefore, we formally announce that we are not in the business of defeat. We aim, instead, to re-route the axbridge Pageant to august Bank Holiday 2022 when we sincerely hope that we will once again have the time to prepare carefully and safely, the freedom to perform collectively as a town and to be able to see the square full to the brim with expectant crowds for what is a joyous and memorable event. “We need to continue to live the dream. We all hope that it is a realistic dream.”
Mendip Rotary’s prize draw
tHE Rotary Club of Mendip reaches its 75th birthday this month and to celebrate it organised a 75 Club Draw, selling 75 tickets at £75 each. the main draw will take place in June next year, with three main prizes to be won by lucky ticket holders, but in the meantime there are monthly prizes of £75, the first of which was drawn by Lori toms (pictured), the landlady of the strawberry special in Draycott. Half the proceeds will be paid out in prizes, the remainder used to support Rotary projects. Club president, Ceri Davies, said: “We are very grateful to all who have purchased tickets and to the strawberry special which opened specially to host our first draw. this has helped us at a time when much of our other fundraising has been put on hold due to coronavirus restrictions. “We are currently holding our meetings online and are looking forward to resuming them face-to-face at the strawberry special as soon as it is safe to do so. “Wherever there is a humanitarian need in the world you will find Rotary members at work and the club is proud to have been able to send £500 towards relief efforts following the massive PAGE 80 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
Outstanding service recognised
REtIRED construction company boss Roger Winsley has been honoured with a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club of Midsomer norton and Radstock for services to his community. Roger’s first experience of service clubs Roger receives his honour from former club was with the president Patricia Naish local Round table which he joined in 1972 followed by the 41 Club. He was elected a member of the Rotary Club of Midsomer norton and Radstock in 1992. Roger, of Chilcompton, has chaired and served on all the club’s committees and was president in 2006/7 when the club celebrated its 50th anniversary. He said: “It was a great surprise and honour to be presented with the Paul Harris Fellowship award by the club.” Roger’s wife, Jane, was honoured with a similar award in 2019 for her 35 years of work raising funds for Dorothy House Hospice Care. For more information on the Rotary Club of Midsomer Norton & Radstock, visit: www.rotarynr.org.uk
explosion in Beirut. “We also sponsor a number of local projects, the latest of which is a Young Citizen award for under-21s living in the Cheddar Valley area. application details can be found on our club web page. We are also working with a local youth project which supports local children with educational and behavioural needs.”
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COMMUNITY
Rev up for drive-in service
WORsHIPPERs gathered in a field in Binegar for a church harvest service with a difference – they were all seated in their cars. the drive-in celebration attracted dozens of churchgoers who formed a semi-circle of vehicles – including a tractor and telehoist – around a hay bale altar for the 40-minute service featuring a live band. Members of the three churches which comprise Beacon trinity parish – all saints in Oakhill, Holy trinity in Binegar and st James in ashwick – joined forces with Oakhill Methodist Church to stage the event. Lockdown had brought an abrupt end to the Beacon trinity tradition of rotating services around the three churches – some services are on Zoom – and priest-incharge the Rev. Richard Priestley came up with the novel drivein idea of uniting the community. Richard shared duties with Bethany shimmin, from the Methodist church. the service – streamed live on Facebook – also featured an unusual offertory: goods donated by worshippers for a local foodbank were carried to the service in the bucket of a tractor!
Bethany and Richard led the service jointly
Richard welcomes worshippers to the drive-in
Cars gathered in a field owned by Holy Trinity Church in Binegar
Churchwarden Patsy Scadding singing a hymn Closer my god to thee…
Community priest the Rev. Mandy Priestley
The offertory arrives MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 81
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A living tribute to Somerset miners
tHE pandemic may have led to the official opening celebrations being postponed, but a restored copse in Camerton is proving popular with visitors. the 800 square metre spinney was planted next to Camerton Community Hall in the early 1980s, but had become overgrown and neglected. the hall committee decided to reclaim the valuable wildlife habitat and make it a facility for all the community to enjoy. Work first began in the summer of 2017 and the woodland area was expanded with new planting. Wheelchair-friendly paths were laid and seating installed. Living willow tunnels designed to depict entry and exit from mines were also planted. a competition was held to name the new feature with the winning title being Colliers Copse. as 2020 was going to see two anniversaries – 70 years since Camerton new Pit closed and 40 years since the hall was opened – a week of events had been planned in august. Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis, president of the somerset Miners Welfare association, was due to open the copse, but the celebrations have been postponed to august next year. Members of the welfare committee have visited the copse. a spokesperson for the hall said: “they wanted it to be noted that
Wheelchair-friendly paths have been laid
Walking festival returns
FROME Walkers are Welcome have announced the return of their annual walking festival on the weekend of saturday, november 14th and sunday, november 15th – with Covid restrictions in place. there will be a number of walks on offer, including selfguided walks and activities for families, plus guided walks in small groups. to make the walking festival as safe and enjoyable as possible this year, all participants will have to book in advance and numbers will be limited by current guidelines. Frome town councillor Rich ackroyd said: "Last year's festival was incredibly popular, even with all the rain! now in its third year, even though circumstances are a little different due to the Covid guidelines we have to adhere to, we are pleased we are able to plan some walks that we hope walkers of every level can enjoy.”
