The Visitor Magazine Issue 393 August 2016

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Issue 393 August 2016

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In Passing...

I

T HAS LONG BEEN a justified complaint of people living at the eastern end of Somerset that they can’t get to their county town and back by public transport on the same day.

They can’t visit County Hall where important local issues are debated and decided, the County Court where local justice is dispensed by local juries, or the County Cricket Ground where Somerset’s reputation is won or lost, unless they own and are prepared to use their car.

Driving in and out of Taunton on the A358 is a long, slow process at the best of times. At peak hours it’s horrendous, with long queues of traffic in all directions where the road hits junction 25 of the M5. Add the time it takes to get from there to the town centre – and find somewhere to park – and the 30plus miles from Castle Cary can take well over an hour and a half. The train from Castle Cary to Taunton takes just 25 minutes, but the current timetable shows only one train on a weekday morning and that’s not until 10.30am.

Then try getting home again! If you can’t make Taunton station by ten to four you will have a three-hour wait for the next train that stops at Castle Cary.

At the end of June an open-access train operator revealed proposals to run a twohourly service between Taunton and Swindon from December 2017, with stops at Castle Cary, Bruton and Frome in Somerset, and to extend the service to Oxford and beyond from the following May. Opening a new station in Langport is also proposed. If implemented the service would certainly be of considerable benefit to a substantial part of Visitorland by providing an adequate alternative to the car for travel.

But will it ever be implemented? Readers with long memories will recall that back in 2000 Somerset County Council called for a new rail service between Westbury and Taunton calling at Frome, Bruton and Castle Cary and at re-opened stations at Somerton and Langport. It commissioned

a survey into the commercial viability of the proposed service, the level of funding required, and the social and environmental benefits – which revealed that rail patronage was on the increase in the South West and the route was not covered by existing through bus services. It concluded that the service would open up Taunton to easy access for residents of east Somerset and could provide a spine for an integrated transport network across the centre of the county. But nothing came of it.

In 2010 a co-operative was launched to develop a new service of four trains a day between Yeovil and Birmingham via Castle Cary, Swindon and Oxford.

Although this proposal generated significant local interest and support, again nothing has come of it. Hopefully the latest proposals will meet with greater success, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

NN.

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Advertisement Manager & Features Editor Michelle Trulock © The Visitor Ltd. 2016

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CONTENTS

Our FRONT COVER is almost entirely due to theatrical technology

ANNOUNCEMENTS & CLASSIFIED - 50 ANTIQUES & COLLECTING - 6 CHILDREN’S WORLD - 15 CROSSWORD - 50 GARDENING - 39 GILLINGHAM & SHAFTESBURY SHOW - 7 HOUSE & HOME - 33 LEISURE & TRAVEL - 19 LETTERS - 4 LOOKING GOOD & FEELING FINE - 22 MENTIONED in DISPATCHES - 4 MOTORING - 18 MUSIC for the MONTH - 20 NOTICE BOARD - 20 PET CARE - 31 PAPERCHASE - 47 PHONE-A-FIRM - 48 PUBS - 42 SHAFTESBURY - 12 STUDIO H, Wincanton, business profile - 27 THEY SAY - 44 WINCANTON - 24 WINE & DINE - 46 Drawings by GEOFF THOMPSON

THE VISITOR August 2016 3

Letters To the Editor

Chilcot Report - What About the Survivors?

Sir, The publication of the long awaited Chilcot Report has naturally dominated the news recently, along with the political commentators wanting to put in their two penn’orth.

Despite the criticism over the length of time it took to bring the enquiry to its conclusion the general consensus seems to be that it is thorough and fair in its judgement.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and whilst those involved cannot undo their actions, or take back the misguided rhetoric that led us into what is agreed by all to have been a disastrous war, one can only hope that lessons have been learnt.

In our own lives we are all required to make decisions, some with unforeseen consequences that can have a major impact on our lives and those of our loved ones. Rarely are these decisions ones that have such far reaching and long lasting impact as the one made 13 years ago.

When it comes to those that govern us, those, who in our democratic society have been elected in good faith to represent us, I believe that we have a right to expect a greater level of caution, particularly when taking us into war and putting the lives of our service men and women at risk.

In the case of the Iraq war it would seem that aside from the dubious motives of the war mongers, wanting to make a name for themselves in standing up for democracy, one has to ask whether or not it is in fact undemocratic to impose regime change on another nation; all rather undemocratic to my mind, and I am no pacifist.

That fact that both we and the Americans had fundamentally failed to plan the course of action that would bring about success, and as a result were totally unprepared to fight the battle and deal with the aftermath is, I believe, immoral.

Whilst Saddam might well have been a threat, much of the intelligence was inaccurate at best and exaggerated at worst to bring about immediate pre-emptive action.

Whilst we must not forget those who died in this fruitless struggle, I have recently had occasion to think at some length of those who did come back, and who as a result of their horrific experiences have both long term mental and physical injuries, making their lives a living hell. They are the ones who continue to suffer, each and every day, often with little support from their pay masters. The war may be over but they and their families have to live with the repercussions on a daily basis.

In recent interviews much has been made of the memo sent by Blair to Bush stating ‘I will be with you whatever’. It is a pity he is still not able to share the same sentiment in relation to our armed forces. Blair has also said, ‘I wanted to make sure America did not feel alone. I did not want them to feel compelled to go it alone’. Tell that to the families of our service people who were left unprepared and ill equipped to do his bidding.

Whilst I noticed the catch in Blair’s voice as he spoke during the post-report interviews, I also detected the same conscious ‘sound bite’ use of words perfected during his time as Prime Minister. I was left wondering, where was the real emotion at the devastation caused, and for which we are now reaping the reward in the form of recurrent terrorist action?

Linda Piggott-Vijeh Rectory Court, Vicarage Hill Combe St. Nicholas TA20 3NE

Our Famous Menswear SALE IS NOW ON Telephone: 01935 478357 31 Princes Street, Yeovil, Somerset

4 THE VISITOR August 2016

Mentioned in

Dispatches

Warhorse Team Create Longleat Lion Puppet

Longleat has commissioned puppetry specialists from the National Theatre’s production of ‘Warhorse’ to bring a giant lion puppet to life. The big cat puppet, which is nearly three metres long and more than two metres tall, will feature in daily parades at the Wiltshire stately home throughout the summer as part of the 50th anniversary of Longleat Safari Park.

Designed and built by resident puppetry director for ‘Warhorse’, Jimmy Grimes along with puppet designer David Cauchi, the lion w ill le a d the d a ily pa r a de s throughout the summer which also feature African dancers, animatronic floats and a selection of friendly animals. The parade will culminate with a special endof-day performance where visitors will get to see him roar.

Longleat’s African Summer is on daily until September 4th. For more information/tickets online, go to www.longleat.co.uk

Chedington Street Fair 30th July, 12 - 5pm.

A traditional street fair, market and fun dog show in a pretty Dorset conservation village with attractions and activities for all.

Lunches, cream teas and refreshments will be available whilst the renowned Kingsbury Episcopi Band will be playing in or near the beer tent. Admission is £1 per adult with ample free car parking. The street fair is a registered charity and raises funds for the village halls in Chedington and its near neighbour South Perrott.

For more information visit the website (www.chedington streetfair.com) or call 01935 891891.

New campaign to Inspire Families to Discover Wildness in Somerset

Somerset Wildlife Trust is delighted to be one of a number of southern Wildlife Trusts joining forces with the Southern Cooperative to deliver a new joint campaign My Wild Neighbourhood which aims to help families get outdoors to explore nature in their neighbourhood and local natural spaces, and to raise awareness of why engaging with nature is good

for children’s health and wellbeing.

The campaign is supported by proceeds from the carrier bag charge, distributed by The Southern Co-operative to local community causes.

Funds from the partnership will be supporting Somerset Wildlife Trust’s ‘Brilliant Coast’ initiative in the first instance, which aims to inspire people and communities along the coast about the wonderful habitats, wildlife, history and heritage that can be found there, so that collectively we are able to protect the coast in light of growing development pressures. Running a programme of community engagement, citizen science and education in coastal schools to get people out there and engaging with the coast plays an important part in achieving this.

The My Wild Neighbourhood campaign falls within the Southern Co-operative’s overall Love Your Neighbourhood initiative which, following a survey, aims to address four key issues in our society and will focus on supporting; More Inclusive, Greener, Safer and Healthier Neighbourhoods. The campaign complements Somerset Wildlife Trust’s ‘Every Child Wild’, ‘My Wild Life’ and ’30 Days Wild’ campaigns.

Fund Raiser

A Summer Coffee Morning held at Dewes House in Mere raised over £300 for Cancer Research.

Yeovil Literary Festival

Two amazing Shakespeare events are already lined up for this year’s YLF and what better way to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death?

These events bring some big literary names to Yeovil. Firstly: If you enjoyed the BBC’s recent ‘Upstart Crow’ series starring ‘Peep Show’ legend David Mitchell as Shakespeare himself then you’ll want to catch John Crace and John Sutherland when they come to YLF with their work, ‘Incomplete Shakespeare’, short parodies of some of the Bard’s most famous plays, concentrated into just a few thousand words. John Crace is best known as the Guardian’s Parliamentary sketch writer and John Sutherland is an academic, newspaper columnist and author – you couldn’t have two better people developing these fantastic re-tellings.

