Stunning new bedroom ranges Choose from a wide range of colours and designs ... including ‘painted’ and gloss wood finishes
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Visit our Showrooms and discuss your personal requirements Contact Ashley Helyar at: Simply Bathrooms & Bedrooms The Old Bakery Half Moon Street SHERBORNE, DT9 3LN (Through the Archway by Half Moon Inn)
Tel: 01935 817111
www.SimplyBathAndBed.co.uk info@SimplyBathAndBed.co.uk
In Passing ...
L
ONELINESS is a more common problem than unemployment, poor housing or homelessness in rural communities, according to a recent survey undertaken by the Church of England. And this social isolation particularly affects young people, old people and women, regardless of their income or social class. Perhaps this is not surprising. In so many villages the school, post office, shop and pub have all closed and farming no longer employs a large number of local workers. Residents have to travel elsewhere for education, employment, shopping, health services and much else, and it is not unusual to drive through a village during the day and see not one single soul in the streets. Nowadays many villages are little more than dormitories, to be returned to at teatime for an evening of home entertainment on the TV, computer and other modern electronic gadgetry. Or returned to only on occasional weekends by the ‘second home’ owners. According to a recent study from Northumbria University, a thriving pub gives a village greater community spirit and supports local social events. But in many Visitorland communities the pub has closed and the village hall is now the only place still providing opportunities for residents to meet each other and socialise. During the winter months I’ve attended events of one sort or another in several local halls, and three of them stick in my mind because they are so very different. North Barrow’s is spacious, modern and purposebuilt with a large car park, essential since it is sited at the top of the hill on the western edge of the village. In contrast, Oborne’s hall is much older, smaller and homelier, complete with shelves full of books to be borrowed. It’s located close to the centre of the village and separated from the lane by the smallest of pocket-handkerchief lawns. No car park here! Older still is Brewham’s sturdy stone hall, built as the village school in 1861 and acquired by the parish council for a village hall after the school closed in the mid-1960s. Designed to
accommodate 138 children, the former school room is large but its high ceiling makes heating expensive. The one thing that all three halls have in common is that, like almost all community halls in the UK, they are each run by a committee of local volunteers. These are the people who give their time freely to maintain the fabric of the building, keep its fixtures and furnishings in good repair and make sure everything’s clean; the people who ensure the hall complies with the myriad environmental health, fire, health and safety and other regulations; the people who raise the funds, handle the bookings and keep the accounts so that everything is paid for; the people who organise local events that nurture the community spirit. Their efforts can help to combat social isolation and they deserve all the support and encouragement we can give them. NN.
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April Issue published Thursday 26th March Deadline Friday 13th March
PO Box 1, Castle Cary Somerset BA7 7BG
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Advertisement Manager & Features Editor Michelle Trulock © The Visitor Ltd. 2015
(Items marked ©GT are the copyright of Geoff Thompson)
CONTENTS
Our FRONT COVER is almost entirely due to the end of an era.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CLASSIFIED - 48 ANTIQUES & COLLECTING - 9 BUSINESS - 24
CROSSWORD - 50 GARDENING - 43
HOUSE & HOME Spring Home Improvements - 27 LEISURE & TRAVEL - 26
LETTERS - 5
LOOKING GOOD & FEELING FINE - 20 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.
MENTIONED in DISPATCHES - 6 MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS - 18 MOTORING - 22
MUSIC for the MONTH - 26 NOTICE BOARD - 40
PAPERCHASE - 47
PHONE-A-FIRM - 48 PUBS - 12
SHEPTON MALLET - 41
SITUATIONS VACANT - 6 THEY SAY - 16
WINE & DINE - 10 Drawings by GEOFF THOMPSON
THE VISITOR March 2015 3
Quality Meats
Andrew Barclay — from —
Traditional Family Butcher
ALL OUR MEAT IS NATURALLY REARED AND SOURCED FROM THE WEST COUNTRY
✿
✿
BEEF from Clanville Manor and Round Hill Farm LAMB from Shepton Montague FREE RANGE PORK from Somerset FREE RANGE CHICKEN & DUCK from Creedy Carver
✿ SPRING SAVERS ✿
Free Range Bone-in PORK CHOPS BUY THREE ... GET ONE FREE
Sunday 15th March
BUY THREE ... GET ONE FREE
Buy with Confidence OUR OWN FRESHLY MADE BURGERS & SAUSAGES
Large selection of Local Cheeses inc. Award Winning
MONTGOMERY MATURE CHEDDAR and KEEN’S MATURE CHEDDAR ANNAMMA’S CUISINE
WADMAN'S WORLD FAMOUS CREAM from their Jersey Herd
✿
Chicken Breasts
Cook her something special on MOTHER’S DAY
Homemade Authentic Southern Indian Curry Sauces made locally by a delightful Indian Lady
✿
Minced Beef £6.99
FREE RANGE EGGS
Orders taken for our meat at North Cadbury Village Stores
★ Daily deliveries to the surrounding area ★
45 High Street, WINCANTON, Somerset BA9 9JU Tel: 01963 34880 * Fax: 01963 440525 4 THE VISITOR March 2015
Letters To the Editor Wiggle for Charity
Sir, I am writing to encourage readers with children under five to celebrate Eric Carle’s bestselling children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ by hosting their own Giant Wiggle. Leading charity Action for Children is setting little ones in the South West a very wiggly challenge – to raise sponsorship by forming giant caterpillar conga lines at their children’s centre or nursery on Thursday 19th March. The Giant Wiggle is a fantastic opportunity for youngsters to get involved with a charity that helps other children, having fun with their friends at the same time. My little Rocco and I will be getting our wiggles on – so come and join in the fun! All funds raised will go towards Action for Children’s work to support vulnerable children, young people and their families in the South West, and across the UK. For more information about The Giant Wiggle, including how
to get involved, visit www.action forchildren.org.uk/giantwiggle Laura Hamilton Action for Children supporter and TV presenter from A Place in the Sun and Fort Boyard
Duke of Edinburgh Awards
Sir, As a local councillor I am often privileged to be invited to a wide range of functions and other events, but few of them can match the pleasure experienced by attending the Duke of Edinburgh Award ceremony each year. Often described as the best advertisement for teenagers, it is no wonder that the tremendous success of the scheme means that next year it will be celebrating its sixtieth year. Through the development opportunities provided by the scheme, young people are able to acquire skills and knowledge that will last them a lifetime. In addition to this they are able to form the firm friendships borne out of shared experiences and challenges that will see them through the ups and downs of life as they transform from childhood to adulthood, and all that it will bring. Held at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil, the speaker at this year’s ceremony was Dave
Cornthwaite, an amazing adventurer and advocate of the ‘SayYesMore’ approach to life. He took his audience with him on his journey from couch potato to world record breaker and reminded us all that anything worth doing well took practice; a lot of it. I am inclined to agree with his theory that comfort kills ambition and that we should never be afraid of failure. In my own life it has been the impact of external forces that has spurred me on to achieve things I would never have thought possible, with a good deal of failure along the way. This has included becoming chef to the British Ambassador to the United Nations in New York without any formal training, and a Senior Hotel and Restaurant Inspector for the AA guides with no real experience of either. For some reason I have always had the desire to push myself, without the need for any outside influence, and am fearless and eternally optimistic in pursuing my own personal development. Although I was not fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to participate in the DofE scheme as a teenager, I do now have the benefit of being able to share in the achievements of the young people who are our
hope for the future. This year, there were 273 youngsters, from 18 different schools, colleges and other organisations, who all achieved either a bronze, silver or gold award as a result of undertaking a series of challenges including voluntary work and learning a new level of proficiency in a multitude of ways. As they all trooped onto they stage to receive their awards we witnessed those who had gained confidence in speaking in front of a large audience, and those who were clearly not at all comfortable being in the limelight. What the event demonstrated clearly is that each one of them could not have achieved what they did without the help, support and encouragement of those around them, teachers, parents, friends; a whole range of people who believed in them. More importantly though, through the DofE they had learnt some of the most important lessons in life; that you can achieve anything, and overcome anything, if you want to do so badly enough. Linda Piggott-Vijeh 3 Rectory Court Vicarage Hill Combe. St. Nicholas TA20 3NE 07971 785069
THE VISITOR March 2015 5
Mentioned in
Dispatches
Vulcan to appear at Air Day
XH558, the world’s only flying Avro Vulcan ‘V-bomber’, is RNAS Yeovilton Air Day’s first confirmed flying display participant. Now 55 years old, this thunderous Cold War icon will be among the largest, heaviest and noisiest types involved in this year’s show on Saturday 11 July. XH558 is a globally unique survivor and has brought Air Day to a standstill on
SITS VAC
each of its previous appearances at RNAS Yeovilton. As before, the sensational Vulcan will perform a spectacular, roaring air display and will also be present on the ground. This will allow visitors to enjoy a close-up guided ‘underwing’ tour – an attraction offered by few other airshows. With 2015 marking XH558’s last planned display season, this really could be one of the last chance opportunities to see this famed and hugely popular type in South West England. The Vulcan’s RAF career peaked during the 1982 Falkland’s Conflict when the type’s famous Black Buck missions became the longest bombing raids in history. Many squadrons from RNAS Yeovilton also played a hugely significant role as part of the Royal Navy task force sent to regain the Falkland
Islands. RNAS Yeovilton Air Day 2015’s main theme marks 75 years since the Air Station was commissioned as HMS Heron on 18 June 1940. A large gathering of aircraft types with past RNAS Yeovilton connections is planned to mark this anniversary. Advance tickets priced at £20 (adults) and £6 (children 5-15 yrs) are now available to order from www.royalnavy.mod.uk/yeoviltonairday
Good News for Ilminster
The Rotary Club of Ilminster are thrilled to have been invited to actively participate in this year's IMEx (Ilminster Midsummer Experience) events, being held from 11-14th June. President-Elect Linda PiggottVijeh said, 'I was delighted to be invited to meet with organiser Michael Fry-Foley to look at ways in which Rotary could actively
participate and contribute towards the continuing success of IMEx, which is now in its 8th year. Because the focus for our Rotary club this year has been on more community engagement this seemed the ideal opportunity for us to get much more involved. Rotarian Brenda Lake, Chair of our Community Service Committee, and her team, have really embraced the idea of a Community lunch. On the Sunday we are planning to hold one big festive Somerset themed lunch in the big marquee, complete with cider kindly donated by Perry's cider. Local scouts and guides have offered their support too, which will help to ensure that as many people get involved as possible. The weekend also coincides nicely with a visit by our twin town in France, Riec-sur-Belon, who have been invited to come and join us.'
Dog tired of high prices?
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Tel: 01935 411859 .
Tel: 01963 33370 | Higher Holton, nr Wincanton BA9 8EA info@elliscombehouse.co.uk | www.elliscombehouse.co.uk
6 THE VISITOR March 2015
THE VISITOR March 2015 7
Mentioned in
Dispatches
It’s Showtime in Wincanton!
A Charity Event is being held in Wincanton Memorial Hall to raise much needed funds for The Children’s Hospital Charity (TCHC). The event takes place on Saturday 28th March and the ticket price of £25 includes a Hog Roast and a selection of live variety performances including: Bands/Singers; Drag Act; Pole Routine and Burlesque. A pay bar will be available. The money raised will be paid directly to TCHC. The charity raises vital funds for one of only four stand alone children’s hospitals in the UK – the Sheffield Children’s Hospital and is not as recognised as the others – Great Ormond Street, Alder Hey and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
The charity is busy adding specialist equipment, funding vital research, creating single occupancy units for a better experience for patients and family members and making a difference to thousands of lives across the UK – and the world. For tickets email: scorney@ btinternet.com or telephone 07763 708125.
Westland 100th anniversary exhibition set to go on display – with your help
2015 is the centenary of the Westland Aircraft Works in Yeovil and the anniversary will be commemorated by a display at Yeovil’s Town House along with the production of a souvenir booklet. SSDC’s Community Heritage Access Centre staff are asking whether anyone has any photographs or objects concerning Westland and/or the First World War that they can place in the exhibition. Items can be loaned for the exhibition or donated to CHAC to become part of the historical collection held there.
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• Private Chapel of Rest
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Mere and District Railway Modellers invited Parish Councillors and others to see the progress made on their newly refurbished building. An old band hut has been transformed into a super venue for them and the building now looks like a small railway station. The plan is to install a metal lathe to encourage engineering for the young. The layouts installed are made by the young at 13 years old to those a little older. The building was asset transferred from Wiltshire Council to Mere Parish Council who have leased it to The Mere and District Railway Modellers. The partnership has proved successful, providing one more community facility for Mere.
The Westland Aircraft Works were built due to the First World War and the need for naval aircraft. The first aircraft to be built at the Works was a Short 184 seaplane and left on 1st January 1916 by horse and cart. The fourth ever aircraft built at Westland, took part in the Battle of Jutland. It was piloted by Frederick Rutland from Weymouth ‘Rutland of Jutland’ and successfully reported by radio the movements of the German Fleet. Please ring 01935 462886 or email: heritage.services@south somerset.gov.uk if you can help.
Rainbow and Brownie spaces in Mere
1st Mere Rainbows is part of Girlguiding UK and have spaces for girls aged 5 and 6. They meet on a Thursday evening in Mere
between 5.10 and 6.10pm to do lots of exciting things - cooking, craft, games, stories, dancing, singing and generally have fun! If your daughter would like to go along for a taster session, please ring Kathryn on 01747 860886 or Nikki on 01747 860452. Unfortunately, Rainbows will have to close if they don’t get more girls joining. Mere Brownies also have a few places available for girls aged 710 years. They meet immediately after the Rainbows 6.15 - 7.30pm. Contact Sue Luffman 01747 861054 or Sue Jeans at Jeans Electrical 01747 860215 for further information. The 1st Mere Brownies raised £105 from their Recycling Project last year and would like to thank everyone for their continued support All sorts of unwanted items can be donated: Stamps, Postcards, Jewellery (including broken), Coins, Mobile phones etc. Collection points at Waltons Newsagent; The Post Office; Jeans Electrical Shop and Jeans Chapel Showroom, as well as The Library.
Funding from ITF for Pit Wood
Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday 9am – 12.30pm, or by appointment
Morley House, Market Place, SOMERTON, Somerset, TA11 7LX • www.awruleandson.co.uk
8 THE VISITOR March 2015
One-thousand trees are being planted at Pit Wood, part of Ham Hill Country Park thanks to a grant from the International Tree Foundation. Hazel, oak, rowan, hawthorn, field maple and wayfaring trees were planted on 11th February by Rangers from Ham Hill Country Park, volunteers and representatives from the ITF. The trees will ensure that the woods are enhanced for years to come.
Antiques, Vintage & Collecting
Magpies Come to Bruton!
If you enjoy browsing interesting collectables, antiques, vintage and retro items then the Vintage, Antiques & Interiors Fair with Pop Up Auction being held at The Memorial Hall, King's School, Bruton on Sunday 22nd March (10am – 4pm) is for you. Lots of fabulous collectables, furniture, art, silver, textiles and decorative pieces for your home and garden, plus retro fashion, jewellery and gifts will be available at great prices! Throughout the day, you can experience the fun of a Pop Up Auction, bid for items from the stalls and grab a bargain! St Margaret's Hospice will benefit from a small buyers fee on each item. Light refreshments available and entrance fee is only £1 (over 16's). Free Parking. See you there!
Lawrences - Crewkerne
Lawrences recent auction of books, maps and manuscripts drew considerable interest from book lovers worldwide – and a propitious anniversary ensured particular success for one section of the sale. Highlights included a bid of £3,530 for R. L. Stevenson’s ‘Treasure Island’, illustrated by Edmund Dulac and signed by him; £1,460 for a rare but distinctive book called ‘Mein Vogel Paradies’ by Carl Ernst Heinkfuss, issued as an edition of just 1500 in 1929; £2,440 for John Pouncy’s 1857 ‘Dorsetshire Photographically Illustrated’ with 79 lithographed illustrations; £4,140 for a fine album of photographs by Samuel Bourne and Charles Shepherd commemorating Edward, Prince of Wales’s visit to India in 187576; and £5,240 for a substantial part library of botanical books
photographs, press cuttings and numerous miscellaneous pamphlets relating to Churchill, sure to satisfy the curiosity of anyone with a fascination for the great man. The sale exceeded £140,000 with little left unsold.
‘Lost’ Drawing in a Folio makes £33,000
The recent Book Sale at Lawrences in Crewkerne featured some strong prices. The Grolier Society 1904 edition of ‘Secret Court Memoirs’, pictured, exquisitely bound in 20 volumes made £4,510.
from the collection of R. D. Meikle OBE. Further strong prices were paid for Edgar Allan Poe’s rare ‘Tales’ of 1846 bought for £2,190; and £970 for a coloured and engraved map of Wiltshire by Christopher Saxton. The sale day coincided precisely with the 50th anniversary of the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill and a group of lots from the collection of the late David Mayou was well received. Bidders showed appropriate determination to secure them: a 1936 letter to Sunday Despatch
VINTAGE, ANTIQUES & INTERIORS FAIR ... with POP UP AUCTION!
