The Visitor Magazine Issue 368 July 2014 by The Visitor Magazine

Summer Bonanza!

20% OFF

QueSt VitaminS

Your local independent monthly journal  01963 351256 · www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk

Issue 368 July 2014

Offer ends 31st Aug.

Or shop online with us at www.healthfoodsuk.com

Your

9 – 11 Princes Street, YEOVIL, BA20 1EN

FREE copy

Tel: 01935 428791

www.healthfoodsuk.com

Inside this issue ...

A chan

WIN

ce to

tickets t RNAS o the Yeovil ton Interna tional A ... see page 2 ir Day 0

er t

Ent

e a odg W L A s ’ R ter ,

D e Hun

mon Th h Com ... Leig anton the c o o be Win hers t ,000 t c Vou e of £2 page 9 valu ... see won

WIN

antry, 4 at Polly’s P r fo a e T h ig H ort ery nr. Langp Drayton Nurs 9 ... see page 1

The Visitor reaches an estimated Arms & Armoury, Books, China, Furniture, Glassware, Jewellery and more ... Visitorland has a wealth of businesses ready to satisfy your collecting habit! See page 6

60,000 readers each month!

... and don’t forget our PRIze CRossWoRD on page 58

&CO

Chalmers chartered accountants

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Personal & Business Tax Advisors Business Start Ups Payroll Bureau Accounting & Audit Specialists Full Business Support Services VAT Returns & Advice

Free initial consultation A personal and friendly approach to business that will work for you Visit our website at

www.chalmersaccountants.co.uk or email us on

info@chalmersaccountants.co.uk Ofﬁces at Yeovil, Crewkerne & Langport 01460 279000

R. A. WiCKs Ltd. Celebrate 38 Years 1976 – 2014 Fireplaces – Stoves – Flues

Anniversary Celebrations!

15% DisCount off selected stoves offer ends 31st August

■ Supply and installation of wood burning and multifuel stoves ■ Own professional fitters ■ HETAS registered

see our showrooms Full Range of Fireside Accessories

R. A. WiCKs Ltd.

Clapper Hay, Church street MeRRiott, somerset, tA16 5PR  01460 74612 or visit website www.wicksheating.co.uk

In Passing ...

HE LONGEST DAY has passed and gone, the light evenings are growing shorter and, perish the thought, the supermarket shelves will soon be stacked with Christmas crackers and decorations. One local publican admitted in the press recently that he is already planning a New Year cocktail - and wine-tasting night. It’s only July, for goodness’ sake, and although we’re now in the second half of the year we’ve still got Visitorland’s summer pleasures to enjoy – the village fêtes and shows, the sports, the outings, the barbecues, the company of good friends simply sitting in the garden and chatting or thinking or doing nothing at all. Friday evenings tailbacks on the A303 at Sparkford roundabout and traffic crawling nose-to-tail over Camel Hill will be the sure sign that the holiday season has started. Every weekend until September the exodus of families from the south-east will clog the road all the way to the westcountry. And our local businesses will be doing their best to tempt some of those carloads to divert off the A303 and discover Visitorland’s rich mix of attractions to visit, countryside to explore, places to stay, things to do, events to enjoy, town and village shops, pubs and restaurants to use. So if you’re a visitor we welcome you to our green and pleasant corner of rural England. Green thanks to the frequent showers, but don’t let them spoil your holiday! There are plenty of indoor attractions in the area for wet days, and here are just two suggestions. The recently-completed reconstruction and expansion of Haynes Motor Museum has produced a building that looks stunning outside and is even more stunning inside where the collection of more than 350 cars and bikes, some dating from the early 1900s, is displayed with informative captions of interest as much to the casual visitor as the avid motor enthusiast. Most of the vehicles are in working order and driven from time to time on the museum’s

display track, so it’s no surprise that it draws visitors from all over the world. A new attraction that will also place Visitorland firmly on the international stage opens on 15th July. The 18th century threshing barn and adjoining buildings at Durslade Farm in Bruton have been converted into a centre for contemporary art by Hauser & Wirth, who also have galleries in Zurich, New York and London. World-famous sculptor Phyllida Barlow has created the stunning inaugural exhibition and the gardens are being landscaped by Piet Oudolf, widely considered the most influential garden designer in the world today. His landscape drawings are also on display this summer and the gardens are set to open in September. Hailed by the national press as ‘the next big thing in the art world’, the gallery will be open daily except Mondays from 10.00am to 5.00pm and admission is free. NN.

Advertising Deadlines August edition published Thursday 24th July Deadline Monday 14th July Wells Frome • Shepton Mallet Glastonbury Bruton Street Castle Mere Cary Somerton Wincanton Gillingham langport ilchester Shaftesbury Martock Marnhull Sherborne Stalbridge • ilminster Stur. Newton Yeovil Crewkerne

Note to Advertisers Advertisements are accepted subject to our standard terms and conditions as printed on our rate card, available upon request. We cannot guarantee any specific page or position, but will always do our best to comply with clients’ wishes. ArtWorK Artwork & design by our production department and photographs taken by our photographers are the copyright of The Visitor Ltd. Clients or agencies supplying artwork or images should send uncompressed TIFs, JPEGs or PDFs, 300 dpi minimum if actual size, or at a higher resolution if smaller than size required, along with a hard copy print-out. For advertisement sizes see our Rate Card. The views expressed in articles & letters contributed to this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Ltd.

PO Box 1, Castle Cary Somerset BA7 7BG Tel: (01963) 351256, 351998 Fax: (01963) 350552 Email: info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk Website: www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk facebook.com/thevisitormagazine twitter.com/thevisitormag Proprietor, Accounts & Subscriptions Helen Dunion Production Manager Jeff Farrow Advertisement Manager & Features Editor Michelle Trulock Printed by The Blackmore Press © The Visitor Ltd. 2014 (Items marked ©gt are the copyright of geoff thompson)

CONTENTS Our FRONT COVER is almost entirely due to yesteryear ANNOUNCEMENTS & CLASSIFIED - 56 ANTIQUES, VINTAGE, COLLECTING - 6 ARTS - 49 BUSINESS - 49 CAMELOT COUNTRY business focus - 30 CROSSWORD - 58 CYCLE BABBLE - 22 GARDENING - 51 HOUSE & HOME - 41 LANGPORT - 16 LEISURE & TRAVEL - 20 LET’S MAKE MUSIC - 23 LETTERS - 5 LOOKING GOOD & FEELING FINE - 38 MARTOCK business focus - 32 MENTIONED in DISPATCHES - 8 MOTORING - 24 MUSIC for the MONTH - 23 NOTICE BOARD - 21 PAPERCHASE - 55 PHONE-A-FIRM - 56 PUBS - 25 SOMERTON - 11 SOUTH PETHERTON business focus - 36 SPARKFORD TIMBER BUILDINGS & GATES profile - 60 THEY SAY - 26 WINE & DINE - 29 Drawings by GEOFF THOMPSON

THE VISITOR July 2014 3

ANDREW BARCLAY TRADITIONAL FAmILY BUTCHERS 45 High Street, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9JU Tel: 01963 34880

our Meat iS naturaLLY reareD anD SourceD froM the WeSt countrY ● ● ● ●

BEEF from Local Farms LAmB from Sam Stables at Charlton Musgrove FREE RANGE PORK from Somerset FREE RANGE CHICKEN & DUCK from Creedy Carver

SaM’S LaMB Orders taken for ...

WHOLE LAmBS £130 • HALF LAmBS £65 Butchered to your requirements

BarBecue SeaSon iS here! Enjoy our large range of ... Sausages - plain & flavoured Also meats and Poultry

Hog Roast + BBQ Service Some dates still available

AWARD WINNING mONTGOmERY mATURE CHEDDAR & KEEN’S CHEDDAR

Large selection of Local Cheeses including

Orders taken fOr Our meat at nOrth Cadbury Village stOres and at maiden bradley Village shOp

Wadman’s World Famous Cream ... from their jersey Herd

ANNAmmA’S CUISINE

Homemade authentic Southern indian Curry Sauces made locally by a delightful Indian Lady

FREE RANGE EGGS

We take aLL MajOr Credit and debit CardS

DAILY DELIVERIES TO THE SURROUNDING AREA 4 THE VISITOR July 2014

Letters To the Editor Never Forget Commemoration of Beginning of World War 1

Sir, Shepton Mallet is commemorating the 100 Anniversary of the Beginning of World War 1 which began on the 4th August 1914. The Event is being organised by a group of people including The Shepton Mallet Town Council, The Royal British Legion, Christians Together in Shepton Mallet, the Air Training Corps, Shepton Mallet Journal, and other Community members. We are going to hold a series of activities on Monday 4th August to mark this significant Day. WW1 changed people’s lives forever across the World. The statistics are eye watering, more than 65 million men from 30 Countries fought in WW1. Nearly 10 million died. There were over 35 million civilian and soldier casualties. This event is being held to honour all those that were killed, injured and affected by this terrible War. We will be holding a Silent Vigil at Shepton Mallet Cenotaph (organised by the Shepton Mallet Air Cadets) from 11am to 7pm, people are invited to share this time of silent reflection. We will gather in the Market Place at 6.45pm and then proceed to Collett Park, via the Cenotaph and will be led by the HMS Heron Volunteer Band. In the Park we will have a Marquee featuring a living history video and a display of memorabilia commemorating the 140 citizens of Shepton Mallet who went to War and never returned. This will be accompanied by refreshments; hog roast and bring your own picnic. We will be having band music to go with this. At 9.30pm we will leave the Park and make our way, led by drummers, to the Parish Church and then there will be a Candlelit Service of Commemoration, mirroring the Service that is to be held in Westminster Abbey at the same time. Allan Mallinson, author and former Army Officer will introduce the Service. The Service will finish with lights out at 11pm followed by the playing of the Last Post. We are asking if readers have

any 1st World War memorabilia which they think people would be interested in seeing on display or in the living history. We would like to hear any stories; no stories will be too small. Finally Whitstones Fish and Chips, Whitstone Road, Shepton Mallet are generously giving 100 Fish and Chip meals (100 meals for 100 years), £6 per head, and all proceeds to the Royal British Legion. The meals will start at 2.15pm and go on until 4.30pm. Tickets are available from Whitstones Fish and Chip Restaurant and the Tourist Information in the High Street. Please email: organiser@never forget.uk.com or ring 01749 343879 for items for the Marquee or any further information. Never Forget Event Organisers Shepton Mallet Town Council Town Council Offices Park Road Shepton Mallet BA4 5BS

World War 1

Sir, WW1 commemorations this year, being one hundred years since the start of The Great War, it is coincidentally the seventieth and last year of 43rd Wessex Parades in Mere on Sunday 13th July 2014. Every year those involved and others come to Mere in July to commemorate the lost soldiers in the battle for Hill 112 in Normandy, Northern France. Many locally I do not believe are aware of this once a year event, which is a march through the main streets of Mere, a service with a band, performed on the slopes of Castle Hill, which has a commemorative memorial of the battle on the top of Castle Hill. I have asked other youth groups to join this function and I hope more people will come on to the streets of Mere this year. Hopefully the poppies will be in flower. The Mere Chamber of Trade are financing the poppies and a free planting service was given by Clive Hazzard, thereby reminding us of the many people locally and nationally who also fell, served or were injured in The Great War of 1914-18. George Jeans Mere

Did You Know?

Sir, Did you know that when landing craft left Weymouth on D-Day 6th June 1944 with U.S. troops on-board, bound for the beaches of Normandy, there were separate craft for ‘Whites’ and ‘African-Americans’? Such was the segregation, even in the comradeship of war! Norman Leeks Cambridge

Prize Crossword

Sir, I really enjoy doing the prize crossword every month but have only been doing it for the last 5 years, which equates to around sixty crosswords. This month's crossword is number 332 which means there are about 260 crosswords that I have not done. Would you consider publishing a book (or several books) of all the crosswords to date that one could buy to enable me to attempt to do the previous crosswords? Robin Putt 36 Lightgate Villas South Petherton Somerset TA13 5AY

£100. We are however suffering a loss of collectors in our area and are appealing for new volunteers in Somerton, Babcary, Langport & Huish Episcopi, Kingsbury Episcopi, Low Ham, Curry Rivel & Pitney. All we ask is a few hours once a year, during the first full week of May. New volunteers are assured of a very warm welcome if they phone me on 01458 273085 or e-mail: cox.cj@btinternet.com. Chris Cox Group Leader Langport & District Red Cross 2 Camden Road Somerton, TA11 6RN

Something for us to think about Robin, Ed.

Thank You

Sir, May I express my thanks through your publication for the generous response to the Langport & District Red Cross Collection during Red Cross Week 2014. We raised £2,152 thanks to the generosity of local communities who clearly appreciate the service provided by the Red Cross to those in need, and of course, to some very dedicated volunteer collectors. Several volunteers single handedly raised well over

summer saVer

reduCed priCe duVet Cleaning ... all duvets £10 free local collection and delivery on orders over £20

Summer & Winter Duvets count as two. Minimum prices not to be used in conjunction with any other offer, or discount cards.

Direct sale only - not available through Agencies

17 / 18 Bond Street, Yeovil

Tel: 01935 421238 THE VISITOR July 2014 5

Going Away? The Barn in Sherborne has luggage that may be just what you’re looking for.

Browsing through antiques and collectable shops is a fascinating pastime - knowing that the items you are looking at were made many years ago and then, by further research, finding out what part they played in that previous era. whether your passion is for collecting or you are looking for an item of interest to furnish your home - no two shops are the same - so there is always something different to see. In Visitorland we have a wonderful choice of interesting Vintage and Antique shops - here are just a few of them ...

Quillon House Antiques

16 HigH Street , Bruton  01749 812269  17 th / 18 th C. oak and Country Furniture  Arms & Armoury  equestrian Paintings  Valuations undertaken  Antiques Purchased

French opalescent glass dish – ornate bird design. Circa 1920. Dish 12 inches in diameter.

open: tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10.00am - 5.30pm

A set of four Winnie the Pooh books by A.A. Milne - two of which are first editions. Available from Quillon House Antiques, Bruton.

The barn

Inspirational upcycled objects of desire! A PAssIon for coLLectIng has turned into a business enterprise for husband and wife team Mel and rich Davis. With Mel’s keen eye for collecting glass together with rich’s love of vinyls and cDs the idea was born and the Barn was opened in April at trendle Yard, sherborne. trendle Yard, is an attractive walled courtyard with a number of old outbuildings of character, all of which are now occupied by individual businesses – these include a cycle shop, a furniture restorer, a courtyard café and now the Barn. the Barn is an Aladdins cave of interesting vintage items and collectables that have been personally sourced. Browse at your leisure at the colourful glassware, vintage china, jewellery and furniture. Affectionately referred to as the Man crèche – the collection of cDs and LPs starting from just £1 keep the men occupied whilst the ladies are busy tripping down memory lane - perusing the vintage clothing, hats and table linen. A range of new haberdashery items are also on sale, plus an assortment of handicrafts made by Mel herself such as tea cosies and aprons, some using vintage fabric. Luggage, painted furniture, kitchenalia, dressing table sets, toys, mirrors and more … there really is something to suit all tastes and pockets! the stock is constantly changing. the Barn has wonderful charm with its uneven flagstone floors, chandelier lighting, and the eclectic mix of quirky and unusual stock. Do call in and browse – you can be sure of a warm welcome. the courtyard is a tranquil spot where you can ponder over your purchases or relax in the sun over a cuppa. Open Monday to Saturday 10am until 4pm • Closed Sundays Trendle Yard is off Trendle Street which is located near the Abbey

the barn, trendleYard, trendle Street, Sherborne, dorset telephone: 07742 275943 www.trendlebarn.co.uk or visit them on facebook 6 THE VISITOR July 2014

Pictured right: Tinhouse Home & Garden, Somerton, has an interesting selection of gardenalia. See their advert on page 15.

Somerton Antiques Trail

Next time you are in Somerton follow the Antiques Trail - there are now several antiques outlets in and around the town, so it’s well worth a visit. See our Somerton Feature page 11.

John Hamblin

If you have a piece of antique furniture that has seen better days, visit John Hamblin on the Pen Mill Trading Estate, Yeovil. John has a wealth of experience in the restoration of antiques and also offers a French polishing service and the re-leathering of desk tops and refinishing of table tops. John also offers a bespoke furniture making service.

The Antiques Bazaar, Crewkerne, a browsers paradise.

Antiques Bazaar celebrate their 2nd anniversary

Tickets are now on sale for the Vintage Burlesque Evening with dinner and cabaret to be held on the 1st August to celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the Antiques Bazaar in Crewkerne. A host of other events are planned for the weekend including a classic car day. See their advert on the inside of the back cover. The Bazaar plays host to over seventy stall holders - here you can find everthing from rugs and furniture through to jewellery and silver. Come along and browse and enjoy lunch in the cafe.

JOHN HAMBLIN Specialists in the repair and restoration of antique Furniture Bespoke furniture • french Polishing

John Martin Antiques of Castle Cary (tel: 01963 350733) will be showing a range of antique fireside accessories, oil lamps, clocks and decorative items at the September Shepton Mallet Antiques Fair - (19th-21st) in the Showering Pavilion Stand 94. They will not be attending the July Fair but look forward to meeting old and new customers as usual in September.

UNIT 6, 15 OXFORD ROAD PEN MILL TRADING ESTATE YEOVIL, SOMERSET, BA21 5HR Tel: 01935 471154 Cabinet makers • antique furniture restorers

john@jhamblin.fsnet.co.uk

Beaminster Antiques, Vintage & Collectables Fair saturday 12th July Public Hall Beaminster Dorset

9.30am – 4.00pm

✱ next fair ✱ saturday 9th august Bookings & Enquiries Meadow Fairs 01297 24446

Gold & Silver Jewellery Wanted Are you a collector of old cars, or do you have treasures in your attic you are hoping to sell? Pastimes of Sherborne will be pleased to hear from you.

Best prices paid for wedding rings, pendants, chains, bracelets, and broken items, etc.

Phone Jenny Martin Castle Cary

01963 350733

PASTIMES of Sherborne

China and porcelain always attract attention at the monthly Beaminster Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair.

We pay top prices for old toys - any condition Trains • Cars • Lorries • Soldiers • Etc. Britains * Dinky * Corgi * Hornby Meccano * Tri-ang * Etc. shop open Mornings 9.30am - 1.00pm Monday to saturday

tel: 01935 816072 Mob: 07527 074343 HoMe vIsIts BY ArrAngeMent

3 Westbury, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3EH

A regular monthly feature in

To adverTise here call 01963 351256 or email: info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk August Issue Print: Thursday 24th July • Deadline: Monday 14th July

THE VISITOR July 2014 7

Mentioned in

Dispatches Hurry, Hurry, Hurry!

Mere Carnival takes place on Saturday 13th September and entries for Carnival Royalty are required by Monday 30th June. Applications are invited for Carnival Prince & Princess - aged 5 - 13. Teen Queen - aged 13 - 19. Super Gran - (any age) from those living in the BA12 6 postcode area. Successful applicants will receive prize money and a contribution towards their outfit for Carnival Day. They will also be leading the afternoon and evening processions along with other royal duties. Application forms are available to download from Mere Carnival 2014 website: www.merecarnival 2014.co.uk or alternatively from Katy at KM Beauty, Salisbury Street, Mere, (opposite entrance to Main Car Park), to where they should be returned by Monday 30th June 2014. Any enquiries to Katy on 01747 860081 who will be happy to help.

Race against time to preserve our bridleways

A new toolkit launched by The British Horse Society will help to get historic bridleways and offroad riding routes in England and Wales recorded on the definitive map before they become at risk of being lost. Any such routes not recorded by a 2026 ‘cut-off date’ imposed by The Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) will be in danger of being closed to horse riders and carriage drivers. Potentially thousands of historic routes could be jeopardised. This is a very real threat to equestrians, who may currently be riding on unrecorded routes unknowingly. With less access to safe off-road riding than ever before horse riders cannot afford to lose the routes they currently do have, and unless action is

taken, this could be a reality. The charity has made an excellent start on saving your equestrian routes, but there is still much more to do. Visit bhs.org.uk/access-andbridleways/our-access-andbridleways-officers to find your local BHS Bridleway Officer, or download a PDF version of the toolkit at bhs.org.uk/2026 For more information, to donate or join, visit www.bhs.org.uk

Quizzing for Macmillan!

Gillingham, Mere & Shaftesbury Lions Club held one of its popular quizzes in Shaftesbury recently. Over 52 entrants made up into 12 teams enjoyed the evening and a total of £115 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Care.

Clog and Step Dancing

Beetlecrushers have had so many enquiries from people wanting to learn the English tradition of clog and step dancing that they are considering holding a Summer course, in addition to the usual Autumn session. If you are interested and are free on a Wednesday evening, please email beetlecrushers@hotmail.com or ring their secretary Ann Smith on 01373 812227.

The Great War

As a way of marking the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914, St Aldhelm's Church, Doulting are holding a Flower Festival with a theme of Remembrance from 11th - 13th July. It's hoped that enough money can be raised to restore the War Memorial on the west wall of the nave in the Church. This will involve instructing a specialist firm of stone conservators to remove the unsightly damp staining that runs along the wall followed by repainting the lettering of the names of the men who died from Doulting and Prestleigh. The church will be open as follows: Friday 11th 3pm - 7pm; Saturday 12th 10am - 7pm with strawberry teas from 3pm and Sunday 13th from 10am - 7pm with a Family Service at 11am. All welcome.

Dog tired of high prices? visit

CROSSROADS PET SUPPLIES suppliers of

• Pet Foods • Bird & Pigeon Seeds • Full range of Toys, Hutches, Accessories ... all at competitive prices Ample FREE PARkinG outside the Door Find us at Forward Garage on the main A30 between Sherborne & Yeovil

Tel: 01935 411859 . 8 THE VISITOR July 2014

Country Fair

A Country Fair takes place at Hermitage Village Green on Saturday 9th August with Dog Agility, Equestrian display, Quad bike display, Dog show and many other attractions. Barbecue, Bar, cakes, tea, ice-cream. Entry is free, and parking is £2 per car. Any profits will go to the Air Ambulance. Barbecue when gates open at 1pm; events start at 2pm.

Volunteers Wanted

Ferne Animal Sanctuary in Wambrook, Chard, Somerset is seeking local support and volunteers for their hugely popular Family Fun Day. Taking place on Wednesday 30th July from 11am until 4pm this event always attracts a huge crowd and is a fantastic day out for the whole family. Stalls are now available for local crafters and artisans to book. Family tickets for the day are a bargain, at only £5 for up to two adults and three children, £2 for a single adult and £1 for a single child, it’s an event not to be missed! For further information contact Sharon Pavey at the Sanctuary either by email frm@ferneanimal sanctuary.org or telephone 01460 65214.

Interior renovation at thirteenth century church benefits local community

A grant of £4,000 awarded by the Dorset Historic Churches Trust (DHCT) helped meet the sum required for the work, alongside £8,500 raised by the villagers of Winterborne Stickland and the church’s 40-strong ‘Coffee Pot’ morning group. The renovation included building a mezzanine bell-ringing floor in the bell tower, to accommodate the growing number of bell ringers at the church, and a new kitchen fitted in the base of the tower. The new developments are intended to make the inside of the church a more welcoming and usable space for the community and to encourage groups like ‘Coffee Pot’ to make the most of the church. Barry De Morgan, Deanery Representative for DHCT, commented: ‘The Trust was delighted to be able to award this grant to St Mary’s Church, in order for the renovation work to be completed. This beautiful church has a vibrant and active community and it is fantastic that the renovation work will make the building more usable for the village.’ Reverend Alan Ryan of St Mary’s Church added: ‘We’d like

to say a big thank you to DHCT for their generous grant and to all the parishoners for their s u p e r b f u n d ra i s i n g e f f o r t s . Historically, church interiors were used for all kinds of functions and we’re hoping that this renovation work will help St Mary’s Church become a real focus for the community once more. The recent work to the church has enhanced the building for all those that love the spiritual and community life that St Mary’s Church brings to Winterborne Stickland.’

