What’s On

Swing to make bells ring

Rector, the Rev. Ana Lawrence, with members of the bell appeal committee who ran a stall at the church’s Christmas fair

ORGANISERS of a fundraising campaign to restore the bells of St Andrew’s Church in Compton Dundon are holding their first major event in January – a music night with what has been described as the UK’s Number

One jive and swing band.

The Jive Aces will be performing in the village’s Meadway Hall on Saturday, January 7th as part of the £150,000 appeal.

The church’s five bells – two of which were cast in Compton Dundon in the 17th Century – need urgent repairs. Organisers of the appeal also want to add a further bell to create a full ringing set and to carry out other work inside St Andrew’s.

Tickets cost £35 and are available from 07949 241818, 07770 677977, via Eventbrite or email: comptondundonbellappeal@outlook.com

Secrets of wartime in Wells revealed

Geoff with the new book and some of his illustrations which he hopes to auction

A NEW book is to be launched in January based on secret defence documents from the WW2 found tucked away in the Wells and Mendip Museum.

Code Name Cromwell tells how the local Home Guard would have defended the city if there had been a successful invasion of Great Britain in 1940.

Wartime historian and writer Geoff Dickson, worked on the book with friend and Somerset Light Infantry expert Jeff Allen as well as Clare Blackmore, from the museum. Clare turned to Geoff for help after discovering the papers and a rare Wells War Map, which clearly shows how the Home Guard would defend the city and which houses would have been turned into fortified positions.

Geoff said: “We have the actual defence plans and how and where they would have been carried out once two code names had been issued: ‘Cromwell’ – invasion imminent, prepare planned defence positions – then ‘Oliver’ – the Germans have invaded, man your allocated positions!

“We list all the men and have many photos of the different Home Guard platoons and commanders.

“To make the book even more interesting we have gone for a couple of “now and then” scenarios showing the different areas in Wells resisting the German Blitzkrieg through the use of my illustrations based on the locations and weapons that would have been used at the time.”

The book will be launched on Saturday, January 28th at the museum.

HAMPER COMPETITION WINNER

CONGRATULATIONS to Lucy Gunningham, of Brislington, who is the winner of our Spot the Rabbit competition; she wins a hamper of cheese and wine courtesy of our competition partner Ford Farm Cheese, makers of Wookey Hole Cave Aged Cheddar.

The rabbits could be found in photos on pages 16, 46, 50 and 81, along with one on the advert for Ford Farm Cheese itself.

THE MENDIP TIMES WHAT’S ON GUIDEFOR JANUARY 2023

Covid is still causing problems so please check before travelling that events will take place. We’re happy to list entries for non-profit community groups and charity fundraisers free of charge, but please send them as a succinct single paragraph, in the format below, to annie@mendiptimes.co.uk Entries that take time to re-write may have to be charged for at the commercial rate, £25.

Black Swan Arts Young Open Competition: entries open now until Feb 3rd. All forms of art & craft welcome, for exhibition in March & April. See: www.blackswanarts.org.uk

Tuesday December 27th

Binegar’s Bonkers Barrow Race. Meet Horse & Jockey, BA3 4UH, 3pm start, fund-raising for Somer Valley Food Bank.

Sunday January 1st

Priston: duck race, mummers play & music to celebrate New Years’ Day. Details: colinemmett@gmail.com or 01275 332735.

Tuesday January 3rd

Yatton Local History Society “Here we go again” a brief history of pantomime by Ann Featherstone 7.30pm by Zoom & phone. Details: yattonlocalhistorysoc@gmail.com

Wednesday January 4th

Bereavement Support Keynsham drop-in first Wed every month, 5.30pm-7pm, Baptist Church Hall, High St. A safe place to meet others who are bereaved. Free, with refreshments. Details: 07776 493221 or bereavementkeynsham@gmail.com

Thursday January 5th

Chew Valley Library reopens, Bishop Sutton BS39 5UU. Coffee & cake 10.30-12 & 2pm-4.30. Car park behind building. Cheddar Valley u3a, talk by Rachel Boothroyd 'A Brief History of Gemstones', 2pm village hall. Congresbury Gardening Club: How to encourage hedgehogs in your garden, talk by Laura Batt, 7.30pm Methodist Hall. Visitors welcome www.congresburygardeningclub.com

Saturday January 7th

Frome Society for Local Study 'Frome Tunnels' talk by Gary Kearley, 2.30pm Assembly Rooms BA11 1EB. Non-members welcome, £5. Details www.fsls.org.uk

Chelwood Bridge Rotary charity race night

Stanton Drew. Ticket £10, incl ploughman’s, from 07983 720405. Cash bar.