The living willow tunnel depicts the entrance to a mine
they were very impressed with Colliers Copse and delighted that it was also a living memorial to all those who had lived locally and worked in the Camerton coal mines.”
The information board
Leading the way: this year’s festival will be Covid-compliant
Full details will be available on the Discover Frome website: https://www.discoverfrome.co.uk/town-walks/
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From little acorns . . .
MORE than 70 households in Evercreech took part in a village-wide yard sale trail to help raise money for the local preschool. the two-day trail was the idea of Pauline Bellini, who runs acorns Preschool where a fundraising campaign is underway to build an outdoor shelter. Pauline said: “I wanted to clear out my own loft and it just snowballed from there.” People paid a “car boot” style fee to be included on a trail map, with some choosing to raise money for charity at the same time. the event raised around £700 for the preschool alone.
COMMUNITY
Jamie and Erin with pumpkins grown by a relative
Lilly, aged six, was helping mum Annie on a stall selling hero costumes
Trail organiser Pauline Bellini with Kevin Salt and his purchases from her home
Scary monster – Richard, from the Pickled Inn, was selling off old carnival cart props along with other items he has collected over the years. The inn has been closed since lockdown began
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Fresh air and exercise
a COMMUnItY running track that also incorporates exercise equipment in a true circuit has opened at Westhill Gardens recreation ground in Westfield. the £96,000 scheme was commissioned by Westfield Parish Council and was funded completely by grants – including from Westfield and Radstock Big Local – and payments by developers to a Bath and north East somerset Council fund. the idea for the facility grew out of the public’s response to the parish council’s neighbourhood plan and was co-ordinated by the council’s Green and Open spaces working group. It is already popular with the local Westfield tt running group and the circuit has been designed so that it does not interfere with the football pitches, home to Westfield FC as well as regular kickabouts. Geoff Fuller, council chairman, said: “Fresh air and exercise has never been more important than it is now and we wanted a facility that could be used by people aged from nought to 100. “It’s some positive news for Westfield.”
Paul and Stuart, from equipment manufacturers Wicksteed, fitting an inclusive hand bike
The path has been designed to be accessible to all
Going for a spin on the safe all-weather surface
Neither the track or the equipment will affect football on the ground, whether Westfield FC or a Sunday lunchtime kickabout
A total of 12 fitness stations have been located around the ground
WELLs Civic society says it will hold its 2020 annual general meeting on Zoom on Wednesday, november 11th rather than face-to-face. Chris Winter, society chair, said: “We have missed meeting with our members and had looked forward to the evening talks which had been planned, as well as our traditional ‘summer social’, but we have all had to get used to the change in our practices and we have certainly not been idle as a society.
“We continue to support several projects, including Wells in Bloom, the neighbourhood plan and Wells in Mosaic, as well as the museum for its post-lockdown re-opening and portrait exhibition. “Planning matters have always been something we rigorously follow and respond to, and we are also making plans for a number of plaques to add to those which already mark and commemorate the history and architecture of the city.”
Civic society’s annual meeting will be “virtual”
Nominations for members to join the committee will also be welcome. For details, visit www.wellscivicsociety.org.uk or contact Chris at chris.f.winter@btinternet.com or 01749 673610.
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New library hub open for business
New challenge for knitter
aFtER knitting more than 400 teddy bears for children overseas, sally Blanning, of Midsomer norton and Radstock Inner Wheel Club, has now turned her attention to creating rabbits. the soft toys are added to the IW association nationwide project to provide school in a Bag items for thousands of overseas children in need of educational help and sally, of Hallatrow, is among many members dedicating their knitting skills to the scheme. With the club’s usual activities on hold due to the pandemic, members are continuing to maintain their camaraderie by organising socially distanced pods in various venues whilst president Heather Langridge has been organising lunch groups of five at the Old Down Inn, the club’s meeting place in normal times.
New HQ opened
COMMUNITY
Pictured (l to r) Carol Hall, Zoe Escott, Anne Lyons, Gwen Sales and Val Morgan
PaULtOn has a spanking new refurbished library and hub, where people can pick up a book to read or stop for a cup of coffee or a meal with friends. Parish council clerk, Carol Hall, said: “It has taken a very long time from inception, but Paulton Parish Council are at last delighted to announce that Paulton library/hub is now open for business. “the whole building has been redesigned to enable better use of the space, a new commercial kitchen has been fitted and appliances have been replaced. When you visit you will see a newer, brighter, freshly decorated premises throughout with new furniture for both the library and the café.” thanks to their volunteers, the library is open Monday– Friday, currently with restricted hours. the café has undergone extensive renovations enabling further seating for customers and is open six days a week. the chair of Paulton Parish Council, anne Lyons, said: “It was the Hub Working Party which was responsible for all the planning and takeover of the library and hub from B&nEs. the working party had been working together for several years formulating all the new designs for the kitchen and library and the leases for the building and the tenant of the Hub.” the party’s members were Jeff Humphries, Liz Hardman, Patricia Mcsherry, anne Lyons, Hugh Warren and Linda Quinn. More volunteers are still needed. Details: 01761 413644 or email clerk@paultonparishcouncil.org.uk
tHE pandemic meant a low key handover of Banwell’s new scouting and guiding building. the picture shows representatives of the kathleen Jones Family Charity, Wally Rice, Laura Wainwright and Roy Rice, who provided the finance, and sonja Hammond, group scout leader and Brian Redden, chair of the executive committee of 1st Banwell scouts. they hope to hold a grand opening at a later date when restrictions are eased.
