13 minute read
Community
Harriet at the helm
Club member Liz Weelen (left) with new president Harriet Farquhar
AFTER a two-year absence due to the pandemic, the Inner Wheel Club of Shepton Mallet has a new president, Harriet Farquhar.
Harriet has planned a fun-packed year in office including a talk from a winner of Masterchef
and a visit to a local cheese factory.
The club is very involved with supporting people living with dementia and their carers. Monthly Music to Connect music and singing sessions supported by local musicians, especially Shepton Mallet Ukulele Group, are to restart at the Salvation Army Hall from Friday, August 19th.
For details contact Janet on: janetza.IW20@gmail.com
Norton’s big day out
The town show included cookery classes for men only
MIDSOMER Norton Fayre and Town Show attracted hundreds of visitors for an afternoon of free entertainment.
The event – organised by the Midsomer Norton Community Trust and sponsored by the town council – was spread across the Town Park, inside and outside the Somer Centre and was complete with skatejam and live music. The produce and craft show was held in its own marquee.
The skate jam showcased boarders’ skills
Walking through history
Last year’s festival was based in Shipham
MENDIPRamblers will be hosting their usual annual free threeday walking festival at the village hall in Stratton-on-the Fosse this August bank holiday.
They chose the village for its long and fascinating history from Roman times to Downside Abbey and the legacy of the Somerset coalfields.
Each day, on Saturday, 27th, Sunday, August 28th and Monday, August 29th, the group will offer a range of walks for all abilities.
Elaine Dadley, from Mendip Ramblers, said: “Mendip Ramblers always try to offer a wide range of walking, but this is especially the case at the festival. There are long, leg-stretching walks each day, but also shorter and easier walks on offer. Our afternoon family walks each day are short and slow –leisure walking for all ages!”
All the walks are free and no pre-booking is necessary.
For details, visit: www.mendipramblers.co.uk
Value for money
VOLUNTEERS manning Brent knoll’s Community Shop have been helping pupils of the village’s primary school. The children were given £1 to spend, as part of a plan to teach them about money management.
The community shop’s head of stocking, Lucy White, said: “We’ll make sure that we’re well stocked with low-priced items, including fruit.”
Meanwhile, the shop has secured a further £7,500 grant funding. The second grant was made possible by the shop’s achievement in increasing sales.
David Sturgess, secretary of the shop, said: “These are exciting developments, ahead of our second annual members’ meeting for more than 140 shareholders.”
That meeting will be held at the Brent Knoll Parish Hall on Wednesday, July 27th at 7pm.
Rotary awards
Imogen Turner receiving her award from Dot Cretney, with Guy and Malcolm Westgate. The award is in the name of Dot’s late husband Eric
FROMESelwood Rotary’s presidential handover evening was marked by two of the club’s prestigious Rotary awards – Frome Young Citizen Award and Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA).
Held at the Tool & Gauge, outgoing president Guy Parkinson presented the young citizen trophy and £200 to Imogen Turner whilst RYLA candidate Aaron Browning gave a presentation on his Rotary sponsored outward-bound course.
These presentations were followed by long-serving member, Malcolm Westgate, being presented with a Paul Harris Fellow award. The evening concluded with the annual presidential handover, where Guy Parkinson handed over the chain of office to Geoff Cardnell.
Geoff and his wife Clare have been Frome residents for 34 years and have both committed to voluntary work over that time.
Working in social housing for much of his career, Geoff said that he gets a real buzz from seeing how voluntary work can help both individuals and the community.
The club says with a variety of membership types on offer there is something in Rotary for everyone so why not go to one of their meetings to see what it’s all about?
Details: Guy Parkinson 01373 832322 email fromeselwood@btinternet.com
New Winscombe show
THE new Winscombe Village Show will take place on Saturday, September 10th, 1.30-4pm, at the Community Centre in Sandford Road. This is the relaunch of the former much loved Michaelmas Fair.
The show will once again feature classes in horticulture, baking, photography and crafts, open to all Winscombe and Sandford parishioners.
There will also be the usual games and competitions, raffle, stalls and attractions for all the family. Go along and join the fun! DIANA Cooper, match co-ordinator for the Westfield Petanque Club, challenged Connaught Lodge to a game of boules. Her husband Tony, lodge secretary, put out an appeal for lodge members to form a team.