National Transplant Week 7 – 13 July

Organised annually by NHS Blood and Transplant, the aim is to raise awareness of organ donation. The UK’s organ donation consent rate is amongst the lowest in Europe, yet while only 30% of the UK population is on the Register, over 80% of people say they are willing to donate organs or consider donating after their death. There is huge public support for donation but despite recent successful campaigns, there are a number of reasons why this hasn’t translated into an increase in consent rates for organ donation. At the National Federation of Women’s Institutes Annual Meeting, 98% of members voted on the organisation’s new campaign, imploring all members to discuss their wishes regarding organ donation with their family and friends. WI members have campaigned for organ donation as far back as 1952, and asked for the Organ Donor Register to be set up in 1972. This renewed call to make your intentions about organ donation clear goes one step further by encouraging WI members – and their friends and family – to discuss an often uncomfortable topic.

Wanted – Wildlife Volunteers

The Rangers at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest are looking for volunteers to help record the vast array of plants and animals in the 800-acre Park. The Park already benefits from regular surveys of its butterfly, dragonfly and damselfly populations, and keeps an ongoing record of bird sightings. Now, with the help of additional experts, the Rangers are hoping to broaden their knowledge of the Park’s many other inhabitants. ‘We are organising a 24-hour Bioblitz at Moors Valley on 24th July and would love to bring some new volunteers on board to help discover and record particular

hunter's lOdge inn Leigh common

WinCantOn • ba9 8Ld tel: 01747 840439

to celebrate our 10th anniversary we are giving away ...

£2000 of hunter's lodge gift Vouchers* new menu Out now

All our Meat is now Flame Grilled for that distinctive BBQ Flavour

food served all day 7 days a Week

Breakfast 7.30am – 11am ★ Main Menu 12noon – 9pm

saturday 26th & sunday 27th July Adults £6 • Children Free ■ Ready Steady Chef and Master Chef Competitions ■ Live Bands ■ Childrens Area ... and much more!

hun

music s ’ r f te

est

r food e d s r

w ho

trib

COming this summer ...

saturday 2nd august

Adults £15 • Children £5 ★ 8 BAnDs ★ Gates Open 12noon Music Starts 3pm ★ FrEE CAmPInG ★

*First Prize £200 ★ 90 Prizes of £20 Entry Forms are available from HUntEr’s LoDGE or on our website www.hunterslodgeinn.com you will be entered into a raffle to win ★ Draw on monday 6th october 2014 THE VISITOR July 2014 9

Mentioned in

Dispatches species’, said Countryside Education Ranger, Katie Davies. ‘We are hoping lots of members of the public will also want to join in, but obviously they will need guidance, so knowledgeable experts will be welcome. ‘We are also keen to increase the scope of our regular surveys, so we would also welcome support from volunteers who can’t make the Bioblitz but would be keen to get involved with regular survey work.’ Thanks to this regular survey work Moors Valley is recognised as one of the best places in the UK to see dragonflies. The Park has also recently instigated a highly-successful water vole reintroduction programme. ‘As the third most visited country park in England we have to work extra hard to ensure we balance the needs of our visitors with those of the many plants and animals spread across the Park,’ added Katie. ‘It would be immensely helpful to be able to find out more about them. In particular we’d be interested in working with anyone with knowledge of amphibians, mammals and invertebrates – including my personal favourite – beetles. We are also keen to record more of our flora, an area w h i c h has never been fully explored.’ For details of how to take part in the Bioblitz or to find out more about becoming a wildlife volunteer at Moors Valley (10 miles north of Bournemouth between Ringwood and St. Leonards) contact Katie Davies on email: ktdavies@christchurch andeastdorset.gov.uk or call 01425 470721.

Castle Cary Museum

Castle Cary Museum is extremely pleased with the reaction to its WW1 Exhibition. Since opening in April many visitors have said how impressed they are with the display of memorabilia. Items, including remarkable tapestries and silks have been kindly loaned by local families. The Museum is also delighted to have been given a recent genealogical study covering the history of a number of Castle Cary and Ansford Families. This has been compiled by a local resident, Maureen Wincott as part of her BA Course. This is a very welcome addition to our Library. We have a small exhibition Celebrating 50 years of Centaur Services and are honoured to recognize their contribution to Castle Cary. On a final note we are proud that Castle Cary Museum is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. That we are still able to function is due to the loyalty of our Volunteer Stewards. If you have some spare time and would be interested in becoming a Steward, it is only 2 hours in either the morning or afternoon. Please contact 01963 350680 giving your name and a contact number. Thank you.

Spend a summer afternoon in the gardens of Holland Farm at South Brewham

A rare opportunity to spend a leisurely summer afternoon in the gardens of Holland Farm at South Brewham arises on Saturday 9th August. Holland Farm stands in the valley of the infant River Brue below Alfred’s Tower and its grounds provide the perfect setting for a Garden Party. The owners, William and Nicola Gething, are hosting the event to raise funds for Brewham parish church and to make a donation to Somerset & Dorset Air Ambulance. The event, which

A. J. WAkely & SonS ltd independent Family Funeral directors • golden Charter Pre Paid Funeral Plans • 24 Hour Service • Private Chapel of rest

golden Charter Brochure available on request Clive Wakely dip F.d. M.B.i.e. the old Police Station, Carrington Way WinCAnton BA9 9JS tel: 01963 31310 10 THE VISITOR July 2014

runs from 2.30pm till 5.00pm, will include cream teas, tombola, cake and produce stall, book stall, licensed bar and a variety of amusements and competitions for all ages. The ticket price of £5 for adults includes a cream tea. Children under 12 will be admitted free. The organising group is hoping that the afternoon will be warm

and dry so that people can enjoy the gardens and the Brewham countryside at their best while supporting the upkeep of Brewham’s attractive old church. To help with the catering, admission is by ticket purchased in advance from Gloria Barber (telephone 01749 850645), Ann Saxton (01749 850190) or Nicola Gething (01749 850540).

BOOK REVIEW Memories of Shipton Gorge from the 1930s to the 1950s edited by Sylvia Weston, downalong books, 2013. 106pp softback. no iSbn. £7.95 WHY, you might be wondering, is The Visitor reviewing a book about bygone days in a village many miles from Visitorland. for three good reasons, the first being that it is an evocative account of rural life in the middle of the last century. shipton gorge is a small settlement in the hills east of Bridport, and the five contributors to this book all came to the village as young children before or during World War II. their memories of growing up there provide not only a nostalgic picture of the place, the people, their work and recreation but also a reminder of how village life has c h a n g e d dramatically since then. farming was labour-intensive, money was short, much of the housing was basic, and few families owned cars. electricity didn’t reach the village until the late-1930s and many homes lacked mains water and indoor sanitation, but for the contributors the village shops, pubs, school, church, events and their closeness to nature all helped to make their childhoods happy ones. their recollections would have died with them if they hadn’t been written down, and today’s shipton residents as well as social historians would have been denied a lot of valuable information about how village life used to be. oral history draws on the memories of people whose experiences are usually excluded from history books and creates a more accurate and authentic picture of the past, and this book shows how it can be done. so the second reason is

that it could provide an inspiration to people in Visitorland villages to embark on their own oral history projects. castle cary’s Living History group has been doing it for almost 20 years and has produced some impressive publications, but it would be heartening to see some of the smaller communities recording old people’s memories before it’s too late. the third reason is the book has been self-published by sylvia Weston who is not only the editor but also one of the five contributors and who must now be approaching 80 if not older. And a fine job she has made of it, with splendid colour pictures of shipton on the front and back cover and a good selection of black and white photos, most from the albums of the contributors, illustrating the text. some of them would h a v e benefited from being enlarged, and in some places the typesetting and layout are somewhat haphazard and inconsistent, but the overall result is a book of which she can be proud. My only major criticism is the absence of a map showing the location of the many village houses, farms and features mentioned in the text, particularly those that no longer exist. If sylvia can do it so well for shipton gorge, so could others in Visitorland villages. Buy yourself a copy and think about it. Because it’s self-published and without an IsBn it’s not readily available through bookshops, but copies can be obtained from Downalong Books, 75 Bristol road, forest gate, London e7 8Hg, price £7.95 plus £1.95 postage and packing. Make your cheque payable to sylvia D Weston – it will be money well spent. Roger Richards.

S HISTORIANS TELL US that in the reigns of the West Saxon kings Somerton was one of the principal fortified towns in the Saxon kingdom. They are talking about the period from around 662 when King Cenwalh of Wessex split his kingdom into four shires

MERTON – one of them being what we now know as Somerset – until 878 when the town, the shire’s administrative centre, was burnt down by the Danes following their defeat of King Alfred. It was a period of frequent civil wars between the English kingdoms

and Somerton was probably the shire’s principal royal centre because of its ability to control the old Roman road, the Fosse Way, as well as routes leading eastwards. The town was rebuilt and refortified after being plundered by the Danes and remained a Royal manor, even after the Norman conquest of 1066. But it never quite regained its former importance even though it became the site of the county gaol and meeting place of the circuit

TONY’S FISH & CHIPS Established 27 Years — OPeNINg TImeS — Tuesday 12.00 - 2.00 5.00 - 9.30 Wednesday 12.00 - 2.00 5.00 - 9.30 Thursday 12.00 - 2.00 5.00 - 9.30 Friday 12.00 - 2.00 5.00 - 9.30 Saturday 12.00 - 2.00 5.00 - 9.30 Built in the 17th century, the Georgian facade of Old Hall on Cow Square is thought to conceal remnants of the medieval courthouse that once stood on the site.

Tel: 01458 272532 The Triangle, Pye Corner Somerton, Somerset

and shire courts from 1278 until 1366. The Georgian facade of the 17th century Old Hall on Cow Square is thought by some historians to conceal remnants of the medieval courthouse, although there appears to be some doubt as to whether this really was the site – a

t: 01458 273711 For a superb choice of quality ladies wear (sizes 8 – 26) at a fraction of their original price new: separates, suits and dresses, special occasion outfits, evening wear.

WEDDinG OuTFiTS

Including ... Hats, Shoes, Bags, etc. Many Designer Labels. Current Outfits now being accepted.

Gibbs Dry Cleaning Agents

The Triangle Somerton TA11 6QJ

(30 yards from the Post Office) E: debrajanedressagency@outlook.com

THE VISITOR July 2014 11

S commemorative plaque on the south wall of the Old Hall merely states that ‘near this site once stood the county court’. The county gaol is thought to have stood on the site of the Globe and White Hart inns on the Market Square and to have been erected in the ruins of Somerton’s castle. The Reverend G H Cossins studied these buildings in December 1873 and concluded that ‘the long wall between the White Hart and the Globe

MERTON formed, I have no doubt, the outer wall of the gaol if not the castle’. And the gatehouse of the castle reputedly survived and stood at the front of the Globe until around 1838. However, another contender for the site of the castle is on Kirkham Street, where the 19th century Monteclefe House now stands. The Old Courthouse on the right of the White Hart is, by comparison, not very old at all. It was built around 1878 as an

ESTABLISHED 1946

Independent FamIly Funeral dIrectors memorIal masons • prepayment plans Newly opened uplifting premises at Willowfields, Lowerside Lane Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9BH 01458 831020 Also pound pool, somerton, somerset, ta11 6lZ 28 High street, Butleigh, Glastonbury, somerset, Ba6 8sy 01458 850654 or street 01458 443677 01458 272297 or langport 01458 250509

www.forseyandson.co.uk

The medieval Globe, once an important coaching inn, was originally called The Angel and was mentioned in the parish records as long ago as 1616.

addition to the police station, the magistrates having previously sat in the Town Hall. Nowadays it provides a superb showcase for some of the finest ceramics, metalwork, woodwork, glass, jewellery, embroidery and

Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday 9am – 12.30pm, or by appointment

Morley House, Market Place, SOMERTON, Somerset, TA11 7LX • www.awruleandson.co.uk

Carpets Proprietor RogER WilliS

For a reliable and personal service n Select from over 1000 Carpet and Vinyl samples n All leading makes supplied n Prompt Delivery n Professional Fitting

Market Place, Somerton, Somerset TA11 7LZ

Tel: (01458) 273042 12 THE VISITOR July 2014

n FREE Estimates and Planning “Over 46 years experience in the carpet trade”

photography produced by members of the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen. Most of the items are very reasonably priced considering the many hours of skilled work put into creating them. To the left of the Globe is

Selwood House on the Market Place is full of ‘special occasion’ clothing for both sexes.

MERTON the day. This is the first Saturday of Somerton’s annual Arts Festival, now in its 27th year, and by providing a wide variety of entertainment with something for most tastes and ages at a reasonable cost, the organising committee has hit on a winning formula that ensures not only a high level of local involvement but also a lot of visitors to the town to enjoy the events. ‘Tribute’ bands and performers feature prominently and seem sure to draw appreciative audiences to

THE BUTTERCROSS TEAROOMS

Somerton’s Market Square lends itself to alfresco dining on a warm summer afternoon.

Selwood House, full of ‘special occasion’ clothing for both sexes and well worth a browse. The Market Square with its two medieval pubs, the butter cross, old town hall and 16th

century Market House nowadays housing the Market Bar, lends itself to alfresco dining and watching the world go by on a warm summer afternoon. It also provides an appropriate setting

for the Festival in the Square and Market Day on Saturday 12th July from 10.00am until 4.00pm. As well as plenty of stalls to look at and buy from, there will be free entertainment throughout

Market Place, Somerton (01458) 273168 Homemade Cakes & Scones Morning Coffee, Cream Teas Lunch Served 12 – 3pm Open: Mon – Sat 9 – 5pm

New owners Tracey & Kevin welcome you to the

Now o pe SuNda N yS

HoTEl West Street • SOMERTON • TA11 7PR Delicious New Menu Served daily using locally sourced produce Monday – Saturday 12noon – 2pm and 6pm – 9pm Sundays 12noon – 2.30pm and 6pm – 8pm

Traditional Sunday Roasts 1 Course £9.95 • 2 Courses £11.95 • 3 Courses £ 13.95

Thursday Night Specials 1st Thursday of Month – Curry Night 2nd Thursday of Month – Pie Night 3rd Thursday of Month – Burger Night 4th Thursday of Month – Fish Night

Blockbuster Quiz Sunday Nights 8.30pm — ForThcomiNg eveNTS — Table Top Sale Sunday 6th July Somerton Arts Festival 11th – 19th July 6 ENSUiTE LETTiNg ROOMS – Free WiFi Skittle Alley available for Private Parties / Celebrations The Unicorn Hotel

Tel: 01458 272101 THE VISITOR July 2014 13

S the Festival Marquee on the sports field at Gassons Lane, but the Festival in the Square will surely attract the crowds if the weather is kind. Likewise the Fun Day at the sports field on Sunday 13th from noon till 5.00pm. As well as games, sports and a car boot sale, the event will

MERTON

TUrnEr WindoWS

off the already inexpensive prices for tickets bought in advance. The programme is available from the festival office in Overt Locke’s shop on West Street, telephone 07928 508700 or email festivaltickets@btinternet.com, and from The Stationery House at the Market Square end of West Street. This lovely shop is much more than just a stationer; it has a selection of goods that are clearly gifts from Somerton, together with a broad range of maps, books, pens, jigsaw puzzles, framed prints and office requisites. And you can find out more about the festival by logging on to Somerton’s community website www.somerton.co.uk. Somerton is well worth a visit at any time of year, whether for shopping, admiring the architecture, exploring the history or simply imbibing the atmosphere. The Summer Festival provides an additional enjoyable reason for making the journey. Roger Richards.

SoMErTon LTd

Say you saw it in The Visitor

include live music, a play area with bouncy castles, face-painting and Punch and Judy, and what are described as ‘truly scrumptious’ refreshments. It promises to be ideal for families, so fingers crossed for fine weather. The first day of the Festival,

Friday 11th July, coincides with the last night of Somerton Dramatic Society’s production of a musical version of Kenneth Graham’s ‘Wind in the Willows’. It’s being staged in the Parish Rooms with performances at 7.30pm on the 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th and 11th July and a matinee at 2.30pm on the 5th. Tickets can be obtained from the Palmer Snell estate agency on the Market Square. To find out the times, dates and venues of all the Festival events you will need to buy a copy of the souvenir programme. It’s excellent value at only £2.50, as it also includes a street map showing the location of all the venues and a voucher giving 10%

need a new conservatory? replacement windows or doors? contact – of –

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

FULL RANGE OF Replacement Windows Replacement Doors Conservatories Fascia / Soffitt / Guttering Secondary Glazing

SERVICES ... ■ Window Repairs ■ Handles / Hinges ■ Misted Up Units ■ Garage Doors ■ Blinds / Fly Screens

QUALITY PRODUCTS All products adhere to as endorsed by celebrity world snooker champion Steve Davis PERSONAL SERVICE No faceless sales team: Craig Turner (proprietor) will be happy to discuss your requirements, or alternatively call in to the showrooms CUSTOmER SATISFACTION

PVC-U Aluminium

FENSA Registered Company sales@turnerwindows.co.uk www.turnerwindows.co.uk 14 THE VISITOR July 2014

“This installation is the best we have ever had. You did what it said on the tin. Your men started on time, your team of two (Jason and Alec) were courteous ... nothing was too much trouble ... took great care and left the house clean and tidy. We employ an assortment of tradesmen and there are only two or three that we would endorse. Welcome to the club.” – david & Pam Watts (February 2013) Just one of many testimonials from satisfied customers ★ See online for further personal recommendations

Turner Windows of Somerton Ltd

Unit 3 Bancombe Trading Estate, Somerton, TA11 6SB

Call 01458 272555 Today for a FREE no obligation quote

Brunel Pet Centre

5a Brunel Shopping Precinct

SOmERTON

• Many Brands of Dog and Cat Food Stocked • Small Animal Food & Treats • Toys and Accessories • Wild Bird Food - well priced • Friendly Service • Orders Welcome

 01458 274980

wEB :

EmAIL :

www.brunel-pets.com info@brunel-pets.com

The Dress Circle Dress Agency

QUALIty FAsHIon ItEms wAntED to sELL on A CommIssIon BAsIs Wedding hats, wedding outfits, cruise wear and good quality casual wear and accessories, accepted every day ... 10am - 4pm Monday - Friday 10am - 2pm Saturday For large quantities collections can be arranged

4 Brunel Shopping Centre Somerton TA11 7PY  01458 273485

S Somerton Antiques Trail

If you are interested in antiques Somerton is the place for you.

MERTON With a diverse range to choose from Somerton is definitely a destination for collectors and the

Somerton Antiques Trail will guide you. Local antique dealers have got together and are promoting themselves and their fellow antique dealers. Amongst members of the Antiques Trail are Tinhouse Home & Garden, a small family run business on the outskirts of Somerton who have for sale a good selection of antiques and vintage / retro furniture and other collectable items. They specialise in ‘gardenalia’, reused garden furniture, garden planters, statues, pots, bird-baths, sundials and have many other reclaimed garden items for sale. They also have a selection of impressive mould-cast stone busts and wall plaques from a local artist. They are open Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am until 4.30pm (for other

times, contact them first please). They are always looking to purchase more stock items of a similar nature, please contact them for further information. They offer a free delivery and collection service for goods in the local area. Find them at Sutton Road, South Hill, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 7JG. Approximately 1.3 miles from Somerton Town Centre, heading South on B3165 towards Long Suttton. Amongst the other members of the trail are Curious Collectables - situated in the Half Moon Car Park; The Vintage Linen Press - in Broad Street; Life - in New Street; Market Cross Antiques - in West Street; Hossack & Gray Behind Berry and Hazy Maes Auctions - Bancombe Trading Estate.

tinhouse Home & Garden Tinhouse Home & Garden – antiques, vintage and retro furniture and collectables, just over a mile from Somerton.

Antiques • Furniture • Vintage • retro • Gardenalia • Pots Birdbaths • sundials • statues • sculptures • Bought & sold Open 10.30am ‘til 4.30pm Weekends Only for all other times please contact us first

neW in

the range ...

tel: 01458 241298 • mobile: 07971 244441 sutton road, south Hill, somErton, tA11 7JG Approx. 1 1⁄3 miles from Somerton Town Centre heading South on B3165

Hazy-Maes Auctions

M46SPH

18 inch Petrol Powered Lawn Mower ● Honda GCV135E engine ● 18" Cutting Width ● Self Propelled ● 60 Litre Grass Bag Capacity

£349 inc. VAT

Visit your local

dealer

LEE HOLMES

Garden Machinery

15 Cary Court, Bancombe Business Park SOMERTON

Tel: 01458 274261

www.gardenmachineryrus.co.uk

Auctions and House Clearance Services

Auctions held fortnightly on A sAturdAy Viewing all day on friday prior, 9.30am – 6.30pm

FORTHCOmING AUCTIONS

5th and 19th July from 12noon 1 Bancombe court, somerton Business Park, somerton, tA11 6sB tel: 01458 274615 • Mobile: 07709 038620 Visit our website: www.hazymaesauctions.co.uk

CURIOUS

COLLECTABLES model Kits │ scalextric │ Hornby │ Airfix A wide variety of Antiques, Collectables & Unusual Items SellIng ServICe ProvIded CAbInetS AvAIlAble for rentAl Open 10am – 4pm Half Moon Car Park, Somerton, TA11 6QQ

 01458 273755

http://curiouscollectable.wix.com/curiouscollectables

THE VISITOR July 2014 15

Lively LANGPORT If THE bUSINESSES of Langport are any indication, the townsfolk have got not only a way with words but also a dry sense of

For Every Cloud Bow Street, Langport, TA10 9PR Tel: 01458 251475

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS Lino Printing Sun 13th July & 3rd August: 10am – 4pm £45 pp/ps Calligraphy for Beginners Thu 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th July (Taught over four sessions) Tues 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th August: 4pm – 6pm £48 pp/pc Screen Printing Sun 6th July & 17th August: 10am – 4pm £55 pp/ps Metal Work Embroidery Sat 19th & 26th July: 9am – 1pm £55 pp (Taught over two sessions) Painted Furniture Workshop Tues 22nd July: 10am – 3pm £55 pp Beginner’s Botanical Watercolour Workshop Fri 25th July: 10am – 2pm £35 pp Pirates & Mermaids Needle Felting Thurs 7th August: 10am – 4pm £50 pp Beginners Cushion Making Sat 9th August: 10am – 2pm £45 pp Introduction to Painting Sat 23rd & 30th August: 10am – 2pm £80 pp (Taught over two sessions) SuMMER HOLIDAy CREATIVE WORKSHOPS Including: Fairy & Pirate Doors, Appliqué T-Shirts Handmade Journals, Teens Lino Printing For Every Cloud is a creative venue with an art / craft shop, gallery, print & photography studio. Children’s parties and events by appointment. Call or email to book a place: foreverycloud@icloud.com

16 THE VISITOR July 2014

humour. I’ve commented before on the town centre hairdressing salon named Curl Up and Dye, and on my recent visit to the town I noticed Junk and Disorderly on North Street. A lovely lighthearted way to start another exploration of this goodhumoured town. North Street seems to have regained much of its hustle and bustle of yesteryear. Although Junk and Disorderly has taken over the shop formerly occupied by a traditional tearoom, the

street now has a smart new coffee shop and sandwich bar called Lucinda’s in what was for many years a newsagent’s. And the White Lion next door, the sole

remaining traditional pub in the centre of Langport, was all geared up to cater for the World Cup crowds in mid-June. Only Loulou’s Antique Centre, Wine

READ ALL ABOUT IT! We Deliver Newspapers & Magazines Cards, Stationery, Balloons for all occasions Service with a Smile ✴ 2015 CALENDARS NOW IN ✴ Open Mon - Sat 5am - 5pm. Sun 7.30am - Noon

FOsTERs NEwsAgENTs (Sue & Tony) Bow street, Langport somerset TA10 9PQ Tel: 01458 250607

The White Lion on North Street is the sole remaining traditional pub in the centre of Langport.