Community award
tHE Rotary Club of Mendip is planning to make an award to a young citizen living in the Cheddar Valley, who is an inspiration to others. they say it will be someone under 21, who deserves to have their contribution recognised by the community and who goes the extra mile to make a difference to the lives of others. nominations close on December 31st and can be made by visiting the club’s website or Facebook page. the results will be announced in January, with the winner receiving a cash prize of £100 plus £100 to donate to the charity of their choice.
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 85
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Classes move outside
CLEVEDON based youth charity, the Jack Hazeldine Foundation, has launched an outdoor learning programme, Project Growth, to help continue its work despite the constraints of coronavirus. The outdoor classroom has been funded by The North Somerset Community Partnership via Quartet Community Foundation, as well as the National Lottery Community Fund. It will enable children to continue valuable one-to-one support with their regular mentors and tutors in a safe and positive environment and to take part in community-built themed activities. Many of the young people they work with are isolated, disconnected and at risk of anti-social behaviour. Others have special educational needs or disabilities or are coming to terms with adverse childhood experiences or trauma. It says coronavirus has presented service users with an incredible challenge this year and the demand for bespoke mentoring, tutoring, and therapeutic support packages has increased dramatically. Programme manager, Nicki Winstone said: “We believe strongly that every young person has the power to grow and change. Project Growth provides an excellent resource for these children, allowing them flexibility and equality when accessing learning.” The charity has formed a “DIY SOS Appeal”, requesting community support with the set-up of the classroom and donations of gardening tools, plants, building materials or funds.
Funding boost for Wells in Mosaic
NEWS
ARTIST Ruth Ames White has received a large donation from Wells Civic Society to help with her ambitious Wells in Mosaic project to create a pictorial history of the city. The project will be funded by public donations and sponsorship as it was conceived as a something that everyone in Wells could feel a part of. However, the group supporting the project has been unable to hold any fundraising events since lockdown and are unable to make plans for the foreseeable future. The civic society donation will enable Ruth to buy more of the tiles she needs to continue building this unique piece of public art, as well as the specialist boxes to store the completed sections. Ruth said: “I have already completed a large section of the mosaic, including several of the gothic window historical references, such as Wells Cathedral scissor arch and Wells Market. Soon I will be working on areas of the walkable map itself. I am so very grateful to Wells Civic Society for this generous injection of funds.” Chris Winter, chair of the civic society, said: “We are very proud to be able to support this project as it will benefit the City in many ways: it will be an attraction in its own right but also inform and educate residents and visitors alike about the history of Wells. It also demonstrates the value of contemporary art amongst all our amazing medieval history.” For details, visit: www.wellsinmosaic.org.uk or the Facebook page www.facebook.com/wellsinmosaic
City’s new mayor
Philip with his wife Caroline, who will be mayoress
Details: info@thejhf.org visit https://www.facebook.com/JHFcharity or call 01275 873962/0738452645
Award for legion member
Simon Davies – commended for his work at HMS Flying Fox
SHEPTON Mallet Royal British Legion Branch member Simon Davies has been recognised with an honour for his work as a Royal Naval Reservist at HMS Flying Fox in Bristol. Leading Seaman Davies has been awarded a Commanding Officer’s Commendation for conducting his duties in “showcasing the unit and RNR to members of the public.” Branch chairman, Andy Ransom, said: “This is a huge accolade and one that is richly deserved.”
INDEPENDENT councillor Philip Welch has been formally installed as the 647th Mayor of Wells. Philip was one of the founders of the Wells Independents, a group of local residents dedicated to keeping party politics out of the city council, becoming a councillor in 2018. He is wellknown in the city as the former editor of the Mid-Somerset Series of Newspapers. Since retiring in 2013 he has devoted his life to voluntary work. He will serve as mayor for 18 months and has selected the Wells branch of Macmillan Cancer Support as his mayor’s charity.
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 87
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From present to past WRITER John Payne, from Frome, has turned to his family history for his latest book, A West Country Homecoming. Like John’s own family, the book is rooted in North Somerset, Bath and West Wiltshire and is part memoir, part family history and part social history. It includes a section on his connection to Chewton
Seward Payne and parents, Vine Cottage, 1910
John Payne, who lives in Frome
Mendip when, in the 1850s, his greatgrandfather Charles Payne gave up being a farm labourer to go to Bath to seek his fortune, but it didn’t work out. Charles ended his life at Bath Workhouse. Both he and his wife Ann are buried in unmarked graves at the Workhouse Burial Ground on Wells Road, Odd Down, Bath. John is now part of a campaign to honour the workhouse dead with a proper memorial.
