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CONTENTS
Welcome
TO our 11th anniversary issue and thanks to the many contributors, advertisers and readers who have made this possible. This month, with summer upon us, we learn how to care for fledgling birds with advice from Secret World and our own wildlife expert, Chris Sperring. We visit the splendid new hide at Shapwick Heath and learn about wildlife around the Vale of Winscombe. Sue Gearing’s walk also passes through the old part of the village. We join Midsomer Norton’s rugby players celebrating promotion – and hear how some of them have become bookworms. Classic cars, ducks and maypoles all feature in our events coverage – and our What’s On guide for June is full to bursting. We preview the Royal Bath and West Show, Nunney Horse trials, the Mid-Somerset Show and give you the chance to win tickets to Yeovilton Air Day. Somerset Rural Life Museum is due to reopen after refurbishment next spring – we have a sneak preview and hear how the Voices of Axbridge project has now fallen silent. Business is booming for new fashion shops in Wedmore and for businesses at Rookery Farm – we have features on them as well as all of our regular features and contributors. Thank you for another successful year. July 2016 deadline: Friday, 17th June 2016. Published: Tuesday, 28th June 2016. 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 Publisher: Mendip Times Limited Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG Contacts: For all enquiries, telephone:
01761 463888 or: email news@mendiptimes.co.uk or: letters@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 design: Steve Henderson
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51
Don’t rein on my parade – the North Somerset Show
Charity challenge – Onion Johnny tackles the Himalayas
82
Arriving in style – historic cars in historic setting
98
Riding high – young jockeys race at Wincanton
Plus all our regular features Environment...................................6 Farming Mary James MBE..........10 Arts & Antiques ...........................18 Food & Drink...............................26 Internet and Crossword..............36 Business ........................................40 Charities .......................................50 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......57 Walking Sue Gearing....................58 Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........60
Gardening Mary Payne MBE ......62 Education......................................71 Caving Phil Hendy........................74 Property........................................76 Health Dr Phil Hammond.............78 Homes and Interiors....................89 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE ....98 Sport............................................100 Music...........................................106 What’s On ..................................107 MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 3
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SPRING CLEANING? Bring your rugs in!
Brook Bank shooting ground welcomes beginners and experienced visitors to enjoy our extensive facilities
Beginners Clay Shooting Package (variety of targets) from £31pp Lessons available on Driven birds/clays by appointment Hull game cartridges for sale Open for practice 5 days a week Gunsmith on site – snack bar GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE
C L E A N I N G • R E S TO R AT I O N • VA L U AT I O N
Our Services Include: Commercial and Residential Property Wills and Probate Litigation and Personal Injury Criminal and Family Law Agricultural, Business and Commercial Employment Shepton Mallet: 57 High Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5AQ. Tel: 01749 330330
Glastonbury: 11 Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8DL. Tel: 01458 832510
IT is surprising that so many people neglect to keep their wills updated. A recent case shows how much money can be spent on disputes between competing family members where somebody dies without having made proper provision. A man who had separated from his wife nearly 20 years before his death and who had lived with a new partner for 18 years died suddenly without having settled financial matters with his wife or updating his will. All his estate passed to his wife leaving his bereaved partner to seek “reasonable provision” under the Inheritance Act. Her claim was partially successful but there was enormous cost and considerable distress and uncertainty for wife, partner and their respective families. All this could have been avoided if he had settled financial matters with his wife at the time of separation and made a will. It is a common misunderstanding that cohabiting couples have automatic rights to each other’s property. ey do not. If you are going through separation and/or starting a new relationship then, for the sake of those you care about, don’t delay. Contact us for specialist advice. G On a lighter note we are again sponsoring the “Power of the Past” section of the Royal Bath and West Show. is gives us a very welcome excuse to get out of the office to meet our clients and professional contacts in a relaxed and informal setting. e show runs from 1-4 June. It is a great day out for the whole family. If you are going then please do call in to our tent for a chat and a drink. We would love to see you. As an additional attraction our artistically-talented staff will be offering free face painting on Wednesday, ursday and Friday.
Castle Cary: Old Bank House, High Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7AW. Tel: 01963 350888
Cheddar: Roley House, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3RA. Tel: 01934 745400
Website: www.bgw-solicitors.co.uk
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New film explores East Harptree’s hidden history
Keith Clark introduces the new video East Harptree: Hidden History and Secret Places
A FILM about the fascinating history of the centre of East Harptree has just been produced. Entitled “East Harptree: hidden history and secret places”, Keith Clark, well-known locally for his roles in amateur dramatics, takes the viewer for a walk around the centre of the village and visits the interior of several properties. The film was produced under the auspices of the Harptrees History Society. Chairwoman Lesley Ross said: “The Society’s research group has been looking for new ways to reach a wider audience for the results of recent research work. When local filmmaker Peter Froome, of Wild Country Lane Studios, approached me with a suggestion to combine his skills with the Harptrees History Society’s knowledge, we jumped at the idea and are delighted with the end result.”
Real life Oscar at film festival launch
Birthday boy: Oscar with mum Leah
The 20-minute DVD is available to purchase for £7 from the East Harptree Village Shop, Solo Hair Salon and Bowden’s West Harptree Stores.
The train now arriving . . .
THE Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust’s touring exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the closure of the S&D line will be coming to Radstock Museum in June. The organisation – based at Washford in West Somerset – will be bringing items from its collection with a specific local connection for the monthlong exhibition. The S&D was much loved and long lamented and played a significant role in the life of the people of Radstock and the other surrounding communities of the Somerset Coalfield. As well as the exhibition there will activities for families and events and on Saturday, June 18th the S&DRT will be holding their annual meeting at the museum. On Saturday July 9th, Steph Gillett, honorary curator of the S&DRT’s museum at Washford, will visit Radstock Museum for a book signing for his recent publication The Somerset & Dorset Railway Through Time (Amberley Publishing). The S&D station at Radstock
For details, visit: www.radstockmuseum.co.uk
NEWS
Festival organisers Sally Cooper and dad Derek, from Wells Film Centre
GUESTS at a Royal-themed tea party to open the first Wells Film Festival twice sang Happy Birthday – first to the Queen and then to Oscar Campbell-Allsop, celebrating his fourth birthday on the same day as Her Majesty reached 90. The party took place the Spinning Wheel Tearooms in the city and was the first of 14 events taking place over four days, ranging from special screenings to model making workshops with some of the team from
Aardman Animations. The festival theme was Kings and Queens to celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday, the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and St. Georges Day.
Guests raise their teacups to the Queen
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Nature hide is a crowdfunding success A NEW tower hide built after £17,000 was raised by a crowdfunding campaign has opened at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve on the Somerset Levels. The reserve, covering 500 hectares, is one of England’s most important wildlife sites and home to rare species like bittern, bearded reedling and marsh harrier, as well as wildlife spectacles such as the winter starling murmurations. The tower hide is located just a short distance from the Ashcott Corner car park and offers far-reaching, elevated views over the lakes and extensive reed beds of Meare Heath. Simon Clarke, Senior Reserve Manager for Natural England at Shapwick Heath NNR, said: “The public support we received in December was phenomenal and very humbling. It’s provided us with the funds to create an incredible new hide that will really enhance the experience for all visitors to the reserve and allow them to enjoy a very special wetland. I’d like to thank everyone that has donated to the project, the really hard work of the contractors who’ve built the hide, and all those who
Attracting birds
THESE youngsters are waiting to see what birds they attract to their gardens after making bird feeders at the 5 Villages Youth Group, which meets at Compton Dando Village Hall. The photo shows (l to r) Mia, Nathan, David, Rosie, Livia, Maisie, Grace and Jacob with their bird feeders. The group is open to all children from Compton Dando, Burnett, Chewton Keynsham, Queen Charlton and Woollard and a tuck shop operates on the first Friday of every month at the village hall. PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
Guests at the opening of the new tower hide
have made this possible.” The hide was opened by Dr Andy Clements, Director of the British Trust of Ornithology and board member for Natural England. He said: “Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve and the surrounding Avalon Marshes are one of England’s great wildlife success stories. I’m delighted to open this stunning new tower hide. It will provide greater opportunities for people to see the world class birdlife and enjoy sweeping views across the Somerset Levels.”
G The Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership is looking for volunteers to help run a visitor information point at their centre. Since being launched, more than 3,000 people have visited the information point. Anyone who would like to get involved and could spare a few hours between a Thursday and a Sunday should contact Kevin Anderson at the Avalon Marshes Centre on 01458 860556 or e-mail: Kevin.Anderson@somersetwildlife.org
The hide offers spectacular views over the Levels
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ENVIRONMENT
Museum milestone reached
BUILDING work at the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury has been completed as the £2.4 million redevelopment enters a new stage. Handover of the site from Ken Biggs Contractors Ltd. has taken place and work will now begin on the museum installation and fit-out. It is due to re-open to the public in the spring of 2017. For the past 14 months contractors have been repairing and adapting the Victorian farmhouse and the cowsheds to provide improved gallery spaces and visitor facilities. A new Community Learning Space for educational activities and community use has also been created. Museum collections will be better preserved thanks to insulation, double glazing, and a new heating system, and there is also a new lift. Landscaping has improved the setting of the museum, including the magnificent 14th-century Abbey Barn. The attraction belongs to Somerset County Council and will be managed by the South West Heritage Trust as leaseholder. Tom Mayberry, the project leader and chief executive of the trust, said: “We’re delighted to have reached this milestone in the project and very grateful to everyone who has made the work possible. Our goal is to preserve the essential qualities of a much-loved museum at the same time as finding new ways to tell the remarkable story of Somerset’s rural history.’’ Throughout the work, a group of volunteers and others, including the Friends of the Somerset Rural Life Museum, have been supporting the project with visits to schools and a project blog.
Project representatives at the handover (l:r): David Heeley of the Museum Friends, Tom Mayberry of the South West Heritage Trust, Russell Lillford of Somerset Building Preservation Trust, Alison Templeton of Somerset County Council, Peter Renshaw of Viridor Credits Environmental Company and Chris Poolman of Ken Biggs Contractors
The project has been funded by Viridor Credits Environmental Company, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Somerset County Council, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Friends of Somerset Rural Life Museum and other generous donors. It has been led by Somerset Building Preservation Trust and the South West Heritage Trust working in partnership with Somerset County Council.
For more information about the redevelopment of Somerset Rural Life Museum visit: www.somersetrurallifemuseum.org.uk/
I’ve found an injured bird! What do I do?
A SOMERSET wildlife rescue charity is helping people understand if, when and how to step in if they come across an injured bird like this fledging robin found in Wells. Secret World at East Huntspill sees hundreds of injured and orphaned birds over the spring and summer. The charity offers a 24/7 wildlife rescue service across Somerset and much of the South West. Laura Benfield, Head of Animal Care, said: “Birds come into our care for many different reasons. They may have been caught by a cat, flown into a window or perhaps their parents have been injured or killed, leaving a nest of orphans. We’re here to help these birds and we’ll rehabilitate them and get them back to the wild wherever possible. “Birds don’t always need our help though. Well-meaning people sometimes bring fledgling birds to us who may not have needed rescuing! Fledglings can spend a few days
hopping round your garden after leaving the nest and before they take flight. You can help them by keeping any dangers away (like your pets). If in doubt, give us a call for advice before intervening. “If you do find an injured bird, avoid moving them if possible. A blackbird with a broken wing won’t make lots of noise when you touch it because an animal doesn’t show pain in the same way a human does, but imagine if you’d broken your arm! “If you do need to move and contain a bird while you’re waiting for help, you can carefully place it in a box with breathing holes in the lid and keep it somewhere warm, dark and quiet until help arrives.” G See page 57 to read about a newlymarried couple who helped Chris Sperring in the rescue of two tawny owlets. Get more wildlife-saving tips and download a free WildLifesaver poster at www.secretworld.org/wildlifesaver If
you need advice on what to do with a wild animal, you can speak to one of the wildlife response team on 01278 783250. You can find out more about being a WildLifesaver and meet some of the birds in Secret World’s care at the charity’s next open weekend, Beaks and Squeaks, on 28-30 May.
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ENVIRONMENT
Worthy is the bee’s knees
THE site of the Glastonbury Festival is buzzing with a different kind of activity after becoming home to three colonies of honey bees as part of its eco-friendly work. Black Honey Bees have taken up residence at Worthy Farm at Pilton as work to transform the farm for this year’s festival reaches a peak. Festival founder Michael Eavis has worked on the bee scheme with a conservation group called B4 (Bringing Back Black Bees). Nick BenthamGreen, from B4, said: “Why do we need bees? They pollinate the crops, bee products feed and nurture us and also tend the wild but they are under threat from loss of habitat, change of farming practices, use of pesticides, and a wide variety of diseases brought in, over many years, by imported bees. “For Worthy Farm to be setting up these colonies is fantastic and whilst not everyone might want to take up beekeeping, we can all play our part by creating a bee-friendly garden and not using pesticides, also don't just think of the honey bees, think about what you
(L:R) Michael Eavis, Robert Richards and Chloe Roberts from Glastonbury Festival, with Nick Bentham-Green from B4
can do for all the pollinators, after all they are in crisis as well.” Michael said: “We have been green since the Festival began in 1970 – long before people began to become concerned about climate change. I have said before that Glastonbury Festival is a Midsummer celebration of life and joy, but we must not lose sight of our
undertaking to achieve the best possible balance of nature and resources in pursuit of our pleasure. “Nurturing the Black Honey Bee on the festival site is yet another way of ensuring we are doing our bit to protect the environment which my family have been trying to do so for five generations here at Worthy Farm.”
M E N D I P
W E A T H E R
S C E N E
For more information on the Black Honey Bee visit www.b4project.co.uk or www.bibba.com
The summer months
JUNE – the first of the three summer months and we can obviously expect the best of the year’s weather during this period. We might get a few dull, rainy days but we know that before long the sun will come out again and, in any sunshine, we with DAVID can expect the temperature to reach near MAINE 20 degrees Celsius during the day, even if the air is not coming from the warm Continent but more from the Atlantic or the northern regions. This is why, possibly, many of the big outdoor events occur in June or July before everyone disappears on holiday in August: church fetes, Glastonbury Festival and many major outdoor sporting events such as Wimbledon and the Open Golf Championship. We have already had some fine warm weather in May after that cold start. Night time temperatures during the first few days of the month were not far from freezing – only around 2º or 3º with some local ground frost, but things warmed up very quickly and we reached 24.9 º as early as the eighth of the month, which would count as a warm day during any part of the year; it only goes to show what is possible during the
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Whatever the weather the crowds still turned out for the North Somerset Show at the beginning of May
next few months given the right conditions. Our climate, as we all know, is very variable during any part of the year, which makes weather forecasting quite tricky at times, but it’s the variety of the weather, from one day to the next, which makes it such an interesting subject (or career, as in my case). Good luck to the organisers of any of the many outdoor events but remember, if you are unlucky, it shouldn’t be too long before the sun returns.
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Taking farming to the city
MY congratulations to Nessie Reid who organised the event in the middle of Bristol where she slept with two Guernsey cows, fed them and milked them for five days in April. It was a tremendous effort on her part which she started to plan more than a year ago. Whilst in her work with the charity Cape With MARY Farewell, Nessie became aware and JAMES MBE concerned that people were losing contact with those who produced their food. When she saw the comment that “bottled water was costing more than milk” she vowed to do something about it. She found a dairy farm near Bristol who helped her to reach her goal. Not only did she learn how to milk a cow but how to feed and care for it. Then she learnt the problems of the dairy industry by talking to many local farmers and interviewing them. Nessie wanted to highlight the problems of dairy farming to the general public and to give them the opportunity to actually see a cow at first hand and talk to local farmers. Nessie did all the organising, from obtaining funding from two Bristol charities, to security guards, along with special fencing and hiring a marquee, plus all the rules and regulations that had to be complied with, which in itself was a mammoth task. She also organised a rota of farmers to spend a few hours each day talking to the public. On April 21st the cows arrived, transported by local farmers along with special cow nuts, plenty of hay, straw for bedding plus
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a portable milking machine. The marquee in which they slept was well bedded down and a quarter was divided off to contain beds for Nessie and friend plus all other items when one is camping. Almost immediately the press descended, fuelled by comments from various members of the public declaring the event to be cruel and the cows would be frightened. It took the best part of 24 hours for the press to realise that cows were not turning a hair, not even when the nightclubs turned out. Nessie took the brunt of the negative comments which included a group of young men partly hooded who turned up at midnight on the first night but she stood her ground and won the argument. Nessie and Suzanne Hobbs, whose family owned the cows, were grilled on the Jeremy Vine show. Both girls did extremely well and the upshot of it all was that everyone suddenly realised the cows were quiet, happy and well cared for. I had a long conversation with one young lady who grilled me about the life of a dairy cow and when I told her the truth she practically called me a liar – which did not go down very well. I would say that at least 97% of the public were supportive and vowed to buy British milk and dairy products as well as looking for the Red Tractor on all food. Nessie wanted the public to join in a debate on the issues, which they did, and 400 cards were collected with comments which Nessie will be evaluating. Farmers had the opportunity to talk directly to the public right in the middle of a city. The event was an outstanding success and thanks are due to Nessie, the Parfitt family and everyone who gave up their time to help. For more chances to see livestock and talk to farmers do visit the Royal Bath and West Show June 1st – 4th at Shepton Mallet. Livestock will be there every day. Not quite farming, but congratulations to Dani Evans from Compton Dando who completed the course at the Badminton Horse trials on Smart Time at her first attempt. Her grandfather is a farmer. Dear Mendip Times, Referring to Mrs Bullus’s story about her changeable hen (Cock-a-doodle who? May). Some years ago we had a hen who crowed. She started “practising” when her sister died and she was left on her own. After a few days croaking, she developed a full-blown crow. We discovered that she was in fact answering a cockerel in the distance. This unusual behaviour earned her a slot on the local TV news, although unlike Mrs Bullus’s she stayed hen-like in appearance. But the name of our versatile hen – Betty! Mary Abbott Congresbury
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Agricultural specialists for three generations
FARMING
It’s a deal – Andrew Curtis (right) selling a tractor to Billy Baker at the North Somerset Show
SITUATED in the Chew Valley at Stanton Wick, Harry Curtis began farming and over three generations the family business became established. Today H.Curtis & Sons farm 2,500 Acres, breed pedigree Limousin bulls and specialise in the supply of quality new and used agricultural and ground care equipment. They are a main Agco dealer for Valtra and Massey Ferguson ground care products, as well as being main dealers for a wide range of agricultural equipment including Merlo, McConnel, Pottinger and McHale. With highly trained technicians on hand and an extensive stock of spare parts, they can provide support and back-up to customers in the field or in their fully equipped workshop.
TOPSOIL AND STONE SUPPLIES Dry high quality screened or unscreened Topsoil. Recycled aggregates and quarry stone supplies, road planings and building stone. DEMOLITION AND STRIP OUT All types of demolition works. From small household to main contractor projects, including rail, schools and city centre redevelopments. Complete range of specialist equipment and services available. ASBESTOS Asbestos removal and collection. Roof sheets, tiles and guttering. Call for information. TRANSPORT 4,6 and 8 wheeled tipper Lorries for hire and muck away. Low loader, beaver tail and road brush hire. PLANT HIRE Wide range of plant. 360 excavators, Dumpers, Bulldozers and Crushers. EXCAVATIONS Large and small excavations. Specialist works include Equestrian all weather surfaces, drainage and bulk excavations.
Details: for more information, call them on 01761 490372
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 11
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The show must go on
AFTER 157 events, it is probably safe to say that the organisers of the North Somerset Agricultural Show – and visitors – have seen it all; so a downpour failed to dampen their biggest day of the year.
Zoe Cambridge with Burrow Hill Jack, a Dexter bull from the Burrow Hill Farm herd from Winterbourne
Joanna Langley with the champion calf
No contest – a future tug ‘o’ war contender?
Time for bed – a sea eagle ends its spectacular display in the countryside arena PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
Six of the best: one of the teams taking part in a working horse parade in the main arena
Sheep shearing competitions were held for the first time
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Ellis Harvey, from Wellow, with Clive, a Kerry Hill ram
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THE NORTH SOMERSET SHOW
A team effort – youngsters try their hand at bale rolling in the main arena
Richard Jones, from the Dragon Works Forge at Leigh-on-Mendip
Best in show: Sir David Wills (left) with show champion Alderley Lucinda and Chris Wilton
Dig for Victory: the showground will again host a Second World War re-enactment weekend in June
Taking the strain – tractor pulling is one of the highlights of the show
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It’s going to be spectacular
THE heart of this year’s Royal Bath and West Show will be a celebration of the very best of rural life, with some brilliant crowd-pleasing entertainment. Agriculture takes centre stage. There will be more than 2,000 livestock and 1,800 horses, alongside sheep shearing competitions and a display of new farm machinery. There will also be farrier competitions and blacksmith exhibits, while raising money for breast cancer charities will be a unique balewrapping display with a pink and musical twist. And with a revamped layout featuring the Great British Festival of Agriculture, Entertainment and Food and Drink, this year’s show – from Wednesday, June 1st to Saturday, June 4th –promises more farming, more food and drink and more fun: the same show, but even better. Although there are lots of changes taking place, the show remains true to its roots with an amazing array of livestock and equine competitions. For the first time ever livestock classes will be held on every day of the four-day show, with the Grand Parade now being held on Saturday as well as Thursday and Friday. Alan Lyons, Head of Shows, said: “This offers an opportunity for our 130,000 visitors to be treated to a display of all the winners and for exhibitors to show off their prize winning animals.” This year’s President is Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis, who will be sourcing a range of exciting acts to grace the new acoustic music area. Alan added: “Music will
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take place throughout the day and into the early evening, bringing a festival feel to the showground. There will also be over 100 food producers, ranging from artisan food to funky street food, with new lifestyle and gift halls as well.” For the younger visitors there is an educational trail and Farming for the Family, where members of the public can see chicks hatching, cows being milked, and cookery demonstrations to link farming with food production. Tasting some of the wonderful food that West Country farmers produce is one of the great delights of attending the show, and this year there is a brand new dedicated food and drink area showcasing some of the UK’s finest producers. Visitors can see just what goes into making a champion cheese, with live judging of the British Cheese Awards. In addition, top cheesemongers will be demonstrating their skills and expertise in front of a live audience to claim the Cheesemonger of the Year Award. The British Cider Championships will also be taking place. Equine competitors will now have more opportunities to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and the Cuddy championship, with a host of new and exciting competitions. Chief Horse Steward Jane Cooper said: “Showing is an important opportunity for the best horses to compete against one another and the Royal Bath and West Show brings together some of the top horses and competitors in the country.”
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ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW 2016
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Show’s long history
THE Royal Bath and West of England Society was formed in 1777 to encourage the spread of new ideas among its farming members. The first show was held in Taunton in 1852, with the new railway network an essential part of enabling the show – and the livestock competing there – to travel the West Country for more than 100 years. In the 1890s the society introduced working dairies and equine competitions to get the general public interested in agricultural matters. The show found a permanent home at Shepton Mallet in 1965 and it still caters to a diverse audience today, with technical farming developments and top breed competitions alongside general rural affairs, fun and education.
The show has been based at Shepton Mallet since 1965
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ENTRIES for the British Cider Championships, to be held in the Orchards and Cider Pavilion, have once again topped 500, reinforcing their reputation as the biggest as well as the most prestigious cider competition in Europe. There is also another strong entry for the international classes, which will feature ciders and perries from as far away as the USA and Bob Chaplin Northern Spain. And, in order to ensure that the championships reflect current trends in the industry, a class for the increasingly popular “fruit ciders” has been introduced this year for the first time. Orchards and Cider Chief Steward, Bob Chaplin, said that whilst large-scale cider-making in Somerset had suffered a blow, through the closure of the Shepton Mallet Cider Mill, the traditional and artisan sectors were still going from strength to strength. He said: “The range of ciders now being produced in the West Country is wider than ever, and the quality is higher than ever.” This year’s celebrity guest judge is Gill Meller, head chef for Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage team, and an enthusiastic champion for, and consumer of, West Country cider.
ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW 2016
• Autarky Grain-Free recipes, available at Tapsons • 20% off 2kg bags (available in June) • Purchase includes money off voucher for grain-free 12kg
MENDIP TIMES • JIUNE 2016 • PAGE 17
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Brocante Fair draws the crowds STALLS laden with everything from antiques to bric-a-brac – along with artisan food sellers – attracted thousands of visitors to the first outdoor Great Wells Brocante and Vintage Fair. Organisers transformed the Market Place, taking advantage of glorious early May weather and the fact that a classic car rally was arriving in the city. The fair followed the success of the first Great Glastonbury Brocante and Vintage Fair held last August, when the same organisers took over the High Street in Glastonbury as well as the Town Hall and Assembly Rooms. G This year’s Glastonbury Brocante and Vintage Fair will be held on Sunday, July 24th and not Sunday, June 12th as stated in May’s Mendip Times. The change of date was due to organisers agreeing to make way for a street party to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. We are happy to clarify the date.
Could the event become an annual feature in the city?
Browsing amongst the stalls with some freshly made lemonade
Stallholders Pete and Lucy, who run a shop in Frome, relax in the sunshine
CONGRESBURY ANTIQUES & COLLECTORS FAIR THE OLD SCHOOL ROOMS Station Road BS49 5DX SUNDAY 26th JUNE 10am–4pm Admission: adults 50p
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West Country Fairs • Tel: 01749 677049
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Parliamentary desk gets strong support AT their sale on May 7th at the Mendip Auction Rooms, Killens put some 500 lots under the hammer with an excellent selection of furniture which sold well in a difficult market. An oak Gothic revival style kneehole partners’ desk attracted strong internet interest selling for £2,000. This desk is after the Pugin and Barry design for a desk manufactured by Gillows for the Prime Minister’s office in the House of Commons in 1850. There was an interesting entry of paintings and pictures entered with a modern oil on board of Finsbury Park Terminal by Janet Ledger achieving £680, with another of a lady paddling realising £380. It is not unusual for items rescued from the skip to make their way to the auction rooms with keen-eyed removal companies advising clients to try their luck and one such rescued lot was a pair of violins which attracted interest from within the room and on the internet selling for £460.