Vintage, Antique, Retro, Shabby Chic, Up-Cycling, Furniture, Textiles Silver, Art, Décor Items, Ceramics, Collectables Oddities, Gifts, Clothing, Jewellery
The Memorial Hall, King’s School, Bruton, BA10 0ED Sunday 22nd March 10am – 4pm Ample Parking • Light Refreshments Available Entrance £1 (over 16's) • Supporting St. Margaret’s Hospice Magpie Events • info@sarahcraig.eu • 07833 340111
editor Collin Brooks (£970); £870 for an album of World War 2 photographs mixed with more personal family images; £540 for a signed (albeit faded) portrait photograph of Churchill in his office in May 1940; and £2,070 for a large archive of books, magazines, newspapers,
A rare and unusual drawing, almost exactly 500 years old, has yielded a pleasant surprise for the beneficiaries of a Wiltshire estate. The black chalk drawing of an elderly balding man with a long beard was found by Lawrences specialist Richard Kay in a folio of 19th Century drawings and watercolours in the firm’s saleroom in Crewkerne. It had once belonged to Captain William Henry Shippard (18031865) and had passed into a descendant’s collection where it lay for many years in a folder of mixed sketches and prints. ‘There was an intriguing old attribution to the master draughtsman and painter Albrecht Durer on the mount,’ says Richard. ‘The
A COMMODE À LA MODE
Mahogany commode, probably by Thomas Chippendale Formerly at Aske Hall, Yorkshire BOUGHT FOR £56,000 We have sold 50,000+ lots in 12 months
See our sales and read our news at www.lawrences.co.uk NEXT AUCTIONS: April 14th – 17th
01460 73041
enquiries@lawrences.co.uk South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18 8AB
THE VISITOR March 2015 9
Antiques
The ‘Lost’ drawing sold at Sotherbys in New York for £33.000. Photograph reproduced by kind permission of Sothebys.
drawing, which was about the size of a sheet of A4 paper, was clearly worth closer investigation so we contacted experts at Sothebys in London.’ The London firm’s Old Master Drawings department recognised the work as coming from the hand of a distinct but (as yet)
Beaminster Antiques, Vintage & Collectables Fair Now including ... Vintage Clothes, Fabric and Accessories, 50s / 60s Era
Saturday 7th March
Public Hall BEAMINSTER, Dorset 9.30am – 4.00pm
✱ NEXT FAIR ✱ Saturday 11th April
Bookings & Enquiries Meadow Fairs 01297 24446
unidentified pupil of Hans Baldung, a major artist in Durer’s workshop. Judged to have been drawn in Freiburg in Germany in 1512-1516, the drawing was described by Sothebys as ‘a discovery of some significance’. It was admired for the old man’s clear and focused gaze and the careful, characterful skills evident in drawing his luxuriant beard and his individualised features. ‘In order to achieve its full potential, the drawing evidently required the careful assessment of scholars and collectors who specialise in the rarefied field of German drawings of the early 16th Century,’ says Richard. ‘We saw the importance of including it in a sale of complementary works on paper conducted by Sothebys in New York in late January and we were delighted to see it sell for the dollar equivalent of £33,000.’
PASTIMES of Sherborne
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10 THE VISITOR March 2015
Wine & Dine
Wine for Mum!
I ALWAYS FIND IT encouraging when readers choose to comment on my recommendations, as happened early in the new year. I received a letter in response to my recent article ‘Alcohol in the House’ that said ‘my partner decided to splash out on some Pol Roger for New Year’s Eve. I have to say, I was a bit disappointed with it, I found it a little bland but at least it wasn’t too gassy like some Champagnes can be. Being a bit of a Philistine when it comes to fine wines and champers, I much preferred the pre-Christmas supermarket ‘special offer’, 6 bottles for £90.’ My first though was, ‘not quite a Philistine if spending £15 on a bottle’; for most people, unless for a special occasion, the average price point hovers around £5-£8. However, the sentiments expressed have reiterated a potential issue that I do not often address in my wine columns, but which I do feel warrants some attention, particularly in the run up to Mother’s Day when we will naturally want to please our mums. So, with that in mind here are some points to consider when selecting the perfect tipple for mum.
* Don’t just buy what YOU like to drink as it is very likely that coming from a different generation she will have different tastes to you
* Does your mum actually like wine? Consider her drinking preferences – would she prefer cider, beer, sherry or even a tot or two of mother’s ruin (gin).
* What wine does mum usually order when you are out and about? Sweet or dry; red, white or rosé; sparkling or still; full bodied or light bodied; subtle old world wines or those up front inyour-face new comers from the likes of Australia, the USA or Chile.
* Does mum stick to the same old wine or might she be willing to try something new? An adventurous spirit will allow you the opportunity to seek out a surprising new find that will be sure to please. * Does mum have fond memories of a wine once tasted, away on holiday maybe, but not tried since?
* Try to avoid the temptation to buy a wine just because the bottle looks pretty, or you find the label attractive, unless you are fairly sure that she will like the content, or may like to keep the empty bottle as a souvenir. Gimmicky wines are not usually great for drinking. * Don’t buy a wine just because the wine has a ‘vintage’ year on the label. Not all vintages are good ones, and much also depends on how good the wine maker is.
* Will she be more impressed by quantity rather than quality?
* Consider how much you can afford to spend. A decent enough bottle can be had for under £10, whilst at the upper end the sky’s the limit if you’ve cash to spare.
* Would mum be made to feel special by receiving a prestige wine or would she like to think you’ve hunted out a more unusual option, just for her?
* If unsure about what you decided to purchase check whether or not it can be exchanged, unopened of course, for something she does like. * Never give her a bottle you’ve won in a raffle over Christmas, or at the school fund raiser, as the chances are that it will be undrinkable.
* Is mum likely too open the wine now or will she want to put it away to save for another time – by when it might be undrinkable.
I admit that my own default position is always champagne but I do recognise that it does not suit everyone (meaning all the more for me!) Besides which, not all champagnes are equal; there are some pretty dreadful ones on the market, usually at discounted prices. I also have many friends, who quite honestly much prefer the cheap and cheerful, bottles of bubbly that get their bubbles from the addition of carbon dioxide and can cost as little as £3 a throw. Not to be recommended, unless you want a headache and one hell of a hangover. My advice for this Mother’s Day is to go for the best that you can afford, taking into account her taste preferences, but do
remember that most of the cost of wine production, such as bottling, marketing, labelling, shipping etc. are fixed no matter what the wine is, so every penny spent over and above the minimum should be down to the quality of what’s in the bottle ... If all else fails and you are still unsure what to get her, then sound advice can be had from any good independent wine merchant. LP-V.
Wine & Dine
appear on his ‘Taste of the West’ dinner menu and to sample some of the French wines on offer. His restaurant, Truffles, is unusual in that it has the ambiance of a French brassserie but serves dinners that are not only very English but also very regional - and cooked by an Englishman, Simon Jones, who trained in the classic French style
of famous chef Auguste Escoffier. And it shows to good effect in the soups, sauces, compotes and vegetables he prepares to accompany the main dishes. Yet wherever possible Simon sources the ingredients from West Country farmers, producers and suppliers. So, for example, the Dexter beef comes from Redlynch just a mile or so up the road, the
Truffles Brasserie
Bed-and-Breakfasting can be a delightful and relatively inexpensive way of exploring this fascinating island of ours but, in an unfamiliar town, finding somewhere good for an evening meal is often a hit-and-miss affair. In Bruton, fast becoming a popular visitor destination, restaurateur Richard Sorapure has been working with local b&b providers to help them make informed recommendations to their guests. In early February he invited them to a buffet lunch to taste some of the dishes that
Amuse Bouches
Truffles’ owners Richard and Barbara Sorapure (centre) with son Simon who manages the restaurant and daughter Natasha who looks after the customers.
95 High Street, Bruton, BA10 0AR
Try a delicious appetiser ...
Glass of Kir Royale 5.00 Champagne with cassis Olives marinées 2.45 Mixed marinated Provençal olives Saucisson sec 2.95 Thin sliced Burgundian sausage Baguette 1.95 With Beurre d’Isigny butter
Entrées
cheeses are made in Somerset, the coffeee beans are roasted at Bean Shot at the other end of Bruton, the wines are imported by Yapp Brothers in Mere, the fish comes up from the Devon coast. At the last count Truffles uses no fewer than 11 West suppliers and won a ‘Taste of the West’ silver award last year. Simon’s aim is to provide a fusion of French and English cookery at prices that most of the local community can afford. The brasserie menu containing a range of dishes to suit most tastes and pockets is available all day and in the evenings in addition to the dinner menu, and the ‘specials’ board changes daily. ‘I strive to serve good food and give good value to locals and visitors alike’, he says. This was the second year that Richard has organised an event for Bruton’s b&b proprietors. He is keen that their guests enjoy a ‘Taste of the West’ during their visit to Bruton and will be tempted back to the town in the future. Roger Richards.
Soupe d’oignon French onion soup with a croûte and melted gruyère cheese Fromage de chèvre Honey baked goat’s cheese with frisée salad Pâté au foie de volaille Chicken liver pâté with toasted brioche and chutney Ramequin aux champignons Baked ramekin with mushrooms, garlic and gruyère cheese Pâté au maquereau Smoked Cornish mackerel pâté with crème fraîche, lemon and chives
MENU MAMAN Mothering Sunday Set Menu Sunday 15 th March 12 noon to 3pm (last orders)
£18.85
3 Courses
Plats Principaux
All main courses are served with today’s selection of potatoes, seasonal vegetables, salad or pommes frites
Poulet chasseur Baked chicken breast in tomato, bacon, and wild mushroom sauce Suprême de caneton à la pomme Roast breast of duckling with apple sauce Bœuf Bourguignon Slow cooked prime beef chunks in red wine with baby mushrooms, onions and herbs Filet de saumon Roast salmon fillet with hollandaise sauce Omelette au champignons sauvages Open savoury omelette with wild mushrooms, cheese and herbs.
Desserts et Fromages
Crème brûlée Classic caramelised vanilla custard Tarte au citron Lemon tart with Normandy crème fraîche and raspberries Mousse au chocolat Classic chocolate mousse wit langues de chats Glaces et sorbets Selection of ice creams and sorbets Sélection de fromage sur une ardoise Selection of French cheese
Café / Thé
Cafetière 1.95 Café au lait 2.50 Café crème 2.95 Cappuccino 2.35 Café Americain 1.95 Café Latte 2.95 Espresso 1.95 Double Espresso 2.50 Chocolat chaud 2.95
Selection of Kandula teas & infusions 1.95
We have dedicated allergen free dishes on our menus (for example gluten free) and we can provide a detailed list of all allergens used in our kitchen on request. If you do have an allergy please notify one of our staff. Nuts, nut oils and derivatives are used. The ingredients in our dishes may vary occasionally, subject to availability. There is a 12.5% service charge for all tables of six or more.
Bookings call: 01749 812180 or email: trufflesbruton@gmail.com • www.trufflesbrasserie.com
THE VISITOR March 2015 11
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Pub Pages
B EER & S KI TTL ES P. A. BAXTER
WHILST THERE IS a lot of activity unsympathetic to your local pub at the moment, the good news is that skittles continues to
thrive and again I have received information via the post that the British Skittles Championship will be going ahead at Torbay with huge monetary prizes, and teams from all over the country. I'm pleased to say that once again it will be sponsored by Butcombe Brewery, giving it that ‘real ale’ feel which to me and many others, is an essential part of an evenings skittling! There are men's, ladies and mixed events and teams do not have to be part of leagues, indeed, many are scratch teams made up from keen players so here's a chance for anyone to get a team together and join in. Take a look at www.unmissable events.co.uk for details. The organizers - The Shoot Out Club - are quick to point out that this is the biggest championship for the game in the country. I wonder if that should read 'the World'?
Home-Made Food Served 7 Days a Week Food Now Served All Day Saturday & Sunday
News reached us this week that one large Pubco are raising their prices, at a time when transport costs have dropped, wages are static, and the costs of the ingredients are stationary. Citing 'increased production costs' they intend to put up the prices by 2.9%, which will be about 15p on a pint by the time it reaches the pumps. Some predict a pint of
lager could go from the already pricey £3.80 to a staggering £4.20. Needless-to-say many angry voices have been raised across the trade, as publicans see the law of diminishing returns kicking in, and the result is less money in their pockets. Furthermore, with pubs still disappearing at a rate of 30 a week it is becoming even more
Strapped for cash - Vinny tries to impress with a romantic evening at home on Valentine’s, with new girlfriend Pammy-Jo
Real Ales - Garden Skittle Alley
TRADITIONAL COUNTRY PUB Serving Sensibly Priced Food & Drink
Dinnington, Nr. Hinton St. George • Tel 01460 52397
ROSE & CROWN ~ The ~
Longburton • Nr. Sherborne • DT9 5PD
LIVE MUSIC
Coming up at The Rose & Crown in Longburton The Replicas - 13th March Jo Burt - 20th March Tom and the Clementynes - 11th April The New Beats - 24th April Headland - 9th May If you are a member of a band and would like to play at The Rose & Crown please contact katy.innhouse@gmail.com
DINING OFFER
Cut out this advert and bring it with you when you dine with us to receive
15% OFF YOUR BILL Valid until 31st March 2015
For more information please visit
www.roseandcrownlongburton.co.uk or call 01963 210202 12 THE VISITOR March 2015
Lamb & Lark Russell & Diane welcome you to the
Limington nr. Ilchester • BA22 8EG Tel: 01935 840368 March Events
Book now for 15th March
Mothering Sunday Carvery Thursday 19th March: Mexican Night
Help yourself ... choice of various Mexican Dishes £10.95 Sunday 29th March: Quiz in aid of Air Ambulance
Every Tuesday and Wednesday Evening ...Winter Warmer Suppers Homemade Pies, Liver and Bacon, Cottage Pie, etc. from £5.95 Friday Night Fish ‘n’ Chips from £5.95
Sunday Carvery Choice of Meats Carvery £8.95 • Under 3 yrs £3.25 • 3 – 10 yrs £5.95
South West Private Hire Mini Bus Want to dine with us but don’t want to drive? WE CAN COLLECT & RETURN YOU! Reasonable Rates • Parties 2 – 8 people • Also Private Hire Local or Long Distance • Airport Runs, Stations etc. Business Accounts Welcome
Hog Roast Available For Functions ... also Outside Bars
Visit our website for full details: www.lambandlark.co.uk
FUNCTION ROOM • WEDDINGS & PRIVATE PARTIES WELCOME FAMILIES WELCOME • ENCLOSED BEER GARDEN
The
Pub Pages
difficult for those in the trade. In the last 9 years beer consumption has dropped by 24% according to informed sources and further to this statistic the sales of off-licence beers and lagers are now ahead of sales in pubs. Paradoxically, there are more breweries than there have been for about the last 100 years, but they have to have an outlet, so how do they do it if we are losing pubs at this rate and beer sales are falling. There are several trains of thought on this subject, but in my opinion these multitudinous breweries are mainly very small with their products mainly going to local pubs. So why has beer consumption fallen at the same time then? Taking this to its logical conclusion I can only assume that the bigger brewers
and their associated pubcos are the ones that are suffering continuing decline in sales. Again, this is not a bad thing in my opinion as the smaller local brewers can get things off the ground, helped by the sliding scale of duty of tax, where the larger you are, the more duty you pay. Reading this very day of yet another small brewer who is using what I believe to be this relatively new system of 'crowdfunding', where one takes a gamble with a brewery and invests with it in the hope of success. I certainly wish all small businesses success, as from firsthand experience it can be a daunting thing to do. Furthermore, a business needs a product that will excite the people and have the wherewithal to get it 'out there'. Recently I bought four beers from a small brewery which quite frankly the Baxter Testing Team found undrinkable, although the beer was certainly not 'off'. Discretion being the better part of valour I will not reveal the source, (it was not from anywhere in the Visitor area I hasten to add) but I will see if they continue to trade, as, being a member of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) information is usually available on these matters. Indeed, the
Good Beer Guide always lists the ceased brewers each year as well as the new ones. It is all very laudable to support these small brewers of course. Most supermarkets irrespective of size now have at least a half-reasonable selection of beers from across the spectrum, and I was quite surprised to find that even a supermarket-cumhousehold goods establishment we recently visited had an interesting variety of beers. Yes, we had to buy a few, and yes they were mainly from small independent breweries by and large, and yes they were all at a
The
very good price. Some in fact, were under a pound, even for what one would probably describe as a 'craft ale' - although the bottle was sometimes a smaller one at 330ml. Here again lies another paradox, for here I am, guilty as anyone else who buys a 12-pack of Europhartz lager from a supermarket to drink at home, putting another nail in the coffin of the local pub. Perhaps we can even suggest that the very fact there are many new breweries selling their products to whichever outlet that will take them is helping in making that horrendous number of pub
Lord Nelson
Rectory Lane Norton Sub Hamdon
Mark, Helen and staff welcome you to ‘The Nelson’
GOOD FOOD - GOOD BEER - GREAT ATMOSPHERE Saturday 28th February: Phoenix Sunday 1st March: Quiz Night
Saturday 14th March: Hamdon Ha-Ha
Sunday 15th March: Mothering Sunday Lunch Early booking advised Singer Niamh Fletcher 3.30pm Sunday 29th March: Acoustic Duo “Us” 3.30pm Monday to Friday – Two Course Lunch £8
Tuesday & Wednesday – Steak Night – Two Steaks ... and a Bottle of Wine £30
COURTYARD BEER GARDEN AT REAR AMPLE PARKING OPEN ALL DAY FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Tel: 01935 881473 www.thelordnelson.biz
THE VISITOR March 2015 13
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Pub Pages
closures each week? I certainly do not go to the pub as often as I used to, and apart from skittles, if we do it is to find somewhere with decent food as well as a couple of good ales. So, what is the future for the licensed trade? If I knew I would be a multi-millionaire in a couple weeks, but that ain't going to happen. Whatever does occur and when it does, you can bet that someone somewhere will declare
that they knew that it would! To those of you who wish to take up the challenge of the British Skittles Championship I wish you all the very best in the preliminary rounds, and whilst I realise that it may well have a bit of a West Country bias, remember that a team from Coventry did extremely well one year - and they have only a few alleys, and all at one venue! Cheers!
Give your mum a treat this MOTHERING SUNDAY 15th March
LUNCHTIME: Two Sittings 12noon – 1.30pm and 2.30pm – 4pm EVENING: 6.30pm – 9pm Traditional Roast and Full Range of Specials early booking advised
We offer a wide choice of LOCALLY SOURCED HOME COOKED FOOD
Choose from our Main Menu or our ever changing Specials Board ... not forgetting our Homemade Pies!