Secondly: ‘The Shakespeare Dictionary’ is a must-see.

Celebrated linguist David Crystal and his son, the renowned classical actor Ben Crystal, have created a book, and in turn a talk, that guides you through some of

Mentioned in

Dispatches the best of Shakespeare’s language. Going from A to Z in their dictionary, is a test in memory for the pair, inspiring both old and new visitors to Shakespeare in a wonderfully funny and dynamic way.

Ben and David will be in The Octagon Auditorium as part of the YLFon Saturday 22nd October at 6pm and John Crace and John Sutherland will be at The Manor Hotel on Sunday 23rd October at 2pm. Tickets are available now via: www.yeovil literaryfestival.co.uk or from The Octagon Theatre Box Office (01935 422884).

Rotary Club of Ilminster

Always a person known for doing things differently, Linda PiggottVijeh, outgoing President of the Rotary Club of Ilminster celebrated the end of her year with a 'posh' afternoon tea at Dillington House.

Said Linda 'I very much wanted to move away from the traditional function style of black tie dinner, and also conscious of cost decided that afternoon tea would be a fun thing to do. We were very lucky in being able to have the use of

Dillington House, and the weather held up nicely. Over 50 guests, including Ilminster Mayor, Val Keitch and Mike Best, Chairman of South Somerset District Council, were greeted with Pimm's on the lawn, before feasting on sandwiches and scrumptious cakes and scones, finishing off with crumpets and strawberries and cream.'

Past president John Wood also commented, 'This has been a tremendous year for Linda, who has a reputation for doing things in her own inimitable style. She has managed to increase our number of members by three, we participated in Ilminster carnival for the first time, achieved several awards, including one from the President of Rotary International for our international work, and have worked on several projects within the community, notwithstanding the first ever Ilminster Literary Festival. She will certainly be a hard act to follow.'

Festival of Archaeology in Somerset

As part of the 2016 Festival of Archaeology The Crafts of Ancient Avalon will take place on Saturday 30th July at the Avalon Marshes Centre on Shapwick Road. The day will be packed full of demonstrations showing some of the oldest and most precious traditional skills from the past.

There will be lots of chances to get hands-on and to buy hand made objects straight from the

producer including willow baskets from the Avalon Marshes, beautiful bronze jewellery and prehistoric-inspired pottery.

The free event runs from 10am to 4pm (postcode BA6 9TT) and is s u ppo r te d b y the A va lo n Marshes Landscape Partnership.

Castle Cary and Ansford Carnival Society

A fund-raising Cream Tea Afternoon, with stalls, was held in the heart of Castle Cary by CCACS on Saturday 9th July and raised over £500 for its carnival funds. The Society is also looking for volunteers, to become Procession Organiser and Chief Marshal for their October procession, from 2017, and for marshals for their 2016 processions. For more information contact Gordon Stockman 07596 987150 or gstockman mbe@gmail.com or the committee’s General Secretary Caroline Sharley 07711 266969 or carolinejsharley@gmail.com

Blackmore Vale Revival

Over 2000 people, many in period costume, attended the Blackmore Vale Revival at Henstridge Airfield on 2nd July.

There were over 300 Classic Vehicles on show ranging from 1920’s racing cars up to modern

day classics like the Ferrari and Ford GT40, the value of all the cars on show ran into millions of pounds.

Trade stalls and Children’s entertainment stalls provided ample opportunities for visitors to help raise funds of over £5,000 for the chosen charities of CLIC Sargent, the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Future Roots.

The organisers would like to thank the sponsors and the volunteers for helping to make the event such a success.

MAX FOOTE Associates Ltd

Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors 26 Lower Woodcock Street Castle Cary BA7 7BH Tel: 01963 351052

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

THE VISITOR August 2016 5

Antiques & Collecting

Yeovil Antiques & Collectors’ Fair

Approximately 25 stands can be found at the Yeovil Antiques & Collectors' Fair taking place in the large function room at The Halfway House Country Lodge, Chilthorne Domer. Visitors can expect to see an interesting selection of Asian antiques,

Victorian and modern jewellery, silver, antiquarian books and decorative objects. The organizers, Eclectic Fairs Ltd, already run the highly successful Purbeck and Solent Hotel Antiques Fairs. Open from 10am - 4pm.

Rare French Doll to Set the Fashion in Auction

A Parisian Fashion Doll will be a highlight in the next Collectors Sale at Lawrences Auctioneers of Crewkerne on 18th November.

‘It has been consigned for sale by a West Dorset client who was given the doll some years ago,’ explains Simon Jones at Lawrences. ‘This rare doll was made around 1860 in Paris and

is known as a fashion doll. It would have been bought by only the very wealthy as such dolls have always been expensive.’

The doll has a bisque or porcelain head, with glass eyes, closed mouth and pierced ears. It has a leather body and stands 26ins (66cms) high.

Simon added, ‘These early Parisian dolls are very scarce and t h e y a l w a y s a t t ra c t a h u g e amount of interest in auction. It

This Parisian Fashion Doll is expected to fetch between £1,000 and £2,000 at Lawrences Autumn Collectors Auction in November.

is amazing that it has survived for around 150 years and hopefully it will find another good home.’

Antiques Fairs

•

Chasty Cottage Antiques

•

Saturday 6 th August Digby Hall, Hound Street, Next to Library SHERBORNE, DT9 3AA 9.30am – 4pm • Trade 8.30am • Admission £1

 Future Date Saturday 3rd September  Sunday 28 th August SALISBURY RACECOURSE, SP2 8PN *Antique / Flea Market *Indoor / Outside  01963 370986 www.chastycottageantiques.co.uk

Lesley - by Pal Fried, Hungarian artist circa 1960's. Just one of many interesting items available from Quillon House Antiques of Bruton.

Quillon House Antiques 16 H IGH S TREET , B RU TON  01749 812269  17 th / 18 th C. Oak and Country Furniture

 Arms & Armoury  Equestrian Paintings  Valuations Undertaken  Antiques Purchased

18th Century Oyster Veneer Olive Wood Laburnham Chest 

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10.00am – 5.30pm

Hazy-Maes Auctions

Auctions and House Clearance Services AUCTIONS HELD FORTNIGHTLY OVER 2 DAYS  Friday evening from 6.30pm  Saturday from 11.00am Also live bidding online: www.easyliveauction.com Viewing all day on Friday from 9.30am

AUGUST AUCTIONS

6 THE VISITOR August 2016

Friday 12th / Saturday 13th and Friday 26th / Saturday 27th Now at: Unit 4, Beckery Road, Glastonbury, BA6 9NX Tel: 01458 833550 • Email: office@hazymaesauctions.co.uk Visit our website: www.hazymaesauctions.co.uk

Highlights of the Show

People are always asking - what are the highlights of your Show this year? Well, how do you answer that question because it depends so much on what interests the individual has and what their expectations are. This year the feature event in the main ring will be the amazing Diggerland (JCB) Dancing Digger Stunt Team which is undoubtedly one of the top arena attractions currently available, although they are costing us considerably more than previous attractions. The team features five of the world famous JCB 3CX diggers and one JCB mini loader, these powerful and versatile machines are being tested to their limits by the highly skilled and experienced operators.

Also filling the main ring programme will be the exciting, high speed Shetland Pony Racing Team, these young riders donate all of their fee to the Bristol Hospital’s Wallace & Gromit appeal.

This year as the Ridden Hunter classes have moved to the East Ring, the main ring programme will commence at 10.00am with the Private Driving and Light trade classes, other morning

GILLINGHAM SHAFTESBURY AGRICULTURAL SHOW Wednesday 17th August

events include the Heavy Horse Turnout & Ladies Driving classes, the massed Parade of

Hounds & Beagles and displays by the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service. This year a

number of our local machinery dealers will be demonstrating the latest technology, computer controlled machinery and tractors that don’t really need a driver.

One of the most popular areas of the Show is the Turnpike Countryside Ring where there will be a full day of exciting displays, including the fantastic birds of prey, the falcons, hawks and kestrels from Mere Down Falconry. The challenge of the

Equestrian events always attract large crowds at the Show.

GILLINGHAM SHAFTESBURY AGRICULTURAL SHOW

at the Motcombe Turnpike Showground Wednesday 17th August 8.30am – 6.30pm

★ Food Trade Stands ★ Diggerland Dancing JCB Diggers Team ★ Shetland Pony Racing ★ Heavy Horses ★ Birds of Prey ★ Team Terrier Racing ★ Ferret Racing ★ Falconry Display ★ The Cornish Wurzels and Neon Moon ★ Cookery Theatre ★ Over 500 Trade Stands £12 £3 £ 29

£14 £4 £ 35

Find us on Facebook – gillandshaftshow THE VISITOR August 2016 7

B&K Team Terrier racing where visitors are challenged to bring their dogs into the ring to compete against the local champions. If you are looking for a surprise then you will want to see Terry Moule’s racing ferrets as you never know which end of the pipe they will appear from!

For a laugh a minute the Dog & Duck display takes some beating, do the ducks really know how to fool the dog?

