The List Frome - October 2021 by The List Frome

Retribution Distilling - The Spirit Of Frome

A lockdown success story for The Scaff Shop

ISSUE 127

OCTOBER 2021

We Are The Somnambulists - A Love Letter To Frome

Re: Purpose

YO U R GU I D E TO E VE RY TH I N G FR O M E

BIG B AT HR O O M

SALE S TA R T S 2 N D O C T O BER

ISSUE 127 OCTOBER

Rose Langley

I write I am watching our little dog, Fred, lounging in the garden, blinking

throat, as if this season is being choreographed purely by and for the animals, after the frantic

in the late September sun and snapping lazily at passing winged insects. He is a dog of very little brain, but even a clever hound lives in happy ignorance of the passing of seasons and the impending cold days and dark nights of winter. I have a slight obsession with observing minute changes

human activity of summer. Stags start to rut, starlings begin their murmurations, mushrooms spring from the soil, geese stop off to feed on their way from the Arctic Circle, and conkers fall to the ground in their spikey shells, waiting patiently for a child with a bit of string and a killer instinct. The hedgerows are where it’s at for me in autumn. From elderberries to cobnuts, puffballs to turkey tails, every hedge has something to offer the avid forager, for instance, blackberries for crumble, for vodka, for tea, for sauces, jams and ice cream; sloes for, well, just gin – but it’s a smasher and must be done if Christmas (too early?) is to pass muster. Rosehips for jelly, cough syrup and skincare. And crisp, misty mornings, the crunch of frost underfoot for uplifting, life-affirming walks and to glimpse wildlife going about its business.

Nature feels more cut throat, as if this season is being choreographed purely by and for the animals, after the frantic human activity of summer. in season, the little, subtle signs that we are moving forward. The long days of summer (as I have previously written) hold little interest for me, as do the short days of winter. But the transient moments which herald a seasonal shift genuinely light my fire. My favourite time of year is when summer is broken down by autumn. The light changes and the fields begin to feel a little wilder – maybe the leaves know that they’ll be returning to the land from which they grew. Nature feels more cut

» The List Recommends » Cover story

4-8 10-11

» Food with Folk

» Home & Garden

23-29

» The Fossil

Autumn is a time to immerse yourself in the moment, for it is there and then it’s gone, and winter sets up camp with no immediate plans to leave. So get out and be part of the changing landscape of this incredible season. Once you get bitten by the autumn bug, you’ll never again mourn the loss of summer.

Design: blackinkstudio.co.uk Front cover: The Scaff Shop Copy deadline for the November issue: October 11th

Published by Rose Langley, trading as Make a List Publishing, Sole Proprietor Editor Rose Langley 07957878717 rose@thelistfrome.co.uk . thelistfrome.co.uk *The publishers shall not be liable for any loss occasioned by the failure of an advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions or misprints.

» the list recommends «

The Skints Cheese & Grain, 9th Oct, 7:30pm London four-piece, The Skints, have clawed their way up from the depths of the underground punk/ska scene to become a unique fixture on the global reggae stage. Drawing influences as wide as soul, pop, grime and hardcore, their original brand of ‘’tropical punk’’ has seen them evolve into one of the hardest working and most respected bands in UK music. Since the band’s inception, The Skints have toured extensively across the globe, playing hundreds of shows and festivals. In the UK, they sold out their most recent 10-date UK tour including Shepherd’s Bush Empire, and have performed at the Reading and Leeds Festivals, Bestival, Glastonbury and Boomtown Fair.

6X6 A Call to Artists from The Why Gallery The Why Gallery is putting a call out to artists to contribute to ‘6X6’, its annual fundraising exhibition for We Hear You. The Why Gallery welcomes submissions from artists at any stage in their career in any medium, the only rule being that submissions must measure 6x6 inches. Artwork will then be exhibited at The Silk Mill in Frome 12th – 14th November 2021. The 6x6 exhibition has previously consisted of over 100 donated pieces from artists of all career stages and disciplines. The artworks are available to buy for £40 each, and the proceeds from sales go directly to We Hear You to support their work. If you would like to donate a piece of artwork for the upcoming 6x6 exhibition please drop off or send your work by Monday 8th November to the gallery at: The Why Gallery, 3 Stony Street, Frome, BA11 1BU 4

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THE ZOO THAT COMES TO YOU Merlin Theatre, 9th October, 2pm The Zoo That Comes to You follows the impassioned attempts of two animal enthusiasts to share their love of, and concern for, animals with the world. They have spent the last eight years taking in animals that need respite, care or a temporary home and have, accidentally, ended up with a sanctuary full of animals. However, no-one has come to visit their zoo! So everybody – animal and human alike – has decided it is time to get out, see the world, and bring the zoo to you. Come and meet this eclectic group of charming yet cheeky animals, as they discuss their life experiences and the challenges they face in a rapidly changing world dominated by humans. These animals have a lot to say and want to inspire people of all ages to take action, because they know small actions can make a big difference in the world. Featuring puppetry, live music and playful characters, Scarlet Oak Theatre welcomes you to join the conversation about animal conservation.

