CASTLE CARY

merchant. And in the town centre visit one of the town’s oldest buildings, the George Hotel. Although the datestone on the wall shows 1673, parts of the building are thought to be considerably older.

Castle Cary’s best-known building must surely be the Market House. It occupies pride of place in the centre of the town and images of its honey-coloured stone have graced many a Somerset picture book and tourism leaflet. But while there’s no doubting that it is much loved by residents and visitors alike and adds much to the character of the town, it is a comparatively recent building of no great historical significance. It was competed in 1855 on the site of an earlier market building dating from 1616, although some sources suggest that this had been replaced by a brick structure by the time the Market House Company was formed in 1853. Built at a cost of £2,300, the new building was designed to provide a covered area on the ground floor for the market, including some semi-permanent stalls or ‘shambles’ where meat and dairy produce were sold, and a couple of cells to accommodate the town’s trouble-makers. The floors above were intended for reading rooms and space for large meetings and social functions, and over the years they have been put to a variety of uses including a theatre, cinema and school of dancing.

Traditional markets ceased many years ago and the Market House has long outlived its original purpose. Nowadays the ground floor is home to the town council office and tourist information centre, and renovations a decade ago included constructing a roof over the back part of the shambles area, glazing the sides and installing a kitchen and toilets. Now the area is used for a variety of events, exhibitions, displays and functions such as weddings. And every Tuesday the cobbled forecourt and undercroft revert to their original role by hosting the town’s Market Day. and attracting a goodly number of stallholders and customers from near and far.

The upstairs contains the town’s excellent museum. If the town’s history intrigues you, it’s well worth spending an hour or two there. It is crammed with exhibits reflecting local industries, agriculture, lifestyles and people through the ages, In the main display room you can find out more about two of the town’s once-important businesses – T S Donne Ltd, flax spinners and ropemakers, and John Boyd & Co Ltd, horse-hair weavers –and other rooms contain displays relating to the aforementioned Douglas Macmillan and Parson James Woodforde who was born in Ansford in 1740 and served as curate at Castle Cary from 1765 till 1773. His legacy is his diary which records in great detail the social scene of the period – the places, the people, what they ate and what it cost, how they behaved, worked, spent their leisure and died. Run entirely by volunteers, the museum is usually open until the end of September on Mondays to Fridays from 10.30am till 12.30pm and 2.00pm till 4.00pm and on Saturday mornings. Admission is free, but I suspect you will be sufficiently impressed to leave a generous donation in the collection box.

Now that life is returning to some semblance of normality the best way to enjoy Castle Cary’s historic and retail charm is to pay a visit. And perhaps to take coffee or lunch at one of the town’s cafés, restaurants and pubs which are now open again for business. It remains a traditional market town with shops and services that meet the needs of local people and its future prosperity depends to a large extent on attracting more visitors.

Roger Richards.

HIGHFIELD HOUSE

Outstanding & Award Winning Residential Care Home

We are passionate about providing EXCELLENT care and support in a homely environment. Situated in the centre of Castle Cary we benefit from all the delights that Castle Cary has to offer within a short walk. Our calibre of staff is second to none and we are here to cater for each and every individual person. Please feel free to contact us for any further information.

Telephone: 01963 350697 Email: manager@highfieldhouse.net www.highfieldhousecastlecary.com

SEWINGMACHINESERVICECENTRE

Repairs & Servicing To All Makes - Domestic & Industrial

Collection and Delivery Available

EmbroideryEngineeringServices

Suppliers of Computerised Embroidery Machines

Telephone: 01963 350068• Mobile: 07947 725315 Email: robert_churches@hotmail.com

UNIT 8, TORBAY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE CASTLE CARY BA7 7DW

DAVE MARSH HARDWARE LTD

The really useful shop!

Garden – D.I.Y. – Plumbing & More ★ Key Cutting ★ Dulux Paint Mixing Services Suppliers of: and Somerset BBQ Charcoal

Fore Street, Castle Cary •  01963 350316

Also Incorporating KITCHEN ESSENTIALS ...

