Community

Church’s gift

PARISHIONERSin Peasedown St John’s St John’s Church have given away almost £9,000 this year to local, national and international causes.

The congregation follows the biblical principle of giving away the first ten percent of its income each year in a bid to practice what it preaches. Over the last 11 years, the church has given away £109,000 in charitable giving.

Church leader, the Rev Matthew Street, said: “The team here at St John’s feels 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: Rob Bubyer 01761 300410 office@stjsgroup.church

Foodbank donation

MIDSOMER Norton and Radstock Inner Wheel club has donated more stock to the Somer Valley foodbank. Sue Hopkins (left) and Elaine Muir set off with a crammed car to the foodbank HQ. Members have supported the foodbank’s work with donated produce for over three years and say they fully recognise the vital work it carries out in these difficult times.

Rotary cabaret

A CABARET night, held by the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge, proved to be a huge success, raising over £800 for the club’s charities.

More fundraisers are being organised, with an on-line auction launching on November 5th.

Details: https://www.rotaryribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1649

Jubilee bench

TUNLEYRecreation Centre holds monthly coffee mornings on the third Sunday of the month and all are welcome to enjoy lovely homemade cakes and a chat.

You might even be lucky enough to spot a few classic cars from the Norton Radstock Classic Vehicle Club!

This year, the funds raised at these coffee mornings have been used to purchase a new wooden bench to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It will now hopefully be a lasting memory of Her Majesty’s service. Other events such as a quiz night, craft fair and carol service are planned.

Details: Facebook @TunleyTRC

SCF celebrates 20 years

SOMERSET Community Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary and an incredible milestone, having awarded £20 million of funding to thousands of Somerset’s local charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises since 2002.

Chief executive, Justin Sargent, said: “If you had told me 17 years ago when I joined SCF that we would be here today having awarded £20 million in funding, I’m not sure I would have believed you.

“But I have always believed in the fundamental ability of communities to change the world for the better.

“I am tremendously grateful to the supporters, volunteers and charities who, over the last 20 years, have put their trust in us, who have shown the courage to tackle the most pressing challenges in our society, and who have worked in true partnership with us to make Somerset a better place for everyone.”

Guests at an event to celebrate heard from Glastonbury-based charity Children’s World and Axe Valley Men’s Shed – two of the many groups that SCF have funded over the last 20 years. l The foundation’s Cost-of-Living Crisis Appeal raised over £100,000 in its first month to fund local charities and community organisations supporting those in most urgent need.

It’s suggesting people consider donating some or all of their energy rebates if they can afford it.

Walkers step out for children’s mental health

The walkers prepare to leave Stoke St Michael

ALMOST £4,000 was raised by people taking part in the second 40 For the Federation fundraising walk across East Mendip.

A total of 28 walkers completed either a 14 or 26-mile route starting and ending at Stoke St Michael Nursery and Primary School and passing checkpoints at Mells, Cranmore Tower, Kilver Court in Shepton Mallet and Croscombe Primary School. The money raised will go towards Mind in Somerset’s youth services as well as essential mental health and wellbeing resources at the two schools, which are federated. David (left) presenting a cheque to the federation Organiser, David Richardson-Aitken, said: “A huge thanks go to Cookswood for sponsoring the event, the Evercreech Co-op for suppling all the refreshments for the walkers and all the volunteers who helped to make the day such a success.”

Free community cafés relaunch in November

Anne-Katell: the museum’s new community engagement manager

RADSTOCK Museum is looking for volunteers to help during a new season of free community cafes in its tearoom.

The popular events were brought to an abrupt halt by the pandemic, but the museum has now appointed a community engagement manager, Anne-Katell Peton, to oversee their return. AnneKatell says she plans to add further cafes next year for former coal miners and friends, a local history café

and memory and wellbeing cafes.

The cafes will be running on Monday mornings, Monday afternoons, and Tuesday mornings for a couple of hours. Some will be monthly, others every other week and some are likely to be weekly.

Museum treasurer Jos Bins said: “Before Covid, the museum used to run community cafes for various groups who benefited from the opportunity to meet in the museum surroundings. Thanks to funding from St John's Foundation, we have recruited a new part-time member of staff who will be responsible for restarting these cafes.”

For details, visit: www.radstockmuseum.co.uk and to volunteer, email Anne-Katell at: events@radstockmuseum.co.uk

Vineyard visit

MEMBERSof Wells u3a wine appreciation group spent a beautiful sunny evening visiting Fenny Castle Vineyard, where they were given an in-depth talk by the owner James Cummings.