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M O N 4 O C T | 7:3 0 P M D O O R S £ 2 0 (+ S E R V I C E C H A R G E )

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THE SKINTS S AT 9 O C T | 7:3 0 P M D O O R S £ 19 (+ S E R V I C E C H A R G E )

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FROME’S ART CENTRE

9 OCTOBER - 2PM THE ZOO THAT COMES TO YOU 12 OCTOBER - 7.30PM WHERE IS MRS CHRISTIE? 26 - 30 OCTOBER - 7.30PM DAD’S ARMY GALLERIES | CAFE SHOP | STUDIOS C O U R T YA R D

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01373 465949 merlintheatre.co.uk Bath Rd . Frome . BA11 2HG

Registered Charity No.292463

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» the list recommends «

WHERE IS MRS CHRISTIE?

Mel Day, ‘Dancers and Dreamers’

Merlin Theatre, 12th October, 7.30pm Agatha Christie was one of the greatest thriller writers of all time, and certainly the most prolific. In 1926, she was at the centre of a mystery as perplexing as any of her fiction, a series of events which sparked one of the biggest and most extensive police hunts in history. Her crashed car was discovered in Surrey and the famous author was missing, presumed dead by many, for eleven days. However, she was eventually found at a luxury hotel in Harrogate. She claimed then, and for the rest of the life, that she was suffering from amnesia and remembered nothing. Neither the press nor the police believed her. Actor Liz Grand presents her one-woman show ‘Where Is Mrs Christie?’ Did Agatha Christie lie, and if so why? Did she suffer from amnesia? Was it a publicity stunt? Or was there a darker secret involved in this disappearance which was to affect her for the rest of her life? The answer to all these questions will, as in all good thrillers, be revealed!

The WHY Gallery, 2nd Oct - 16th Nov The selection of recent work by local artist Mel Day looks at the freedom we have in dreams and imagination; where we can dance on tables, become acrobats and visit imaginary places. She uses small, mixed media pieces using plaster wire and thread, drawings, etchings and lino prints. Mel is exploring new ways of working as she moves away from the wire sculpture that has been her main medium for many years. Since her first exhibition, Mel has always looked at creatures, people and places she finds in her imagination, and is enjoying revisiting these in different media. She has worked in many areas of the arts: illustration, textile design and community arts like Frome’s own Christmas lantern parade. You may have picked up her birds and wire writing locally in Owl. She has exhibited nationally and is in many private collections here and abroad. PRIVATE VIEW 1ST OCTOBER, 7-9PM The Why Gallery, 3 Stony Street, Frome, BA11 1BU

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The annual fundraising art exhibition ‘6x6’ returns for another year. Over 100 pieces of artwork donated by artists, each measuring 6x6 incheswill be available to buy for £40 each. The proceeds of all work sold will go to local cancer counselling charity We Hear You. If you are an artist who would like to donate a piece of work please deliver by hand or post by Monday 8th November to: The Why Gallery, 3 Stony St, Frome, BA11 1BU

OPENING TIMES Friday 12th November 6-9pm Saturday 13th November 10am - 5pm Sunday 14th November 10am - 3pm The Silk mill Merchants Barton Frome BA11 1PT

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» the list recommends « Kosheen Cheese & Grain, 22nd Oct, 8pm Kosheen, one of the UK’s booming live electronic music showstoppers, topped the UK and European music charts and won numerous awards with their unique blend of drum’n’bass with more traditional songcraft, a side of the band embodied by singer and songwriter Sian Evans. The band, with Sian at the helm, earned themselves the reputation of being one

Kosheen’s breakup in 2016, Sian Evans undertook the journey to channel her energy into recording her debut album, alongside innovating the Kosheen live show and unveiling a new perspective, passion and depth to Kosheen’s music.

of the most iconic performing bands of their time. During nearly two decades of relentless writing and performing with Kosheen, the band’s passionate frontwoman, Sian, made a name for herself as a songwriter and a featured vocalist. Following