Other Paynes stayed and prospered in Chewton. Seward Payne lived his whole life in the village at Vine Cottage in the hamlet of Ford. He died in 1993 at the age of 93 and is buried in Litton churchyard. Maurice Payne built up the famous Chewton Mendip garage opposite the Waldegrave Arms on the main road. John’s stories are illustrated with more than 100 photographs from family albums and other sources.
John Payne, A West Country Homecoming, Hobnob Press. ISBN 978-1-906978-93-8 Price: £14.95.
A window on our past
RURAL media charity Windrose now has a new website – windroseruralmedia.org – where you can view old film, listen to audio and order DVDs. Windrose, which is known for its film archive of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire life, along with educational, archival and creative work in rural communities, has presented 256 archive film shows in village halls, cinemas,
A muddy Bath and West
PAGE 88 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
theatres and arts centres across Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. As reported in the Mendip Times, recent grant funding has enabled Windrose, which was set up in 1984 under its earlier name of Trilith, to forge ahead with new community-based work. All of its projects had Axbridge Pageant been cancelled or postponed because of the Covid- sledge fishermen of the Severn Estuary, 19 pandemic. family holidays at Butlins in the 1960s and the peat diggers of Avalon. Via its website you can buy Old films are a unique window on our DVDs and CDs and access the past but they are being lost and interactive map of the Close destroyed all the time. If you know of Encounters Media Trail, which films that should be saved and seen gives you a fascinating insight again, please contact Trevor Bailey into the lives of people in years Windrose at Corner Cottage, Brickyard gone by, as well as more Lane, Bourton, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 contemporary commentaries. Films include the great snowy 5PJ, telephone 01747 840750 and email tbailey352@btinternet.com winter of 1962/63, the mud Details: windroseruralmedia.org
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HISTORY
Memories website goes live
MEMBERS and friends of the community history group Home in Frome – including writer John Payne (see facing page) – have launched a new website, based on their sell-out book Working Memories. The book itself was first published eight years ago. A reprinted version, with a new introduction, has been brought out to coincide with the website going live. Home in Frome secretary Gill Harry, who has co-ordinated the work alongside a small project group of editor, John Payne, film and video maker, Alan Campbell, and computer expert, James Gardner, said: “It has taken a bit longer than expected, but we are delighted with the result. We certainly would not have managed it without a starter grant from Frome Society for Local Study, encouragement and resources from Frome Museum, and The cover of the reprinted book great support from
Gill Harry (front) with key Home in Frome members (l:r) Helen Ottaway, John Payne, Alan Campbell and Sue Bucklow
our loyal wider membership.” Home in Frome chair, Sue Bucklow, added: “The experiences of the long-term residents of the town and more recent arrivals are often very different, but we hope that Working Memories has helped to create a bridge between them. The book and website explain Frome to incomers in a very personal way, through the voices of its inhabitants, while older Frome people can take real pride in the town they helped to build.”
The website can be found at: www.workingmemoriesfrome.co.uk The book (priced £10) is available at Hunting Raven bookshop
Roman settlement found in Somerton
EVIDENCE of an extensive Roman rural settlement believed to date back as far as the 1st century AD has been uncovered on the site of a new homes development in Somerton. The findings, discovered on land north of Bancombe Road, were excavated and studied by experts at Cotswold Archaeology. Among the artefacts uncovered were an iron blacksmith’s hammer, iron cleaver, large quantities of pottery, tweezers, brooches, coins and Kimmeridge shale bracelet fragments. Chris Ellis, senior project officer from Cotswold Archaeology, said: “The Somerton area is known to be archaeologically rich and investigations over the last 50 years have revealed a wealth of evidence for settlement and burials dating from the prehistoric and Roman periods. “The findings from the site at Bancombe Road indicate that an extensive Roman rural settlement occupied the land here between the 1st and 4th century AD. “We identified a number of features including a stone building, which we believe may have been used as a blacksmith’s workshop owing to the artefacts found here. It may latterly have been used as a lambing shed as we found signs of a construction of small, separate internal bays, as well as a droveway which would have been used for moving livestock from one place to another. “In a second area, we identified a ring-ditch – a circular trench – which probably served as a drainage gully for a roundhouse, which would have been a typical form of housing at the time, which we date somewhere between middle to late
Iron Age, around 400BC to AD43. The ring-ditch is very similar to eight others excavated at the local authority school site 100 metres to the north of here by Wessex Archaeology. “The artefacts unearthed here will eventually go to the Castle Museum in Taunton.” Sara Parker, sales director at Bloor Homes South West, who are developing the site, said: “It’s always fascinating to discover evidence of how land has been used in the past and how people lived. “We knew Somerton was a town with a rich history, but it’s always special to unearth finds like this as we embark on construction. “The site is nestled in the heart of the Somerset countryside and enjoys picturesque views across the rolling hillside, so it’s easy to see why this part of the country was popular with our prehistoric and Roman ancestors.”