A late 18th century longcase clock sold for £800 whilst an attractive Belgian bronze made £520. With an excellent entry of jewellery and silver, many specialist buyers were in attendance with good prices achieved. The sale of Victorian and Later Effects including household items staged on May 17th saw a massive 850 lots go under the hammer with a diverse range of items on offer. There was an excellent attendance of buyers with strong bidding on most items. Entries are now being received for
ARTS AND ANTIQUES
forthcoming sales with the next sale being of Antiques and Collectables on June 11th. The newly refurbished and attractive auction rooms offer excellent facilities with extensive parking and the delivery and collection of items couldn’t be easier. On sale days, the Lookout café provides bidders with a view over the saleroom and provides delicious coffees, cakes and baguettes. The valuers conduct valuation days every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday or will be content to undertake a free home visit.
The auction rooms can be contacted on 01749 840770 or log onto www.mendipauctionrooms.co.uk
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The internationally respected potter Mike Dodd invites you to visit his pottery and showroom at Dove Studios, Barton Road, Butleigh, near Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8TL. A comprehensive range of stoneware pottery for the home is always available. To avoid disappointment, please phone first on 01458 850385.
WANTED – VINTAGE FISHING TACKLE
HARDY, ALLCOCKS ETC. Also BRASS & WOOD REELS EARLY LURES & BAITS, RODS ANGLING BOOKS TAXIDERMY CASED & MOUNTED FISH
01934 625810
MENDIP VALLEY ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES We BUY and SELL antiques and collectables
Due to overwhelming support and demand we are looking to extend the shop to provide a wider range of choice. Monday Closed • All other days 10.30am til 4pm New Manor Farm Shop, Widcombe BS40 6HW Contact: sparkes.contracting@yahoo.co.uk 01761 221001 • 07966 387252 • Please visit our website: mendipvalleyantiquesandcollectables.co.uk PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
Art in miniature
ONCE again the world of miniature art comes to Wells for the annual international exhibition of the Hilliard Society of Miniaturists. Now in its 33rd year, the exhibition at Wells Town Hall is an eye-opener to anyone who has not encountered this particular art form before. If you are thinking of buying a painting for your living room wall, you won’t find it here. None of the paintings is more than about 70mm x 100mm or 3”x 4” for traditionalists. They may be diminutive in size but they pack all the punch of a large painting, and with far more detail than many of their larger cousins. Magnifying glasses are provided at the desk for visitors to examine the detail for themselves. Additionally there is a workshop on Sunday, June 26th, giving a very special opportunity to learn from some of the leading miniaturists in the country. The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, June 25th at 10am and runs until Sunday, July 3rd from 10am-5pm. Details: www.hilliardsociety.org
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ARTS AND ANTIQUES
Tiles to go under the hammer at Clevedon
CLEVEDON Salerooms’ Quarterly Specialist Sale on June 2nd includes this charming set of Walter Crane (1845-1915) designed nursery rhyme tiles. Walter Crane was a key figure in the arts
and crafts movement, training as a wood engraver, becoming a freelance illustrator in the 1860s and also exhibited at the Royal Academy. He was a founding member of the Art Workers Guild and the
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. These tiles produced by Minton measure six inches square and will carry an estimate of £400 – £600 for the set.
Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers
FREE VALUATION DAYS 6 7 8 & 20 21 22 June 9.30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm Held at the salerooms – no appointment necessary Antiques, Interiors, Collectables & Jewellery 16th & 30th June Sales start at 10am On view day before 10am – 7.30pm. Sale day from 9am
Tel: 01934 830111
French diamond and Emerald Pendant £2,500 - £3,500
Aylmer/Elmore Family Chinese Armorial porcelain £800 - £1,200
Sheraton Revival corner cabinet Estimate £500 - £800
Quarterly Specialist Sale
The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT
VIEWING: Tuesday 31st May 2pm – 5.30pm and Wednesday 1st June 10am – 7.30pm
www.clevedon-salerooms.com
Fully illustrated catalogue online now
Thursday 2nd June at 10.30am
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Lockdales valuation days
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A SPECIAL antiques and collectables valuation event will be taking place soon in the area. The experts of Lockdales Auctioneers will be providing free valuations to the public on Tuesday July 5th, 12pm to 4pm, at The Charlton House Hotel, Charlton Road, Shepton Mallet, with free car parking subject to availability. They will be valuing coins, stamps, banknotes, medals and militaria, antiques, clocks, watches, jewellery, gold, silver, pre-1900 documents/books and maps, cigarette cards, postcards, pre-1960 sporting programmes and tickets, scientific instruments, swords, bayonets and de-activated weapons. No appointment is necessary. Members of the public will have the option to consign their goods to auction (subject to terms and conditions). Cash purchase offers are also available. Valuations will be provided free of charge, with no obligation.
Lockdales have conducted hundreds of these events across the UK. Some of the best items they have auctioned were brought along to previous events, including two pieces of Russian 17th century enamelled silverware which they sold on behalf of the owners for over £75,000. One of the most interesting items they have sold recently was a fragment of pennant flag belonging to the army of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. Its owners took it along to one of their valuation events and they sold it for them for £2,800 in one of their auctions. They will also be holding events in Wellington on July 6th and Bath on July 7th. Do you have any old coins, medals, stamps, collectables or antiques you want to sell/auction or have valued? Go along to the Specialist Collectables Valuation Day for free expert valuations.
Details: call 01473 627110, email sales@lockdales.com or go to www.lockdales.com
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ARTS AND ANTIQUES
A COLLECTION of firefighting memorabilia made over £12,000 at Tamlyns’ recent collectors auction with a rare Newsham pump selling for £6,000. The collection had been put together by the late Michael “Ginger” Taylor who had been a fireman for 25 years. He had collected a wide range of items from fire marks, uniform and ephemera to the St. Albans Newsham Pump. The highest price amongst the fire marks was for an early cast lead Kent Insurance Co rearing horse “Invicta” selling for £400; a brass rider and bell Metropolitan helmet £250; a Merryweather brass helmet £200; a display of 157 assorted fire brigade badges £700 and a St Albans Minute Book and Rules of the Brigade 1881, £120. Other prices of note in this sale were for a DSC group of medals belonging to Lt Kent, Tug Boat Master, £1,900; two albums of Australia postage stamps 1913 – 2000 £230; albums of Chinese postcards £600; a late 18th century telescope £300 and an early 20th century German-made clockwork “Boxers” toy £100. The next collectors sale will be on August 17th and items are being accepted for this sale now.
For more information, contact Tamlyns on 01278 445251.
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It’s a mini me!
SHOPPERS and collectors could be forgiven for seeing double when they see not one, but two versions of Wells Trading Post in the city. Tanith and Robin Tothill, who run the busy centre in West Street, are opening a new, smaller version in Market Street Courtyard on Saturday, May 28th. The West Street centre is celebrating its 20th anniversary and continues to go from strength to strength.
ARTS AND ANTIQUES Tanith said: “It’s going to be a case of ‘honey, I shrunk the Trading Post’ with a selection of vinyl, vintage fashion, antiques and, of course, fabulous furniture. We are not closing the main shop; can you imagine us doing that, especially as we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of serving the community?” Tanith added: “Our launch date is Saturday, May 28th at 10am. Can't wait to see you all there.”
More space at Guild showroom
Old Priory Mill, West St, Wells, BA5 2HG. Tel: 01749 671454 www.wellstradingpost.co.uk • email:tanithtradingpost@gmail.com
TEN YEARS An Exhibition of Mosaics by Kate Rattray (May – June 2016) Kate, who lives near Wells, won Silver in the National Craft and Design Awards 2014. Her work is inspired "by the colours of the sunset, the formations of birds, the transformation of plants and trees throughout the seasons, the harshness of wind and storms, and the subsequent stories that have evolved in the distant past”. 23a Broad Street Wells BA5 2DJ
(through the archway beside Pickwicks)
01749 671112 www.somersetguild.co.uk
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Part of a triptych by Kate Rattray called Spirit of the Leaves. The work is for sale as a whole at £6,000 or £2,000 per piece
NEW exhibition and workshop space has been opened at the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen in Wells. It currently features dazzling mosaics by Kate Rattray: Ten Years is an evocative exhibition by the award-winning artist, who lives near Wells. The Guild, just off Broad Street (behind Pickwicks), has enjoyed a constant stream of visitors since it opened last October. A spokeswoman said: “The new gallery space will also be used for workshops hosted by members of the guild and will be the venue for our annual furniture competition in June.” The new exhibition and workshop space at the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen
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Minted in Mendip
A BIT of sunshine, a bit of rain, a bit of warmth, a bit of shade – typical early summer weather in Mendip and just the conditions in which garden mint thrives. At this time of year the herb is at its best, before it flowers and gets woody and coarse. I love the flavour of a big handful of mint in With JUNE salads, cool and wonderfully scented. All MACFARLANE these recipes use regular garden mint, but there are now lots of different varieties to grow including chocolate, orange, apple and even banana. What a choice!
350g courgettes 1 tbsp salt big handful mint leaves, shredded 1 large egg, whisked 2 tbsp plain flour 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda black pepper vegetable oil for deep frying 200g Greek yoghourt small handful mint leaves, shredded
INGREDIENTS
MINTED COURGETTE FRITTERS
These delectable morsels make a great tapa with drinks or as part of a summer outdoor meal. METHOD Wipe the courgettes and grate coarsely into a colander. Sprinkle with salt and leave for 20 mins. Rinse off salt and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Put into a bowl with the chopped mint and stir in egg. Stir in flour, bicarb, pepper and a little salt. Deep fry spoonfuls gently in oil until golden and cooked through. Stir the rest of the mint into the yoghourt and serve with the fritters while they are still hot.
CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND MINT Serves 2 500g mini chicken fillets handful mint leaves, shredded zest and juice of 2 lemons 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped salt, pepper olive oil
INGREDIENTS
A perfect marriage of ingredients. I use mini chicken fillets but you could use chicken thighs.
METHOD Dry the chicken fillets carefully. Put them in a resealable plastic bag with all the other ingredients and a big splash of oil. Massage in and refrigerate 30 mins. Cook under the grill, turning once, until golden. Garnish with fresh mint and serve with a green salad.
MOJITO
You could make mint tea with a handful of mint leaves and boiling water, but why not celebrate the normalising of relations between Havana and Washington and make the famous Cuban Mojito? Be careful – they are dangerously moreish!
Just mint – a perfect marriage
Salud – cheers to a Cuban classic PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
Cor-gette – these fritters are delicious and easy to prepare
For 1 serving 10 mint leaves ½ lime, quartered 1or 2 tbsp caster sugar, to taste crushed ice white rum soda water
INGREDIENTS
METHOD Put the mint leaves in a robust glass, add one lime wedge and squash together to release the mint oil and the juice. Add two more lime wedges and the sugar and squash again. Almost fill the glass with ice. Add a big splash of rum and fill up with soda. Stir to mix and garnish with last lime wedge.
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Whatʼs new from Myrtle Farm
FOOD & DRINK
A round-up of events from Thatchers Cider in Sandford
Champion Ciders
THE expertise of our cidermakers in producing the tastiest ciders around has been recognised by our peers in the cider industry with some fantastic awards recently. Our wonderful Katy cider – which is crafted from the rosy red Katy apples that grow here at Myrtle Katy apples growing at Myrtle Farm alongside the Strawberry Line. Farm – has just been announced as the Champion Cider in the acclaimed Hereford Museum Cider and Perry Competition. These awards are run by, and judged by, members of the cider industry, so for Katy to be named the champion, is high praise indeed. Triple Gold at the recent International Cider Challenge, which attracts entries from all over the world, was another honour. Our oak aged Thatchers Vintage, our limited edition Redstreak & Katy both won for taste, and it was Gold for Gold also in the design category. Why not try our Gold Medal winning Thatchers Vintage alongside a delicious cheese feast? Somerset foodie blogger Kate Hackworthy even suggests throwing a cider and cheese party to enjoy this great pairing to the full! You can read Kate’s blog online at: http://veggiedesserts.co.uk/cider-cheese-pairing-thatchers/
Cheers from us all!
RAISE a glass to Bath Rugby – we’re delighted to have renewed our long-standing partnership with the club. We’ll have an increased presence at The Rec, whilst our logo will continue to be emblazoned on the back of the match jerseys.
Somerset Day celebrations
CELEBRATIONS were taking place all over the county on May 11th to mark the second annual Somerset Day. Here at The Railway Inn we were treated to entertainment from our good friends The Mendip Morrismen. Guests were also introduced to Thatchers new limited edition cider, Summer Vintage. Crisp, fresh and fruity, Summer Vintage will be available in The Railway Inn and in the Myrtle Farm Cider Shop all over the summer. We’re hugely proud of our Somerset roots, and it’s clear that the popularity of Somerset Day is going to grow and grow. We partnered up with two other fantastic Somerset companies, Wyke Farms and Miles Tea and Coffee to run a #LoveSomerset social media campaign, and you may also have spotted us running a special Somerset Day Tasting at Tesco, Shepton Mallet.
www.thatcherscider.co.uk • Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Thatchers Cider, Myrtle Farm, Sandford, Somerset, BS25 5RA Tel: 01934 822862
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Pub at the heart of the village
THE Butchers Arms at Farmborough is a traditional pub that’s been given a fresh lease of life by its new landlords. Pub regular, Dennis Brimble, pictured with landlady, Marie, has been using it for 63 years and now helps by lighting the fire, when needed, and preparing the pub’s hanging baskets. A former miner and builder, he recently celebrated his 80th birthday – and the pub laid on a village party for him. Marie and partner Ian have been in charge since last October and have quickly established themselves in the community – though Marie is no stranger to the village, where she lived until five years ago. Their children, Amelia, aged 15, and Kirsty, aged 13, go to Norton Hill School. The pub has three draught beers, two draught ciders, three lagers and a range of bottled and soft drinks and its home-made food is now attracting attention, with chef Helena Shellard Young in charge, using local ingredients where possible. Prices range from £4.50 for children’s meals, £5.95 for breakfast, £6.95 for cod and chips and £14.95 for sirloin steak and all the trimmings, with a specials board that changes every day. They have a pub quiz every Sunday and are in the process of starting a darts team – the pub is so busy they are extending the car park and welcome children and dogs. Marie said: “I’ve worked in a couple of pubs before but running my own pub is something I have wanted to do since I was 18. It’s so good to be such a part of the village.”
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News from Butcombe
WE’VE been busy the past few months! We’ve got big plans to expand our business, not only within our heartland of the West Country, but also allow those a little further afield to taste our fine beers. It just doesn’t seem fair to keep them all to ourselves here! With this in mind, we’ve employed 15 new local people within the past eight months who will help us develop our business and deliver lots of Butcombe to drinkers all over the UK. Earlier this year, April saw us take 120 people to Farrington Golf Club for our biggest ever golf day, with pints to be drunk on every odd hole, it’s fair to say everyone had a great time, who’s to say if the quality of golf was at its best by the 18th. We’ll never tell! More importantly, we raised over £650 for The Somerset Air Ambulance, so every donation was for a great cause. We’ve got our programme of seasonal and limited edition beers all planned into our brewing schedule, get in touch or
keep an eye on our twitter page @ButcombeBrewery to keep up to date with the newest We’ve just renewed sponsorships with Bristol Rovers and Bristol Sport, so look out for Butcombe beers when you next take a trip to the stadiums! Finally, we’ve just undergone a full refurbishment of one of our lovely pubs. The Mill at Rode has been completely
FOOD & DRINK
gutted and renovated – from the kitchens, to the gardens, it’s all brand spanking new. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning a meal for two here, we’re keen to talk to you about all things Butcombe. In exchange for a 10 minute chat, we’ll put your name into a draw for a slap-up meal for two at The Mill. Contact Emmy on 01934 863963 for more details.
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Quality and expertise
ANDREW Kinnersley has a simple philosophy about wine – good quality doesn’t always equate with great expense. Stepping into The Grape and the Good in Priory Road in Wells is to enter a very different world to the average supermarket wine, beer and spirits aisle. The shelves are crammed with an enticing range of carefullyselected wines from around the world, all with evocative descriptions reflecting Andrew’s varied career as a wine dealer, including a time on the French Riviera. And prices won’t break the bank. Andrew is a Wells boy through and through: educated at the
Independent Wine Merchant Working closely with our suppliers and directly with wine growers, we endeavour to offer much more than the often predictable off-licence and supermarket shelves. Plus a carefully selected offering of craft beer and spirits. Corporate gifts, weddings, special birthday? We can help so pop in or contact us by email/phone. Open 10am-5pm (Tuesday-Thursday); 10am-5.30pm (Friday and Saturday)
2 PRIORY ROAD, WELLS, SOMERSET BA5 1SY • 01749 938180 www.thegrapeandthegood.com email: info@thegrapeandthegood.com FREE LOCAL DELIVERY
Cathedral School, he decided to return to the city with his young
Andrew is always happy to find that special bottle for any occasion
family to open the shop last October. With an advanced level diploma from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, Andrew is always happy to offer advice and his contacts in the trade mean he can always track down that special bottle for a special occasion or corporate gift. Since opening The Grape and the Good, Andrew has also expanded his range of English wines and artisan beers and ciders, mostly from the west country. The range of gin on sale is also impressive as drinkers become more aware of the astonishing variety available today. Andrew said: “It’s a very exciting time at the moment because consumers are becoming more adventurous and the quality and variety on offer – especially from this part of the country – is exceptional.” And Andrew’s tip for the summer? Rosé wines from Provence.
Cheese and cider festival
Head Sausage maker Phill Windridge at Puxton Park
PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
PUXTON Park’s award-winning farm shop is gearing up to stage a cheese and cider festival over the spring bank holiday weekend Saturday and Sunday, May 28th and 29th. Having opened a £1 million cheese dairy back in 2014, Puxton Park has been producing Gorwydd Caerphilly Cheese, using milk from its
pedigree Holstein cows. The traditional handmade cheese is matured for two months to develop its depth of flavour and a slightly crumbly and creamy texture. As well as cheese, the event will include tastings from Sheppy’s, Thatchers and Norcotts cider producers, and Puxton’s new Proper Job sausages, offering cider, sage and apple flavours. Retail and catering Manager Kay Payne, said: “As well as a local farm shop, we are a working farm producing cheese, meat and ice cream, which we sell on site.” The park is also hosting its first family camping weekend at the same time.
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GARDEN FOOD
Solomon’s seal
HERE is a plant that many of you will already have growing in your gardens, but may not realise is edible. In fact the young shoots of Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum spp.) are sweet and delicious (with a hint of bitterness) and can be eaten like asparagus, either raw or With JAKE cooked, although by the time you read WHITSON this it will have become a bit long in the tooth – they are best picked as young as possible, during April and May, before the leaves have opened out – I usually discard the leaf tips too, as they can be a bit too bitter. By now the stems become woody and bitter. However it is a great time to plant plugs or divide your existing plants. The great thing about Solomon's seal is that it is one of the few very useful food crops that grow in deep shade (another one that springs to mind is redcurrants), allowing it to be grown underneath other perennials or other spaces which are otherwise unutilised – for instance it thrives beneath my raspberries, providing two crops from the same space. It is also perennial, hardy and trouble free, rarely troubled by weeds or pests and diseases, and provides good ground cover. I have yet to try many of the different species available, though I suspect they vary widely in size, season and palatability – if you don't like the variety that is growing in your garden, it might be worth trying another type, especially one sold with eating in mind, such as from The Agroforestry Research Trust. I usually treat the shoots as asparagus, though as they are much longer I have to cut them into short lengths to fit them in the pan! A few minutes steamed and served with butter as a side vegetable, or hollandaise and boiled potatoes for a meal in itself. I suspect they would also work very well in a quiche, perhaps with bacon and cheese. Jacob is a former chef turned food writer, smallholder and mycologist. He divides his time between the Mendips and his nine-acre forest garden project in Pembrokeshire, and runs the business jakeswildfungi.co.uk, making specialist mycorrhiza products for tree planting.
FOOD & DRINK
WILD FOOD
Nuts in May?
HERE we go gathering nuts in May, nuts in May, nuts in May, Here we go gathering nuts in May, on a cold and frosty morning. This is the beginning of a traditional English nursery rhyme published in the 19th century but based on a much older rhyme and associated game for children. With ADRIAN My mother taught this to me as a small BOOTS child and as such I enjoyed its sing-song nature but of course I didn’t give a thought to the fanciful nature of those words. Or are they? As a forager these words have fresh meaning but what nuts are available on frosty mornings in May? A little detective work is required! Well April this year proved that frosts can be quite common in spring time but in previous years I have experienced frozen water pipes in early May so that one is easily explained. But, the question of nuts in May remains. The traditional rhyme had the name of a girl or boy placed into it, possibly just for fun but this could be an indication that it was the job of youngsters to go out picking food to supplement the often fairly basic diet of country folk. Indeed there are many other versions with different lyrics that are sung whilst playing the game e.g. “here we go round the bramble bush” evolved into “here we go round the mulberry bush” (as people became aware of mulberry and silk production) but again there are no blackberry or mulberry at this time of year. So could the rhyme and game be referring to the movement one adopts when gleaning edible goodies from around trees and bushes? I like to think so. So back to the main theme, what nut could possibly be available in May? The only candidate considered nut-like that occurs in the right season and location is the pignut. It’s not a real nut but in fact a tuber. Pignut is a very delicate umbellifer of the carrot family, but the real magic is below ground where the tuber or “nut” resides. These tubers were hunted by people and animals alike – thus the name pignut, a favourite of our porcine friends. They have an earthy, nutty taste (pignuts not pigs) similar to fresh hazel nuts. It may well be June by the time you read this but fortunately pignut flowers throughout the summer May to July. So there you have it, a forager’s take on a 19th century nursery rhyme. I’m glad that’s all cleared up then. 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.
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Top award for Lye Cross Farm Shop
LYE Cross Farm Shop has been named Best Local Farm Shop at the Bristol Good Food Awards and says it’s delighted to receive this fantastic recognition. The shop is based at Lye Cross Farm in Redhill at the home of the award-winning cheesemakers. The shop sells excellent quality local food and drink at great prices. Their butchers stock a broad range of products at very competitive prices, not perhaps what you would traditionally expect from a farm shop. But they work hard to ensure you are not paying a premium to support your local farmers and buy great quality products (with no hidden nasties) every day. Lye Cross Farm shop stocks daily Pullins bread, Chew Valley Dairy milk, Wrington Vale eggs, Cheddar strawberries and much more – giving their customers fresh local produce seven days a week. As you would expect they stock not only their award-winning Cheddars but
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also other local favourites, Draycott Blue, Somerset Brie, Gorwydd Caerphilly, Smoked Wedmore and more. They also have deli counters packed with locally made quiches and pies and their own home-made pork pies and Scotch eggs. They also make fresh rolls daily and yummy hot carvery rolls every day. And don’t forget they have the Lye Cross Farm Bus Café – enjoy breakfasts, tea and coffee and light lunches either on the bus or in the garden. Recently they’ve
hosted birthday parties and a book reading with the Yeo Valley Children’s book club – so it’s a great venue too! If you haven’t visited them for a while or driven past on the A38 without knowing what’s inside, now you know and they would love you to pop in alongside their valued loyal customers to try for yourselves, support your local food makers and maybe have a coffee too. They look forward to welcoming you soon.
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FOOD & DRINK
E OF FEATHER M U S PL
DUCK RACE SATURDAY 2nd JULY
Starting at 5pm. There is face painting, ice cream stall, bbq, pig roast, 3 bars open, a local band playing and Best dressed duck competition. We will be having a decorating duck stall all throughout the day on Saturday for anyone who would like to decorate their duck before hand. All monies raised from the duck racing, plastic duck competition and car park goes to Burrington primary school, Blagdon Pre school and Blagdon scouts and cubs. Best dressed Plastic Duck competition – see website for entry details
Visit www.theplumeoffeathers.com
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Perfect destination
THE Manor House Inn is a stylish 17th century inn set in the pretty Somerset village of Ditcheat, offering a restaurant, hotel and B&B pub accommodation and is ideally located just a couple of miles from the Royal Bath and West showground. It’s a lovely destination pub for eating out whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner, with a choice of fine dining or classic pub food in the restaurant or bar. Sunday lunch is very popular and food is served on Sundays until 9pm and Tuesday night is Chargrill Night. All food is cooked from fresh and sourced seasonally from local farms and producers. There are two function rooms ideal for meetings, private parties and wedding receptions and five bedrooms. The large beer garden and terrace is very popular during the summer months and the wood burning stove in the bar area creates a lovely ambiance in the winter months. Racehorses from Paul Nicholls’ yard pass the pub every day and provide a great spectacle for those sitting outside. In the evenings it’s possible to light a warming fire in the specially designed fire pit. There is also a full-size West Country skittle alley and pool table providing fun and entertainment.
JUNE DATES Wells Each Wed 9am—2.30pm
All other markets 9am-1pm unless otherwise marked*
SAT 4th Axbridge & Midsomer Norton SUN 5th SFM @ Frome Independent SAT 11th Frome (C&G Market Hall) and Keynsham SAT 18th Crewkerne FRI 24th Burnham-on-Sea SAT 25th Glastonbury & Yeovil (9am-2pm)*
Mendip Times reduces travel costs 100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
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Local produce guaranteed
THE Natterjack offers good food and drink in comfortable and friendly surroundings. They source it all from local suppliers to
offer fresh, local and seasonal produce. Award-winning butcher Paul Loader supplies their beef, pork, lamb and poultry which comes from local farms. In fact as you drive towards the pub from Shepton Mallet you can see the free-range pigs grazing in a field on the left. When they say local they mean local! Head chef David West, and his team, sous chef, Ross Derby Jones, and commis, Kiri Anderson, have created a menu that is a mix of time-honoured tradition and modern cuisine, from a wide choice of home-made pub grub, to a specials boards offering more crafted, seasonal dishes. Breakfast is also a serious business and so if you are staying you will be treated to fresh eggs and crispy bacon or scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, freshly ground coffee, home-made jams and much more.