Vintage Bazaar Cheese & Grain, 30th October, 9.30am to 2pm After eighteen months, The Vintage Bazaar is back! This wonderful fair has been established for more than ten years and showcases a veritable cornucopia of delights from some of the very best vintage sellers from across the South-West and beyond. The fair has a very well deserved reputation as one of the top vintage fairs in the UK, having featured several times in the national press, as well as attracting regular visitors from as far afield as Italy. Back in its regular home at the Cheese & Grain, the bazaar will once again be filled with vintage and antique finds, including wonderful French brocante, vintage theatrical costumes, beautiful period clothing, textile treasures from France, shoes and accessories from the

1920s to the 1970s, wonderfully faded antique fabric and textiles, lace, linen, jewellery, homewares and collectables. Many dealers save their best stock for the fair, and it shows; the displays are stunning. There will also be some beautiful handmade items, all with a vintage influence, so it’s a great opportunity to get some early Christmas gifts too, or maybe something unique for your home. There is always a great selection of home furnishings made from French linens and toiles, vintage fabrics and unique floral velvets. Clothing made from antique linen, bags from vintage quilts and linens are also on show. This is a really friendly fair with a relaxed atmosphere and knowledgeable sellers who are always ready to help. Entrance £2. Refreshments available. For more information go to: thevintagebazaar.co.uk @thevintagebazaarevents

THE VINTAGE BAZAAR RETURNS ON 30th OCTOBER 2021

The Vintage Bazaar Saturday 30 October The Cheese & Grain Frome 9am-2pm www. thevintagebazaar.co.uk

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After 18 months, The Vintage Bazaar is back! This wonderful fair has been established for

PIXIE Passionately Independent

ixie is back in Frome, on a mission to help create a more local world. We all know how hard independent businesses work, how vital they are to our community, and Pixie wants to encourage us to support them. The Pixie Card can be used at Pixie Businesses in Frome to pay for goods and services. Every time you spend, you earn Pixie Points which translate into real cash that can be spent at the independent businesses, strengthening our circular economy in a really practical way. You can pick your card up from retailers in town or just message on Instagram @explorepixie and they’ll get one out to you. If you don’t want a physical card, just download the Pixie App from the Appstore. With ‘Auto Top Up’ you always have enough balance to pay for the things you love, and Pixie will be in your Apple wallet, so it’s even easier to pay.

As well as Frome, Pixie is now available to use at the independent businesses in Bath, Bristol, Sherborne and Bradford on Avon. For a full list of retailers involved in Pixie, visit www.pixieapp.co or download the Pixie app.

@explorepixie | pixieapp.co Download the PIXIE APP today

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THE SCAFF SHOP COVER STORY

ack Cornish had spent twelve years running “When I started up I came to realise that people liked his scaffolding company, when the first what I was doing, I was kind of overwhelmed with lockdown forced him to stop and stay at home. the response!” The business was proving so popular “Although it was a scary time, I definitely benefitted that Jack needed to take on staff. Now his fivefrom the enforced pause in work. It was the first strong team is more like a family. “At the beginning time in a long time that I’d had no responsibilities. I it was just me and any help I could get hold of at the guess it gave me a bit of time to actually sit back and time! I roped in my best friend Tom to help. He is an evaluate which direction I wanted to move forward e-commerce expert and was instrumental in making in. What do I actually enjoy doing and how to build a success of our web-based business. a sustainable business in doing so. And so, The Scaff “Then, my mum’s husband “We would love to Shop was born.” Russell who is a fantastic have bigger premises bespoke furniture maker, And it proved an came on board to go over with a bigger immediate hit. With a ideas and different styles showroom, where keen interest in furniture of products. Experience people can come in and all things handmade, always wins, so having turning scaffold boards and browse all of our Russell involved has been from a functional and products and discuss a blessing. When I found essential product to a myself working until furniture ideas.” beautiful, rustic addition 4:00am I thought it best to people’s homes seemed to get some more help the logical next step for Jack. Now he and his team before I keeled over. Along came Luke. He gets on with make and sell a wide range of products from reclaimed everyone, and makes beautiful pieces of furniture for scaffolding boards and pallet wood, including shelving The Scaff Shop. My partner Kelly helps with the day-tokits, furniture, wall art and signage for businesses. day running, which includes a combination of customer They also offer straight scaffolding boards in a huge care and laughing at me trying to do office work!” range of different finishes.

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C o ve r S t o r y

“We get so many positive reviews and messages, it is quite humbling. We always love it when people send in the photos of their finished product.”