Needful Things

Needful Things’ range of Pomodoro Clothing has been selling well this Spring. An easy to wear collection of Tunic Tops, Bengaline Trousers, Swing Dresses and Skirts in fresh Summer colours of coral, soft green, denim blue and white. Just perfect now we can get out and about again.

Also getting a lot of attention is their myriad of new home accessories such as Mirrors, Clocks, Framed Prints and exquisite Garden Statues.

With all the new properties being built in and around Castle Cary, Needful Things curtain and blind making service is run off it's feet ... whether you just need fabric, wallpaper and paint, or the full bespoke service, pop in or give them a call on 01963 351352 - their friendly team will be happy to help.

More than you can imagine inside at Needful Things. Battens Solicitors are delighted to announce the promotion of Jason Carr to Associate Solicitor

Jason’s promotion follows the opening of Battens’ Castle Cary office back in 2018. The firm had been successfully running weekly legal clinics in the market town since 2015 and the demand for conveyancing services, and private client matters in particular, had prompted them to establish a permanent base providing their services to the area and beyond.

Jason has headed Battens’ residential property services in the town and specialises in sales, purchases, transfer of equity and remortgage transactions.

Commenting on his promotion, Jason says, ‘Three years at the Castle Cary office has flown by. I was delighted to be given the opportunity to build on Battens excellent reputation for conveyancing services in the South West, and expand our offices to a new area. Conveyancing during a time of a global pandemic has not been without its issues and challenges, but ensuring a prompt and successful outcome for our clients is, and always has been, my main priority. The office’s success is also thanks to the support and hard work of my legal assistant Lucy King and the Castle Cary team.

Battens have been extremely supportive throughout my career, having trained and qualified with the firm. I am grateful for my promotion in recognition of my hard work and commitment to

Jason Carr, Associate Solicitor at Battens Solicitors.

the company, especially in what has been a particularly challenging year.’

Sarah Ford, Head of Residential Property said, ‘Jason has done an excellent job of establishing our residential property services in our Castle Cary office. It’s great to see him and the Castle Cary team go from strength-to-strength.’

What’s the secret weapon to selling your house?

It’s an exciting time when you find a buyer for your home. But if you’ve moved more than once, you’ll know that while the path to your new front door maps out a fresh start, it can also be a rocky road of set-backs and slow-downs. Which is why, when choosing an estate agent, you should ask yourself which company can actually get the job done.

Lodestone Property, based in Bruton, Wells and Shaftesbury has a 96% success rate of selling homes. The secret to its success is not only good communication and innovative marketing, but the work of a dedicated Sales Progressor, Rachel Badrick, who oversees the sale once an offer has been accepted. ‘It’s my responsibility to keep a sale on track to completion’ she explains, ‘not allowing it to fall through because of a technical difficulty.’ Rachel, who formerly worked in conveyancing, ensures all parties have all the facts at any one time and that deadlines are observed, for example, informing the vendor’s solicitor that the buyer’s mortgage has an expiry date to prevent delays.

‘The added value this role brings to the vendor cannot be underestimated’ adds Rachel. ‘Agencies that compete on price alone add no value. Selling or buying a house is often a stressful time for everyone involved; emotions run high, so sometimes just listening to someone’s frustration is part of what I do. At the end of the day both parties want the same outcome and I am here to facilitate that.’

Rachel Badrick of Lodestone Property. Wheathill Golf Club welcomes everyone!

Keep fit, energise, learn a new sport, enjoy vast open space, make new friends and celebrate summer!

Wheathill is an 18 hole parkland course located off the B3153 between Lydford on Fosse and Castle Cary. With 3 PGA Professionals the club is a venue where you can learn, practice and enjoy playing golf and keep fit!

Annual Membership (from £300) so you can obtain a handicap, play in competitions and improve your game while meeting new friends and enjoying a healthy walk! Green fees available daily for 18 holes (Pay & Play) £23 adults, £15 juniors, (book on the day). Academy Course day tickets £7 adults, £5 children and if you simply want to practice your drive, take a bucket of balls (approx 40) for £4 down to the driving range, Well stocked pro shop and clubhouse open to everybody.