Back by popular demand, the late Ron Cake’s favourite group, the New Forest Yokels, with their country ‘n’cider style of music.

They are very ably supported by a very well-known local band Mustang Sally, one of the most popular bands in the Dorset area today. Fronted by Georgie, a very familiar face on the music scene with years of experience in many successful bands, Mustang Sally never fails to get any gig going.

We are also pleased to welcome the Gillingham Imperial Silver Band, supported by members of the Shaftesbury Town Band as well as the GIS own junior band.

Featuring music from around the world, something for everyone.

If you need to sit down for a few minutes, perhaps you should visit the Homemaker Cookery Theatre where three very skilled local Chefs will entertain and

GILLINGHAM SHAFTESBURY AGRICULTURAL SHOW Wednesday 17th August

educate you. David GriffinShepherd from La Fleur de Lys in Shaftesbury, Mark Hartstone from La Fosse Restaurant in Cranborne and Steve Bant from

Yeovil Manor will present a day of ‘Cooking Live Demonstrations’.

Many of their ingredients will be sourced from the exhibitors in the Harts of Stur Food Hall where

This attractive timber building has been designed and made by Sparkford Timber Buildings & Gates. Visit their stand at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show. (See advert inside front cover).

over 60 local producers will be tempting you with delicious fresh food and drink. The Dorset Farmers Market also has a number of local suppliers who are there to tempt your taste buds.

To many of our visitors the highlight of the Show are the animals, we hope to have 300 head of cattle, 400 sheep, more than 500 horses and ponies, plus hundreds of dogs, poultry and rabbits on display. The owners of these animals will have spent endless hours, even years training, grooming, clipping and preparing them for display before the judges. These exhibitors and those in the other competitive sections are the real heroes.

Please don’t forget the Grand Parade of prizewinning cattle & sheep which will be held in the Cattle judging ring at 3.15pm.

With more tractor and machinery dealers than at many multiday shows this must be a mecca for farmers and young boys too. Modern tractors are always a big crowd puller and we have been assured that several franchises will have new models available. A show with so much on display is an ideal place to bring your wish list: to start the process of comparing makes and models if you are looking for a new off the road vehicle or a wood

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chipper; to upgrade your buildings; or to find a new sire for your cows, this is the place to start your search.

The Horticultural & Handicraft marquee always attracts big crowds so must be rated as a major highlight. There is a huge range of classes including vegetables, flowers, floral decoration, cookery, wine making, needlework, wood work and photography, with a specialist section for bee keepers and a whole section to encourage the younger exhibitors – all classes need to be entered in advance of the Show. In the Art marquee, many local amateur artists compete and to sell their works after judging.

Education is an area which we are developing, we have had some well supported informative displays at previous Summer Fayres. We are working to establish a new area with hands on displays and activities.

Lots of veg’ and flowers on show.

GILLINGHAM SHAFTESBURY BV Dairy

AGRICULTURAL SHOW Wednesday 17th August

Plenty will be on show at the BV Dairy marquee where a busy

stand is planned at this year’s Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show on Wednesday 17th August.

Common Mead Lane, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4RE

Taste some of the exciting products that are made at the Dairy, sample BV Dairy’s award winning Dorset Clotted Cream on a scone or a Milkshake made with delicious, local, Blackmore Vale Milk from Millie’s Milk Bar. The BV Dairy marquee is at stand A11 overlooking the main show arena. Our popular milking cow and Millie the Dairy’s Mascot will be on hand

Phil with Coreopsis  available at Thorngrove

Turn into Broad Robin off B3081, continue past Mellowes Residential Home: Thorngrove is next on right

 01747 822242 Email: thorngrove.staff@scope.org.uk

■ Vast range of Herbaceous Plants looking good ■ Wide selection of Shrubs, Fruit, Roses & Trees ■ Specimen Trees & Plants Available To Hire for weddings and special events, ring for details ■ Visit our Stand at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show – Wednesday 17th August

Thorngrove Garden Centre was set up by Scope Scope exists to make this country a place where disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else. Until then, we’ll be here.

OPEN: 9am – 5pm EVERY DAY including SUNDAY

300 head of cattle are expected at the 2016 Show.

THE VISITOR August 2016 9

with some fantastic entertainment for children young and old and look out for our Scarecrow - part of the Show’s Scarecrow Trail.

Those living in the Shaftesbury area might like to visit to see progress on the new Chilled Store facility that is

GILLINGHAM SHAFTESBURY AGRICULTURAL SHOW Wednesday 17th August

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

currently under construction – you will be able to see timelapse photography of the whole project and visualisations of how the building will look once complete.

Light lunches and patisserie, some made using the Dairy’s products, with coffee and tea will be available from Turnbull’s of Shaftesbury.

Homemaker of Shaftesbury

If you are looking for a new electrical appliance visit the Homemaker marquee. Here you will find not only a great choice of appliances at sensible prices but the very latest in technology.

Today’s washing machines, freezers etc. are more economical to run and can offer bigger load / storage capacity. Many goods can also be operated whilst you are out of the house – by using an app on your mobile phone.

Whether it is steam baking or induction hobs you’re looking for call in and chat through your requirements with Homemaker, whose experienced and friendly staff will be pleased to advise.

Watch out for special show deals!

Tractors for everbody! There are more tractors and machinery here than at many multi-day shows, making it a Mecca for farmers and young boys.

Cedars Castle Hill

Cedars Castle Hill is a charity specialising in caring for people from the local area who have dementia. We provide high level

The Visitor

CAN BE READ ONLINE: www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk

10 THE VISITOR August 2016

PROMOTE your Bank Holiday Event in our next issue ...

Tel: 01963 351256 or Email: info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk Deadline: Friday 12th August

With approximately 400 sheep expected at this year’s show there will be plenty of grooming, clipping and preparing before they go on display for judging.

residential and nursing care in our two Shaftesbury based homes.

2016 sees a celebration of 30 years’ service to the local community when we are leading a campaign to create Shaftesbury Dementia Friendly: a community project of lasting value not just for those who have dementia as well as their carers, but also for the many visitors and tourists coming to our town.

At Cedars Castle Hill we are passionate about raising public awareness of dementia and in educating people so we can support those living with the illness and their carers to live well in and around Shaftesbury.

We have booked a specialist virtual dementia experience bus to come to the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show on Wednesday 17th August. The tour encourages visitors to discover how the world sounds, looks and feels for those living with dementia. Our aim is not only to raise awareness but also to enable more people to have an insight into the world of

GILLINGHAM SHAFTESBURY AGRICULTURAL SHOW Wednesday 17th August

dementia. From that experience we hope that people will be able to change the environments of their homes, our shops, our public places and our communities thus helping improve the lives of those with dementia.

Please come and find us at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show.

Pictured right: George Jeans with wife Sue and son Michael of Jeans Electrical. Jeans Electrical celebrate 100 years of trading in Mere at the same premises!

THE VISITOR August 2016 11

SHAFTESBURY ... a business focus

The Wincombe Centre

Looking for business space for your small enterprise? Why not make The Wincombe Centre in Shaftesbury your considered choice. With access 24/7, onsite management, free parking, fibre speed broadband, Units from 1-8 people, and a fabulous little meeting room in which to meet your clients, you’ll be guaranteed value for money. All offices are let on Easy In Easy Out terms with simple, inclusive licence agreements. The regular networking events provide a great opportunity to share your achievements and sound out ideas with other businesses. It is such a

thriving and vibrant centre, full of a wide variety of small like-minded businesses, and its encouraging and supportive environment will enthuse and hopefully spur you on to continued success.

Underground Music

Underground Music is the brandnew music shop based at the top of Gold Hill in Shaftesbury.

Recently opened, it is owned and run by local musician and former teacher Dave Gordon who, when not in store, can be found playing with his band Jamarca. The shop stocks a wide range of well-priced musical instruments, spares and accessories including learner

ranges of brass, woodwind and strings through to guitars, keyboards, ukuleles and percussion from leading brands such as Fender, Yamaha, Gretsch, Zildjian, Roland, Jackson, Boss and many others. So, whether you are just starting out on your musical journey or are a seasoned musician, call in soon and see how Underground Music can help.

You can also find them on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/ undergroundmusic.rocks

Southern Co-operative Funeral Plans

A pre-paid, inflation-proof funeral plan, providing peace of mind for

Musical instruments, spares and accessories to suit all abilities

Unit 1 • Gold Hill House • 21 High Street • SHAFTESBURY • SP7 8JE  01747 852181 • Email: sales@undergroundmusic.rocks www.undergroundmusic.rocks

12 THE VISITOR August 2016

you and your family.

None of us like to think about the end of life, but by planning ahead we can spare the people we love from difficult decisions at a painful time.

The Southern Co-operative Funeral Plan is tailored to your individual needs so you can choose exactly what you want.

The cost is guaranteed and totally inflation-proof – protecting you and your loved ones from everrising costs.

Two people can be named on a Funeral Plan, with the option to use it for either the first or the second person that passes away.

You can even set up a Funeral Plan on behalf of somebody else.