Running The Scaff Shop in Frome was an obvious choice for Jack, who has lived here all his life. “I love Frome. It’s such a great town with so much variety on offer. We have so many regular local customers who pop in which is always lovely. There is such a good buzz when people talk about Frome, and the independent business scene is really strong round here.” Though The Scaff Shop is still in its early years, as an experienced business owner Jack is always thinking about ways to grow and expand. “We would love to have bigger premises with a bigger showroom, where people can come in and browse all of our products and discuss furniture ideas.” The team take great pride in their 5-star rating and brilliant customer feedback. “We get so many positive reviews and messages, it is quite humbling. We always love it when people send in the photos of their finished product.” To view their work and products go to www.thescaffshop.com

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Branding, design and photography by Pencil Studio

THE SPIRIT OF SOMERSET RETRIBUTION DISTILLING

iving in a town like Frome means you come to expect the unexpected. For a small place there are an extraordinary number of interesting, innovative and unusual businesses. But to have our very own distillery, producing spirits from scratch, is a rare thing indeed. Retribution Distilling, owned by Richard Lock, started life, like many a good thing, as a hobby. Richard’s previous career in the oil and gas industry took him all over the world but left him feeling unsatisfied and missing home. As a hobbyist home brewer, Rich won competitions for his IPAs and stouts, and this led him to study a post graduate diploma in brewing and distilling, thinking one day he would start a brewery. But instead, it lead to a love of distilling. His first still, and the early days of Retribution, were based in his garden shed. His first batch of gin amounted to seventy-two bottles (his first sale was made to Owen Singer of Penleigh Farm). It proved a huge hit, and Retribution went from strength to strength. Next on Rich’s list was rum. He currently makes two: a white rum and a golden rum. The white rum, which takes around six weeks to make, is smooth and delightful (as we can verify!) and, unlike the strong white rums which burn your throat, is wonderful to sip neat. The golden rum takes a little longer, as it’s aged for two years in oak barrels from the US bourbon industry. The rum is made with just four ingredients (water, molasses, yeast and nutrients) using molasses is purchased from the last UK owned sugar refinery. After being fermented into a 13% abv molasses wine, the rum-to-be goes into the copper still where it is distilled twice. and runs off the at 80%abv. Rich’s still, with its little hammer marks, is a thing of beauty, handmade in Portugal by artisans who are experts at their craft.

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With the rum in full swing, Rich turned his sights to whiskey. It’s a process for the patient and passionate, as the Retribution single malt spirit will age inside oak barrels for a minimum of three years before being available to buy. Made with barley grown in Somerset and Wiltshire, and then malted in Warminster, it is a truly local spirit, and after extensive research, Rich has discovered that this will be the first time whiskey will have been produced in Somerset. Retribution Distilling will be in a small, and exciting group English whiskey producers which currently number less than thirty. The Whiskey Founders’ Club offers whiskey lovers the chance to be a part of the story, by supporting the distillery and, in turn, being the first to receive a bottle when it’s ready, as well as many other perks including discounts, vouchers and a distillery visit. Check the website for full details. “With Retribution Distilling I wanted to do something good, to employ local people, help the local economy and do something I actually enjoyed,” Rich told us. He has big plans for the distillery, including more small bath releases of the Soundings series, a Somerset Cider Brandy, and expansion of the business. But he is first and foremost a man in love with his craft, and proud of his business. After all, he is performing a kind of alchemy, and one which we can all benefit from. For more information go to retributiondistilling.co.uk or follow on social media @retributiondistilling

AUSTRALIAN INFLUENCED EATERY superfood smoothies, cold press juices, river roasters coffee, poke bowls, buddha bowls, acai smoothie bowls, sweet treats.

Find us in the Food Traders section AT the September Frome Independent Market. We will be selling our cold press juices + poke bowls from 10am-3pm.

www.retributiondistilling.co.uk Distilled and bottled in Frome, Somerset

private catering available nooktheshop.co.uk

01373 471368

14 king st frome ba11 1bh @nooktheshop

TUE-sat 9-4

Join us for an evening with Sunday Times Bestseller Elly Griffiths Frome Town Hall Saturday 30th October Book Online at: Bit.ly/GriffithsFrome Tickets £5

La Place Antiques – KenziPhotographer.com

BATH DECORATIVE ANTIQUES FAIR

Redeemable against the book on the night

The Pavilion, Bath BA2 4EU 22 - 24 October 2021 Trade Preview Thursday 21 October