Monday January 9th

Nailsea & District Local History Society talk: “The Bristol Terriers” 7.45pm Nailsea School. Details: www.ndlhs.org.uk Folk Song Session 9pm–late Queen Victoria, Priddy BA5 3BA. Sing, play a tune or just sit and listen. Free admission, all welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com Mendip Folk Dance Club, 8pm-10, St James Church Centre Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience needed, Details 01934 742853.

Tuesday January 10th

Arts Society Mendip ‘Art & architecture: estranged bedfellows’ 11am Croscombe village hall & Zoom. Guests welcome £6. Details: www.theartssocietymendip.org.uk

Wednesday January 11th

Mendip Storytelling Circle, 7-30pm Ston Easton village hall, BA3 4DA. £5. Details: 01275 332735 or mendipstory@gmail.com Kilmersdon Gardeners talk by Chris Sperring on British Owls, 7.30pm, village hall, BA3 5TD. Visitors welcome £3. Details: www.kilmersdongardeners.org Weston-s-Mare Family History Group: Tales of Old Weston, with Brian Austin, 2.30pm-5pm, Lady of Lourdes Church Hall, Baytree Rd BS22 8HQ. Backwell & Nailsea Support Group for Carers, 2pm-3.30 WI Hall. Talk by Cyril Routley: “Signs of the Times”.

Thursday January 12th

Wells Garden Club Quiz 7.30pm Wells Town Hall. New members welcome. Details: www.wellsgarden.club

Friday January 13th

Avon Wildlife Trust Keynsham ‘Seabirds of the Outer Hebrides’ with Bob Medland 7.30pm Baptist Church Hall, High St. Members £3, visitors £4. Save the Children lunches 12.30pm Shipham Village Hall, 2nd & 4th Friday every month. £5pp. Come and join us! Shapwick Moor walk with Chris Sperring. 10am. Book: www.shapwick.hawkandowltrust.org

Saturday January 14th

Come & Sing Handel’s Messiah: workshop with Congresbury Singers, 10.30am-4.30pm Memorial Hall. £20 inc music & refreshments. Details: congresburysingers@gmail.com Chew Magna Jumble Sale for Avon Wildlife Trust, 10am Old Schoolroom. Donation 4-8pm previous evening, or call 01275 332482.

Parkinson’s NW Somerset Support Group meeting

10.30-12.15, St Francis Church, Nailsea. Coffee, chat and hear a group of local bellringers. Kilmersdon Wassail 3pm Community Orchard, Ames Lane BS3 5TB. Details: Martin Horler 01761 437372.

Sunday January 15th

Tunley Coffee Morning 10am-12 Recreation Centre, Tunley. Fundraising for village hall.

Monday January 16th

Timsbury Natural History Group talk by Dave Sage, Keynsham’s Freshwater Life. Conygre Hall, BA2 0JQ. Visitors welcome £3.

Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship

evening with bingo, 8pm War Memorial Hall. Visitors welcome Chew Valley u3a 10am Ubley Parish Hall. Talk about the Clifton Observatory by Mary Coward. All welcome.

Thursday January 19th

Cheddar Valley u3a coffee morning, 10am village hall.

Saturday January 21st

Claverham Market 10am-12 village hall. Butcher, veg, preserves, books, jigsaws, crafts etc. 01934 830553. Frome Society for Local Study ‘Bath Theatre Royal Story’ talk by Jane Tapley, 2.30pm Assembly Rooms BA11 1EB. Visitors welcome £5. Details www.fsls.org.uk Yatton Music Society: Cello and piano 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church. Details: www.yms.org.uk

Sunday January 22nd

Bishop Sutton Wassail 3pm Bonhill Rd, BS39 5TS. Morris dancers, shotguns, a huge bonfire, food and drink. Tickets from village school or community library.