FOOD & DRINK Country shopping at its best
North Widcombe, West Harptree, Bristol BS40 6HW COME AND ENJOY OUR FRESH BARBEQUE MEATS
CELEBRATE SUMMER WITH US! BEAUTIFUL SOMERSET WILLOW AND WONDERFUL PLANTS
Tasty Cheddar strawberries and our own cream!
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Ideal location, close to the Bath & West Showground, and other local attractions
Call in for a drink or a meal on the way home. Bed & Breakfast available too in our stylish and elegant en-suite rooms:2 doubles ‘Midford’ & ‘Shillingsworth’ 5 rooms in the attached Cider House – 3 twin and 2 doubles 2 new self-contained 1 bed cottages ‘Baily Gate’ & ‘Creek Moor’ with a stylish kitchen/diner/lounge area with a bathroom/bedroom upstairs. PLEASE CALL TO BOOK
Enjoy a good Sunday roast
Emma Bridgewater China & other gifts Geoff’s fresh fish every Friday
Centred around a traditional farm courtyard near Chew Valley Lake – the very best in local produce and gift ideas
TEA ROOMS Hot & cold meals Delicious cream teas Full English breakfasts Come and enjoy our lovely Sunday roast lunches
Opening times: Farm shop: Monday to Friday 9am - 5.30pm Saturday 8.30am - 5.30pm • Sunday 10am - 5pm Tea Room: Monday to Sunday 9.30am - 5.30pm
Farm Shop: 01761 220067 Tea Rooms: 01761 220172
Wheelchair access, children welcome, free parking, coaches by appointment
natterjack
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 35
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INTERNET
A plea for help!
WE need to move from our current base in The Old Cowshed in the grounds of Kings of Wessex Academy. We’ve had a long and successful partnership with KoW and have been very grateful for their support in the past. But times change and things move on. IT for the Terrified began with Angela Vivian’s vision of life being made easier by using technology. She set up IT4TT in 1999 and brought broadband into Wedmore via satellite before landline access existed. We have had many volunteers help us with our training, each one giving their own unique perspective on using technology and giving as much or as little time as they are able. We are a registered charity, and have had well over 2,000 people through the door to learn a huge range of subjects – starting with the original Windows 95, moving through to Windows 10 and onto iPads, tablets, smartphones and Macs. We have helped many people with many aspects of I.T., starting with basics like turning on a new computer and learning how to use a mouse, through to taking, saving and enhancing photos, doing emailing, surfing and shopping online, tracing family history, using eBay, creating PowerPoint presentations for meetings, creating small, simple websites and keeping contact with relatives abroad via webcam etc etc. So in September we won’t be at The Old Cowshed any more, but we are in negotiations over various other options and do appreciate those offers. We are determined to keep going because we know how invaluable our customers have found us and how much we would be missed. We would have liked to have our own base but appreciate how difficult that is. Are you able to help us? Do you have premises we could use? Ideally, we would like a room for us to use as a base and operate the way we are now. We don’t need a huge amount of space, so if you have a room we could use, please get in touch. If you can help in any way, please ring 01934 741751 or get in touch via email at itfortheterrified@btconnect.com, or go through the website, www.itfortheterrified.co.uk where you can also find out more about us.
Submitted by IT for the Terrified The Old Cowshed, Station Road, Cheddar BS27 3AG 01934 741751 www.itfortheterrified.co.uk itfortheterrified@btconnect.com PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
CROSSWORD
The Mendip Mindbender
ACROSS 1 Trio gain points a long time afterwards needing ten for the average innings (5,5,5) 9 Thrills when putting the boot in? (5) 10 Bench fashionable with non-clergy – like a recipe (9) 11 Inhabitant of location for the serial I am producing (7) 12 Little place in South Dakota where the general stood for the last time? (3,4) 13 Handy bag . . . which disappears come the dawn? (9) 15 Sort of carton I carry my drink in (5) 17 Set great store by not having royalty in Scilly isle (5) 18 Wise man has hair I'm told in so many words (9) 20 For some, the Book of Revelation produces high spirits (7) 22 Anxious state not easy for cockney in charge of horseracing (7) 24 Like the Minotaur . . . neither one thing nor the other (4-5) 25 Man’s best friend takes a turn at lying low (5)
26 Scale down and try to find the top cop shop (3,8,4)
DOWN 1 The thick Etonian had to admit defeat (4,2,2,3,4) 2 Part-time judges can play a simple tune (9) 3 She's involved in the quarrels I endure (5) 4 Restraining – what a blow! (7) 5 Infrequent portion but savoury (7) 6 Gone rusty – having little experience ? (9) 7 Gala moment of history in Texas (5) 8 State achieved by 6 after 1ac ? (6,9) 14 Age of oldest person Renault ever let drive in the Clio? (9) 16 One's memory aligns to a favourite time in one's past (9) 18 Give Mum a tin to free her from servitude (7) 19 A joyous ethos Anna communicated to us (7) 21 Informal lowering of restrictions will give permission (5) 23 Offend editor and it’s all over (5)
Answers on page 113
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Tel: 0800 097 8611
www.johnhodge.co.uk | e-mail: mailbox@johnhodge.co.uk
WESTON-SUPER-MARE | BRISTOL | CLEVEDON | YATTON | WEDMORE
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Fashion show for Josie
TWO of Wedmore’s newest boutiques combined to put on a fashion show to raise funds to buy a specialist bike for five-year-old Josie Cutts from Winscombe, who was born with Down’s syndrome. The event in the village hall was a huge success, raising more than £2,400. Claire Bidwell from Lime and Jane Brake from Pale Blue showed their new spring and summer stock, with clothes modelled by friends and women from the village. Josie and her mum Lindsay watched along with a big audience. Jackie Wallis from Country Catering provided vintage afternoon teas. Both collections were stunning, affordable and wearable. Between the two boutiques you could find outfits that would take you in style from Ascot or a summer wedding to lunch with the girls or the school run! Claire is planning another show on Thursday September 22nd for the charity Help the Child.
Claire opened the Wedmore shop just over a year ago and has run a similar shop in Clifton, Bristol for 25 years. Pale Blue in Wedmore opened in March and is Jane Brake’s second venture. She has
Pale Blue
been in Hill Road, Clevedon for six years. Both shops aim to offer a more informal and casual choice to Wedmore’s more traditional Mother of the Bride and occasion wear.
New Spring Collection
Women’s clothing and other lovely things
Stockists of: Great Plains • Masai • Oui • Brax • Adini • Cream • Mes Soeurs Et Moi • Part Two • Two Danes • Elisa Cortes Co-ordinating accessories
1 The Borough, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB Email: paleblueclothingltd@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 01934 713773 PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
15, The Borough Mall, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB
01934 710479
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New to Wedmore’s shopping scene
CATHY Wilkin’s Sumptuous Designerwear is the latest addition to Wedmore’s shopping scene – the third new boutique to open in the village in just over a year. Cathy’s had a shop in Princess Victoria Street, in Clifton for over two years. The new business is based in the former stable block at The George in Wedmore. Cathy said: “Wedmore is such a centre of excellence for ladies’ wear, especially for special occasions. The good thing is that the new wave of shops all offer something a little bit different.” She specialises in top-end new and pre-loved designer wear, including some quirky items, with just one of everything on sale. She said: “It’s about treating yourself with something of vintage quality and craftsmanship that will last a lifetime. I adore glamour – there aren’t enough sequins in the world!” She worked for the BBC Natural History Unit and Aardman Animations before starting her own business.
WEDMORE FASHION
Wedmore – Somerset’s hidden gem
BOTH the village of Wedmore and Erica Sharpe’s jewellery have been described as a “Hidden Gem” of Somerset, and she is proud to have her showroom in the heart of the village. Last month she celebrated Somerset Day, with a display including the original Saxon Wedmore Ring and Erica’s Somerset-inspired designs. June is set to be a very busy month: Erica is making some very special commissions and working with some amazing and unusual gemstones, including Paraiba Tourmaline and Tanzanite. Keep an eye on her Facebook page for more information. Erica’s stunning Fairtrade gold “Stella” necklace, pictured here, is back in the showroom. Fairtrade gold is now used in all of her bespoke commissions designed and hand-crafted in Somerset, giving the guarantee that her jewellery is ethical as well as beautiful. Details: www.ericasharpe.co.uk or pop into her showroom at 8, Borough Mall, Wedmore.
Wedmore’s new Dress Agency bou que now open!
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M&S to open a new foodhall in Bath MARKS & Spencer will open the doors to a new foodhall for Bath on June 15th at 10am. The store will be located at the Weston Lock Retail Park and will create 45 new jobs for the area. The 8,500 sq. ft. Foodhall will offer customers the very best of M&S’s innovative, high quality food and drink, with more than 6,500 products available. Highlights include the tantalising Spirit of Summer range which celebrates taste trends from across the Americas, a bakery providing a host of speciality breads, pastries and cakes freshly baked in-store each day and award-winning beers, wines and spirits. Customers can also enjoy a cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee, along with a selection of M&S’s most tempting sweet and savoury treats, at the Coffee to Go which provides seating for 24 as well as the option to take-away. The store s Chilloumi Cheese Kebab will be run by Stacey Williams who has worked his way up at M&S from customer assistant to store manager at M&S Foodhall Bath. A father of three, he worked previously in Hereford, Barnstaple and Bristol. Commenting on the imminent opening, he said: “I can’t wait to open our new M&S Foodhall in Bath. There’s already been a lot of interest from customers and I’m really looking forward to Dragon Fruit Lollies
BUSINESS
Stacey Williams
welcoming them into store. “Launching the store in the summer means we have lots of great picnic and BBQ foods to choose from, including our Spirit of Summer range which takes inspiration from the bars, restaurants and food stalls of South and Central America, as well as the Southern states of the USA. “This range incorporates more than 300 delicious new food and drink products and is ideal for sharing with family and friends, so I’m sure it will prove really popular. My personal favourite is the Four Chilloumi Cheese Kebabs.” As well as providing jobs for local people and boosting the local economy the new foodhall will also be supporting nearby charity the Trauma Recovery Centre. Adding to the food offer, shoppers at M&S Foodhall Bath will be able to take advantage of the popular ‘Shop Your Way’ service which gives customers the option to have their M&S.com orders delivered to the store for free. Free on-site parking means purchases can be taken straight to the car, making shopping at the store even more convenient.
M&S Foodhall Bath, located at Weston Lock Retail Park, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, BA2 1EP, will be open Monday – Saturday from 8am to 8pm and 10.30am – 4.30pm on Sundays. MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 41
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There to help
ECATCHER MOL
NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01275 332966 mendipmolecatcher.co.uk
RED Berry Recruitment based across three locations in Somerset – Yeovil, Shepton Mallet and Bridgwater – are an award-winning agency that pride themselves on listening to what their customers want. The smiles on their faces from their company team building day also say they love what they do and want to help!
Visit Nepal Tigress and 4-month-old cub – Ranthambore National Park – June 2014
Calling all photography, wildlife, bird-watching, walking, cycling, golfing, honeymoon and travel enthusiasts. Are you looking for a “ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME” holiday to Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Tibet and Bhutan? ALL ITINERARIES ARE TAILOR-MADE AND PRICED to suit your own personal requirements.
A Professional Company serving the South West
Please look at: www.nepinsri-travel.co.uk Call us on: 07909 411 450 • email: info@nepinsri-travel.co.uk
PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
SINCE the large and devastating earthquake in Nepal over a year ago, Nepal is desperate for visitors to return again to help
rebuild the country through tourism. Nep In Sri Travel Ltd are offering a trek to Everest Base Camp with prices from £1495 per person based on two people travelling together. They have departures available from October to May. Details: www.nepinsri-travel.co.uk or call 07909 411450.
Burglar Alarms 0 Fire Alarms 0 CCTV Systems 0 Insurance approved 0 Installation, maintenance, repairs and upgrades 0 Central Station Monitoring 0 Local engineers Tel: 01275 331914 sales@chewvalleyalarm.co.uk www.chewvalleyalarm.co.uk
Relax knowing your property is protected
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The country goes to town – and wins them over AS we all know – and if we don't we should – our area had one of the strongest economies in the UK throughout the recession. During those tricky years, wherever I travelled in the UK, and there were a fair few journeys undertaken, it was noticeable that small businesses (and I mean small, some sole traders, some with one or two employees) were apparently thriving. I was frankly impressed by the number of vans and small trucks emblazoned with family company names dashing around the countryside looking very busy indeed. I knew that traders in our area were keeping busy, but this was apparently a national trend. Service industries such as ours are often not visible on local roads, but we are all
still busy bringing home the bacon. Perhaps it isn't surprising that with lower overheads than our city colleagues, we can offer a much less expensive but equivalent service especially in cities such as London. This means that companies like ours are actually part of the movement to build local economies. Thus it was that last month, we travelled up to offer our London clients a lunchtime mixer event at the cutting edge Whitechapel Art Gallery. Well, we thought it would be a “cool” thing to do, but just in case we were out of our depth, we made sure we invited two friends of the company who are both professional artists and we gave our visitors a guided tour of the gallery. It was an amazing day for
all of us and our clients were very interested too and virtually every one joined the tour of a fascinating exhibition about the impact of computerisation on our world since the 1950s and '60s. It would be fair to say that we all made a good fist of looking as if it came entirely naturally to a group of Somerset accountants to be in such an avant garde environment. So much so, that one client asked Mr Bowe if he was specially dressed for art gallery attendance, because he wasn't wearing a tie. You bet he was! So, this month we are celebrating the fact that our West Country companies are doing business across Britain and in some cases – a fact which we can vouch for –
BUSINESS
across the world. With top quality products and services, increased communication and the hope of superfast broadband in the not too distant future, I am sure we will be more and more successful. Well done us! Jane Bowe Probusiness
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Duvets & Bedspreads washed & dried Sheets and Duvet covers washed and pressed Professional efficient service Collection & delivery service in the Chew Valley
Tel 01761 451787
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MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 43
Photo by Ignyte Limited, Radstock.
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TOOL SHARPENING SERVICE WHILE–U–WAIT @ BATH, TROWBRIDGE, STREET, TAUNTON, CADBURY, WELLINGTON, EXETER. For full details and prices contact: www.cuttingedgecraft.co.uk franksynekartisan@gmail.com
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• Editing • Scripting • Casting • Aerial Photography • Musical Score • Animation • Voiceover • Website Videos SOUTHBAY PRODUCTIONS LTD The Hive, 6 Beaufighter Road Weston-super-Mare BS24 8EE 020 50 30 40 6 action@southbayproductions.co.uk www.southbayproductions.co.uk PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
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BUSINESS
A comprehensive service for home, office farm or factory: • Domestic & Commercial Water Softeners (New & Reconditioned) • Salt deliveries including tablet & block • Reverse Osmosis & Drinking Water Filters (chlorine reduction, taste & odour) • pH Correction • Iron & Nitrate Reduction • Bore Hole, Well & Spring Pumping Solutions • Booster Pumps, Pressure Vessels • Ultra Violet Sterilisation & Chlorine Dosing • Chlorination including settlement tanks, & mains supplies. • Potable water storage tanks • Chemical & Bacterial Water Quality Testing • Landlord Legionella Risk Reviews
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 45
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Charities benefit from mayor’s year in office
Gordon Wilson with (l:r): Maggie Charlsworth from the Lawrence Centre, Hilary Cain from Save the Children and Sue Rye from Beanstalk
THREE charities will benefit from the fundraising effort of Councillor Gordon Wilson, the outgoing mayor of Wells. The Lawrence Centre, Save the Children and Beanstalk – a literacy charity backed by the Wells Festival of Literature – will share almost £12,000. One of Councillor Wilson’s last duties was to open the annual Wells Charter Fair. He is succeeded by Councillor Alison Gibson.
Dignitaries enjoy one of the rides Councillor Alison Gibson, the new Mayor of Wells
PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
Joan Saul – the “Mother” of Mulberry
NEWS
Joan with her son Roger
JOAN Saul, the mother and a business partner of Mulberry founder Roger Saul, has died aged 96 after a short illness. In 1971 Joan, of Chilcompton, became a partner in Mulberry, her son Roger's new venture when his parents gave him £500 for his 21st birthday. The plan was that Joan was to be a sleeping partner; she became anything but. In the early days, Joan was known as “mother” by the evergrowing workforce of production ladies as she managed manufacture and finance, whilst Roger was designing, marketing and selling. After 14 years of tremendous growth and a Queens Award for Export, Joan retired – not to settle down, but to look after grandchildren, when at various times their families were struck by serious illness. Joan Legg was brought up in Surrey, then Clapham and educated at Clapham High School then Benenden. She was a champion swimmer, representing her county in her teens. Joan worked as a senior PA before joining the Army, where she rose to the rank of captain and served at the British Army of the Rhine headquarters at Bad Oeynhausen, Germany as part of the occupying force at the end of the war. Soon after, she married Michael Saul and moved with him to Somerset to start his new career with Clarks Shoes. Michael became a senior production manager, founding and for many years managing the large children's shoe factory at Midsomer Norton. Joan supported him as housewife and mother bringing up their four children, moving from Pedwell to Ashcott, then to Lottisham and on to Midsomer Norton before finally buying their own house in Chilcompton, The Grange. In 2002, at the age of 83 she and Michael built a new house in the grounds of their home to retire to. Joan will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by not only her family and friends and the Chilcompton and Midsomer Norton communities, but all over the world by former Mulberry staff. G Joan passed away on Friday, April 22nd at Torrwood Nursing Home, Wells. She is survived by her three sons, Roger, David and Andrew. Her daughter Rosemary, a talented artist, died in 2005 and her husband Michael in 2006. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
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Settlement of Winscombe in mid-ground and Wavering Down and Crook Peak in background (taken from Sandford Hill)
The Vale of Winscombe: an unsung natural treasure
I HAVE lived in the West Country for 25 years and in the Vale of Winscombe in the Mendip Hills for the last two. As a geographer and an By Dr LINCOLN ecologist, it GARLAND immediately struck me that the topography and landscape of the vale and the adjoining Lox Yeo Valley, are very different from anything else in the central/western Mendips. These natural and physical characteristics are rarely celebrated in the many published accounts of this area, which is an omission I hope to
Spectacular display of Wild Garlic in Kings Wood on the slopes of Cross Plain on the southern edge of the valley PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
square here. For the most part, the central/western Mendips consist of a wide undulating plateau, incised in a few places by steep rocky gorges. To the west of Black Down, however, the hills divide to reveal a wide low-lying basin, roughly 4.5 miles long and 1.5 miles across. The basin has two key components; the Vale of Winscombe on the upper eastern side and the Lox Yeo Valley on the lower ground to the west. The Strawberry Line Path, which extends north to south across the basin, roughly marks the transition between the two. The basin is enclosed by the Dolebury, Sandford and Banwell ridgelines to the north; the Shute Shelve Hill – Callow Hill and Crook Peak – Wavering Down – ridgelines to the south; and Bleadon Hill to the west. To understand this distinctive landscape we must first go back to the Carboniferous period, 300-350 million years ago, when tropical shallow seas bathed the Mendip area, gradually laying down the limestone rock that dominates the geology today (recall that limestone consists of the skeletal fragments of countless millions of marine organisms such as corals and molluscs). At the end of this period, tectonic pressures were uplifting the limestone and other sedimentary deposits, creating the Mendip Hills, or rather mountains as they then were. Fast forward a 100-150 million years to the desert environment of the Triassic and these mountains were undergoing rapid erosion, which broadly formed the expansive basin evident today. Flash flooding washed gravels, stones
and boulders into the upper valley, contributing to the undulating topography of Vale of Winscombe; while finer grained mudstones were more readily transported by floodwaters and deposited lower down across the broad flat plain of the Lox Yeo Valley. The special visual attributes of the Vale of Winscombe and Lox Yeo Valley are a product of these geological processes in combination with various ecological and cultural influences and are reflected through inclusion within the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). AONB status means that the valley and the wider central/western Mendip area is considered to represent one of the nation’s most distinctive and naturally beautiful landscapes. While the ridgelines encompassing the basin define this treasured terrain and provide a sense of enclosure and sanctuary, the wide valley bottom in itself also greatly contributes to the attractiveness of the landscape, affording far-reaching views in all directions, which encapsulate some of the Mendips’ most striking ridgelines and hilltops. Further to this, the contrasting landscape of the valley floor also deserves recognition here. While the entire valley is pastoral in character, variance between the Vale of Winscombe and the Lox Yeo Valley is clearly evident. In addition to its rolling topography, the vale is also characterised by its tapestry of extensively farmed fields; sunken lanes, tracks and droves; small woodlands; and overgrown hedgerows. The time-honoured status of the hedgerows is evident from the wide
Dr Garland is an ecological consultant working for Biodiversity by De
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variety of tree and shrub species present, including many mature oaks, and also their rich colourful ground flora comprising abundant bluebells, wild garlic, lesser stichwort and primroses. Conversely, the Lox Yeo Valley is a much flatter open landscape, distinguished in particular by the valley’s eponymously named river and its many short tributaries. The prominence of Crook Peak, which stands sentry over Loxton Pass, the gateway to the Somerset Levels, is also a defining feature of the lower valley. Loxton and other passes add greatly to the landscape quality, providing splendid views south-west to Brent Knoll and beyond to the Quantocks and Exmoor; and also northwest to Weston Woods, and across the Severn Estuary as far as the Brecon Beacons. The geology and varied landscape have in turn encouraged a rich variety of habitats, plants and animals to establish. The many flower-rich limestone grasslands that fringe the hillsides are dependent on the shallow nutrientdeficient and lime-rich soils. Such impoverished conditions prevent domination by a small number of large aggressive plant species, thereby allowing a wide diversity of herbs and fine grasses to flourish. The limestone grasslands of greatest ecological worth can be found between Shute Shelve Hill and Crook Peak, and also on Dolebury Warren. The former represents one part of the Mendip Limestone Grasslands Special Area of Conservation (SAC), while both are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). While locals instinctively recognise the beauty and ecological value of these sites, few probably appreciate that SACs and SSSIs are sites that have been formally recognised as being of European and National biodiversity value respectively. Ancient woodlands also skirt the valley sides, and include Banwell, Sandford and Broad Knoll. To be considered as ancient a woodland must have existed continuously since 1600 or before. Having had hundreds of years to develop complex and interrelated plant, animal and fungal communities, ancient woodlands support prodigious biodiversity. The undisturbed soils of these, and other longstanding woodlands in the valley, nearly all produce spectacular and deeply cherished displays of bluebells
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and wild garlic each spring. Notable fauna includes the secretive dormouse and, in Banwell Woods, the greater horseshoe bat. These bats hibernate within hillside caves which form one component of the designated North Somerset and Mendip Bats SAC. The combination of stock grazed pasture and long-standing woodlands, both within the valley and across the wider Mendips, provides ideal habitat for this bat species. With respect to the valley floor, Max Bog on the western edge of Winscombe is the jewel-in-the-crown from a biodiversity perspective. This site, which is also designated a SSSI, is a lime-rich lowland mire, supporting a tremendous variety of wetland rushes, sedges, grasses and herbs, including many rarities. Wet woodland copses complement the wetland habitat mosaic. One meadow in particular, visible from Max Mill Lane, performs an amazing wildflower display in early summer, producing masses of yellow rattle, ragged robin, buttercups, orchids and many other colourful herbs. Breeding birds which can be seen at Max Bog include kestrel, willow warbler, reed bunting and spotted flycatcher, all species which probably breed nowhere else on the valley floor (kestrel being the possible exception). Please enjoy the fragile habitats of Max Bog from the public right of way only, unless issued with a visitor’s permit from the Avon Wildlife Trust. At Max Bog, the Winscombe Brook feeds into the Lox Yeo River, the latter being the only stream of significance in the central/western Mendips. The paucity of surface level streams on the Mendips is once more explained by the geology. On reaching limestone, which is permeable, streams rapidly
sity by Design. Contact him on lincoln.garland@biodiversitybydesign.co.uk
FOCUS ON WINSCOMBE
disappear underground into a huge subsurface river system; the Mendips is said to have the largest in Britain. The Vale of Winscombe includes many springs from which sub-surface streams re-emerge. These mostly feed into the Lox Yeo River which meanders down the valley for roughly three miles before joining with the River Axe just south of Loxton Pass. Sea trout, brown trout and bullhead are all said to inhabit the river. Much has been written about the Strawberry Line and so I do not intend to go into detail here other than to reiterate what a fantastic wildlife and recreational resource it is. Sadly house-builders see the line, which is designated as a local nature reserve, as a boundary up to which they should develop. If this trend continues, however, there is a risk that housing will enclose the line on one side or the other (or both) for most of its route across the valley, detracting from its very special qualities and also people’s enjoyment of the wider AONB. The Vale of Winscombe/Lox Yeo Valley is a unique component of the Mendip Hills. Nowhere else can be found such a long and expansive valley floor, including a network of spring fed streams, and encircled on all sides by some of the Mendips’ most distinctive hilltops and ridgelines. It’s a landscape that has been created over millions of years by geological, climatic and ecological processes, and more recently by rural land management that on the whole has proven relatively benign. Let us hope that new development and ongoing farming practices will be undertaken sustainably to preserve this exceptional and sensitive environment for posterity. MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 49
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New era for old cars
Lego and soft toys as Danes pack survival boxes
Alex Lovell at the start of the rally
(Photos courtesy of Will Nicol)
DOZENS of classic vehicles took to the roads around North Somerset for the annual Brimar rally, organised for the first time this year by Clevedon Lions Club. BBC Points West presenter Alex Lovell waved off the vehicles on their 28-mile run. The event had been run for the past eight years by Brian and Mary Curtis, of Street, who raised £45,000 for Children’s Hospice South West. The charity will again benefit from this year’s event, as will other local charities.