Lively LANGPORT of the station and trackbed now forms part of the Westover industrial estate. However, this was not Langport’s only station. In 1906 the Great Western Railway created a new main line between London and the West Country to provide a shorter route that avoided the congestion at Swindon and bristol. This entailed upgrading various

stretches of existing railway and building some completely new lines to link them up, one of these being from Castle Cary on the Weymouth line to Durston on its main line from bristol to the South West, using for part of the route a stretch of the existing Taunton to Yeovil branch line between Langport and Athelney. Then, as now, most passenger trains sped through on their way

The site of Langport West railway station and trackbed now forms part of the Westover industrial estate.

bar and Restaurant in the former black Swan pub was looking a bit sorry for itself. Despite the list of opening hours in both windows it appeared to be well and truly closed. This year is the 50th anniversary of a more significant Langport closure. Passenger

trains between Taunton and Yeovil were withdrawn from 15th June 1964, and goods trains three weeks later from 6th July. The line, built originally to brunel’s broad gauge, opened in 1853, with a station at Langport on the western side of the river Parrett just beyond bow bridge. The site

This postcard view of Langport West station, looking towards Martock, dates from around 1910.

Under the new ownership of RICHARD WHITE

LANGPORT MOTOR COMPANy WESTOVER TRADING ESTATE LANGPORT, SOMERSET, TA10 9RB

Tel: 01458 251100 • Email: langportmotors@btconnect.com

Servicing and Repairs on all makes of car Citroën and Peugeot Specialists Collection and Delivery Service Courtesy Car Available Full Electronic Diagnostics Pre-MOT Preparation Work Undertaken Batteries ★ Tyres ★ Exhausts Open Monday – Friday 8am – 5.30pm • Saturday Appointments Only

24 hour CAR WASH HOOVER CARMAT WASH

✴ EARLY BIRD PIZZA EVENINGS ✴ Every Thursday in August

THE VISITOR July 2014 17

Lively LANGPORT

The former visitor centre and cycle shop at Bow Bridge is now the Levels Basket Centre.

106 Cheapside, Langport Tel: 01458 250635 Enjoy homemade food and great drinks in our unique, friendly, relaxing cafe

ServiciNG - MOT TeSTiNG & car SaleS All Makes & Models • Courtesy Cars Available

Westover Garage ltd.

The Willows Business Park, Westover Trading Estate LANGPORT, TA10 9RB

Tel: 01458 252252

South West Peninsular Training Training Specialists

to and from London and the West Country, for the line was not built to serve local needs but to provide the Great Western Railway with a shorter, faster main line route. Even so, a station was provided at Langport just a very short walk from North Street, east of the bridge over the road. This was named Langport East and the first station then became Langport West. All that Langport East saw was a sparse service of local stopping trains between Castle Cary and Taunton, initially just four a day in each direction on weekdays only, rising to six in the 1920s and dropping back to five in the late 1940s and just three by the time they were withdrawn in September 1962. In the years with most trains, the number of tickets issued at the station dropped from 11,437 in 1923 to 5,513 in 1938 while goods traffic into and out of the town was all handled at Langport West. So in 1964, after more than 110 years, Langport was without any railway service. The flat route along the trackbed of the former Taunton to Yeovil branch line to Muchelney and Thorney is now

The Riverside Café Great Bow Wharf LANGPORT, TA10 7PN with riverside terrace

Open 7 Days a Week, 9.30am – 4.00pm

Organic Coffee Homemade Cakes Breakfasts Hot & Cold Lunches & Snacks Daily Specials ... all freshly cooked to order Free Art exhiBitiOns DOGs WelcOme easy Disabled Access & Parking Tel: 01458 254354 or 254257

the Parrett Cycleway, ideal for families with young children, although I was saddened to see that bow bridge Cycles in the Langport and River Parrett Visitor Centre has now closed. I’m told that when the cycle shop proprietor retired no-one was interested in taking on the business, so the premises are now occupied by the Levels basket Centre selling a wide range of willow work – and straw hats! What has become of the visitor centre displays chronicling the history of the town and local industries and describing the wetlands and the wildlife, I was unable to discover. from time to time there have been proposals to reopen a station on the main line in the vicinity of the old Langport East. The population of Langport and Huish Episcopi is growing significantly, with more people needing to travel to Taunton for work, education, hospital appointments, shopping and entertainment. Meanwhile the road to Taunton is becoming increasingly congested, journey times at peak periods are lengthening, and parking in Taunton is becoming more difficult and costly. In 2000 a report compiled by W S Atkins South West examined the potential for introducing a local train service between Westbury and Taunton stopping at frome, bruton, Castle Cary and reopened stations at Somerton and Langport. It concluded that this ‘would fulfil a route not covered by existing through bus services and open up Taunton to easy access for residents of east Somerset’ and ‘the new service could provide a spine for an integrated transport network

Fashion Boutique & Designer Room

stylish summer fashion

SOUTH WEST PENINSULAR TRAINING LTD Westover trading estate, langport, somerset, tA10 9rB tel: 01458 253493 • Fax: 01458 253445 email: info@swptraining.co.uk www.swptraining.co.uk

Shopping Parade Langport 01458 252010 18 THE VISITOR July 2014

Market Place Wincanton 01963 31676

Lively LANGPORT town behind them and extensive views across the levels ahead, no wonder so many people find it so attractive. And their walk along

North Street from a reopened station could well bring more trade to the town’s businesses. Roger Richards.

COMPETITION WIN A HIgH TeA FOR 4 Cocklemoor and the tower of Langport church viewed from the Westover side of the River Parrett.

across the centre of the County’. It noted that ‘the only way to change the habit of using the car to travel is to provide adequate alternatives to meet people’s needs’ and ‘currently, rail travel patronage is on the increase in the South West generally’. fourteen years later Langport

is still without a train service, a service that could also bring visitors into the town to enjoy such pleasures as the green expanse of Cocklemoor, the grassy raised bank alongside the River Parrett. It’s an ideal spot to spend a lazy afternoon in the sunshine. With the bustle of the

COCkLEmOOR LTD Traditional Weigh-out Sweets cards  Gifts  toys and Games knitting Yarns, Haberdashery Dylon Dyes and much more! Visit us On FAceBOOk facebook.com/cocklemoorgifts

Bow Street, Langport • tel: 01458 253145 www.cocklemoor.co.uk

BALLROOM DANCING • Private Lessons • Modern Ballroom • Latin American • Party Dances

Langport Dance Centre Members Latin & Ballroom

John Birtles Professional Dancing Teacher

David Austin is famous for ... (A) Roses (B) Bedding Plants (C) Vegetables BRINg yOuR eNTRy to: Drayton Plant Nursery, School Street, Drayton, Langport, TA10 0LN Name ...................................................................................... Address .................................................................................. ................................................................................................... ................................................................................................... Tel No ...................................................................................... First correct answer drawn from box wins. Draw takes place 16th July

Party? Birthday? Christening? Family Gathering?

HIgH TeA for 2 or 52 Delicious high teas served on tiered stands with finger sandwiches, cakes, etc. Gluten Free Choices Parties & Groups Welcome Disabled Facilities Level Access BReAkFASTS — LuNCHeS — TeAS using local & own grown produce • Free Wifi

P.T.D. Members Latin & Ballroom

Telephone: Langport (01458) 250322

SUTTON UPHOLSTERERS Re-upholstery Specialists Antique, Modern and Contract ] curtains ] roman Blinds ] loose covers ] re-upholstery ] Bed spreads & cushions ] tracks & Poles ] Window Blinds ] D.i.Y. supplies

● Climbers & Roses inc. David Austin on show now ● Advice on difficult spaces and shady gardens

OPEN: Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 5pm

large selection of fabrics, modern and traditional including ... Sanderson, Romo, Linwood and Villa Nova Expert advice from over 30 years experience

Picts Hill, LANGPORT • Tel: 01458 252492 THE VISITOR July 2014 19

Leisure & Tra vel Win ticketS to the rnaS Yeovilton international air Day - Saturday 26th July

The spectacle of RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day, Saturday 26th July will be an experience not to be missed and The Visitor has 2 pairs of tickets to give away. The Royal Navy’s premier awardwinning airshow is one of the South West's largest one day events, attracting over 30,000 visitors. The Air Station is one of the UK’s busiest military airfields, home to the Lynx Wildcat Maritime force, Commando Helicopter force, Aviation Reconnaissance force and the Royal Navy Historic flight with its rare collection of naval aircraft. Air Day 2014 will follow the naming ceremony of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of the UK’s 21st Century Aircraft Carriers. The carrier enables power projection around the globe; as a

floating sovereign airfield she will support tasks from humanitarian and disaster relief through to combat operations. The Royal Navy has been at the core of ‘Carrier Aviation’ since inception and at Air Day 2014 aircraft, past and present, which operate from the sea will be on display. The ground displays will showcase modern Royal Navy assets and equipment that support embarked aviation, Protecting our Nation’s Interests. Over five hours of thrilling flying displays will include the Royal Navy Historic flight’s rare collection of naval warbirds such as the Swordfish and Sea fury whilst today’s fleet Air Arm aircraft types will perform spectacular maritime and commando assault role demonstrations. further participants include the Royal Jordanian falcons aerobatic team and undoubtedly, The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Dakota will be making its first appearance at the RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day.

Drayton Street Fair

Saturday 30 th August 2014 11.00am – 4.00pm Craft & Local Produce * Stalls Wanted * 50p Entry FREE PARking 01458 251687 (day/evening) For further details

montacute Village Gardens Open 19 th / 20 th July 11am – 5pm Adults £5 children Free Info: 01935 823572 abbeyjr@talktalkbusiness.net “Beautiful village, beautiful gardens”

South West Hog Roast & Outside Bars ... ideal for Weddings – Parties – Corporate Events A PrOFessiOnAl hOG sPit rOAst usinG quAlitY meAt cOOkeD AnD cArVeD BY A PrOFessiOnAl cheF! Hog Roast accompanied by Fresh Bread Rolls, Apple Sauce, and Stuffing Fresh Salads and Vegetarian Alternatives available ✽ WAitressinG stAFF cAn Be PrOViDeD ✽ Also Full Bar Facilities to make the catering service complete! To discuss your requirements or to make a booking

Tel: 07785 550086 / 01935 840368 A Division of the lamb & lark inn

20 THE VISITOR July 2014

the stars of the show for many will be the roaring fast jet displays by the Swiss Air force f/A-18C Hornet and the belgian Air force f16. Amongst the helicopter displays will be the Royal Navy and Army’s latest aircraft - the Wildcat, as well as the amazing RAf Chinook. The RAf will also be represented by the battle of britain Memorial flight’s Dakota accompanied by the iconic Spitfire and Hurricane. This Dakota hasn’t appeared at Air Day before and its presence will be particularly poignant with it being the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. One of the nation’s favourite aircraft, the iconic Vulcan bomber XH558, will also be firing up her four mighty engines for another majestic performance over the Somerset skies. Throughout the day there will be plenty of entertainment for all the family including static aircraft, service demonstrations, military bands, helicopter pleasure flights, a fairground, vehicle exhibition, simulator rides, trade stands and much, much more. Discounted advance tickets are available from www.royalnavy. mod.uk/yeovilton-airday or by calling the Ticketline on 08445 781781. For a chance to win a pair of free tickets to the airshow, just send your name and address to: info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk to arrive by friday 10th July.

avalon Marshes Festival

The Avalon Marshes Festival will run from Saturday 12th July to Saturday 26th July and is a celebration of the rich diversity of wildlife and the 10,000 years of cultural heritage of the Avalon Marshes in Somerset. A wide range of activities and events are planned reflecting the wonderful and varied wildlife, archaeology, history, produce and landscape of the area - something for people of all ages. being largely flat, it is a fantastic area to explore on foot or by bike and there are lots of attractions and places to eat and drink. The festival gets under way with the Avalon Marshes Day on Saturday 12th July - a day of activities, tours, talks, exhibitions and more based at the Red brick building in Glastonbury. A week of events follows in the wider Avalon Marshes; a great chance to explore, have fun and find out more. The festival ends with a Wildlife Extravaganza & Family Picnic at Westhay Moor. for a full list of events and activities, visit www.avalon marshes.org or look out for the festival leaflets in Tourist Information Centres, libraries and at the Avalon Marshes Centre where the festival team are based. Alternatively email

Festival 12th to 26th July

Bringing the landscape to life

A festival of great events and fun activities for all the family – celebrating the wildlife and heritage of the Avalon Marshes in Somerset. Family Fun Days ★ Walks ★ Bike Rides ★ Talks Films ★ Open Days ★ Exhibitions For more information and bookings visit: www.avalonmarshes.org • 01458 860556 • info@avalonmarshes.org

Leisure & Tra vel info@avalonmarshes.org or phone 01458 860556.

Barton St. David carnival Saturday 19th July 2014

The barton St. David Carnival takes place on the village playing field from 2pm. A full programme has been arranged including; Children's fancy Dress on the theme of Animals, Novelty and Agility Dog Shows, Village Sports, Cream Teas, Pimms and Cider bar, fairground rides, the Shepton Mallet big band as well as the popular wife carrying race. This year the Tug of War returns. Can you beat the brawn of barton? The evening starts with the It's a Knockout competition from 6.30pm and continues with a Hog Roast and live music from the Mid Rod Ends. Licensed bar throughout the event. Join in the fun - car parking and entrance free.

Boss, bring their exhilarating and unique style of horn led riffs. And add to that the always popular local covers band, Full Tilt, the funky Bare Jams, former X factor finalist John Adams and Galhampton’s own Theya Fowler and her band and you have a lineup not to be missed! All these - plus the children’s activity tent, high quality hot and cold food, plenty of choice at the bar - all at reasonable prices, what more could you want! Tickets are just £20 for adults with under-12s free and are on sale now. They go quickly so get your tickets in good time. Any tickets left will be available on the gate for £25. for more details and to buy tickets visit the website at www.galhampton.com All proceeds will again go to the village charity and the rebuilding of the village hall, a vital part of community life.

Summer holiday learning experiences guaranteed to make sure your child thinks outside the Jar!

Explorium, the Creative Learning Centre, just outside of Street, has a whole programme of exciting

learning opportunities this summer. Throughout August they are running a series of Jams. The definition of an Explorium Jam is a gathering of children, aged 6 to 12 years, who come together with no prior preparation to design,

Creative Learning Centre Would your child love to make their own films, radio shows or video games? Would you love them to have extra tuition in English and Maths? CALL 01458 274050 to find out how all of this, and more, is possible.

Book by July 15th to GET 10% OFF on summer learning opportunities www.explorium.co.uk

tea by the Lake a charity event

Enjoy a relaxing musical afternoon by the lake in the beautiful grounds of Haselbury Mill, near Crewkerne TA18 7NY on Sunday 13th July from 3pm. Tickets (£12) to include a delicious cream tea and an afternoon of popular music from shows, operas and operettas by soprano Trisha Perry; Nuevo Prima Voce; The Decibelles and pianist Elaine Korman. The event is being held in aid of St. Margaret’s Hospice Care and tickets are available from 0845 345 9671 or 01935 423368.

party in the park 2014

Galhampton’s popular Party in the Park on Saturday 12th July is extra special this year as it’s celebrating its 10th anniversary! Over the past nine years a group of enthusiastic volunteers from the village has built it up to become one of the main events amongst small festivals in the South West. They have also raised £83,000 towards the village charity during that time. There will be eight great bands to please the crowd and help celebrate the 10th anniversary. Headlining are The Beat - one of the best live bands around. festival favourites, Sheelanagig, with their irrepressible blend of upbeat music and onstage antics and back by popular demand are the cockney ska boys, Buster Shuffle, described as a ‘young Madness’. bristol’s finest, Yes Sir

July Notice Board DitcHeat

Patronal Flower Festival, Ditcheat Church, Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th July, 10am - 4pm. Refreshments, no admission fee, donations please.

HenStriDge

Blackmore Vale U3A 1st July 2.30pm Henstridge Village Hall. ‘My walk along the Great Wall of China’. Members/guests £1.50.

SHerBorne

Sherborne Art Club Open Exhibition, Digby Hall DT93AA. Artists: Submit work on 9th July. Open: 19th- 27th July, 11am-5pm daily. Admission free. fabulous paintings at affordable prices. www.sherborneartclub.com

aDvertiSe Your auguSt event Here!

A listing under ou r N o t i c e Board costs just £5 - send details of What? When? Where? to The Visitor, P.O. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7BG. All entries to be pre-paid, maximum 20 words. Extra words 30p each. Deadline for August issue, Monday 14th July. THE VISITOR July 2014 21

Leisure develop and produce something new, be it a film, a new sport or a radio show. Previous Jams have been hugely successful with Lance Clark, of Clark Shoes and Soul of Africa, saying the following: ‘The three days were a great and enriching experience for the girls. It was a real endorsement of your

philosophy.’ The Jams have not just been a hit with parents, who can see the application of real world skills, but the children attending have loved it too. from our first film Jam 93% thought the activities were fantastic. To book these exciting learning experiences email http:// explorium.co.uk/jams/ or call 01458 274050.

So, you think you know your pop music, do you? By John Osborne • Answers can be found on page 55 1. name the folk singer who told us about ‘the streets of london’ 2. Which of the Bee Gee brothers went on about ‘shadow Dancing’? 3. Who was the band who declared they were ‘the Village Green Preservation society’? 4. Who had a ‘no.9 Dream’ in1974? 5. Who has recently released a song entitled ‘let me Down easy’? (clue: solo male) 6. lyric: ‘living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding everything you see’ 7. in what year did travis invite us to ‘sing’? 8. Who were ‘living in the Past’ in 1969? 9. in 1995 ‘Oasis’ asked us about ‘the importance of Being …’ What? 10. What colour Jeans did mark Wynter’s ‘Venus’ wear? Bonus Question What sort of game did Brian Protheroe bang on about for his only hit? Extra Bonus Question ‘lady samantha’ was an early release by whom? (clue: solo male and it failed to chart) Question Impossible connect mike Oldfield with an ABBA album cover.

BarBecue – Fete – Music Whatever you are getting up to over the summer holidays promote it with Tel: 01963 351256 Email: info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk

August Issue Print: Thursday 24th July ✴ Deadline: Monday 14th July

22 THE VISITOR July 2014

Cycle-Babble AND SO JULY arrives again and with it the biggest bike race in the world. On the 5th July, the Tour de France peloton will roll out from Leeds at the start of the three week, 21 stage, 3,664 km long race. Twenty-two, nine-man teams will start one of the few sporting events in the world that comes complete with its own mobile barber, but only a small handful of the 198 riders have any realistic hope of competing for the overall race win and pulling on the golden fleece that is the Tour's yellow jersey in Paris on the 27th July. With the Tour once again taking its start beyond france's borders (an initiative first introduced in 1954 when the race started in Amsterdam), you'd need to be living on the moon not to know that the 2014 vintage of this great race starts in Yorkshire, such has been the coverage of county hosting the Grand Depart. Yorkshire is promising to deliver the greatest start to a race now entering its 111th year. That will take some doing but the early indications are that the county can live up to its pledge. A huge cultural festival is running alongside the race, with cycling inspired exhibitions, films, music and theatre productions taking place across the county. Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to flock to Yorkshire's roadsides to watch the world's greatest cyclists at the start of their great annual adventure. There can be no doubt that the county is embracing all things bike and that the Tour peloton will be sent on their way with a mighty roar of support. After three days spent making their way from Leeds to London, via Harrogate, York and Sheffield, the riders will cross the channel. There, they will make their way down the eastern flank of france, taking in the treacherous cobblestoned roads of Paris-Roubaix en-route. This will be the first major challenge of the race, for whilst the cobbles of the race known as the hell of the north won't decide the winner, being in the wrong place at the wrong time here will almost certainly fatally dent a riders chances of victory. Then comes the first foray into the mountains with three days in the Vosges. The most testing day here comes on stage 10 which throws seven classified climbs at the riders, including a category

one summit finish at La Planche des Belles Filles. This is the climb famous for being the scene of Chris froome's stage win in 2012 when he rode away from his team-leader and eventual overall winner bradley Wiggins, an incident that still reverberates through the sport – the latest ripple being Wiggins' likely exclusion from the Sky team this year due to the two famously not exactly seeing eye to eye. With the race relatively light in the Alps this year (just one major day – to Risoul), and with only 54km of time-trialling, it is likely that the Pyrenees will have a major say in who will win the yellow jersey. There, two summit finishes come on stages 17 and 18, to Pla d'Adet and Hautacam respectively. both are severely testing climbs with the potential for major time gaps to appear. Have a bad day here and your race is over. Expect the favourites to be active as the Tour enters its final phase before concluding with that 54km time-trial the day before the traditional finish on the Champs Elysees. The 2013 winner, britain's Chris froome, will again be amongst the favourites. He's been in great form and, as I write, lies second in the Criterium du Dauphine with one day to go. Unfortunately for froome the man ahead of him is his main rival for the yellow jersey, Alberto Contador. Contador is enjoying a return to his best this year with wins in Tirreno – Adriatico and Vuelta al Pais Vasco. He is a seriously talented rider with a great team alongside him including Australian Michael Rogers, a rider instrumental in Wiggins' 2012 win when he was with Sky. but Rogers isn't the only Australian who will play a major role in the race. Tasmanian born Richie Porte is froome's key lieutenant at Sky and the brit's fortunes will be inextricably linked with Porte's ability to marshal him through the mountains. for this writer the winner will come from either froome or Contador, and unpatriotic though it might be, I have a feeling the Spaniard might just edge it this time around. The 2014 Tour de France takes place 5th July – 27th July with daily coverage on ITV4. for more on Yorkshire's festival go to http://festival.yorkshire.com/ Giles Belbin.

‘i think music in itself is healing. it’s an explosive expression of humanity. it’s something we are all touched by. no matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music’ - Billy Joel.

approachable attitude means you can ask them any question and get an honest answer. Wessex Music only sell instruments they would be prepared to play themselves so call in, look around and have a go – you will enjoy it. Wessex Music for instrument sales, repairs and rental.

Wessex Music

compton pianos

great Quotes in Music ...

Wessex Music has been looking after local musicians for over eleven years. Gary and Tim are both professional members of the National Association of Musical Instrument Repairers (NAMIR) and are well placed to advise on any aspect of your musical journey. They stock a very wide range of instruments, accessories and sheet music and their friendly

and grand, plus digital pianos and keyboards - Yamaha and Kawai are just two of the popular makes stocked. Piano stools and musical accessories for woodwind and brass instruments are also available. Visit the Compton Pianos

showroom at Coldharbour in Sherborne to see their extensive range for yourself. Open Monday – friday 11am – 5pm (closed Wednesday), Saturday 10am –12.30pm (other times by appointment) or call 01935 812973.

Established in Sherborne for over 25 years this well-known family business offers knowledgeable and practical advice to both its private and commercial customers. So whether you are an experienced musician, or just a novice they are happy to discuss your needs and let you try out their instruments. Their product range includes new and used pianos - acoustic, upright

FOR

THE

June 27th mUSTANG SALLY - White hart, sturminster newton 28th kEVIN BUTT - Wyndham Arms, kingsbury episcopi JuLY 4th mATTHEW ROCk - marston inn, marston magna 4th LIVE mUSIC - quicksilver mail, Yeovil 5th LIVE BAND - montague inn, shepton montague 5th mAY CONTAIN ROCk - White hart, sturminster newton 6th US - (3.30pm) lord nelson, norton sub handon 11th CD CASES - quicksilver mail, Yeovil 12th VARIOUS ARTISTS - natterjack, evercreech Junction 13th VARIOUS ARTISTS - natterjack, evercreech Junction 15th TONE VALLEY JAZZ - (8pm) unicorn, somerton 17th FAT mARROW BLUES BAND - (8pm) unicorn, somerton 18th kEV FLETCHER - unicorn, somerton 20th BELL STREET JAZZ BAND - montague inn, shepton montague An Advert in the Pub PAgeS enSureS A Free MentiOn here!