To find out more, visit one of their local funeral homes in Shaftesbury or Gillingham or visit online at www.funeral care.co.uk

Homemaker - Kitchens & Appliances

Homemaker of Shaftesbury have recently doubled the size of their kitchen showroom. There is a style to suit all tastes, from the very contemporary in bold colours

SHAFTESBURY ... a business focus

such as aubergine through to the more traditional painted finishes in cream.

If you don’t want to replace your kitchen completely, you can update it with replacement doors.

These are available in a wide range of colours and finishes which can give your kitchen a completely new look.

Homemaker are also able to

supply from stock a wide range of kitchen appliances from leading manufacturers.

Sometimes the cheapest appliance is not always the best value for money and it is Homemaker’s policy to give straightforward advice and sell the customer the right appliance for their individual requirements.

This customer care has paid dividends over the years as many customers are referrals and others travel some distance for the large choice available.

Homemaker is part of the Euronics buying group and this enables them to buy competitively and pass the savings on to their customers.

Whether you want a new kitchen designed and installed or a new kitchen appliance, look no further than Homemaker of Shaftesbury. See them at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show

- when there will be plenty of special offers on the day!

Shirley Allum Fashions

Shirley Allum Fashions & Lingerie is an independent store in Shaftesbury and has been in the High Street for 20 years. The 3000 sq ft. premises is stocked with leading labels such as Brax, Joseph Ribkoff, Gerry Weber, Not Your Daughters Jeans, Joules, Seasalt and White Stuff.

They have extended the foot wear department to stock leading brands such as, Ugg, Fly, Fitflop,

A full kitchen design and installation service is offered by Homemaker, on the Longmead Industrial Estate, Shaftesbury.

BEST

 for choice  BEST for quality BEST  for value BEST  for customer service We think we are the BEST ... so do our customers!

Thinking of a new kitchen?

Why not call in and see us and judge for yourself!

“When only the BEST will do”

THE VISITOR August 2016 13

SHAFTESBURY ... a business focus

Fashionable shoes and handbags to complete your outfit from Shirley Allum Fashions, Shaftesbury.

Riva and more. You will also see Radley handbags in many styles and shapes.

At the rear of the store is the Lingerie department, stocking Triumph, Sloggie, Bestform, Fantasie, Freya, Lepel, Charnos, Shock Absorbers, Anita Care, and many more. Fashion sizes from 10 to 28. Bra sizes 28AA-50K something to suit all, whatever your shape or size. Shirley Allum has the largest selection of trousers in the area, over 2500 pairs in stock.

During the sale you’ll find selected bras from £10, half price trousers, a sale rail of £20 tops plus many more bargains throughout the store. Well worth a visit to Shaftesbury for ladies who enjoy a lovely shopping experience.

DCM Tyres (Wessex) Ltd

The name of this firm is a little misleading, it should be ‘dcm tyres and more’ as it does so much more than just fit tyres.

Some of the extra services are clearly related to tyres, such as wheel alignment, alloy wheels and brakes. Others are just very useful: batteries, servicing, Powerflow exhausts, ECU remapping and now MoT tests.

The firm was founded by father and son Dave and Charlie Evans, and has firmly established itself as the first choice in the fast-fit automotive industry in North Dorset.

With depots in Blandford Forum, Shaftesbury and Sturminster Newton, DCM tyres’ coverage and massive stock holding is second to none in the area.

‘We retain our independent status when so many businesses are owned and dictated to by national companies. Only independent firms can give you impartial honest advice that is not based on bonuses and targets.

‘Our massive, loyal and growing customer base is testament to our honesty, prices, workmanship and commitment to customer service,’ said Dave.

Charlie added: ‘The investment we have made in buildings and equipment has enabled us to enlarge on the services we offer: four wheel vehicle geometry, a full brake service, dealer standard vehicle servicing and MoT tests, to name a few.’

Exhausts systems and ECU remapping are DCM tyres’ newest services.

Longmead Industrial Estate Shaftesbury, SP7 8PL

14 THE VISITOR August 2016

It’s a steep climb! The easily recognised Gold Hill, famous for the Hovis advertisement.

SHAFTESBURY

Ben Johnson Garden Machinery

Ben Johnson Garden Machinery is situated on the Wincombe Business Park, Shaftesbury. Ben has been trading since 1997 specializing in the sales, service and repairs of a wide range of garden machinery.

Leading manufacturers stocked include the Webb range of hand tools which are exceptionally good value for money (the highest price being £200) and are guaranteed for 2 years. Also from Webb are pedestrian mowers which range in price from £139 - £599, these being the most popular choice amongst customers.

The Club Cadet R2T series is the best-selling range of ride-on

machines, primarily because their manoeuvrability and reliability.

Recently introduced is a range of power tools from Greenworks tools. These are cordless for ease of use and are powered by a lithium battery. The Oregon range of bars and chains – for chainsaws are stocked and a chainsaw sharpening service is available.

Ben and his team offer a professional and friendly service so if you need a new mower or an existing one repaired call in. Free parking outside the door.

Living Pretty

Children’s World

Childrens Tiara & Tea Parties the perfect party for your little Princesses to enjoy in the comfort of Living Pretty’s relaxed surroundings.

Have fun decorating cupcakes, whilst enjoying finger sandwiches, homemade scones clotted cream and jumbleberry jam accompanied by fruit squash served in vintage china teacups and saucers.

There’s even a fun packed goodie bag to take home along with your own sparkling tiara.

It’s £12 per Princess with a

maximum of 12 Princesses per tea party. Please call us at Living Pretty to book your party.

Childrens themed birthday cakes can be made to order.

Outside catering is also available for family gatherings, anniversary parties etc. Also Canapé Parties and a Dinner Party-to-your-door service. Call for further details.

Stomp Shoes

Founded in 2008, Stomp is an independent family owned business located in the market town of Shaftesbury, Dorset. They

 Suitable for extra large lawns the TORO Timemaster with its 30 inch / 76 centimetre cut can save you up to 40% of your mowing time. Call in and see the TORO range in the upstairs showroom at Ben Johnson Garden Machinery.

A CUT ABOVE THE REST ...

Envoy 36

 Split rear roller for improved manoeuvrability and striped finish

There’s even a fun packed GOODIE BAG to take home along with your own SPARKLING TIARA!

 7 height-of-cut settings

£200

STOCKISTS of the

Harrier 41, 48 & 56

BenJohnson

The perfect party for your little Princesses to enjoy in the comfort of Living Pretty’s relaxed surroundings.

Have fun decorating cupcakes whilst enjoying finger sandwiches, homemade scones, clotted cream & jumbleberry jam, accompanied by fruit squash served in vintage china teacups and saucers.

 Electric powered

Harrier 48

Tiara & Tea Parties

Prices from ...

£559 to £1259

YOUR LOCAL HAYTER STOCKIST

17d Wincombe Business Park Shaftesbury, SP7 9QJ Tel: 01747 851021

GARDEN MACHINERY www.benjohnsonmowers.com

It’s £12 per Princess ... with a maximum of 12 Princesses per tea party. Please call us at Living Pretty to book your party.

*Somerset Afternoon Cream Tea For Two £20

Delicious Finger Sandwiches Homemade Cakes, Scones and Clotted Cream – *Gluten free available.

All served on a vintage style cake stand with china teacups and saucers.

WE ALSO OFFER: Vintage China Hire, Bespoke Outside Catering Service Celebration Cakes Made to Order, Weddings & Childrens Parties, Home Interiors. kate@livingpretty.co.uk • www.livingpretty.co.uk

The Old Bakery, High Street, Curry Rivel, Somerset, TA10 0ES Tel: 01458 253357

THE VISITOR August 2016 15

Children’s World

specialise in selling and fitting children's shoes. All the staff are Startrite trained and they offer a range of shoes in width fittings and half size from leading brands that will provide comfort and support for healthy growing feet.

They sell Startrite, Geox, Petasil, Camper, Bobux and Ricosta. They also have a range of sports shoes from Asics, Mizuno, New Balance and Grays. Further details can be found on the website www.stompshoes.co.uk

Carymoor Open Day Friday 12th August 2pm – 7pm

Wildlife trails, games + walks on site Refreshments available FREE admission

www.carymoor.org.uk

Carymoor Open Day

On Friday 12th August Carymoor will be opening its doors to the public for an open day. Take a guided tour around the sustainable buildings and the Dimmer site, taking in the species-rich nature reserve that has been developed on the capped landfill site. You will also be able to see how household rubbish is disposed of and how electricity is generated from landfill gas by Viridor, who run the site. Find out how the green waste from your garden is turned into Revive soil conditioner by the large-scale composting operation on site.

There will be children's activities and a nature trail for them to take part in.

Refreshments available. You are welcome to visit any time between 2pm and 7pm. Guided tours will take place at 2.30pm, 4pm and 5.30pm. Free entry. For more information phone 01963 350143 or visit www.carymoor.org.uk

Say you saw it in The Visitor

16 THE VISITOR August 2016

The Shoe Museum Street

The Shoe Museum is a great place to visit for all the family.

During the summer holidays there are Royal themed activities including a trail, making a crown and designing a shoe for the Queen. Visitors can also see hundreds of shoes and boots from Roman times to the present day.

Star items include the last, made for Princess Diana’s wedding shoe, and a giant boot. There are also temporary exhibitions telling the story of Clarks Desert Boot and a display to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death with a shoe that would have been worn during his lifetime. The Museum is open from 10am – 4.45pm from Monday to Friday.