Email: natterjack@btconnect.com Website: www.thenatterjackinn.co.uk
Real Ales – Fine Wines – Good Food all served in a convivial atmospere
The Natterjack Inn, Nr. Evercreech Junction Evercreech, Somerset, BA4 6NA
Unicorn Inn Freehouse
AROUND THE
H O U S E S
IN QUEEN CAMEL ... at The Mildmay Arms on the 26th February there is a Somerset Night with traditional folk music and dance - celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th too ... welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff at The Stag’s Head, Yarlington, where they have a Mexican Buffet Night on 26th March ... Ooh la la! a french themed evening coming up at The Queens Arms, Corton Denham and where congratulations are the order of the day for their recent two Silver Awards ... enjoy the ‘craic’ at The Crown Inn, Sherborne ... and diners should take advantage of the 15% discount being offered at The Rose & Crown, Long Burton - see this month’s advert. Bounding on to Bruton where new wines have been added to the wine list at Truffles Brasserie ... squid - a popular starter at The Chapel ... an exceptionally busy Valentines at The Montague Inn, Shepton Montague ... in Castle Cary The Horsepond Inn is having a new coat of paint ... and enjoy a
Unicorn Inn ~ The ~
Bayford
Wincanton • BA9 9NL 01963 34941
Don’t Forget MOTHER’S DAY SUNDAY 15th MARCH 2 Course Roast Lunch £12.95
Choice of 3 Meats served with Seasonal Vegetables, Rich Gravy and Yorkshire Pudding
GOOD FRIDAY SPECIAL Large Cod, Chips & Peas with Tartare Sauce + Dessert £10
EASTER SUNDAY 5th APRIL 2 Course Roast Lunch
Choice of 3 Meats and Seasonal Vegetables + Tea and Coffee £15 bookings advised
Don’t Forget ... Every Wednesday from 6pm BUY a PINT of REAL ALE & GET A FURTHER HALF PINT FREE !!! EXCELLENT REAL CIDERS & REAL ALES Heart of Wessex Cider Pub of The Year 2014
14 THE VISITOR March 2015
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delicious fish meal on Good Friday at The Unicorn, Bayford where there is now a smart new sign. Galloping on to Glastonbury where The Bocabar uses locally sourced ingredients in their tasty menu ... delicious spit-roast chicken at The Bear, Street cooked before your very eyes ... The Castlebrook Inn at Compton Dundon is re-opening on the 14th March after an extensive refurbishment welcome to hosts Nicki Martin and Wes Sharpe ... a good choice of real ales can be found at The Cross Keys Inn, Lydford on Fosse where their delicious crispy chips went down a treat ... check out the new function rooms at The Manor House, Ditcheat now open all day for food ... and don't forget you can now book a
The
mini bus at The Lamb & Lark, Limington to collect and deliver you safely back home from the inn for a reasonable rate. Yomping on to Yeovil where delicious cream teas with thick clotted cream are now a tempting addition to the menu at The Quicksilver Mail ... watch out Portugal - the golfing team from The Lord Nelson, Norton Sub Hamdon are on their way ... get well wishes go to Garry at The Muddled Man, West Chinnock who is suffering from the lurgey ... Guinness lovers are in for a treat at The Wyndham Arms, Kingsbury Episcopi - just £3 a pint on St Patrick’s Day ... Surf Renowned for their real ales and innovative cuisine, congratulations now go to the team (pictured right) of The Queens Arms, Corton Denham for their Silver Awards at the prestigious South West Tourism Excellence Awards. The Queens won the Silver Award for Tourism Pub of the Year and Silver Award for Best B & B and Guest Accommodation of the Year. The awards were announced at a glittering black tie ceremony held on the Grand Pier at Weston super Mare on 12th February. Pictured from left: owners Gordon and Jeanette Reid and staff.
Wyndham Arms
KINGSBURY EPISCOPI nr. MARTOCK SOMERSET TA12 6AT
A delightful country inn ... open all day - every day
Delicious Homecooked Food Served Lunchtimes and Evenings
Traditional Sunday Roasts: choice of meats Book now for
Mothering Sunday 15
th
March
3 Courses £18.95 2 Courses £14.95
St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday 17 th March
Guinness ~ £3 Pint
— LIVE MUSIC — Saturday 28th March Alex Archer
Tel: 01935 823239
Please visit us on our website: www.wyndhamarms.com to see full menu details
French Night
Wednesday 25th March, 7.30pm Start Enjoy a 4 Course Provence French Meal with accompanying Match Wines Entertainment with Accordion Player £45 per person TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Film Nights 2015
Enjoy a Movie, Main Meal and a 125ml Glass of Red or White Wine or a Pint of Exmoor or Scrumpy or for drivers a Glass of Coke or Lemonade ... for £12.50 per person
Wednesday 4th March 2015 ‘Mr Turner’
Wednesday 18th March 2015 Robert Downie Jnr in ‘The Judge’ Films start 7.30pm
Corton Denham, Sherborne, Somerset, DT9 4LR Email: relax@thequeensarms.com www.thequeensarms.com 01963 220317
Come and try this award winning inn! Taste of Somerset Best Pub 2013 • Best National Freehouse 2012 2 AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence
THE VISITOR March 2015 15
They Say
That when Jaqui Lillywhite of Castle Cary was requested to bring ‘crackers’ to the festivities they did not quite have the pulling power required by friend Gill White, but they were a novelty, being more Jacob than Tom Smith.
That congratulations go to John Feakins of Sprowston on his recent ‘promotion’ - may your ‘reign’ be happy and productive.
That the new U.S. owners of Cadbury have changed our much-loved recipe of Creme Eggs to suit American taste. Is nothing sacred anymore? That when it comes to our Pop Music Quiz, Dennis Evans is a bit of an expert - particularly when it comes to Madness and Three Dog Night.
That congratulations go to Ray Sidaway of Wells - a Lions Club member for fifty years.
That in Shepton Mallet, Collett Park is a veritable Jewel in Mendip’s Crown.
That Princess Zara joined Linda Still of Crewkerne RC in the Montacute Park Run recently.
That David Mounsteven of Yandles at Hurst now has his very own jungle room.
That spring onions and chives are being sniffed-out by guide dogs in supermarkets, in mistake for daffodils. That some members of the Maiden Bradley Swimming Pool Sub Committee were quick to take a-fence recently after its demise and levelling.
That thanks to an informative talk by John Dando, the ladies of Queen Camel Tuesday Group are now thinking twice about keeping their toothbrush in the bathroom.
That Dave Rogers of Norton Sub Hamdon is wished a happy fiftieth from all at the Lord Nelson - with the message ‘give us a smile’! That after months of renovation The Factory is open for business in Castle Cary. That congratulations go to former Weymouth and London resident Brett Hawkins on the 28th February, when he becomes a quadragenarian.
That our Chronicler just loves the headline ‘Police shoot dead man in Copenhagan’.
That according to three year old Poppy Dunn of Shipdham, she doesn’t need a chaperone when swimming.
16 THE VISITOR March 2015
Pete Lambden & Staff welcome you to .....
168 Hendford Hill YEOVIL
“How they dance in the courtyard, Sweet summer sweat Some dance to remember, Some dance to forget”
FIRST PERSON to tell me the above song gets a free drink! Last time no one guessed that it was ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen. A belated Happy New Year to everyone out there in Visitorland. Last month I was on holiday and missed the deadline for my ramblings to be published. But it did make me realise what a powerful medium this publication is. Phone calls and rumours of my demise were rampant Where is he? He is leaving The Quicksilver. Well it is pantomime season, and I’m sorry but it is a resounding “Oh no he’s not”!!! So you are stuck with me for now. Barry Paull brought his fabulous Elvis Show to the top of the hill and as usual we had a very busy night and we managed to raise a few quid for the hospice which makes it all worthwhile . On the 13th of this month we have the fabulous Finian Mcgurk playing in the bar (the man with the magic fiddle). This month yours truly will have been here for 13 years and to celebrate, or commiserate, depending on your view point we are having a Party on Friday 20th. Mr D’arcy will playing in the bar. Not to be missed. On Friday 27th the wonderful sounds of the Mutter Slater Band will be in the bar from 9pm. And looking ahead to next month on Easter Sunday 5th we have Livewired playing here - and with no work on the Monday it should be a great night . This month sees the introduction of some Lovely Cream Teas at The Quicksilver – all homemade scones, lovely jam, and thick thick clotted cream. No good for your cholesterol but great for a treat . Our young Chef Liam has been cooking up a storm just lately and he is producing some fantastic food for our specials board. If you want to score some brownie points fellas then you need to bring your young lady in for dinner. And finally ... while I was on holiday I went for a Chinese meal. I said to the waiter “Excuse me but this chicken is rubbery”. “Oh” he said “Fank u very much”. TOOT TOOT!!!
BOOKINGS
01935 424721
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& Turf, Swine & Wine evenings at The Royal Oak, Over Stratton, excellent value ... and at The Dolphin Inn, Ilminster you can get a very reasonably priced cup of coffee - with chocolate biscuits too! Finally ... don't forget to book your Easter advertising early!
British Pie Week 2nd - 8th March
Do you prefer breast or a thigh? It sounds like a line from a 1970s
The CROWN Inn
Greenhill, Sherborne, DT9 4EP Sunday 15th March: Mother’s Day ... bookings now taken
March 17th: St. Patrick’s Day ... enjoy the ‘Craic’
WEDNESDAY MUSIC
March 11th: Trad Jazz March 18th: Traditional Folk March 25th: Open Mic’ Night
Tel: 01935 816115
The MUDDLED
MAN
Your hosts, Mick, Jean and Garry welcome you to
Lower Street, West Chinnock A charming country inn serving home cooked fayre lunchtime & evening
Book now for MOTHERING SUNDAY
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
EASTER ISSUE
Tel: 01935 881235
The Easter issue of The Visitor will be printed on the 26th March Deadline 13th March Book your advert early ...
Tel: 01963 351256
or email: info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk
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costs low and the combination of white and dark meat found in the thigh, gives a more balanced flavour. With new research showing that 75% of Brits enjoy a pie at least once a month, British Pie Week celebrates the humble pie in all it's glory and continues to grow in popularity with pieeaters.
sitcom, but as British Pie Week approaches, the team at the Great British Meat Company have developed some tasty Pie recipes using chicken thigh as a replacement to the more common breast filling. It helps to keep
Signs to make you smile
Sunday 15th March Originating at football grounds in the Midlands in the late 1990s, the Balti Pie is now synonymous with British Football culture and has become an adopted classic. That said, most people’s experience of a Balti Pie is generally ready-made shop bought, but that needn’t be the case, as they’re much easier to make than you’d expect. If you would like the recipe for Balti Pie visit our website www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk
ROYAL OAK Chris & Jill welcome you to the ...
Over Stratton, South Petherton Tel: 01460 240906
A Charming Country Inn
Enjoy delicious home-cooked food in the relaxed atmosphere of this country inn
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY SPECIAL
SURF, TURF, SWINE & WINE NIGHT
TWO Rump Steaks, or TWO Beer Battered Haddock or TWO Gammon Steaks, or ANY TWO with a Carafe of Wine £22.50 per couple • Booking Advised
Mothering Sunday
Beware the Ides of March ... and don’t forget your Mum Roast & Pressie for Mum like last year Tuesday 17th March
St.Patrick’s Day
Irish Themed Simple Supper Friday 27th March
5 Course Dinner with Wines withWines
Introducing Wines from Babylonstoren, South Africa Including Flight of Wine
£45 6 Nations will be shown in the Bar and on Big Screen
BOOK EARLY FOR ...
MOTHERING SUNDAY — 15th March —
★ Traditional Sunday Roast ★
THE VISITOR March 2015 17
Gifts for Mothers Day - 15th March One World South Petherton
You are bound to find a suitable gift for mum when you visit One World in South Petherton. Beautiful silver jewellery, wooden ornaments, glass vases, or perhaps an environmentally friendly and very useful wicker basket for her shopping. All items on sale are ethically sourced from Left: ‘Cocker of the Wood’ by Nigel Hemming, just one of the many limited edition dog prints available from Scenes of Gillingham.
“West Highland Malt”
around the world – many handmade. There is a good choice of cards, gift wrap and stationery too! Do call in - the shop has several showrooms over two floors.
which include buttons and spools for added interest. Call in and have a chat with Heather or Carly, they will be pleased to advise - whatever your budget! There is always a wonderful selection of fresh cut flowers and foliage on display together with colourful pot plants. Heather’s will be open on Mothering Sunday from 8.30am.
Heathers Flowers Castle Cary
There are lots of imaginative floral gift ideas to be had at Heather’s Flowers in Castle Cary including arrangements in unusual receptacles such as ceramic books, colourful wooden boxes, cheery hessian bags, plus a range of shabby chic inspired arrangements
Thorngrove Garden Centre Gillingham
Thorngrove Garden Centre not only sells a vast range of bedding for
Limited Edition Print by PAUL DOYLE Superb choice of dog prints and greetings cards to complement High Street, Gillingham Tel / Fax: 01747 824050 email: scenesol@aol.com • www.scenes-online.co.uk
17 St James Street South Petherton Somerset TA13 5BS 01460 241166
Heather’s Flowers Make Mum’s Day!
Bouquets Planted Pots Baskets Delivered To Your Door FREE Delivery in Castle Cary eflorist Delivery Service
ORDER EARLY
Open Sunday 15th March from 8.30am
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The Old Bakery (Sandpits Heating Centre) Curry Rivel, Somerset • Tel: 01458 253357
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BREAKFASTS – TEAS – COFFEES – AFTERNOON TEAS – LUNCHES
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18 THE VISITOR March 2015
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OPEN: 9am – 5pm EVERY DAY including SUNDAYS and BANK HOLIDAYS from Monday 2nd March
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Treat your mum to a beautiful gift from our Country Lifestyle Home Interiors Showroom, or spoil your mum with a Traditional Afternoon Cream Tea served on a vintage style cake stand with bone china teacups in our Shabby Chic Teashop.
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Lots of Spring Flowering Shrubs and Plants ... Perfect Gifts for Mother’s Day
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Turn into Broad Robin off the B3081, continue past Mellowes Residential Home: Thorngrove is next on right
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Email: thorngrove.staff@scope.org.uk
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01747 822242
A Champagne Afternoon Tea Voucher - the perfect gift for Mother’s Day this year!
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Common Mead Lane, Gillingham Dorset, SP8 4RE
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Give mum a treat - a voucher for Afternoon Tea at Living Pretty Tea Rooms of Curry Rivel, near Langport. ●
Francis House, Fore Street, Castle Cary BA7 7BQ 01963 350525 heathers.flowers@live.com
Gifts for Mothers Day - 15th March
borders, planters and hanging baskets, but produces the majority of it themselves in their nursery with the assistance of disabled people. At this time of year, with Mother’s Day approaching the glasshouses are filling up rapidly with all sorts of treats for discerning gardeners. What’s more, all their growing spaces are open to the public so explore and see what delights are in store for the spring. There is also an expanding selection of herbaceous plants, with new introductions every year – there are nearly 30 varieties of Heuchera alone! Don’t forget to explore the shrub nursery when you go – yes, they grow those too!
Elegance Beauty Therapy Clinic Wincanton
We all like to be pampered and mums are no exception! Whether it’s a relaxing pedicure to revive tired aching feet, or a luxurious facial, mums are sure to love it. Elegance Beauty Therapy Clinic in Wincanton offers gift vouchers redeemable against any of the extensive range of treatments available. Beauty products are also available such as nail varnish, aromatherapy products, foot soaks, skin care ranges and lots more. Make sure your mum has a beautiful Mother’s Day - with a visit to Elegance.
For a super range of Mothers Day Cards plus gift ideas such as mugs and teddies - Wild Cardz of Wincanton is well worth a visit. Don't forget to pick up your loyalty card!
Reed & Russell Florist Wincanton
Flowers always make a very acceptable gift on Mother’s Day and with Interflora they can be sent locally, nationally and internationally if you can’t be with your Mum on her special day. Local Interflora agent Reed & Russell of Wincanton can assist you with all your floral requirements. They can also provide decorative plants and trees for corporate events and private functions.
‘Dreams Come True II’
Mother’s Day: Sunday 15 March
Wild Cardz
Visit Google + ... and have a virtual tour of our shop!
by
Doug Hyde
Limited Edition of 295
£650
Framed & Mounted
Prints ★ Paintings ★ Bronzes ★ Mirrors ★ Framing Passport Photographs ★ Prints to Canvas
Martock Gallery Open: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 5.00, Saturday 9.30 - 4.30
Water Street • Martock • Tel: (01935) 823254 • www.martockgallery.com
Mayflowers
35 High Street, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9JU • Tel: 01963 31234
Established 1983
Élégance
Beauty Therapy Clinic
Your local Interflora Florist
MOTHERS DAY – Sunday 15th March For a super selection of fresh cut flowers and plants visit us at ...
2A HIGH STREET, GILLINGHAM or why not order by phone or website?
Tel: 01747 824424
www.mayflowersofgillingham.co.uk
Mayflowers of Gillingham always have a delightful range of cut flowers and house plants. As local Interflora agents they can deliver locally, nationally and internationally. Why not call in and see the complete range for yourself. The new spring blooms are arriving - daffodils, tulips, irises etc., plus planted bowls of spring bulbs. Place your order early for Mothering Sunday.
‘Worldwind Romance II’ by Doug Hyde, limited edition print £650, rrp £695, mounted and framed. Size 21in x 28in. Available from Martock Gallery in Martock.
th
VISIT US for a SUPERB CHOICE of CARDS “Mummy” – “Mum” – “Wife” – “Nan” – etc. ★ Special MOTHER’S DAY Mugs, Key Rings, Pens ★ Blue Nose range of Teddy Bears & Gifts St. PATRICK’S DAY Cards and EASTER Cards now in stock
Mayflowers Gillingham
Sandie Barrett
M.B.A.B.T.A.C. • C.I.D.E.S.C.O.
Bespoke • Corporate • Events Parties • Weddings • Sympathy Local & Nationwide Deliveries
01963 32367
11 Church Street, Wincanton, BA9 9AA
Give mum a treat ...
GIFT VOUCHERS - THE IDEAL GIFT A full range of beauty treatments available A LADIES O N LY SALO N
8b Church Street, Wincanton (01963) 34115
THE VISITOR March 2015 19
FREE SPARE PAIR with any frame from our £75 range or above
Looking Good Family Health
and feeling fine
with
Jenna Evans
Making The Most of Your Medicines - Part Four
AT THIS TIME of the year we’re heading rapidly towards allergy season so this month we’ll be taking a look at anti-allergy meds, their alternatives and the difference between allergy and intolerance. If you’re one of the estimated 10 million hay fever sufferers in England, there’s a good chance you’re taking or will be taking a number of medicines this year. Anti-histamines, steroids and decongestant medicines are commonly used, many available over-the-counter. Remember when using these medicines to read the full drug insert as many will have interactions with other medicines, or be contraindicated with certain diseases (liver or kidney disease for example) or during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is especially important to be aware of potential
The Dress Circle Dress Agency
EYES RIGHT OPTICIANS St. Audries Station Road, Gillingham 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.