Westfield went on to win by a very small margin. In appreciation of Westfield hosting the evening, the lodge gave a £200 donation to their chosen charity, Cancer Research UK.
Boules anyone?
Pride in Paulton
THE seven-strong Pride in Paulton team –combined age 460 –have been looking after Paulton for the last ten years.
They are currently planting around Hill Court, planting troughs at the entrances to the village and are looking after the 87 stunning hanging baskets around Paulton.
They meet every week to water, weed, litter pick and anything else that they feel needs doing to keep the village looking loved and cared for.
Uphill show
UPHILL’Sannual Village Show will be held in Uphill’s Victory Hall on July 29th and 30th, with displays of vegetables, cakes, crafts and more.
Village Society chair, Stewart Castle, said: "It is great to be back again, as we have for the last 75 years and to be putting on a show in the village for all to enter and visit."
Details: www.uphillvillage.org.uk Stewart Castle 01934 415581www.fromeselwoodrotary.org.uk
Anniversary celebration
SHEPTONMallet 41 Club president Peter Davey was surprised at their recent meeting when Shepton Mallet Tangent president Jilly Jenkin, accompanied by Peter’s wife Nicky, interrupted proceedings to present Peter with a new ribbon for his ceremonial regalia.
The club is in its 40th year and the current ribbon is becoming full of previous president’s nameplates. More celebrations are expected next year for the club’s 41st anniversary.
Church teas are popular
Pictured (l to r) Sarah Wilson, Joy Webb and Fiona Gregg-Smith with the floral display
SUNDAY summer afternoon teas at St Mary’s Church in Compton Dando will continue until the Bank Holiday Monday, August 29th.
They began again during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, with a small exhibition and flower display, raising more than £350 for the church.
One of the organisers, Jenny Davis, said: “We look forward to welcoming old friends and new back to enjoy our tea and homemade cakes in our beautiful village church.
“All are welcome, including your four legged friends.”
Club welcomes refugees
Dylan, Will, Tymofii, Keon and Matvii
PEASEDOWNSt John’s popular SJ’s After School Club has welcomed some new members from Ukraine.
Tymofii and Matvii recently moved to the village with their mother Alona, after being welcomed in the UK as refugees.
The club, run by St John’s Church, has been supporting the family as they settle into the community.
Held every Tuesday and Wednesday after school at St John’s Church in Church Road, the After School Club is for all primaryschool aged children. It includes crafts, outdoor play, reading, group work and storytelling.
Alona said: “We are very happy to be in the UK. People are amazing here. They help us everywhere!
“We'd like to say a huge thank you to the after-school club and all the teachers there. It's a wonderful place to spend time for my boys.”
New president
CHELWOODBridge Rotary Club has a new president, Martin Palmer (left), who is pictured with outgoing president, John Palmer – no relation. Martin served for 35 years in the RAF Engineering Branch and after retiring with the rank of Air Commodore in 1994, became CEO of a small engineering company in the Midlands which was eventually sold to Devonport Dockyard in 2001.
He served as a director at Devonport, before retiring in 2008 to Chewton Keynsham. He is happily married to his wife, Gillie, with four children and seven grandchildren.
Making a splash
Bella, Frank and Nina
PUPILSat Chew Stoke Church School enjoyed a visit from local firefighters, who are based in Chew Magna.
They learnt about the different types of emergency they attend, the equipment they use to protect themselves and others, the importance of smoke alarms, what number to call in an emergency and how to “stop, drop and roll”.
They also had a chance to sit in the fire truck, listen to the sirens, and have a go at targeting some cones using the hoses, which was their favourite bit!
Banwell WI
BANWELLWI, which meets every second Thursday of the month, will be holding an afternoon tea on August 10th, 2pm to raise funds for Breast Cancer awareness.
They have also started collecting food items each month for their local food bank.
Surprise party
PENSFORDhas a new Neighbourhood Watch coordinator after Chris James, who has been coordinator for 15 years, decided to retire. He is being replaced by Dom Lowe.
A surprise presentation evening in the village hall saw villagers thanking him for all he has done over the years.
Dom said: “He has served on parish council, been chairman of the hall committee and written the Neighbourhood plan. He was also involved in the writing of the walks booklets.”
Chris said: “My role as coordinator would not have been possible without your support - and the support of all contacts over the years.
“Neighbourhood Watch is a team of people whose role is to try and make their community a safer place, for making residents feel more secure and to give advice to residents on how to make things safer.”