Wild & Deadly Wednesdays at Secret World

Wednesdays turn Wild and Deadly this summer at Secret World. Nick Wadham, the creator, owner and presenter of The Wild & Deadly Show, joins Secret World with his LIVE nature stage show every Wednesday throughout the summer holidays during August.

In between performances there will be the opportunity to handle many of the insects and reptiles featured.

There’ll also be harvest mice and birds of prey on display, face painters, children’s activities, crafts, food and refreshments as well as fascinating talks for all the family about the various creatures. There will be something for everyone (even the squeamish) to enjoy!

Open from 10am to 4pm, with

free car parking right next to the site, it’s a fun day out for the whole family. Entry is just £4 per adult and £2 per child payable on the door.

Secret World Wildlife Rescue, New Road, East Huntspill, Highbridge, Somerset TA9 3PZ (between Junction 22 and 23 of the M5 and signposted from the A38 between Highbridge and Bridgwater). Please note, for health and safety reasons and safeguarding, children are not permitted to handle tarantulas – even if you have your own as pets at home. www.secretworld.org/wild-anddeadly-wednesdays

Pirates: Fact and Fiction

The Museum of Somerset’s summer exhibition, Pirates: Fact and Fiction opened on Saturday 9th July.

The exhibition explores pirates through history with a chance to

On Wild & Deadly Wednesdays there is the opportunity to handle many of the insects and reptiles.

Children’s World

discover more about the lives of these notorious adventurers.

Visitors can meet Vikings, Barbary corsairs and Chinese pirates, see model ships and weapons. The exhibition includes spectacular costumes from film and literature, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan and Spartacus.

The museum will also tell the story of Somerset’s own buccaneer, William Dampier, who was born in West Coker in 1651.

Although he served for a time in the navy, Dampier’s career was mainly spent as a buccaneer targeting Spanish ships and settlements along the Pacific coast

of South America and Mexico.

The Pirate Play Deck offers activities for children throughout the summer holidays. Children will be able to dress up in pirate costumes, walk the plank and make treasure maps, and with a fun treasure trail around the museum, families can enjoy a swashbuckling day out during the summer holidays.

The exhibition runs until 1st October (open Tuesday to Saturday) with the Pirate Play Deck open during school holidays and on Saturdays. In addition, the museum is open on Mondays until 29 August. There will be a small admission charge of £2 per person

for the exhibition (aged 3 and under go free) and £2 per child for the Pirate Play Deck (aimed at ages 3 to 11). The exhibition is

provided by Pop-Up Exhibitions.

The Museum of Somerset, Taunton Castle, Castle Green, TA1 4AA. Tel: 01823 255088.

Ferrari go-karts, inspired by the legendary Ferrari racing cars, highly manoeuvrable and guaranteed to make your heart beat faster.

Available from Ben Johnson, Shaftesbury.

Fun for all the family!

GO-KARTS

Children will have hours of fun with these wonderful puppets! Just one of many traditional toys available from One World of South Petherton.

17 St James Street South Petherton Somerset TA13 5BS

for all ages

“Buddy”

Prices from £99

Ideal for the garden and all terrain Get out and about Suitable for ages 3+ up to adults

01460 241166

John Deere BFR-AF

“Buzzy”

... see our range

BenJohnson

Ben Johnson 17d Wincombe Business Park Shaftesbury, SP7 9QJ Tel: 01747 851021 www.benjohnsonmowers.com

THE VISITOR August 2016 17

MOTORING

VINTAGE Motor Cycling

THE LONGEST DAY has gone and the evenings are beginning to draw in.

Events continue thick and fast during August. Somerset Section start the month with a guest speaker on the 4th. Mike Hann will be doing the talking (my big brother) so I must attend that one.

Next on the 7th will be the Signpost Rally starting from Creech St Michael and they conclude the month with an Evening Meet at Wookey on the 18th. The Wessex Veteran and Vintage Section have their club night on the 8th. This will be an auction of any items relating to motorcycling, always a bit of fun and interest. On Wed. 11th they have a new event called the Picnic Run which starts at Wood Henge.

The Dorset Section commence proceedings with their Lunch Meet at West Stour on the 3rd and on the 7th will have their Border Run at Gillingham. Club night on the 10th will be an Autojumble and Barbecue at Pulham. Next will be the Jeff Clew Memorial Run on the 14th from the Haynes Motor Museum at Sparkford. On the 17th will be a Mid Week Run which starts at 2pm from Otter Nurseries at Wincanton, and lastly they return to West Stour on the 27th for the Breakfast Meet.

Something there for everyone to get involved in and for more details ring 01935-872528.

My travels this last month have taken me far and wide. I went to our clubs premier event known as the Banbury Run. I have ridden in this event over thirty times but this year saw it from a different viewpoint. To see five hundred machines all lined up and being used makes this event the largest in the world for Veteran and Vintage motorcycles and threewheelers. All made

before the end of 1930 means the youngest machine being used is 86 years old and the oldest machine taking part was made in 1898, just 118 years old. Quite a sight they make in parc fermé but the effect is more striking when you see them on the road.

I did not ride this year due to official duties but fine weather helped make it a day to remember for all participants.

My travels next took me to Cadwell Park race circuit in Lincolnshire. I have reported before of the Baton Relay Rally our club was having to mark the 70th anniversary of the formation of the club. At the same time British Historic Racing (the road racing arm to our club) was celebrating 50 years of its existence. I went to take part in both of these jubilations.

At Cadwell Park there were three days of parades, practicing and actual races. The track lies in a valley in a parkland type setting, and very pretty it is, and beautifully maintained. I became fascinated by the proceedings. I have seen old racing bikes thundering along many times and wonder at their speed and the skill of the riders. What I had not seen before was the sight of old sidecar outfits and threewheelers being thrashed around the track, especially the Morgans and the like. Also new to me was the scooter racing. All very highly tuned, and colourful, they created quite a spectacle and amazingly were lapping within a second a lap of the big boys. All in all it was a thrilling three days of motorcycling the like of which I had not seen before. If you ever get the chance to see such an event then I thoroughly recommend you go. You will see an aspect of our motorcycling life which is unfamiliar to many of us. I could not resist using a picture this month from this meeting. It shows a racing Morgan having just gone through

the mechanical and noise test examinations prior to racing.

Once again the Rotary Clubs of Sherborne will be holding their Historic Vehicle Rally on Sunday 28th August in the Sherborne School Courts. I cannot think of a better setting for such an event, very pretty amongst the stone buildings and in view of the Abbey. The Rally always attracts lots of old cars (so enter early) and motorcycles but the latter has suffered a falling entry in recent years. So a challenge to the owners of all old bikes is to get an entry in and attend this wonderful event. An optional road run takes place in the morning and the vehicles go on display during the afternoon for the public to view. The event always raises lots of money for local charities so please attend either as participant or spectator. You will not be disappointed, and all done in a good cause. Thank you to Sherborne School for providing the splendid venue.

Now my wife has a Morgan, I wonder if she will let me strip off all excess weight (including the seats), do a bit of fine tuning, fit sticky tyres and try my hand at road racing. I bet I know which bit of excess weight I should lose first, and that's around my waist line.

Ah well, I was only day dreaming.

Rod Hann.

The Hazards of Driving on Country Roads

Driving on country roads can be just as dangerous as driving on main roads or motorways. More than 50% of all car accident

fatalities on UK roads occur in country areas.

Country roads can have many potential hazards for the unwary driver. Visibility can be a problem because of twists and turns in the road and hedges and trees obscuring a clear view of what is round the corner. Extra care should be taken in country lanes because livestock or farm machinery could be emerging from narrow tracks or field gates.

Another feature of long country roads that often catches out the unwary are sudden dips in the road. This can mean that the road ahead may 'appear' to be clear and safe to overtake a tractor or slow moving vehicle, but the vehicle approaching is just not visible in your line of sight due to the contours of the land.

Drivers not used to rural driving need to take extra care around horses or livestock on the road. Animals can be easily 'spooked' by road vehicles and behave unpredictably. Always allow a lot more time to pass a horse and rider because the manoeuvre has to be done slowly in order to be safe.

Many accidents occur because a driver stuck behind a tractor or other slow moving farm vehicle, gets impatient. Never take risks when overtaking, if you are in a queue of traffic behind a slow vehicle wait for your turn to overtake safely. Never be tempted to overtake several vehicles at once.

SEPTEMBER DEADLINE FRIDAY 12th AUGUST

BREWERS GARAGE LTD Book your advert today

AIR CONDITIONING • DIAGNOSTICS TYRES • MOT SERVICING • REPAIRS Telephone

01935 812720

18 THE VISITOR August 2016

Western Ways Yard Bristol Road, SHERBORNE, Dorset DT9 4HR

Bruton Art Society Exhibition

The Bruton Art Society is holding its 63rd Annual Art Exhibition offering a wide range of exciting work by local amateur and professional artists in assorted

media, Oil paintings, Watercolours, Prints, Etchings and Sculptures. All the works on show will range from traditional landscapes to challenging abstracts and much more in between. There is a large

selection of mounted and unframed work for sale at very reasonable prices including artists made cards. The exhibition has proved each year to be an exciting event in the Bruton calendar.