20 THE VISITOR March 2015
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
negative interactions when buying over-the-counter medicines as, hopefully, if you are taking a prescribed drug your GP will be checking for conflicts with existing medicine or disease. When buying over-the-counter discuss your existing health condition or drugs with your pharmacist - they have a wealth of knowledge. Many of the older antihistamines may cause drowsiness and steroid medications may deplete many minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, selenium, folic acid and the vitamins C & D. For an idea of how any drugs you are taking may be stripping out nutrients from your body pop into your local health food store, or talk to your chosen health professional - be that a GP, pharmacist or complementary practitioner. If you have any kind of adverse effects talk to your GP - there’s an abundance of choices to help manage your allergies so don’t be afraid to go and discuss your options. Aside from hay fever, many people regularly suffer from food allergies, urticaria and environmental allergies. New food labelling legislation is helping those with food allergies make easier choices and may benefit those with an intolerance too. There is a big difference between a food allergy and intolerance. A true allergy has profound and immediate effects and may even be life threatening. Treat a true allergy seriously and get support from your GP. Intolerances on the other hand may not be immediately obvious and can be a little more tricky to navigate. Many people have improved their chronic health problems such as digestive issues, headaches and fatigue by investigating potential food intolerances and following a food elimination diet. Always get some kind of support if you are undertaking this task to ensure a
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consistent source of nutrients. Check with your local health food store for the availability of food intolerance testing - if they don’t run their own on site they should be able to give you information on a local nutritionist or testing lab that can help. If they do offer testing then they will be able to provide instore support and advice with dietary changes and nutritional supplements. Urticaria, also known as hives or nettle rash, may be acute or chronic and is usually treated with anti-histamines and steroids. Environmental allergies may require you to adapt your environment, for instance special bedding, removing moulds, being aware of your cleaning products etc. If you suspect you may be suffering from environmental allergies, seek help. Now for a quick overview of the most popular ‘natural’ alternatives. First up Quercetin. This is a potent anti-inflammatory & anti-histamine remedy and is a popular choice for hay fever sufferers. Turmeric, bromelain, nettles, Devil’s Claw and vitamin C may also be beneficial and can often be found in combination products to treat all kind of inflammations including hayfever, environmental allergies, food intolerances and hives. Homoepathy has a wealth of options too, from blended general purpose hay fever remedies to specifics for eyes (Euphrasia), burning/itching (Arsenicum album), streaming eyes/noses (Allium cepa). Physical barrier balms can also be useful, ‘catching’ pollen on their way up the nose. Herbal nasal sprays and eye drops are also available. Whatever you do don’t let the allergy season sneak up on you the earlier you can start treatment for hay fever the better. And bear in mind that many alternative remedies can be used alongside conventional treatments - but always check with your GP or pharmacist if you are taking ANY medications before adding herbs or nutrients to your healing regime. See you next month for more on ‘Making the Most of Your Medicines’. Wishing you a sneezing and streaming free spring! Jenna Evans ©2015. Jenna is a Holistic Health Coach and creator of bespoke beauty
Looking Good and natural therapies
products. She can be found on Facebook at ‘Alchemical Beauty UK’. Jenna is also a multi-award winning Product Advisor at Ceres Natural Foods, Yeovil. To make an appointment, please pop in or call 01935 428791 for details. Ceres can provide food intolerance testing by appointment. Find Ceres on Facebook as ‘Ceres Natural Foods Ltd’. 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.
Heal & Sole Holistics
Reflexology is a very relaxing, nonintrusive health therapy, based on the theory that specific reflex points on the feet, lower leg, hands, face or ears are connected through energy channels to different areas of the body. These channels can easily become blocked through stress, emotions, trauma or illness, causing the body to function less effectively and efficiently, draining the body's vital energy and immunity, thus making it more likely for disease to occur. Through the application of pressure to the reflex points using specific thumb and finger techniques, reflexology aims to naturally release tension and direct the free flow of energy throughout the body to normalise the functions of the body, boost the immune system and support the body's natural ability to heal itself.
Kinesiology which enabled diet and nutrition advice to be given based on the individual and tested response of the patient. People requiring information about gut health and assessment of potential allergy responses often seek help from this method. Andrew can be consulted daily between 9 and 6.
Horticultural Therapy with the Vanessa Project
An allotment patch in Yeovil has served the Vanessa project for eight years. The Vanessa project was set up by Rob and Sue Boulter in remembrance of their daughter Vanessa. It has benefited members of the local community who may feel isolated, depressed or anxious. They meet on a Monday morning and potter on the allotment where they grow a mixture of herbs, organic veg and flowers, they make time for a brew and to have a chat together. Allotments are places where it is possible to ease back into community life without too much stress. Plant and seed sharing, conversions about the weather and slugs, or just working alongside each other in silence can aid the transition between isolation and being out with others again. The achievement of producing your own food by caring about and sustaining the plant life cycle can be a path back into relationships, relationship with the seasons, with your own well-being through food and with others by working
together. Contact: alison.hayward @southsomersetmind.co.uk
Florence Leather Collection
On Thursday 5th February, 2015, Carole, Stéphane and Nick of Florence Leather Collection (FLC) hosted the official launch of their Castle Cary Boutique and ecommerce website: florence leathercollection.co.uk at the Roth Bar & Grill located in Hauser & Wirth, Bruton. Over 80 people attended the Italian themed evening, exhibiting t he f a b ul o us ra ng e o f ha nd selected luxury handbags. With the participation of the designer and manufacturer who flew from Milan and Florence, especially, the guests were able to get direct 'from the horses mouth' what the latest trends and fashions in handbags and accessories would be for 2015. With a wide range of styles and colours, FLC aims at providing quality handmade leather handbags whatever your taste in style and budget. Inspired by the designs of the great luxury fashion houses and made with high quality Italian leather, the range is frequently updated by Carole who flies to Milan every six to seven weeks to hand select the most up to date designs. Whatever the occasion; Mothers Day, weddings, parties, the races or leaving for a holiday, there is a handbag or two for you, a tote or shopper for everyday, an elegant shoulder or clutch bag for the evening cocktail or a classy but practical grab bag for the office. Visit the Castle Cary boutique or shop online at florence leathercollection.co.uk
Andrew Knight
After 25 years practicing in Castle Cary Andrew Knight recently opened a clinic in Keinton Mandeville. Registered with the General Osteopathic Council he offers Osteopathic services primarily catering for musculoskeletal injury and dysfunction for both acute situations where resolution is expected and more chronic conditions where he can help maintain mobility and reduce the symptoms experienced. Andrew also practices Applied
Andrew M. Knight
D.O.
Has moved to ...
Osteopath
Coombedene, Combe Hill, Keinton Mandeville Somerton, TA11 6DY 01458 223300 or text 07889 857289 Email: osteopath@andrew-knight.co.uk Web: www.andrew-knight.co.uk
THE VISITOR March 2015 21
Spring MOTORING
Spring is in the Air
THE LIGHTER mornings and evenings are a sure sign that Spring is on the way. Time to give your vehicle a thorough clean to get rid of all the salt / grit it may have picked up from the roads over the winter months. Time too for a service ... to get ready for Spring driving and the Easter holidays.
Rich’s Auto Services
Richard Cross opened Rich’s Auto Services on the Torbay Road Trading Estate last year. Richard has over 17 years experience as a motor mechanic (working for many years at One to One Motor Repairs). Rich has a fully equipped workshop complete with diagnostic equipment and can undertake servicing and repairs on most makes of cars. MOTs by appointment and air conditioning service by prior arrangement.
Westover Garage Langport
Westover Garage has been established for seven years and is run by business partners Gary Webb and David Huntley, who are both local to the area. The
purpose built workshop is fully equipped including the latest diagnostic equipment. There are seven members of staff all of whom are qualified mechanics. They now have a new MOT testing centre. Services include body repairs, exhausts and batteries, car valeting and servicing on all makes and models of car - Ford specialists. Westover also offer a vehicle recovery service. Open from 7am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 7am - 11am Saturday.
Yeovil Auto Tuning
Due to expansion, Yeovil Auto Tuning recently moved to larger premises at 9 Oxford Road, on the Pen Mill Trading Estate, Yeovil – easily located and with plenty of parking. Yeovil Auto Tuning is a family run business, established for 33 years. Proprietor Colin Frost runs the business with his wife Anita and their three experienced mechanics Jamie, Ross and Matthew. They will continue to offer their full range of services which
Westover Garage Ltd.
The Willows Business Park, Westover Trading Estate, Langport, TA10 9RB
Tel: 01458 252252 NEW MOT TESTING CENTRE
includes repairs, servicing, engine tuning and MOT testing which includes class 1V, and Class V11 light Vans. They look forward to welcoming customers old and new. Also operating from the same premises is Eclipse Custom Campers, converting VW Transporter T4 and T5 vehicles.
VINTAGE Motor Cycling
I START THIS MONTH on a sad note as I report the passing of Lew Coffin. Lew was a legend in his own lifetime in the motorcycling world. He was British Champion, Southern Centre Champion and South West Centre Champion many times over when he was racing on the grass. He was no slouch either at trials and scrambling. He was a fearsome and ruthless competitor on the track but a gentleman off it. Lew helped so many young riders when they set out on their racing careers and at one time he was a trainer for budding speedway riders. He also
prepared racing engines and built bikes for other people and his engineering skills were outstanding. Lew for many seasons raced on the continent with great success, specially in Germany where he built up many friendships which lasted the rest of his life. He remained very active throughout his 93 years only hindered in recent times by a lack of mobility. Lew will be sadly missed and our condolences go to his wife Betty and the rest of the family. March should bring the start of spring and with it more happenings within the old bike clubs. The Somerset Section has a guest speaker at their club night at Cossington on the 5th, followed on the 7th by their excellent Autojumble at the Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet (more on this subject later). On the 14th they have a Skittles Evening and on the 15th they have their Spring Run from Nether Stowey. The Wessex Veteran and Vintage Section has a guest speaker at their club night at East Stour on the 9th. The Dorset Section have a Winter Run starting at Dorchester on the 1st. On the 4th will be the Lunch
Class 7 Commercial Vehicles • Class 4 Cars & Light Vans • Class 1 & 2 Motorcycles Appointment Basis Only • Re-tests FREE of Charge (within 10 days) Car Service & Car Sales — all makes and models FREE Collection & Delivery plus Loan Car Large selection of Tyres in stock at competitive prices
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
RICH’S AUTO SERVICES ◆ Servicing and repairs on all makes of car ◆ MOTs by appointment TYRES — EXHAUSTS — BATTERIES OPEN: MONday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm Saturday mornings by appointment
Unit 4, Torbay Road Trading Estate Torbay Road, CASTLE CARY, BA7 7DT
01963 350568
22 THE VISITOR March 2015
Dave Joyce with his Sparkbrook took the top prize for the Best In Show at The Bristol Classic Bike Show in February
Spring MOTORING
Meet at West Stour and on the 11th club night at Pulham will be a speaker. On the 28th we return to West Stour for the Breakfast Meet followed the next day by the Blandford Run which starts at the Corn Exchange at Blandford Market Place. Details available of all club activities can be had by ringing 01935-872528 and remember you do not even have to own an old motorcycle to come along, just an interest in old bikes. The club caters for any machine over 25 years old so this year bikes made in 1989 are eligible to take part. As mentioned above the Somerset Sections Autojumble will take place on Saturday 7th March. The venue at the Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, offers excellent facilities for this type of event. Most stalls are under cover but some are on the hard standing outside. Plenty of parking, plenty of eating facilities and for sure plenty of people with whom to socialise, this day is a must for any motorcycle enthusiast. Give it a try and perhaps you will find your next restoration project, or some hard to find part you need, or just some of those consumables we all
need. Your next restoration could be anything from a complete machine which just needs servicing and cleaning, to a collection of boxes containing parts which may or may not fit together into a complete bike. The later type of projects are not for the faint hearted. For me this is the type of projects I enjoy and have done many times before. Two years work awaits to make anything of machines like these, but the sense of achievement at the end is so great that it makes it all worthwhile. Can I tempt you to get more involved, whatever your talent or workshop facilities will allow? Even for the seasoned restorer there is plenty of help available to assist you. February saw the 35th holding of the Bristol Classic Bike Show at the Bath & West Showground. A superb event as always with around a thousand machines on display. The standard was as high as ever with the top prize for the Best in Show going to Dave Joyce of Somerset for his restoration of a 1914 Sparkbrook. My picture this month shows the proud owner with his machine. Sparkbrook was a very low volume producer and today few
have survived. Six Sections of the VMCC had stands showing the huge range of machinery used within the club. There was also especially good displays provided by the Wells Classic Club and the Westlands Classic Club. This very social and enjoyable event was, I am sure, of great interest to the many thousands of visitors who ca m e t hro ug h t he d o o r. A ll packed up and gone by early evening I know many of the display clubs will already be thinking of a theme for next years
show as planning commences. To all concerned keep up the good work. For my own plans I will be trying to complete the restoration of my Rover this year with a view to having it available for the show next year. Hopefully a long and sunny spring, summer and autumn awaits us this year so make sure you get good use from your old vehicles. Future legislation could well curtail our usage and that would be devastating. Rod Hann.
DCM Tyres on the Butts Pond Trading Estate, Sturminster Newton. DCM also have branches in Blandford and Shaftesbury.
You can always rely on friendly, helpful service from Phillips Tyres in Castle Cary.
THE VISITOR March 2015 23
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL
The deadline for submitting your Self Assessment tax return for 2013-14 has passed. The online filing date, after which penalties apply, was midnight, 31st January 2015.
Penalties for individuals: If you failed to make the filing deadline a range of penalties becomes payable, or potentially payable, how much will depend on how quickly you bring your affairs up-to-date.
Penalties are progressive: They apply from 1 day (£100), 3 months (£10 per day - £900), 6 months (a further £300 or 5% of the outstanding tax if greater) and 12 months (a further £300 or a further 5% of the outstanding tax if greater) after 31 January 2015 for the 2014 return. In serious cases you may be asked to pay 100% of the tax due instead. The above penalties are in
addition to any penalties and interest for paying tax late.
Penalties for partners: There is a nasty sting in the tail for partners who fail to submit their partnership Self Assessment return on time. Even though a partnership tax return is one document each partner will be charged a penalty for late filing. If a partner is also late in filing their own tax return then separate penalties will apply. If you need help to avoid the escalating penalties call Simon Bachrach on 01460 279000.
Old Mill Accountants
Old Mill makes a point of not only looking after their clients businesses but looking after their personal interests and the interests of their family as well. We help our clients ensure they can meet both their business and personal aspirations. Whether you are a private individual, a small business owner, or running a larger company Old Mill have enthusiastic staff who can
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Chalmers Chartered Accountants ask “Have you filed your 2014 Tax Return”?
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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 24 THE VISITOR March 2015
Pictured: Helen Lacey, MD of Red Berry Recruitment, Shepton Mallet met the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, along with James Heappey, James Simpson of the Food Service Centre in Cheddar and Alex Turco of Positive Wealth Creation based in Burnham on Sea.
proactively help you. The secret behind this success is being passionate about looking after our clients’ interests. We now have around 260 staff in five full service offices across the West Country.
Helen Lacey meets Hon George Osborne
On February 11th, MD Helen Lacey of Red Berry Recruitment was invited by James Heappey, prospective Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Wells, alongside two other business owners for an event at 11 Downing Street to meet the Hon George Osborne. The evening was to celebrate small businesses in the UK and for the chancellor to gage business confidence and discuss any issues
that small businesses were facing. Helen said ‘It was a lovely evening, not many people have the opportunity to attend Downing street, so it was a privilege to be asked.’
Robert Stone & Co.
Chartered Accountants & Tax Advisers in Ilminster answers questions from small businesses in Somerset
Q1. Two years ago I invested £5,000 in a company under the EIS scheme, but now that company has gone into administration. How do I claim for the loss in value of my EIS investment?
BUSINESS
Robert Stone replies:
As the company has not been struck-off the Companies House register its shares still exist, although they are probably worthless. You can make a negligible value claim for those shares by writing to HMRC, or on your tax return. This will give you a capital loss worth £5,000, which can be set against capital gains made in the same year the claim relates to or in later years. Also, as the shares were issued under the EIS scheme you can turn that loss into an income tax loss by submitting a share loss relief claim. We can help you with that.
Q2. I run a small shop, which I inherited from my father. The shop has a flat above it which is let out. I've always reported all the income from the shop and flat together as self-employed income on my tax return. Is that correct?
can now pay a dividend to clear the debt I owe to the company. How can I reclaim the corporation tax charged? Robert Stone replies:
You need to complete a form L2P to reclaim that tax charge, but that must be done online here: www.gov.uk/government/publicat ions/corporation-tax-reclaim-taxpaid-by-close-companies-on-loansto-participators-l2p You need to answer all the questions on the interactive form, then print it off and sign it. The signed form should be sent to: HMRC Corporation Tax Services PO Box 29997 Glasgow, G70 5AB If you have an urgent query contact Robert Stone on: 01460 55661.
Robert Stone replies:
No, the income from your shop and the flat should be reported separately on your tax return. The profit or loss from the shop should be reported on the selfemployed pages of your return. The net income from the flat should be reported on the UK property income pages on your tax return. Any loss from the shop can't be set off against profits from the letting, or the other way round.
Q3. Back in 2010 I borrowed money from my company, and paid the corporation tax charge due. Business has now improved and my company
MAX FOOTE Associates Ltd
Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors 26 Lower Woodcock Street Castle Cary BA7 7BH Tel: 01963 351052
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Starting a new chapter By Hollie Knapman Associate Solicitor in the Family Team at Battens Solicitors
WEDDING FAIRS, notices in the paper and Facebook updates changing to 'in a relationship' or 'engaged' - it is the season for marriage proposals. Valentine’s Day following hot on the heels of Christmas, two of the most popular times in the calendar for proposals, has seen many couples make the ultimate commitment. With the celebratory champagne flowing and excited chatter about a future together, it is not surprising that many newly engaged couples forget about the legal implications. There are a number of issues to consider when tying the knot or moving in together prior to getting married; many of which you may not have considered. But, by putting safeguards in place you can plan and prepare for a future without the stress, cost and legal implications that can become all too familiar to me and my colleagues. Such situations, I am pleased to say, are avoidable and affordable if steps are taken at an early stage. To ensure a happy future together without legal complications, here are my top five recommendations. These days many couples live together before walking down the aisle. A Cohabitation Agreement will help you set out in clear terms the basis of this arrangement. It apportions responsibility for bills and how, in the event of a separation, possessions shall be divided. If, like many couples, you are buying your first home together, you need to appoint an experienced conveyancer. Buying and selling property can be one of the most stressful experiences in life, so do not underestimate the value of a good local expert who will guide you through the process as painlessly as possible. On occasion, when purchasing property, you may be lucky enough to receive financial assistance from family members or you may have proceeds from a sale of a previous property or savings to put towards the purchase. In these circumstances it is wise to consider a Declaration of Trust, protecting the significant lump sum put down by one or both parties or to simply record how the net sale proceeds of the property should be divided if it is beyond the usual 50-50 split. It is important to note a Declaration of Trust is likely to be considered void upon marriage and cannot be relied upon after this point, so you may want to consider updating this to Pre-Nuptial Agreement prior to the big day. No longer exclusive to celebrities, there is a growing trend for people to enter into these agreements before marrying; essentially agreeing how assets should be divided in the event of a divorce. And finally, Wills are important documents at any time but particularly so when marrying and reconfiguring finances and family commitments. They can save you and those closest to you considerable stress and upset when resolving issues in your death. It may seem unromantic but it is important to let the head rule the heart, just for a while. I believe such precautions are as important as Life Assurance and Critical Illness cover. They enable you to prepare now for something which may happen in the future. So, talk to a Solicitor and discuss the best way for planning and securing your future. Call Hollie Knapman on 01935 811309 or email me at hollie.knapman@battens.co.uk or visit www.battens.co.uk
NEW LEGAL CLINICS IN: Offices in Sherborne, Yeovil, Dorchester & Weymouth
01963 834477
www.battens.co.uk
Wincanton The Balsam Centre Veronica Room Tuesday 3rd & 17th March
Castle Cary The Shambles Market House Tuesday 10th & 24th March THE VISITOR March 2015 25
Mendip Decorative & Fine Art Society
Leisure & Travel
The History of the Harp from Mediterranean antiquity to 20th C Europe: Ms Sarah Deere-Jones, LRAM, LGSM, will talk about the development of the instrument with demonstrations of its versatility. The talk will be given to Mendip DFAS at the Bath & West Bar & Restaurant (formerly the Westex Suite), Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6QN, on 3rd March, 10.30 for 11.00am. Guests welcome. Details from: www.mdfas.org.uk
Spectra Musica in Concert, Wincanton, March 2015
Spectra Musica are delighted to be returning to St. Luke & St. Teresa’s R.C. Church, Wincanton on 21st March at 7.30pm. The talented and experienced musician Peter Leech will be conducting his first concert since joining them as their Musical Director. ‘From Bach to Berkeley Square’ will reflect the group’s eclectic programmes which have brought so much pleasure to audiences. The group’s regular accompanist is concert pianist Anita D’Attellis, who will also be performing during the concert.