The range of classic vehicles drew admirers
Face the challenge
THE Mendip Challenge is back for its 27th year! It will take place on Sunday, June 5th and participants can choose to walk or run ten, 20 or 30 miles to support Weston Hospicecare. Details: westonhospicecare.org.uk
PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
(Seated) Lene Tornoe and Hugo Pike with (l:r) Lene Eigenbroth, Tony Quinn (Chelwood club secretary), Erik Tornoe and Peter Eigenbroth
A GROUP of Rotarians from Denmark visited the WaterSurvival Box Project at Midsomer Norton to help in a special packing session. The Rotarians volunteered to help after donating £15,000 towards the project, run by the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge. Peter Eigenbroth, Erik Tornoe and their wives (both called Lene) also brought over packs of Lego – invented in Denmark – and hand-knitted cuddly toys to cheer the children of families who will receive the water-survival boxes. Peter and Erik are members of the Rotary Club of Han Herred, near Aalborg, and Peter is the current District Governor comprising 59 Rotary Clubs in the north-west of Denmark. Their donation followed a visit to their district conference last October by Hugo Pike, past president of the Chelwood Bridge club and Director of Operations, Worldwaterworks Limited. The 100 boxes packed by the visitors have been labelled to show they were paid for by the Danish Rotarians.
The packing team at the warehouse on the Westfield Trading Estate
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CHARITIES
Cycling to the top of the world By Steve Egginton
DREW Buck, aged 67, is cycling 4,000 miles across the roof of the world to raise money for an orphanage in Nepal. He and his wife Jan flew to Kuala Lumpur to visit their daughter Lara, who teaches there, before Drew set out from Mandalay to cross from Burma into India, on to Nepal, before riding the length of the Himalayas on his way back to Delhi. He was due to set out on May 10th and is hoping to fly back on September 6th – though that date is flexible. The ride will take him to the highest road in the world at five and a half thousand metres and involve 250,000 feet of ascents. He will also call in at the orphanage in Kathmandu that he is supporting through the charity Child Action Nepal. Drew, from Tor Hole, near Chewton Mendip, is no stranger to long-distance cycling. As well as belonging to Somer Valley Cycling Club, he is a member of the Audax long-distance club, which regularly averages 250 miles in a day. He’s also completed the 760-mile Paris – Brest – Paris ride seven times, earning the nickname Onion Johnny by wearing traditional French dress, carrying a string of onions, and riding a 111-year-old French bicycle. For his Himalayan marathon he’s restored his son Ashley’s 20-year-old mountain bike and fitted a handy wicker basket on Have basket, will travel
The finish
the front, made by 82-year-old Ivor Hancock from the Levels Basket Centre in Langport. Before setting out Drew said: “I’m nervous as hell, but also very excited. I’m going to enjoy the country and get off the beaten track as much as I can. I simply love cycling, but am also glad I can help a good cause. “Nepal is the tenth poorest country in the world, with a growing number of orphaned children.” Drew and Jan, who have five children, have lived in Tor Hole for 30 years and were in Stoke St. Michael before that. Drew had a double glazing company in Weston-super-Mare and Jan is a retired teacher.
The orphans
Details: www.drewonabike.wordpress.com www.childactionnepal.org.uk MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 51
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We walked the world!
STUDENTS, staff and friends of Somervale School in Midsomer Norton successfully completed a “Walk the World Challenge” by walking 67,400 times around the school’s astro turf. The distance of 22,916km was equivalent to walking to Australia and beyond. The team raised £3,798 for Sports Relief. Mark Kenny, deputy headteacher said: “This was an incredible achievement, especially in a small school like our own. We needed to enlist the help of parents and friends to help us complete the laps and the support of many local businesses who
Volunteers wanted
Made it: Somervale School raised almost £4,000 for Sport Relief
sponsored us to help reach our goal of raising over £2,000 for Sports Relief. A huge thanks to them all for getting behind the challenge. The event really captured the imagination of local people and it really was a team effort. “The students responded
A SOMERSET charity is seeking volunteers for a new service to help people with dementia to keep doing the things they love. Side by Side is a free service from the Alzheimer’s Society that provides one-to-one support, making it easier for people with dementia, who might sometimes feel isolated or find it difficult to leave their homes, remain active and feel part of their local community. Katherine Pratt, deputy manager of the charity’s Side by Side service in Somerset, said: “This new service focuses on enabling people with dementia to lead more fulfilling lives and to continue to take part in the activities that they have always enjoyed and try new ones. “By doing things like going for a walk, going to a football match, or joining a local class together, our volunteers support people with dementia to take up hobbies and get out and about. What they do together is entirely based on what the person with dementia wants.” Details: 01458 251541
Record breaker
LONDON marathon runner, Geoff Wessell, broke two records at this year’s race. He improved his finishing position by 2,475 places, finishing in 4 hours 41 minutes and 27 seconds, beating his 2015 time by 11 minutes and 35 seconds. The amount he raised for the MS charity was a massive £20,209.17, compared to £6,342 the previous year. Geoff, a senior officer with Avon and Somerset Police, whose wife Jo suffers from MS said: “My total has surpassed by wildest dreams. It has been a real team effort. Thank you each and every one of you.” PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
magnificently with every student in the school contributing some laps and many raising fantastic amounts for charity. It was an event that really brought the school together in a common charitable enterprise and brought out the best in all of us.”
St. Peter’s charity shop expands
Betsy cutting the ribbon
THE new and improved St Peter’s Hospice shop in Nailsea has been re-launched and local woman Betsy Bebbington helped cut the ribbon. Betsy from Nailsea successfully completed her eighth London Marathon, raising £1,400 for St Peter’s Hospice. The store now features two dedicated vintage departments, homeware and clothing, as well as a craft section and a specialist bridal room upstairs, offering thrifty brides top quality wedding items at a fraction of the usual cost. Betsy, whose sister-in-law and mother-in-law are both currently being cared for by St Peter’s Hospice, said: “I was absolutely thrilled when the charity asked me to be a part of the Nailsea shop re-launch. It’s a wonderful shop in the heart of Nailsea which generates vital funds for the amazing hospice, so I was pleased to help in any way.” Details: www.stpetershospice.org.uk
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Steve prepares to set sail
CHARITIES
Janet jumps for charity . . . rather than joy
Janet takes to the skies
Steve Pointon and Jeanne Socrates at Royal Lymington Yacht Club
CHEDDAR sailor Steve Pointon has won the backing of Guinness world record holder Jeanne Socrates, the oldest woman to sail solo non-stop around the world. Steve is preparing to sail around the UK in his boat, Tikka, to raise funds for the charity Action for Children. He is due to set sail on June 4th. Jeanne, aged 73, said: “It’s pretty brave of him actually as sailing around the UK is actually more than just hopping around the coast, you have the weather and the tides to worry about, as well as avoiding muddy shallows and rocks in unfamiliar places, there’s a lot to consider.” Steve, who was based at Yeovilton for 24 years, is aiming to complete the gruelling journey in 12 weeks, consisting of 11 legs with a host of friends, relatives and colleagues joining him at various stages, including his wife, Kaz and adopted son, Harry. Jeanne hopes to join him for the final leg in August before she sets out in October attempting to become the oldest person ever to sail around the world.
NEVER again was Janet Fulford’s emphatic response after she completed a charity skydive from 12,000 feet in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society. But the brave member of Shepton Mallet Inner Wheel did raise £1,500 – far greater than the £400 target she had set. Janet, 65, completed the tandem jump after a short period of instruction at Netheravon Airfield on Salisbury Plain. The Alzheimer’s Society is the charity chosen by Inner Wheel District Chairman Carol Price for her year in office.
Truckle Chuckle for spinal charity
Details: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search Tikka’s Travels.
Support for cancer charity
SOMERSET Freemasons have raised £17,000 for a nurse support vehicle for the charity Hope for Tomorrow, which operates a mobile chemotherapy unit in the county, bringing cancer treatment closer to the patient. The Provincial Grand Master of Mark Master Masons for the Province of Somerset and nine fellow members are pictured at the presentation at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.
(L:R) Anushed, Amy, Chelsea and Charlotte were fundraising for SSIT
VISITORS to the evening fixture at Wincanton Racecourse were invited to try their hands at a fundraising game with a difference – skittles using truckles of cheese. An alley was set up next to the parade ring by a team from Irwin Michell solicitors in Bristol to raise money for the Southern Spinal Injuries Trust, the charity supported by the racecourse last season.
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Charity’s first volunteers
LITERACY charity Beanstalk, which provides trained reading helpers in state schools, has made strides towards placing its first volunteers in Somerset schools. Some 20 prospective volunteers attended an assessment event at the Mendip Hub in Wells, where they met Beanstalk staff and existing volunteers from other areas. The London-based charity, which has over 3,000 trained reading helpers currently working in schools around the country, is in the process of setting up its first base in the South West, focussing on the Wells, Glastonbury and Bridgwater areas. The Somerset initiative is being supported by Wells Festival of Literature, which has helped to raise around £60,000 to establish the project in the county. Hilary Cain from the festival’s education section said: “We wanted to put the profits from the festival to use in schools on an ongoing basis and the relationship with Beanstalk enables us to do that.” The prospective volunteers offered a range of backgrounds and reasons for wanting to become involved with the charity. Former self-employed artist Linda Bird said: “I have helped my niece who had difficulties with reading and would like to be able to help other children.” Janie Gray from Axbridge loved helping out in her son’s school some 40 years ago and is keen to become involved with Beanstalk: “My two loves are children and books and I truly believe that every child should have access to stories.” Beanstalk aims to have the first volunteers placed in Somerset schools by July.
In memory of Karin
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WESTON College’s Mark Wilkins will take part in the Titan Brecon Middle Distance Triathlon on June 18th to raise money for St Peter’s Hospice in memory of his wife. Mark hopes to raise £18,000, representing £1,000 for each of the 18 days that his wife, Karin Dixon Wilkins, was cared for by the hospice before she passed away last July.
Young and old remember Jeff
JEFF Mountjoy’s Big Ride Out attracted hundreds of bikers raising money for Dorothy House Hospice and Blood Bikes. Jeff was a much-loved caretaker of both Paulton Infant and Junior Schools, who lost his battle against cancer last year. Hundreds of bikers gathered at Paulton Rovers for a ride across Somerset. A poster competition about the event was organised at Paulton Infants School by Fran Mead and Jane Francis who are pictured with local councillor Liz Hardman and headteacher Julie Hogan. The winners were Lydia Kerton and Alex Cole, with runnersup Gracie Young, Megan Roberts and Tyler Derrick.
The charity collection
NOW is the time to update your spring/summer wardrobe and local charity St Peter’s Hospice is proving that pre-loved fashion is the way forward. Unveiling the best of its finds, the charity which runs shops across North Somerset, insists that savvy shoppers will find treasures which are great for their wardrobe and their purse within its stores. The latest collection features womenswear, menswear, children’s wear and accessories and has been modelled by supporters and staff of the charity. Paul Chivers, head of retail, said: “In an increasingly ‘throw-away’ society where people are only wearing items of clothing once or twice, our charity shops have become an amazing hunting ground for high-quality fashion at up to half the retail price.”
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CHARITIES
In memory of “Pud”
THE Mendip rugby world was united in memory of one of the sport’s most popular players who lost his battle with cancer last Christmas. James “Pud” Pullen was a former player with Wells RFC which hosted two charity games in aid of the new cancer unit at Bath’s Royal United Hospital, raising more than £2,300. A Wells junior XV took on Castle Cary before the main game between a James Pullen XV and Butleigh Amateurs. Pud’s parents Dave and Sarah and sister Ellie were amongst the crowd. Wells players wore a special James Pullen XV shirt bearing fishing hooks, fish and his favourite saying: “Eat big, drink big”.
Dave, Sarah and Ellie were supporting the fundraising night
Go with the Flo
Wells and Cary juniors before the start of their game
Some of the organisers of the night
CHARITY walker Nicola Noble has walked the boundary of the entire catchment area of Bath’s Royal United Hospital to raise funds for its Cancer Care campaign. Accompanied by her Jack Russell called Flo and fellow fundraisers, Nicola had a chance encounter with royalty, meeting the Duchess of Cornwall who was out walking her dog – also a Jack Russell – near Chippenham. When she arrived in Radstock, Nicola was met by members of the Midsomer Norton fundraising group who were staging a spinathon on an exercise bicycle inside the Radstock Co-operative store. Together they raised £1,400. Nicola, of Warminster, became involved with the Forever Friends Appeal with Vanessa, her sister, who had been diagnosed with cancer in 2000. Vanessa passed away in 2007, but Nicolas has continued to fundraise.
Nicola, Flo and Lydia relax as Tom Pielesz, trainee manager at the Radstock Co-operative’s Paulton store, takes to the exercise bike
A sight for paw eyes: Nicola, Flo and Forever Friends fundraiser Lydia McGivern arrive in Radstock
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EVENTS
Winscombe May Fair
WINSCOMBE celebrated its 17th May Fair, with large crowds enjoying spring sunshine. It was originally planned as a single event to commemorate the millennium, but has continued ever since. Local MP John Penrose congratulated Lois Brenchley and her team of organisers.
The Millenium Green was busy
Flying high – Erik, aged four and Eloisa, aged five
Maypole dancers from Winscombe School
Face painting was popular
Alison Hughes and Jolly Jack from Langford demonstrating spinning PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
WI members on the cake stall
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All’s well that ends well – or love’s labour is not lost
By CHRIS SPERRING MBE
WILDLIFE
THERE has been a lot of press recently about not picking up fledgling birds and the tawny owl is one that is always highlighted; quite rightly so, as is in most cases mum and dad owl will not be
far away. There are, however, cases when human intervention becomes the only way, and indeed the story I’m about to tell you is one where two people came to the rescue of two baby tawny owls. Tawny owls are our earliest breeding owl, the female lays her eggs in the hollow of a tree or nest box and she incubates each egg from first day laid which can be up to two-three days apart. Incubation takes around 30 days but, unlike the later breeding owls, tawny owlets will branch away from the nest quite early and as much as four weeks before they can properly fly. This then can be problematic for the newly-branched owlet as one false step can send them falling down the tree on to the ground where they could become a meal for another predator.
Love is all around – the owlets probably owe their lives to the honeymoon couple
Plank you very much! The owlets were thriving when Chris visited the box to check on their progress
Adrian Price and his wife from Aberystwyth were on their honeymoon in Weston-super-Mare when, as if fate should tempt them, they decided to walk along the Cheddar Valley railway walk. As they approached Congresbury Adrian noticed two very young tawny owlets on the ground close to the path. The fact that he and his wife stopped was so important as many people had just walked past seemingly not noting the two vulnerable balls of fluff. Noticing not only that the owlets were very young, Adrian caught sight of their nesting box and noticed the bottom had dropped out. Asking for help when you don’t know the area is very difficult, but Adrian rang myself and Carrie Riches (chairman of North Somerset Hawk and Owl Trust). Upon arrival I quickly assessed the situation, the box indeed was badly damaged, the owlets were at an incredibly vulnerable age but they were so obviously well fed and healthy it would be such a shame to have taken them into human care to finish their rearing. Carrie phoned her husband Keith who wasn't very far away, he arrived very quickly and brought the necessary tools to carry out a repair on the box. The repair went well and we were able
to place the owlets back into their nest seemingly none the wiser for their adventure. They will of course come out of the box on their own accord in another eight to ten days and begin the branching process. It is so much better that the parent tawny owls can now finish the rearing process. The tawny owl is now classified as an amber alert species on the BCC list (Birds of Conservation Concern) which means we have seen around a 25% decline across the country. Hopefully the swift action and care of the newlyweds will go a tiny way to reversing that decline; I can’t thank them enough for their kindness and care towards these two owlets. Very special thanks also to Carrie Riches of the North Somerset group of the Hawk and Owl Trust who provided a vital comms link and help on the ground and to her husband Keith for his swift action in bringing the tools to fix the box. A real team effort with a lovely outcome. I returned to the owl box one week after the rescue with Carrie and Trevor Riddle of the Yatton and Congresbury Wildlife Action Group (YACWAG), to check up on the owlets’ progress and to ring them. Both were looking really healthy and were then only a few days away from leaving the box forever.
Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust. Contact him on 07799 413 918 or via chris.sperring@btinternet.com. Please visit www.swp.hawkandowl.org for more information
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 57
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Spectacular views through Winscombe to Cross
I MAKE no apologies for devising another route to take us up Crook Peak, the only pointed hill on the Mendip Hills. This is a prime summer circle where flowers and bird life should be in abundance and the views spectacular on a clear day. It begins along the old Strawberry Line Railway, goes through a nature reserve across fields, and up through a welcoming church in the old part of Winscombe. The climb goes up in stages and is not too difficult. We then drop down a grassy ridge and follow the
Cheddar Yeo back on the flat to Cross village, with two pubs, and it’s a short hop from there back to the start.
PARK: In a free large parking lay-by to the west of Axbridge on the A371, a short distance from the A38. From the A38, coming south, cross the Somerset border and bear left towards Wells, Axbridge and Cheddar on the A371. The lay-by is half a mile on the right.
START: Leave on the Tarmac path near the car park entrance. Cross a side road and continue on the Cheddar Valley railway path along the route of the old Strawberry Line. Opened in 1869 linking Yatton, Cheddar and Wells, it ran for nearly a century. Its most famous “passengers” were the early strawberries from the Cheddar area sent up to Bristol by train and on to other markets – hence its nickname. 1. MAIN ROAD At the A38 cross with care using the island and continue on the other side. The route is flanked by wild flowers, ferns, blackberries and is a great attraction to insects and butterflies. Continue on the line to Shute Shelve Tunnel.
With Sue Gearing PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
2. TUNNEL The tunnel was blasted out of solid rock in 1868. Go through. You can see the other end so it is not too dark. Sadly, the solar lights weren’t working when I
came. At the other end pass an old wooden barrow and spade marking the start of digging of the Strawberry Line in 1867. 3. SLADER’S LEIGH It’s not long before you see steps and a sign for Slader’s Leigh Nature Reserve on the left. Managed by the Mendip Society, it’s a tranquil, beautiful sheltered meadow full of wild flowers, butterflies and insects. The smell of meadowsweet filled the air when I came. Go back out the same way, and immediately left for a few yards along the upper path and then turn left into the narrow field following the footpath sign (by a Slader’s Leigh Wheelchair Access sign). Go straight across to a hidden stile in the hedge opposite. Turn right up the field edge and leave by a metal gate onto Eastwell Lane – this route, often very wet and boggy, is to be avoided. Go straight over into the field opposite and on to the end. See the splendid tower of Winscombe church over left. Cross a footbridge and then bear diagonally left through the field to the far corner. Near the end turn left so that you leave the field through a wide opening. The actual path is straight ahead and then left down the hedge to a stile but local usage takes the diagonal route. Then go straight across the next field. Cross a small stream on stones. Maintain direction and cross a wooden footbridge hidden near the far right corner. Carry on. Cross a stile to the right of a barn. A path leads on, through a yard and out to the
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road in old Winscombe.
4. THE SQUARE Left a few yards is the Square. Take the second lane on the left, Church Lane and continue to the steps to the 13th century church. St James is extremely welcoming– providing free coffee for visitors to enjoy while they look round. That’s a first in my experience. Among its delights are the stained glass windows and the carved angels round the edge of the barrel roof. Its 100ft high perpendicular tower is one of the finest in Somerset. To continue, go out the door and left round the side of the church and shortly bear up across the grass along the wall to the marked footpath and fixed kissing gate. Climb straight up the field and enter woodland over a stile. The path with steps bears up left, goes through a gate and then levels out in the open and heads across a field. 5. BARTON DROVE Reach one of the old drover routes across Mendip, Barton Drove and go more or less straight over on a Tarmac path which climbs all the way up to Hill Farm and then through to Cross Plain (NT). 6. CROSS PLAIN Turn right following the West Mendip Way, climbing quite steeply until you eventually reach the Trig Point on Wavering Down at 211 metres – a little higher than Crook Peak itself at just under 200. 7. TRIG POINT You are rewarded with spectacular views
WALKING
7 miles, about 4 hours walking. OS Explorer Map 141. Cheddar Gorge & Mendip Hills West, Grid ref: 423 548
all round. Carry on following the West Mendip Way by the dry stone wall where volunteers continue with its restoration. Drop downhill and continue by the wall which bears round left following the line of the downland round the bowl.
8. CROOK PEAK Reach the bottom of Crook Peak. Go up, if you wish, or stay on the lower path which goes round the back of it (ignore a footpath down left). Continue on the path which follows the grassy ridge down the other side of the bowl where Compton Bishop nestles. It descends and narrows. Stay with it all the way, go through a fence line and on ignoring side paths. Go straight on down quite steeply all the way to a gate leading onto the road. Cross with care on this difficult corner.
9. RACKLEY LANE Go down Rackley Lane, past a farm, and then left on the marked track. Cross a footbridge over the river and turn left over a stile by a gate.
10. RIVER Simply follow the Cheddar Yeo on your left all the way through fields for nearly a mile. Come out on a side road in Cross.
11. CROSS Cross left over the stone bridge and continue to the Old Coach Road. Turn right past an interesting variety of houses. Reach the White Hart, an old coaching inn (no food), and carry on further to the second popular Cross pub, the New Inn, serving food all day. Continue to the main A38 and cross to the road opposite leading to Axbridge, Wells and Cheddar. Use the grass verge on the right and after a couple of minutes take the marked footpath on the right through a gate by Springs Farm. 12. FOOTPATH This parallels the road, behind a hedge. It leads all the way to the road again at the far end. Cross the road and go up the first lane opposite; be careful along here and cross to the far side. Shortly, just by a road sign, go up right on a path and up steps through woodland to reach the parking and picnic area. Turn left back to the start. The White Hart Inn, Cross, 01934 732260 The New Inn, Cross, 01934 732455
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OUTDOORS
West Countryman’s Diary
WITH the breeze blowing gently outside my window and the garden looking green and quite pleasant, it's all too easy forget the recent bad weather. I must admit that riding this “roller coaster” of meteorological mayhem, has at times left me wondering which season we are in. With LES I still think we are a week later than DAVIES MBE normal; that would mean at least two weeks behind on Mendip. Having started to graft pear trees a couple of weeks back, I could hardly get the bark to lift. At this time of the year I would have expected it to be much better. Time will however sort the whole thing out and everything will catch up. One thing that the recent spells of weather has done is to bring some of the grazing animals down off Black Down into Burrington Combe. On several occasions I have seen the Red Devon cattle grazing on the side of the road. I have also heard of people getting quite excited about this situation, insisting that the animals have strayed on to the highway. In fact it is us who have strayed onto the common! Our busy and at times somewhat hectic lives can make us forget that not everything can be put into “boxes”. Burrington Commons have been in existence for a long time. The 1911 Burrington Commons Act laid out the rules by which the commons were to be used and protected. I well remember the conversation with a highways inspector when the cattle grids at both ends of the combe were being considered. He was of the opinion that nothing should be allowed to stray onto the highway – in fact he felt it was illegal. I had to point out that it was the highway authority who had created the road that ran through the common, a common that was there through an Act of Parliament, and enshrined in a legal system that stretched back to the Middle Ages. There exists today cattle grids at the top and bottom of the combe, with notices that warn of animals straying onto the highway. There is also a 40mph speed limit within the combe and quite often grazing goats that can be readily seen from the road. All of these things should be raising the level of driver awareness on a road that twists and turns throughout its length within a dried up river bed from the Triassic period of earth's evolution. It is not a motorway and when driving in the countryside we all need to take into account what may be around the next corner. A little closer to home for me is the Beckery in Glastonbury. A couple of years back I supplied apple trees and advice for planting a new orchard at the back of the old Morlands’ site between Glastonbury and Street. The Beckery, I am reliably informed, means the “Isle of the Bees” and is the site of a very early Christian chapel that dates back well over a thousand years. The new orchard has been planted between the industrial estate and the rising mound of land that is the site of the chapel; it would have been an island within the Avalon marshes at the time. The orchard will eventually be home to a collection of Somerset apple varieties. I have started this process with a grafting day for the conservation team from the South West Heritage Trust. It didn't take them long to pick up the basics of grafting, using a simple
technique. I still use the same basic skilled that were developed several thousand years ago, probably in China, that have been handed down through the millennia. Who knows, perhaps some of those monks who lived at the time the chapel was here, grafted apple trees at the great abbey. There were orchards connected to Glastonbury Abbey that grew fruit for eating, cooking and the production of cider. I helped rebuild one during the 1970s when I was the orchard advisor working in this area for Showering's of Shepton Mallet. This now brings me onto the next part of the story in connection with this site! There is at the moment an archaeological excavation of the Beckery chapel being carried out by the South West Heritage Trust. I could not resist a chance to go and take a look. For me this is real archaeology, where the layers of time are peeled away to reveal the bones that lay beneath. This was happening here, quite literally, on the day I visited. A previous excavation in the 1960s had revealed burials that had taken place on this site at least a thousand years ago. What is being done today will build upon the knowledge gained from this earlier excavation through the use of modern technology. At least two burials had been identified beneath the later walls of the chapel. You don't have to be a contender for a place in the Time Team to work out that these will be early interments. Consent from English Heritage had been sought, and given, to excavate these two burials. I stood and watched as the protective soil layer from the previous day’s excavation were removed. There lay the remains of a person who had lived and died in Glastonbury all that time ago. What was their life like; what had the land looked like at the time; what were their own hopes and aspirations? All these things and more are what I would like to know. Staring at the crushed and distorted skull that had lain undisturbed for so long was a window into the past. This was meeting with the ancestors and modern techniques will not only be able to tell us how long ago this person lived, but also where they originated from. Finally, come and visit the Youth Environmental Awards stand if you are coming to the Royal Bath and West Show this year. We are beneath the commentators’ box. There will be much more of an “agricultural” feel to the show this year, even being reflected by the main arena events. I am very much back in the “present” again. This month's photo Meeting an Ancestor is by Andy Stevens from the South West Heritage Trust’s Conservation Team.