Simon Beard of Godden & Curtis, a familiar face in Sherborne and on the local music scene.

Musicians did you know we offer an excellent REPAIR sERvICE on ...

4th July quicksilver mail, Yeovil

COmPTON PiANOS

... giving sound advice for over 25 years

 01935 812973

guitar Amplifiers valve Audio P. A. systems All leading makes repaired including

• New and Used Pianos • Acoustic Pianos - Upright & Grand • Digital Pianos and Keyboards Yamaha and Kawai

sALEs • sERvICE • REPAIR

Your Local Independent Television and Audio Specialists

• Piano Stools • musical instrument Accessories Expert advice available

Compton Pianos, Coldharbour SHERBORNE DT9 4AG

greenhill • sherborne • Dorset • DT9 4Ew • Tel: 01935 813451 “Where customer care and after sales service is paramount”

THE VISITOR July 2014 23

Motor vintage Motor cycling I START Off this month with my picture. I mentioned last time that I intended to take part in the Vintage Clubs banbury Run and the previous days Training Day. The banbury Run was as superb as ever and held in glorious sunshine. A thoroughly good days riding was enjoyed by all. The Training Day, which has now been officially renamed as a ‘Try Our Sport Day’, (another government incentive) was held in less favourable conditions with heavy rain for the biggest part of the day. This however did not reduce the enthusiasm of the participants. Eager riders, all experienced riding modern machinery, assembled and after a safety briefing were introduced to a variety of machines. Virtually all riders had never ridden an old machine with hand gear changing and all manner of different controls so the owners were on hand to give instruction of the various knobs and levers before the riders set sail around a closed private road course. Everyone returned with a broad smile on their face vowing to join our club and get an old bike, and what an experience they had being able to try about a dozen different machines. Probably the most popular machine used was a 1936 brough Superior fitted with the correct brough sidecar. Anyone interested in old bikes can have a very enjoyable day out

trying lots of different machinery, and well worth the fees applied. My picture shows an anxious owner describing the riding routine to two expectant and nervous participants. July sees a plethora of events once more. Starting with Dorset for a change they have the monthly Lunch Meet at West Stour on the 2nd and on the 9th club night will be the Car and bike Meet. The 13th will be their Veteran and Vintage Run from Leigh Village Hall and the 23rd (Wednesday) will have a Mid Week Run from the Hunters

gLIDEROL gARAgE DOORs All garage doors are different, so as a roller door specialist, (I don’t replace windows, etc.) I can survey, quote and install to your requirements and make the most of your garage opening, as generally no frame is necessary. With the option of automated operation with remote control, a top quality garage door need only be a phone call away.

g.H. SaLeS. tel: 01935 891414

We hAve MOved ... tO bigger PreMiSeS

eStAbLiShed Over 30 YeArS

Yeovil Auto Tuning ● ● ● ●

Repairs & Servicing Specialists ● MOT Testing ● Engine Tuning Brakes, Clutches, Gearboxes ● Competitive Rates Professional, Reliable, Friendly Service ● Specialising in VW T4 + T5 Vans Revo Engine Re-Mapping (VW and Audi Group)

Now at: 9 Oxford road, Pen Mill trading estate, YeOviL Tel: 01935 426515 / 01935 411946 24 THE VISITOR July 2014

Lodge, Wincanton. Lastly they return to West Stour for the breakfast Meet on the 26th. The Somerset Section are equally busy starting with club night on the 3rd which is a talk given by Alan freke, an enthusiast from bristol, who will be talking about his restoration of a Calthorpe machine. On the 7th they have their Veteran and Vintage Run starting at Cossington, and on the 18th they have an evening meet at Gurney Slade. The Wessex Veteran and Vintage Section has a bbQ on its club night on the 14th. On the 27th they have an event which starts from Shillingstone and is called the beaded Edge Run. The name refers to the old fashioned type of tyre fitting used until the mid 1920’s and reflects the fact that all machines taking part will be pre 1931. Another event to tempt you will be The Somerset Steam and Country Show held at Langport on the 18th to 20th July. As the name suggests there will be steam engines and all manner of other vehicles on show. Things kick off on the friday with a road run and the evening continues with a ‘Cider & Steam’ night with live music and traditional fairground, and of course plenty of cider. Saturday is a public show day with similar jollification in the evening and Sunday is another show day before everyone packs up and staggers home. It all sounds great

fun so give it your support. Anyone wishing to attend any of these happenings will be made most welcome and full details can be obtained by ringing 01935872528. It seems at times that there are too many events taking place which results in fewer participants as riders are spread more thinly at each one. An example recently was the Dorset Sections Weymouth Run. This is the Sections premier event and the one which started the club off in 1968. In years gone by there were always something in the region of 100 to 120 riders taking part and they came from all over the region. This year there were only 70 entrants of which only about a dozen were members of the Dorset Section. Of the 70 entrants half were people who mainly came from the Oxford and Northants Sections and had enjoyed the event in past years. Now large numbers of entrants do not necessarily make for a good and enjoyable days riding as many other factors come into play, but I do sometimes feel sorry for the organisers who put much thought and work into these events for the enjoyment of others only to be rewarded with low numbers. There must come a time when some events should be dropped to alleviate this situation, but who will make this bold move as everyone naturally wants their own event to succeed. Work in the Hann garage has ground to a complete halt at present as we have recently moved into our new house and the small shed I had been using has now been demolished and phase two, the building of a new workshop, has commenced. Therefore there is no progress on the Rover restoration to report upon and how strange it is that these times coincide with a period when all my bikes need some maintenance or repair work. Having just moved I must knuckle down and catch up with this work otherwise I shall be grounded, and that would never do. My permanent state of stupidity has just been confirmed as I have just put £20 worth of best unleaded into my diesel van. I thought I should confess as word will soon spread. Two men in white coats might be calling for me any time soon, but in the meantime happy motoring. Rod Hann.

The

Pub Pages

BEER & SKITTLES P. A. BAXTER

WHERE DOES kissing on the lips first crop up in history? I was recently reading that the Romans would kiss their female relatives on the lips to find out if they had been drinking alcohol, and if they had been on the booze then they could legally kill them. Luckily we don’t have quite the same custom today, but apparently the reasoning behind this was that as alcohol brought about a state of mind that it was considered a gift from the gods then only certain people were allowed the privilege of boozing – and women did not come into that category. The tipple of the day was of course wine, and despite what some religions may say, it definitely was alcoholic, and there are accounts in the bible of some pretty good celebrations going on – particularly at weddings, with the best wine being served first and the lesser quality being served as the guests got more blathered, so consequently wouldn’t notice the lack of refinement. The idea that alcohol was a divine gift is not unusual and many cultures would (and still do) use it in rituals. Conversely, the prophet

Mohammed banned it for it’s associations with Christianity. It cannot have gone un-noticed that there have been numerous commemorations for the start of World War 1 and the D-Day landings. It is surprising how some seem to remember such times of war with dare I say it – affection, and churn out the oftquoted ‘We were all pulling together’ and such like. being a cynical type, and one who is careful where I get my information, I came across a rather disturbing type of event in WW1 where anyone ‘treating’ some of their friends in a pub would be prosecuted. We have to remember that pubs were not subject to opening hours until WW1, as the Government wanted people to be productive toward the war effort, instead of wasting their time in pubs. What effect this actually had I cannot say, as the restrictive hours could well have had the reverse effect where anyone would get it down their necks in the time they had available. (Severely restricted hours led to this problem when

this took place, and as one can imagine, there was considerable resentment as those on the receiving end of the law thought those implementing it could have been spending their time doing more constructive things toward the war effort. Nevertheless, the landlord was fined £10 and eleven drinkers were fined £1 each. There is no doubt this was a considerable sum in those times,

signs to make you smile

Cross Keys at Lydford: If you see a sign to make you smile, why not share it? Send to email info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk

BEER & music FEstivaL WEEkEnd saturday 12th sunday 13th July

Adrian and Kate invite you to

and

2.30pm start each day

rd atu

Line-up

Tim Pitman – the legendary voice Guy Johnson – singer songwriter Breeze – fabulous female vocalist

Line-up

nd Su

Moon Dogs – brilliant Beatles tribute band Chelsea Paget – up tempo classics • Abi Baker – folk sets Tim Pitman – the legendary voice

tEn BEERs plus cidERs EXCELLENT ACCOMMODATION

5 EnsuitE LEtting Rooms

FREE ENTRY • Come and join in the fun

now opEn aLL day Friday & saturday ... from 11.30am

Disabled Access - Viewings Welcome

Email: natterjack@btconnect.com Website: www.thenatterjackinn.co.uk

Your hosts, Mick, Jean and garry welcome you to

The MuDDLeD

they were in force in Australia). I recently found information on the subject of goings on ‘The George’ in Wombwell, barnsley area (where there was considerable coal production at that time) discovered by amateur historians Tim Lynch and Linda Hutton. Plain-clothes police would go to pubs to find out who was buying their friends a drink. The landlords too were prosecuted if

Man

Lower Street, West chinnock A charming country inn serving home cooked fayre lunchtime & evening

Relax over a drink in our Beer Garden ... sUNDAy LUNCH £7.95 - choice of roast larger parties catered for

FREsH FIsH Day Friday ... with home-made beer batter

sTEAK sPECIAL - Two 8oz Rump steaks £16.50 sunday to thursday

DAILY SPECIALS • REAL ALE • SkITTLE ALLEY BEER GARDEnS • ACCOMMODATIOn

Tel: 01935 881235

The Natterjack Inn, Nr. Evercreech Junction Evercreech, Somerset, BA4 6NA

The

Lord Nelson Rectory Lane

Norton Sub Hamdon

Mark, Helen and staff welcome you to ‘The Nelson’

gOOd FOOd – gOOd beer – greAt AtMOSPhere Thursday Evenings Special ...

Paella & sangria £12

Traditional ★ Meat Only ★ Fish Only ★ Vegetarian Sunday 6th July – MUsiC on THe PATio 3.30pm ... with Acoustic Duo ‘Us’ Saturday 19th July – HAMDon HA-HA get your tickets early! Monday 21st July – Wessex Morris Men 8.15pm MiD-WeeK LUnCHTiMe sPeCiAL 2 Courses for only £8 Monday – Friday Lunchtime COurtYArd H beer gArden At reAr AMPLe PArking OPen ALL dAY FridAY, SAturdAY & SundAY

gLuten eS h Free diSbLe AvAiLA

Tel: 01935 881473 www.thelordnelson.biz

THE VISITOR July 2014 25

They Say That according to Mike Lewis of South Petherton, it was rather confusing that the Italians chose to serve their beers in kilometres. That Minsters Tea Rooms in Sturminster Newton made a sterling effort to commemorate D-Day by offering their customers a ‘Ration book’ menu whilst dressed in authentic costumes. That David Mounsteven of Hurst recently enjoyed water music by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. That due to inflation, South Petherton’s trim Terry Cutler is contemplating letting out the gusset - in his shirt! That in Cornwall, land of myth, legend and folklore, locals still talk, and relate stories, of when Wincanton’s Ron Tucker and his friends brian Padfield, barry brown and Sam King spent their holidays there in the early 1970’s! Legendary indeed! That points don’t make prizes for Chris Sparks of East Stoke. That after returning from Italy Anne Lewis and Mo Cutler are now definitely - anti-pasta. That summer is officially here. now all the animals are outside - at Avalon, Chiselborough. That as people mature (get older) in bradford Abbas they don’t fade away - they just buy a sports car! That in Milborne Port, Little bo Peep recently lost her sheep perhaps Noddy and big Ears can help find them!! That in one Ilminster garden the Royal family recently scared away the crows. That at the recently opened b & M in Yeovil - customers were Breathless and Melting due to the extreme heat. That the phantom tree planter has been at work in Sherborne once again! That in bruton, Peter of Quillon House Antiques has discovered a subliminal passion for purple. That the recent Home farm Trust event raised over £27,000 in aid of the Piers Simon fund. That due to a recent ‘hackers hoot’ - The Labour Party’s latest campaign is to give all voters an Owl!! That many people who have disappeared from Visitorland over the years can now be found residing in Cornwall. 26 THE VISITOR July 2014

Pete Lambden & Staff welcome you to .....

168 Hendford Hill YEoViL “We're no threat, people We're not dirty, we're not mean We love everybody but we do as we please” First PersOn to tell me the above song gets a free drink. last month John and lynne Penny of Bradford Abbas correctly identified “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers. roll out those lazy hazy crazy days of summer! nice spell we are having at the moment, long may it last  . All going very nicely till the england football team gave us all a crinkly mouth , still, there is always next time! We have had a good month once again with various parties and celebrations, one that i have to mention was geoff Davey celebrating his 60th birthday, a super evening, we go back a long way Geoff and i, right back to when i used to wonder why he was the only kid who was wearing a bow tie, when everyone else was wearing cheesecloth shirts and denim (circa 1973). Well done Geoff the turnout for your do proves that you are still one of the top movers and shakers in town  . We also had paul thorpe here celebrating his 50th, yes 50th birthday. it seems like only last week he was taking his boots off for Yeovil at the old huish. loads of Paul’s family and friends turned out in footy shirts to cheer england on against italy and dance the night away after. Well done Paul. next month on the 4th we have a c h a r i t y B e e r a nd cider Festival here in the garden with some live music and karaoke in the bar, should be a great night. We have the cd cases here on the 11th and on the 25th we have a very welcome return of Bug Swamp Fest featuring BB tim, don't miss that one! And a little advance notice for the 1st of August when the rsPcA will be having their annual fund raiser here with the fabulous Barry paul and his tribute to elvis, thank you very much, ahuh. And finally, we had a bloke in here the other night reckoned his dog could retrieve a stick from over 10 miles away, i thought ... that's a bit far fetched.

The

Pub Pages

for a worker at the coal face would be on about two pounds a week, and a surface worker considerably less. To put that in perspective, imagine if you were fined half of your weekly wage for buying your mate a drink. There were several prosecutions in that area and some men were fined up to 40/- (that’s 40 ‘shillings’ or two pounds) and the maximum fine for a landlord was £100 or six months jail. Another law was passed in 1916 and ran until 1919 under the ‘State Management Scheme’. Three areas of the country also had their brewing and public houses nationalised. The most famous being Carlisle and Gretna as there was considerable armaments being manufactured in the area. There was also one in

Enfield (ending in 1922) and the Cromarty area where I believe there was beer brewed. This finally ended in the early 1970’s when all the interests went back to private enterprise, and unsurprisingly, most were snapped up (at auction, incidentally) by the ‘big boys’ of the time. Hopefully both my readers will have noticed the fairly regular attack on the pubco’s who treat their incumbents with little respect. This really is treating their customers with little respect as well, for they are the ones who buy the beer and keep the shareholders happy. We pay crazy high prices for our beer as the landlords as landladies have no choice but to pass the inflated prices on. Many earn less than £10,000 per annum and some much less than that. Not something I would like to do if I had to work 70 or 80 hours a week. The truth is that the prices charged by pubcos to the landlords can be the equivalent of 60p/pint more than if the beer was bought through the free trade. A campaign run by CAMRA in conjunction with ‘38 degrees’ has resulted in (and I quote) ‘the Government announcing it will introduce a

Home-Made Food Served 7 Days a Week

Real Ales - Garden Skittle Alley

TRADITIONAL COUNTRY PUB Serving Sensibly Priced Food & Drink Dinnington, Nr.Hinton St. George • Tel 01460 52397

We’ve changed our name back to the ...

kings Arms (Formerly the lime tree inn)

Thornford 01935 872294 Come and try our New menu All home cooked using locally sourced meats!

WE ALSO HAVE SPECIAL NIGHTS Tuesday is Homemade Pie Night • 2 for £10.00 Wednesday is Steak Night • 2 for £15.00 Thursday is Homemade Curry Night • 2 for £12.00 Friday is Fish & Chip Night • 2 for £12.00 Sunday Evening is World Flavours

 toot toot!!!

SUNDAY ROASTS

BookingS

1 course £7.95 • 2 courses £9.95 • 3 courses £11.95

 01935 424721

Bookings Taken: 01935 872294

The

Pub Pages

new Statutory Code and Pubs Adjudicator which will ensure that publicans are treated fairly and will crack down on sky-high rents and beer prices charged by the big pub companies. Publicans could see the price they pay for beer fall by up to 60p a pint if the new Adjudicator forces big pubco to match open market prices. As a result we could see cheaper pub prices for customers, more investment and ultimately fewer pub closures’. So could we really see the price drop? Well I would like to think so, but bearing in mind, and in all fairness that the landlord should be getting the proper reward as well, let us hope the price drops by say, 30p at the pump, which would take the price for most ales to under £3. (Doubtless Guinness and lager would still be a lot

more). Still, as the Government promised a watchdog for pubs in their last election manifesto I for one am not holding my breath. beers of note sampled by yours truly recently include brakspears ‘Oxford Gold’ (4% AbV from the cask, 4.6%AbV in bottles). A lovely summer beer ideal for the barbecue, and zesty but not too citrusy. Another particularly good one was ‘Tom brown’s’, again 4% AbV from Dorchester, although I cannot say if the beer was brewed here or somewhere else as there were some changes going on last time I heard. This was drunk at the ‘Wetherspoon’s’ in bridport, one of the nicer of those establishments in my opinion. Also, on the bottled front, the better half and I found a belgian ‘Golden Ale’ from a supermarket in a 330ml size bottle and at 4.8%AbV we both thought it was particularly pleasant. With summer skittles in full swing I was most surprised and delighted to hear that a new summer league was started in the Yeovil area last year. There are no fees, paperwork is virtually non-existent and all results are done by email. best of all, it is ‘mixed’ with at least two ladies playing in every (six-a-side) game. At present there is just one division of eight teams, there is

Steak Night Every Monday Ribeye, Pork Loin or Salmon with Salad and Fries for only £10 per head

Simple Supper Every Tuesday

Rob & Lin welcome you to the

Delicious 2 course set menu for only £10 per head

KiNgSbuRY EpiScopi nr. MARTocK SoMERSET TA12 6AT

Thursdays are now ... SuMMER SizzLER NighTS

WYNDHAM ARMS

Try out our gourmet burger and grill selection for a tenner!

Delicious Homecooked Food served lunchtimes and evenings

Saturday 5th July BBQ and Live Band

Now it’s summer time why not try our Summer Menu?

Sunday 20th July JAzz in the garden with the Bell Street Jazz Band

Traditional Sunday RoASTS choice of meats ✳ cAMRA RATED beers & ciders ✳

All ReAl Ales £3 per Pint

Enjoy the terrace and views to Alfred’s Tower

live Music: Saturday 28th June, 9pm ... with Kevin Butt guitarist / vocalist Function Room and Skittle Alley available for private hire/ parties

Tel: 01935 823239 Please visit us on our website: www.wyndhamarms.com THE VISITOR July 2014 27

The

Pub Pages

enough for a home and away for each team before winter league starts again. I had a chance meeting with one of the founders, Terry Sainsbury, who explained about the inception of this league. Whilst I know there is a Monday Summer league which has been running for some time, I think we should all welcome this expansion of ‘the beautiful game’. Terry tells me that if there were another eight teams apply he would start a second division; but it would have to be eight all in one go! How about it folks? You’ll find Terry in the ‘bee Hive’ along Huish, (don’t tell him I sent you). Right! Well I’m off to the pub to buy a round of drinks now, and I must remember to give the wife a kiss …

ARoUnD THE

H o U S E S IN SOMERTON ... the hanging baskets are looking good at The Unicorn and where you’re in for a treat when landlord Kev sings later this month ... speciality teas at The White Hart ... always a good pint at The Globe ... plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy the summer sunshine at The Rose & Portcullis, butleigh ... a chance to win a night at The Swan Hotel in Wells and £1,000 - just ‘like’ the hotel on facebook before 31st December ... The Manor Inn at Ditcheat is looking very smart since the refurbishment ... The Natterjack, Evercreech Junction has plenty of live music during their Beer & Music Festival weekend ... see the Beetlecrushers at The Bell, Evercreech on the 16th July ... Truffles Brasserie in bruton, has been awarded a TripAdvisor 2014 Certificate of Excellence ... Sean and Suzy are celebrating 9 years at The Montague Inn, Shepton Montague ... and in Gillingham the delicious frozen raspberry daiquiris were popular at the newly opened South

Street Kitchens Restaurant. Shuffling on to Sherborne we find beer was recently spotted at £2 a pint at The Crown ... The Lime Tree at Thornford has reverted back to its original name of The Kings Arms ... Treacle Eater Clog are performing at The Foresters Arms, Holywell on the 7th June ... see Wyld Morris Men at The Admiral Hood, Mosterton on 28th July ... The Haymaker at Wadeford, near Chard, has been taken over by Michelle and Reg Thurley from bakersfield, USA who are determined to put the pub well and truly back on the map ... and The Fox at Corscombe is open again. Nipping on to Norton Sub Hamdon where you can relive your Spanish holiday with paella and sangria on a Thursday night throughout the summer at The Lord Nelson, who are looking for a chef to join the mad house ... Tuesday night specials are excellent value at The Rose & Crown, East Lambrook where a

certain Mike Lewis enjoyed his birthday celebrations ... Treacle Tart to die for at The Royal Oak, Over Stratton where there’s a Charity Quiz Night on 29th June ... well-behaved dogs are welcome at The Rose & Crown, bower Hinton ... there are some good deals for real ale drinkers at The Wyndham Arms, Kingsbury Episcopi during the World Cup ... and get on down to The Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil where Mutter Slater will be performing on the 27th June. Yomping on to Yarlington you’ll find Priston Jubilee Morris Men at The Stags Head on the 21st July ... The Catash Inn, North Cadbury did its bit to support the England Team with a show of flags ... a pint of Harry’s Cider goes down a treat during hot weather at The Camelot, South Cadbury ... they’re celebrating 5 years at The Queens Arms, Corton Denham with lots of special offers for their customers ... and in Queen Camel it’s all change at The Mildmay Arms.

Vinny made his way to The White Lion in Bourton to sample the Turkish Delights!

Welcome to

The White Hart Market Cross Sturminster Newton DT10 1AN

FamILy FuN Day! Saturday 5th July – from 12noon Beers ★ Ciders ★ Family Fun Games ★ Face Painting BBQ ... and more! Live music from ‘may Contain Rock’ 9.00pm start Free admission, everyone welcome!

Lighter Option menu main Course – from just £5.00

Available every day lunchtimes & evenings

Sunday Roasts – Two Courses £9.95 Friday 27th June – mustang Sally Quiz Night – Tuesday 8th July

ATTENTION ...