Tickets are £10 which includes refreshments during the interval. Tickets can be purchased via the website: www.spectramusica. co.uk or by telephone from 01749 860457, or on the door.
Sherborne Castle & Gardens
The wonderful Spring Bulbs & Daffodils Weekend takes place at Sherborne Castle over the weekend of 28th & 29th March, 11am - 4.30pm. Enjoy impressive displays of spring colour from thousands of daffodils. Paths and trails lead you through 40 acres of gardens and grounds commanding spectacular views of more than 1,000 acres of lake and parkland. This natural and tranquil location is fabulous for watching a host of wildlife on the lake and adjacent grounds. There is reduced admission to only £4.00 per adult for entry into the garden and grounds with children under 16 free. Visit the Tea Room which serves morning coffees, light lunches and delicious afternoon teas and the Gift Shop where you will find a selection of gifts and souvenirs. Please note the castle is closed this weekend but will be open from 1st April.
MU IC M NTH O R S O F THE
February 28th Phoenix - Lord Nelson, Norton Sub Hamdon
March 11th Trad Jazz - Crown, Sherborne 13th The Replicas - Rose & Crown, Longburton 13th Finian McGurk - Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil 15th Niamh Fletcher (3.30pm) - Lord Nelson, Norton Sub Hamdon 18th Traditional Folk - Crown, Sherborne 20th Jo Burt - Rose & Crown, Longburton 20th Mr. D’Arcy - Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil 25th Open Mic’ Night - Crown, Sherborne 27th Mutter Slater Band - Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil 28th Alex Archer - Wyndham Arms, Kingsbury Episcopi 29th Us (3.30pm) - Lord Nelson, Norton Sub Hamdon
Q DIARY DATE Q
AN ADVERT IN THE PUB PAGES ENSURES A FREE MENTION HERE!
WOODWORKING & CRAFT SHOW
Friday 10th and Saturday 11th April For further details check out our website on www.yandles.co.uk
Yandle & Sons Ltd.
Hurst Works, Martock, Somerset, TA12 6JU Tel: 01935 822207 • Email: online-info@yandles.co.uk “ The Largest Woodworking Show in the South West”
26 THE VISITOR March 2015
Yandles of Martock
Yandles are pleased to announce the line-up of demonstrators for its forthcoming show on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th of April. Mick Hanbury, Tracey Owen and Mary Ashton will be amongst the Turners alongside Rod Page and new to Yandles, Keith Fenton. Also, Gary Orange will be demonstrating chainsaw carving, Loxtonwood Craft demonstrating side axe and adze planking, Lyme Regis boat builders showing off their skills and the Japanese Tool Group will once again be demonstrating along with Ben Crowe and his guitar making. As always, there will be an excellent display of stick making, marquetry, carving, (this year they have a new carver, Sarah Goss taking part) plus furniture restoration and chair making alongside the displays that Exeter Woodcarvers, West Country Wood Carvers and Martock Wood Turners put on. The show is now one of Britain’s longest running woodworking shows and attracts thousands of visitors from all over the UK and Europe. Taking place in a traditional Sawmill, which was founded over 150 years ago, makes the Show unique and as you would imagine from a Timber Company offers the best selections of timber to be found at a UK based Woodworking Show.
Joining the Demonstrators will be many of the woodworking industries manufacturers, including Record Power, Brimarc, Sorby and Triton. All will be demonstrating their products and offering special show prices. As always, all timber from their Self-Selection Centre will be discounted, there will be lots of show bargains, a sale in the Hobby shop, plus demonstrations and a Refreshment marquee and the outstanding 303 Gallery to look around. There is free entry and parking to the Show which makes it an event not to be missed. For further details visit www. yandles.co.uk or e-mail: jane@ yandles.co.uk or telephone: 01935 822207. Yandle & Sons Ltd, Hurst Works, Martock, Somerset, TA12 6JU.
Hamdon Ha! Ha!
Another great comedy line-up has been secured for the forthcoming Hamdon Ha! Ha! taking place at The Lord Nelson, Norton Sub Hamdon on Saturday 14th March from 8pm. Six acts have been booked to entertain you including favourite MC Tom Glover who will introduce Cerys Nelmes from Bristol with tales of ‘The Teenager’, Jake Baker, Jamie Gosney and a local ‘first timer’.
Horsington Victory In Europe Anniversary The Half Moon Inn
Saturday 9th May 2015 Starts 5pm ‘til 10.30pm with
Berties Big Swing Band
Tickets £8 in Advance • £10 on the Night Children £6 BOOK A TABLE for 10 for £75
Tickets from The Half Moon Inn ... or J. Sansom 07974 662145 Sunnyside Bungalow, Horsington, Templecombe Somerset, BA8 0EG • Please send S.A.E. In aid of Horsington Village Emergency Telephone System (VETS)
spectra musica in CONCERT
Musical Director: PETER LEECH Piano: ANITA D’ATTELLIS
From Bach to ... ... Berkeley Square
Saturday 21st March 2015 7.30pm St Luke & St Teresa’s RC Church WINCANTON
Ticket £10 includes refreshments during the interval Ticket Sales Online at www.spectramusica.co.uk Tel: 01749 860457 or on the door Charity Number 1114436 • www.spectramusica.co.uk
Headlining (and a proverbial ‘feather in the cap’ for the Nellie) is Joel Drommett, star of BBC3’s Impractical Jokers; presenter on E4’s Live in Chelsea and standup appearances on Russell Howard’s Good News and Sweat the Small Stuff, plus other TV roles. Joel has made a huge impact on the comedy circuit since starting stand-up back in 2007 and is now seen regularly at clubs and festivals all over the country. So, don’t delay, get your tickets today for what promises to be a fun-filled, great night out. Tickets £8 from The Lord Nelson, 01935 881473.
House & Home inc. Spring Home Improvements
Spring Home Improvements
SIX MONTHS AGO we were thinking about open fires, log burners and cosy winter evenings in the comfort of our home. And although sorting out your heating requirements for next winter are best done during the warmer months, with the lighter evenings and Spring approaching, thoughts invariably turn to
freshening up our home with a thorough spring clean, a coat of paint and maybe some new soft furnishings. Spring is also an excellent time to de-clutter your home particularly if you are thinking of moving. This may seem like a mammoth task and one that you have been putting off for months. It’s nothing to worry about, we’re
all guilty of collecting bits and bobs and squirrelling them away into a drawer or cupboard when
we don’t know what to do with them (or when guests arrive unexpectedly).
Continuing the progress of the New Build at Ditcheat by Country Build SW Ltd
Month 7 - rainy weather has not hampered progress.
From Conception to Completion With over 30 years of building experience — NO HIDDEN EXTRAS — All works completed by our experienced & reliable team
Woodburners are an efficient and attractive way to heat your home R. A. Wicks of Merriott near Crewkerne currently have a Spring Savings Promotion - so why not call in?
15% discount
OFF FIREVIEW STOVES During March
Supply and Installation of Wood Burning & Multifuel Stoves Own Professional Fitters HETAS REGISTERED
R. A. WICKS Ltd. See our Showrooms
Clapper Hay, Church Street, MERRIOTT, nr. CREWKERNE, TA16 5PR 01460 74612 visit our website www.wicksheating.co.uk
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
Contact us for a free estimate
(01935) 823346
www.countrybuild.co.uk info@countrybuild.co.uk THE VISITOR March 2015 27
House & Home inc. Spring Home Improvements
Home is where the hearth is!
Rayburns are available in a wide choice of colours to suit any kitchen decor - traditional or contemporary. And they are not just for cooking on, they can also provide you with hot water and central heating. Visit Sandpits Heating Centre in Curry Rivel and see their range of Rayburns.
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 Now available 5 TONNE LOAD DELIVERIES by small lorry
NOW is the time to perk up your paths and dress up your driveways!
NEW
We can deliver to your area inc. Castle Cary, Bruton, Sherborne, Wincanton etc. For advice or information ring Tim or Heidi or call in and see us
28 THE VISITOR March 2015
The secret is not to try and declutter the whole house in one go. Give yourself time ... say a month or six weeks to finish the entire job, and tackle one room at a time. Make a plan and stick to it, if you haven’t used it or worn it for over a year you can probably do without it. Either recycle it (if its useable or wearable) or throw it away. You’ll be thrilled with your tidy home when you have completed your task.
At Sandpits Heating Centre in Curry Rivel you will find over 300 appliances on display. They have an extensive range of woodburners to suit all types of homes, with many working models on display. Sandpits is a family-run business offering a complete service from sales through to installation and service. They use their own fully qualified engineers and currently employ over 15. They can install flue systems, re-line chimneys and create new fireplaces - they can even sweep your chimney! There is a good selection of fireside accessories such as log baskets, companion sets and rugs. Sandpits are stockists of the ever popular Rayburn which is not only a dream to cook on but can heat the home and water too. Do call in and discuss your requirements with their helpful and professional staff. Living Pretty Tea Rooms are within Sandpits - here you can enjoy everthing from a morning coffee and slice of cake through to a delicious lunch or afternoon tea.
Security update by Chris Stott, MD of Wessex Fire & Security
These are exciting times. The ability to control our lives remotely has never been easier or more affordable. The speed of technological advance means innovations that are viewed as the preserve of the rich or supergeeky are actually available to all - thanks to massive cost reductions. We can now link existing systems such as CCTV and alarms to smartphones, so a home or business can be run
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
House & Home inc. Spring Home Improvements
when the occupiers are out – or even abroad. Our domestic and commercial customers are already reaping the benefits of the newly available products and innovative developments. Parents can be told whether their children are home from school because their security systems are able to send alerts to their phones, and their CCTV can tell them if a parcel has arrived. We think nothing of opening our car doors and turning on our TVs remotely, and that will be extended to every part of our lives. Access control, equipment monitoring, lighting, security systems, CCTV and fire and smoke alarms will all be integrated and managed remotely. Wessex Fire and Security is an innovation-focused business. Now is the time to replace old or out-dated systems – or install your first. We would be pleased to review your security requirements, so for free advice, please call Wessex Fire & Security on 01747 852258 or email fire@wessexgroup.co.uk
First Impressions Count
If you are planning on moving home don’t put off prospective buyers with a front door that puts you to shame. First impressions count. You may not have given much thought to the construction of a door beyond its appearance, but there is more to choosing the right door than you might think! A new timber door can look great when it is newly fitted, but the regular chore of sanding and re-painting or varnishing soon takes its toll. Over time it can begin to warp, twist and even crack, which affects not only the look, but the overall performance of the door. In addition, the simpler locks fitted to most timber doors may not stand up to the efforts of even an amateur burglar. Whilst it is true that a PVCu door needs little maintenance, this option may not offer the authentic look that will make your entrance the focal point that you hope for. Although often fitted with high quality modern locking systems, it is the panel in a PVCu door, not the lock, that makes it vulnerable and affords the burglar an easy entry point - sometimes gaining entry in as little as 5 seconds! An ideal solution would surely be a door that has the look of timber, the ease of being maintenance free, with superior
security, insulation and overall performance? Such a door is now available - a composite door. With a wide range of colours available, you can create a traditional look with the
woodgrain effect doors - a clean look with white, an elegant look with red, blue and green, or make a dramatic statement with black. And you will never need to paint your door again!
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
Left: With the look of timber but wonderfully maintenance free, a Composite door could be just what you are looking for. Available in wood finishes, such as Light Oak pictured, Golden Oak, Rosewood etc., or a variety of vibrant colours.
THE VISITOR March 2015 29
House & Home inc. Spring Home Improvements
Buying to Rent
Farrow & Ball Key Colours for 2015
Anyone with cash to spare and wanting to invest in the property market, with a view to ‘buying to rent’, may be interested to know what KeyRing Lettings in Shepton Mallet are offering. Having been trading for a year, KeyRing Lettings are celebrating their first anniversary with an offer that all landlords need to know about. See their advert on page 41 and go along to see them during their Open Day on Wednesday 11th March, between 2pm and 7pm. Right: If you own a property that you would like to let out, KeyRing Lettings of High Street, Shepton Mallet, could possibly be of assistance to you.
The colours we will want to use in our homes over the next year reflect a desire to create spaces offering escapism from our increasingly nomadic working lives, where smart devices keep us connected wherever we are. Key colours for 2015; Pink Ground, Light Blue, Breakfast Room Green and Tanner’s Brown promote relaxation and reflection in interiors. Paler in appearance they help to create spaces that live and breathe as we look to our homes as places of sanctuary from the stresses of modern day living.
Need a new conservatory? Replacement windows or doors? contact
TURNER WINDOWS SOMERTON LTD – 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
30 THE VISITOR March 2015
“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
Call 01458 272555
Unit 3 Bancombe Trading Estate, Somerton, TA11 6SB Today for a FREE no obligation quote
Breakfast Room Green®
Breakfast Room Green feels lively at any time of day. Taken straight from nature it makes us feel safe and calm in our home environment. Its slightly botanical feel creates a fresh room when paired with complementary James White on the ceiling. It’s best contrasted with stronger Calke Green on the woodwork to recreate the colours derived from the irregular staining and tinting found in plants and vegetables. Complete this leafy look, with Light Gray as an accent colour in the back of shelves, on the floor, or as random stripes on the wall to create a really exciting, fashionable interior. This trend reflects a shift away from hard, graphic interiors to a softer more natural feel with a modern twist.
Light Blue®
The use of Light Blue in the home is intended to create an interior where colours shift and change like the landscape. We instinctively gravitate towards colours that remind us of the softer side of life to make our homes into an oasis of calm away from the brashness of modern life. To create an almost transparent interior, contrast the colour’s silvery, smoky qualities with the unexpectedly cool grey Dimpse, a colour inspired by the tones of twilight. Create a feeling of relaxed movement by adding an accent of Lamp Room Gray on the floor, feature wall or furniture, and Blackened on the ceiling.
Pink Ground®
Pink Ground creates a humble beauty in the home, making rooms feel pretty, soft edged and accessible. Although certainly warm, this pink is not sugary or
House & Home inc. Spring Home Improvements
infantile, rather it feels more like a diluted plaster colour where walls look almost nude. Use with a slightly stronger colour on the woodwork, like Setting Plaster, to create a lighter room; because the tones are close the feel is almost of camouflaged beauty with no strong contrasts or hard lines. Similarly accent colours should stay cloudy and soft. Pale Powder sits perfectly alongside Pink Ground; use it on either furniture for a more relaxed feel, or on the floor to complement the whimsical pastel palette on the walls and woodwork.
Tanner’s Brown®
Although we are craving lighter, paler tones in 2015, darker tones remain best where natural light is lacking. Create darker, dramatic spaces with Tanner’s Brown, and at the same time make other areas feel lighter in comparison. This earth brown feels totally timeless and has an artisan feel to it. It is best used on the skirting boards as well as the walls, to keep it grounded and to prevent a light line around the bottom of the room, which can look hard. For a smudge effect use Dead Salmon on other woodwork and Joa’s White on ceilings. Muted Oval Room Blue looks magical when used as an accent colour.
Range cookers are not just for large country house kitchens they are equally at home in a smaller setting. Jeremy Hill of Homemaker in Shaftesbury demonstrates the features of a range cooker. (See back cover for advert).
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
Harriet Sandys
Decorative Items from Central Asia and India
SPRING SALE
EASTER BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND 2015 Sat 4th, Sun 5th and Mon 6th April • Open 2 – 5pm 10% OFF Oriental Carpets, Kilims, Table Lamps Costume, Tribal Jewellery ... and lots more! The Barn at The Manor House West Compton, Shepton Mallet BA4 4PB www.sandysorientalcarpets.co.uk
Credit / Debit Cards Accepted • Directions from A361
FARROW & BALL Latest & Greatest 2015 Wallpapers
Hand Finished Wallpapers*
In Contemporary Colour Ways Inspired by 19th and 20th Century French Fashion
Extensive Range of Farrow & Ball Paints
All Colours – All Finishes Paint Mixed While You Wait 4 Sizes plus Tester Pots
ley Pais
on rbill Tou
ille Feu
* Extra incentive on Farrow & Ball Wallpapers during March Call in store for details
City Decorating Supplies QUALITY PAINT & WALLPAPER
The Old Chapel, Union Street Car Park WELLS, BA5 2PU Tel: 01749 677299
Email Orders: citydecoratingsupplies@gmail.com Deliveries available throughout UK & Europe Open: Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm Saturday 9am – 4pm NEXT TO CAR PARK
THE VISITOR March 2015 31
House & Home inc. Spring Home Improvements
Made to Measure Blinds from Forge Fabrics
Forge Fabrics of Stalbridge is run by mother and daughter team Wendy and Emily who offer a bespoke blind making service. The roman blinds are hand made on the premises. Forge Fabrics are agents for
Ro-lite Blinds who offer Roller, Venetian, Verticle, Pleated and Timberlux blinds. All are made to measure and turnaround is prompt - just two weeks. Motorised options are available. Blinds are both useful and attractive and can be used anywhere in the home, from the
bathroom to the conservatory. For those who prefer curtains, Forge Fabrics offer a curtain making service too - either using the customers own fabric or fabric that can be selected from their fabric library. Designer fabrics include Chatham Glyn and i-liv. i-liv is on special promotion throughout March - save 10%. Poles, tie backs, haberdashery and cushions are all available at Forge Fabrics.