Complimentary Tickets bathdecorativeantiquesfair.co.uk

winstonebooks3@gmail.com 01373 473111 TH ELI S TFR O M E

Bugsy Malone by Spellbound

rome Musical Theatre Company’s awardwinning youth section, Spellbound, will be performing the musical comedy ‘Bugsy Malone’ this October at the Frome Memorial Theatre. Set in 1920’s New York and narrated by the candycoated Bugsy Malone, join us as we follow the story of the battle for power between the rival mobster gangs of the bumbling Fat Sam and the smoothtalking Dandy Dan. As Dandy Dan’s hoodlums terrorise the neighbourhood with their splurge guns, Fat Sam must call on his good friend Bugsy Malone to help save his empire and his reputation. With show-stopping musical numbers including Fat Sam’s Grand Slam, Bad Guys and So You Wanna be a Boxer, this is the perfect half-term treat for the whole family, full of hilarious characters, amazing musical numbers....and of course lots of splurge! Tickets £12, Concessions £11, Under 16s £9. Visit www.fromememorialtheatre.org.uk or call 01373 462795 to book. Spellbound was set up in 1989 to offer young people an introduction to musical theatre and provide a pipeline of young people into the main group’s productions. Over the years, Spellbound has gone from strength to strength and attracts around 100 youngsters to pre-audition rehearsals. The Spellbound experience is not only a wonderful opportunity to be involved in musical theatre, but it also encourages the development of invaluable life skills such as team building, self-confidence and communication. To find out how you can get involved with the Frome Musical Theatre Company visit: fromemtc.co.uk

Performances:

Tuesday 26th October 7pm; Wednesday 27th October 2pm and 7pm.

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With show-stopping musical numbers including Fat Sam’s Grand Slam, Bad Guys and So You Wanna be a Boxer

LO RAPITENC SPANISH FOODIE HEAVEN

pening in mid October, Lo Rapitenc is a new Spanish deli on Cheap Street, offering a range of cured meats, cheeses, olives and store cupboard essentials with a sprinkle of luxury. “We are importing some products direct from Spain -such as olive oil which comes from my home town and isn’t yet available anywhere in the UK,” says owner Marc. Lo Rapitenc is more than a food shop, with a dine– in menu featuring a range of tapas favourites along with salads, sandwiches and cakes. They will also be serving pinxos, delicious little morsels on sticks, which are a speciality of the Basque Country. “We want to remind people of holidays, introduce them to new flavours and make them feel really welcome. In Spain the tapas bars are like pubs in the UK – everyone is welcome, and you can go on your own or in a group and socialise with old and new friends.” Marc is from Sant Carles de la Rapita, a coastal town in Catalonia in Spain, famous for its fish, tapas bars and restaurants. “My family were fishermen and my grandparents also ran a tapas bar, so I’ve always been around food. However, I spent most of my career so far working on and with boats (my other passion).” Marc moved to England nine years ago and to Frome five years ago, to be close to his wife’s family. “We came for a friend’s wedding in Frome and decided it was for us! We love the independent business community here, everyone is so positive and supportive. We feel that Frome might be small but the people have big ideas and diverse tastes.” Lo Rapitenc is inspired by the gourmet delis of Bilbao and San Sebastián - with beautiful produce and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. “Eating is an important part of Spanish culture. It’s informal and social, with everyone digging in, sharing and having fun. We hope Lo Rapitenc will bring some of this to Frome.”

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To stay up–to–date with news and opening dates, go to: lorapitencspanishfood.com Or follow on social media at: Facebook @lorapitencspanishfood/ Instagram @lorapitenc_frome

Lo Rapitenc will be a Spanish deli and a tapas Bar. Selling a selection of amazing products and serving delicious tapas.

@lorapitencspanishfood

@lorapitenc_frome

21 Cheap Street, BA11 1BN , Frome

The Somnambulists “A LOVE LETTER TO FROME”

Tell us about We are all Sonambulists, and the team behind it. ~ Miranda Wilson It’s a love letter to Frome! And it spans witchcraft, people with blue hands and faces, the Monmouth Rebellion, potato riots, the tunnels and a granny with the pox – among lots more. We created it for the Frome Festival and it went down so well that we decided to keep it alive. Audiences click on the Soundcloud link (see details at the end of this piece) and listen on a smartphone, ideally with headphones, starting at the top of Catherine Hill and finishing at Rodden Meadow. It’s designed primarily to entertain, sweeping through the ages from Jurassic Frome, through mediaeval times and up to the modern day, peppered with humour and accompanied by beautiful music written specially by Somerset’s young folk duo Currer Bell.

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Our intention was to share some local st way that would appeal across the gene stimulate visits to the museum and inte history generally. Our modern lives ar stories of the past, however well we do them. Like geological layers, stories m are. So we are all part of the Frome st future.