For further details: 01963 240667, www.wheathillgolf.co.uk.

RECRUITING

WHEATHILL GOLF CLUB is absolutely booming since lockdown eased and consequently requiring more part-time staff for the busy Clubhouse, to include weekend shifts. (There is a new roof cover over the patio suitable for sitting out in all weather so busy times and exceptional views across the beautiful golf course parkland). Experience preferred but not essential. Greens Staff are also required to work alongside the Head Green Keeper. Green keeping qualification not required but some experience and enthusiasm for work on the land appreciated. A great summer job outdoors! Applicants for both vacancies must be 18+ Tel: Andrew England on 01963 240667 or send CV to wheathillgc@btconnect.com

George’s Greengrocer and Fruiterer

In the backdrop of the hustle and bustle of busy London and Bristol Markets, George was learning the art of fruit and vegetables from the young age of 12.

Fast forward a few years, George and his partner Lauren decided to open George’s Greengrocer and Fruiterer in the heart of thriving Castle Cary. George bringing a wealth of experience, together with Lauren, a talented and highly skilled local florist, they opened their doors for the first time in 2017.

The local produce on offer at George’s is sourced from some of the best growers in and around Somerset, ensuring the fruit and vegetables are consistently of the

George and Lauren of George’s Greengrocer and Fruiterer.

1 Park Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7EQ George Cronk • 07483 890119 • georgiec@live.com

highest quality and beautifully fresh.

Whilst wholeheartedly supporting our local growers, George takes pride in also offering more diverse and exotic fruitage and vegetables. George travels to Covent Garden at least twice a week so customers are able to choose from an exciting and inspiring selection of items; perfect for special and signature dishes. To compliment the range further, fresh Italian produce is also frequently sourced from Milan.

During lock-down, the friendly and helpful team at George’s worked diligently to deliver an immense number of crucial fruit & veg boxes to the local areas. George and Lauren continue to offer their popular box scheme with delivery to many surrounding areas. The scheme involves simply completing a form on which you can select exactly what you want in your box, whilst setting your budget to suit you ideal for busy lives.

Find George’s at 1 Park Street, Castle Cary and on Facebook.

A great selection of fresh fruit, vegetables and more are available at George’s. Quality service assured at Phillips Tyres, Castle Cary.

Reiki Healing at Heal and Sole Holistics

Heal and Sole Holistics offer Distant Reiki and Reiki in person, a system of natural healing that is thought to have been practiced around the world for thousands of years. Reiki is a complementary therapy that is believed to improve just about any aspect of life, from physical health to emotional well-being as well as bringing about stress reduction and mental clarity.

Ten reasons to try Reiki in person or a Distant Reiki treatment

1. Reduces stress, anxiety and depression 2. Calms the mind and relaxes the body 3. Aids sleep 4. Eases pain 5. Strengthens the immune system 6. Helps bring about inner peace and harmony 7. Aids people through the grieving process 8. Increases mobility in cases of pain/injury 9. Speeds up recovery from surgery, long term illness and cancer treatment 10. Increases intuition and creativity

For more information or to book a treatment, please call Heal and Sole Holistics on 01963 350639 or visit their website www.healandsole.co.uk.

Centre Garage, Castle Cary  01963 350243

Specialists in ... TYRES ✽ BATTERIES ✽ CAR KEY BATTERIES

Laser Wheel Alignment (Tracking) Computerised Wheel Balance Petrol & Diesel Available

So, you think you know your Pop music, do you? By John Osborne

 Answers can be found on page 36 

1) Who's singing about ‘Daniel’ at the moment?

2) When did Carol Bayer Sager demand ‘You're moving out’?

3) ‘Mr Haze’ the latest hit from the band ‘Texas’, samples which song by whom?

4) We associate Roger Hodgson with which band?

5) Madonna and ‘Cool and the Gang’, had different songs with the same title, which was...?

6) What evergreen band said that they were ‘In the Army Now’ back in 1986?

7) Name the band behind the album Zenyatta Mondatta.

8) Who had a 1968 hit with ‘Honey’?