Choosing a New Kitchen
Do you want to freshen up the look of your kitchen? Maybe you’re interested in doing a complete kitchen remodel. Or perhaps your budget only allows for you to change a few key details in your existing kitchen décor. If you’re updating your kitchen in any form, before you spend any money, it pays to get informed about the current kitchen design trends for 2015.
Lighting, strategically placed under wall units, is an attractive feature and very practical too. A.P. Kitchen Solutions offer a wide choice of kitchens - why not visit their showroom in Ilchester?
AP Kitchen Solutions FOR YOUR NEW KITCHEN
This colourful roller blind is just one of many available from Forge Fabrics of Stalbridge.
Kitchens replaced for a fresh new look – at a reasonable price
Forge Fabrics
Curtains & Blinds Soft Furnishing Fabric Dress Fabric Haberdashery Knitting Supplies and much more ...
Complete new kitchens designed to suit you
Replacement doors – “don’t replace it, reface it”
Huge choice of granite and quartz worksurfaces Full range of accessories and appliances
Full project management & qualified local installers We offer an expert and friendly service
01935 849559
To discuss your personal requirements contact Adam or call at our showroom
Northover, ILCHESTER, BA22 8LD www.apkitchens.co.uk
32 THE VISITOR March 2015
The Forge, Ring Street, Stalbridge Dorset, DT10 2LZ emilykjeans@gmail.com
www.forgefabrics.co.uk www.facebook.com/forgefabrics
Emily & Wendy 01963 548138
KEVAN DAVIS Plumbing & Heating Ltd
Reg. No. 177361
4 Fairview Terrace, Castle Cary Telephone: 07976 741029
House & Home
Wood kitchens are still very popular. Minimalist white, with vibrant accessories, greys and creams are all ‘on trend’. Although still a popular choice, stainless steel fittings are being challenged by oil-rubbed bronze
for handles and taps. Remember, your kitchen doesn’t have to be any one style or theme. You can create your own space and combine as many (or as few) elements or styles as you want.
KITCHENS AND HOUSE RENOVATIONS We project manage from start to finish!
UR MS O T O I VIS OWRO SH
Stylish kitchens to suit you
■ Contemporary or traditional ■ Wide choice of finishes including – high gloss, wood and painted ■ Free planning ■ Free design service Malcolm Helyar Proprietor
It’s ‘on trend’ to have mix and match coloured kitchen units these days. Professionalism and attention to detail is assured when you have your kitchen designed and fitted by Malcolm Helyar at Sherborne Kitchens.
“See our door library with 100s of colours and finishes”
New Kitchen? House Renovation?
We project manage from start to finish! ■ Plan and design ■ Undertake the construction work ■ Install and fit units / appliances ■ Electrics ■ Plumbing ■ Plastering ■ Complete on time – to a high standard O OU L INT C AL
R SHOWROOMS
TOD A
Y
SHERBORNE KITCHENS & HOUSE RENOVATIONS
The Old Bakery, Half Moon Street SHERBORNE, DT9 3LN Through the archway next to the Half Moon Hotel
The Triangle, Castle Cary 01963 351110
Tel: 01935 817111
Email: sales@sherbornekitchens.com www.sherbornekitchens.com THE VISITOR March 2015 33
House & Home
ASK AN EXPERT
DAVE HODDINOTT, with over 40 years in the building, plumbing and tiling trade, answers a question on tiling.
Q. I have recently had an old pedestal sink replaced with a new sink and vanity unit. I’d like a tiled splashback, but unfortunately the plumber that installed the unit doesn’t do tiling, so I’d like to have a go myself.
The wall is painted with emulsion. Can you tell me where to start?
You will need the following equipment once you have chosen your tiles. Sanding / abrasive paper; Unibond PVA sealer; paintbrush; tile adhesive; notched trowel; spirit level; 2.5ml spacers; tile trim; grout; rubber grouting float; sponge; soft cloth. 1. Rub down the area to be tiled with sanding / abrasive paper. 2. Apply one coat of Unibond PVA sealer then allow to dry.
3. Apply tile adhesive to the area of the wall to be tiled with the notched trowel. 4. Place first tile on wall, push spacers into adhesive at top and side of tile. 5. Continue adding tiles / spacers to wall, use spirit level to check that tiles are straight. 6. Add tile trim to finished edges as you go along.
7. Remove spacers when adhesive is dry. 8. Mix grout with water until it’s a rich, creamy consistency then, with the rubber grouting float, push grout in between tiles. 9. Leave until nearly dry then wash off excess grouting with warm water and sponge. 10. Polish tiles with a soft cloth when completely dry.
The Tile Market
Ceramic Tile Specialists
◆ Wall and Floor Tiles Unit 1 Brympton Way Lynx West Trading Estate
YEOVIL BA20 2HP
◆ Marble / Mosaic / Granite / Travertine Limestone / Slate ◆ Full Range of Adhesives / Sealants and Tiling Accessories in stock
SHOWROOMS OVER TWO FLOORS
Tel: 01935 426737
Open Monday - Friday 8.30am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 4pm
email: thetilemarket@aol.com www.thetilemarket.webs.com
34 THE VISITOR March 2015
Pretty kitchen tiles in green and white with the added interest of herb tiles. Just one of many designs available from The Tile Market, Yeovil.
House & Home inc. Spring Home Improvements
March - National Bed Month
National Bed Month is the longest standing awareness campaign of The Sleep Council. It started in 1990, and runs throughout the whole of March. It is the time of year when they like to remind everyone of the importance of getting a better night’s sleep and the role a good bed plays in achieving that. They understand that bed buying can be a daunting task but before you purchase a new bed it’s worth doing your homework. You spend a third of your life in bed, so it’s vital that you make the right choice.
2. Buy for correct support and comfort for your weight and build – not just firmness.
3. Lie down in your normal sleeping position and make
some turns, too. Wear comfortable clothing and remove any outdoor gear.
4. Try it together, if the bed’s for two.
5. Don’t forget a bed is a mattress and a base working together – don’t consider them in isolation. 6. Check dimensions as not all
Choosing a New Bed
1. If possible, try a selection of beds for comparison before you buy.
Thinking of buying a new sofa or three piece? Then take a look at the range on offer at Fit & Furnish in Yeovil. The popular Roma 3 seater sofa is just £399.99 and a 3 piece Roma suite is just £759.99. The Roma is available in a wide range of colours. Fit & Furnish is situated in the heart of Yeovil with ample free parking outside the door. (See back cover for advert).
38 St. James Street South Petherton Somerset, TA13 5BW
Tel: 01460 240645 www.hrhodge.co.uk
JEANS ELECTRICAL Established 1916
AERIALS, FREESAT & SKY INSTALLATION Repairs, New Installations, Upgrades, Realignment, DAB Installations, Retunes, Magic Eyes, FM Radio Aerials, Sky and Sky HD, Freeview, Freesat and Freesat HD • TV Wall Installation Why not treat yourself to a new TV? We can supply, completely install and upgrade your aerial if neccessary for a stress free service ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL Solar PV, Rewires and Repairs, Extra Sockets, etc Electrical Condition Reports – all work given full certification Repairs to Washing Machines, Cookers, Freezers, etc Storage Heater Repairs
SOLAR PV PANELS Make sure you purchase them from an established company! We are MCS Registered for Supply and Installation by our own technicians (subject to survey)
DOMESTIC APPLIANCES SAME DAY DELIVERY on all in stock domestic appliances from our Chapel Showroom – we are happy to order any products that we do not have in stock. Manufacturers include: Hotpoint, Miele, Bosch and Siemens SALISBURY STREET SHOP Selection of Roberts Radios • Small Domestic Appliances Kettles, Toasters, Hand Blenders, Mixers Personal Care including High Wattage Hairdryers and lots more 1900 Watt & 2000 Watt Upright Vacuum Cleaners in stock
01747 860215 Major credit cards accepted
Salisbury Street, MERE, Wiltshire, BA12 6HB sales@jeanselectrical.co.uk • www.jeanselectrical.co.uk
Also: Chapel Showroom, Boar Street, BA12 6DD
BEKO • LIEBHERR • SMEG • SAMSUNG • GLEN DIMPLEX
EX RENTAL TVs
BEKO • LIEBHERR • SMEG • SAMSUNG • GLEN DIMPLEX
Decide your priorities and concerns in advance. For example, is it :-price, storage, access to bedroom, turning the mattress, getting in and out of bed, overall size or shape, a health issue, etc.
THE VISITOR March 2015 35
House & Home inc. Spring Home Improvements
bed sizes are standardised. Even if they have same name (eg King size) they may not be the same – especially if the mattress and base are not from the same manufacturer.
European common sizes are different and many imported bedsteads come in European sizes.
7. Think big – larger beds are
more comfortable and you’re less likely to disturb your partner.
8. You get what you pay for – both in product and service –
so spend as much as you can afford.
9. Look out for the NBF Approved label to be reassured that the mattress you’re buying is safe, clean and honest.
Caring for your new bed
Proper care will keep your bed in good condition. Always read and retain manufacturers care instructions and ask your retailer for advice, too. Otherwise, the following tips will help you to get the best out of your bed during its natural life. 1. Use a washable, protective cover to protect the mattress (and pillows) from stains. Barrier fabrics for allergy sufferers are also available.
2. In the mornings, throw back the bed clothes and leave the bed to air for 20 minutes to allow body moisture to evaporate. 3. Turning your mattress over
March Prize is a Belvedere Pocket Sprung Divan Bed
READER OFFER
The Bed Specialist Celebrates 50 Years!
Your chance to win win this Belvedere Pocket Sprung Divan Bed worth £700
Just fill in the entry form below and place in the prize draw box in store at
The Bed Specialist, 106 Huish, Yeovil, BA20 1AQ NO POSTAL ENTRIES – BY HAND ONLY
Name .........................................................................................
Address .....................................................................................
...................................................................................................
................................................................................................... ................................................... Postcode ...............................
Telephone ..................................................................................
The Visitor can be read online
www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk
36 THE VISITOR March 2015
Don’t forget to fill in the coupon, or cut out the advert, for your chance to win this month’s offer from The Bed Specialist. You’ll find the box in store at their Huish showroom in Yeovil.
House & Home from side to side and end to end every few months (every week for the first three months) helps upholstery fillings to settle down more evenly.
4. Some more luxurious mattresses, with much thicker layers of fillings designed to mould themselves to the
contours of your body, may retain signs of these impressions, despite turning.
5. Don’t make a habit of sitting on the edge of the bed and don’t let the kids bounce on it.
6. Don’t roll up or squash a mattress to store or transport
This stylish bedroom is just one of many available from Simply Bathrooms & Bedrooms of Sherborne. (See advert inside front cover).
For a SKY DEAL that’s just too good to print call
The prize winners from January in The Bed Specialist draw were Mr and Mrs G from Martock. They won a 4’6” HYPNOS divan worth £1000.
Unit 11, Brickfields Business Park, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4JX
Tel: 01747 826714 / 826721 www.townandcountryaerials.co.uk
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 • £ 10 Sky booking fee applies at time of order
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 ✔ We cover your area ... Yeovil, Sherborne, Wincanton, Gillingham etc.
Your local Sky expert
THE VISITOR March 2015 37
House & Home inc. Spring Home Improvements
it – this can cause permanent damage.
7. Handles are designed to help you position a mattress on its base – do not use them to support the full weight of the mattress – they may pull out and damage the fabric.
8. Don’t leave polythene wrappings on a new mattress – dampness, mildew and rotting could all result from a build-up of condensation.
9. Vacuum your mattress and base from time to time to remove fluff and dust. This should be carefully done so as not to dislodge fillings or damage tufts. Open windows while vacuuming -especially if there is an asthma sufferer in the house.
10. When tackling stains, use mild detergent and warm or cold water. Never over soak a mattress or base.
11. Don’t put a new mattress on a base for which it was not intended. A new mattress on an old base or on a board between the mattress and
Work in progress! Plenty of space for everything ... with bedroom furniture designed and fitted by Chameleon Bedrooms of Somerton. Visit their showrooms for inspiration. (See advert inside back cover).
base can impede comfort and reduce the useful life of the mattress – as well as affecting any guarantees or warranties.
12. Out with the Old: Once you’ve
Within SJH Carpets
The Tythings Commercial Centre Southgate Road, WINCANTON
Professionally Made To Measure Curtains, Blinds etc. Exciting New Fabric Ranges now available. Clarke & Clarke - Porter & Stone - Yorke Interiors ILIV - Art of the Loom - Prestigious Textiles Fibre Naturelle - and more! Curtain Poles and Tracks, Haberdashery Ribbons, Threads, Cushions, Remnants, Linings etc.
Melody 07883 089 333
OPEN: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9.00am - 4.00pm (Thursday - Closed) Friday 9.00am - 3.00pm Saturday 9.00am - 12.30pm
38 THE VISITOR March 2015
bough yourself a new bed, make arrangements to have the old one disposed of (many retailers will do this for you). Don’t give it to the children, relatives, guests or neighbours. If it wasn’t good enough for you, it’s not good enough for anyone else, either. In fact, it’s a veritable health hazard – get rid of it.
M
J
Carpets Proprietor: Roger Willis
“Over 45 years experience in the carpet trade” sales@mjcarpets.co.uk
Sleeping Tips for Teenagers
There are several practical hints and tips for parents that may help the teenager with sleep problems. Talking over wrries may well help to put them into perspective.
1. Try to impress on the teenager the importance of sleep and the need for at least eight hours’ sleep on school nights.
For a reliable & personal service Select from over 1000 Carpet and Vinyl samples
All leading makes supplied Prompt Delivery
Professional Fitting
FREE Estimates and Planning
Market Place, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 7LZ
Tel: (01458) 273042
House & Home inc. Spring Home Improvements
3. Suggest a reduction of caffeine intake (in coke drinks as well as coffee).
4. Point out that eating too much or too little close to bedtime an over full or empty stomach - may prevent sleep onset, or cause discomfort throughout the night. 5. Try and get the teenager into a going to bed routine suggest that doing the same things in the same order before going to sleep can help.
6. Ensure a good sleep environment - a room that is dark, cool, quiet, safe and comfortable.
7. Make sure the teenager has a comfortable bed. It may be time to get a new one - and encourage him or her to choose it themselves.
8. Don’t give teenagers handme-down bedding. A good rule of thumb: if the bed’s no longer good for its first user it’s not good enough for a teenage child either. 9. Remember, habits learned in adolescence often become lifetime habits - so make sure good sleep habits are learned early.
Silver Sleepers - Sleep Tips for the Over 60’s
Unscheduled snoozes are typical of the change in sleeping patterns experienced by many older people. They differ from the sleep of a younger person in the following ways:
Says Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council: ‘There are all sorts of ways in which silver sleepers can help themselves to a better night’s sleep - all of them really based on good old-fashioned common sense. Mostly it’s just a case of adjusting your daily routine as sleeping patterns change - and trying to limit the cat naps!’
Limit naps: Taking long afternoon naps can interfere with night-time sleep patterns. If you need a nap, don’t take longer than 30 minutes.
Get out in the fresh air: Studies show people who get adequate natural daylight tend to sleep better at night. Create a good sleep environment: Sleep in a cool, dark room on a comfortable, supportive mattress.
Check medications: Some medications may cause daytime drowsiness while others may cause sleeplessness. Ask your doctor.
Don’t worry about falling asleep: Stay relaxed. The more you worry, the less you’ll sleep.
5. They prefer earlier bedtimes and earlier wake-up.
Knit these cushions in the latest ‘Recycled Cotton Aran’ from King Cole. Hansons Fabrics & Crafts of Sturminster Newton stock all 12 sumptuous colours. Choose from an excellent selection of patterns. The home projects include this set of four cushions. Each of these cushions take just 4 balls of ‘Recycled Cotton Aran’.
Carpet to suit all tastes & budgets
Visit our new showroom to see our extensive range of flooring
■ Carpets ■ Vinyls ■ Naturals ■ Woods Wincanton ■ Laminates ■ Tiles ■ Blinds ■ Roll Stock ... vinyls & carpets now available
2. There is a loss of deepest levels of non-REM sleep.
4. There is less of a drop in body temperature during sleep for the elderly.
coke make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Try a warm milky drink instead.
Exercise: 20 – 30 minutes at least three days a week is ideal. A brisk walk will do – but not too close to bedtime.
1. The older adult experiences numerous brief arousals in the night.
3. There is more daytime napping.
Avoid caffeine in the evening: Stimulants such as coffee, tea, chocolates and
Corner of Showroom
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SJH CARPETS, Southgate Road, Wincanton 01963 824418 Also at: High Street, Tisbury 01747 871178
Fire Station
Lidl
Morrisons
Southgate Road Wi nc .T ow n
2. Encourage regular exercise 20 minutes three times a week will help.
Tythings Centre
NEW SJH
OLD SJH
THE VISITOR March 2015 39
House & Home inc. Spring Home Improvements Watch how much you drink: Limit drinking liquids a few hours before bedtime to save being ‘up and down’ all night. And remember that while alcohol may initially help you to relax and sleep, it may keep you awake later in the night. Don’t go to bed stuffed or starved: A stomach that is either too full or too empty may cause physical
March Notice Board DITCHEAT
Easter Family Bingo, 21st March, 6.30pm Village Hall. £2 entry (includes tea, coffee, biscuits but not cards). Any funds made for church.
HENSTRIDGE
Blackmore Vale U3A quiz/open afternoon Tuesday 3rd March, 2.30pm, Henstridge Village Hall. All welcome. Members £1.50, visitors £2.50. Includes refreshments.
NORTON SUB HAMDON
Spring Jumble Sale at Norton Sub Hamdon Village Hall (TA14 6SF), Saturday 7th March at 11am. Bargains galore. Admission 30p. Contact: 01935 881718.
SHERBORNE
Sherborne Sunday Market, 29th March, 11am - 4pm, Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne. Celebrating Dorset food, drink and craft.
ADVERTISE YOUR APRIL EVENT HERE!