The Exhibition, in the Main Hall of Bruton School for Girls, Sunnyhill, Bruton BA10 0NT, is open from Saturday 13th to Saturday 27th August from 11am to 5pm.

Stock Gaylard Oak Fair

The 2016 Stock Gaylard Oak Fair will be held on 27th and 28th August.

This wonderful show makes a superb day out for all the family.

Children are entertained throughout the day with a variety of activities and workshops in the Kids area and around the show, whilst adults of all ages can enjoy the 200+ stalls and exhibitors showing the depth of rural skills to be found locally. Delicious local food will be available in Market Square to enjoy during the day or take home to cook later.

For the first time, Avalon Axes will be letting children and adults

have a go at showcasing their axe throwing skills! The Great Big Tree Climbing Company will be making a return visit with tree climbing for kids and adults, plus a zip wire for smaller visitors. In the arenas this year will be the Heavy Horse display team, Mere Down Falconry and Adams Axemen who will all be putting on fantastic displays and getting the crowds involved, plus returning after taking a year off is the team from Pratensis Countryside Services demonstrating the mowing of grass with a scythe which visitors can also try! All this plus demonstrations throughout both days from the Wood Chipping machine, watch a whole tree being reduced to chips within minutes!

Once again Dike & Son are main sponsors of the Oak Fair, along with Townsend Timber who are sponsoring the Machinery and Timber Yard area, and F. Cuff and Son who are sponsoring the Oak Avenue area of the fair for the first time this year.

Advance tickets can be purchased with 10% discount,

Memorabilia! Whatever the sporting event Martock Gallery of Martock can frame it! This attractive arrangement of horseshoes and photos would make a lovely gift or a presentation award.

Medals

Programmes Coins

Memorabilia Framed

Poppies Football Shirts

... and more!

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

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

THE VISITOR August 2016 19

August Notice Board CASTLE CARY

Caryford Community Hall fundraiser with U.S. Acoustic Bluesman Guy Davis, Monday 15th August, 6.45pm. Tickets £12.50 [£10 cons] from Castle Cary Marketplace and www.caryfordhall.co.uk

out!

Let’s go ou b a t ... and

Tel: 01749 813899 or http://www. bradsons.co.uk For more information visit www.stockgaylard.com

The David Hall

Friday 19th August is Acoustic Night at The David Hall, South Petherton from 7.30pm - 11pm.

All types of performance welcome including music, comedy, poetry, dance. All performers have the opportunity to deliver for 10-15

minutes with full PA and lighting system. If you wish to perform, please email folk@chriswatts.org to secure a slot. Suggested donation: £1 performer, £2 audience.

Last Night of the Proms

Early booking is advised for Yeovil Rotary Club’s highly acclaimed Last Night of the Proms Concert at the Octagon Theatre, Yeovil on Friday 2nd

LANGPORT

Langport Flower Club presents Reminiscence - Art in the Garden, outdoor flower festival at Immacolata House, Notaro Homes, Portway, Langport, TA10 0NQ, 12th - 14th August, 10am 4pm. Further information 01458 250743.

MERE & GILLINGHAM

Watercolour sessions for adults in Mere and Gillingham: Watercolour Club at Mere Lecture Hall Monday evenings 7pm - 9pm for 7 weeks £85, starts 5th September.

Watercolour Club at Vicarage School Rooms Gillingham, Thursday afternoons 2pm - 4pm for 7 weeks £85 starts 8th September. Watercolour for Beginners starts 9th September at Mere Lecture Hall Friday mornings 10.30am - 12.30pm, 7 weeks for £85. To enrol go to www.laura-jolliffe.co.uk

JULY AN 29th FINNIAN McGURK - Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil ADVERT 30th EDDIE ROGERS - Wyndham Arms, Kingsbury Episcopi IN THE PUB AUGUST PAGES 3rd BLUES NIGHT - Crown Inn, Sherborne ENSURES 10th TRAD JAZZ - Crown Inn, Sherborne A FREE 14th JAZZ in the Garden - Montague Inn, Shepton Montague MENTION 17th FOLK NIGHT - Crown Inn, Sherborne HERE! 19th FLATLAND BOOGIE BAND - Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil 24th HELLO HOPEFULS - Crown Inn, Sherborne 26th MANGLED WURZELS - Catash, North Cadbury 26th INNOCENT BYESTANDERS - Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil 27th DAVE LARGIE - Lord Nelson, Norton Sub Hamdon 28th MIKE BROWN (5pm) - Wyndham Arms, Kingsbury Episcopi 28th STORM - Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil 31st OPEN MIC’ NIGHT - Crown Inn, Sherborne

September 2016. The main beneficiaries this year will be the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and St Margaret's Hospice, two very worthy local causes always in need of funds.

Tickets available from the theatre box office 01935 422884 or 01460 240984. Prices include the £1 levy on all ticket sales at the Octagon Theatre being applied by SSDC from September 2016.

Colours of India - Natural Dyeing Workshop

Bookings are now being taken for the Colours of India workshop which runs from Monday 19th September to Wednesday 21st September at The Barn, Manor House, West Compton, Shepton Mallet BA4 4PB. Learn a little about the use of indigo, one of the oldest dyes

MOSTERTON ART GROUP 28th Annual Exhibition Saturday 27th August to ...

Friday 2nd September 10am – 5pm (4pm last day) at the

Skyrm Room, The Public Hall (rear entrance) 8 Fleet Street BEAMINSTER, DT8 3EF

There will be a great variety of artwork by local artists, most of which is for sale and this is your opportunity to snap up some original paintings or prints at a reasonable price. Entrance is free and there is disabled access and adjacent car park.

Further information from:

Joceline Wallis 01308 862872

SOMERTON MARKET Friday 2nd September 2016 From 10am to 2pm

SOUTH PERROTT (A356)

Village Fayre, Sunday 14th August, 11am - 4pm. Flower Festival, Punch & Judy, Classic Cars etc. A family day out in a pretty Dorset village. Free entry.

Information:01935 891224.

TRENT

Annual Flower & Craft Show Saturday 20th August. Village Hall, Trent. Open to the public at 2.30. Entrance £1.

ADVERTISE YOUR SEPTEMBER EVENT HERE!

A listing under our Notice Board costs just £5 - send details of What? When? Where? to The Visitor, P.O. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7BG. All entries to be pre-paid, maximum 20 words. Extra words 30p each.

Deadline for September issue, Friday 12th August.

20 THE VISITOR August 2016

Butter Cross, Market Place

Meat / Sausages  Chillies  Oil  Plants Italian Cheeses / Salamis  Handmade Soaps / Candles Bespoke Catering – Salmon Rolls, Veg’ Samosas Cooked Meals  Avalon Kombucha  Dorset Pies Somerset Deli – Olives, Spices, Nuts, Snacks, Baklavas Preserves – Jam / Chutney / Vinaigrette / Mayo / Pesto Rare Breed Woollen Products & Sheepskins Fruit Juices  Jewelleries  Bonzo’s bites (pet treats) Glass Engraving  Fish

1st Friday of every month marketonatsomerton@gmail.com

nual 21st An

Punch & Judy Childrens Activity Tent, Bouncy Castle Various Musical Entertainment Village Hall Café, Hog Roast Pimms, Ice Cream, Tombola Grand Prize Draw – Fantastic Prizes 100+ Stalls, Classic Car Display

Saturday 3 rd September 2016 11.00am – 4.00pm • 50p Entry • Free Car Park Raising money to support village projects and this year’s chosen charity: BIBIC

out!

Let’s go ou b a t ... and

known to man, with Anne Griffiths and Harriet Sandys. Set up an indigo vat for use during the workshop and experience the thrill of seeing your fabric transform from white, to the deepest blue before your eyes.

On the first day you will use traditional tie dye, folding, clamping and other resist techniques to create a range of beautiful blue fabrics and threads. On the second, you will see how the same techniques can

Forthcoming opening dates at The Gartell Light Railway, 31st July and 29th August, see advert on page 17.

be extended to add brown to your cloth using potassium permanganate and then discharge this back to white cloth.

The final day will look at common dyestuffs you may have in your kitchen and discuss mordents.

The price for the vegetable dye workshop is £150 for the three days. This includes refreshments throughout the day and a light Middle Eastern style lunch in the Manor House.

For those attending the course and requiring accommodation, there is accommodation available in the house at an additional £55 per person. Please contact Harriet. There are also many local Bed and Breakfasts. A list of these properties can be supplied on request. There are plenty of restaurants and local pubs for an evening meal.

On Tuesday 20th September at 6pm, Harriet will give an illustrated talk in the barn about

her experiences working in Afghanistan in 1991 on a UNESCO vegetable dye workshop in Mazar-i-Sharif. This is included as part of the course.

If you do not wish to attend the dye course, but would like to come to the talk on vegetable dyeing in Afghanistan, tickets are £8 which includes a glass of wine.