You can always contact me through my website: Westcountryman.co.uk
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J un e is b us ti n ’ o u t a ll o v e r – a g a in
With MARY PAYNE MBE
IF you managed to get your garden under control in May then June may be a little easier. However, the weather is warmer and plants are still growing fast – and so are the weeds – if you
have any left! There is still plenty to keep you busy but try to make time to get out and about visiting other people’s gardens. The private gardens, owned by ordinary folk, who do not have a host of gardeners to help them and open in aid of the many worthwhile charities supported by the National Gardens Scheme, can often give you the most inspiration. They have toiled away through rain and shine to get their gardens to their peak. Look carefully and you will find that they too have weeds and plants that were not staked in time, or even slug damage on their hostas. Look out for pleasing plant combinations, labour-saving ideas and how to cope with awkward corners. Don’t forget to enjoy the scrumptious teas and cakes too. On your return take a lingering look at your own garden and you may well be pleasantly surprised and think yours is just as good, if not better. If this is the case, then contact your NGS county organiser who will be delighted to come and have a look. Whilst dreaming of opening your own garden, there is no time to waste as June jobs are looming. Traditionally, box hedges were clipped on Derby Day (June 4th this year), but the rise in the incidence of box disease has led to us leaving the clipping until later. The new shoots on the box will have matured somewhat and be less vulnerable to attack. It is also worth delaying clipping box if the weather is damp and humid, as these are the ideal conditions for the fungal disease that causes the problem. The foliage of most spring bulbs has died down sufficiently now for clumps to be lifted and divided, if necessary. Snowdrops should be replanted immediately, but daffodils bulbs can be cleaned and stored in a dry place ready for replanting in the autumn. Dead-heading is the ideal way to inspect your plants for problems before they become a disaster. At this time of year greenfly (and all their relatives) are PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
breeding faster than rabbits and can often be stopped in their tracks by squashing them. Sweet peas should be flowering well and will continue to bloom as long as they are not allowed to go to seed, so regular dead-heading is essential. Tomatoes, both indoors and out, are growing fast, and the side shoots should be removed regularly on those varieties that are NOT described as bush tomatoes. This encourages the leader to continue growing and producing more trusses of flowers and hopefully fruits. Ensure those grown in pots or particularly grow-bags do not go short of water, as irregular or shortage of water leads to blossom end rot developing. This shows as a sunken black patch on the base of the fruit and is caused by insufficient water in the plant carrying calcium to the fruits. Watch out for the bright red lily beetles on lilies and fritillaries. These attractive looking bugs lay eggs which hatch into larvae with voracious appetites for lily foliage and petals. The larvae have the undesirable habit of hiding in their own black slimy “pooh”. Do not be tempted to thin your apples, pears or plums in June because the trees will naturally shed those fruits that were imperfectly fertilised in what is referred to as “June Drop”. So wait until after the June Drop before thinning. One of the objects of thinning is to encourage the remaining fruits to be larger but also to discourage the tree from adopting “biennial bearing”. This means that the tree has a huge crop one year and then has a year off. It is hugely important to thin the crop on young fruit trees to help prevent the habit of biennial bearing.
With apples aim for one fruit every 15cm (6”). It should be safe to plant out any remaining tender vegetable plants or ornamentals, but take care to protect them from slugs and snails. The damage incurred during planting, however careful you think you are, brings the molluscs in from far and wide, probably attracted by the smell of the damaged foliage. The slug pellets based on ferric phosphate are claimed to be bird, hedgehog and pet friendly but should still only be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The biological control is only effective against slugs. Although we are only half-way through this year it is time to sow biennials to flower next spring and early summer. Hollyhocks, foxgloves and wallflowers can all be sown outdoors in rows ready to transplant to their flowering positions in the autumn. Wallflowers will benefit from a first transplant when about 5–7cm (2-3 inches) high spacing them 15–20cm (6-8 inches) apart. This breaks the tap root and encourages the development of a fibrous root system that causes less stress at the final transplant stage. Pansies, polyanthus and primroses can also be sown now, ideally in pots or trays, but it is vitally important for primulas and polyanthus not to let the trays get too hot. If the temperature rises above about 18ºC (65ºF) then the seed goes dormant and will not grow until it has had a cold period. So keep the trays in a cool, but light place. June is still a busy month but take five, pour yourself a glass of wine, relax and enjoy your garden.
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JUNE GARDEN TIPS
GARDENING
G Put up hanging baskets for colour and scent all summer. G Winter flowering pansies and spring flowering wallflowers should be replaced with summer flowering bedding plants now. G Lift and divide clumps of primroses and polyanthus. Heel them in a shady place for summer and they can be replanted in your borders again in autumn. G Check your roses regularly for greenfly, black spot and mildew. G It is usually at this time of year that whitefly and red spider mite populations in the greenhouse explode so, before that happens, get some natural predators to control these difficult pests the natural way. G Plant out those annual herbs that often resent being planted too early. Basil will prefer a very sheltered spot. G Plant outdoor tomatoes, ridge cucumbers, courgettes and marrows. These can all be easily grown in large pots or grow bags on the patio. G There is still time to make a sowing of perpetual spinach leaf beet. This is a really useful vegetable that can be harvested right through the winter. G First early potatoes should be ready for lifting now! If there are flowers showing and the leaves are starting to go yellow, that’s a sure sign that there are big enough tubers underneath to lift. G Prune out the first shoots that show signs of mildew on apple trees. This over-wintering infection can spread to the rest of the tree. Courtesy Cleeve Nursery
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:-
SHOWROOM NOW OPEN
Opening 8.00am – 5.00pm Mon – Fri. 8.00am – 12.00pm Sat
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 • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 63
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Tree business grows
ROB Drinkwater has been working as a tree surgeon in the West Country since 2000, expanding the business over the past decade. Although based near Weston-super-Mare, the company serves both private and commercial customers from Wales and Gloucestershire to Devon and further afield. The business has recently been awarded Approved Contractor status by the Arboricultural Association, demonstrating its commitment to providing quality work in accordance with the British Standards and excellent customer service. They are also TrustMark endorsed tradesmen and a CHAS Accredited Contractor.
Norton Green Farm Garden Centre and Nursery WELCOMES YOU THIS SPRING • Veg., plants, herbs, fruit trees & soft fruit • Conifers, roses, shrubs & trees • Summer corms & tubers, begonia, dahlia, gladioli etc. • 2016 seed collections by Unwins, Fothergills, Johnsons, Marshalls & Country Value etc. • Grass seed; fresh cut turf available to order (weekly deliveries) • Good selection of pots & containers inc. special offers • Compost, mulches & bark inc. multi-buy special offers • Wild bird food & feeders • HTA National Garden gift vouchers Also available: • Gravel & grits, paving & walling • Fencing, posts & trellis etc. • Turf available weekly to order LOCAL DELIVERY SERVICE Open: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 10.30am-4.30pm
Wells Road, Chilcompton, Nr. Bath Tel: 01761 232137 E. nortongreenfarm@tiscali.co.uk PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
NGS GARDEN OF THE MONTH
Nunney and East Burford House
EAST Burford House has over three acres of wild and formal gardens, woodland walks, lake and children’s playground. NGS opening details: Sunday June 5th and Monday June 6th, 11am – 5pm, with arts, crafts and plants on sale. Admission: £4.50, children under-16 free. Contact: Christopher and Lindsay Bond bondchristopher@btconnect.com East Burford House, West Compton, Pilton BA4 4PA. In Nunney three gardens are opening in the village, which is clustered around its 15th century church, duck pond, fed by the Nunney Brook, ruined medieval castle with moat and market square. Miller’s House: mostly perennial garden with terraced borders, rockeries, large, romantic mill pond and wild section between leat and Nunney Brook. Somerset Lodge: a garden with many aspects including topiaries, tall yew pyramids, lavender, small, tucked away secret garden leading to a glorious meadow. Sunny Bank: has been transformed from a former vegetable plot into an intriguing half-acre garden providing variety and interest in numerous sections NGS opening details: Saturday June 25th, 11am – 4pm. Admission: Combined entry £6. Children free. Contact: Mrs J Stanford judithstanford.ngs@hotmail.co.uk
OTHER GARDENS OPEN FOR THE NGS To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Yellow Book or local county leaflet available from local garden centres, or go to: http://www.ngs.org.uk
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GARDENING
Your path to a perfect lawn
Fine Lawn Care specialise in all aspects of lawn treatment, providing lawn treatment services all year round to private home owners and commercial clients, including business parks, small office complexes and sports clubs. Creating and keeping a beautiful lawn takes a lot of time, effort and skill. Keeping your lawn looking its best is a constant battle against stubborn weeds and the changing weather conditions. If your lawn is in need of some TLC, Fine Lawn Care can help. They are a privately owned non-franchise business with many years of lawn care experience and are members of the Institute of Groundsmen. Their employees are all fully qualified green keepers and PA1 and PA6A pesticide licence holders. If you have difficult and persistent lawn problems they can help revitalise your lawn with up to five tailored treatments throughout the year. They have a tried and tested system, which they are successfully using on hundreds of lawns throughout Bristol, Somerset and the South West. You may of course already have a beautiful lawn, in which
case they can help you maintain your lawn throughout the year to a very high standard. All lawn feeds are non-scorch and far superior to those available on the domestic market. Fine Lawn Care is currently offering a free lawn assessment and first treatment free when you sign up to its annual lawn treatment programme or you can receive a free assessment and then choose to have selected treatments at certain times of the year.
Details: for more details and to discuss your lawn treatment needs contact Fine Lawn Care on 0800 023 2714 email info@finelawncare.co.uk or go to www.finegardening.co.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 65
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Somerlap’s 35th anniversary IF you haven’t already brought your garden furniture out of storage now is the time to do so, to make the most of the light evenings. Ensure that your seating is in good condition before you begin to use it and your wooden furniture may require treating or re-painting. Before you retreat your wooden furniture it
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 Se e ou r webs ite for mo re details www.rockymou ntainnurseries.co .uk
ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES – PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
will need to be thoroughly cleaned and allowed to dry completely before any treatment is applied. If you are considering purchasing some new garden furniture, Somerlap has an excellent softwood range which includes tables, benches, swing seats and furniture made from pallets. They also stock barbeque shelters to make your barbeque area into a garden feature and protect you from any surprise showers! Somerlap supply quality garden products to people and businesses in Somerset and beyond and celebrate their 35th anniversary this year. With a substantial range including garden furniture, decking, fencing, trellis, planters, sheds and gates, they have everything you need to enjoy your garden this summer.
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Last chance to tour garden?
GARDENING
Weston Garden Machinery Garden Machinery & Woodburning Specialists
Turn around your obstacles Time to relax during a visit to East Burford House
THIS June could be the last time for visitors to explore the gardens at East Burford House under the National Gardens Scheme. After spending the past 26 years developing the gardens, near Pilton, owners Christopher and Lindsay Bond have put the property on the market. When the couple arrived, the gardens were three quarters of an acre of walled kitchen garden with a two-acre field next door. Christopher and Lindsay – with the help of gardeners including locally-based Roger Noble – turned the land into 14 different gardens including a formal garden next to the terrace and a wild, informal area with pond. There are sculptures all around. For details, see NGS Garden of the Month on page 64
In the Husqvarna Rider Mower range, there’s a model just for you – the range covers everything from professional out front mowers to small ride on lawn mowers. 316T – Powerful and versatile large ride-on mower with twin cylinder engine and optional 103 or 112cm Combi cutting decks, can easily fitted with a broom or snow blade or snow blower.
553S – Reliable, robust machine designed for tough, professional use, even in wet weather with front wheel drive for optimal handling, lightweight wheels of aluminium, double ball bearings and rubber tyres.
TS 242 – Durable and comfortable tractor with high manoeuvrability, ideal for homeowners with larger gardens, makes it easy to make turns and mow round obstacles, can be complimented with a collector.
Behind Shell Garage Winterstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset BS23 2YS
Tel: 01934 626093/813261 www.westongarden.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 67
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Welcome to Rookery Farm
Welcome: visitors to Rookery Farm are highly likely to meet Pepper the Dalmatian, owned by Richard and Fiona
THE relocation of Mendip Auction Rooms to bigger premises – with more car parking – at Rookery Farm at Binegar has triggered some exciting new developments. There’s a new face with the arrival of Decoupage, run by Hydie and Dan Rees, and well-known Aaron Coleman, who runs Mendip Rural Services, will be taking over a unit to sell, service and repair garden and landscape equipment. Rookery Farm has always been a place of business and trade and continues to thrive. Owners Richard and Fiona Lyons have strong anecdotal evidence that the farm was used as a base for the Army Remount Division during both the First and Second World Wars. Horses were brought there in vast numbers, broken, shod and ridden/led to Maesbury station to be transferred via the Somerset and Dorset railway to Southampton and onwards to the battlefields in France. Their research on this aspect of Rookery Farm’s history continues. Fiona said: “The relocation of Mendip Auction Rooms to a larger unit has been a great success and the transformation of the space to an excellent auction facility has been stunning. The first sale in the new unit took place only a few days after the move so congratulations are due to Tom and Sally Killen and the whole auction room team for all their efforts. The new unit provides an additional 60-70 parking spaces for auction customers.”
PAGEP?? AGE •M 68ENDIP • MENDIP TIMES TIMES • DECEMBER • JUNE 2016 2011
Grooming and more at Paws to Claws
WITH access to 15,000 pet products, from food and treats to supplements and accessories, it’s little wonder that Emma Green can display just a relatively small selection at her Paws to Claws grooming salon. But Paws to Claws is very much a one-stop shop for all an owner needs to keep a pet in tiptop condition from nose to tail. Emma, who also runs Wells and Mendip Dog Day Stay, said: Emma and her niece Ella “Although I started out mainly as a grooming salon, it soon became clear that clients were also looking for pet foods and other products at the same time and that side of the business is growing all the time. And, if I don’t have it in stock, then it’s very easy to order something specific.” Emma, who has started stocking high quality leads and collars from a nearby leather worker, said she had also seen an increase in the number of pet owners wanting supplements for their pets. She added: “Some people like to make up their own food combinations so I stock items like seaweed and charcoal granules as well as rock sulphur to add to a pet’s water, which is especially beneficial in hotter weather.”
Unit 5, Rookery Farm, Binegar, BA3 4UL
Day care and holiday care for your dog/s
Springfield, Haydon Drove Nr Wells BA5 3EH find us on facebook: Wells & Mendip Dog Day Stay
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Colour is my passion
DÉCOUPAGE – the art of decorating objects with paper and then covering with lacquer or varnish. Hydie Rees admits she was spellbound when she first saw someone using the technique on a lampstand and it was to signal the start of a new hobby and now a career. Hydie has just opened The Decoubox at Rookery Farm where she can transform just Hydie puts the finishing touches to about any piece of furniture an ottoman or other object. She plans to start running workshops there for fellow enthusiasts in June. The Decoubox also offers a range of interior items and accessories and Hydie is the sole stockist in this area of Frenchic furniture paints. She said: “Découpage probably started as a way to brighten up a dull piece of furniture but, at a time when money can be tight, I can personalise something at a fraction of the cost of a bespoke piece.” Hydie, who lives in Hinton Blewitt, added: “I have always loved art and colour is my main interest. I was working from home, but discovered Rookery Farm and here is ideal for me.”
More treatments on offer
PODIATRIST Sue Boothroyd is taking on extra space to offer more treatments at her Foot Faerie clinic. Sue has been based at Rookery Farm for just a few months after moving from Wells, but has seen a big increase in the number of clients making appointments. Sue said: “People seem to appreciate the rural atmopshere; it’s very relaxing. Right now, I have swallows and bluebells outside the windows. “It is very easy to get here from Wells, Shepton Mallet, Radstock and Midsomer Norton and I’ve also taken on new clients from much further afield.” Once completed, the extended treatment rooms will also be more accessible with an improved entrance and toilet facilities.
Stockist of Frenchic furniture paint
VISITORS to Somer Craft Addix can browse an even more extensive range of crafting supplies as well as additional classes and workshops. Sarah Robertson, who is now in her third year of running the enterprise, has increased her Sarah has extended her range of Stylecraft range of yarns Stylecraft yarns as well as lines such as Crafters Companion, Woodware and Sweet Dixie Dies. Fridays at Somer Craft Addix now see paper craft workshops taking place and Sarah has also started selling supplies via ebay. Sarah said: “People are still discovering us for the first time, so we are always seeing new faces here and people comment on the friendly faces at the A paper craft workshop underway – this one was concentrating on greetings cards for classes and men, with Father’s Day in mind, perhaps workshops.”
SOMER CRAFT ADDIX
WEEKLY WORKSHOPS AND CRAFT CLUBS
Imagination Crafts • Crafters Companion • Woodware • Pan Pastels • Various dies, inks and much more!
Hydie Rees proprietor/designer
Now stocking Stylecraft yarns!
Unit 4, Rookery Farm, Binegar, BA3 4UL
Website: http://riddlemeree1.wix.com/mysite
Bigger range for crafters
For all your paper crafting needs!
Handpainted furniture Découpage by design
Tel: 07847 760776
FOCUS ON ROOKERY FARM
Open: Tues 6.30-9pm • Wed-Fri 10-4pm • Sat 10-2pm Unit 11, Rookery Farm, Binegar, near Wells, BA3 4UL
Unit 6, Rookery Farm, Binegar, Radstock BA3 4UL
01749 840567 • 07739 048679 MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 69
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Mendip Rural Services Ltd.
Sales, service and repairs for all types of garden machinery and equipment from lawnmowers to chainsaws. Ideal location within short distance of Wells, Shepton Mallet and Midsomer Norton.
Coming soon to Rookery Farm!
Our contractor services include: Equestrian, campsites and smallholdings Paddock care, drainage and fencing Digger and driver hire Logs and hay for sale Fully insured Friendly and reliable Please call Aaron Coleman on 07974 259766 or 01749 674077
Mendip Rural Services, Springfield, Haydon Drove, Haydon, Wells, Somerset BA5 3EH. E-mail: aaroncole80@hotmail.com Website: www.mendipruralservices.co.uk
Q1. When shall we meet? A
Breakfast, brunch or lunch.
Q1. Where is the best place for lunch? A
Hartleys Kitchen
Q1. Where and when? A
Rookery Farm
Tuesday - Saturday 8am-4pm Sunday 9am - 3pm
PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
FOCUS ON ROOKERY FARM
Right place, right time
AARON Coleman, who runs Mendip Rural Services, is opening a new business at Rookery Farm selling, servicing and repairing all types of garden and landscape machinery. The new venture comes after Aaron reached a deal with recently-closed Uphill and Son Ltd. of Chewton Mendip to take on that side of their business. Aaron studied farm Aaron Coleman will be opening a new mechanisation at business at Rookery Farm Cannington College and worked for local companies such as Uphills and John Sheppard Feeders before starting Mendip Rural Services, which offers a range of agricultural and landscape services for smallholders, campsites and such like. Aaron said: “There has always been a demand for garden machinery sales and servicing on this part of Mendip and it was a case of seizing the opportunity when I discovered the unit at Rookery Farm was available. “Mendip Rural Services has continued to grow and this seemed like a good direction in which to develop.” G The unit is due to open early in June.
Everything is special at Hartley’s
THERE’S something special about Hartley’s Café Bistro, but it’s tricky to put your finger on exactly what it is: the lovely country setting, the eclectic decor, or the passion the team at Hartley’s have for excellent cuisine? Inside, the atmosphere is relaxed, warm and friendly. Outside, parasol decked tables mean eating al fresco on sunny summer days is delightful. The staff are full of enthusiasm for the dishes they serve, be it a traditional full English breakfast, 8oz Somerset fillet steak au poivre, marinated duck breast, or whole plaice with herb butter. If you fancy a great Sunday brunch, check out the specials such as nasi goreng and devilled kidneys. Delve into a traditional Sunday roast with crispy roast potatoes cooked in garlic and rosemary, al dente vegetables and homemade horseradish sauce. Hartley’s also pride themselves on their fine range of coffee, fruit juices, local beer, cider, and well-chosen wines. The café bistro has become a well-known venue for cyclists, classic car clubs, golfers and ramblers. Whether you stop by for a cup of tea, homemade gateau, a bacon sandwich or a champagne lunch, you will not be disappointed. There’s a large car park too, which takes the hassle out of visiting.
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St. Benedict’s come top!
A MASSIVE “well done” to St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School football team who won the South West Primary Regional Football Finals of The Danone Nations Cup at Odd Down Sports Centre. The team drew the “friendly” warm-up match and then went on to win every match they played in the tournament! St Benedict’s is now the top, small schools’ team for the South West and will be representing the region in the national finals. These were due to take place as Mendip Times went to press on May 22nd at the King Power Stadium, home of the Premier League winners, Leicester City. A school spokesman said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the children and their coach John Paines of Circle Coaching and we are all very much looking forward to our trip to Leicester. Go St. Ben’s!”
St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School Charlton Road, Midsomer Norton BA3 4BD ‘Growing Together Through Christ’
Where every day is an OPEN DAY
Please call 01761 418594 to make an appointment We are a smaller than average school and pride ourselves on our caring approach and our ability to meet every child’s needs, helping them develop and ensure they reach their full potential, whilst growing in the love of Christ. We welcome children of all faiths. We also offer wrap-around care as well as an independent on-site Nursery Come and see for yourselves what the St Benedict’s experience can do for your child.
EDUCATION
News from Burrington Primary School
MAY proved to be a very exciting month for Burrington Primary C of E School. It started with every class taking part in maypole dancing. The Y3 and Y4 children helped the reception children take part and parents provided delicious cakes and refreshments and they enjoyed beautiful weather. They will be maypole dancing again at the village fete on Saturday, July 16th. The school is part of a group of seven schools taking part in the ENTHUSE project which aims to excite children about science and technology. As part of the project the school welcomed a wheelchair basketball player and gained some understanding about the difficulties that wheelchair users face. The children learnt about the problems that children in Tanzania have in accessing affordable, comfortable wheelchairs and have seen wheelchairs made from garden chairs and bicycle wheels. The children have been designing model motorised wheelchairs, considering comfort and stability. Parents were invited to go and see the models and they were amazed at the inventiveness of the designs. The winning designs will represent the school at the ENTHUSE finals. The children are now busy trying to raise enough money to buy two wheelchairs for children in Tanzania. The PTA are holding a ball at Mendip Springs Golf Club on Friday, June 24th, always a relaxed and fun evening for everyone. Tickets are available from the school; you would be made very welcome. The governors are looking to launch an early years’ class this September for children in the term in which they turn three.
Open Morning Tuesday, 21st June, 9.15 – 11.00am
If you are unable to attend on this date, please phone the school office to make an appointment. We look forward to welcoming you.
8am Daily Breakfast Club
Spaces available across the school Coffee Morning in the Village Hall, all welcome, free pre-school equipment 10th June, 8th July, 9th September, 7th October, 4th November & 2nd December 2016, 8.50 – 11am
Details: If you are interested in a place, would like more information or would like to visit the school, then please contact the school office on 01761 462662 or e-mail: BurringtonPrimary.School@n-somerset.gov.uk MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 71
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New transport links to Bath College WHETHER you are considering a full-time or part-time course with Bath College at either their Bath city centre or Somer Valley Campus, it has never been easier for you to reach them. Their city centre campus is located right in the very heart of Bath, just a short walk from both the train and bus stations, with multiple public train and bus routes from the surrounding areas of Bath, Bristol and Wiltshire every 15–30 minutes. The great news is that the college have now added to these transport links by providing a new bus route from the Chew Valley area into Bath. The route will run from Bishops Sutton via Chew Magna and on into Bath in time for the start of the college day. If you prefer to travel by car, Bath benefits from a regular park and ride service from Lansdown, Odd Down and Newbridge. Services run every 12-15 minutes into the city centre and the college is within easy walking distance of each drop-off point. Alternatively, there are a number of long and short-stay car parks nearby. Their Somer Valley Campus is located in Westfield, between Radstock and Midsomer Norton and is closer to the surrounding cities, towns and villages than many people think. It’s easily accessible by car and they have plenty of parking available on site.
They also run a series of four college buses for full-time students covering south Bristol, Chew Valley, Wells and Frome. Details of routes and fares are available on their website. There are also 47 public bus routes which run to nearby Radstock. Funding to support bus travel costs may be available depending on personal circumstance.
Details: for more detailed travel information or information on their wide range of courses visit www.bathcollege.ac.uk or call 01225 312191 ext 720.
PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
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A GROUP of students from North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College (NSETC) have been crowned the overall winners at the Young Enterprise West of England area final. The year 12 NSETC students win Young students won Best Enterprise area final Company Programme for their business, Growtopia, which produces educational books for young children, and will now go on to compete in the South West Regional Final on June 15th at RNLI in Dorset. Rob Carter, chair of the Young Enterprise West of England Board said: “With standards this year higher than ever, Growtopia deservedly finished victorious with a powerful mixture of innovation, compassion, fun and great teamwork. Really well done.”
EDUCATION
Adult learning – accessible and affordable!
ONE of the top performing colleges in the country will soon be releasing its new adult and part-time course guide. Weston College says provision is now more affordable than ever because of changes to the Advanced Learner Loan, which was previously only available to students aged 24 or over. Many students aged between 19 and 23 still qualify for free tuition and fees; but if you don’t, the Advanced Learner Loan is an option, as they’re now available for students aged 19 and over. They cover a range of courses including A Levels, Access to Higher Education, certificates, diplomas Ceri Forsdike and more. Apprentices may also be eligible if they take an applicable course in addition to their apprenticeship programmes. Ceri Forsdike took out an Advanced Learner Loan to help her take a Level 3 Hairdressing course. She said: “When I had my daughter I had to leave my employment but had an opportunity to study at Weston College. “I wouldn’t have been able to progress onto my Level 3 course without the Advanced Learner Loan – it allowed me to complete my learning to the best possible level and gave me the confidence to set up my own business as a mobile hairdresser.” There’s a full FAQ section about the loans on the Weston College website: www.weston.ac.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 73
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What’s in a name?