A listing under our Notice Board costs just £5 for 20 words send details of What? When? Where? to The Visitor, P.O. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7BG. All entries to be pre-paid. Extra words 30p each. Deadline for our April issue, Friday 13th March.
40 THE VISITOR March 2015
Walter Wall Carpets of Princes Street, Yeovil is a well-established family run business - in addition to a wide choice of carpets they have a wonderful selection of rugs too.
100s of rugs in stock
Extensive range of quality carpets Natural flooring specialists
. . . do call in!
34 Princes Street, Yeovil. Tel: 01935 478100
Enhance your doors WE HAVE a superb choice of quality architectural ironmongery in a range of finishes ...
discomfort, making it difficult to sleep through the night.
Keep regular hours: Go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning. Keeping to a routine helps your biological clock. Develop a sleep ritual: Making the transition from wakefulness to sleep is easier by doing the same things each night just before going to sleep.
Enhance your cupboards and doors!
3 County Locksmiths of Gillingham have an extensive range of architectural ironmongery on display in their showrooms for both interior and exterior purposes. They offer a wide range of both contemporary and traditional designs in a choice of finishes such as wrought iron, pewter, copper and brass. There are knockers, letter boxes, house numbers, handle latches and more - including attractive crystal and ceramic door handles. Do call in and see their range for yourself - there is ample free parking outside the door. They also offer a wide range of security products and a whilstyou-wait key cutting service.
Antique Pewter Wrought Iron Chrome etc.
Handles, Letterboxes Latches, Bolts, Knobs Names & Numbers
Your Local Locksmiths and Architectural Ironmongery Specialists - Servicing Dorset, Somerset & Wiltshire Areas
& Architectural Ironmongers
Unit 5, Oakleigh Court, Newbury Gillingham, SP8 4JB Tel: 01747 826311 • Mobile: 07854 757306 www: 3countylocksmiths.co.uk email: info@3countylocksmiths.co.uk
Spoilt for Choice! Choose from an extensive range of architectural ironmongery at 3 County Locksmiths of Gillingham.
SHEPTON MALLET ~ business focus
Red Berry Recruitment Temps of the Year: Janet Haigh (Commercial) and Ernest Sanderson (Industrial).
Red Berry Recruitment Temps of the Year
Each month Red Berry Recruitment presents the best temporary worker with a Temp of the Month award; and at the end of the year, two temps (One Industrial and One Commercial from each office) is singled out to receive the Temp of the Year award for their representation of Red Berry, their hard work and their commitment throughout the year. Ernest Sanderson has been awarded the Shepton Mallet Office Industrial Temp Of The Year award for his outstanding efforts in 2014. Ernest has worked for Red Berry for over 4 years and in this time has never had a day off sick and they have to make Ernest take his holidays. Nothing is ever too much trouble for Ernest, whether it be a last minute call for him to work or for him to do extra hours, he just gets on with the job at hand. Ernest
works at one of Red Berry’s largest clients, Crown Pet Foods and is an integral cog in their wheel. Commercial Desk Temp of the Year for the Shepton Mallet office goes to Janet Haigh. Janet has been temping at Mendip District Council since 2013 and has been a valuable employee. She is punctual, professional and an all round lovely lady that has fitted in brilliantly. Janet is a great representation of Red Berry temporary staff.
local people with problems related to their skeleton and nervous system such as trapped nerves, head-ache, pelvic pain, pregnancy pain, joint problems etc. But we recommend you get yourself checked now – rather than wait for damage to occur or progress. Present the advert on this page to us in March & April for a half price consultation or let us check your child’s spinal health for just £5. Call Ben on 01749 988046.
KeyRing Lettings are celebrating their first year of trading as a new concept in the property lettings market. The Social Enterprise, which is a non-profit making community interest company (CIC) provides a comprehensive, caring, high quality lettings and management service throughout the Mendip area. To celebrate their first year of trading, KeyRing Lettings will be offering a special promotion on fully managed properties of an 8% monthly management fee (minimum 12 month contract) along with a full rent guarantee and NO VAT. Landlords are invited to their open day celebrations on Wednesday 11th March 2015, 2pm to 7pm at their offices, 50 High Street, Shepton Mallet BA4 5AS.
WHY Chiropractic?
Advertising – One Year On
Cosy up in The Den
There’s a new place in town to enjoy an evening meal. Following on from the success of their Thursday evening Speciality Steak Night, The Den at Jon Thorner’s, Pylle will be opening on Friday and Saturday nights from the middle of March. The team at The Den have welcomed a new chef and will be bringing out a new evening menu. On Fridays the focus will be on
Because you deserve to thrive and live life to the full, not just to ‘get by’! BE AT YOUR BEST.
WHAT will it help?
Through careful treatment it improves the function of your skeleton and nervous system. AND ENABLES YOUR BODY TO PERFORM BETTER.
WHO is it for?
For YOU and EVERYONE! Be happy – Don’t suffer – Join in Don’t hold back – Avoid damage – Keep going
DISCOUNT with THIS ADVERT during March & April 24 High Street, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5AN Telephone 01749 988046
Mendip Chiropractic - And an offer not to be missed!
Mendip Chiropractic are moving to a new Shepton Mallet location to cope with client demand. People who come to us really benefit and word has spread. You too can benefit – whether you currently suffer symptoms or not yet. At the core of what we do is an underlying principle: A healthy spine leads to a healthier life. We offer drug free spinal health care and lifestyle advice. We have helped hundreds of
REGISTERED OSTEOPATH
TREVENEN PASCOE
BSc. (Hons.) Ost. Med. ND. BUPA & PPP Recognised Cranial & Structural Osteopathy
42 High Street SHEPTON MALLET Somerset BA4 5AS 01749 342594
THE VISITOR March 2015 41
SHEPTON MALLET ~ business focus
seafood, with delicious fish dishes and Saturday nights will have a full a la carte menu. The licensed café-style-bistro will be transformed of an evening, which offers ample free parking. Using quality ingredients, including meat from Jon Thorner’s and sourced locally whenever possible, The Den offers food which is made fresh by their team of chefs. You may have noticed a subtle
name change as well. The Den has decided to change their name from the Coffee Den, because the café has evolved into so much more than just serving coffee. The Den serves delicious meals, homemade desserts, hearty cooked breakfasts and Sunday lunches. So the name change better reflects what this place has to offer. Don’t forget Mothering Sunday – The Den offer a fantastic 1, 2
RIDGEWAY GARAGE Family run business - established over 40 Years
For quality used cars at affordable prices - PART EXCHANGE WELCOME -
Clean Cars Bought for Cash - liCensed Credit Broker
Kingsland Road, SHEPTON MALLET • Tel: 01749 342938 www.ridgeway-garage.com
Stock Rolls & Remnants Stocked ● Carpets and Flooring ● Natural Flooring inc. Sisal & Seagrass ● Vinyls and Laminates ● Mats / Runners Made-to-Measure ● Solid & Engineered Wood ● Domestic and Commercial Free Estimates Professional Fitting Available
Showrooms: Evercreech Junction Shepton Mallet, BA4 6NA
Tel: 01749 831578
On the main A371 between Shepton Mallet & Castle Cary
or 3 course Sunday lunch, as well their whole menu and daily specials. With 2 sittings available on March 15th, booking is advisable – call 01749 838938.
Ridgeway Garage
If you are looking for a reliable secondhand car then pop along to Ridgeway Garage, situated on the Ridgeway Estate to the south of the town near Mendip District Council, in Kingsland Road. A family run business established for over 40 years you can be sure of helpful and professional service. All cars come with a new MOT, a Service, Cam Belt replacement if required and a warranty. Part exchange is welcome, finance is available if required and credit cards are also taken. Should you be looking for a particular make/model of car they will be happy to try and source it for you. Visit www.ridgeway-garage.com or give them a call. Stock changes regularly.
D.R. Carpets
D.R.Carpets are now stocking quality solid and engineered hardwood flooring available in a choice of grades and finishes. This
attractive flooring is guaranteed for 35 years. D.R. Carpets have a wide choice of carpets including the stylish range of striped carpets currently on trend. Rugs and runners can be made to order using remnants from your carpet – ideal for the hall or in front of the fire.
Twice as Nice
If you’re looking to furnish your house at a reduced price, then pay a visit to Twice as Nice, your local furniture, electrical items and paint re-use scheme. Visit the store at 10 Town Street, Shepton Mallet, and browse a selection of low-cost sofas, beds, white goods, paint and more. They can also deliver any items – charges start at £5. Donations are accepted of your unwanted items, helping you do your bit for the environment. Last year, around 50 tonnes of items were stopped from going to landfill and were given a new lease of life. If you’re a keen gardener, you’ll find a gardening section too. Pay them a visit today!
Sutton’s Stairlifts
Mark Sutton, who decided to set up a stairlift business after his father was stung by a pushy and
Now you see me, now you don’t! This adaptable Chameleon is hidden in the foliage. Just one of the many interesting and exotic reptiles to be found at Repxotics in Shepton Mallet.
Somerset’s leading retailer of reptiles & amphibians
Tortoises • Snakes • Lizards Frogs • Spiders • Invertebrates open on sundays 10am – 4pm tuesday to saturday 9.30am – 5pm Closed Mondays Extensive Range of Cold Water & Tropical Fish + Accessories
Repxotics, 17 Town Street SHEPTON MALLET BA4 5BE 42 THE VISITOR March 2015
www.repxotics.co.uk
Telephone 01749 938082
SHEPTON MALLET
aggressive stairlift installation company, is delighted to have been successfully trading for over 12 months now. Sutton’s Stairlifts is a family run business which Mr Sutton set up in September 2013 with the help of his sons. Dedicated to providing a fair and ethical service, the business offers a range of new or refurbished stairlifts for purchase or rental in the Somerset and Mendip area. A display unit in the Haskins Retail Centre in Shepton Mallet is available for demonstrations by appointment.
Moggs - Sales, Service and Repairs on Lawnmowers and Garden Machinery
Moggs offer genuine, impartial and enthusiastic advice about a wide range of garden machinery from several manufacturers, so that you can make the right choice for your particular needs. They believe they stock the best quality machines available which will give you reliable and faithful service for many years. They have a comprehensive range of quality chainsaws in stock. Moggs avoid retailing
cheap foreign chainsaws as these are poor value for money. All new machines are fully assembled by engineers at Moggs, including petrol and oil, and are properly tested before they leave their workshop. They can deliver your new machine if required, and give you a full explanation of the controls, and how to get the best out of your new purchase. Their fully equipped workshop can service your machine, carry out repairs, and perform any warranty work required, so you may rest assured that when you walk out of their showroom, you walk into their care.
In store at HASKINS - SHEPTON MALLET
★ QUALITY★ CHOICE ★ ★ VALUE ★
GARDENING
GARDENING MONTHLY by Richard Cumming Orchard Park
Beware, the Ides of March!
WELL, YES I AM stretching it a bit to come up with a headline like that which was the soothsayer’s warning to Julius Caesar warning him to keep an eye out for events on the Ides [15th] of March. In truth, history records JC’s assassination as happening on that very day in 44BC, so clearly he didn’t take the advice as well as he should have done. He actually thought that as nothing had happened before lunch, he would be in the clear. How wrong he was! But
hey ho, we all ignore good suggestions for a whole variety of reasons, which brings me neatly to my point that March is a really busy month in the garden and time spent now getting things into shape, is amply rewarded later in summer. Getting pruning finished, tidying areas before they get overgrown again, removing those perennial weeds, feeding and mulching are all essential tasks. Ignore them at your peril! Add to that lifting and dividing overgrown clumps of herbaceous perennials, 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
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Unit 2, Beardly Batch Depot, Cannards Grave SHEPTON MALLET, BA4 4NB Tel: 01749 343881 • www.moggsofwells.co.uk SALES – SERVICE – REPAIR THE VISITOR March 2015 43
taking out shrubs that are overshadowing and starving more interesting plants. It all needs to be on the job list for March. The garden trade associations are working on a campaign this year entitled ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ which encourages us to look at what we have now and find ideas to make the very best of that space, our plot! Even if you are thinking of moving house, it makes an awful lot of sense to improve front or back garden or even choose areas of the garden such as the patio or terrace which will make that part more useful to you and your family in the ‘outdoor’ days to come. Any estate agent will tell you how the value of a house improves with the care and attention given to the garden. The starting point has to be a clear up so that you can see the bare bones of what you have and start the plan.
Plant of the Month
Violas and Pansies - these are terrific, versatile plants that make a great impact in Spring time, with abstract splashes of colour they have one of the widest
GARDENING
colour ranges and can brighten up any garden space by being planted in beds, borders, containers and hanging baskets. Recommended varieties include: Viola 'Aspasia', Viola ‘Cucullata’, Viola 'Jackanapes' and Viola 'Moonlight'. When planting pansies and violas in the garden it's worthwhile considering some contrasting companion plants like shrubs which can complement their mix of colour and lower height. Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postil', also known as Nepalese paper plant, is an evergreen medium-sized shrub with highly fragrant deep pink and white flowers that are followed by black berries. While, Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae, also known as Mrs Robb's Bonnet, is a spreading evergreen perennial with dark green leaves from which arise large rounded sprays of yellowgreen flowers. Broadcaster and gardener, Esther Rantzen CBE, the celebrity champion for the month has a great love for pansies and violas. She says, "I love pansies
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GARDEN MACHINERY
Ben Johnson, 17d Wincombe Business Park SHAFTESBURY, SP7 9QJ • Tel: 01747 851021
44 THE VISITOR March 2015
pansies and violas are so resilient that they quickly recover with a few days good weather. March is the perfect time for a garden spring clean after the winter, revitalising up existing flower beds, borders and containers. Pansies are the perfect spring plants along with primulas, forget-menots and wallflowers and are perfect contenders for patio pots, hanging baskets and window boxes, ideal and easy to plant. Pansies and violas are two of the most popular bedding plants and are great for filling the gaps in borders once you have cleared away bedraggled or dead plants. Their names are often used
A wonderful choice of bedding plants for your garden and planters at Thorngrove Garden Centre, Gillingham.
Warranty: 2 Years
The MT270K 5-in-1 Multi-Tool is powered by a 27cc engine. it includes 4 quality attachments - grass trimmer, brushcutter, pole pruner and long reach hedgecutter together with an extension shaft. engine: 26.3cc kawasaki tJ27e 2-stroke / Max. power: 0.77kW
for their soft colours, all the shades of blues, purples and golds, and for their faces, turned down, as if in contemplation. As Ophelia said, ‘There's pansies, that's for thoughts' - and indeed the name comes from the French, pensees. They look fragile, but in fact they are tough, they can survive anything except the burning summer heat, and they seed themselves and return, year after year. And outside the garden wall their little wild cousins, the violets, send out their fragrance to reassure us that spring is on its way". Some of the winter and spring bedding has taken a beating but
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interchangeably. Plants considered to be pansies have four petals pointing upwards, and only one pointing down while Violets have three petals pointing up and two pointing down! Both are hardy annuals that offer colourful flowers in your garden; they both need watering regularly and need to be planted in moist, well-drained soil. Pansies and violas like sun and cooler temperatures. Make sure you remove faded or dead flowers to prolong blooming and encourage more flowers to grow bringing a joy of spring to a garden following cold winter months.
Jobs for the Month
Short winter days in the cold and wet don’t exactly inspire you to go gardening, so the job list now is a real mix of what should have been done as well as what needs to be done. Clearing, pruning, weeding, feeding and mulching would cover it! In the flower beds, the dead growth from last year should be cut back before the new growth gets too far ahead, especially with ornamental grasses and clumps of perennials. Spring flowering shrubs should be left until after they have flowered but any overgrown summer shrubs could be thinned out by removing old wood (take out about a third of
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
GARDENING
the plant) or cutting back low the fast growing Spiraeas and Buddlejas. Perennial weeds usually need to be dug out unless you can apply a systemic weed killer such as glyphosate, without touching other plants. If you do use a weed killer then be sure to let it do its job properly; don’t apply it if it is going to rain in the next 6 hours, and let the plant die back before you tidy it away. Feeding and mulching are the best way to make your garden ‘grow’, a slow release multi purpose feed such as Vitax Q4, TopRose or Miracle-Gro Granular is ideal, or if you prefer a liberal dressing of Blood Fish and Bonemeal. The best mulch would be your own well-rotted garden
Approved contractor to Dorset & Somerset C.C.
compost from your carefully tended compost heap, bagged recycled green waste or bark mulch. All of these work well keeping the weeds at bay, retaining moisture and feeding the soil over a longer period of time. Summer flowering bulbs and corms such as lilies, gladioli and dahlias can be planted out later in March, and overgrown perennials lifted, divided and replanted. In the edible garden, fruit trees and bushes are budding up nicely, but the soils may still be too wet to cultivate. It really does need to dry up a bit but from experience it will happen and when it does it will happen quickly. The soil can be improved with
addition of grit and organic manure. If you have time, energy and the materials then raised beds are worth making. They don’t have to be too big, even 1m x 50cm would make a useful space, and raised beds are very much more productive as they are easier to cultivate and maintain. If you are working on small beds then sow some early leaf crops indoors to get a head start, quick maturing salads and spinach are usually successful. Root crops such as early carrots and beetroot are usually best sown direct as they don’t transplant quite so well. Potato growers should have their selected seed potatoes set
QUALIFIED ARBORIST
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An ideal ride-on mower for smaller areas
£1899
Lawn Rider 28H
A premium mAchine the rider 28h has the power of a garden tractor but is combined with a more compact, manoeuvrable chassis. rear engine layout offers unrivalled forward. The rider 28h gives a superb finish on fine lawns and will also tame the more unruly ones. powered by a 344cc Briggs & Stratton power Built 3130 AVS engine. clippings are blown into a 170 litre capacity rear mounted collector which features an audible alarm to let you know when it is full. The collector can be emptied from the driving seat. cutting height is adjustable from 30mm to 80mm through 7 positions
5 Year Warranty
LEE HOLMES Garden Machinery
15 Cary Court, Bancombe Business Park, SOMERTON Tel: 01458 274261 • www.gardenmachineryrus.co.uk
All types of Fencing
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THE VISITOR March 2015 45
GARDENING
out in a light frost free place to chit [letting the shoots start to grow]. The early varieties can probably be planted out early to mid-March if the weather is good and the soil temperature is rising. A soil thermometer is a useful thing to have as ideally the temperature should be over 7°C and rising. Onion sets and shallots can go in now as they are quite tough. Birds love to pull them out as they start to grow so either firm them in really well or protect them with a layer of fleece until they have put roots down. Here’s a few other jobs to tackle – if you have a pond, check the plants in baskets before they start to grow. If they need dividing and replanting use an aquatic compost. Well-established pond plants can be fed with a special aquatic plant tablet that is formulated for pond use and doesn’t encourage the growth of algae. Finally the lawn; give it a light trim on a dry day and see what treatment it needs. A complete
weed, feed and mosskill will sort most problems especially if used alongside a good raking over and aeration using a fork, then reseed bare or thin patches or re-turf as this is often an easier and economic option.