Festival record

WEDMOREReal Ale Festival celebrated another record year of ale drinking and fundraising with the organisers pouring out £20,500 in donations to local worthy causes, their largest donation yet.

Some 18 organisations were handed cheques at the annual presentation evening at Wedmore Masonic Hall to celebrate a very successful 21st year.

This year’s beneficiaries included Children's Hospice South West, Weston Hospicecare, Weston-super-Mare Samaritans, Somewhere House (Somerset) Limited and Wedmore & Axbridge Community Health Fund.

Busy church

IThas been a busy time at Tabor Independent Church in Timsbury. Members decorated the church with produce and non-perishable foods in readiness for the harvest service.

During the day the church was open for families to catch harvest mice and enter into games and competitions, including Harry and Poppy Brinkworth and Reggie King (pictured).

Proceeds were donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee Pakistan Appeal and Somer Valley Foodbank. The Tabor Ringers have also been busy, with the diary beginning to fill up for Christmas.

Details: Tabor Church Mr & Mrs G Shute 01761 568524. Tabor Ringers Barb Spalding 01761 752177

Tribute to GP

PATIENTSand some colleagues gathered at Ston Easton village hall to bid farewell to Dr Dana Parr, who was senior partner in the Harptree and Cameley medical practice.

She began as a GP in 2007 and joined the practice in 2014, becoming senior partner in 2020. Patients paid tribute to her, saying:

“Dr Parr was so highly regarded by her patients. Her dedication, exceptional qualities and professionalism when giving time in caring and administering medical knowledge was unsurpassable.”

Big plans for town park

SHEPTON Mallet Town Council has announced a £200,000 redevelopment of Collett Park's playground, thanks to support from charitable donations.

Collett Park is described as the “jewel in Shepton's crown” and the council says the new playground aims to reflect this, with a dynamic and inclusive play area suitable for a wider age group. Construction of the new playground is expected to start in the new year and open by the end of March.

Matt Harrison, chair of Shepton Mallet Town Council, said: "Shepton Mallet is a growing town with nearly a fifth of the residents children or teenagers; we love our park but need to ensure it has the facilities to reflect the town’s needs.”

Traditional skills taster

A JOINT initiative between the Dry Stone Wallers Association and the National Hedgelaying Society has been offering people the chance to learn an ancient skill on the edge of Shepton Mallet.

Called the Rural Skills Hub, professional dry stone waller John Diment, has been running free taster sessions at Five Trees Bowlish, a community project to establish a natural wild cosmetics garden and a food-for-free linear allotment.

Work on the project began in June last year with support from Somerset Skills and Learning.

The centrepiece of a long dry stone bench at Five Trees Sue Ayton (far left), owner of Five Trees, with John Diment alongside and dry stone wallers

Preparing the ground for the next section of wall Setting an A-frame to be used as a guide for the new section

For details, visit: www.fivetreesbowlish.com

Hospice breakfast

BLAGDON'Sannual big breakfast for Weston Hospicecare was again a big success, raising around £1,100 for the hospice, including £400 from the sale of hospice Christmas cards.

One of the organisers, Tina Smith, said: “It was a very busy morning with seating running

John Lyons out at one point so another table had to be put up. “It is always a good community event for villagers to get out and catch up with neighbours and friends. It was particularly good this year to see young families coming in after football practice on the playing field and some of our Ukrainian visitors too.

Pictured (l to r) Liz Davis, Lorna Collins, Moira Better, Phil Smith and Suzie Baryon

“All in all there was a real buzz in the hall most of the morning.”

The team now look forward to their next event, their annual Christmas Fair, on Saturday, November 19th, 10am-12noon at the Village Club.

Let’s plant!

Volunteers, including some of the team from Shepton-based British Solar Renewables, gather at the bandstand in Collett Park

VOLUNTEERS have been busy planting more snowdrops in Shepton Mallet ahead of the town’s annual snowdrop festival.

This autumn’s efforts have been concentrated on Collett Park, but 8,000 bulbs were planted along a new section of the Strawberry Line multi-user path at West Shepton which is currently being brought into use.

Next year’s festival takes place from February 13th-19th. Entries for the poetry and photographic competitions – on the theme of Let Nature Thrive – are now open. The poetry competition closes on January 8th with last entries for photographs on January 30th.