LANDLORDS & LANDLADIES Pub Pages are a regular feature every month in

AccOmODAtiOn • PAtiO GArDen • FunctiOn rOOm

Tel: 01258 475391

info@thewhitehartsn.co.uk * www.thewhitehartsn.co.uk 28 THE VISITOR July 2014

To ADvERTISE here call 01963 351256 or email: info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk August Issue Print: Thursday 24th July • Deadline: Monday 14th July

Wine & Dine

Fruit Wines

I’VE NEVER bEEN a great fan of the sun, and it doesn’t take much for me to long for the cooler, balmier days as summer turns to autumn, and ripe hedgerow fruits come to mind. back in the 70s and 80s English fruit and flower wines suffered from bad press. Partly, I would suggest, as a result of many of us, me included, who were keen to make our own rather dodgy versions. I well remember those exploding demi-johns! No longer it would seem. Recently there has been something of a revival of this very british tradition as professional wine makers, in a bid to keep some buoyancy in their product range, have moved into the ‘country wine’ market. I find the wines also make great inexpensive gifts for visitors from abroad. Thought to have been developed as fruit-flavoured versions of mead before sugar came onto the scene, 'country wines' tend to be frowned upon by more sophisticated wine drinkers. Their quality is still largely determined by getting the balance between acidity and sweetness right. Often high in alcohol (lighter versions are now available) and packed with flavour, they are usually medium

Sloe – medium sweet , a smooth traditional country wine. Good with red meat and casseroles, or cheese. Personally, I prefer my sloes in gin ... but that’s another story. LP-V.

sweet or off-dry. The still varieties are usually served at room temperature, and not for quaffing in any quantity. The sparkling versions, when served chilled, can be refreshing and make great spritzers, while fruit liqueurs make a perfect after dinner tipple or yummy additions to puddings. Locally both Avalon Vineyard and Lyme bay Winery have a good range, available in good independent shops, for between £7.50 to £10 a bottle. Blackberry – medium sweet, full of tangy fruit flavour, with a ripe hedgerow nose. Damson – off-dry, slightly peppery, with mellow fruit flavours and a good match for Indian and Chinese dishes. Elderberry – off-dry, with a lovely rich deep colour and flavour to match. Goes well with winter warming red meat casseroles, or after dinner with a strong firm cheese. Rosehip – off-dry, a beautiful salmon pink, more vegetal than fruity. best served chilled with full flavoured seafood or chicken dishes.

Long Service award for Wyke Farms’ cheese grader nigel pooley

Wyke farms, the UK’s largest independent cheese producer and milk processor, honoured Master Cheese Grader Nigel Pooley with a Long Service Award as he celebrated more than 50 years continuous service in the dairy industry. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, was in attendance at the Royal bath & West Show where Nigel Pooley was given the award. Nigel has graded over 1.4 million tonnes of cheddar during his time at Wyke farms. He plays an integral part in ensuring the quality of every batch of award-winning cheddar that leaves the farm. Nigel’s nose is so important to the business that it was valued at

NEWLY REFURBISHED

Truffles BRASSERIE

95 High Street, Bruton, BA10 0AR Bastille Day Celebration

Monday 14th July, 7pm – £15.95 SPECIaL FRENCH BUFFEt & LIvE MUSIC from Daygan Robinson a skilled player of mandolin, bouzouki and guitar, soloist, member of Dragonsfly and Celtech and Breton dance accompaniment specialist

FOR RESERVATIONS TEL: 01749 812180 www.trufflesbrasserie.com

Farm Shops and Local Produce kImBERS’ FARm SHOP

Open: tuesday / Friday 9am – 6 pm saturday 10am – 4pm TASTE OF THE WEST AWARD WINNING PRODUCTS CIWF Dairy Award 2012 Listed as one of Britain’s Top 10 Farm Shops 2013 Home Produced Aberdeen Angus Beef Gloucester Old spot Pork Bacon & Gammon Lamb, Hogget and mutton Welfare Friendly Rose Veal • Charcuterie Game & Fish • Our Raw milk Also quality local Produce including Veg, eggs Dairy, Preserves, cakes, Bread, ice cream, etc. cider, Beers, Wines & spirits • cards & Gifts Home Grown Free Range Geese & turkeys Free Range Ducks, Cockerels & Chickens Find us off the B3081 Bruton to Gillingham Road

Higher Stavordale Farm Charlton musgrove, Wincanton, BA9 8HJ Tel: 01963 33177 / 07966 426962 www.kimbersfarmshop.co.uk

£5 million, making it the most expensive nose in the UK. His honed palate and sensitive nose have been indispensable in helping Wyke farms secure a total of 15 awards and accolades at this year’s Royal bath & West Show and Devon County Shows. Adding to its fast growing collection of awards, Wyke farms received Gold for its Mature Cheddar and Salted farmhouse butter as well as The best Somerset Cheese Award for its Mature Cheddar at the Royal bath & West Show. In addition, the company secured two firsts at the Devon County Show for its farmhouse butter and Creamery butter. Wyke farms has been producing its award-winning cheddar for over a century and has grown to become the largest family-owned cheese maker in britain selling over 14,000 tonnes annually. The company have achieved substantial growth year on year by staying true to the traditional values behind the brand and have become the fastest growing cheddar brand in the UK. With 150 years of family farming experience, their cheese and butter is made with milk which comes from their own family-run farms and over 100 supplier farms within a 35-mile radius of their cheese-making Dairy, situated in the heart of Somerset.

Tearooms and Cafes Louise, Wendy & Gemma welcome you to ...

MINSTURS Relax In Our Traditional Tearoom Cream Teas & high Teas Pastries and Cakes Warming Menu • Light Meals Wholesome Meals

Open Daily

Mon – Sat 9 – 5 • Sun 11 – 2.30

Open For Dinner 3 Course £11.95

6.30 – 9.30 ... bookings only ChANgINg MENU

Sturminster House Bath Road Sturminster Newton DT10 1AT  01258 471808

www.sturminsterhousetearooms.co.uk

THE VISITOR July 2014 29

The Marston Inn offers a delicious home cooked menu including a specials board which changes weekly. The Sunday Carvery is extremely popular and bookings are strongly advised. The attractive beer gardens are ideal for enjoying the summer sunshine and provide a good viewing point for Yeovilton Air Day. There is regular live music. The skittle alley is available for private parties and meetings plus there are three excellent letting rooms available. Real ale lovers will enjoy the well kept Doombar and Butcombe ales which are on draught. Why not call in – open all day Saturday and Sunday everyone welcome – including the family dog!

Dave Hoddinott general Builder

Dean & Lou look forward to welcoming everyone to their traditional country inn ...

THE

Marston Inn

Marston Magna nr. Yeovil  01935 850020 Join us for a delicious Sunday Carvery ... using quality locally sourced SomerSet meatS Main £8.50 – Two Courses £11

Tuesday – Saturday: Lunchtime Special – Two Meals for £12 Thursday: Steak Night – Two 10 oz Rump Steaks £17 Friday: Beer Battered Cod Supper £6

Friday 4th July Matthew Rock 9pm – superb keyboard player & vocalist

Saturday 26th July Air Day

Enjoy the display from our garden – BBQ weather permitting

Friday 29th August

Somerset Paddies Skittle Alley Available Party bookings and small events welcome Beer Gardens • Dogs Welcome in Bar Area ACCoMModATion now AvAilAblE Follow us on facebook for the latest events / updates

Quality timber buildings from Sparkford Timber Buildings and Gates of Sparkford (formerly known as Sparkford Sawmills). This month sees the rebranding of the company - see back page for full details.

PRETTY, tucked-away villages with independent businesses, productive farms, delightful old properties, attractive new build, medieval churches, winding lanes ... and wherever you look, green grass and rolling hills ... this is Camelot Country.

the Marston inn Marston Magna

Dean and Lou look forward to welcoming you to the Marston Inn, Marston Magna.

Dave Hoddinott will be a familiar face to many in the Camelot area having been born and bred in Queen Camel. A qualified builder and plumber, established for over 40 years, he offers a friendly and reliable service, whether you require an extension to your property or just a washer for a dripping tap. If you’re thinking of replacing your kitchen or changing your bathroom suite, Dave will see the job through from beginning to end, including wall and floor tiling and any electrical work that needs to be carried out.

Jeremy Windsor Sparkford

Jeremy Windsor has been in the garden machinery repair business for over 20 years. He repairs and services all makes and models of mowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, ride on mowers etc. He offers a collection and delivery service and he does not charge VAT which makes repairs and servicing very competitive.

Dave Hoddinott FULLy QUALIFIED BUILDEr - ESTABLIShED 1973

• Renovations & Extensions • Roofing + Carpentry • Plumbing & Heating • Ceramic Wall & Floor Tiling • Painting & Decorating • Electrical Contracting Competitive Prices - No Job Too Big or Too Small FRIENDLy & RELIABLE sERvICE

Tel: (01963) 440256 30 THE VISITOR July 2014

24 hour emergency call out

north cadbury village Stores

beverley & James Candy took over North Cadbury Village Stores in August last year. Since then the shop has undergone a huge transformation having had a total refit, including smart new shelving, flooring and fridge / freezers. Although the interior has changed the friendly service that you would expect from a Village Store remains the same. Alongside groceries and green grocery the store offers fresh, locally sourced meat from Andrew Barclay of Wincanton; a range of local produce including Montgomery’s potatoes and their famous cheeses; Wadman’s famous Jersey cream; Longman’s farmhouse butter and a selection of Fudges and Border biscuits. Useful services offered include colour and black and white photocopying; faxing; laminating and mobile phone top-ups. They are also agents for Puffin Dry Cleaners ... and shoe repairs. A local delivery service is offered (minimum £20.00). Opening times: Monday – friday 8am – 5.30pm, Saturday

8am – 1pm, Sunday 9am – 12.30pm. beverley & James would like to thank customers for their patience and continued support throughout the upheavel of the improvements.

Dave Braybon - arborist

David braybon went ‘into the woods’ as a trainee forester on the Duchy of Lancaster Estates in North Yorkshire in 1972. He subsequently moved to the South West where he worked in tree surgery and landscaping before going to Merrist Wood College, Guildford in 1975 where he completed his Certificate in Agriculture. It was the only college offering arboricultural courses at the time. He started his own business in l976. The business has grown over the years and is now highly respected, carrying out work for County and District Councils, numerous local estates, farms and National Trust properties. Work covers a broad spectrum from tree pruning and dangerous tree removal to woodland planning and management.

Beverley & James candy welcome you to

the village Stores nortH caDBurY • tel: 01963 440201 open 7 Days a Week An extensive range of goods & services available • Fresh meat from anDreW BarcLaY of Wincanton Daily deliveries of ‘specials’ and your orders taken • selected local farm cheeses including ... MontgoMerY'S World Famous Farmhouse cheeses • cream from WaDMan'S famous Jersey herd • LongMan'S Farmhouse Butter • annaMMa'S cuiSine curry sauces - made locally • FuDgeS & BorDerS Biscuits in stock • FreSH BreaD, cakeS, pieS & SavourieS ... noW MaDe on tHe preMiSeS BY our inStore Baker • Groceries - Fruit & Vegetables & milk delivered daily FRee HOMe • Pet Foods and household Goods DeLIVeRIeS • Faxing - laminating minimum £20 • Dry cleaning with puFFinS of Yeovil - shoe repairs • Off licence - newspapers & magazines, Greetings cards & stationery • Postage stamps for home and abroad • Phone Top-Up Service

gARDEn MACHinERY Servicing Undertaken

Approved contractor to Dorset & Somerset C.C.

The popular Queens Arms at Corton Denham - fine dining for the residents of Camelot and beyond.

American Beer & Bourbon Weekend 4th - 5th July

Lots of American Beers, Bourbon, Food, and ... Great Entertainment! Lots of fun, don’t miss it.

Tapas & Spanish Night Sunday 20th July

Enjoy a tapas Menu and listen to spanish Guitar playing on the terrace! Wine tasting with Marques de Riscal Vinyard, Spain. Tickets £10 to include wine tasting and entertainment. Food to be purchased on the night. An AA Rosette Restaurant

TheCortonQueens Arms Denham, SherBorNe Somerset, DT9 4Lr email: relax@thequeensarms.com www.thequeensarms.com Tel: 01963 220317

QUALiFiED ARBoRiST

No VAT on labour

JEREMY WinDSoR

TREE PLAnTing

SPARkFoRD Tel: (01963) 440241

( CloSed MoNdayS )

Say you saw it in The Visitor

ALL ASPECTS oF TREE CARE AnD DAngERoUS TREE REMoVAL

PHONE: NORTH CADBURY 440660

Utilise the generous grants now available to restock neglected woodland or areas of wasteground THE VISITOR July 2014 31

MARTOCK - business focus The Rose & Crown

The Rose & Crown is a traditional village pub in Bower Hinton, open from 12noon to close Tuesday to Sunday. Good home-cooked food is available from the Bar Menu for £7, or take along the voucher for their Special Offer of 2 meals for £12. There are Baguettes and Jacket Potatoes available on the Light Bite menu. An excellent selection of drinks including Wine, Lager and soft drinks are available including two

Real Ales; the regular beer St Austell Tribute plus a Guest Ale. Regular entertainment includes a popular fortnightly Friday evening Quiz plus regular Live Music on a Saturday night. Watch all the live sporting action including Football and Rugby on Sky and BT Sport on their large TV screen with surround sound. They also have available for customers a pool table, dartboard and skittle alley, new players are always welcome. For buffets and functions

please contact Simon or Tracy and for details of all the planned events and Menu please visit

www.therosiebowerhinton.co.uk or like us on Facebook for regular updates.

The Rose and Crown Bower Hinton, Martock 01935 822393 from the Bar Menu Details of our Menu and regular Live Entertainment are available at www.therosiebowerhinton.co.uk Sky SportS & Bt Sport avaiLaBLE on our LargE tv with Surround Sound Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 12pm — Close please bring this vouchEr with you for food offEr

Hurst Manor, Martock, one of the popular residential care homes in the Aurora Care Group.

Private Nursing Care from £700.00 per week The Aurora Care Group offers private nursing care in our Somerset nursing homes at prices from £700.00 per week

www.hendfordcarehome.co.uk 166 Hendford Hill, Yeovil, BA20 2RG 01935 470400 info@auroracare.co.uk 32 THE VISITOR July 2014

Our homes are spread across south Somerset and variously offer: ● 24 hour nursing care in purpose built accommodation ● Large single en suite rooms with ensuite wet rooms ● Comprehensive social programmes with several activities a day, designed to stimulate physically, intellectually and socially ● Restaurant standard dining in own rooms or dining rooms ● Frequent trips out in our own minibus ● Beautiful landscaped gardens with breathtaking views over the Somerset countryside

www.hurstmanor.co.uk Hurst, Martock, TA12 6JU 01935 823467 info@hurstmanor.co.uk

www.elliscombehouse.co.uk Higher Holton, nr. Wincanton, BA9 8EA 01963 33370 info@elliscombehouse.co.uk

MARTOCK - business focus Save Money on your MOT!

Is your car due for an MOT – then pop along to Brooks of Martock who are offering reduced rates to celebrate their anniversary – prices from just £34.95. You can book in person or Brooks Garage are now pleased to offer their customers the new facility of being able to book their service and MOT on-line at www. brooksgarage.co.uk This is particularly useful for those who find it difficult to telephone during the day due to work and other commitments. Brooks have the latest Boston ATL automated MOT testing lane which mean they can undertake MOTs for 4, 5L and 7 class vehicles. MOTs and repairs are done on site. For those booking a service at the same time as an MOT there is a 10% discount promotion. Fleet management / servicing enquiries welcome. For a reliable and professional service contact Brooks, a well established, family run firm you can rely on.

Country Build SW Ltd

Located in the heart of Somerset, Country Build SW prides itself

on providing exceptional workmanship and extensive experience coupled with a thorough understanding of the build process and restoration of properties located in the country. Whether it may be a full extension on a listed building, a new build, or restoring and maintaining existing properties, Country Build sympathetically and professionally take you through the entire process from

Little Wings - Licensed Pet Shop opens in Martock

Louise Clarke of Martock has recently opened a pet shop within Petwood Pet Food Supplies, situated in North Street on the Great Western Trading Estate.

Louise has been breeding birds for over 15 years and now will be selling them at her new premises. Lovebirds, budgies, canaries, Chinese Painted quail and finches are amongst the birds for sale. A range of small animal such as rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, rats and mice are also on sale. Expert advice is on hand. Petwood and Little Wings offer a complete service - from pet sales through to pet food and accessories. Now open Sunday. Free Parking outside the door.

PetWood

PET FOOD SUPPLIES For Dogs, Cats, Small Animals, Fish Aviary, Wild Birds & Poultry, Exotic Pets Toys, Hutches & Accessories Competitive Prices - Delivery Available Free Parking Outside Incorporating

LITTLE WINGS Licensed Pet Shop

Bird and Small Animal Sales

 01935 825868

Louise Clarke with her budgies at Little Wings, Martock. Her first floor licensed pet shop can be found at Petwood Pet Supplies.

Bridge Garage, Water Street, Martock Somerset, TA12 6JN

BOOK ON LINE for both M.O.T.s and SERVICING

www.brooksgarage.co.uk

10% DISCOUNT

ON SERVICING if carried out at the SAME TIME as M.O.T.

From Conception to Completion With over 30 years of building experience — No hiddeN extras —

Services Include but not limited to: Project Management New Build Planning Loft Conversions Carpentry roofing Ground Works refurbishment renovation Commercial Property Maintenance Joinery all aspects of Building & Maintenance all insurance Works Undertaken

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

M.O.T.s from £34.95

(01935) 823346

Please Call: 01935 822547 Email: info@brooksgarage.co.uk

www.petwood-martock.co.uk Unit 5, North Street Great Western Road, Martock

All works completed by our experienced & reliable team

M.O.T.s ★ REPAIRS ★ SERVICE for CLASS 4, 5L and 7

MOT Testing Station

conception to completion. All work is fully insured and guaranteed so you can always be sure of peace of mind. No hidden extras.

MOT Testing Station

www.countrybuild.co.uk info@countrybuild.co.uk THE VISITOR July 2014 33

MARTOCK - business focus Left: This useful triwalker normally retails at £99.99. A2B Mobility currently have it on special offer for just £74.99, to include a free bag. A2B Mobility offer a full range of living aids together with a comprehensive range of new and used scooters. Visit their showrooms for further details.

Ash House Hotel

Set in its own grounds Ash House Hotel offers imaginative cuisine using only the best local produce.

SAVE MONEY on SeCond-Hand SCooteRS

... prices from only £200

Good Selection of new Scooters in Stock Stair Lifts for Sale or Rental ... including installation

In Flight Pheasant, a limited edition print of only75 from Nigel Hemming, price £350 framed. Barn Owl in flight also available, from Martock Gallery in Water Street.

You name it, we frame it! Football Shirts – Medals Tapestries – Memorabilia – Cards Programmes – Mirrors ... and of course Paintings & Prints

MARTOCK GALLERY Martock Gallery Open: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 5.00, Saturday 9.30 - 4.30

Water Street • Martock • Tel: (01935) 823254 • www.martockgallery.com

Full Range of daily Living aids

Enjoy a meal at the ...

walking sticks, slippers rails, etc.

Orangery Brasserie

Service & Repairs

at Ash House Hotel

Delicious food served in a relaxed atmosphere with stunning views over looking the gardens ...

on all makes and models of scooters

Your Independence Is our BusIness • VIsIt our showrooms LARGE FREE CAR PARK RIGHT OUTSIDE

Units 1 & 2 Great Western Road MaRtoCk

0800 731 7078

Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5.00pm, Saturday 9.30am - 12.30pm • Closed Bank Holidays other times by appointment • tel: 07917 145838 / 07917 145839

34 THE VISITOR July 2014

The Orangery Brasserie is light an airy and overlooks the wonderful gardens. The snug bar is ideal for pre-dinner drinks and, for those wishing to book a private party, the imposing Red Room restaurant is available. Lunches and dinners are served daily. Weddings and corporate events are most welcome. Whether dining with friends or having a business lunch Ash House Hotel & Orangery Brasserie is well worth a visit. Check out their website for further details and menu.

Snug Bar Lunches Dinners Weddings Conferences Parties for up to 56 seated For further details & bookings telephone – 01935 822036 41 Main Street, Ash near Martock, TA12 6PB or visit – theorangerybrasserie.co.uk

MARTOCK - business focus The Nags Head

The Nags Head is situated in East Street, just a short distance from Martock Post Office. With summer upon us why not dine alfresco in the picturesque walled gardens? Enjoy a meal with a refreshing jug of Pimms. The lounge and bar serves a wide range of home-cooked food, from local suppliers, freshly prepared to order. Food is served every lunchtime from Noon - 2pm, Monday Thursday evenings 6pm - 8pm, Friday and Saturday from 6pm. There is always a good choice of real ales, wines and ciders to enjoy, also a Sunday Evening Quiz with snacks. There is ample parking and wheelchair access to the inn. Dawn and Steve look forward to welcoming you. For buffets, skittles etc., please telephone for enquiries and bookings.

Richard P. Kemp, B.A. Solicitor

The firm of Richard P. Kemp, B.A., Solicitor has been established in the pleasant country town of Martock since 1986. It is the successor to a continuous line of legal practitioners in the town for more than 160 years and it has been at its present premises for upwards of 50 years. It strives to deliver a high quality, efficient and friendly

Right: Velvet Interiors of Martock offer a wide range of fabrics to choose from - upholstery and curtain making undertaken. Commissions undertaken for hand painted furniture. Furniture painting workshops held each month - call for details.

legal service to everyone at a reasonable price. All types of legal work, are undertaken - no problem is too small or too large. The loyal and helpful staff are always pleased to help clients, both old and new.

The White Hart Hotel

Definitely a place recommended to all food lovers and those who want to enjoy a drink in a friendly village pub, serving great real ales. The White Hart always serves high quality fresh food, and the chef’s inventive cuisine is truly superb. From light snacks and Bistro meals, to candlelit dinners, you can enjoy the delicious French / English menu in a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. The hotel is rated 3 Diamonds, and the reviews on TripAdvisor are very good. After 11 years, Peter and Isabelle Halkyard are always delighted to see their customers happy, and the White Hart’s excellent reputation is well deserved.

Renowned for High Quality Food, Inventive Cuisine & Fresh Fish ... Peter and Isabelle Halkyard welcome you to the

White hart hotel FREEHOUSE

RICHARD P. KEMP B.A.

East Street, Martock • 01935 822005 u u u Accommodation - Function Room / Skittle Alley

Quality assured legal advice and services for private and corporate clients.

Bistro Lunches - £6.95 Evenings - A La Carte Menu Specials Bar Meals - £8.95 ✳ SundAy LunChES ✳ 1 Course £8.95 • 2 Course £10.95 • 3 Course £12.95

Tel: (01935) 822572

www.whiteharthotelmartock.co.uk

Solicitor

( No food Sunday Evenings or Mondays)

31 North Street, Martock, Somerset TA12 6DH

✸ upholstery, curtains and Blinds

The Nags Head

✸ Autentico chalk paint ✸ Furniture restoration

east street, Martock • Tel: 01935 823432 Just down from your local Post Office Home Cooked Meals, Ploughmans & Salads Monday to sunday Lunch specials Board, Vegetarian and Kids Menus also available

traditional Sunday Roast from £7.25 Fun Quiz every Sunday evening Public Bar with Pool & darts Open all day Friday, saturday, sunday & Bank Holidays Beautiful Secluded Walled Garden Bookings advised • small Buffets • guest ales

✸ Vintage Furniture

19 north street Martock ta12 6DH

07733 658500

www.velvetinteriors.co.uk

✸ Furniture painted to order

Furniture Painting Classes last saturday of Month 1pm – 4pm, £45 including tea / coffee / cake ... call for details THE VISITOR July 2014 35

MARTOCK Drapes Direct

Are you refurbishing? Do you have a new conservatory or a new home or business? Are you looking for more shading? Or do you just fancy a change? Drapes Direct at Parrett Works have hundred’s of curtain fabrics and all kinds of blinds including Romans, Rollers, Verticals, Venetians, Pleated, Vision and Apex. They are approved ‘perfect fit’ (no drill blind) installers and area representatives for In-shade conservatory sails! They also

survey and install market leading Patio awnings to protect you from sun (and showers!) and help you make the most of our fantastic British Summer! Give them a call to arrange a free measure visit, or pop in and visit them at their factory showroom at unit 2, Kelly’s Yard, Parrett Works TA12 6AE (next door to Castle Reclamation and across from Southfork Caravan site). They are open to the public every morning except Sundays!

In and around ...

SOUTH PETHERTON SOuTH PETHERTON is a charming village which has a rich and diverse range of businesses. It boasts two delicatessens, a greengrocers, butchers, restaurant, carpet shop and a superb gift shop to name but a few. The David Hall is a community hub with many forms of entertainment on its programme ... from music and theatre through to keep fit and films.