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RIDING
A lifetime of horse adventures
LIZ Duckett came bounding in, slim, energetic, buzzing with enthusiasm, arms laden with homemade biscuits, photo albums, books – Exmoor On Horseback, battered Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps – her treasures, mine too! In Chapel Allerton, they say: “That Liz With RACHEL Duckett, she’s still riding at her age and THOMPSON leading that pony in hand too.” Liz has MBE just returned from yet another holiday exploring Exmoor on five-hour day rides with her friend Ann and the horses – which is the reason I’m there to interview her. At 83 she’s been there and done it, from riding abroad – France, Spain, Portugal to ranching in Montana – to exploring England and Wales, her old Bedford lorry red hot grinding up the hills from the Cotswolds to the New Forest, Wiltshire and the Dorset hills. Exmoor is her favourite place though: “Just like home,” she beams. What does she love about Exmoor? “Oh, the atmosphere, the variety of landscape and miles of track to explore, the high moor at Dunkery Beacon in September covered in heather, the woodland trails, primroses and bluebells in May, the ponies appearing in unexpected places.” One bridleway has 25 gates; she’s undaunted by that too, learning to open gates is as good for a horse as dressage. The people are so friendly too, she and her friends stay in variety of places, a favourite is a working sheep farm near Dunkery Gate – amazing food for breakfast and dinner. A damp cottage with a tiny bath surrounded by pigs was a disappointment, though they still had a laugh. Has it changed much in 30 years of Exmoor adventures, I ask? “More traffic, inevitably, but everyone rides, people expect to see horses on the roads.” We chat about a lifetime of horse-riding adventures, scrambling up on the farm shire horses she grew up with, then later borrowed ponies, riding for other people whilst raising her family. Now that she cares for her elderly
Just popping to the post office in Wedmore!
PAGE 90 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
Liz and Valley are a regular sight around Chapel Allerton and beyond
husband, her horses, Irish bred-for-eventing bay mare Valley and companion rescue Welsh section B pony Clara, are a lifeline, helping her to cope. Valley, 25-years-old, has “an amazing fifth gear,” she confides, laughing. Worst moments? “Accompanying a long-distance rider across Dartmoor, eight miles up the Puffing Billy China Clay railway finding themselves lost with only bog in front,” she shudders. Happily, a Duke of Edinburgh guide spotted their predicament and, knowing the way down, led them to safety. On another epic journey across Salisbury Plain she had to sleep on the floor; Valley was badly injured in the overnight field, a kick from another horse just missing a main artery resulting in a huge wound that later burst open. The best adventure was planning and riding a 180-mile, seven-day sponsored trek from Ivybridge in Devon back to Axbridge raising £3,600 for the charities Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood Trust and for Riding for the Disabled. She and her friend Mary rode all the way home from the Quantocks on the roads; Liz remembers trekking through Bridgwater accompanied by the smell from the cellophane factory. They were welcomed home wonderfully to the square in Axbridge by a brass band and a performance by the local majorettes. Yearning for adventures with your horse? Chat to Liz Duckett, she is inspirational and you will have a laugh too.
Arriving back in Axbridge from her charity ride
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The smiles at fun ride say it all
ALMOST 130 horse riders took part in a fun ride organised by the Mendip Bridleways and Byways Association in countryside near Bruton. With a choice of either a nine-mile or three-mile route, the event – known as the Greenscombe Ride – was also an important fundraiser for the MBBA which, despite the pandemic, has continued to work to upgrade and improve bridleways in the area with the help of a large grant from Somerset County Council. Riders gathered at Higher Redlands Farm, near Evercreech, from across the West Country. Ginnie Jones, from the MBBA, said: “It was an outstanding success! We had 125 riders, all grinning, which is quite an achievement. “I have been bombarded with lovely emails saying how much they enjoyed the ride and commenting on firstly, how friendly and helpful all the stewards were and also how well run the whole day was. “I don’t think we can ask for more than that especially with all the extra Covid guidelines and regulations we had to adhere to.”