Details: neighbourhoodwatch@publow-with-pensfordpc.gov.uk
Rain doesn’t stop play
Peter Barkwill, chief executive of the village’s Wainwright Quarry, cuts the ribbon to open the fete
STOKE St. Michael Primary School PTA held their annual summer fair, and despite the rain, many families and people from the village came to support the event and enjoy the games and activities on offer.
The PTA’s next major fundraiser is the 40 for the Federation walk on Saturday, September 25th.
Having fun on the vintage tractor display
For details, visit: www.croscombestokefederation.co.uk
Scarecrows are back
CHEDDAR Flower Show committee held the inaugural scarecrow trail in Cheddar last year because the flower show was not held for two years due to Covid restrictions. The trail was so successful, it is returning this year.
It will be held from Saturday, August 6th to Saturday, August 20th with the flower show itself being held in the village hall on August 20th, 2pm.
Scarecrow trail maps are free, with printed copies available from Cheddar Library, Katie Boo, Woodbury Insurance, Time Out, Hansford's Deli and Maunders. They also have flower show schedules.
For pdf trail maps contact the Cheddar Flower Show Facebook page or email cheddar.flowershow@yahoo.com
Time called on Big Breakfast
CHELWOODBridge Rotary Club’s annual Big Breakfast has been held for the last time after 16 years during which it served about 1,600 breakfasts, raising £15,000 for local good causes.
Over the last 11 years the event has also been supported by the local Classic and Historic Car Club who have used the breakfast as a starting point for their rallies.
Rob Taylor from the club said: “What started off as quite a small fundraiser has grown over the years and our members, we think, have run a very slick event enjoyed by all those that supported us.
“However, without the car club support it would not have
Some of the cars
been viable, and a joint decision was made between them and ourselves to make this the last Big Breakfast.
“We are a bit sad that it has come to an end but as we are all getting older it is probably the right time to finish. We would like to thank all those that have supported us over the years”.
Doug Nash signing in another breakfast guest, Glenda Tidcombe
Details: chelwoodbridgerotary.com
Rotarians are in the swim
WESTON Rotary has received a donation from some Dutch visitors towards the cost of bringing the town’s Marine Lake back into full use.
The visitors were from Weston’s twinned Rotary Club of Delft Koningsveld who were given a tour of the bathing and boating lake which was dredged and reopened in June under North Somerset Council’s Great Lake Project.
Weston Rotary is helping to revive the seafront attraction by sponsoring a webcam with a live feed between Marine Lake and the town’s railway station. This will share the most up-to-date information with visitors arriving by train. Rotary-sponsored signage will also direct people to the Knightstone area.
Members of Weston and Delft Koningsveld rotary clubs with Mudlark, Marian Barber (centre front)
The Mudlarks – a band of swimmers who use the lake – have been fundraising for many years and will eventually become responsible for taking over the day-to-day running of the project. They invited swimmers to join the Polar Bear Challenge, swimming in open water at least twice a month between October and March. Weston Rotary’s own Mudlark, Marian Barber, joined the challenge. Marian was on hand to explain progress at the lake to the club’s Dutch guests.
Arts festival ends on a high
SOMERTON’s annual arts festival ended on a high note with the day-long Somerstock music festival.
The community event featured headline bands including the Electric Light Orchestra tribute band Explosive Light Orchestra and The Hoosiers on two stages, with the music lasting 12 hours.
But there was also an opportunity for charities such as the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and St Margaret’s Hospice to raise both funds and their profile. The weekend ended with a community fun day.
The festival attracted a wide range of music fans from the time the gates opened
Weston-super-Mare’s Alex Lipinski with his band Looking in from the other side of the security fence
From Berlin to Bristol – pop and art garage band Shoun Shoun
Kelly (left) and Maria, from St Margaret’s Hospice
Boules in Winscombe
AFTERa two-year Covid break, the Boules Tournament on the Millennium Green, Winscombe, went ahead on July 3rd as planned, with 16 teams from the two villages.
Friendly competition brought out the best in the players with some excellent matches. The final between French Connection and Don’t Drop the Boules was unusual in that both teams comprised three generations of the same family - grandson, father and grandfather!
This year’s worthy winners were French Connection, regular finalists in the tournament, who won for the first time and took home the coveted Monsieur Claude Trophy.