They have an extensive range of Panasonic TVs at competitive prices - many with a 5 year warranty. Whether you are looking to replace your radio or have your TV repaired do call in for friendly and professional service.

One World

One World - such an interesting shop, with 6 showrooms over 2 floors stocked with beautiful and unique gifts from around the world - many fair trade. Stunning silver jewellery, hand made glass vases, ceramic pots, wooden figures, childrens traditional and soft toys, gifts for babies, rugs, stationery, cards and

H. R. Hodge

H. R .Hodge of South Petherton is a family run business. They offer an extensive range of electrical goods for sale and comprehesive servicing and repairs.

17 St James Street South Petherton Somerset TA13 5BS 01460 241166

H.R. Hodge Television Sales, Rentals & Repairs Panasonic

Cauliflowers from their own fields straight to their farm shop. You can’t buy fresher vegetables than those at Bower Hinton Farm Shop.

Bower Hinton Farm Shop - Martock Just off the B3165 at the top of Bower Hinton

Linsar

Still Picking Home Grown Strawberries ... Also Harvesting: Bunched Carrots Broad Beans, Cabbage, Broccoli Harvesting Soon: Cauliflower, Courgettes Vine Tomatoes

Showrooms - wide choice Roberts

COFFEE SHOP ... come and enjoy tea, coffee (from Read’s Coffee of Sherborne) and a slice of Jj’s cake Some Bedding Plants - Good Range of Perennials - Compost etc

Follow our Page on FaceBook

VHS • Cine • DVD • Cop

 01935 827743 • www.bowerhintonfarmshop.co.uk

The Curtain & Blind Specialist

Workshop on the premises

01935 824888 ● ● ● ● ● ●

Quality Guaranteed ✔ Free Home Measuring ✔ No Obligation Quotations ✔

See more at

www.drapesdirect.co.uk and at

www.blindsyeovil.com

36 THE VISITOR July 2014

TV Repairs: all makes TV Rentals

All Types of Blinds Conservatory Blinds Fabrics by the Metre Curtains Tracks and Poles Patio Awnings

H.R. Hodge SOUTH PETHERTON 01460 240645 Professional Fitting ✔ Free Advice ✔ 100s of Fabrics ✔

10 mile service area

www.hrhodge.co.uk shop@hrhodge.co.uk

9am – 5pm Monday – Friday • 9am – 1pm Saturday

In and around ...

SOUTH PETHERTON Originally built in the 1600's as a farmhouse, the Royal Oak was later converted to farm workers cottages. Around the 1850's it received a licence to become a beerhouse. Nearly 160 years later this attractive thatched pub with its Hamstone walls, flagstone floors and solid oak beams serves more than beer. A wide range of ales and wines compliment an extensive home-cooked menu. Wednesdays and Thursdays are Surf, Turf, Swine & Wine nights. A choice of rump steak, battered haddock or gammon

steak with a carafe of wine. Any two for just £20.95. A choice of 3 roasts are served Sunday lunchtimes and evenings. Daily specials along with fresh fish, vegetarian dishes and a full menu are available Tuesday to Sunday lunchtimes and evenings. A two-course lunch for £8.50 is available Tuesday to Saturday. Going on holiday? Check out the bookcase for your holiday reading - all proceeds to a local charity. There is a large car park and a spacious patio area.

Join us for ...

One World gift shop - six showrooms over two floors - gifts galore!

diaries. New in is a selection of fair trade baskets and handbags plus ‘bags for life’ - so useful for shopping. Clothing includes long sleeved hemp shirts, alpaca knitwear and extra soft bamboo socks!

Regal Solutions

Regal Solutions are bathroom designers and installers specialising in disabled walk-in showers in South Somerset and the surrounding areas. They know how difficult it can make your life if you are unable to get in and out of the bath and they are pleased to help make your life easier. Having a walk-in shower room can increase the quality of your life, creating independence in the home to make everyday tasks easier for you. They also fit standard bathrooms and undertake any plumbing or carpentry jobs.

Regal Solutions is an established company and have over 20 years experience in wet room and bathroom installations. From Quote to finish you will find a fast and friendly service that others can't match. They also offer other services designed to make your life easier, these include but are not limited to: Building Alterations; Widening of Doors; Wheelchair Ramps; Handrails. Please contact them for a free quote.

The Royal Oak

Situated on the outskirts of South Petherton is the charming Royal Oak Inn run by Chris and his wife Jill.

‘FISH NIGHT’ Friday 27 June th

(The Last Friday of Each Month)

2 Course LUNCHES £8.50 Tuesday to Saturday wednesday & Thursday Special

SUrF, TUrF, SWINE and WINE NIGHT

TWO Rump STeAKS or TWO Beer Battered HADDOCK or TWO Gammon STeAKS or Any Two with a ... CARAfe of WiNe £20.95 per couple – Booking Advised

★ SUNdAY rOASTS ★ Bookings Advised

Chris & Jill look forward to welcoming you at the

ROyAL OAK Over Stratton, South Petherton Tel: 01460 240906

A Charming Country Inn

Make Showering a Pleasure ... Get in and shower easily Stand securely on non-slip floors Move confidently with easy-grip handrails Easy-clean wall tiles Comfortable sit-on folding seat

Regal SolutionS (South West) ltd Bathroom design & installation – Specialist in disabled walk-in showers

The David Hall, a popular venue for arts and crafts.

6 Cranleigh Court, Palmer Street, South Petherton, ta13 5ea Tel: 01460 241753 / 929151 • Mob: 07843 339338 / 07702 888895 Website: regalsolutionssw.com • “ We take better care of you” THE VISITOR July 2014 37

FrEE prESCrIpTION SUNGLASSES Or FrEE SpArE pAIr with any frame from our £75 range or above

EYES rIGHT OpTICIANS St. audries Station Road, Gillingham

Looking Good family Health with

Jenna Evans Chamomile

THIS PRETTY garden herb has been a popular medicine for thousands of years. The Greeks found its scent to resemble apples and so named it Khamaimelon earth apple. The Egyptians prized it as a remedy for fevers and the Saxons as a sedative. Today chamomile is most well known as a herbal tea. used to soothe stresses away after a long day it is often found in blends for insomnia, nervousness and digestive disorders. Chamomile is a key remedy for anxious states and very useful for fractious children. A couple of teaspoons of the tea can be added to baby bottles or children's drinks to soothe tummy troubles, calm hyperactivity and relieve the pain of teething. Chamomile also possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties so is used in herbal formulas for cystitis, candida and sore throats. The tea can be drunk copiously during urinary tract infections or used as a gargle for sore throats. Chamomile is a useful women’s remedy used to calm muscular spasms of menstruation, ease nausea during pregnancy and even during childbirth to ease contractions. Think of including chamomile for any kind of painful, spasmodic or inflamed condition such as cramps, neuralgia, headaches and allergic conditions such as eczema and hay fever. When making the tea always

brew in a pot or cover your mug with a dish as it cools. This helps prevent loss of the volatile oils which have important medicinal properties. This is wise to do with any aromatic herb when making a tea to ensure full potency! In aromatherapy there are two main varieties of chamomile used. Anthemis Nobilis or Roman chamomile and Matricaria Chamomilla or German chamomile. Although they possess very similar properties, the German chamomile is higher in

This pretty print dress by Braintree is just one from the wonderful summer fashions available at Maya of Langport.

Tel: 01747 831010

3 Market Place Sturminster newton

Tel: 01258 473992 LOW prICES ANd QUALITY SErVICE *30% OFF spectacles applies when choosing any frame from our £75 range or above. Excludes “free spare pair / prescription sunglasses” offer. Pick up a leaflet or ask our staff for full offer details. 38 THE VISITOR July 2014

Maya Boutique

Genuine Summer

SALE starts 1st July fashion - accessories - jewellery

Hanover House, Cheapside Langport • 01458 254014 www.maya-boutique.co.uk

Looking Good for Summer azulenes - a beautiful blue compound formed during distillation - this gives it the edge as an anti-inflammatory. Like the herb, chamomile essential oil excels as a women’s and children’s remedy. You will often find chamomile in babies toiletries and you can use a weak dilution of the oil in baby massage - especially useful as an abdominal massage for colic or to stroke across the cheeks during teething. For children, a couple of drops in a bath or massage blend can soothe anxiety and encourage restful sleep. For women the oil can be used as an abdominal massage for menstrual pains and to soothe during labour. The floral water or hydrosol is excellent for troubled skin. Rashes, acne, roseacea, heat rash and redness/broken capillaries may all benefit from chamomile floral water. It can be used as a toner as part of your daily skincare regime or as a treatment, sprayed regularly onto affected areas. The floral water can also be used for baby care - sprayed directly onto nappy rash (or used in combination with lavender water), as a spritz on bedding for a comforting scent or a few drops added to a bottle or massaged onto gums during teething. Homeopathic Chamomilla is used for those who are highly sensitive to pain. Anger and irritability are often present. Chamomilla is a prime remedy for teething troubles and colic in babies as well as labour pains. Some people may be allergic to chamomile so always patch test when using topical products and be cautious taking internally, especially if you think you may be allergic to plants in the asteraceae/composite family. With the many uses of this fragrant plant - and the many different ways we can use it - I hope you feel that this aromatic wonder herb deserves a place in

your garden or window box, or if you have the space an area of chamomile lawn, to walk barefoot upon in the summer - wonderful! Jenna Evans ©2014. Ceres Natural Foods, Yeovil stock a wide selection of herbs and aromatherapy products. For more information on herbs, aromatherapy and homeopathy drop in and have a chat with one of the team. Jenna is available instore at Ceres to advise by appointment, please pop in or call 01935 428791 for details. Always check with a health professional before making any dramatic changes to your diet and lifestyle or starting a new supplement, especially with any existing health conditions.

enjoy this delightful range of 'happy' clothing chosen with fun in mind, to put a smile on your face and really welcome in the Summer! The team at Needful Things are always on hand to help with a smile and a warm welcome. Whether it’s a casual outfit for every day wear or something for a special occasion, Needful Things at 7 High Street, Castle Cary, is there to inspire you.

elegance Beauty Therapy Clinic

‘Summertime and the living is easy’ – well it is once you’re waxed, tanned, manicured, pedicured, tinted and moisturised!

So make it easier by visiting Elegance Beauty Therapy Clinic and letting a professional do it for you. Sandie has thirty one years experience as a Beauty Therapist and can wax your legs £14; manicure £17.50; pedicure £25; eyelash tint £10; and give you a facial from £30 – then all you have to do is spend the summer looking beautiful! Recently introduced - a range of Aloe based products - including a suntan lotion and a sun screen spray 30SPF which protects against uVA and uVB rays. It is easily absorbed, water resistant and doubles as an aftersun, so you need only take one bottle on holiday with you!

Summer at Needful Things

Clothing bursts into colour with a joyous collection of brights from Pomodoro, Intown, Soft 'B' and Saskia. Lovely dresses and separates at affordable prices and augmented by stunning accessories: Handbags, Scarves and Fashion Jewellery. Why not

Élégance BeAuTy THeRAPy CLiNiC

Sandie Barrett M.B.A.B.Th.C. C.I.D.E.S.C.O.

Summer’s Here!

Full range of beauty treatments available Inc. Lip

Plus a full range of Holiday Products Salve, Self-Tanning Lotions, and more! Ladies only

8b Church Street Wincanton Tel: (01963) 34115

Ladies Fashions & Gifts

Look good this summer, pop in to Needful Things of Castle Cary for cool summer dresses and co-ordinating casuals.

Hooper’s Hat Hire 100s of exquisite hats and fascinators to hire, buy, or made to complement your outfit

elegant & cool summer Fashion

01935 706555 • www.hoopershats.co.uk THE VISITOR July 2014 39

Looking Good for Summer body, as well as working to improve skin and muscle tone to give a rejuvenating, natural

facelift effect. For further details please telephone Heal and Sole Holistics on 01963 350639.

Marilyn and Kirsty, the mother and daughter team who run Perfectly Toned in Somerton. Toning tables are ideal for toning up and losing those unwanted inches before your holiday - suitable for all ages.

Perfectly Toned

Tone up and feel good for your holidays! Visit Perfectly Toned ladies only toning table salon. Situated on the Bancombe Trading Estate, it is suitable for all age groups - lose inches without visiting the gym!! It can also improve mobility and posture. Shape up in a friendly relaxed atmosphere. Free Trial session. Give Marilyn or Kirsty a call today.

Heal and Sole Holistics

It has been a little over a year since Heal and Sole Holistics opened in Castle Cary and its

owners complementary therapists, Julia and Kevin Stevens, are delighted to have been able to help so many new clients. Their therapies have given relief to various chronic health conditions as well as providing improved general wellbeing. In particular, Julia has had great success recently using reflexology to treat a client with chronic digestive problems. Later in July, Julia will be adding Tsuboki Japanese Face Massage to the treatment menu. This relaxing massage works with acupressure points and meridian pathways to affect the balance of health in the whole

This stylish knitting pattern is just one of many available for just 10p whilst stocks last. Breeze double knitting yarn is half price too - so hurry down to Hanson’s Fabrics & Crafts in Sturminster Newton and snap up a sale bargain today!

Lose inches and tone up for your holidays! Early morning & evening appointments available

Open Monday to Friday and Saturday Mornings

pilates Toning Tables will strengthen core muscles improving mobility & posture ... ideal for toning slack muscles – particularly after weight loss FrEE TrIAL SESSION ... cost per session just £6 or a block booking of 10 plus one free for £54 Contact MArILYN or KIrSTY at pErFECTLY TONEd 12 Canvin Court, Bancombe road Trading Estate, Somerton, TA11 6SB

 01458 273600

40 THE VISITOR July 2014

Looking Good

House & Home Small bathrooms are a huge challenge to use and to decorate. Some bathrooms have the ability to feel bigger, while others may need small renovation projects to improve the square footage. Depending on your particular bathroom the options can be easy. Decide what your budget is, and then follow these big design ideas for your small bathroom. Your sink and how much space you can manoeuver around it, is crucial in the use of your

bathroom. Determine your specific needs for your sink. Are you someone who has a lot of toiletries, accessories, and need a lot of storage? use a small vanity unit that has under counter cabinet doors, and add organization shelves and drawers inside the cabinet. Don’t have a lot of storage needs, but want it to look decorative? Consider using a pedestal sink, or a wall mounted sink with decorative shelving below. If you don’t have space for either, they also make sinks that fit in the corner of two walls. This sink has a 90 degree back and the sink nestles between the walls to give you maximum floor space.

The facade of Yeovil’s reputable and long-established jewellers Ward & Sibley. Here you will find beautiful rings and necklaces, earrings and watches, statement pieces to complete that special outfit and gifts suitable for any occasion. Ward & Sibley also offer a bespoke service, plus jewellery repairs and valuations. There is parking at the rear for customers.

WaRd & Sibley The Jewellers of Yeovil

aS good aS neW! our repair section of the business is pleased to offer:

The Tile Market in Yeovil has a wide range of tiles to suit both traditional and contemporary bathrooms.

the tile Market

Ceramic Tile Specialists

 Complete refurbishment of jewellery –

soldering charms onto bracelets, sizing rings, repairing chains, jewellery cleaning

 Watch and clock repairs including battery replacements

 Jewellery handmade to your own design  Jewellery re-modelled

◆ Wall and Floor Tiles Unit 1 Brympton Way Lynx West Trading Estate

YEOVIL BA20 2HP

www.tilesuppliesinyeovil.co.uk

◆ Marble / Mosaic / Granite / Travertine Limestone / Slate ◆ Full Range of Adhesives / Sealants and Tiling Accessories in stock  SHoWRooMS oVeR tWo FLooRS 

Open Monday - Friday 8.30am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 4pm

tel: 01935 426737

 Seal, hand, and machine engraving  Valuations for insurance and probate  Pearl and bead re-threading FoR a PRoMPt and Reliable SeRviCe tHe CaSket, 103 MiddLe StReet, YeoViL tel: 01935 474065 Car Park at Rear for customers while visiting the shop THE VISITOR July 2014 41

House & Home In most small bathrooms you either have a combination bath with the shower inside, or you only have a shower. If your budget allows, lose the shower curtain and add a glass door

enclosure. Glass will create the illusion of a bigger bathroom, and when you’re using the shower, it will feel larger too. Consider using clear or lighter coloured shower curtains if installing a glass door

is not an option. If you have tall ceilings, install the shower curtain at a higher head height to elongate the feeling of the room. Dark colors will make the room feel smaller and lighter colors will

make the room feel larger. If you have the luxury of having natural light pour into your bathroom, it will feel much bigger. Mimic the feeling of natural light with neutral and sunny tones that feel warm and inviting. Change your light bulbs to ones that emit a warmer glow. Light bulbs play a huge role in how you see yourself in the mirror. You will hate using the bathroom, if you hate how you look in the mirror!

unit 11, Brickfields Business Park, gillingham, Dorset, sP8 4JX

tel: 01747 826714 / 826721 www.townandcountryaerials.co.uk

Choose your Sky Bundle

whether its live coverage of the World Cup or viewing the latest film ... Get Sky installed by your local independent installer

BrAZIL

Sky+Hd WiFi with 7 day Catch Up CATCH Up TV SErVICES rEQUIrE A BrOAdBANd CONNECTION

★ FrEE Box ★ FrEE dish ★ FrEE Installation (free installation is subject to survey) TV Packages from £ 21.50 per month • £ 25 payable at time of booking refundable by voucher – please ask for details

MULTI-SCrEEN dOMESTIC SET-Up Sky in more than one room We are a local independent firm with our own expert installers. We can help with: ✔ No Unsightly Cables ✔ Listed Buildings ✔ Conservation Areas NEW pANASONIC TV 2014 MOdELS NOW AVAILABLE

Expert advice on the best digital package for you 42 THE VISITOR July 2014

Your local Sky expert

Sherborne Kitchens & Construction

Sherborne Kitchens & Construction are local agents for the Luce range of appliances by Hotpoint. If when buying a kitchen from them you would like to see the complete range of kitchen appliances before making your final choice, Sherborne Kitchens will make an appointment for you including a free lunch – to visit the award winning Hotpoint Design Centre in Wigmore Street, London.

RepaiR SeRvice ★ All makes of tV repaired ★ on the premises workshop

★ Loan tV whilst being repaired

★ estimates ★ Bench or field service Full Range oF panaSonic TvS in STock FoR Sale ... do call in

H.R. Hodge

Open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm • Saturday 9am - 1pm

38 St. James Street South Petherton ta13 5BW  01460 240645

ACF WindoWs ANDy FELTHAM upVc repLAcement wIndows, doors, conserVAtorIes, wooden FrAmed wIndows, FAscIA BoArds, cLAddInG, GutterInG, ALumInIum wIndows & doors etc.

The Old Well House Shepherds Hill, Buckhorn Weston GillinGHam, Dorset SP8 5HX Tel / Fax: 01963 371715 Mobile: 07802 393344

House & Home Sherborne Kitchens is owned and run by Malcolm Helyar who has over 30 years experience in the trade. Malcolm says ‘You can relax in the knowledge that when choosing a kitchen from us we will see the project through from start to finish. We are able to undertake renovation work such as knocking through and making a kitchen / diner, electrical work, plumbing, tiling etc. ‘We have an extensive range of

quality kitchens to choose from and our new door library enables customers to see over 100 different colour-ways and finishes.’ Call into their showrooms – find them through the archway, next to the Half Moon Inn, Half Moon Street, Sherborne.

Country or Contemporary?

The Kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home.

Within SJH Carpets The Tythings Commercial Centre Southgate Road, Wincanton Professionally Made To Measure Curtains, Blinds etc.

Fabric Remnants Cushions & ‘Biggie Best’ Gift SALE Friday 4th July & Saturday 5th July Melody 07883 089 333

Calor & BBQ Gas stoCked

Beko • inDesit • saMsung • HuMaX • eleCtroluX • glen DiMPleX • Hoover CanDy

OPEN: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9.00am - 4.00pm (Thursday - Closed) Friday 9.00am - 3.00pm Saturday 9.00am - 12.30pm

THE VISITOR July 2014 43

House & Home When planning your kitchen take time to consider what style of kitchen would suit you and your home best – a traditional country kitchen – or an up-to-theminute contemporary kitchen?

Country Kitchens

Thanks to the fund raising efforts of local residents, and a grant from Dorset Historic Churches Trust, St Mary’s Church in Winterborne Stickland has had a smart new kitchen installed. (See Dispatches).

If the allure of a country kitchen with a relaxed and cosy ambience is for you, natural or painted wood units fit the bill. Wood units come in a wide choice of hues from pale maples, golden pine or deep oak. Light units give the impression of space. Painted units in soft pastel colours such as cream, duck egg and eau de nil are restful. If you are painting the units yourself, which will give them a less uniform finish, Farrow & Ball or

UP TO £750 OFF RANGE COOKERS IN STOCK

Myland offer a wonderful choice of heritage paint colours. A free standing dresser or larder will give a farmhouse feel and can be used to display colourful china and kitchenalia. Appliances are best concealed and nothing says ‘country kitchen’ more than an Aga or Rayburn. These are not only a means of cooking but can be used to heat your home too. Available in a wide choice of colours – you could choose to make the stove your statement piece. Instead of a relentless wall of unit doors, incorporate basket drawers, open shelving and builtin plate racks.

Contemporary Styling

Smooth lines, high gloss, not a handle in sight. Contemporary styling – light, bright and funky. Whether you choose brilliant white or one of the new acid colours. If a breakfast bar or island is the main dining area, it's worth splashing out on bar stools that are comfortable to sit on for the time it takes to eat your evening meal or enjoy a coffee. A central island comes up trumps because it can provide worktop space for preparing food, a dining area, plus bags of room for storage. Make sure you provide room to tuck your knees under! Don't spoil the lines of a minimalist kitchen by adding handles to your units. Instead, choose recessed or profiled handles to retain the simple geometric shape of your bank of units. A granite splashback is a good alternative to tiles, although glass would work just as well here. Remember not to use abrasive cleaners on granite, and be careful with red wine and lemon juice, which can dull the surface.

extra-Wide Drawers

Wide drawers are often a better option than standard 600mm units when storage space is limited - because they pull out, it's easier to get to everything in them. They're perfect for storing lots of pots, pans and crockery. Appliances such as a large American fridge-freezer and a built-in wine cooler are, of course, a must.

Homemaker, Longmead industrial estate, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8PL Tel: 01747 851476 shaftesbury@myhomemaker.co.uk ♥ www.myhomemaker.co.uk ♥ Also at Bath and warminster

44 THE VISITOR July 2014

Say you saw it in The Visitor

House & Home Sandpits Heating Centre & Living Pretty Tea Room Curry Rivel

Spoilt for choice - Homemaker of Shaftesbury have an extensive choice of ranges on display - from traditional through to contemporary styling - in a choice of spectacular colours to match or tone with your decor. The sale is now on in the Homemaker showroom on the Longmead Industrial Estate, Shaftesbury.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and a Rayburn or Aga makes a welcome addition to any home. Not only are they ideal for cooking they can also be used to heat the water and the home. There is a wonderful choice of colours available, from the traditional creams through to cheery reds, plus a range of fuel options. Call in and see the wonderful selection on display at Sandpits Heating Centre in Curry Rivel, just outside Langport. A new arrival in the Sandpits showroom is an electric range cooker by Evershot which is economical to run and easy to install. For further information call in and discuss your requirements. Living Pretty Tea Rooms can be found within Sandpits Heating Centre – here you can enjoy everything from breakfast and light lunches through to high teas and homemade cakes. Celebration cakes made to order. Ring for details.