Monday January 23rd

Mendip Folk Dance Club, 8pm-10, St James Church Centre, Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience needed. Details 01934 742853. Bereavement Support Keynsham drop-in 2-4pm Baptist Church Hall, High St. A safe place to meet others who are bereaved. Free, with refreshments. Details: 07776 493221 or bereavementkeynsham@gmail.com

Wednesday January 25th

Harptrees History Society: “The Knights Templar” by archaeologist James Bond, 7.30pm, West Harptree Memorial Hall BS40 6EG. Visitors welcome £3. Booking essential: info@harptreeshistorysociety.org Burns’ Night Folk Song Session 8.45pm City Arms, Wells BA5 2AG. Sing, play a tune, or just sit and listen. Free admission, all welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com

Thursday January 26th

Chew Valley Group AWT talk by Re-wild Chew: “Beyond the bees – what about the other insects?” Chew Magna Old School Room, 7.45pm. £2.50 incl. refreshments.

Thursday January 26th to Sun Jan 29th

Hutton Drama Club’s Rapunzel 7.30pm village hall, with matinees 2.30pm Sat & Sun. Details: 01934 519122 or www.ticketsource.co.uk/hutton-drama-club

Friday January 27th

Mendip Society Fun Quiz 7pm for 7.30pm, The Wellsway, Harptree Hill. £10 incl. supper. See: www.themendipsociety.org.uk.

Saturday January 28th

Congresbury LIVE! The Model Folk, 7.30pm, War Memorial Hall, £7 on door. Charity Quiz Night, 7.30pm Wells Town Hall. Teams up to six, £5pp. Booking essential: 01749 672342 or email terryricketts1948@gmail.com Raffle prizes welcomed.

Saturday January 28th and Sun Jan 29th

Somerset Vintage & Classic Tractor show, Bath & West Showground. See:P?? www.somersettractorshow.com

Monday January 30th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship

evening with bingo, 8pm, War Memorial Hall. Visitors welcome. Wessex Stationary Engine Club meeting 8pm Old Down Inn, Emborough. Mendip Folk Dance Club, 8pm-10, St James Church Centre, Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience needed. Details 01934 742853.

Tuesday January 31st

Wells & District Wildlife Group: Long Legged Beauties of the Somerset Levels, talk by Damon Bridge of the RSPB, 7.30pm, Wells Museum. Details: www.wdwg.org.uk

Tuesday January 31st to Thurs Feb 2nd

Keyford Local History Group ‘The Last Matron: A play about Frome’s Keyford Asylum’ 8pm Rook Lane Chapel, BA11 1DN. £8: www.dramakarma.co.uk/lastmatron

Wednesday February 1st

Bereavement Support Keynsham drop-in first Wed every month, 5.30pm-7pm, Baptist Church Hall, High St. A safe place to meet others who are bereaved. Free, with refreshments. Details: 07776 493221 or bereavementkeynsham@gmail.com

So much to do, so much to enjoy!

THE 2023 Shepton Snowdrop Festival is set to be the biggest and most extensive yet. The packed programme has something for everyone – plant enthusiasts, gardeners, creatives, families, children and visitors to Shepton Mallet! The main festival takes place on Friday, February 17th and Saturday, February 18th with an extensive range of fringe events and activities in the week leading up to the festival and over the weekend.

Once again Yeo Valley Organic Garden is opening their winter garden to coincide with the festival. Father Leo, until recently the head gardener at Downside Abbey, is hoping to travel back from his new home at Buckfast Abbey to lead snowdrop walks in the Downside Abbey Gardens.

For the first time, Shepton Snowdrops is working with partner garden, The Bishop’s Palace in Wells, whose head gardener will lead walks in the palace gardens.

A very special privately-owned garden will open for the first time, just for the 2023 festival. Here, visitors will see a magnificent display of Galanthus “Compton Court”, a large, tall and elegant snowdrop registered by Brian Duncan and named after the house for the couple who lived here. This early flowering snowdrop has flourished here for more than 40 years, spread by division of the clumps every year to fill nearly two acres of garden and woodland.

Alongside nurseries and plant specialists selling snowdrops and spring plants, some of the West Country’s finest makers will display and sell their beautifully crafted work. Artists and artisans will lead workshops featuring foraged flora and clay, willow, wire, spring flowers and weaving. Booking is already open for some of these.

Paula Carnell, international bee guru and head beekeeper at The Newt, Somerset, will give a talk, “Song of the Snowdrops – the connection between early spring flowers and bees”, as part of the festival fringe events.

Visitors to the Festival can enjoy a display of work by the finalists of the poetry and photography competitions and readings by the winning poets along with a heritage walk, ramble, art in the park, snowdrop tea party for the over 55’s, drama and storytelling for children and a food trail during the core days of the festival.

For details, visit: www.sheptonsnowdrops.org.uk