Social distancing on horseback
Passing through an orchard to reach open fields
Nicola Taylor, from Radstock, riding Gin
The nine-mile route began with the chance of a gentle canter
Riders came from across the West Country
Claire Church, on Pedro, and daughter Ruby Watts, aged ten, riding Smokey Joe. They came from Radstock
MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2020 • PAGE 91
SPORT
Riding side by side safely
IT’S a common gripe of motorists – you’re driving along the road when you come across a bunch of cyclists taking up the road. For some the reaction can CYCLING be disproportionate to with EDMUND LODITE the inconvenience of waiting a short time to safely pass by. And after all, no cyclist really likes the pressure of a car waiting to overtake on their tail. Yet, it can be quicker and safer to overtake a group riding two abreast than it is to pass a long line of single file riders. For example, six riders riding side-byside may take up 7.5 metres of road space but the same six riders in single file will take up 15m. That would make it more difficult and less safe for a driver to overtake. According to the Highway Code cyclists are encouraged to cycle no more than two abreast, meaning that side-by-side riding is perfectly legal. The current rule reads: “You should…never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends.” The rule is advisory meaning that cycling more than two abreast, though not recommended, is not illegal. But there are a number of issues with this current wording. Most notably that corners of country lanes and narrow roads are some of the most dangerous places for a driver to overtake a cyclist. Moving to single file at exactly this point may encourage drivers to do just that. The Highway Code is long overdue for a complete review. It's usually reviewed
every six or seven years but, whilst there have been some amendments in recent years, nine years have passed since the last full revision. In that time confusion has grown around vague wording and lack of clarity in the relationship between cyclists and motorists on the road. As part of the Department for Transport review of the Highway Code there has been a lot of input from road safety campaign groups and cycling organisations. At this point, it’s important to reflect on why riding two abreast is such an important issue. It can be a real boost for rider safety, especially if you’re riding with a less experienced cyclist or riding on the outside of a child to keep traffic from passing too close. The proposed new wording from the consultation is ...“(cyclists’ should) be considerate of the needs of other road users when riding with another and in small or large groups. You can ride two abreast and it is often safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders. Switch to single file if you consider it safer to allow drivers
CHURCHILL Sports Centre will remain closed for the rest of the year after North Somerset Council agreed to end its contract with current operators GLL earlier than planned. The centre has been closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The council had been working with GLL to try to find a way to re-open the centre with restrictions still in place, but this has not proved possible and would not be commercially viable. The council says the small venue with its narrow corridors makes it hard to put the necessary social distancing measures
in place to ensure the safety of both staff and customers. Operating on a site shared with Churchill Academy and Sixth Form Centre means there are additional complexities of ensuring the safety of students at this time. GLL, a charitable social enterprise, has run the centre on behalf of the council for the past five years. The contract was due to end in March next year. The council says the centre will remain closed while it explores working with the community and local partners to find the best way to operate it in the future. Councillor Caritas Charles, the
to overtake”. Instead of commanding when to ride single file, this wording makes it clear that you can ride two abreast, and immediately highlights reasons where this can be safer. It then suggests riding in single file only where you – the cyclist – consider it safe to allow drivers to overtake. In a car you have the driver’s seat and the passenger seat, that makes a car suitable for two people to travel next to each other. Cyclists riding next to each other are doing the same thing, maybe chatting just like you would do in a car. Olympian and former cycling world champion Chris Boardman sums it up well when he said: “Riding two abreast can help discourage dangerous overtaking. It ensures a driver overtakes only when there is sufficient space for them to fully pass into the opposite carriageway. Cyclists will thin out into single file when it’s safe for cars to pass if it is the most appropriate action”. The consultation process was due to end in October – let’s hope that the new proposals when implemented help make cycling feel safer and also improve the relationship with other road users.
Question mark over future of sports centre
council's executive member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: “Operational issues and the effects of the pandemic have unfortunately left us with no other viable option at this time. The council will be in active discussions in the months ahead with the wider community in discussing possible solutions and how we can work together to provide a positive outcome for the community. Working with partners on future opportunities for this facility supports the council's continued commitment to supporting leisure provision across the district.”
MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 91
(Photography courtesy of Chris Challis)
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MENDIP TIMES
Speedway captain takes British title
Andy’s Bristol gig
SOMeRSeT Rebels speedway team skipper Rory Schlein has been crowned the 2020 British Champion at a behind closed doors meeting in Manchester. The Australian topped the score chart after the programmed 20 heats, with 12 points, a total made up of two race wins and three second places, to reach the final where he faced former Rebel Richard Lawson and fellow Australian Jason Crump. Schlein, who also captains elite team Wolverhampton Wolves, had originally planned to make 2020 his final season in the UK but due to the cancellation of the domestic season he has shelved those plans and is all set to be back in Somerset's colours in 2021 where he will start the season as the reigning British Champion; the first non-British rider since Ivan Mauger won his fourth British title in 1972.
Mendip Marathon
THe Butcombe Trail Ultra Marathon, postponed until next April because of coronavirus, is offering runners the chance to take part in a “virtual” event. They can run either of the 50-mile routes before November 1st and send proof to team@butcombetrailultra.com Results will be published on the BTU website and updated periodically on their Facebook page. Runners are being asked to make a donation to the Mendip Hills Fund.
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AT the age of 69, Andy Littler, from Pensford, decided his rowing days were over. For the previous six years he had taken part in the World Gig Championships in the Isles of Scilly with the Bristol Pilot Gig Club. But he was persuaded to come out of “retirement” to be part of the crew for the maiden “voyage” of the club’s new training gig named after the Bristol band Massive Attack. The photograph taken at the launch by cox, Tim Moran, shows (from the top) Rob Pelley (club chairman), Steve Murphy, Jon Bush, Tim Borthwick, Bart Wordsworth and Andy Littler.