Stylish hardwearing flooring ... Ideal for kitchens and bathrooms We offer a superb choice of quality luxury vinyl flooring – leading makes include: Karndean • Moduleo • Vüsta ✴ Roll Stock AvAilAble ✴

Ceramic Wall & Floor Tiles Made-to-Measure Blinds by Luxor Free Measuring and Quotation Friendly helpful advice

sJH CarPeTs southgate road, Wincanton  01963 824418 Wincanton

Offer ends 31st July

Also at: High street, Tisbury  01747 871178 THE VISITOR July 2014 45

House & Home COCK & SON BUILDING CONTRACTORS Established Since1957

 Specialists in renovation and restoration of older properties  Extensions and alterations undertaken  Specialists in barn conversions  Purpose built joinery, doors, windows, etc. All Work Guaranteed

Tel: NORTH CADBURy (01963) 440931 Yard Office adj. Orchard Leigh, Long Street Galhampton, Yeovil, Somerset The Visitor can be read online … www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk

Summer’s Here - Time to have your Chimney Swept!

We may be enjoying the sunshine and basking in temperatures of 25 degrees but now is the time to think about having your chimney swept ready for those comforting open fires when the temperature plummets. The National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS) formed in 1982 as a professional Trade Association, promoting high standards for the sweeping, inspection and maintenance of chimneys. With over 500 Members, the NACS is recommended by all major fuel organisations, including the Solid Fuel Association, HETAS (Heating Equipment Testing & Approval

MARSH'S SUMMER SALE Starts Tuesday 1st July

Scheme), and OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association). NACS Members work strictly to the NACS Code of Practice © 1982 and Code of Conduct for the cleaning of chimneys. On completion of work, NACS sweeps issue a Certificate of Chimney Sweeping and recommend when future cleaning is necessary. The National Association of Chimney Sweeps help to heat your home safely because they help in the prevention of chimney fires and reduce the risk of dangerous fume emissions from blocked heating appliances, flueways and chimneys. Clean chimneys are safer and help the environment by assisting the complete combustion of the fuel, which in turn reduces smoke and emissions and eliminates the build up of soot from coal, wood, oil and gas fired appliances. Obstructions such as birds and animal nests, leaves, building debris, and even cobwebs will be cleared. NACS members also provide valuable advice on operating your appliance safely and efficiently and on any remedial work that may be necessary. Blocked chimneys can cause deadly fumes to enter your home i.e. Carbon Monoxide fumes. For your own protection, it is advised that a carbon monoxide detector is installed NACS sweeps stocks a comprehensive range of different brushes and tools to tackle the vast variety of chimneys, flues and appliances they meet. Many members also carry sophisticated equipment such as smoke generator machines, Power Sweeping Equipment, and CCTV cameras for the testing and surveying of chimneys, and for diagnosing chimney faults on new and existing flue installations. NACS strongly recommends that chimneys using the following fuels should be cleaned as follows: ■ Smokeless Fuels: at least once a year ■ Bitumous Coal: at least twice a year

34 Market Place Sturminster Newton Tel: 01258 472564 46 THE VISITOR July 2014

Service Beyond The Sale For

Marsh's

Yo ur

r Local Electrical Retaile www.ebmarsh.com

59 Cheap Street Sherborne Tel: 01935 389665

Has an estimated readership in excess of 60,000 monthly Shouldn’t your business be advertising here?

Tel: 01963 351256

House & Home ■ Wood: quarterly when in use ■ Oil: at least once a year ■ Gas: at least twice a year

■ Biomass: at least once a year To find a NACS chimney sweep near you visit: www.nacs.org.uk and enter your postcode.

Cane Furniture The Largest selection in the West Country! we can offer prompt free delivery within a 50 mile radius www.avaloncanefurniture.co.uk or come in and see us ... you won't be disappointed!

Update your suite with made-to-measure cushions with removeable covers

CANE FuRNITuRE

eSTabliShed oveR 60 YeaRS

Open 7 Days: Monday - Saturday 9am - 5.30pm, Sunday 10.30am - 4.30pm

In store at HaSkinS RetaiL CentRe SHePton MaLLet, Ba4 5aX • 01749 343414

Bathrooms of distinction ● enjoy the freedom of a wet room, stylish with easy access ● Bathrooms traditional and contemporary Awkward corners are not a problem as you can see from this beautifully fitted bedroom by Chameleon Bedrooms, who can be found on the Bancombe Road Trading Estate in Somerton. They fit kitchens too. See their advert on the inside back cover.

● Full planning & design service Complete project management to inc. electrical work etc. supply only service also available

Bedrooms ...storage with style ● superb choice of styles and finish ● Full planning & design service viSiT ouR ShowRoomS

Simply Bathrooms & Bedrooms The Old Bakery, Half Moon Street Sherborne, DT9 3LN (Through Archway by Half Moon Inn)

A sleek, modern bedroom with plenty of storage from Simply Bathrooms & Bedrooms of Sherborne.

Tel: 01935 817111 www.SimplyBathAndBed.co.uk info@SimplyBathAndBed.co.uk

THE VISITOR July 2014 47

House & Home

Tristram Wicks, proprietor of R. A. Wicks Ltd., suppliers and installers of woodburning and multi-fuel stoves, pictured in their showroom at Merriott, TA16 5PR. Visit them today - there is currently 15% discount offered on selected stoves. See their advert inside the front cover.

Bryan G. Paulley Ltd Domestic / Commercial Installations / Replacements

plastic / metal tanks • temporary tanks Leaking tanks • tank cleaning / moving / disposal Above or Below Ground tanks

Tel: 01963 363870 • Mob: 07836 502683 office@halletsfarm.fsnet.co.uk • www.bgp-oiltanks.co.uk

SeWinG MaCHine SeRViCe CentRe Repairs & Servicing To All Makes - Domestic & Industrial Collection and Delivery Available

Embroidery Engineering Services 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

KEMPF CONSERVATION sPeCialists in rePairing DeCayeD stone & Metal Features Over 30 Years Experience Residential and Ecclesiastical

01460 241288 • 07502 400986 Old fashioned craftsmanship at sensible prices Mullion Windows • Flagstones • Fireplaces Lime Plastering • Porches & Doorways • Brickwork Steps & Iron Railings • Metal Window Casements etc. 48 THE VISITOR July 2014

An exquisite collection of furniture drawing inspiration from Victorian times - hand-crafted in solid mahogany. Available from The Bed Specialists of Yeovil.

ARTS exhibition at Digby Hall

From the 19th - 27th July at the Digby Hall in Sherborne there is an Open Exhibition for West Country artists organised by Sherborne Arts Club. The handin day for exhibits is Wednesday 9th July and the event is open to members and non-members alike. Last year over 600 paintings and sculptures were submitted and just over 300 items were finally selected for the exhibition. These were beautifully presented and easily viewed and enjoyed in spacious surroundings. Over 100 paintings were sold, making it the best year for the Club to date. Prizes are awarded on the last Sunday and donations are also given to local charities. For more information regarding the show, visit the website at www.sherborneartclub.com or www.sherborneartclub.co.uk

All Saints church, Merriott

The Valido String Quartet are to make a return visit to All Saints Church, Merriott, TA16 5PS on Sunday 10th August with an exciting programme including Schubert’s Death and the Maiden, Debussy’s String Quartet in G Minor and Janacek’s 2nd String Quartet (Intimate Letters). This year’s summer concert will no doubt attract an audience from a wide surrounding area to listen to these London based musicians. The afternoon will start with summer refreshments at 2.30pm in the grounds of the 15c church prior to the concert at 3.00pm.

Tickets are £7 with under 18’s free. Profits from the concert will be for the Church Fabric Repair fund, in particular the repair of the church Lychgate. Tickets can be reserved by contacting 01460 76360 or purchased from Osborne Store of Merriott or Crewkerne Tourist Centre.

neroche Decorative & Fine Arts Society - Lecture Day

Antiques Roadshow regular Eric Knowles will be leading a fascinating day of lectures on Art Deco for Neroche DFAS on Tuesday 8th July at Monk’s

A local Diary Yard, Horton Cross, Ilminster. There will be three sessions through the day – ‘Art Deco and all that Jazz’; ‘The British Approach’ and ‘Rene Lalique, Master Glassmaker’. Tickets are £35 (Members) and £40 (Non-members) to include tea or coffee on arrival and departure, and a light buffet lunch. For more information and to download an application form go to www.nerochedfas.org or phone Wendy Outram on 01460 259113.

Support needed!

As an artist-led organisation, Somerset Art Works is the only countywide agency dedicated to developing visual arts and crafts, both weaving together communities and supporting the artists who enrich our lives. The Annual Review will give you a good insight into some of SAW’s achievements during this time and the wide range of creative opportunities created by artists and makers particularly working with young people and communities over the past year. They raise funds and sponsorship for all activities both Art Week festivals and project programme. Most activities are FREE to the audience and workshop participants. To carry on this work they have a fund raising target of £15,000 to reach this year. If you are passionate about the arts and believe it helps everyone to lead active and healthy lives they would be grateful if you would consider becoming a Friend of SAW or Sponsor - contributing as little as £25 can make a difference. Your contribution will ensure the future sustainability of the organisation and help them in furthering the activities of SAW to continue to support engagement in the Arts within your area.

SceneS Gillingham of

NEW PAINT RANGE ...

L’ Aquarelle Sennelier

Business Robert Stone & co., chartered Accountants and tax advisers in Ilminster answers questions from small businesses in Somerset Q1. My father resigned as a director of our family business in March, and started to draw his pension, but he retained 15% of the shares in the company. It seems likely that the company will be sold later this year. Will my father get entrepreneurs' relief on any gain he makes on his shares? Robert Stone replies:

Unfortunately not. To qualify for entrepreneurs' relief the shareholder must be an employee or officer (director or company secretary) for the full 12 months that ends with the sale of the shares, or the date the company ceases to trade. If you reappoint your father as a director (he doesn't have to get paid for that role) and then wait for 12 months before the sale, he should qualify for entrepreneurs' relief.

Q2. I have just received my renewal pack for claiming working tax credits, but the income figure for 2013/14 doesn't agree with my P60 form and payslips from my employer - by a wide margin. What's gone wrong and what should I do? Robert Stone replies:

If you believe the tax credits income figure for 2013/14 is wrong ring the number given in the renewal pack and report the correct figure.

Q3. I run a small independent chemist which has three employees. I was told that my business would not qualify for the employment allowance as a good deal of our work involves dispensing nHS prescriptions. Is that true? Robert Stone replies:

The initial guidance from HMRC appeared to indicate that pharmacies would not qualify for the employment allowance, which

The difference between the figures could be due to any of the following; - Where you have more than

Max Foote associates Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors 26 Lower Woodcock Street Castle Cary Ba7 7BH tel: 01963 351052

Honey based formula makes paint less runny with improved colour release. This makes it easier for the artist to create larger, fresher more vibrant areas of colour. Heavier pigments are also kept in suspension for longer giving smoother more even coverage even when using strong washes.

Business and limited company accounts, self assessment tax returns, VAT, Payroll, Book-keeping and Training

High Street, Gillingham Tel: 01747 824050

Personal and professional service

www.scenes-online.co.uk

one source of income (perhaps a redundancy payment from a previous employment) your tax credits renewal notice will show the total from all the sources that you received income from in 2013/14. - Your pay shown on the P60 may have been corrected a late stage after the Tax Credits Office extracted the figures used for the renewal notice. - Your income counted for tax credits includes the value of certain benefits in kind such as the provision of a company car, which isn't included in the amounts reported on the form P60 or on payslips. The value of those benefits will be reported on a form P11D which you should receive by 6 July.

Stationery, Cards and Gift Wrap Office Equipment & Furniture Printer Inks and Toners Competitive Prices FREE Local Delivery

Back-to-School PRoMotIoNS NoW aVaIlaBlE Stockists of Sheaffer, Parker, Lamy, Cross and Waterman Pens Call at our shop ...

21 Cheap Street, Sherborne Tel: 01935 814225 or visit our website ...

www.midwest-office.co.uk THE VISITOR July 2014 49

Business & Professional is worth up to £2000 per year. However, revised guidance from HMRC confirms that independent pharmacies that are conducting a business, including over the counter sales as well as dispensing NHS prescriptions, are entitled to claim the employment allowance. If you have an urgent query contact Robert Stone on 01460 55661.

Somerset chamber goes from strength to strength

Somerset Chamber of Commerce has reported a 25% increase in membership year-on-year, with the number of member companies continuing to rise at an impressive rate. With more than 500 members, the Somerset Chamber is one of only 52 Chambers accredited to the British Chambers of Commerce – and it is one of the

fastest growing accredited Chambers in the country. Graham Knight, Chair of the Somerset Chamber, commented, ‘The Somerset Chamber is growing at an exceptional rate, which is due in no small part to the hard-working, dynamic team we have in the office. The vast range of events, business support and other benefits that the Chamber offers is clearly valued by businesses across the county. We pride ourselves in taking a personal approach and a real interest in our members and their needs, which enables us to provide the events and services they require, and make sure their voices are heard. We are delighted that the Chamber is continuing to grow, giving us greater influence which in turn allows us to represent Somerset businesses more effectively.’ As one of only five accredited Chambers in the South West and

MOBILE PHONE SPECIALISTS  Unlocking

 Unlocked Handsets

 iPad Repairs

 3G Tablets

 Phone & PC Repairs  Accessories ✸ Electronic Cigarettes  Data Recovery Starter Packs £29.99 Pay monthly, pay as you go and Sim only ... also e-liquids

5 The Bayliss Centre, Street • 01458 841741 website: www.streetcellular.com email: sales@streetcellular.com

52 in the whole of the UK, the Somerset Chamber works closely with the British Chambers of Commerce to make sure Somerset businesses stay well connected at both a local and national level, and that the voices of the Somerset business community are heard at all levels of government.

Hat Trick for Helen Lacey Red Berry Recruitment

Recruitment agency founder Helen Lacey has repeated her success by picking up the award as the Institute of Director (IoD) South West region Young Director of the Year for a second time. Helen won the award in 2012 and was Highly Commended last year in this highly contested category. Helen founded Red Berry Recruitment, with offices in Shepton Mallet and Yeovil in 2007 and today has a third office in Bridgwater and a turnover of over £3m. Red Berry specialises in temporary, permanent and contract staff to the commercial and industrial sectors throughout Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire The company has already won a number of awards in recognition of the business’ success, including SW regional winner of the National Chamber Awards for most promising Business and Mendip New Business of the year 2008 and 2009. Red Berry is an active member of the local community with an emphasis on mentoring local young people with talks on CV advice and presentation skills.

Helen said: ‘The exposure for winning the award and coming runner-up last year has been terrific so I was determined to give it another shot this year. I am continuing to grow the business, with my third office opened earlier this year and have a long term plan to be operating from five offices in the next five years with a projected turnover of around £8m. ‘The fun is will be getting there because I am passionate about this business and I love a challenge. I am absolutely thrilled to have won this award again.’ IoD South West chairman Richard Ayre said: ‘Helen impressed the judges with her continued business development and growth. The judges felt that this success is very much down to her personal leadership style that is built on energy, trust and professionalism.’ In a closely run race, Bathbased James Eades, managing director of IT support specialists Systemagic, and Bristol-based Griff Holland and Ed Brown, who founded the Friska food store, were all Highly Commended. The South West’s IoD Director of the Year Awards 2014 seek to highlight outstanding business people. They aim to celebrate achievements across the region, bring all parts of the enterprise community together and focus UK-wide attention on South West success. Other categories include Director of the Year, Family Director of the Year, Director Development Award and Corporate Responsibility. The winners now go forward to compete with other regional winners for the national title, which will be decided later in the year.

Helen Lacey, MD of Red Berry Recruitment receives her IoD award. 50 THE VISITOR July 2014

Gardening GARDenInG MOnTHLY by Richard Cumming Orchard Park Hot Stuff!

JULY IS OFTEN one of the hottest months of the year and the perfect time to enjoy the outside living space and garden. It is really important to keep plants well watered, but use ‘ grey’ water such as bath or washing up water wherever possible, and keep an eye on weeds. You can also now see what plants are working well in the garden – from a colour mix and landscaping perspective. Summer in the garden should be a time of enjoyment spent without guilt. There is always a lot to do in any plot; I have yet to see a

garden that was complete. These are dynamic spaces; things growing, changing and eventually dying. There is so much going on and always something to ponder on. Plants are gloriously complicated organisms whose evolution is designed to ensure their successful survival. They tolerate such a range of climatic extremes and adapt for each one. Their ability to produce the next generation is awe inspiring with techniques persuading insects and other organisms to help in the process of fertilisation and seed dispersal. It is really clever stuff.

If you are still looking for inspiration then take a trip to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (8-13 July) and visit the special area Your Garden, Your Budget which has been created in collaboration with the Association of Professional Landscapers. They have built a number of showcase gardens that give practical solutions to design problems faced by home

gardeners and across a range of budgets. I am enjoying a few days off, catching up with work in the garden. Fantastic; an absolute joy for any gardener where the day job interferes with the plot, and to be honest, the cold wet weather in late May and early June had really put things behind schedule. Crops that went in early during good weather in

Hydraulic Hoses & Fittings For ...

Plant Machinery • civil Engineering agriculture • Forestry ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Replacement hoses manufactured on the premises Extensive Range in stock Parkers Hose agents hose Doctor 24-hour on site hose replacement Mobile Service – Nationwide Network EMERGENcY call-out Wiltshire: 07970 621454 • Somerset: 07725 671203

J.H. Rose & sons Ltd

Station Yard • GIllINGhaM • SP8 4PZ tel: 01747 822514 “ Remember ... Roses for Hoses”

Richard Veryard Machinery New and Used Agricultural & Horticultural Machinery – Somerset

WE ARE PlEASEd to announce we are now AGENTS for the range of Diesel Tractors, Compact Tractors & Ride-On Mowers HoRTiCulTuRAl ★ AGRiCulTuRAl We can supply machinery to suit your needs: new, used, sales, repairs & parts Expert Advice – Professional Service

EstablishEd OvEr 40 YEars

Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7PH • Tel: 01963 351089 • www.richardveryardmachinery.co.uk THE VISITOR July 2014 51

Gardening

Spoilt for choice! Exterior paints from Little Greene, Farrow & Ball and Mylands Paints of London. Ideal for perking up your pergola, stylizing your summer house and decorating your doors. For an extensive range in hundreds of colours visit City Decorating Supplies of Wells - all finishes available in various sizes .

March, have done well, but the main sowings have really struggled. Cold wet weather slows up seed germination, and the ones that have made it out of the shell, can suddenly stop growing. It happens and the best you can do is re-sow and try again. Then there are the hungry mouths! Wet weather encourages slugs to move freely around the garden,

they must eat their own weight in young shoots every night. Not easy to control, and it needs a consistent and concerted effort to protect vulnerable plants. There are two principal methods of dealing with the slug problem; kill them, or prevent them from reaching the plant they are set on devouring. As a gardener I need to know

cReam teas Weekend 2pm – 4pm, saturday 5th and sunday 6th July FuND RaISING for a replacement glass house to enable disabled people to learn horticultural skills common mead Lane gillingham, dorset, sp8 4Re Turn into Broad Robin off B3081, continue past the Mellowes Residential Home: Thorngrove is next on right

 01747 822242 email: thorngrove.staff@scope.org.uk thorngrove garden centre was set up by scope. Scope exists to make this country a place where disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else. Until then, we’ll be here. open: 9am – 5pm eVeRy day including sunday

52 THE VISITOR July 2014

my plants and know what makes them tick especially if I want to get the best out of them so it is important that I understand their needs at various stages of their life. Feeding for green growth [leaves] is different from feeding for flowers [use a high nitrogen feed for leaves and a high potash feed for flowers and fruits]. High phosphate feeds will benefit root and shoot growth. Compound (mixed) and straight fertiliser packs will have the information you need clearly marked to show whether they are high in N, P or K (nitrogen, phosphate or potash respectively). Water is next on the list. Plants need moisture and air for that matter, to grow properly. Crops such as apples, tomatoes or potatoes don’t like to go from one extreme to another as the fruit or the tubers will expand too quickly and be ruined, if rain comes after a long dry spell. It is best that they have a more even supply of moisture to get even growth and a better crop. You can help keep the water in the soil by adding a surface layer of bark chips or coarse rotted compost. Eventually the worms and other soil organisms will mix the mulch into the soil and improve it further. Summer pruning and thinning can be helpful if you want to grow larger flowers or fruits. In a good blossom year when almost every flower sets a fruit, the plant can’t

possibly support all of them and a bit of strategic thinning taking out the weaker fruits will give the others the chance to really develop. Pruning out surplus shoots helps preserve the shape of a plant, or in the case of a fruit tree or bush, helps produce the right shape and framework for next year’s flowers, and most importantly lets light in which will help ripen the crop.

Plant of the Month

A plant that is valued by landscapers and novice gardeners alike for its colour and structure is the much loved Salvia. It’s also a favourite of BBC Gardener’s World presenter Pippa Greenwood ‘I'm a great fan of the hardier salvias. Even before the buds open they are attractive plants with erect stems, often with aromatic foliage and forming

GRa d to sca S S & B R n u ro g h rif u ug tING ro 160 plan ying, orcha S h c u t t I tation NG RotaVa . Tel: 07659 550 rds, p s, s a Tel: 0 seed bed 7659 playing fie ddocks, 55016 lds et 0 c. lift h hig d MI NI D IG GI NG an 0160 dumper. Tel: 07659 55 NING MoSS c l E a g etc. h t PRoB a P n ti spiking, l P a t I o chanical poin coring, EMS scarify me Tel: 076 ing 0 d 6 n 1 a 0 59 5501 659 55 60 Tel: 07

tHe doRset & someRset Fencing & gate company All types of fencing supplied and erected No Vat • FREE Survey & Quotation Pressure treated Material 10 Year Guarantee Fencing the counties for 30 years

tel: 01935 330095

Gardening a sort of clump of exclamation marks. Then when the flowers appear, usually in shades of violet, purple, pink or white, they can bring any sunny border to life instantly. Provide these plants with a well-drained but humus-rich soil and plenty of sun and they are easy to grow ... seriously rewarding and ... simply gorgeous!’ Salvias are long flowering, with the potential to put on a great show from June through much of the summer and into autumn. If you remove the flower spikes as soon as they have faded (or give the entire plant a serious haircut as soon as the last of the flowers fade) then they will keep flowering and you can often enjoy a second flush of flowers in October. They are much loved, not only by gardeners but also by bees and butterflies. Nominated and agreed upon by British growers and retailers, the HTA’s Plant of the Month campaign

highlights the plants that are widely available and looking especially good each month.

Jobs for the Month

Mostly weeding and watering! Grow-your-own is really rewarding! There are always going to be a few problems with bad germination or slug damage, but salads are cropping and early peas picking now. Beans have been really slow to get going for some reason, but courgettes are really good. The key now is to keep things going . R e g u l a r cropping is essential otherwise plants believe they have done all they need to do. At the same time, keep them fed especially the tomatoes. The other good move is to sow fresh crops – a little but often works well. A short row of salad leaves every couple of weeks will give a continuous supply of tasty fresh green goodness. There’s still time to sow spring onions, radishes, Swiss chard,

spinach, late carrots, spring cabbages and cauliflowers to overwinter. In the fruit garden, bush fruit need picking, and tree fruits may need thinning or at least some summer pruning to make sure the crop gets a good chance to develop to a good size. Young trees will benefit from watering. Weeds grow all year round but never more so than when you are

away on holiday! Hoeing is the safest and most environmentally friendly way of controlling them but has to be done frequently and in dry conditions. Good gardeners usually have a hoe close to hand to fill in the odd spare moments. Clematis, especially newly planted ones, can collapse overnight. The cause is often a fungal infection that blocks the vessels in the plant stem causing

STARTER PACk

Including – Safety Helmet, Oil, Mixer Bottle plus* Nylon Line / WD40 / Chainsaw File ... with all handheld

Garden Machinery from

and

for all your Tool Hire Requirements including Mini Digger Hire and Garden Machinery Higher Farm, Sutton, Ditcheat Tel: 01749 860199 • Mob: 0777 163 2221

■ Chainsaws ■ Strimmers ■ Hedge Cutters etc. *According to which item purchased at:

Alan Dodge BSc

SEE LL OUR FU RANGE

Ben Johnson, 17d Wincombe Business Park ShafteSBury, SP7 9QJ tel: 01747 851021 www.benjohnsonmowers.com saLes – seRVice – RepaiRs

Wheathill garden centre — Due to Retirement — “We would like to take this opportunity to thank customers for their support over the years” OPEN: Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm

Tea Rooms now closed

Wheathill Lane, milborne port, dt9 5ey tel / Fax: 01963 251500 THE VISITOR July 2014 53

Gardening it to collapse, to wilt. The fungus itself is commonly found in the soil, but finds its way into the plant through rain-splash when the stem is damaged either by careless planting or perhaps by slug attack. There is not a lot you can do except cut the plant back, give it a liquid feed and perhaps treat with a systemic fungicide. Usually the Clematis makes fresh growth and eventually overcomes the problem. Greenhouses and conservatories get very hot and most plants should be outside. If not then the glass should be shaded with white shading paint or green netting. Many houseplants enjoy a summer holiday outside and especially like a shower of rain which can really freshen them up. Make sure they also get a feed to support new growth.