Talk & Demonstration 26th February
Georgie Newbery, author of The Flower Farmer’s Year - how to grow cut flowers for pleasure and profit ... will be talking about her business, the cut flower industry and how our British Flowers play their part in it, at The Shambles, Market House, Castle Cary on Thursday 26th February 2015, 7pm for 7.30pm. She will also demonstrate making a bouquet and is happy to answer all your questions. Georgie is not only imaginative and energetic she also happens to be hilarious too. Tickets are £7.50 (includes refreshments) and are available on the door.
GRAS S ground to scarifyin & B R U S H h g u ro G 0 IN 6 T 1 A p 0 lantat g, orchard C U T T I N G ROTAV . tel: 07659 55 s, io s d t e e b l: 076 ns, playing paddocks, d see 59 55 0160 fields etc . lift h hig MI NI DI GG IN G an d 0160 dumper. tel: 07659 55 NING MOSS C L E A g etc. H T PROB A P tin spiking L P A T I O chanical poin , coring EMS scarif e ying m , tel: 07 0 d 6 n a 01 659 550 659 55 160 tel: 07
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
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46 THE VISITOR March 2015
National Garden Scheme Garden of the Month March
Garden lovers will be pleased to know that the new season for the National Garden Scheme is now underway.
Tuesday 17th March -
Hestercombe Gardens, Cheddon Fitzpaine, TA2 8LG, 10am - 5pm. £9.70 (£3.70 child). Refrehments, wheelchair access, dogs allowed, plants, coaches welcome.
telephone, please call Assistant County Organiser Judith Stanford, on 01761 233045. Visit the NGS website: www.ngs.org.uk
Sheila Clarke – passionate campaigner for British Rare Breeds
Sunday 29th March -
Fairfield, Stogursey, TA5 1PU , 2pm - 5pm. £4 (child free). Teas, wheelchair access, grassed paths, plants. If you would like to open your garden to the public, Somerset National Gardens Scheme is looking for gardens of interest, quality and character to raise money for charity. Nearly 4000 gardens open every year in England and Wales to benefit charities including Marie Curie Cancer Care and Macmillan Cancer Support. Gardens with a good level of plant interest are always welcome and the size of your garden is not the priority, many NGS gardens are normal back gardens. If you think you could open your garden and raise funds, why not discuss the possibility with Somerset County Organiser, Lucy Hetherington. Email her at: lucyhetherington@btinternet.com, or if you’d prefer to talk on the
Suppliers of quality lawn turf Full ground preparation and laying service available
Telephone Somerton 01458 272091 Mobile 07850 310998
North Dorset farmer Sheila Clarke, who has died in hospital aged 82, was one of the best-known farmers in the region, a passionate campaigner for the preservation of Britain’s native breeds of livestock, cattle, pigs and horses, and a supporter of country sports. Sheila was a former Gillingham town councillor, and for years she and her husband Ron ran the Dorset Rare Breed Centre at Park Farm on the Shaftesbury road out of Gillingham. She had been involved over the years with market gardening as well as farming and was friends with horticulturalist Richard Cumming, who, with his artist wife Sue ran Milton Garden Plants, a nursery and country garden centre at Milton-on-Stour. They often talked about ideas for improving the landscaping around Gillingham. “Sheila and I were both fond of roses and as I was the agent for one of the world’s leading rose breeders, we did get several areas
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Spring in to the Garden! To book your advert in the Easter Issue of ... Telephone: 01963 351256
or email: info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk
April Issue Print: THURSDAY 26th MARCH Deadline: FRIDAY 13th MARCH
planted up which gave immense pleasure to a lot of people,” says Richard. “Sheila and Ron had their farmmeat freezer shop at their farm (now Brickfields Business Park). Both our businesses were small and needed to grow, so in 2002 we made a plan to create a new business on land at Park Farm and so Milton Park (Dorset) Ltd was born and a trading name, Orchard Park, adopted – at the time we also had plans for a community orchard and even got the first fruit trees planted. As business partners, the four of us,
the end bit...
PAPERCHASE THE HEADLINE across the top of page 2 in the 5th February issue of the Western Daily Press unwittingly prompted me to read the story below it. ‘MPs debate the future of diary in UK’, it announced. Could this mean that some crackpot plan is afoot to alter the number of days in a week and standardise the number of weeks in a month? But no, the politicians were discussing the problems faced by the UK’s dairy industry, and the headline was just another result of dispensing with proof-readers, although I’m surprised that nobody in the newsroom spotted the howler before it found its way into print. I’m not the only reader who spotted it. In his ‘Feedback’ column in the following Saturday’s issue, Jerry Charge revealed that he had received many emails and phone calls commenting on the mistake. He recalled the admonishment given to trainee journalists that ‘if you can’t get the simple facts right – like the spelling – why should readers believe anything else you are telling them’. Admitting that the days of dedicated proofreaders have long gone in all but the largest of publishers, he wrote that ‘with the economics of today’s newspaper world, journalists
GARDENING
Sheila and Ron, Sue and myself, invested in the project and made it happen. Sheila, with her eye for the future, was always supportive and keen to see things happen. “Sheila had friends in so many places; one of them was David Howard who at the time was head gardener to Prince Charles at Highgrove. David came down to Orchard Park and ‘cut the ribbon’ the following April, on St George’s Day. Then the new Lagan Farm Shop opened, much to Sheila’s joy, in September 2006 and is the principal outlet for the meat from her and Ron’s traditional beef
herds of British Whites, Irish Moil and Red Poll. Sheila put so much energy/dedication into the task of saving and improving these breeds.” Sheila was one of the farmers who brought the Irish Moil breed back from the brink of extinction. She and Ron are also among the dedicated breeders who have helped to save another Irish rare breed, the endearing Kerry Bog ponies, several of which live at Park Farm, where Sheila successfully bred several foals. She loved her horses, and had the occasional animal in training and
was also a keen fan of carriage driving. She was very proud when the regional carriage driving show was held at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Showground in 2013. Although her health had not been good in recent years, Sheila remained closely involved not only in the farm and her animals but also in the garden centre next door. “She always maintained a keen and active interest in Orchard Park – she was company chairman – and she earned the affection of the staff,” says Richard. She was truly a force of nature and will be hugely missed.
need to be “a Jack of all trades”. And we all know how that quotation ends.’ Which doesn’t say much for the credibility of the Western Daily Press. The simple facts seem to elude reporters on the Western Gazette. The 5th February issue of the Caste Cary edition carried a news item headlined ‘Correction over council tax report’ which stated that in the previous week’s issue it had ‘incorrectly stated that Bruton Town Council had increased the town’s precept by £11.36 a month. In fact the town council has increased the precept by £11.36 a year for a Band D household.’ The same issue carried a story headlined ‘Month left before bank branch shuts’ which revealed that ‘Wincanton’s branch of NatWest is due to close its doors in a little over a month’s time. The bank on the corner of Station Road will close on Tuesday 10th March.’ Knowing that the Wincanton NatWest is on South Street, not Station Road, I made a quick phone call and discovered that in fact it’s the Gillingham branch that is to close on 10th March. When the Western Gazette’s Your Weekend supplement was launched last September, editor
Emma Slee described it as ‘the best leisure offering the Western Gazette has ever produced’, a ‘free 32-page pull-out that will appear inside your Western Gazette every single week’, and the paper’s front page was blazoned with ‘Don’t miss your FREE 32-page leisure pull-out’. I see that not only has it now shrunk to 24 pages but also that it is not averse to reprinting features from other newspapers in the same publishing group to fill those pages. For example, a page and a half in the slimmer 12th February issue were filled with a feature on ‘award-winning food blogger Ella Woodward’ who, ‘whether she’s whizzing up veggies for a juice or heading to yoga . . . glows
with good health’. Interviewed by Keeley Bolger, she talks about her change of diet, her website and her new cookery book, from which three recipes have been extracted to pad out the feature. Which would all have been quite interesting – except that I had read the word-for-word same article, complete with the same three recipes, in the previous Saturday’s Western Daily Press West Country Life supplement. If the Gazette is intent on this sort of recycling, the least it could do is lift articles from papers that are not available in its circulation area. Or if this is not possible, then to leave a respectable gap of several months to let readers’ memories fade. Chronicler.
Sudoku
by
T. M.
Fill in the grid with the numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, each column and each 3x3 block contains all the numbers 1 to 9.
Solution to February
Sudoku
THE VISITOR March 2015 47
Classified Ads
Fires / Chimneys / Stoves
Send Details to: The Visitor, P.O. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7BG. 30p per word (£5 minimum) pre-payment essential. For a Box Number please add £2. Payment can be made by Cash, Cheque, Postal Order, BACS, Credit / Debit Card. ✽ If you require a receipt a s.a.e. must be enclosed with payment, or your email address.
PHONE - a - FIRM SANDPITS
HEATING & HOME STORE
Multifuel Stoves ... over 200 on display Chimneys Relined ★ Full Installation Service HETAS • OFTEC • GAS SAFE
✴ Chimney Sweeping Service ✴
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 .............................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................. ..................................................................................................................................................................................
Denture Repairs
Passport Photographs
Wanted
Are you a denture wearer?
Storage
postCards, pop memorabilia, coins, badges, old toys, games, and anything military. tel: Clive 01749 675456.
Denture repairs while you wait ...
Tel: ......................................................................... Cheque Enclosed for £ .................... Minimum £5
passports - passports - passports - also studio sittings and weddings. any time to suit you. easy parking. tel: graham Cox, photographer, 01458 223769.
storage for furniture in locked cubicles. lock-up garages to let. tel: sparkford storage on 01963 440045 or 440526 or 440692.
Meditation
Wells Zen group: Zazen Meditation followed by discussion on Buddhism, 7.30pm every Monday, town hall, Wells. Contact paul Crummay: 01749 670193.
T.V. Rental
t.V. rental - long or short term, domestic & commercial, up to 50-inch plasma. h. r. hodge. tel: 01460 240645.
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.
Services
household & garden ruBBish Cleared, old sheds / oubuildings demolished, etc. tel: 01460 77844.
For Sale
hand-Crafted round pine taBle, 36-inch diameter, with 2 chairs, £120 ono. tel: 01458 250950.
Verenti defense road Bike, XXs. unisex. never used. £300 ono. tel: 01935 410990.
48 THE VISITOR March 2015
daVe Buys all types of tools, salvage, bygones and collectables. daves tools - tel: 01935 428975
all sports prograMMes and books, memorabilia and ephemera – especially football. large collections welcome. Cash paid. tel: Clive 01749 675456. guns Wanted for cash. any size, any condition, make or model. By registered firearms dealer. tel: 07970 742471.
r e d u n d a n t M o t o r M o W e r s , rotavators, chainsaws, strimmers, cement mixers, etc. tel: 01460 77844.
ClassiCal lps from 1950 – 1980. also rock and pop 45s and Cassettes. ring: 07807 010408.
1960s / 70s plastiC toy soldiers, knights, cowboys, castles, garden. timpo trains. tractors. WW1 helmets, posters. tel: 07823 443474.
Personal
lady seeks gent for company and friendship. i am in my 70s and enjoy dancing & days out. reply to Box no 7. gent, 67, enjoys travel, theatre, national trust, seaside, music, dancing. seeks lady, non-smoker, easy going. tel: 01458 440094.
June Wants strong arms to hold her. young 65, smart, good figure, nonsmoker. loves animals, meals out, walks, theatre, car boots and antique fairs, cosy nights in with home cooking. tel: 07923 373661.
Mobile Bars / Catering
harry’s MoBile Bars, all occasions, weddings, parties, etc. tel: 01747 825553 harry@bars4u.plus.com www.harrysmobilebars.co.uk
DENTURE REPAIRS
07921 074602 • 01749 677440 • Solidfuel3@aol.com
De to m nture smi ake y s o le a gain u !
Terry New Denture Clinic
01458 210039
Home visits a speciality
Maintenance & 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
• • • • •
• • • •
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
While You Wait Collection & Delivery Denture Advice Mr. C. Dunn
Registered Dental Technician
01749 812585
www.dunndental.co.uk
TV Aerials
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
Framing
SCENES
Artist Materials & Gallery
« Picture framing « Restoration « Large selection of prints & paintings « Greeting Card Blanks High St. Gillingham Tel 01747 824050 www.scenes-online.co.uk
Services
GOOD POTATOES
takeaway Bags of Coal • Calor gas Car & Van rental Competitive prices
Anchor Hill Service Station WinCanton 01963 32609
PHONE - a - FIRM • PHONE - a - FIRM
Transport & Storage
The key to all your storage needs!
Electrical Contractors
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
Plumbing & Heating
High Street, Sparkford, nr. Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7QJ Tel: 01963 440045 / 440526 / 440692
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
Tel: 01747 861479 Mob: 07561 120828 For all your roofing requirements
Flat Roofing • Tiling • Slating GRP Roofing All New Work Fully Guaranteed
for further information & estimates contact allan Carey
01963 33528 / 07885 723915 Email: allancarey541@hotmail.com
Bourton Roofing Co. Slate Tiling Flat Roofing. UPVC Fascias Guttering FREE EST I MAT ES
01747 840064
... or 07866 296453 Email: info@bourtonroofing.co.uk
Communications
34 White Road, MERE, Nr. Warminster Wiltshire, BA12 6EX
Email: mead208@btinternet.com
Domestic Cleaning
Amanda Chedzoy Domestic Cleaning Services Experienced Trustworthy Reliable References Available
Tel: 01935 472669 Mobile: 07990 041322
Fire & Security Alarms
Clock Repairs
CLOCK REPAIRS Antique and Modern Clock Repairs. Free pick up and delivery 40 years experience
Tel (01935) 477582
WESTLINE COMMUNICATIONS
Business Telecom Specialist For All Your Telecom Needs For free, friendly & professional advice call ...
John Penny on 07976 967349 www.westlinecoms.co.uk
THE VISITOR March 2015 49
PHONE - a - FIRM
Prize Crossword No. 341 Set by Frank Butler
Building
Dave Hoddinott fully Qualified Builder - estaBlished 1973
• Renovations & Extensions • Roofing + Carpentry • Plumbing & Heating • Ceramic Wall & Floor Tiling • Painting & Decorating FRIENDLY and RELIABLE SERVICE • Electrical Contracting Competitive Prices ✳ No VAT ✳ No job too big or too small
01963 440256 / 07974 844682
SEND COMPLETED ENTRIES TO: The Visitor Crossword, P.O. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset BA7 7BG to arrive by Friday 13th March.
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
THIS 4 cms x 2 column SPACE in FULL COLOUR
COSTS just £53.95 per month
inclusive of VAT (which is equivalent to £12.45 per week)
SHOULDN’T YOU BE ADVERTISING HERE?
Tel: 01963 351256
Email: info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk
Domestic Appliances
Pe
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 Email: info@tda.uk.com
Covering the areas between Wincanton Castle Cary, Sparkford, Sherborne and Yeovil
50 THE VISITOR March 2015
Oven Cleaning Mister Oven
Independent Oven Cleaning Specialist Ovens - Hobs - Agas etc
Tel: 01935 475065 Mob: 07752 695264 www.misteroven.co.uk
Clean Ovens Domestic Ltd Independent Oven Cleaners AGAS • RANGES • OVENS HOBS • EXTRACTORS Tel: 0800 7076629 Mobile: 07563 693145
www.cleanovendomestics.co.uk
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24 hour emergency call out • email: hoddaz@hotmail.com
Your Advertisement Here ...
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Animal hair by irish water with leave of absence. [8] Half-formal in pig pen: That’s a bit rough! [6] Confused owls take time. [4] Reorder all ten bins for use in court. [6,4] Machine assembler? Some benefit terrier’s owner. [6] Arrange the beads for a healing pool at Jerusalem. [8] yawning as Greek character is surrounded by gang. [6] Draw back from journalist naming former king. [6] Nearby short 17 is concealed. [8] Capital as (between the poles) gold follows shortly. [6] i abate muddle, taking verb back to make brief. [10] Dinner announced with part of oregon group. [4] Break bar, let Prince Consort appear! [6] Wooden shoe time: That will upset things. [8]
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Firstly, Hattie and Norman go back years; but is it to do with their necks or a thread? [4,2] Wall hangings with surveyors’ measures and attempts. [10] one tit navy confused at birth. [8] Alter a reading to let water run away. [8] Ethics is about a town in Kent. [6] Abel in empty larders affixes name. [6] if this, must be when necessary. [4,2] Two-thirds of gateau as a way out. [4]
Solution to Crossword 340
Down 1.
2.
3. 4.
5.
6.
i bind lug in construction work. [8] Hunter returns with easy movement. [4] First boys speak and spread. [6] Fool is a toy bear to have helped. [8] Duplicate fish with large instrument. [6-4] Grinned. it’s a mile between Stockton and Darlington initially. [6]
THE WINNER of our February Crossword was Mr. D. H. Feltham of East Harptree, Bristol, who chose to spend the £10 voucher at Antiques Bazaar, Crewkerne.
Chameleon
Over 20 displays on view in our showrooms ... Bedrooms Kitchens Home Office ■ FREE design service ensuring best use of space
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■ A family-run business
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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
‘Oakleigh’ Solid Oak Dining Furniture
... SPECIAL PROMOTION when you purchase a Dining Suite
FREE RD SIDEBOA Extending Oak Table 4ft, with 4 chairs £739 FREE 2 Door Sideboard worth
£299
Extending Oak Table 5ft, with 6 chairs £999 FREE 3 Door Sideboard worth
£399
SUPERB QUALITY ... just one of many promotions in store
TOWN CENTRE LOCATION
The Old Vincent’s Showroom Market Street, YEOVIL, BA20 1HZ 01935 412811
FREE PARKING OUTSIDE THE DOOR
Email: info@fitandfurnish.co.uk Visit our website, over 7000 items to choose from: www.fitandfurnish.co.uk
DIRECTIONS: from Marks & Spencer head towards Court Ash Car Park and past The Pall Tavern. Showrooms 100 yards on the right.
Genuine reductions on 100s of appliances
YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS Cookers, ranges, fridge freezers, washing machines & more! Immediate delivery on most items
Longmead Industrial Estate, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8PL • 01747 851476 • myhomemaker.co.uk • Est 1994