WE like to name things. Sometimes the name is descriptive, sometimes we honour the inventor or discoverer, or simply name something to locate it. Every Mendip cave and mine has a unique name to differentiate it from other underground sites. The names can help locate the site, for With PHILIP example Hunters’ Lodge Inn Sink, or HENDY describe some aspect of the feature, such as Singing River Mine. Quite often, a personal name is used and it is obvious that the person who finds a cave will often give his name to it. However, since cavers are self-effacing people, the convention is that you do not name a cave after yourself. You hope that a fellow caver will do that for you! The early show cave entrepreneurs had no such humility, so the names of George Cox and Richard Gough are perpetuated in the caves which they opened up for public enjoyment (and as a source of income). Brownes’ Hole at Stoke St. Michael was dug open by the Browne family from Frome in the 1950s and Hywel’s Hole in Lamb Bottom was dug by Hywel Murrell in 1934. Savory’s Hole in Ebbor Gorge was investigated by the pioneer cave photographer Harry J. Savory in 1911. These caves were named by others to identify them – Browne’s Hole was obviously the hole being dug by the Brownes. Some caves have been named after people who had no clear or direct association with them. Aveline’s Hole in Burrington Combe, an important Mesolithic burial site, was excavated by an early archaeologist, Professor William Boyd Dawkins, in the 19th century. He named the cave in honour of his friend and mentor, the geologist William Talbot Aveline, who lived at Wrington. Professor Edgar K. Tratman was an active member of the University of Bristol Speleological Society during the middle of the 20th century. The UBSS spent a lot of time digging and exploring caves in Burrington Coombe, and Tratty or Trat, as he was known, was also active there. It is a pity that one of the sites he dug, Trat’s Crack, is hardly a place worthy of commemorating the man. Also in Burrington, Rodney Pearce was a UBSS man who helped explore one of a line of swallets near Mendip Lodge Wood. Originally known as Pearce’s Pot, the name was soon
Gough’s Old Cave, Queen’s Jewel Chamber
Gough’s Old Cave, Cathedral Chamber 1
changed to Rod’s Pot. Further along the line, a large quantity of Early Iron Age material was found in a swallet dug open in 1919. The name originally chosen by the UBSS was Keltic Cavern, but the Ordnance Survey refused to recognise the name, as they argued that there was no real connection with the Celts. So Read’s Cavern, as it appears on modern maps, was named after one of the diggers, Reginald Read, though Bertie Crook, Leo Palmer and Edgar Tratman were also involved in the discovery. Similarly, the great pioneer of Mendip caving, Herbert Balch, was posthumously honoured in 1961 when a spectacular decorated cave was opened by blasting in Fairy Cave Quarry at Stoke St. Michael. Sadly, Balch Cave was soon quarried away and only a few isolated fragments remain, with vestiges of the glories they once held. In the same quarry, two quarrymen were helpful to cave explorers in the 1960s. The manager, Ted Garlick, is commemorated with Garlick’s Rift, while Duck’s Pot was
Nancy Camel’s Hole
Phil has been caving for more than 47 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in produ PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
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discovered by the eponymous driver of a mechanical shovel, when the machine subsided into the top of a shaft. Landowners are also commemorated in cave names. Waldegrave Swallet, an abandoned dig near Waldegrave Pool, near the Waldegrave Leadworks on Waldegrave Estate’s land at Priddy is well named. Another unsuccessful dig, Fairman’s Folly near the Miner’s crossroads and the tight muddy Dallimore’s Cave close to Hillgrove, were both named after the farmers who owned the land. Historical figures also feature in cave names. Tom Tivey, reputedly a minor criminal in the 19th century from Chantry, is supposed to have hidden from the arm of the law in Tom Tivey’s Hole – or was it Tom Tivey’s Other Hole, both near Asham Wood? There are two Plumley’s caves in Burrington Combe, but to avoid confusion one, Plumley’s Den, is now commonly known as Foxes Hole. This cave was supposed to have been used as a refuge by John Plumley in around 1686, when hiding from government forces following the failed Monmouth Rebellion. There were two Plumleys living at the time, but the story seems to be a fanciful invention. Joe Plumley gave his name posthumously to Plumley’s Hole, opposite the Rock of Ages. In 1875, a shaft estimated to be more than 15 metres deep was opened by quarrying. The unfortunate Joe was chosen to be let down on a rope to investigate, but when he was being pulled up on the return, he became caught at a narrow point, and his neck was broken. When rescuers went down to retrieve the body, his feet were said to be in a stream of water, but soon afterwards the shaft was sealed, and it has remained closed ever since. Cavers can be very inventive and fanciful when it comes to naming their discoveries, both under and above ground. We try to give unique names, partly to avoid confusion, but also to inform others about the general location of a site or a distinctive nearby landmark, or to give an indication of the general nature of the cave. The Wessex Cave Club publication Who was Aveline Anyway? by Richard Witcombe (no connection with Whitcombe’s Hole) explains the naming and background to most of Mendip’s caves, and their passages and chambers.
CAVING
Browne’s Hole
Read’s Cavern main chamber
Gough’s Old Cave, Cathedral Chamber 2
roducing several caving publications and is a caving instructor in Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves. MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 75
(Photography by Phil Hendy)
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A complete local service
ALTHOUGH a small and local family firm, Killens are able to punch above their weight in the range of property matters that they can provide advice on. Tom Killen is primarily a valuer and land agent and his family have lived in the Mendip area for generations. Once an auctioneer at the old Winford livestock market, Tom has practised in the locality for over 25 years and is now supported by an enthusiastic and friendly team operating from three offices and the Mendip Auction Rooms. Regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Killens are unique in being able to advise on the value of all forms of property as well as antiques and contents and are also able to provide a comprehensive marketing service as well. Headed by Tom and fellow chartered surveyor and recently appointed associate partner, Jake Smith, the valuation team carry out valuations for private, institutional and corporate clients for many purposes including taxation and district valuer negotiations, sales and acquisitions, estate planning and property transfers, probate, matrimonial disputes, insurance and expert witness reports. Supported by their colleagues at the Mendip Auction Rooms, Killens are able to provide a “one stop shop” on valuation services. Tom said: “Since establishing Killens in 2008, we have built a team of professional property experts and we are now able to provide our clients with a comprehensive valuation service for most purposes. Sometimes, the situations when valuations are
PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
Jake Smith
required can be difficult and stressful for those concerned but we endeavour to provide a friendly and honest service that alleviates the pressures.” If you require a valuation of your property, whether it be a house, farm, industrial unit or even a Clarice Cliff bowl and would like advice, contact in the first instance Tom Killen or Jake Smith at Killens on 01749 671172.
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PROPERTY
Equestrian centre becomes available WHATEVER the weather, Hill Farm in Burtle offers the professional equestrian all the facilities required both indoor and outside. Located in the heart of Somerset it comes onto the market for the first time in many years. This long-established and highly regarded riding school and livery yard is an amazing opportunity for the professional rider and those seeking a new business to invest in, with some 54 acres of land, excellent equestrian facilities, extensive agricultural buildings and a smart four-bedroom house. For the equine enthusiast there is stabling for some 37 horses in a stable yard in American barn style with additional pony pens if required. Along with the stabling there are facilities for kitchen, meeting and training rooms, secure feed and tack rooms and hot shower rooms, plus an outdoor manege, modern indoor arena and plenty of large vehicle parking. The location of Burtle has easy communications to the M5 and the competition sites at Pontispool, Taunton and Stockland Lovell. Hill Farm is affiliated with the British Horse Society, British Eventing
First time on the market for over 80 years!
Federation, Pony club and Riding for the disabled to name but a few and has recently teamed up with a new venture in equine therapy. The meeting and training facilities allow for lectures from local professionals and in-house training for staff. In addition to the equestrian business there is a smart four-bedroom detached house. The house is approached via the same drive from the road and then spurs off from the business side of the property, allowing for some owner privacy. There is also a drive leading to the agricultural side of the business where there are extensive covered yards and outbuildings. In all, Hill Farm stands in approximately 54 acres and offers all the facilities the equestrian and farmer could require.
HEART OF SOMERSET
MAJOR EQUESTRIAN ESTABLISHMENT A mature and superbly equipped equestrian establishment generating high income, located in a village with easy communications to motorway network. Well presented 10 yr old four bedroom detached house, stable yard for 22 horses, American barn stabling for 15. Outdoor manege, indoor arena, secure ancillary rooms, meeting and training areas, hot showers for horses. Extensive agricultural buildings, parking and lorry areas. BHS and BEF affiliations. In all 56 acres. (AOC applies) Ref: 24219 EPC: E. PRICE GUIDE £1,650,000
PUXTON Moor Farm is located on the outskirts of the village with an attractive view to the famous leaning tower of Puxton church. This 1930s farmhouse occupies the site of a much older building, the remnants of which are adjacent to the main house in a two-storey outhouse (Grade 11 listed). Behind the house is an extensive concrete yard with over 5,000 square feet of agricultural barns and some 1,600 square feet of stone and tile outbuildings. The land surrounds the house and yard and amounts to just over 26 acres.
PUXTON, NORTH SOMERSET
A SUBSTANTIAL DETACHED FARMHOUSE, OUTBUILDINGS AND 26 ACRES
A large detached house with adjacent stone and tile outhouse (Grade 11), extensive stone and tile outbuildings, agricultural buildings, yards and long drive approach from rural lane. Main House: Sitting room, dining room, living room, kitchen and utility. Three double bedrooms and bathroom. The outhouse requires renovation. Ref: 25016 PRICE GUIDE £875,000
Wrington Tel: 01934 864300 MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 77
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Physician, heal thyself
IS it ethical for surgeons to operate on themselves? Possibly not, but I know of at least a dozen who’ve done their own vasectomies. OK, so it’s hardly major surgery – with a Swiss army knife, a supple back and a well-angled shaving mirror, it should all be over in ten minutes. But why bother when you could ask a mate to do By Dr PHIL it with half the hassle? Of the self-surgeons I’ve HAMMOND spoken to, the commonest reasons for turning a knife to your own scrotum, apart from natural curiosity, are “to make sure I get enough anaesthetic”, “so it’s done properly” and “so no-one will laugh at my nob”. This hardly inspires confidence in the vasectomy industry, but as market forces transform snip clinics into conveyor belts, it’s not unheard of for patients to be aware of what’s happening down below and for surgeons to remove something other than a piece of vas deferens. As for laughing at your anatomy, I’m sure they’ve got better things to do in the staff canteen but most doctors have a phobia about being examined intimately by other doctors. Men have been known to examine their own prostate rather than risk a colleague’s gloved finger, and nearly every pregnant doctor I’ve known has examined her own cervix. This is more out of curiosity than fear, to assess the ripeness. For those who’ve never tried, a normal cervix is firm and long, like a carrot. By the end of pregnancy, it goes soft and mushy, like a warm marshmallow. Desperate doctors have even been known to give it a quick “sweep” to try to bring on labour. At 42 weeks with heartburn, backache and piles, you’ll try anything. Nurses too have been known to tamper with themselves. Recently, I met a sister who did her own cervical smear because of a bad experience with another nurse. It wasn’t the cold speculum or the lack of jelly that put her off, but her colleague’s over-familiarity. “It was just like going into a Harvester’s Restaurant. She introduced herself as Julie, explained what everything on the trolley was and then told me ‘to pop my little panties down and flop my legs like a frog.’ And just as she was about to take the smear, she leant across and said ‘Ooh, that’s a nice perfume.’ I’ve not been able to wear Lilly of the Valley since.” In a sense, doing your own smear isn’t that far removed from examining your breasts. If you’ve got the expertise, why not? Doctors also have an unpleasant habit of experimenting on their relatives. Gerhard Domanghk, a pioneer of sulphonamide antibiotics, tried them out on his daughter first and Edward Jenner treated his son to an inoculation of cowpox liquid to test his vaccination theories. Both got away with it and to this day doctors can be found giving their kids antibiotics when they’d tell their patients to try Calpol. We should ask for another opinion, but doctors also hate treating other doctors. When you ask for help, the answer is usually “What do you think we should do?” Not that I ask for help very often. Last time I was examined in a GP’s surgery I was 18 and a student with tonsillitis. The doctor looked in my mouth and then stuck his hands down the front of my pants. “What are you studying?” he asked. “Medicine” I replied. He flushed, removed his hands, mumbled something about glands and got me out of the door as quickly as possible. I’ve been treating myself ever since. Dr Phil will be performing in Frome, Bristol and the Edinburgh Fringe. Details www.drphilhammond.com
PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
Testing times
IT seems a cruel joke that exams and tests fall in the summer months. Eldest child is approaching her A levels and will sit her first exam shortly. Middle child is drifting around taking the odd test but is mainly interested in trying to arrange her social life and has acquired three jobs – delivering leaflets, watering gardens and working on a chicken farm – to pay for shopping trips into the city. Eldest child and I decide to follow middle-child’s example and agree that some retail therapy is necessary. We visit numerous shops trying to find a dress for her year 13 ball. We don’t come back with a dress but do enjoy our time together and over a long lunch we chat about friends, travelling and her plans for summer. We all seek distraction from the mundane in life and as the weather warms up no-one wants to be inside revising. It’s the weekend before youngest son sits his year 6 SATs. Granny asks if he will be doing any revision. I explain that over the past week or so he has had enough homework to last a lifetime and the sun is shining and he wants to be outside. However, later on I feel guilty that maybe I am not doing enough to help him fulfil his academic potential. “Is there anything you would like to revise for your SATs? Anything you are unsure about and would like to go over?” I ask. I am hoping that he doesn’t want me to help him with maths. I have tested the limits of my knowledge with the practice papers he has brought home in recent weeks. In fact I am still feeling guilty about going swimming the previous Thursday evening and coming home to hear from his sisters that he had a “total meltdown” in front of a test paper on angles. “I was a really kind big sister to him,” the 14year-old says proudly. She describes how on hearing wailing from downstairs she intervened and comforted him. Eldest child was able to help him with some but not all of the practice paper and even Mendip Dad on arriving home struggled with the remaining unanswered questions. Luckily he decides that a revision session isn’t necessary. Instead, he cycles to the park, plays football with his friends and watches TV. His friend joins him after football practice and they go up into the bluebell woods and build dens. He comes back dirty and scratched but full of enthusiasm for his self-build. Later that day he tells us how, in a recent school assembly, he described what God might be thinking. His theory is based on empathy. He then tries to explain Einstein’s theory of relativity as we sit down to eat our evening meal. At that point I realise that his mind is expanding relative to his surroundings and that he is doing just fine without revision!
MENDIP MUM
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Living well with Alzheimer’s
HEALTH & FAMILY
RESEARCH by Alzheimer’s Society shows that 850,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia. In less than ten years a million people will be living with dementia. There are currently estimated to be more than 2,600 people in Bath and North East Somerset who are living with dementia. A diagnosis of dementia might come as a shock, or, for some people, it may bring a sense of relief as it provides an explanation for the problems they have been experiencing. However, it’s important for someone with a diagnosis to know they are not alone. Marco Van-Tintelen, Services Manager at Alzheimer’s Society, explains more about dementia: “Dementia is not a normal part of ageing. Dementia is an umbrella term to describe diseases of the brain. There are many types of dementia but the most common forms are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Less common are dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. “Dementia affects everyone differently and can cause a wide range of symptoms which will get worse over time. These can include problems with memory, thinking, concentration and language. Various factors can increase the risk of someone developing dementia. Ageing, genes, health and lifestyle all play a part. Most people with dementia are over 65 years of age, but dementia does also affect younger people too. “There is no known cure for dementia, but there are drugs and other therapies that can help with some of the symptoms. With a combination of these, lots of people can live well with dementia for many years.” G Alzheimer’s Society runs a number of local services in and around Bath including dementia support, home support, day support, Singing for the Brain and befriending. Please visit www.alzheimers.org.uk for more details, call their local office on 01225 396678 or email bath@alzheimers.org.uk
School wins care award
CHURCHILL Academy is one of the first schools in Somerset to win one of Diabetes UK’s Good Diabetes Care in School Awards which recognise schools which are providing good care and support to children and young people with Type 1 diabetes. Chris Hildrew, headteacher, said: “We take our responsibility to provide children with the support and care they need to manage their condition safely in school very seriously.” Details: www.diabetes.org.uk/school-award
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 79
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Put your best foot forward
HEALTH & FAMILY
IT’S show and festival season and our feet and ankles will be taking a pounding. Gerard Latouff, orthopaedic consultant at Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre, explains.
IN cases where surgery is required, we use the latest technology to make fewer, smaller incisions, resulting in reduced tissue damage and scarring. Cases can often be treated on a day patient basis. A bunion is a painful bony deformity and surgery involves cutting or removing part of the toe bone and then realigning the bones. Hammer toe is a condition that often occurs with bunions. Suitable pads, shoes and exercises can treat this condition, and surgery is used to treat severe cases. Claw toe is when tightened ligaments and tendons cause the toe to contract and is often caused by arthritis. Treatments can include physiotherapy, or surgery for severe cases. Stiff big toe is a form of degenerative arthritis in the joint where the big toe meets the foot. Using shoe pads and shoes with plenty of room may help, but surgery may be necessary if pain continues. For flat feet, treatment usually takes the form of corrective
insoles (orthotics) in shoes. Surgery is rare and usually only for children – although we also carry out corrective surgery for adults. An ingrown toenail can cause pain, swelling and/or bleeding. Over-the-counter remedies usually solve the problem, severe cases may need surgery. All these treatments are available to NHS patients – consult your GP regarding any symptoms and if they agree that surgery would be an option, then request a referral to Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre.
Details: more information is available by calling 01749 333600 or visiting www.sheptonmallettreatmentcentre.nhs.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 81
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Classic car events
WELLS Cathedral Green once again played host to a display of 150 headturning vehicles after the 22nd Mendip Vintage and Classic Tour made it way around the countryside. Organised by the Classic and Historic Motor Club, the pre-1995 motors began their 85-mile journey at Farrington’s Farm in Farrington Gurney, stopping for lunch at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, before heading to the city to be met by hundreds of visitors. The annual event raised money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Meanwhile, enthusiasts flocked to Downside School for their annual Concours d’Elegance.
Spirit of Ecstasy: this iconic Rolls Royce bonnet emblem sits on a 1935 Phantom owned by Pat Bridgeman and Eddie Rossiter
A saint arrives in Wells: Roger Moore would have admired this 1960s Volvo P1800 classic, similar to the car from the classic television series
Lucky the Dalmatian in front of a 1949 Bristol 400 at Downside School. He likes nothing more than riding in the passenger seat PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
David Graham, of Shepton Mallet, strikes a pose next to his 1967 E-type Jaguar
At 6’ 4” tall Andrew Smele finds this 1966 Ford GT40 a tight fit at Downside School. It is owned by Dave Hensley of Patchway, who takes the car out on hill climbs and track days
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Chew goes quackers
OVER 600 ducks took part in the Chew Magna duck race, organised by the Chew Magna Society, with hundreds of people watching. The winner was Oliver Spours-Bayliff, aged eight, who is pictured with his dad receiving the £100 first prize cheque from Mike Gough from the society. Our very own Phil Hammond won the business race against 72 ducks, including one entered by Mendip Times. Scores of youngsters entered the decorated duck competition and the winners were: 0-4, Evie Cloes; 5-8, Scarlett McKean; 9-12, Callum Leonard; teens and adults, Mr Terran.
Stanton Drew Fair
EVENTS
Ros and Helga Bradbury manning the plant stall
EVERYONE enjoyed the spring fair and plant sale, which Stanton Drew primary school hosted in the village hall and playing fields.The sun brought people out and also helped them snap up the plants, which were on offer Dad Chris showing his son Owen on a special stall. how to catch a duck Children enjoyed the activities while adults enjoyed the stalls inside the hall. Everyone was overjoyed when they heard that £1,010 had been raised for the new playground fund.
(l to r) Will from Ubley, Luke from Stanton Drew, Isaac from Winford and Jack from Stanton Drew MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 83
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Church tower open
PENSFORD'S Friends of St Thomas a Becket church tower are pictured at their recent AGM, where they discussed the annual tower tea party, which will be held on Sunday June 12th, from 2pm. It promises to be a special one, also celebrating the Queen's birthday. One special guest will be tower clock restorer, Andrew Nicholls, who will be on hand to tell visitors about the clock. Details: Jane Flower 01761 490234 or 07703 699123.
Queen’s birthday celebration
CHILDREN at Cameley primary school celebrated the Queen's 90th birthday by having their very own royal picnic. The children and staff enjoyed wearing patriotic colours for the celebations and all the children tucked in to the picnic, which they managed to eat outside, surrounded by Union Jack flags fluttering in the breeze. A special cake was made by parent Vicky Saunders, and was cut by nine-year-old pupil, Joe, who shared his birthday that day with the Queen.
PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
Two pints and a book please
Rose Harrison-Wollf with some of Midsomer Norton rugby team
THEY were offering more than cider and beer on a recent Saturday night at the Rising Sun in Pensford – Hilary Cox and Rose Harrison-Wollf were handing out free books to customers, as part of World Book Night. Last year Hilary gave out a book called Street Cat Bob to customers at W. J. Pearce butchers in Chew Magna. This year it was the turn of a crime thriller Whispering Shadows by German author Jan Philipp Sendker. She said: “When my friend Rose Harrison-Wolff and I arrived at the pub at 6pm we ‘set up our stall’, bought a couple of pints of cider and got out the books. We then started gifting books. “Although most customers felt it was rather random to be given a book in a pub on a Saturday night, they happily accepted one, promising to share it with family and friends. “We hadn't been there long when Midsomer Norton rugby team called in for a pint – and a book! They had hardly left when Avonmouth rugby team called in for a pint as well – and got books, and so it went on.” World Book Night is run by The Reading Agency, a national charity that inspires people to become confident and enthusiastic readers to help give them an equal chance in life.
History team’s latest book
THREE years of research by a team of history enthusiasts has resulted in a new book about the village of Wanstrow, near Frome. Many members of the team were behind similar books looking at life in Stoke St. Michael and Holcombe. “A History of Wanstrow” is a social history and includes memories of current residents, village events, schooling and the story of both local agriculture and industries, accompanied by photographs. G The book will be launched at Wanstrow Village Hall on Saturday, June 18th at 3pm, costing £10. Copies will also be available by post for £13 including postage and packing from group leader, Joyce Jefferson, on 01373 832845.
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Project falls silent
THE Voices of Axbridge project, started in 2004, has ended, after recording the thoughts and memories of 112 people from the town. This involved 41 residents, 18 past mayors, leaders of 12 organisations in the town, nine Civic Award winners and principals of 30 local businesses. Many aspects of Axbridge life were recorded – historical memories of older residents, activities undertaken by town mayors and community groups, business development in the town and the thoughts of Civic Award winners. At the regular tea party for interviewees in Axbridge Town Hall, the leader of the team, Maggie Tur, announced that the final interview had taken place and it was time to call a halt, but not before the guests had been musically entertained by Helen Mann, Anna Hind and Sarah Kendall and transcripts of interviews had been presented by Axbridge Mayor Jennifer Trotman. All recordings and transcripts made by the Voices of Axbridge, with the agreement of the interviewees, will now be lodged at the Somerset Heritage Centre and be available there for private research. The archivists there will regulate their use and update the method of recording as digital processes change. Recordings began as a recognised project of the Axbridge Archaeological and Local History Society and were organised originally by Harry Mottram. The project then grew in scope and intensity and became an independent research project under Maggie Tur’s direction. The highlight of the final Tea party was the presentation to Mrs Yvonne “Vonnie” Chamberlain (pictured left) of a bound and illustrated book containing all of her interviews. Having recently retired as Town Crier and been awarded an MBE, Vonnie assured everyone that though we might have heard the last of her Town Crier’s announcements we haven’t heard the last of her!
COMMUNITY
Legion’s celebration
THE Long Ashton Village Beacon, fabricated by two local craftsmen for the Millennium, has again been part of the national chain of beacons. It was lit at the Royal British Legion Club to celebrate the Queen’s birthday, St George’s Day, the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, and the 80th anniversary of the club itself. The beacon was lit by 93-year-old former Royal British Legion county president, Ivy Burton, a club member since she was 18, helped by TV personality and local resident Mirinda Krestovnikoff. The beacon has been lit on five previous occasions, including the Queen’s golden and diamond jubilees and the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
Bringing the community together
OAKHILL Festival has grown from a simple village fete into a day-long party, culminating in a hog roast and live music in the evening. This year it will feature go-karts, classic cars, a five-aside tournament, brass band, stalls, skittles and a whole lot more. Priest-in-charge, the Rev Richard Priestley, said: “While raising much needed funds for the school and the church, the day is about building the sense of community and making memories that our children will talk about to their children.” The event on Oakhill Recreation Ground on June 11th , 2pm10pm, will also celebrate the Queen’s birthday.
Helping Edie
CHELWOOD Bridge Rotary Club is helping Edie Browne, a four-year-old girl from the Chew Valley, who was born with a rare chromosome abnormality. This has left her needing open-heart surgery, having learning difficulties as well as spinal and joint problems. Despite all of this Edie is a most happy and determined little girl, but needs a walker to help her get around independently. The most suitable one, which can be adapted as she grows, is not available on the NHS, so the Rotary Club is raising the £3,500 needed to buy her one. Club president, Spike Parker, said: “Can you help us? Any donation, large or small, will help us to reach our target.” Details: www.chelwoodbridgerotary.com
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 85
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Post offices reopen
TWO local post offices have reopened. Cheddar, which had been closed since last October, has been taken over by Richard Helps, who is pictured with shop manager, Sue Gulliver. The shop has been extensively refurbished and enlarged to stock stationery, cards and other goods, and has a very popular photo-booth. Richard also runs the post offices in Axbridge and Wedmore. Long Ashton post office has also reopened after being blown up by thieves raiding its cash machine on January 4th.
Sports charity is feeling chipper
Kevin Mitchell from the restaurant (left) with Alan Gloak
Death of Pete Brace
NEWS
RALLY driver and garage owner, Peter John Brace, or Pete to his friends, was born on December 23rd 1953 and died on April 23rd. There was a display of cars at his funeral, attended by hundreds of people. The oldest of three children to Christine and Basil, Pete started an apprenticeship in motor mechanics after finishing school. Following the death of their parents, he and his brother Paul continued to run the family business, Mac's Garage of Weston, building it from strength to strength. In his spare time he followed in his father's footsteps and became heavily involved in Weston Motor Club and particularly loved rallying. Over the years the involvement increased and he started and helped run countless events, including the Regency Stages at Bath and West showground and the Grand Pier rally in Weston. Following the sale of Mac’s Garage, he joined the staff of Raleigh International leading volunteers on projects in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and later in Fiji. He also helped his children take over and revitalise Tarnock Garage. He leaves his children Simon, Vikki, Chris and Jo and grandchildren Obi and Amelie.