TREE SuRGERy SPEcIAlISTS Crown Thinning and Reduction Dead and Dangerous Trees Removed New Trees Supplied and Planted Tree Stumps Removed Approved Contractor to Somerset County Council and Local Councils Phone B. P. MOnTGOMeRY for a FREE Estimate Tel: 01963 240532 Mobile: 07970 397248 Email: brutontreecare@hotmail.com

Tubs and baskets need regular care to be at their best. Deadheading, watering and feeding are all vital. Repeat flowering herbaceous perennials also benefit from dead-heading, or cutting back and given a feed and mulch treatment.

Butterfly-friendly planter for Walled Gardens of cannington

The Walled Gardens of Cannington recently received a donation from Woodblocx in the form of a butterfly-shaped planter for the Tea Rooms’ courtyard designed to attract butterflies. The display has been planted up with the help of Butterfly Conservation, a charity trying to halt the decline of butterflies and moths by running programmes for more than 100 threatened

Richard Scriven lawn & Garden Maintenance Hedge Cutting Chainsaw Work Lawn Mowing General Tidy Ups etc. CompEtitivE RAtEs

tel: 01458 272964 Mob: 07854 106599 Email: richscriven27@gmail.com

Podimore recycling ltd r. W. Prince ltd

Suppliers of Quality recycled Aggregates Top Soil – Crushed Concrete – Road Planings All Types of Limestone Aggregates Sand and Gravel – Decorative Aggregates Asphalt Plant / Asphalt Products – Hot Box Hire Grab Lorries – Tipper Hire – Muckaway

new Asphalt Plant installed

20mm Base • 10mm Top Coats • 6mm Top Coats Lime Stone or Hard

Small loads collected or delivered 7am – 4pm Daily • Monday – Friday ✴ Road Sweeper Hire ✴ Please call to enquire if we can help you with anything

Podimore recycling ltd. Podimore, yeovil, Somerset, BA22 8Jg tel: 01935 849250 • Fax: 01935 849099 mobile: 07973 844145 54 THE VISITOR July 2014

species and managing over 30 nature reserves. The planter was constructed by volunteers at the Walled Gardens of Cannington and Horticulture student Reuben Hardman designed the planting scheme comprising Ice Plant, Lavender, Creeping Thyme, Viper's-bugloss and Verbena, all of which attract butterflies. Jayne Alcock, Grounds and Gardens Supervisor said, ‘Butterflies are an important link in the food chain and play an important pollination role when they visit nectar rich plants. Gardeners can contribute towards their survival by providing habitat and food for caterpillars, perhaps allowing a few nettles and thistles to grow or letting a patch of lawn grow long and adding a few native wildflowers. A few butterfly species have caterpillars that are garden pests, but most do not cause any damage in gardens.’ If you would like more information about studying at Bridgwater College please contact the Information and Guidance team on 01278 441234 or visit www.bridgwater.ac.uk.

national Garden Scheme Garden of the Month - July church Farm House, Binegar

They have been developing the garden at Church Farm House since 2006. At over 700 feet up in

Garden Machinery Wanted

the Mendip Hills it is not the easiest environment in which to create a new garden and it continues to be a challenge. There are three areas to the garden: the Holiday Cottage Garden with unusual perennials, spring and summer bulbs, shrubs and roses. The split level South Garden, with its progressive colour sweep from whites and yellows (and blue), through peach to oranges, reds and plum and finishing with pinks. The Old Farmyard Garden experimental planting in the gravel which has proved to be successful, softening the wide expanse of grey gravel leading up to the house and blending in with the rest of the garden. Wheelchair access, with a Gravel forecourt and 2 shallow steps. Plants For Sale, Accommodation. Garden open: Sundays and Wednesdays 20th & 23rd July and 10th & 13th August from 11am to 4.30pm. Visitors also welcome by appointment until the end of August. Admission: £3.50, child free. Susan & Tony Griffin, Turners Court Lane, Binegar, Radstock, BA3 4UA. Tel: 01749 841628, Email: smgriffin@beanacre barn.co.uk www.beanacrebarn.co.uk Directions: From Wells B3139 NE for 4.5m, turn rt signposted Binegar, yellow NGS sign at x roads. From A37 in Gurney Slade sign Binegar, x roads turn rt into Turners Court Lane. To see more gardens open for the NGS, visit www.ngs.org.uk

Established 1975

Mowers • Ride-On Tractors Strimmers • Hedge Trimmers Chainsaws, etc. any condition

tel: 07974 303792

Suppliers of quality lawn turf Full ground preparation and laying service available Telephone Somerton 01458 272091 Mobile 07850 310998

All types of Fencing • Gates • Trellis • Fence Panels • Tool Sheds • Summer Houses • Garages • Workhouses • Greenhouses • Field Shelters All Buildings are hand-made at Bourton using Scandinavian Redwood Shiplap Timber. Bourton, Gillingham on the old A303 Nr. Zeals For Free Survey/Estimate/Brochure

Telephone 01747 840752

the end bit... PAPeRcHASe

NEW TO ME is The South Wilts Magazine, a bi-monthly freebie that I came across on a recent visit to Salisbury. I mention it here because its title is something of a misnomer, for its circulation area in Visitorland includes not only Mere, which most certainly is in Wiltshire, but also Gillingham and Shaftesbury, both in Dorset. Not that the Dorset readers have anything to complain about – it’s a wellproduced little magazine of A5 size, printed in full colour throughout and running to just 32 pages but full of interesting articles. It comes from a company called Wired Publishing, based in Trowbridge, and I get the impression it has been around for some while. The May/June issue contains an events listing focussed mainly on Salisbury and Shaftesbury, an interview with a pub chef, a feature on Salisbury International Arts Festival and the inevitable gardening and motoring columns. Clearly some of the copy is ‘advertorial’ but it’s generally well written, concise and carefully proof-read, so I will

certainly look out for future issues. At the other end of Visitorland the June issue of the monthly Mendip Times marked the start of its tenth year. This freebie has grown to 108 pages in full colour and continues to contain plenty of good local news stories and photos, so congratulations are due to Mark Adler and Steve Eggington who have nurtured their infant magazine through the years into the fine publication it is today. It’s clearly popular because copies don’t lie around for long at the pick-up points in Shepton Mallet, Evercreech and Bruton. And like The South Wilts Magazine it’s generally well written, concise and carefully proof-read. So, too, is the Blackmore Vale Magazine, although a howler that crept into the 13th June issue was made all the worse (or amusing, you might think) by its context. A photo caption on page 125 stated that Bramley House ‘has been finished with fine specification and ateention to detail’. Whoops! An odd assertion in the 29th May issue of the Western Gazette caught my eye (and those of several readers who asked me if I’d seen it). It appeared in a report about the forthcoming 20th anniversary of the Yeovil Railway Centre and announced that ‘on Saturday there will be a visit by UK Railtours using class 159 diesel units which will run between Yeovil and Gartell Light Railway in Yenston’. That would certainly be worth seeing as

sudoku

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.

there is no line linking the two railway attractions. Yeovil Railway Centre is at Yeovil Junction on the main line from Waterloo. Yenston is on the trackbed of the old Somerset and Dorset line from Bath to Bournemouth which passed under the main line at Templecombe, and the S&D closed as long ago as 1966. So it could be wishful thinking on the part of the reporter – or simply a failure the check the facts before writing the report. The same issue also created a mystery. The Gazette’s property supplement features a photo of the ‘Property of the Week’ on its front page and points readers to an inside page for all the details. As instructed I duly turned to page 5 to discover more about the pictured modern urban detached dwelling – only to find ‘an elegant Grade II listed farmhouse with 37 acres’ as the featured ‘Property of the Week’. So what became of the front-page house? I scanned all of the estate agents’ adverts in the 29th May issue but could find no trace of it. Tackling the codeword puzzle in the 17th May issue of the Western Daily Press, I soon thought it seemed familiar. And indeed it was. It was the same puzzle that I had done in the 10th May issue. None of the other puzzles on the page was the same as in the earlier issue, so I can only assume that someone pressed the wrong key on the computer when the page for the 17th May issue was compiled. But I’ll never know because there was no subsequent apology or explanation – and in any case the paper buys-in its puzzles pages ready made – although an error

Solution to June

sudoku

in the 12th June issue did produce a prompt response on the 13th June: ‘The Western Daily Press would like to apologise for the errors that appeared in the Numbercross puzzles yesterday. The problem was caused by a production error which rendered the puzzles unsolvable.’ I’m shortly off for a brief holiday and will have ten days’ worth of newspapers waiting to be scanned rapidly when I return in case I’ve missed something that warrants a mention in this column. In case I don’t get round to it, here’s another of my occasional reminders that your contributions are always welcome. Simply send the details or a press cutting from any of our local or regional newspapers or magazines, quoting the publication name, issue date and page number, to me at The Visitor, PO Box 1, Castle Cary BA7 7BG. I look forward to hearing from you. Chronicler.

anSWerS to pop MuSiC quiz on page 22

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Ralph McTell Andy ‘Kinks’ John Lennon Paolo Nutini ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ Beatles 2001 ‘Jethro Tull’ ‘Idle’ ‘Blue’ Bonus Question Pinball Extra Bonus Question Elton John

Question impossible Mike Oldfield owned the helicopter on the cover of ‘Arrival’ THE VISITOR July 2014 55

PHoNE - a - FIRM

Classified Ads 30p per word (£5 minimum) pre-payment essential. Payment can be made by Cash, Cheque, Postal Order, BACS, Credit / Debit Card.

Fires/Chimneys



Send Details to: The Visitor, P.O. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset BA7 7BG

SANDPITS

HeAting & Home Store multifuel Stoves ... over 200 on display Chimneys Relined ★ Full Installation Service HETAS • OFTEC • GAS SAFE

✴ chimney Sweeping Service ✴

✽ If you require a receipt a s.a.e. must be enclosed with payment, or your email address.

Showrooms Open: Monday to Friday 8am – 5.30pm and Saturday 8am – 4.30pm email: enquiries@sandpitsheatingcentre.co.uk www.sandpitsheatingcentre.co.uk

High Street, curry rivel, langport  01458 251476

NAME ........................................................................................................................................................................ ADDRESS ................................................................................................................................................................. ..................................................................................................................................................................................

07921 074602 • 01749 677440 • Solidfuel3@aol.com

Domestic Appliances

.................................................................................................................................................................................. Tel: ............................................................................. Cheque Enclosed for £ .................... Minimum £5

Passport Photographs

Wanted

PaSSPORTS - passports - passports - also studio sittings and weddings. any time to suit you. Easy parking. Tel: Graham Cox, Photographer, 01458 223769.

REDuNDaNT MOTOR MOWERS, rotavators, chainsaws, strimmers, cement mixers, etc. Tel: 01460 77844.

Mobile Bars / Catering

OLD STONE GINGER BEER BOTTLES. W. H. Smith, Fore Street, Chard, Jones’ Brewery of Bruton, T. Hignell & Co., Stratton-on-the-Fosse. Tel: 01458 834951.

HaRRY’S MOBILE BaRS, all occasions, weddings, parties, etc. Tel: 01747 825553 harry@bars4u.plus.com www.harrysmobilebars.co.uk

Services HOuSEHOLD & GaRDEN RuBBISH CLEaRED, old sheds / oubuildings demolished, etc. Tel: 01460 77844.

Storage STORaGE for furniture in locked cubicles. Lock-up garages to let. Tel: Sparkford Storage on 01963 440045 or 440526 or 440692.

Personal LaDY, LIKES TRaVEL, dancing, music, seeks homely gent, 70s – 80s, for company. Non smoker. Tel: 07837 985513.

For Sale BaTHING CHaIR for elderly or invalid. Rechargeable, battery operated. used 3 times. Sonaris Bathmaster. Handbook included. £290 new. Now £75. Tel: 07969 124008. YaMaHa FLuTE, hard case, soft carry case, beginner books. VGC. Ideal for students. £200 ono. Tel: 01935 891879 evenings.

56 THE VISITOR July 2014

DaVE BuYS aLL TYPES OF TOOLS, salvage, bygones and collectables. Daves Tools - Tel: 01935 428975

Dog Holidays HOLIDaY FOR YOuR DOG. Let your dog stay with us when you are away. 24-hour attention and long walks. Fully licensed and insured. Vet approved. References available. Tel: 01963 240650.

Holidays HOLIDaY COTTaGE, Mevagissey, Cornwall. Overlooking harbour and the sea. Two bedrooms. Just refurbished. Good availability. Enquiries: polkirtforge@btinternet.com - Tel: 07971 782738. CaRaVaN TO LET, Chisel Vista, Weymouth. Sleeps six. Mains gas and electric. Prices start from £200 a week. For more information please ring 07544 310025.

T.V. Rental T.V. RENTaL - long or short term, domestic & commercial, up to 50inch plasma. H. R. Hodge. Tel: 01460 240645.

the Visitor

can now be read online: www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk

PReMIeR eLecTRIcS Est. 34 yrs

COVERING THE SOUTH LOCALLy Kitchen Appliance Sales & Repairs Ø Repairs to all leading brands of Kitchen appliances Ø 12 months guarantee on all repairs Ø Diagnostic work charged unless work undertaken Ø 24 hour service Ø OAP discounts

TeLePHOne: 01935 609300 / 01747 470212 / 01460 220660 / 01458 298212 For your nearest technician

taylors Domestic

appliances Ltd. Sales & Repairs for Dishwashers, Washing Machines, Cookers, Tumble Driers etc. Ridge View, penmore Road sandford orcas DT9 4se Professional repairs by qualified engineer on most makes of appliances.

01963 220366

Maintenance and Repairs u can’t i can Paul chEDZoY Property & Garden Maintenance

Decorating, Gardening, Building and General D.i.Y.

 01935 472669 ... or

07884 345511

email: ucantican07@aol.com

Trading for over 7 years CUSTOMeR RefeReNCeS AvAiLAbLe

email: info@tda.uk.com Covering the areas between Wincanton Castle Cary, Sparkford, Sherborne and Yeovil

Clock Repairs CloCk RepaiRs Antique and Modern Clock Repairs. free pick up and delivery 40 years experience

Tel (01935) 477582

• • • • • • • • •

seRVices

exterior and interior decorating Gutters cleared and cleaned High level painting and cleaning Conservatories washed down Removal of disused sky dishes and cabling Repointing of stone and brickwork Patios cleaned Many other jobs undertaken No v.A.T. competitive rates for seniors

Contact James cade on 01963 34272 or 07967 307179

PHoNE - a - FIRM • PHoNE - a - FIRM Electrical Contractors

Transport & Storage The key to all your storage needs! Fully Insured Storage at Highly Competitive Rates call us today for a quote!

01963 440045 www.sparkfordstorage.com

• Open 7 Days a Week • 20 Years established family business • Modern burglar-Alarmed Warehouses • Professional & Reliable Service • Removals To and from Storage • Self Store with easy Access • Cubicle and Crate Storage • friendly, Helpful Staff High Street, Sparkford, nr. Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7QJ Tel: 01963 440045 / 440526 / 440692

Plumbing & Heating

Roofing

PARKS

ROOFING LTD.

SLATiNG & TiLiNG SpeCiALiSTS

Specialists in period and listed properties

Leadwork Chimneys Fascias Gutters Flat Roofs

26 Stembridge, nr. Kingsbury, Martock TA12 6BN Telephone: 01460 240229 • Mobile: 07917 411961

Framing tel: 01747 861479 Mob: 07561 120828 34 White Road, MeRe, Nr. Warminster Wiltshire, bA12 6eX

For all your roofing requirements

Email: mead208@btinternet.com

Flat Roofing • tiling • slating gRp Roofing All New Work Fully Guaranteed

TV Aerials Oven Cleaning

email: allancarey541@hotmail.com

Mister Oven

Bourton Roofing co. Slate  Tiling  Flat Roofing. UPVC Fascias  Guttering FREE EStimAtES

 01747 840064

... or 07866 296453 Email: info@bourtonroofing.co.uk

Services GooD poTaToes

Takeaway Bags of Coal • Calor Gas Car & Van Rental Competitive Prices

anchor Hill service station WINCaNTON 01963 32609

THIS 3 cms x 2 column SPAcE coSTS £34.56 per month inclusive of VAT ... which is equivalent to just £7.97 per week! Shouldn’t you be advertising HERE?

Tel: 01963 351256

« Picture framing « Restoration « Large selection of prints & paintings « Greeting Card Blanks High St. Gillingham Tel 01747 824050 www.scenes-online.co.uk

For further information & estimates contact allan Carey

01963 33528 / 07885 723915

SceneS

Artist Materials & Gallery

Independent Oven Cleaning Specialist Ovens - Hobs - Agas etc

Tel: 01935 475065 Mob: 07752 695264 www.misteroven.co.uk

daVe paRmiteR aeRiaLs TV aERIaL SERVICE SaTELLITE / VIDEO SYSTEMS CCTV SYSTEMS - PERSONaL SERVICE

Tel: YeoVil (01935) 422088 or mobile 07850 405433 NO CaLL-OuT CHaRGE

august deadline Monday 14th July

Communications WeSTLIne cOMMunIcATIOnS Business Telecom Specialist For all your telecom needs For free, friendly and professional advice call ... John penny on 07976 967349 www.westlinecoms.co.uk THE VISITOR July 2014 57

Security

Prize Crossword No. 333 Set by Frank Butler

SENd CoMPlETEd ENTRiES To: The Visitor Crossword, P.o. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset BA7 7BG to arrive by Monday 14th July. Correct entries are placed in a hat and the winner is the first name drawn. The prize is a £10 voucher to spend with any one advertiser in this issue of the Visitor. Please do not forget to state your choice of advertiser and your name and address. 1

Builders

HAllWoRTH lTd BuildERS “A company of traditional values” Telephone: 01935 829037 or 07771 907340

A family business with over 30 years of building excellence, Members of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, covering all areas of Somerset & Dorset ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Complete design & build package extensions & alterations barn conversions Renovations

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Refurbishments GRP roofing Commercial works Small works /maintenance also undertaken

Please call for a fREE quoTATion or to discuss your requirements

Dave Hoddinott FuLLY QuaLIFIED BuILDER - ESTaBLISHED 1973

• Renovations & extensions FRIENDly & • Roofing + Carpentry RElIABlE • plumbing & Heating SERVIcE • Ceramic Wall & Floor Tiling • painting & Decorating • electrical Contracting

Across 8.

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 15.

Competitive Prices ✳ No VAT ✳ No job too big or too small

17.

 01963 440256 / 07974 844682

20.

24 hour emergency call out • email: hoddaz@hotmail.com

23. 25.

Denture Repairs

DenTuRe RePAIRS While You Wait collection & Delivery Denture Advice Mr. C. Dunn

Registered Dental Technician

01749 812585 www.dunndental.co.uk 58 THE VISITOR July 2014

Are you a denture wearer? De to m nture smi ake y s o le a gain u !

Denture repairs while you wait ...

26. 27. 28.

Home visits a speciality august deadline Monday 14th July

He'll omit something and end in purgatory! [4] Epitaph brings a tear. [3] Gives up about nothing in deck-game. [6] With zero frost, arranged approximately. [4,2] Tent-dweller in ship runs fast. [8] Lee! Sell tool-hall in confusion. What a disaster! [3,4,3,5] Stuff yourself over stirred tea. [7] Might be 1st or 13th; certainly not cardinal. [7] Lie gains twin aid, organised with women of the court. [6-27] 1mm at river is not fully developed. [8] Get after returning rat: It’s what you try to hit. [6] More active having ordered bruise. [6] Metal I found in empty tarn. [3] Some wax left for the spindle. [4]

6. 7. 14. 16. 18. 19. 21. 22. 24.

Make light of returning oops! [6] Rats upset by celebrity. [4] Use any part to swim in. [3] Way to write 6a. [3] Bury girl has a break. [8] Damages veins by saints coming back and puts in money. [7] One before talc, containing another: This puts a new slant on it! [6] Require French article to make a point. [6] Maltreat alum. [4]

Solution to Crossword 332

down 1. 2. 3.

TeRRY neW DenTAL

01458 210039

4. 5.

Soil mix of blue. [6] He makes what is needed to hit 25 across. [8] Real graft? Quasar sorted a place for Nelson’s Column. [9,6] Mail in beer for one of the twelve. [7] Chopped pear between two pints and fourteen pounds. When? [1,7,4,3]

THE WiNNER of ouR JuNE CRoSSWoRd was ... Ms. A. McBride of Street, who chose to spend the £10 voucher at Truffles Brasserie, Bruton.

Chameleon

Over 20 displays on view in our showrooms ... Bedrooms Kitchens Home Office ■ free design service ensuring best use of space ■ extensive choice ■ excellent quality – sensible pricing ■ Traditional and modern styling ■ A family-run business “transform your home” with ...

bedrooms • kitchens • home office

5 & 6 Bancombe court, Bancombe road trading estate, somerton, ta11 6sB

Tel: 01458 272699

steve@chameleonbk.co.uk • www.chameleonbk.co.uk Ample Free pArking

★ QUaliTY★ cHOicE ★ ★ valUE ★

The only limit is your imagination Exterior Paints

Garden machinery stockist of ...

Flat – eggshell – Gloss Long lasting for wood or metal

All Masonry Paints have a deep, rich, velvet finish that lasts for up to 15 years All finishes – All colours

Colours mixed while you wait 4 Sizes – Plus Tester Pots

3 Year Warranty on all Cub Cadet Mowers Ride-On Mowers from ... £1,500

Your LocaL Independent stockIsts

Farrow & Ball Mylands of London Paints Little Greene ● Extensive range in stock ● Expert advice on hand ● Delivery throughout UK & Europe next day – give us a call

Pedestrian Mowers from ... £200 Garden Tools

OPEN: Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm Saturday 9am – 4pm

CITY DECORATING SUPPLIES ProP. Mike tuCker

No.1 The Old Chapel, Union Street WELLS, Somerset, BA5 2PU 01749 677299 Email orders: citydecoratingsupplies@gmail.com

Next to Car Park

seRVICING oN most mAkes & moDels

Unit 2, Beardly Batch Depot, Cannards Grave SHEPTON MALLET, BA4 4NB Tel: 01749 343881 • www.moggsofwells.co.uk SalES – SERvicE – REpaiR

GILLINGHAM SHAFTESBURY AGRICULTURAL SHOW

at the Motcombe Turnpike Showground Wednesday 20th August 8.30am – 6.30pm ★ Food Trade Stands ★ The White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team ★ Shetland Pony Racing ★ Heavy Horses ★ Gun Dog Display ★ Birds of Prey ★ Team Terrier Racing ★ Ferret Racing ★ Falconry Display ★ The Cornish Wurzels and Neon Moon ★ Cookery Theatre ★ Over 500 Trade Stands

£12 £10 £3 £ 29

£14 £11 £4 £ 35