Please email Harriet on: harrietsandys@freeolamail.com for a ticket or Tel: 01749 890582. www.sandysorientalcarpets.co.uk www.annegriffiths.com www.pocketmouse.co.uk

Say you saw it in The Visitor

Sherborne International Music & Dance Festival

 Friday 19th August – around the villages  Saturday 20th August – in Sherborne All morning around the town 1pm to 5pm in Pageant Gardens 7:30pm Gala Concert in the Digby Hall  PERFORMERS from ... Latvia, Ireland Czech Republic, plus local groups SEE WEBSITE FOR FULL DETAILS

http://sherborne-douzelage.org.uk/what's-on or phone 01963 251255

SUMMER SALE Harriet Sandys invites you to her ...

... to make way for stock arriving in the Autumn

10% OFF the following

Colourful pin-tuck Kaftan Tops – ideal for late summer holidays Embroidered white & block printed cotton Nightwear Smart indigo and white block printed Kantha Jackets from Rajasthan Applique Bedspreads and Quilted Bedspreads Hemp coin Jackets and Coats from Yunnan Province, China Silk Susani Cushions from Uzbekistan Semi-precious stone Earrings from the Thar Desert villages Men’s smart sleeveless tweed Waistcoats from Kashmir

August Bank Holiday Saturday 27th, Sunday 28th & Monday 29th August, 2pm – 5pm

New Collection of Antique & Contemporary Oriental Carpets and Turkish Kilims (discounts on old stock only)

The Manor House, West Compton Shepton Mallet, BA4 4PB

Tel: 01749 890582 • Directions: www.sandysorientalcarpets.co.uk Open by appointment throughout the year

THE VISITOR August 2016 21

Looking Good and feeling fine

Sutton’s Stairlifts & Mobility Shepton Mallet

Mark Sutton, who decided to set up a stairlift business after his father was almost stung by a

pushy and aggressive stairlift installation company, is delighted to have been successfully trading for almost 3 years.

Sutton’s Stairlifts is a familyrun business dedicated to providing a fair and ethical service. They offer a range of new or refurbished stairlifts for purchase or rental in the Somerset and Mendip area.

Their showroom at the Anglo Trading Estate, Commercial Road, Shepton Mallet displays not only stairlifts but mobility scooters, rise and recline chairs as well as a wide range of living aids. They also offer free home assessments and home delivery of all their products. Free parking outside the door.

Family Health with

Jenna Evans

Argan

ARGANA SPINOSA, a small spiky tree native to Morocco has had a fair bit of interest this week thanks to some recent positive coverage in TV land. Argan has been posited as a potential rival to Olive for cardiovascular health.

With demonstrable triglyceride and cholesterol lowering properties it’s no wonder it’s flying off the shelves. It has been

Hom e Visit s

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Step inside!

We have a wonderful choice of Rise and Recline Chairs & Beds Scooters

To suit all budgets - new & used part exchange welcome

 On-the-premises servicing  NEXT TO COSTA COFFEE AND WITHIN EASY REACH OF MAIN CAR PARK 22 THE VISITOR August 2016

Call in and see us at ...

10 Falkland Square, Crewkerne, TA18 7JS  01460 271172 www.regencycareandmobility.co.uk “If you can’t come to us we will come to you”

noted that while Olive seems to trump Argan for lowering cholesterol, Argan has a pretty major edge when it comes to blood fats (triglycerides). As including moderate amounts of these very healthy fats in our diets seems to have no down-side, why not shake up your palate and give it a go?

Argan is a stable oil, resistant to oxidation which has influenced its popularity as an alternative to Olive for culinary purposes.

This stability is due in part to the high levels of anti-oxidants such as vitamin E and carotenes. The Argan tree is renowned for attracting the attention of goats.

Apparently they are very fond of the fruits and watching goats climb the trees to get to these tasty treats is an amusing sight.

Goats actually have a key role to play in the traditional processing of Argan oil. They munch away on the fruits and the kernels pop (poop?!) out the other end. They are gathered and so follows a labour intensive oil extraction process, all done by hand. You may be relieved to hear that very little argan will be produced in this way these days, although much of the hand processing is still used by small co-operatives in Morocco. This is one of the reasons argan is often considered to be pricey when compared to Olive oil. That may be true if you compare it to a cheap low grade Olive, but when pitted against a higher quality Olive, Argan becomes competitively priced.

Argan is also a highly prized cosmetic oil and you may have seen it cropping up on the ingredients lists of lots of big brand toiletries. A word of caution here - many of these may be trying to up their ‘natural’ credentials while in reality still

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Looking Good

being a soup of unpronounceable synthetic nasties, with a teeny bit a something nourishing thrown in. If you want to experience the true skin loving properties of Argan, invest in a good quality, cold-pressed, organic oil from an aromatherapy supplier.

Argan has a solid reputation in skincare for anti-ageing effects.

Argan blends well with that other great skin regenerating oil, Rosehip. A blend of these with a few drops of an essential oil such as Frankincense or Neroli makes a simple, home-made skin serum.

Mature, sun damaged and delicate skins may do well to receive regular Argan based treatments. It is also popular in blends for preventing and treating stretch marks and scarring. My skin loves this oil, I hope you give it a try and yours does too!

Jenna Evans ©2016.  Jenna is an Holistic Health Coach and creator of bespoke beauty 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. 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.

In It Together - helping women and girls in South Somerset to get moving

In It Together (iit) is a brand new 3 year project in South Somerset which will help women and girls aged 14+ to be more active. By linking in with current female sport programmes (ie Back to Hockey and Back to Netball) and creating specifically targeted opportunities iit aims to offer affordable activities in the right place and time. The goal of the project is to increase the amount of women playing sport once a week.

The project is led by SSDC in partnership with Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) and Yarlington Housing Group. Iit was made possible

thanks to National Lottery funding of £163,294 from Sport England.

31.7% of females within South Somerset take part in sport and physical activity (at least once per week) compared with 37.5% of males.* Our local survey of 300 females found that 96% wanted to be more physically active. *2012/13 Active People survey If your club, organisation or facility would like to get involved with iit, or you would just like to find out more, please get in touch on 01935 462544 or email: leisure@southsomerset.gov.uk

summer cardigans; jeans and more tailored trousers and jackets!

Bright colours and mono chromes; stripes and plains, there really is an amazing choice!

Don't miss this bumper Sale as they make room for new styles arriving soon.

Needful Things

Summer Sales come and go but at Needful Things, their Summer Sale just keeps on going! With a minimum 25% off all clothing and an extra bargain rail with up to 50% off!

There is something for everyone: tops, trousers and skirts; dresses;

One of the attractive tops from the Pomodoro range at Needful Things.

SUMMER SPECIAL PACKAGE Offer  express manicure  express pedicure

tel: 01935 851221 "One of the loveliest things for us about summer is a picnic! Packing up a basket full of yummy things and cycling off to the park for a lazy day of relaxing on the grass." Picnic in the Park by Lewis & Irene "threaded with love". Available from Hanson Fabrics & Crafts, Sturminster Newton.

Visit our website for full range of treatments

 eyelash and eyebrow tint  1/2 leg wax

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st Ends 31st u g u A

£60

1 Trent Court, Trent, Sherborne, DT9 4AY

email: info@beauty-barn.co.uk  www.beauty-barn.co.uk

A beAutifully converted former blacksmith’s workshop, cottage and barn, The Cyder Barn provides an excellent standard of accommodation for our 40 elderly residents in their own individual en-suite bedrooms with views being enjoyed either into our landscape gardens or across the Mendip Hills and surrounding countryside.

The Cyder Barn offers a relaxed and homely environment, providing bespoke care packages, activities, entertainment, and a varied choice of menus cooked daily by our own chefs. Whether looking for day care, respite care, or a home for life, The Cyder Barn is here to provide you with the care you need.

for more information and a brochure please contact us on tel: 01458 834945 email us at cyderbarn@wpci.org.uk or write to us at The Cyder Barn, Glastonbury Road, West Pennard, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8NH. THE VISITOR August 2016 23

THE EARLY YEARS of the 18th century were not happy ones for the residents of Wincanton. The great tempest of 26th November 1703 caused a considerable amount of damage to many of the simple timber-and-thatch cottages, and a fire in 1705 inflicted further damage. But these were nothing compared with the ‘Great Fire’ of 13th May 1707 which destroyed no fewer than 44 buildings and damaged many more. A series of smallpox epidemics ravaged the town, with that of 1711 claiming 88 lives, and another big fire in 1722 devastated part of South Street.

Then things started looking up, with a spate of building and rebuilding, largely in stone rubble

WINCANTON

with ashlar dressings, from the 1720s onwards.

The Bear Inn on the Market Place, a former coaching inn, dates from 1720 and was modernised in the 1860s, but there was certainly a Bear Inn on or close to the site in 1651. Even before the Great Fire Wincanton had been catering for travellers – a survey of 1686 recorded 80 beds and stabling for 254 horses at its inns, and a record from 1678 lists eight inns and taverns. In its heyday in the 19th century, the Bear had a dozen or more coaches stopping there each day.

Nowadays the coach yard and outbuildings behind the arch provide a function room and extensive car parking space.

Another elegant building dating from the 1720s on the Market Place is the one that for many years housed Knight’s chemist shop. It was probably part of the Crown Inn that stood

on the site before the fire, and this part was rebuilt as a shop and dwelling house and was rebuilt again around 1848.