Still time to become a record breaker
A FUNDRAISING fish and chip supper in Glastonbury has raised £1,162 for Somerset sports charity, TS5C. The event was organised by Alan Gloak, chairman of TS5C and the money raised will go towards providing grants to young aspiring athletes in Somerset such as Brodie Williams, Charlie Cook and Jessica Hudson, who all attended the dinner along with 50 other guests. Local businesses supported the evening at the Knights Fish Restaurant by providing an array of prizes for a raffle. Alan said: “It was a real community event.” PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
ORGANISERS of a world record crocheting attempt in memory of a teenager from Chilcompton say there is still time for people to take part. Emma Welch, 14, died unexpectedly following complications from an operation in June last year. On Saturday, June 4th – the first anniversary of her death – her best friend Victoria Roberts is organising a free event called Daisy Bear at the Forum in Bath to claim the largest number of people crocheting simultaneously. The current record is 485. Emma raised funds for Brain Tumour Research. Norton Hill School in Midsomer Norton, where she was a pupil, has adopted BTR as one of their charities this year and are dedicating a day in June when pupils and staff will wear a daisy in Emma’s memory. For details, find Daisy Bear on Facebook, email Daisybear2015@btinternet.com or call 07526 570677
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New at Wrington Motors
WRINGTON Motors have just upgraded their diagnostic computer, adding Mercedes and Volvo to the wide range of vehicles on which they can carry out in-depth diagnosis and repair. Combined with technical assistance from master technicians, this new tool has already proved its value by helping to repair a Mercedes that was in for service. They also now have an ultrasonic nebulizing machine which uses an antibacterial liquid to deodorise and sanitise your vehicle’s air conditioning system. It is a good idea to have this done at the same time as the pollen filter is renewed, as part of an annual service.
Near dealer level diagnostics for all these makes
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Marchants Hill, Gurney Slade BA3 4TY Call: 01749 841051 Mob: 07778 465520 Email: sales@caravanrepairs-sw.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 87
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HOMES & INTERIORS
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Tel: 0117 940 0074 • Fax: 0117 964 4666 Email: info@bristoldrains.com At Bristol Drains, you can be assured of first-class work carried out by our own experienced and professional engineers. Whether you have a blocked drain at your home or office or if you require a buried drain traced/detected – CALL US NOW – no job too small.
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MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 89
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Stylish addition to any home
THEY say that “eyes are the windows of the soul” and Simon Moody, director of Shuttercraft Somerset, believes that windows play a special role in the way we see, and feel about our homes. He said: “There are few sights more appealing or seductive than the morning light, spilling through halfopen louvers, casting striped shadows across the floor, and falling awkwardly over a table or settee.” Whether your property is an urban apartment, a rural barn conversion, a new build, or anything in between, Simon has a product for you: “What we provide is a local service providing a top grade product with honesty and skill. It’s far more than window dressing a hole in the wall – plantation shutters provide light and heat control, sound dampening, and can help transform ANY space into a stylish home.” With summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to contact Simon, and begin the conversation about how
PAGE 90 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
plantation shutters can help you achieve the look and feel, that you deserve in your home and conservatory. For this issue of Mendip Times, Shuttercraft Somerset Ltd are extending a readers’ offer of 20% discount on all orders over 2sqm! Simon said: ”We want to say ‘thank you’ to your readers for their support
HOMES & INTERIORS
in making us the number one company for plantation shutters, Venetian, and conservatory blinds in Somerset! Simply quote the advert when you call to arrange your free survey.” The offer ends June 30th, so make sure that you give your windows the chance to shine, and see the light through Shuttercraft’s eyes.
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JACKSONS
Jacksons Fencing – news, topical treats and more . . .
The Curve shelter is to be the star of Jacksons shows this summer
It’s Show Time!
JUNE and July are traditionally the time of year we at Jacksons Fencing like to take ourselves and some of our lovely products, out of the office to some of the summer shows. This year is no exception – we are at Royal Windsor helping the country celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. After that it’s The Royal Bath and West, a fortnight later The Cheshire County Show and then in July The Kent County Show. That should keep us busy. Those of you who are regular readers will hopefully have spotted the feature I ran on our fantastic new Curve a few months ago. This new garden shelter has created quite a stir, so it wasn’t a
You can read the full story behind these customer projects, the products that were used and see more photos by logging on to your dedicated page www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal
difficult decision when considering what should be the mainstay of our show stand this year. Yes of course it has to be the Curve that will be travelling around the country giving the show-going public a chance to see it in its full glory! If you are more of a garden show, than a county show type of visitor, we have a presence at BBC Gardeners World Live at the NEC in June. I can’t promise you a Curve will be on show there, but we are sponsoring a wildlife-friendly show garden called ‘The Green Connection’ by award winning design team Wardrop and Stevenson. This will feature our Woven and Venetian panels, and I’m happy to say some of our hedgehog-friendly gravel boards. That will hopefully keep raising awareness of the diminishing numbers of these lovely creatures and what we can do to help them by making sure they can move easily between our gardens. This time last year we were at full tilt preparing and building our Silver Gilt medal winning show garden at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. It was a proud moment for all of us at Jacksons. Imagine my delight when I received a call from the show manager asking if we would consider lending the RHS the façades – that were a big feature of our show garden last year? Well that’s a yes of course! They will feature with other Jacksons’ products in four front show gardens, that are result of a competition run by BBC local radio stations and the RHS, so look out for this if you visit Hampton this year. To find out more about where to see us this year, visit your dedicated page www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk
WIN £300 OF JACKSONS VOUCHERS
To enter the free prize draw and be in with a chance to win £300 of Jacksons vouchers simply log on to your dedicated page, address below and follow the easy instructions on how to enter. The draw closes 30.6.16. To enter go to: www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal
For info on any of Jacksons products or brochures please call 0800 408 4754 to talk to your local Jacksons Fencing Centre. MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2106 • PAGE 91
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FAMILY BUSINESS BASED IN THE CHEW VALLEY FOR OVER 100 YEARS
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HOMES & INTERIORS
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 95
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DB Joinery— ‘A’ rated timber windows
DB Joinery is proud to announce that we are now producing bespoke, energy efficient, ‘A’ rated windows. Our new range combines our traditional high quality joinery designs with new state of the art equipment and quality control processes to produce a top rate finished product that adds character, style and energy efficiency to the home. Timber is currently enjoying a resurgence in the windows market due to its reliability and strength combined with its ability to outlast alternative materials. Following months of preparation, training and finally audits, we can now meet the strict thermal energy performance guidelines stipulated by the BFRC (British Fenestration Ratings Council) which must be met when building a new home.
PAGE 96 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
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Mendip’s “laughing saddler” takes East Africa by storm
SOME might not agree, but it was good that the recent hot weather was replaced by sudden rain storms. Mooching around Priddy Pools on Tam I noticed how dry it had become. The Mineries area – with its stunted trees, long whitened grass, tall reeds and still waters With RACHEL – is reminiscent of the African bush, THOMPSON especially on sunny summer days. It’s MBE easy to catch this area ablaze as we have seen twice this year already. One Mendip lady who has taken East Africa by storm is Draycott-based saddler Julia Garrett. I spent a fascinating evening with Julia and daughter Sam hearing about their latest African adventures – laughing about catching the wrong bus going in the opposite direction for six hours leaving them stranded on the Tanzania border, rescuing two sheep wired to the back of a motorbike and fitting Julia’s specially-designed gait enhancement medical pads to Kedon patrol ponies. In Africa Julia has been aptly christened “the laughing saddler”. Julia originally visited Africa to explore the potential export market for her saddlery and tack business which she took over in 2011. Fascinated by the 34,000 acres of bush area surrounding Mount Kenya, she quickly realised skills learnt from her father, master saddler Bill Garrett, could make a big difference to the working animals there, whose welfare is often overshadowed by the wider concern for endangered wild animals. Along with professional Kenyan horsewoman Suzy Day
A well-fitted saddle donated from Mendip to a Kedon patrol pony
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A pony at the Hardy Centre Nairobi with a saddle donated by Sidcot School and a Garretts Saddlery gait enhancement pad
and Daniel the vet, Julia has been busy in the area around Nairobi making and fitting leather collars for donkeys who suffer from rope burns around their necks and persuading the safari patrol wardens, who often ride for seven hours a day, to burn their ancient ex-army tack in favour of using properly-fitting saddles donated from the Mendip area. Many of the old horses donated to the Hardy Riding Centre, which aims to give poor and disabled children riding experience, now have their backs protected by Julia’s smaller medical pads manufactured in Street. All horse owners are guilty of tack rooms overflowing with stuff bought on the spur of the moment so come on, take them to Garrett’s Saddlery today. Especially welcome are stirrup irons, leathers, bits, synthetic saddles and numnahs. Vets can donate surgical instruments, those are welcome too. All donated items are checked and repaired as necessary before being despatched. Back home in Draycott, Julia is always on the move so destressing involves hacking out across the Mendips on one of her five horses, usually Pie a 17hh Piebald Belgian Warmblood. What’s her hot tip for other riders then? “Listen to what your horse is saying to you,” she says thoughtfully. Certainly many horses in East Africa will be grateful that Mendip’s laughing saddler has listened to them. Julia and Suzy’s venture (now named the “East Africa Working Animals Association”) is being supported by the Blackdown Riding Club’s ball on Friday, June 17th at Cadbury Garden Centre. Tickets available from blackdownmendiprc.co.uk
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Young riders take it in their stride PONY club members from as far afield as Yorkshire descended on Wincanton Racecourse for the annual Wylye Valley Pony Club Race Day. The ninth fixture featured seven races for novice and experienced riders and ponies. The race day has seen several riders progress to the senior ranks. One recent example is Harry Cobden who rode outsider I’m In Charge to victory at Wincanton’s evening meeting in May. Commentator Frank Shellard, of Wellow, said: “This race day must be one of the best in the country. Wincanton Racecourse is so welcoming and the young riders really get to experience what it must be like on a big race day with use of the changing rooms and scales and to parade their ponies in front of a crowd.”
Lewis McDonald, from Taunton Vale PC is presented with the winner’s trophy in the Jim Morgan Memorial Restricted Mile by his former partner Teresa Munro
RIDING
Courtney’s Magic Spot, ridden by Wylye Valley PC member Ocean Moore, of Upton Noble, leads the way as pace-setter in the Champion Headwear Fluffy Novice Stakes
Megan Bevan, of Upton Noble, carried a mascot nicknamed Raceberry in honour of rider Hannah Francis who is recovering from cancer. Hannah has a fundraising campaign called Willberry the Wonder Pony. Megan is pictured receiving her prize for second place in the Frome Scaffolding Combined Open Mile from Aaron Morgan, from Frome Scaffolding and his son Travis
Fergus Gillard, from Cattistock PC, heading for victory in the opening race on Hawksfield Flier
Trainer Sarah Gould, of Cranmore, leads a course walk for some of the young riders
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Tennis club courts new members
CHILDREN and adults packed the courts of Wells Tennis Club for its annual Open Day to encourage new – and returning – players to the sport. Free coaching sessions and tennisrelated activities were on offer at the club, which has five floodlit courts at its Rowdens Road complex. This year, club members were joined by Year 13 BTEC students from Wells Blue School who used the day to hone their business skills. Club coach Kevin Durney said: “Old or young, tennis will improve your strength, agility and co-ordination while building stamina and tactical skills. Above all it is a really fun way to get fit and meet new people.” Club chairman Dan Cooke added: “Youngsters are the future of the club and for the game. Our hope is that they will stay with us until they go to
Club chairman Dan Cooke and teacher Graham Downer with some of the students who helped promote and run the day
university, or whatever, and return later to a sport they love.” Graham Downer, who teaches business and economics at the Blue School, said: “We were looking for a practical business project for the
Kevin with some of the youngsters who took part in the coaching sessions
Youngsters feeling green
students. I have children at the club and so we approached them and they were happy to help. At a meeting, the club gave the students a budget and told them what they were hoping to achieve.”
Coach Kevin Durney at work
SOMERSET’S brightest young footballers were left with the blues after being beaten 0-5 by Oxfordshire in the under-18s South and West Counties championship final. Featuring players including Owen Knight of Welton Rovers, Shepton Mallet and Yate Town’s Kailan Gould and the Ashton and Backwell trio of Jacob Southern, Solomon Shearer and The Somerset under-18s
Somerset keeper James Anniston was under pressure from the off
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Liam Villis, Somerset found themselves four-nil down by halftime in the match at Paulton Rovers. An improved second half saw Somerset concede just one further goal. Somerset had stuck with their “lucky” green strip after winning the Western group title with victory over Cornwall but the blues of Oxfordshire – featuring mostly players from Oxford United’s youth academy – dominated from the start.
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Trialling times
23mph). Rob added: “Time trials are a race against yourself.” When asked about how much benefit the aerodynamic equipment can make he said: “For those new to the sport, early improvement comes quickly from practice and developing technique. But if there are two strong riders then the better bike and equipment will make a difference.” Cycle races aren’t necessarily one of the best spectator sports, as usually the whole field of riders disappears in a flash. But with time trials, you do get to see each rider and it’s probably the next best thing to watching cycling in a velodrome.
If you are interested in joining BSCC or taking part in the time trials see http://www.bristolsouthcc.co.uk/
Upcoming events
IF you’re interested in trying a cycling event this summer, here is a list of local events that you can sign up to: Wiggle Mendips Sportive on Saturday July 2nd starting in Street. There is a choice of 54, 73 or 97 mile circular routes that progress across the Somerset Levels, over the Mendip Hills and around Chew Valley depending on the route taken. Great Weston Ride on Sunday July
Peasedown are champions PEASEDOWN Albion are winners of the Mid-Somerset Football Division 3. Theywere also winners of the Baxter Shield and Moorland Cup.
17th starting in Long Ashton. This is a 56 mile route through Chew Valley, over the Mendip Hills across the flat Somerset Levels to finish in Westonsuper-Mare. Eight options are available on the day to extend the route, up to a maximum of 74 miles. Return transport back to Long Ashton is also available. This event is very popular. Evans Ride IT Off Road on Saturday August 6th is a new event on the
calendar starting in Priddy. There is a choice of 32 or 52 mile off road circular routes across challenging trails. Evans Ride IT Somerset on Sunday August 7th starting in Priddy. There is a choice of 14 (fun), 36, 65 or 89 mile circular routes that progress past the lakes of Chew Valley and Blagdon, across to Weston-super-Mare and returning via the Mendip Hills depending on the route taken.
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h b Jill T
THE annual season of time trials around Chew Valley Lake returned recently and will be a regular sight on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer. Organised by Bristol South Cycling Club (BSCC) the circular course starts by Chew Valley Lake and runs antiCYCLING clockwise on an 8.3 mile circuit through with EDMUND Chew Stoke, West Harptree and Bishop LODITE Sutton. Open to members of all cycling clubs, the event attracts riders across Mendip as well as Bristol and Bath Universities. Non club riders can also take part by joining BSCC for the day. Rob Hutchinson who was the timekeeper when I went to watch explained that riders leave at one minute intervals, with a maximum field of 60 taking part in any one week. All ages can participate and a variety of bikes were in use, including a tandem! Members of BSCC are awarded points each week depending on where they finish, and the overall club winner is the rider at the end of the season with the most points. To even things out, the BSCC riders are given handicaps, based on previous performance history, so that everyone has a fighting chance of winning. The course is a relatively fast one and the quickest riders will complete this in about 17.5 minutes (equivalent to 28mph) whilst the average time is 22 minutes (equivalent to
)
At the start
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Trading places – joy for Norton . . .
MIDSOMER Norton rugby club has won promotion after a nailbiting, winnertakes-all encounter against Aylesbury. Both sides were second in their respective South West Southern Counties divisions; Norton in South and Aylesbury in North. It was the first time in their history that the sides had faced each other, with Norton using home advantage to win 2922. Paul Myers, the mayor of Midsomer Norton, joined in the celebrations after the historic victory. Paul said: “This is fantastic news for the club, the town and the wider community.”
Norton lock Nathan Fear scores the decisive try
A champagne moment – the squad begin the celebrations
Midsomer Norton mayor Paul Myers with players and officials
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Yes, we’ve won: relief etched on the faces of the Norton team after their victory
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Anyone for cricket?
Norton captain “Scruff” Denning celebrates with daughter Evelyn
SPORT
Softly, softly: Doug at work
DOZENS of youngsters of all ages flocked to Witham Friary to try their hands at playing cricket. The event was organised by the Postlebury Tigers, the junior section of Witham Friary Cricket Club, and the emphasis was firmly on having fun. ECB-qualified club coach Doug Small led the sessions. Club captain Henry Gibson said: “One of the best things we see here is the way the older children look after the real young ones; they all get on very well with each other. If they go on to enjoy playing the game properly, then that’s even better.”
Agony: the faces of Aylesbury players after the final whistle is blown
. . . but despair for Wells
A dropped catch is greeted by laughter Scant consolation: Wells on their way to beating fellow relegation side Avonmouth Old Boys in their last match of the season, but their fate had been sealed
NORTON will replace Wells in Tribute South West 1 West after the city side finished third from bottom last season and were relegated. It will be Norton’s highest status since the league structure was introduced.
A game for all ages at Witham Friary
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There’s no substitute for experience THE 2015-16 season has come to an end and it will be remembered as a year of some really close competition in both the divisional and knock-out cups, as well as for providing some memorable moments in the two finals nights at Redhill Club. In Division One, all the old favourites began the season by losing or drawing more games than perhaps ever before, and right up to the final month of the season it looked as if there might be a new name or two at the top of the table. In the end, however, the top two places finished the same as last year, and the Crown Regil took the top two cups, as so often before. In Division Two, teams who have previously played in Division One finished in the top places as well, giving a familiar
feel overall to the final tables, despite really spirited challenges from teams like the Airport Tavern, The Plough Congresbury, the Ringers Banwell and the Old Inn Congresbury. In a similar way, in the individual and pairs competitions, there were some tremendous performances from newcomers and some players who have been less in the limelight over the years, but in the end it was names which have been engraved on the trophies before who took most of the titles. Thanks are due to everyone who has helped make the season a success, from players and captains, to landlords and raffle ticket sellers. If you are interested in joining the league and keeping this wonderful pastime
Division One winner Ken Croker
alive, whether as a team, pub or individual, please check out our Facebook page or contact the Secretary, Andy Evans at andyskittles@yahoo.co.uk Steve Miles DIVISION ONE
Crown Inn, Regil Lion-Harts, Redhill Airport Tavern A Plough, Congresbury Stoke Inn Brewers Droops Tetley Brewers Congresbury Club Redhill Club Crown Jewels DIVISION TWO
Division Two winner Des Day
Division Two pairs winners Ken Hucker (left) and Andy Moule
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Division One pairs winners Alan Dibble (left) and Micky Parsons
Ladies champion Elaine Hall
Won Draw Lost Pts 11 4 3 26 11 2 5 24 11 1 6 23 10 2 6 22 9 3 6 21å 8 4 6 20 7 2 9 16 7 2 9 16 3 2 13 8 1 2 15 4
Won Draw Lost Pts The Railway Children 13 2 3 28 Blue Flame 10 4 4 24 The Ringers Banwell 9 5 4 23 Old Inn, Congresbury 9 4 5 22 Red Lion 8 3 7 19 New Inn, Cross 7 5 6 19 Crown Rangers 6 5 7 17 Shipham Sheep Worriers 6 4 8 16 Airport Tavern B 4 3 10 11 Big Dippers 0 1 17 1
KNOCK-OUT CUPS – TEAMS League Cup Crown Inn, Regil League Cup Runners-up Blue Flame, Nailsea Division 1 Cup Crown Inn, Regil Division 1 Cup Runners-up Brewers Droops, Banwell Division 2 Cup Railway Children, Winscombe Division 2 Cup Runners-up Blue Flame, Nailsea
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Winscombe RFC celebrates a season of success Winscombe RFC are celebrating a brilliant year for their mini and junior section. They have 15 teams from U6s to colts (17s-18s) including three girls’ teams U13s, U15s and U18s. This means over 350 kids playing rugby every weekend. Their motto is Friendship Through Rugby and it runs through everything they do. They welcome any and all abilities and it’s free to have a go. They are fully supporting England RFU’s Kids First programme. It’s a policy that works. This year their under 14s boys won the BJC cup and Somerset Cup, while their U15s and 16s both reached the BJC plate final. Their 13s 14s and 15s all did well in their Mendip Sevens Tournament at the end of the season with the 14s and 15s winning the Plate. Their girls however have been just brilliant with the U18s reaching the South West final and the U15s reaching the national final which they lost by just two points. Their U15 Ladies played 24 games winning 23 losing one, the national final. With their Minis (U6s-U12s) all showing strongly in their games and festivals and their 1st XV just missing out on promotion, the future looks bright for Winscombe RFC. Success is one thing but it is not everything – their priority is to have fun and enjoyment and when it comes to friendlies it’s their policy that everyone gets game time even if this means losing. They now have a 3G enhanced artificial training pitch and a new car park so rugby can now be played even in the wettest months. If you are interested in getting fit, making some new friends go and give them try – their new season starts September 4th.
SPORT
U-7s end of season awards
Winscombe RFC Uunder 15 girls
Under 15s on a tour of Paris Another fine victory
Florence, Sophie, Jess and Iona who are in the England talent development group
Details: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/winscomberfc
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Remembering Somerset’s soldiers
AT 7.30am on Saturday July 1st 1916, near the French town of Albert, soldiers of the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, climbed out of their trenches and walked across No Man's Land towards the German trenches. In the evening, only one NCO and 57 unwounded other ranks answered roll call. No ground had been gained and 26 officers and 438 men of the battalion were either killed, wounded or missing in what was the first bloody day of the infamous Battle of the Somme. Exactly 100 years later, to the day, local folk group, the Hotwells Howlers, are marking the occasion by presenting their show, 'Stony Broke in No-Man's Land' at 7.30pm on Friday July 1st at the Town Hall, Midsomer Norton. All the group's t e s r e proceeds from m o S – e m m o S Battle of The l l a the evening will c l l r o y t r n f a I n L ig h t go to the British Red Cross, their chosen charity for this and other performances of the piece. One of the songs in the
Raising the rafters
LOCAL sculptor singer/songwriter Cathy Judge has joined forces with musical partner Johnny Francis to help raise money for essential repairs to Chewton Mendip Village Hall's roof. Cathy and John will perform in a concert at Chewton Mendip Church at 7.30pm on Friday June 17th, with three other acts. The Drystones are about to embark on a busy festival season which includes the Avalon Stage at Glastonbury and are headlining Friday night’s Priddy Folk Festival. Issy Emeney is a highly respected writer of tunes and songs in the traditional vein. Together with husband David they perform a mixture of traditional and self-penned material. Issy plays melodeon and David guitar and bouzouki. Leo James and Katy Hooper are a Bristol based folk, blues, Americana influenced duo who are accomplished singer songwriters and musicians in their own right. Details: tickets are £10, call Cathy 01761 241235 or go to www.cathyjudge.co.uk
MUSIC
show, 'The Rose of No-Man's Land' is a tribute to the Red Cross nurses who looked after the injured close to the front line. The Hotwells Howlers are a folk music and song group drawn from Bristol and North Somerset and were commissioned to produce a piece on World War 1 by the Friends of the Bristol Museum. It was originally performed in November 2014 to commemorate the outbreak of war in 1914. The presentation features songs, tunes, reminiscences and images from the period with a local focus, wherever possible. It has been performed a number of times since then, and has always been enthusiastically received.
They’ve got talent
JUDGES faced some tough decisions when 14 contestants performed in front of a live audience in Frome’s Got Talent at the town’s Memorial Theatre. Organised by the Rotary Club of Frome, the winners will be perform at For One Night Only next March.
Marcus Smith was the winner in the Under14 class. Marcus, aged nine, played Wasted Years by Iron Maiden on guitar
Laura Hocking, 22, won the over-14 category singing Summertime by Leona Lewis. Laura has been singing for three years and has previously auditioned for X factor and Britain’s Got Talent.
Ian Jones, who has been singing for more than 60 years, sang songs from musicals as part of the entertainment
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A day out in stunning countryside
WHAT’S ON
TOP-class competitive action is guaranteed at this year’s Kingairloch Highland Estate Nunney International Horse Trials, which take place near Frome from Friday, June 17th to Sunday, June 19th. The event is staged in the spectacular grounds of the Grade II listed Southfield House, between Nunney and Whatley. The showjumping takes place in the main arena – bordered by an eclectic range of food outlets and trade stands – with the house forming a dramatic backdrop. Cross country action is held across the road where visitors have access to hundreds of acres of unspoilt farmland where they can watch the riders tackle the solid timber fences, whilst dressage takes place behind the main house, away from the hustle and bustle. In the past some of the sport’s top names have ridden at the event including Zara Tindall (Phillips), Harry Meade, Sam Griffiths, Paul Tapner, Jock Paget, Kristina Cook and Izzy Taylor all competing there in the past. Bridget Parker, a renowned horsewoman who rode Cornish Gold to win team gold at the Summer Olympics in Munich in 1972, and finished tenth as an individual, has taken over as organiser this year. She said: “We are really looking forward to this year’s event. We first ran at Southfield House in 2012, and the event has been growing in popularity. It’s great that it attracts so many of the top names from the sport and it provides a wonderful opportunity for people to come along and enjoy a day out in beautiful countryside while watching the exciting sport of horse trials.” Entry to the event is free on Friday and £12 per car on Saturday and Sunday. Visit: www.nunneyhorsetrials.co.uk for more details.