I came up with the idea during lockdow thinking about all the interesting ta own doorsteps that are oen overlooke name – well, a derivation of Somnambu soundwalkers rather than sleepwalkers

It was a brilliant team eort. Currer B and performed the fantastic music, Tr did the sound production and mixing, Mark Meadows and Deryn Edwards brou characters to life beautifully, and I c wrote the piece.

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What inspired the music for We are all Sonambulists? ~ Currer Bell (Faron and Merle Powell-Smith) We had been researching Somerset folk music for a while, trying to find old tunes and words that told the story of this county. When Miranda told us about Sonambulists, and asked us to make some music for it, we were excited to delve deeper into the history of Frome and the folk traditions of Somerset. The research which Miranda did was thorough and fascinating, and sparked our imaginations. We had never heard about the woad dyers of Willow Vale before, but the image of families with blue hands crystallised in our minds, and we knew that had to be a song. One of the songs we’d found in our folk research was called ‘The True Lads of Taunton Town’, which tells of the Monmouth Rebellion, and the destruction it wrought for many of Monmouth’s followers. We decided to alter the words and make it about Frome, hoping this wasn’t sacrilegious! Similarly, Miranda had found a fragment of an old song about the Blue House in Frome, which used to be an almshouse, and we fleshed it out and added our own tune and words, drawing on the idea of a playground rhyme for the melody. Sonambulists is like a palimpsest, passing as it does from one era to another, story upon story, and we knew the music needed to shadow and reflect this journey. It meant we could have a lot of fun with genre and sounds, playing one moment a riotous jig, the next a pious hymn, and then a rock-inspired witches’ chant. Almost all of our songs draw on the past and on literature, so it felt perfect to be part of the project. What’s involved in the production of an audio piece like this? ~ Tristan Powell Well quite a lot more than doing an album or music for film because there’s the aspect of a listener being on the move and receiving information that is only relevant if they’re in the right place at the right time. So we needed to produce an immersive experience that didn’t rely on GPS to sync the story to your location. There was therefore no alternative but to estimate the walking pace so listeners would be in the right place at the right time. Because the walk took in social history we needed dialogue, sound effects and music to maximise the experience: in effect a drama. 20

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We started by having a rough time frame from start to finish, after researching the best route to take and talking the script through whilst walking the route. Miranda then called in actors Mark and Deryn to rehearse a read through with Currer Bell to see where music could accompany, punctuate or take over. Most of the sound effects were recorded in Frome. Surprisingly, the ‘easy’ bits took longer than we expected, like the dinosaur roar, pox victim moan and rioting mobs. The music fitted beautifully. In fact there were times when I’d import a tune from Currer Bell, put it roughly where I thought it should go, and the piece would sync perfectly to the drama. The girls wrote with such brilliant intuition and their timing for beginnings and endings was exceptional. Once everything was mixed we did a final walk through with a laptop, adjusting where things started and ended. I remember it was about 1am on the day of the launch, it was raining, and Miranda and I were huddled under coats trying to edit with my laptop, and keep water from hitting the keyboard. We must have looked like a right pair of weirdos, so apologies if we freaked anybody out! What’s next? We’d definitely like to do more Sonambulist walks, so watch this space! How to listen When you are outside Lotte’s, 23 Catherine Street, go to soundcloud.com/user-956620939. Or go to soundcloud.com and search for ‘We are all Sonambulists’ under people. @sonambulists

Your ghost awaits...

ALL HALLOWS ALL HALLOWS Set in a stunning location, just 7 miles from Frome, All Hallows is a day and boarding prep school for children aged 3 to 13. Set in a stunning location, just 7 miles from Frome, Our creative and curriculum, with pupils’ and3well-being All Hallows is adynamic day and boarding prep school forhappiness children aged to 13. at the core of all decision-making, is producing outstanding results. Our creative and dynamic curriculum, with pupils’ happiness and well-being at the core of all decision-making, producing Come andis visit us outstanding results.

and discover why we are different at our next Come and visit us and discover why we are different at our next

Forest School Open Morning on Friday 26th November, between and 12noon. Forest School Open9.30am Morning Can’t make it? Join us26th for ourNovember, Virtual Open Morning on Saturday 27th November, on Friday between 9.30am and 12noon. Can’t makeait? or contact Jackie Truelove to arrange visit at a time that suits you! Join us for our Virtual Open Morning on Saturday 27th November, 01749 881609 w.a l l h aal visit l owsats cahtime o o l .that co . usuits k you! or contact Jackie Truelovewtowarrange 01749 881609

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To serve 6:

Damsons forDessert

TIP the damsons in a pan with 3 tbsp water, place a lid on top and cook gently for 5 to 10 minutes until the fruit is completely soft.

seasonal Recipes from our resident Foodie Laura Coate

Allow to cool slightly and then push the fruit through a fine sieve using the back of a large spoon. Measure the purée. You should have around 375ml.