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Celebrating life the Mendips ands surrounding area NO VEM BE R
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2020
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PAGE 92 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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SPORT
Tennis championships beat the virus SOMeR Valley Tennis (formerly Writhlington Tennis Club) held its 11th club championships on the indoor courts at Writhlington Tennis Centre, with 13 cups up for grabs, after a month of qualifying rounds in September. With spectators not allowed due to Covid 19-rules, the club showed the finals and presentations on Facebook. The juniors on the coaching programme at the centre took part in their own events with defending champion Ashley Ward winning the U14 Mixed Family Hunt Cup and the U16 boys’ doubles going to Ashley plus his partner Matthew Harris. The ladies had two doubles competitions. The winners of the Biznus Ladies were Mandy Baldwin and Francesca Beg against eleanor Nobbs and Alex Hull with the Watts Family Cup won by Mandy Baldwin partnering Marie Craig against Francesa Beg and Alison John. The two men's events were equally tough. Jon Doel and Nathan Jackson retained their title beating Patrick Lodge and youngster Samuel Perryman. In the second match Luis Jauregui and Tom Craig beat Sam Harris and Ollie McGee. In the singles matches defending
champion Nathan Jackson beat Sam Perryman, with a reverse of last year’s ladies final seeing Rachel Gibbs winning against Kelly Lycett. In the mixed veterans, Sarah Dawe and Lucy Burningham won 10-8 against defending champion Tony Honeker and his new lady partner Louise Derrick. In the mixed event Sam Perryman and eleanor Nobbs outplayed Alex Hull and Nathan Jackson. James Brocksopp was named Volunteer of the Year and Pauline Medhurst Club person of the Year.
James Brocksopp receiving cup from Theo Stonier
Ladies’ singles
Men’s doubles
Mixed doubles
Mixed over 40s doubles
Ladies’ doubles (enter as a pair)
Details: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SomerValleyTennis or find us on social media MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 93
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MENDIP TIMES
Riders enjoy the thrills Photos by Mark Adler
DOZeNS of motorbike and quad bike riders enjoyed a weekend of speed and mud at a two-day practice session on the edge of Asham Wood at Leighton, near Frome. Around 180 riders took part each day in a series of laps around the 1.2km circuit, whether as solo, sidecar or on quads. No outside spectators were allowed on the course due to strict Covid-19 regulations. The weekend – the first event since lockdown – was hosted by the Frome Motorcycle Club with support from the sport’s governing body, the Auto Cycle Union. Natalie Froud, one of the organisers, said: “We were pleased with the turnout of riders this weekend and were very lucky with the weather. “A thank you has to go out to everyone for following the Covid rules that were in place because of these difficult times. Finally, a thank you to Aggregate Industries for enabling us to put on this event.” There were many positive comments about the weekend on Facebook including one from James Rich, who said: “Mint day today guys. First time at Leighton and what a track. Big ups to the marshalls and the organisers. See you all next time.”
Out on a limb Quads and sidecars at the start of one of their practice laps
Over the first jump
Reaching the summit of the last hill climb before home
Flying high
It may have been a practice weekend, but there was no holding back
Only people connected with the riders were allowed to watch
For details about the Frome club, find them on Facebook PAGE 94 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
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Running the West Mendip Way THe Mendip Hills Hash House Harriers held their 12th annual charity race from Uphill beach to Wells Cathedral Green. The 29-mile race can be entered either as a team of up to five runners, or some entrants run the entire distance along the West Mendip Way footpath. The organisers, co-ordinated by Mike Brown from the Mendip Hash, took great Social distancing at Uphill beach
SPORT
care to ensure that the event was as Covid-19 safe as possible for the 92 runners. The organisers received a lot of positive feedback from the entrants who were happy that the event had taken place. The overall winners were from Clevedon Athletic Club, the ladies’ relay
was won by a team from Bath, Mendip Hash won the mixed relay and a group from Wells City Harriers won the prize for the whole route category. Mendip Hash said they would like to thank all the people who helped make the event a success and have raised about £900 pounds for the Prostate Cancer charity.