WIN
PA S S E S F O R T H I S YEAR’S TRIALS
Mendip Times has teamed up with the organisers of the Nunney International Horse Trials to offer readers the chance to win one of three car passes for the weekend, offering free access to watch the competitions on the Saturday and Sunday and savour the atmosphere of a major equestrian event. To enter, please answer the following question: what was the name of the horse on which Bridget Parker rode to help Great Britain to team gold in the 1972 Olympics? Please send your answers on a postcard to: Nunney International Horse Trials competition, Mendip Times, Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, BS40 7RG. Entries must reach us by Wednesday, June 8th. The first three correct entries chosen will each win a car pass. The editor’s decision is final. MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016 • PAGE 107
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Gardeners flock to show
THE recent spell of good weather has put visitors in the mood for gardening and tickets for The Bishop’s Palace English Country Garden Festival have been selling fast! This will be the second garden festival held at the palace and the event is due to be opened on Friday, June 10th by top gardener Roy Lancaster of Gardener’s World and Gardener’s Question Time fame. Other speakers will include Mark Diacono, Tom Hart-Dyke, Jane Moore and Claire Greenslade and all talks are included in the price of the entrance ticket. The Wells and District Floral Arts Society will be working on a very special arrangement of a Floral Birthday Cake to commemorate the Queen’s 90th birthday and this unusual twotiered design, including a royal crown, will be unveiled on Friday June 10th and will remain on display in the entrance hall of the palace throughout the festival. There will be live music throughout the event with acts such as The Somerset Levellers, Tom Toomey and The Soul Tones entertaining the crowds. Visitors will be able to browse over 40 different stalls around the 14 acres of gardens with offerings such as garden nurseries, local cheese, willow sculptures, garden obelisks, picnic blankets, stoneware, ceramics and much more. On Sunday June 12th from 12pm there will be a grand picnic on the lawn to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. Details: tickets are available online at www.bishopspalace.org.uk by phone 01749 988 111 or from the palace shop.
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Extravaganza close to sell-out
WHAT’S ON
THE speed of ticket sales for this year’s Glastonbury Extravaganza is close to breaking the record, say organisers. Van Morrison will headline the night, with support from jazz singer Jamie Cullum, on Saturday, August 6th in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey. A spokeswoman for the event, organised by Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis, said: “It’s one of the fastest-selling extravaganzas and there aren’t many tickets left.” Jamie, a Grammy-award winner who has racked up more than 10 million album sales worldwide, said: “I am delighted to be playing as part of Glastonbury’s Abbey Extravaganza and opening for the legendary Van Morrison. "Glastonbury is a festival close to my heart and to be a part of the support that is behind such a distinguished, world class event is as important as the festival itself. Music, community, love and consideration are the cornerstones of Glastonbury and it’s events such as the Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza that go to prove this.” The first extravaganza was staged in 1996, when Glastonbury Festival had a fallow year. Michael said: “This is such an atmospheric place and a great location to promote some of our favourite performers. We've pulled together a fantastic bill so we can really celebrate in extravaganza style this summer. And there will of course be fireworks!" The Wells Cathedral School Big Band will open proceedings. Gates open at 5pm.
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Win Air Day tickets!
THE Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, will open its gates on Saturday July 2nd for the Royal Navy’s premier air show. One of the South West’s largest one-day events, Air Day will offer an action-packed day out for all the family with thrilling flying displays and plenty to see and do on the ground. The award-winning show attracts 40,000 visitors, significant UK/Foreign military participation and support from the world’s leading aerospace companies. Mendip Times has teamed up with the organisers to offer you the chance to win one of three pairs of tickets. Just answer this question: what does RNAS stand for? Answers on a postcard to Air Day Competition, Mendip Times, Combe Lodge, Blagdon BS40 7RG. The closing date is June 17th. The first three correct entries drawn will win the tickets. The editor’s decision is final.
Hall to host first opera RADSTOCK art venue Victoria Hall will host a special updated version of Handel’s Musicians South West present
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – come ‘Rain or Shine’ Professional theatre company Rain or Shine, hailed by ‘The Stage’ as “one of the best companies touring open air theatre” are set to delight family audiences once again this summer with their production of Shakespeare’s magical and hilarious comedy masterpiece A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Glastonbury Abbey, Wednesday 15th June at 7.30pm (Gates 6.30pm) For tickets phone 01458 831631 or go online via www.glastonburyabbeyshop.com Audiences are encouraged to bring along low-backed seating or rugs and a picnic to maximise their enjoyment of the al fresco performances.
ACIS AND GALATEA by George Frederic Handel Victoria Hall, Radstock Sunday, 26th June, 7.30pm (pre-concert talk at 6.45pm) A ‘pay-what-you-think-it’s-worth’ event Bath Consort (dir. Neil Moore) Midsomer Choral Society Tickets www.ticketsource.com/msw
Tel. 01761 438885 Part of the:
opera Acis and Galatea. Taking place on Sunday, June 26th at 7.30pm, it is presented by Musicians South West, with professional soloists and orchestra and chorus sung by Midsomer Choral Society. The modern twist on the opera – set in a pub – is part of a weekend of opera in the Somer Valley being supported by Radstock Town Council and Big Local which includes a singers' masterclass on Saturday, 25th June (4-6pm) with Saffron van Zwanenberg. There is a free pre-concert talk at 6.45pm.
Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD
NOW SHOWING Starts Friday 3rd June Wednesday 8th June Thursday 9th June
Starts Friday 10th June
NOW SHOWING:
Alice Through The Looking Glass (12A) 3D/2D A Hologram For The King (12A) Our Kind Of Traitor (15) Hamlet RSC at 7pm The Audience NT at 7pm Money Monster (15) Miracles From Heaven (12A)
Book in person Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk Over the ’phone: 01749 673195
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Chance to appear at The Hippodrome
WHAT’S ON
THE Bristol Hippodrome is offering youngsters the chance to appear on stage in its first ever Stage Experience Production, Fame The Musical. There are 88 places in the cast available for young people aged ten to 18 years. Those wishing to take part must be available for all rehearsal dates, between Monday 22nd and Saturday 27th August. The one week rehearsal period based in the theatre is the chance to discover what life is really like as a musical theatre performer. All the hard work will culminate in one performance on Saturday August 27th at 7.30pm on the Hippodrome’s stage. General manager, Neil Chandler, said: “With a high quality set and the addition of a live band, The Bristol Hippodrome’s youth production will be an unforgettable experience for each and every one of the young cast who take part. We are sure this will be a highlight of the summer holidays for all youngsters involved.” To take part a completed application form must be received by the theatre by Friday June 3rd. A Stage Experience fee of £150 for the week will then be required. Tickets for the show are now on sale.
Students from the theatre's weekly Glee Club
Details: alisongurney@theambassadors.com www.atgtickets.com/bristol or 0844 871 3012.
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M e n d i p
Please send entries for these listings as a single paragraph of approximately 25 words. We’re happy to list entries for charities and voluntary groups free of charge – but please submit them in the format below. Commercial entries cost £25.
Friday May 27th Petherton Picture Show. Part of the Petherton Arts Trust 30th anniversary celebrations. The digitallyrestored edition of The Third Man, produced in 1947 and starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotton and Trevor Howard. Tickets: £5. No concessions. The David Hall, South Petherton. www.thedavidhall.org.uk or call 01460 240340 or email boxoffice@thedavidhall.org.uk Saturday May 28th Mendip Recorder Consort lunchtime recital at Wells Cathedral, 1pm. No charge apart from entry fee to the cathedral. Taize' & Teas – sung prayers from Taize', 4pm at St Michael’s Church, Tower Hill, Stoke St. Michael, BA3 5GT. Come along and sing or just listen. No charge but donations to the church are gratefully received. Details: Janet 01749 840409. Mendip Society a moderate 4-5 walk along the river at Banwell. Meet 2pm in car park opp school (BS29 6DB). Possible opportunity to see inside St Andrew's church and go up into the tower. Details: Pauline 01934 820745. Beaks and Squeaks family day out at Secret World Wildlife Rescue. May 28th-May 30th, 10am– 4pm daily. Learn about British wildlife and enjoy a wide variety of children’s activities. Discover birds of prey, as well as some of the smaller birds being cared for. Meet the delightful harvest mice too! Craft stalls, wildlife talks, children’s games and delicious food. Entry is free. All-day car parking £1. Secret World, New Road, East Huntspill, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 3PZ (signposted off the A38). Saturday May 28th and Sunday May 29th Puxton Park Cheese and Cider weekend featuring their own cheese and sausages, plus ciders from Thatchers and others. Details: www.puxton.co.uk Monday May 30th – Saturday June 11th Bristol Hippodrome, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, starring Duncan James, tickets from £12.50.* Monday May 30th – Bank Holiday Kilmersdon Village Day 11am- 4.30pm Jack and Jill Dash, dog show, car boot, entertainment, stalls, refreshments galore. A day out for all the family. Details: 07771275136. Horrington Fair, 12-4pm at Wells Cricket Club, South Horrington. Activities for all ages including fancy dress parade, gun dogs, BBQ & live music. Details: Karen@karenstreet.com Cheddar Vale Lions’ Duck Race, Cheddar Gorge, 2pm, raising funds for Children’s Hospice SW in their 25th anniversary year. Minibeast Muddy Monday – join the hunt for the mini-beasts hiding underfoot at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells. Wednesday June 1st – Saturday June 4th Royal Bath and West Show – details see page 14. Wednesday June 1st St. John’s Church, Midsomer Norton, lunchtime concert, Vanessa Coode and Heather Gibbard Bass Viol, 12.30 with refreshments in the Tower Room from 12noon. Thursday June 2nd Bipolar UK Support Group, monthly meeting open to anyone affected by bipolar, including family, friends and carers, refreshments provided, free to attend, a donation is welcome for PAGE 112 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2016
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refreshments, 7.30pm – 9.30pm. Wells Town Hall, Market Place, Wells, BA5 2RB. West Mendip Walkers – mod circular walk 8.5m, Quantocks, OS Ex140 ST169377, start 10.30am, Seven Wells car park. Contact Tony Strange: 07976 902706 or anthonyestrange@gmail.com Friday June 3rd Family Fun Day at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells. Make spinning spiders, dangly dragonflies and beautiful bugs. There will also be garden games and dressing up to keep little ones entertained. Redhill Club open mic night, hosted by Jerry Blythe, all welcome, BS40 5SG. Details: 01934 862619. Paradis Palm Court Trio The Flower Garden. 12.30pm, Midsomer Norton Town Hall. Free entry – donations welcome. Home-made cakes and refreshments on sale. 01761 419133 www.musicianssouthwest.com Saturday June 4th and Sunday June 5th Axbridge Open Gardens organised by the Friends of Axbridge Church, Saturday 1.30pm – 5pm, some gardens 5pm-7pm; Sunday 2.30pm-6pm, £5 for the two days, programmes available from the Farmers’ Market on Saturday or from the gardens. Details: Priscilla Chard 01934 732834 or Penny Cooke 01934 733304. Saturday June 4th Wells Library – Wells Library Great Outdoors Event! Guided family walk, displays/demos on gardening, wildlife, farming, beekeeping, orienteering and more, free 9.30am – 2pm. Details: 0300 123 2224. Mendip (Recorder) Consort lunchtime recital at Sherborne Abbey, 1pm. No charge apart from entry fee to the abbey. Mendip Society walk at Draycott, meet 2pm, St.Peter's Church, School Lane, BS27 3SD, for a moderate 5m with a steep climb to limestone grassland flowers. Details: Gill 01934 742508. Open garden at Tilham Farm, Baltonsborough, BA6 8QA. 2-6pm. Entrance £4 (children free) for the NGS charities. Tea and cakes available and plant stall. Full wheelchair access. Proceeds of the teas and plants will go to STAR, a charity which helps to promote arts, music and recreation for disadvantaged young people in Somerset. Also June 5th. Sunday June 5th St. Mary’s Church, Compton Dando, themed tea, afternoon tea and cake, 2pm-5pm. Tuesday June 7th Street & Glastonbury U3A Coach trip to Mapperton House & gardens, Beaminster, Dorset. £36 pp -to book or for further information contact Andrew Boatswain 01458 832195. Details: www.u3asites.org.uk/street-glastonbury Wednesday June 8th St. John’s Church, Midsomer Norton, lunchtime concert, Naomi MacLeod-Jones, soprano and David Bednall, piano, 12.30 with refreshments in the Tower Room from 12noon. Wells Civic Society tour of the Old Deanery Gardens, Wells with Sarah Hare. Nailsea and District Horticultural Society, "an all year round garden" by Pauline and David Wright, United Reformed Church, Nailsea, 7.30pm, members £2, visitors £3. Details: Martyn Davies 01275 855563 or June Knight 01275 855342. Kilmersdon Gardeners – The Secret Life of Garden Birds – a talk by John Cromarty at our monthly meeting, Kilmersdon Village Hall BA3 5TD, 7.30pm, visitors welcome, £2.
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Thursday June 9th West Mendip Walkers circular 5m walk in Westhay Reserve, OS Ex141 ST456437, start 1.30pm, Decoy Pool carpark. Details: Tony Strange: 07976 902706 or anthonyestrange@gmail.com Friday June 10th Banwell Society of Archaeology, agm and talk by John Crockford-Hawley, 7.30pm Banwell Village Hall. Friday June 10th – Sunday June 12th Bishop’s Palace, Wells, English Country Garden Festival. Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk 01749 988111. Saturday June 11th – Sunday June 12th Portishead in Bloom’s annual open gardens weekend, 10.30am – 5pm, 15 local and varied gardens will be open with all day refreshments, Willa’s ironwork and face painting, charity stalls etc. price £4.50, children free. Details: www.portisheadinbloom.org.uk The Dig for Victory Show, a fabulous 1940s family festival at the North Somerset Showground, Wraxall, will include a Spitfire and Hurricane flypast, adults £10, family of four £25. Discounts online at www.digforvictoryshow.com or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kafdSbVm3IU Saturday June 11th Mendip Society walk: Priddy circuit, a moderate 5 miles from Priddy Green, ST 527 509, meet 2pm nr the former New Inn, BA5 3BB. Contact: Richard 01275 852786. Winscombe Community Association Book Sale & Freecycle Event, 9am-12.30pm at the Community Centre, Sandford Road , Winscombe, refreshments available. Details: 01934 843986. Peasedown Party in the Park, 12noon-7pm. Details: follow the event on Twitter: @peasedown_party, visit www.peasedownpartyinthepark.org.uk, or go to the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com Go Wild in Wells! 10am- 4pm at Mendip & Wells Museum. Wildlife & conservation organisations including RSPB, The Woodland Trust, AONB, Somerset Wildlife Trust WATCH group and beekeepers. FREE entry. Refreshments. Clay Pigeon Shoot, Barrow Farm, Witham Friary Nr. Frome. BA11 5HD, 10.30am to 4pm, good prizes, novice, junior, sporting etc, refreshments. Details: 01373 836 322; 07734 978988, or 07900 267468, Postlebury Group of Churches and MidSomerset Show. Oakhill Village Festival, 2pm-10pm, stalls, entertainment, beer tent, with evening hog roast and live band. Lunchtime Recital at All Saints’ Church, Westonsuper-Mare, BS23 2NL, 12noon, classical guitarist Sam Muir performs on guitar and ukulele, tickets £7 on the door, includes a delicious light lunch and a free glass of wine or juice. Details: judeforth@outlook.com The Bristol Fuchsia & Geranium Society annual Open Show, Severn Beach Village Hall Ableton Lane, Severn Beach,South Glos. BS35 4QE, plants for sale, Tombola and refreshments, 12noon – 4.30pm, admission £1. Details: 01454 528823. Brent Knoll village fete on the village green, also celebrating 100 years of the WI and 50 years of Good Companions, 2pm, entrance £1. Details: 01278 760986. Sunday June 12th St. Mary’s Church, Compton Dando, themed tea, Cream with the Queen, celebrating her 90th birthday, 2pm-5pm. Vox in Frox concert celebrating the Queen's 90th
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Birthday, Holy Trinity Church, Bishop Sutton, £10 including a glass of wine, 7pm. Details: 07432 094985. Monday June 13th – Saturday June 18th Bristol Hippodrome, Let It Be, evenings at 7.30pm, matinees on Wed & Sat at 2.30pm, tickets from £22.90.* Tuesday June 14th Clevedon Art Club, a talk by Claire Hall about working in glass, 7.30pm, sixth form centre, Clevedon School. Non-members £3. Mendip DFAS Edward Hopper, America’s Realist Genius: AGM at 10am followed by talk by Eric Shane at 11am, Bath & West Bar, B & W Showground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN, guests welcome. Details: www.mdfas.org.uk 01934 862435. Wednesday June 15th St. John’s Church, Midsomer Norton, lunchtime concert, Colin Hunt, organ, 12.30 with refreshments in the Tower Room from 12noon. Mendip Gardening Club, Sam Scriven Earth Science Manager from the Jurassic Coast team in Dorset, Ston Easton village hall, 7.30pm, visitors £3, members £1, with refresments. Details: Val 01761 241 617 or June 01761 413116. Thursday June 16th Redhill Club Classic Car and Motorcycle evening gathering, 7pm-10pm, BBQ food availabile, plus hot and cold beverages, all welcome, Church Road, Redhill, BS40 5SG. Details: 01934 862619. West Mendip Walkers – Mod circular walk 10m on Exmoor, OS OL9 SS936434, start 10.30am, Wooton Courtney village. Details: Tony Strange: 07976 902706 or anthonyestrange@gmail.com Friday June 17th RNLI summer event, Chew Valley Sailing Club, with the Sax Pack, £12.50 inc supper, U-14s free. Details: Keith Williams 01275 332221 or Gillie 01275 331047. Saturday June 18th Leigh on Mendip Fair, from 12noon, clowns, fun dog show, quafry tours and much more , Recreation Field, BA3 5QP. Details: 01373 812460. Somerset Wildlife Trust, East Mendip Group Andy and Veryan Conn will lead a walk along the Coleford and Mells Stream, meet at junction of Underhill and the Green, between the bridge and King’s Head pub in Lower Coleford ST687487, 2pm, adults £2.50, students and children £1. Congresbury Singers’ summer concert Great Music from Great Films, a selection of familiar film music from the last 75 years, St Andrew's Church, Congresbury, 7.30pm, tickets £8 inc refreshments Congresbury Post Office, Paul 01275 878740 other choir members or on the door. Mendip Society walk, a moderate 6 miles near East Harptree, ST 557 541, meet 2pm, car park on Smithams Hill, BS40 6DA. Contact: Peter 01761 221995. St Bridget’s, Chelvey, spring coffee morning at the Old Rectory (opposite the church), various stalls, raffle etc and a chance to see the garden, the church will also be open, from 10.30am. Sunday June 19th Bristol Hippodrome, That’ll Be The Day, 7.30pm, tickets from £26.90.* St. Mary’s Church, Compton Dando, themed tea, afternoon tea and cake, with an exhibition of some of the works of the talented villagers the Sands family, who have worked on Windsor Castle and many other famous commissions, 2pm-5pm. Monday June 20th Bristol Hippodrome, Beyond the Barricade,
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7.30pm, tickets from £21.25.* Tuesday June 21st NADFAS illustrated lectures The Elgin Marbles, Caryford Hall, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ, 11am, free parking, £6. Details: 01963 350132. Summer Solstice vintage vehicle gathering Gillingham and Shaftesbury Showground, Motcombe SP7 9PL, 3pm-10pm, in aid of Salisbury District Hospital’s Star Appeal. Details: 01747 824240. Midsomer Norton Townswomen’s Guild "The story of Women over the last 100 years" by Pat Heynes, 2pm at John's Church Hall BA3 2HX, refreshments, visitors free for two meetings. Wednesday June 22nd – Saturday June 25th Bristol Hippodrome, The Mikado, Scottish Opera and D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, evenings at 7.30pm, matinees on Thu & Sat at 2.30pm, tickets from £14.90.* Wednesday June 22nd St. John’s Church, Midsomer Norton, lunchtime concert, Norton Hill School, 12.30, with refreshments in the Tower Room from 12noon. Thursday June 23rd West Mendip Walkers moderate circular walk 6m Ebbor Gorge, OS Ex141 ST521485, start 1.30pm Ebbor Gorge carpark. Contact Roger Mead: 01934 743088 or rogermead1941@hotmail.co.uk Friday June 24th – Tuesday July 5th Unfolding Stories 2 – an exhibition by Contemporary Quilters West, 10-5 daily, Rook Lane Gallery, Frome, BA11 1DN, meet the artists on June 24th and July 3rd. Details: contemporaryquilterswest.org Saturday June 25th – Sunday July 3rd Hilliard Society of Miniaturists, International Exhibition of Miniature Art, The Town Hall, Wells, 10am – 5pm, free entry, wheelchair access. Saturday June 25th Butcombe Village Fete at The Old Rectory, or in the Village Hall if wet, 2pm, always an enjoyable afternoon, involving the whole community, this year it’s a Royal Occasion to honour the Queen’s 90th birthday, all welcome. Details: Frances Worle 01761 462812. Taize' & Teas – sung prayers from Taize', 4pm at St Michael’s Church, Tower Hill, Stoke St. Michael, BA3 5GT. Come along and sing or just listen. No charge but donations to the church are gratefully received. Details: Janet 01749 840409. Churchill Music, John Etheridge’s Sweet Chorus trio, with Vimala Rowe, 7.30pm – 9.30pm, Churchill Academy Hall, Churchill Green, Churchill. BS25 5QN, tickets Champions of Churchill Music! £10.50, non-champions £14.50, under 18s £4. Details: Ursuala Dornton 01934 852919 or e mail info@churchillmusic.org.uk Mendip Society walk near Weare, a moderate 6 miles with wonderful views, ST 414 527, meet 2pm by the church, BS26 2LE. Contact: Geoff 01934 712834. Singers' masterclass with Saffron van Zwanenberg. 4-6pm, Victoria Hall Radstock. Observers free,
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participants £10/£5. Sunday June 26th St. Mary’s Church, Compton Dando, themed tea, afternoon tea and cake, with an exhibition of Cider making, showing photos etc of the art of making one’s own, 2pm-5pm. Bristol Hippodrome One Night of Queen, 7.30pm, tickets from £23.90.* Concert: Handel: Acis & Galatea. Victoria Hall, Radstock. 7.30pm (pre-concert talk 6.45pm). Entrance by donation (pay-what-you-think-it'sworth). www.ticketsource.com/msw Bishop’s Palace, Wells, outdoor theatre The Railway Children, Charterhouse Theatre Company, 6.30pm, tickets £14, children under 16, £10. Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk 01749 988111. Beckington Open Gardens, nine hidden gardens, teas, plant stall, children’s trail, starting outside the Woolpack, 2pm-5pm. Monday June 27th Wessex Stationary Engine Club, Time Travel through the Mendips with Les Davies at the Old Down Inn Emborough, BA3 4SA 7.30pm, all welcome, free entry. Details: 01225 754374. Wednesday June 29th – Saturday July 2nd Bristol Hippodrome, The Taming of the Shrew, Birmingham Royal Ballet, evenings at 7.30pm, matinee on Thursday, 2pm, matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm, tickets from: £16.40.* Wednesday June 29th Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support, Backwell W.I. Hall, 1.30pm, speaker from Age UK, Somerset. Thursday June 30th West Mendip Walkers – Mod circular walk 9.5m, from Stourhead. OS Ex142 ST779341. Start 10.30am, National Trust carpark. Contact Margaret Donkin: 07543696675 or margkdonkin@aol.com Friday July 1st to Sunday July 3rd Yeo Valley Lions Claverham Beer Festival at Claverham Village Hall BS49 4NF, beers, ciders, food and entertainment! Details:01934 838899/832438 and www.claverham-beerfestival.org.uk Friday July 1st The Hotwells Howlers acclaimed show Stony Broke in No-Man’s Land, commemorating Somerset Light Infantry’s losses at the first Battle of the Somme, Town Hall, Midsomer Norton, in aid of the British Red Cross. Paradis Palm Court Trio L'Entente Cordiale – French & English music. Midsomer Norton Town Hall. Free entry – donations welcome. Home-made cakes and refreshments on sale. 01761 419133 www.musicianssouthwest.com
BRISTOL HIPPODROME Further information and booking at www.atgtickets.com/bristol or 0844 871 3012. Bkg fees apply and all calls 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.
MENDIP MINDBENDER ANSWERS FOR JUNE Across: 1 Three score years, 9 Kicks, 10 Formulaic, 11 Israeli, 12 Big Horn, 13 Overnight, 15 Tonic, 17 Tesco, 18 Maharishi, 20 Elation, 22 Steward, 24 Halfhuman, 25 Doggo, 26 New Scotland Yard. Down: 1 Take it on the chin, 2 Recorders, 3 Elsie, 4 Cuffing, 5 Rarebit, 6 Youngster, 7 Alamo, 8 Second childhood, 14 Neolithic, 16 Nostalgia, 18 Manumit, 19 Hosanna, 21 Allow, 23 Ended.
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New attractions for this year’s Mid-Somerset Showrome THE award-winning Mid-Somerset Show has announced a range of new attractions for this year’s event taking place on Sunday, August 21st. Visitors to the show will now have the opportunity to watch the showjumping and horse classes from the comfort of a brand new grandstand in the Haskins Field. They will also be able to enjoy displays such as the exciting scurry racing in the main ring and an interactive meerkat experience! The event, on the Shepton Mallet Showfield, is also welcoming back the Sheep Roadshow, which will be offering brilliant entertainment and shearing demonstration throughout the day. Looking back on the successes of last year, Christine Barham, show secretary, said: “We’re very excited about the new additions to this year’s show – scurry racing is always a lot of fun to watch and we hope the
grandstand will encourage lots of people to watch the showjumping. “Last year was a phenomenal year for us – it was our busiest and best show yet so we hope this year will be even better with the new attractions. Of course, everyone’s favourites will remain central to our one-day show including livestock, vintage vehicles and the countryside ring, and for the shoppers we even have more trade stands this year.” The companion dog show will also be returning again for those who wish to go along on the day with their fourlegged friend to find which dog really does have the waggiest tail in town. The South West Cheese Awards will be held in the cheese tent for the fifth year, showcasing some of the finest cheeses in the area, as well as hosting cookery demonstrations and a cheese auction for visitors to bid for awardwinning cheeses to take home at the
end of the day. Visitors will also have the opportunity to taste some of the tastiest food and drink from across the county in the food tent, as well as browsing some of the local craftsmanship and creativity in the Arts and Craft tent. And to close the day, local band The Mangledwurzels, will be performing for those who like to enjoy a cider and some music at the end of the day.
Schedules for the dog show, horse, cheese and arts and crafts are now available online and from the show secretary. Call 01949 890344, email secretary@midsomersetshow.org.uk or visit www.midsomersetshow.org.uk
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