Set aside 75ml of the cream to a bowl and gradually whisk in the cornflour, until completely smooth.

utumn is undoubtedly the time of year that you’ll find me ferreting around in hedgerows. It is the time for jam and jellymaking, for infusing spirits and for pickling. If you are lucky enough to lay claim to a damson tree, you can put the blue-black sour little fruits to almost any culinary invention of your choosing: they make the most divine ice cream; the most simple of jams; and can compliment pork, lamb or duck beautifully. I wouldn’t be put off by the stones, either. When in lazy jam making mode, I tend to skin the stones off the jam as it’s boiling, but for many damson recipes, you’ll need to do nothing more arduous than push the soft, cooked fruit through a sieve with the back of a large spoon. This year, I’ve come up with a new use for my damson purée – one which I’m hoping will be a winner with my children too. Essentially, it’s a fruity blancmange, but don’t let that truth put you off. It has the creaminess and the jiggle factor of a pannacotta, with a texture that’s more akin to a jelly. Follow Laura for updates Instagram @foodwithfolk

500g damsons 375ml single cream (or coconut milk, for a vegan version) 45g cornflour, sieved 100g caster sugar Flavourless oil, for greasing 1l jelly mould (or individual ramekins)

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and

recipes:

Lightly grease your mould with flavourless oil. Pour the remainder of the cream into a pan along with the damson purée and sugar. Heat, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved and bring almost to a simmer. Slowly whisk in the cream and cornflour mixture. Keep whisking (and alternate with a wooden spoon to ensure that no paste sticks to the bottom of the pan) and continue to cook until the mixture tastes completely smooth and is glossy in appearance. This should take around 3 to 5 minutes. Pour immediately into the greased mould and tap the mould on the worktop, just to make sure there are no trapped air bubbles. Allow to cool slightly, then cover with clingfilm and place in the fridge overnight, or for at least six hours. When you are ready to serve, run a flat knife around the edge of the mould and dip the mould briefly into a bowl of warm water before turning out the dessert onto a flat plate. Jiggle the plate to test for wobblefactor. Serve with almond biscuits.

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THE COLOURS OF AUTUMN WITH Trug & Lettuce

he other day we took the dogs up to Westonbirt Arboretum to see how the autumn colours were coming along, as the natural world treats us to a last burst of colour before the onset of winter. For just a few weeks, the green leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs change colour to many glorious shades of red, yellow, purple, black, orange and brown.

Cold nights Invariably these lower temperatures start to affect the chlorophyll, so the green leaf fades to yellow. However, if temperatures stay above freezing, anthocyanin production is enhanced and the leaves take on a red colour. Colder weather usually gives us more yellow leaves, warmer weather gives us more red leaves.

But, have you ever wondered why leaves change colour?

Dry weather This results in sugars becoming more concentrated in the leaves. This means that more anthocyanin is produced and gives us redder leaves.

Well, the colour of a leaf comes from pigments that are contained within. These natural substances are produced by leaf cells, to help them obtain food. The three pigments that colour leaves are chlorophyll (green), carotenes (yellow) and anthocyanins (reds and pinks). The shorter days and cooler nights that we associate with the autumn triggers three major changes in the leaf, which affect its colour. First, as the days become shorter, the production of green chlorophyll slows down and eventually stops. Existing chlorophyll in the leaf breaks down and the green colour fades. Secondly, in the spring and summer, the green from the chlorophyll is more dominant and means that the yellow and orange carotenes aren’t visible. As the green colour fades, the yellow or orange takes over and changes the colour of the leaves. Then finally, a layer of tougher cells starts to form across the base of the stalk of the leaf to help it eventually fall. This means that the movement of sugars back to the main part of the tree is restricted and the sugars become trapped and concentrated in the leaf. They are eventually converted to anthocyanins giving the leaf a red, purple or pink colour. Some years are better than others as the depth of colour is influenced by the blend of chemical processes and weather conditions, such as:

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Bright sunny days The production of new chlorophyll slows down in autumn and eventually stops. However, photosynthesis can still occur on sunny autumn days, using the remaining chlorophyll. Sugar concentration increases, more anthocyanin is produced and we know that this means that the leaves are redder. But why do trees lose their leaves? Abscission is the technical name for when dead leaves and ripe fruit become detached from our plants. It starts when that layer of cells that exists between where the leaf stalk joins the stem starts to get thicker. This layer, known as the abscission layer, starts much earlier in the year – in the spring – during active new growth of the leaf. In the autumn the hormones within our trees and plants start to change. The most notable one to change is something called auxin. During the growing season the production rates of auxin in the leaves are consistent with the rest of the tree. When these rates are steady, the cells of the abscission layer remain connected, which means that the leaves remain attached.