9) ‘Here Comes the Sun’ comes from which Beatles album?

10) Name the ABBA song that begins; ‘I don't wanna talk, about the things we've gone through’

Worth-a-Guess Bonus Question: According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) which Beatles album sold the most copies in the States?

Anorak Bonus Question: Name the band that has every member with the surname ‘Followill’.

Great Quotes in Music (128) “Without music, life would be a blank to me.”― Jane Austen

Sudoku by T.M.

Fill in the grid with the numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, each column and each 3x3 block contains all the numbers 1 to 9. Solution to May Sudoku on page 29.

With Philip George

Entangled Life

by Merlin Sheldrake Random House ISBN: 978-1847925190

A Sunday Times and

Washington Post best-seller, described in some quarters as vision changing MERLIN SHELDRAKE'S childhood game of burrowing through autumn leaf piles in his parents' garden has stood him in good stead, as he has emerged some thirty odd years later with his book the Entangled Life. As the subtext to the title is How fungi make our world, changes minds, and shape our futures’, takes us to the threshold of the study of mycology.

Hyphae and mycelium are key words in this book, but they soon become familiar terms. By their collaboration with plant life, Mycorrhizal (from the Greek fungus (mykes) and root (rhiza)) fungi it is claimed not only assisted plant life to arrive on land 500 million years ago, but that even now 90 percent of plants depend on their networks.

It is the fungi in the soil we can smell when we dig near trees. This year to my delight I dug up two small white truffles in our garden near Frome beside a hazel bush. The book devotes a chapter to truffles. This species of fungus has developed its exotic odour so that it can be dug-up, eaten and dropped elsewhere to allow its spores to colonise a new location. I don't think our local crop will justify the purchase of Lagatto Romaganollo hound though.

Sheldrake speculates that manna, the food that sustained Israelites, was the dessert truffle. In my view this is a better explanation than George Sassoon and Rodney Dales' book Manna Machine (1978, Duckworth), a device stored in the Ark of the Covenant. Sasson did, however, claim that the ancient Hebrew text mentioned algae as the source of the food. I never quite understood the origin of the machine, and why the ancient Rabbis could only maintain it on the Sabbath but perhaps they had cultured a species which grew in the darkness of the Ark itself, then distributed it to the desert early on Sunday. morning

The algae/fungi partnership is an important one. Lichen and seaweed are examples of this symbiotic relationship.

Roger Penrose, the mathematician, took the view that one cannot write the equation until you can visualise the concept. Sheldrake, in his efforts to visualise the processes at work in one type of mycorrhizal fungus, took the bold step of joining a group of scientists, engineers and mathematicians in a clinical trial on the influence LSD (as it happens a drug originally derived from a fungus) might have on problem-solving. It is not clear if this experiment helped, other than for him to perhaps take a different view/visualisation of the subject.

Yeasts are a group of fungi and fermentation is another area of interest covered by the book. I was delighted to learn that a favourite pub, The Doctor Butler's Head in Mason's Avenue in the City of London, is named after a fellow of Clare College, William Butler (1535-1617), a physician to James I and one of Cambridge's most famous drunkards. Dr Butler's purging ale was one of his remedies. I think I may have had some of this in modern times, but under different more contemporary brand names!

There is much pause for thought here. The recently coined term ‘the Wood Wide Web’ to describe the Mycorrhizal fungi is now seen as the communication system of the forest. The related question as to why, during the Carboniferous period 290-360 million years ago, fungi did not consume the enormous thickness of submerged unrotted timber remains unanswered. The Carboniferous rain forests collapsed when plants created an earlier climate change problem creating the legacy of ‘coal’ and other fossil fuels, which, with human intervention, is now leading to another potential climate catastrophe.

Some Fungi developed radiotropic characteristics making them not only resistant to radiation, but also able to enjoy its company as an energy source, Chernobyl in the Ukraine has made a home for some of these.

This is a thoroughly entertaining and thoughtprovoking book, which goes well beyond Sheldrake's studies of mycology. An excellent reference and read with its origins in the junior Sheldrake's compost heap.