The whole route ladies team
Kelly Moger crossing the finish line to seal victory for the Mendip Hash in the Mixed Relay Team
The team from Wells City Harriers won the whole route prize
Clevedon were winners
Robyn Lampon of Clevedon AC MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 95
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MENDIP TIMES
MUSIC & THEATRE
No singing for Mendip Male Voice Choir in 2020
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newsletter, part of which encourages members to rehearse and watch out for points he has raised before. Some members have made a voice recording which Jamie has put together to give members an idea of how we sound as a choir. It is also good to hear how the individual member sounds when he plays it back before sending it to Jamie. A few have used Zoom to keep in touch as well as reverting to the “usual telephone” call, or a round of golf! So, we stay in touch with each other as, besides the singing, we all miss the camaraderie of rehearsing together each
Violinist’s farewell concerts
WELLS Cathedral is delighted to be welcoming Tasmin Little, an internationally renowned violinist, who will be joined by members of the Fantasia Orchestra and their conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh for two Remembrance Concerts on Saturday, November 7th at 2pm and 7.30pm. The remembrance-inspired programme will include “Lark Ascending” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and a surprise piece performed by Tasmin Little. The Fantasia Orchestra will also play Bach Orchestral Suite No.2 in B minor, Ravel Pavane pour une Infante Défante, and Schubert Symphony No.5. In January 2019 Tasmin made the announcement that, after a long and exciting career, she has decided to pursue new directions in 2021. This therefore marks one of her final performances and the last in Wells Cathedral. Meanwhile, the annual Vicars Choral Commemoration Concert will take place in the cathedral on Thursday, November 12th at 8pm. This year’s performance, the Trials and Tribulations of the Vicars Choral, tells their own history, from their formation in 1348 by the then Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury, who also built Vicars Close for them to curb their misdeeds when mingling with the townsfolk, to the present day, via plague and reformation, hedonism and harlotry, and many-a-misdemeanour in between! In an evening of music and readings that journeys from the pre-medieval to the post-modern, the Vicars Choral reveal the rib-tickling tales of their past and the sensational choral repertoire that has emerged throughout their 676year existence. l Tickets are available at: wellscathedral.org.uk/events
PAGE 96 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020
week. Another choral piece is I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing, so why don’t you have a look at our website www.mendipmen.co.uk and keep watching for when the choir returns to rehearsals and hopefully to concerts in 2021. Come and join us – no testing, just a sing of Happy Birthday to establish where in the choir you would fit – no subs for the first term, and a host of men to make you welcome. Martin B Dymond 01761 412654 Tamsin Little
Seating will be socially distanced and allocated by the cathedral accordingly. Those attending must wear a face covering unless exempt.
(Photograph courtesy of Melanie Winnning)
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ONE of Mendip Male Voice Choir’s pieces is What Would I Do Without My Music, reflecting what members have been thinking over the past months since lockdown started. Let All Men Sing is another piece and so the men have been, albeit singly at home, practising with their backing tracks produced for each section by the musical director, Jamie Knights. Wherever you are is being sung by each, wherever he is! As you will no doubt realise, Mendip Male Voice Choir has had to cancel all its rehearsals on Monday evenings in St. Mary’s School, Timsbury as well as all its summer concerts and the annual tour, which this year would have been to Wales. The only consolation is that all non-professional choirs are in the same position. The decision has now been made, in the light of the recent government restrictions, to cancel all our winter concerts and we don’t know when we will be able to meet to rehearse again. In the meantime the musical director produces a weekly
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MENDIP TIMES
WHAT’S ON
Christmas at the Bishop’s Palace BRIGHTEN up your winter and find some festive cheer with a visit to Christmas at the Palace in Wells! Despite the difficulties that 2020 has brought, The Bishop’s Palace is planning to bring some sociallydistanced joy to the Christmas season with their annual festive celebrations throughout December. Taking place from December 5th– 22nd, the rooms of the medieval palace building will each be festooned with decorations on a variety of themes, from medieval through to Victorian. The entrance hall will be warmed by a roaring fire, and seasonal greenery and foliage from the palace gardens will be used to create stunning adornments to complement the historic interiors. Outside the palace, the gardens will also be dressing up for Christmas, with a winter woodland theme and outdoor lighting and decorations in the formal gardens. The free area opposite the croquet lawn will be taken over by the new Winter Woodland Outdoor Christmas
Café. For younger visitors, a ticket can be bought to visit their socially distanced Father and Mother Christmas! The palace is also welcoming a Christmas pantomime with a twist to their programme of events. Called Build Your Own: Improvised Panto it will be performed by seasoned improvisation troupe Pinch Punch. The shows take place at 7pm on
November 26th, 27th and 28th and at 2pm on the 28th and 29th and tickets are £15 (£13 palace members) and available to purchase on the palace website. Meanwhile a new exhibition celebrates the palace’s 800th anniversary. On Sunday, October 11th a special evensong service was held in Wells Cathedral.
Art centre’s appeal to artists
THE Black Swan Arts centre in Frome is calling on artists to support its efforts to survive the pandemic by donating works for a fundraising appeal. The centre – a registered charity – currently receives no regular funding and relies heavily on volunteers and supporters. It’s planning to hold a fundraising exhibition from Friday, November 20th to the end of January called Small and Affordable. Works should be no larger than 30cm x 30cm x 30cm and have a recommended selling price of £300 or less.
The deadline for online submissions is midnight on Saturday, November 8th. For details, visit: www.blackswanarts.org.uk
NOVEMBER CROSSWORD SOLUTION
ACROSS: 1. Rapids 4. Scarab 8. Gel 10. Flyover 11. Langley 12. Sword 13. Pinto Bean 14. Old School Ties 17. Law of averages 22. Restraint 23. Elect 24. Dialect 25. Outside 26. Haw 27. Yields 28. War Cry. DOWN: 1. Refuse 2. Payroll 3. David 5. Consortia 6. Relieve 7. Bryant 8. Grape hyacinth 9. Llandoger Trow 14. Oil 15. Stourhead 16. S.O.S 18. Assuage 19. Elegiac 20. Priddy 21. Steely 23. Extra MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2020 • PAGE 98
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