So, now you know why the leaves change colour, get outside and immerse yourself on the beauty of autumn.

Then, as the days shorten and temperatures cool, the production of auxin in the leaves starts to decrease. This means that the cells within the abscission layer start to stretch. The elongation of the cells means they start to fracture, resulting in the leaf breaking away from the plant. The leaf will finally be blown off by the wind or will fall due to its own weight. Is the loss of leaves good or bad for the tree? Good! It means that the tree won’t dry out and die, as it can preserve the moisture in its branches and trunk. It also means that – being dormant – it needs less energy to remain alive. So, now you know why the leaves change colour, get outside and immerse yourself on the beauty of autumn.

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IF YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS TO BE INCLUDED IN FROME’S ULTIMATE TOWN GUIDE, GET IN TOUCH

The 2022 Annual is on it’s way. Beautifully designed, The Annual is an eye-catching publication, created to showcase the very best of Frome, with expert guides to:

SHOPPING / EVENTS / MUSIC & THEATRE / FOOD & DRINK ART & DESIGN / COMMUNITY PROJECTS / LOCAL ATTRACTIONS ACCOMMODATION / TOURIST INFORMATION

The Annual also includes a useful town map and greater area map. rose@thelistfrome.co.uk | 07957 878717

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Bespoke House Surveys By Frome’s admirable independent period property surveyor

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CIDER INSIDER Th e Fr o m e Fo s s i l

first met James Crowden three decades ago. I’d been sent from Fleet Street to interview him about his first – extraordinary – book of poems. We sat beneath an apple tree in his gloriously unkempt Somerset garden and, whilst sluicing off his sheep-shearing gear, he told me about his life. Dartmoor-born, he’d been an Army engineer, then spent a year in remotest Ladakh, then studied anthropology at Oxford before plunging into the forgotten world of the seasonal country labourer. Now he worked at forestry, lambing, shearing and a host of other jobs. Which he was transmuting into poetry. But at the hub of his world was something else: cider. That’s what made his eyes glint. He spent the autumn pressing apples at Burrow Hill, one of Somerset’s finest cider farms. His poems were full of old orchards and apple mounds, of dripping juices and frothing fermentations, of Brown Snout and Lambrook Pippin. In the years since, the enthusiasm has swelled into a knowledge and understanding of cider that few can match. So why am I writing about this? Because England’s Apple Day falls on October 21st, and we should all celebrate our greatest national drink. And if you want a jovial, weirdly learned, hands-on guide to the subject, then James is your man. His new book Cider Country takes you on an enchanting journey via Kazakhstan, Ancient Greece and Massachusetts to Much Marcle, Monksilver and Bradford-on-Tone. The history of cider is brimful with romance (Zeus, Uther Pendragon, Helen of Troy, the Hittites, Bloody Mary and Snorri Sturluson - not to mention Joseph Stalin - all get walk-on parts in Crowden’s book). And the general haze of smocky, rats-in-the-barrel, strawin-the-mouth Adge Cutlery oo-arrism is always seductive. Even so, there have been periods of utter desolation, when the entire culture nearly expired.

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The lowest point came in the 1970s. The drinks industry, having done its best to ruin real ale, turned its attention to cider. Why, they reasoned, go on using obscure and fiddly cider apples when you can do it more cheaply with juice concentrate, maize syrup and artificial fizz? This is how most massmarket ciders are created today – and why they taste of nowt. But things have changed again. The new century has seen a joyous upsurge in the number of young, ingenious small scale cider makers, and James Crowden has talked and drunk with most of them. No wonder he sounds so cheerful.

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*Help to Buy Terms & Conditions: YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. Credit is secured against your home. Subject to status, Help to Buy Terms & Conditions and regional property price cap. Eligible applicants will be able to reserve with a 5% deposit and offered an equity loan up to a maximum of 20% of the purchase price (based on the open market value). Applicants are required to secure a 75% of the purchase price by means of a conventional mortgage, savings/ deposit where required. The equity loan is interest free for the first 5 years. This offer is not available in conjunction with any other promotion. Full details will be provided on request. *Flooring terms & conditions: Flooring included with apartments only, speak to a sales advisor for full details. Images used for illustrative purposes only. Prices correct at time of print.

The List Frome - October 2021

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