The festival celebrates the work of Victorian Shepton resident James Allen to hybridise the snowdrop Festival volunteers Amanda Hirst, Phillipa Barnard and Anne Strik selling bulbs at the town’s weekly market

Dominic Weston planting bulbs in the park

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

Jubilee memorial

THEKathleen Jones Family Charity has placed a village information board at the entrance of Banwell car park to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen.

Pictured are Margaret McCarthy, parish councillor, with Wally and Roy Rice, two of the trustees of the charity.

Go wild at lantern parade

SHEPTON Mallet’s annual lantern parade will be on Saturday, December 17th with the theme of “Wild Things”. Lantern-making workshops will take place on Saturday, November 26th and Sunday, November 27th and also the following weekend at the Paul Street Community Centre. The workshops are free to attend, with a small charge for The lantern parade is always a hoot! materials. Organisers are appealing for more volunteers to steward during the parade, which leaves Collett Park at 5pm, or for the workshops.

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

The scene of the crime

Damien entertaining the audience at Weston Golf Club

FORMER solicitor turned crime writer, Damien Boyd, was the guest speaker at a recent meeting of Weston Rotary Club.

From Burnham-on-Sea, he is the author of the DI Nick Dixon series, set in the Avon and Somerset area. The 13th book in the series is due to be published next June.

Rotarians were joined by family and friends for Damien’s talk at Weston Golf Club.

Tapestry timeline extended

TWO new tapestries have been added to the walls of the Community Hub in Coleford to update a project by villagers originally created to mark the millennium. One is a tribute to the work of the recently disbanded Coleford Revival Group, by one of its members, Tina Coleford Gospel Hall has been added to the timeline Wadley; the second is of the Gospel Hall in the village.

Artist Janette Kerr worked with dozens of villagers to create the original timeline which was supported by Artseed, Coleford Parish Council, Help the Aged, New Horizons Trust. Take Art! And Wells Craft Centre. The works, in historical sequence, take up two walls of the hub. l To arrange to view the tapestries when the building is not open, contact parish council chairman Philip Ham at: philipjham@hotmail.com

Eco-fair

FARMBOROUGH held its first ecofair, organised by Farmborough Futures, Farmborough Parish Council’s climate and nature emergency working group, in conjunction with Farmborough All Saints’ Church, as part of the Bath and North East Somerset’s climate Some of the committee (l to r) back row Alistair Fleming, the Rev Guy MartinScott and Chris Lovell; front row Sam festival. Council chair, Sam Ross, said: Ross (left) and Charlotte Douglas “Farmborough Futures will now be looking at ways the community can reduce its carbon footprint as well as sustainability initiatives and feeding back recommendations to the parish council.”

Rotary fundraisers

CHELWOOD Bridge Rotary Club has launched two fundraising schemes to help its support for good causes.

They are a 100 Club monthly lottery and an online silent auction, which launches on Saturday, November 5th. It would welcome more items.

Details: robmert72@gmail.com

Volunteers needed

KEYNSHAMFoodbank is looking for volunteers, including a trustee and project manager. It says with the cost-of-living crisis really starting to bite, it’s gearing up for a busy autumn.

It’s also asking people to consider donating money instead of food to help pay for the warehouse, van and council tax.

Chair of trustees, Gwen Edwards, said: “If you don't know how you are going to afford to feed yourself or your family, please don’t wait until the cupboard is bare. Please get in touch and ask for help.”

“We offer far more than food. We also have toiletries, household cleaning items, sanitary items, nappies, some petfood (usually), and other things. Just ask, and we will see what donations we have and do our best to help you.”

Pump-track plan

Some of those supporting the scheme

A CAKEsale was held by Temple Cloud parish council and organisers of the pump-track project to raise money towards the cost of the new track, which is planned for the village playing fields.

Councillor Helen Neary, who is one of those behind the project, said: “The reason for selecting a pumptrack as an addition to the village is that it is a multi-wheels track allowing anything from skateboards and balance bikes to roller skates and BMXs.” The cake sale raised more than £400 on the day and a further £200 from T-shirt sales. This QR code gives details of a crowdfunding campaign raising funds for seating areas and benches around the track.

Church sale

Pictured (l to r) Lyndsay Cooper, Janet Smith and Barbara Avery

THEsale of pottery by Kim Hacker and paintings by the late Robert Bailey helped All Saints Church, Publow raise £310.25 for church funds at its monthly market. The next will be on Saturday, November 5th, 10am-11.30am.