Exactly when the Knight family established their chemist

Wild Cardz

35 High Street, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9JU • Tel: 01963 31234

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CRAFT PACKS  AVON COSMETICS Toys, Party Bags & Fillers – Gift Wrap – Gifts – Badges Party Items – Confetti – Helium & Latex Balloons UPS Collection & Delivery Point • www.wildcardzofwincanton.co.uk

24 THE VISITOR August 2016

Formerly Knight’s chemist shop, the building has been beautifully renovated and now houses Alex Appleton’s jewellery business.

business here I don’t know, but they ran it for more than 100 years until the death of Harry Knight in 1974. Then Keith Brown took over the business but retained the Knight name. It eventually closed down several years ago and the empty building soon began to deteriorate, but it has now been bought and beautifully renovated by Alex Appleton for her jewellery business which has been based in Wincanton since 2004.

The turnpiking of the east-west

WINCANTON

route through the town in 1756 gave Wincanton a new-found importance as a staging post on the main road midway between London and Plymouth and greatly increased the coaching trade. One of the toll houses was at the junction of High Street and

Common Road where high iron gates stood across both roads and users paid their tolls to the Wincanton Turnpike Trust to allow them to pass through. Tolls were abolished in 1874 and the houses sold off, and this one survives as a private house, albeit

with the angled section that protruded into the High Street removed to widen the road. The advent of the railways in the mid19th century effectively put an end to the long-distance coaching trade.

After passing through the toll

SALE

Monday 25th July – Saturday 6th August

50% UP TO

High iron gates stood across both roads at the junction of High Street and Common Road and this cottage was where road users paid their tolls to the Wincanton Turnpike Trust to allow them to pass through.

OFF ALL SWIMWEAR A – GG cup size

7 Market Place Wincanton, BA9 9LL Tel: 01963 32808 www.amour-lingerie.co.uk

SUMMER SALE fashion boutique

UP TO 50% OFF Our Exclusive Daywear Collections LABELS INCLUDE

 Tina Taylor   Lebek   Joseph Ribkoff   Steilmann   Doris Streitch   Frank Lyman   Latte  Market Place • Wincanton •  01963 31676

THE VISITOR August 2016 25

ANDREW BARCLAY TRADITIONAL FAMILY BUTCHERS 45 High Street, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9JU Tel: 01963 34880 Email: andrewbarclaybutchers@gmail.com

SELLING QUALITY LOCALLY SOURCED MEAT, POULTRY & GAME AT COMPETITIVE PRICES SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMERS HALF LAMBS ONLY £65 CUT TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS

SPECIAL OFFERS ALWAYS AVAILABLE BBQ MEATS - PLAIN & FLAVOURED NOW AVAILABLE

TRAY OF 30 FREE RANGE EGGS ONLY £5.19

WE ALSO STOCK A VARIETY OF FINE LOCAL CHEESES, HOMEMADE CAKES DESSERTS, PIES, PASTIES, SCOTCH EGGS, MILK, JERSEY CREAM MERE FISH FARM PRODUCTS, ANNAMMA’S CURRY SAUCES, COOKED MEATS A SELECTION OF DRY & SWEET BISCUITS & CONDIMENTS

ORDERS TAKEN FOR OUR MEAT FROM NORTH CADBURY VILLAGE SHOP & MAIDEN BRADLEY VILLAGE SHOP WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS

26 THE VISITOR August 2016

WINCANTON

Nathaniel Ireson designed and built Ireson House in the late 1720s for himself, his wife and daughter.

gate into the town, the first coaching inn that travellers would have encountered was the Dolphin Inn. It dates from the 1740s and was originally called the Rainbow Inn. With its sixbay frontage and archway for coaches, it is thought to have been

designed by Nathaniel Ireson who had moved to the town around 1720 and died there in 1769.

Thoroughly renovated in recent years and now sporting a welcoming yellow facade, the pub with its popular Stables restaurant is a fine example of

EVEN MORE CHOIC CHOICE!

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■ Carpets ■ Vinyls ■ Naturals ■ Woods ■ Laminates ■ Tiles Wincanton MMS Soft Furnishings ■ Blinds Also in store Curtains & Fabrics ■ Roll Stock ... vinyls & carpets now available ★ Free Estimate ★ Free Measuring

“Just nice people to do business with”

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SJH CARPETS, Southgate Road, Wincanton  01963 824418

Fire Station

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Shutters & Blinds

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Tythings Centre

NEW SJH

OLD SJH

STUDIO H PHOTOGRAPHY have just opened a state-of-the-art photographic studio in Church Street, Wincanton. The new premises offers a light and airy reception and two dedicated studios.  Studio 1 with its professional lighting and wide range of back drops is ideal for photographic sessions, whether the subject is a family group, a portrait, the family pet or a commercial project.

This studio also has a viewing area where clients can browse through portfolios of previous work. They can also view their own photographs projected onto a large screen prior to choosing their pictures of preference for printing.

These photos can then be turned into stylish wall art if desired - transferring the photos onto canvas or aluminium. Contemporary framing and montages are also available. These wall art products make wonderful original artworks that not only look good now but are an investment for the future.

Photo books and boxes to compliment your prints and more traditional framing is also available.  Studio 2 is a bespoke ‘new born / baby studio’ especially equipped with various props such as rugs, toys, tutus etc. It is also a very safe and secure environment.

Studio H is owned and run by husband and wife photographers Graham Hiscock LBIPP, LMPA and Trixie Hiscock LMPA. Trixie specializes in the portraiture of babies. In addition to single shoots she offers various packages

Morrisons

18th century provincial architecture.

Ireson was a builder who lived just a short walk from the Dolphin. He had moved to

Jam Making?

Kilner Jars, Preserving Pans, Jars, Jelly Bags, Muslin, Rings & More!

 Large Range of Cookware

 Garden Chairs, Tables, Parasols  Cool Boxes / Bags, PicnicWare, English Charcoal

 House Names in Wood & UPVC

 Christening & Anniversary Gifts and Clocks  Watch Batteries & Straps sold and fitted

 Stockists of Spear & Jackson Tools and Addis Houseware  Tools & Knives Sharpened For your DIY, Garden, and Household Requisites

Clementina & Co ESTABLISHED 1929

High Street, Wincanton Tel: 01963 32249

including Bump-to-Baby £39 and Cherub, 3 portraits in baby's first year £49. Vouchers are available - these make ideal gifts for Christenings / new baby etc.

Trixie is also a professional pet photographer and came runner up in the National Pets Portraits competition - she does much of her work in black and white which is very striking.

Graham Hiscock runs Camelot Photographic next door, offering digital photography processing, camera and photographic accessories plus Passport and ID photos.

Graham has specialized in wedding photography since 1991 for which he has won several prestigious awards. He also undertakes commercial and fashion photography both on location and in the studio.

Studio H Photography offers a refreshingly new approach to photography.

The Studio is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10am – 4pm, Friday and Saturday by appointment.

To book your sitting or to discuss your own personal requirements call Trixie on 01963 34189 or 07584 195311 or email trixiehiscock@ googlemail.com

3a Church Street WINCANTON BA9 9AA THE VISITOR August 2016 27

Wincanton around 1723 from Stourton where he had been building the mansion house for the Hoare family, and here he designed and built Ireson House in the late 1720s for himself, his wife and daughter. It can be seen at the top of the short but steep Ireson Lane – there’s a wellplaced seat at the top – and from here a footpath across the hill behind the town centre provides panoramic views southwards

WINCANTON

across the rooftops to the Blackmore Vale. The path leads eventually to Coneygore Lane and down to North Street.

Unlike the 18th century, the early years of the 21st century appear to be happy ones for Wincanton. This friendly little town, full of historical and architectural interest, is well served by a comprehensive range of shops and businesses, most of them independently owned, and

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The Old Police Station, Carrington Way WINCANTON BA9 9JS Tel: 01963 31310

28 THE VISITOR August 2016

contains plenty to attract the discerning shopper. Strolling up Church Street to the Market Place the impressive window display at the long-established Reed & Russell Flowers business caught my eye, as did the recently-opened Lovington Bakery and Café in what was previously a home furnishings shop. The Market Place still retains much of its period charm, especially the buildings occupied by the Post Office, the Preview ladieswear shop and the Ironmonger-sibthorp

Recently opened on Wincanton’s Market Place is the Lovington Bakery and Café.

KIMBERS’ FARM SHOP Kimbers’ Farm Shop Home Produced ...

Beef • Veal • Pork Poultry • Lamb Mutton • Game Charcuterie

Our Own Raw Milk

OPEN: Tuesday – Friday 8.30am – 6pm, Saturday 10am – 4pm-ish Find us on the B3081 ½ mile from Otter Nurseries on the Wincanton to Bruton Road BA9 8HD  01963 33177 • info@kimbersfarmshop.co.uk • www.kimbersfarmshop.co.uk

Contemporary Art Gallery.

Across the road the flower tubs and window boxes outside the Victorian Town Hall add yet more colour to the scene.

And there’s ample free car parking space at the Memorial Hall and at Carrington Way, both close to the High Street. The latter car park is conveniently sited opposite the town’s library and behind Wincanton’s towncentre supermarket which was built in the early 1970s, opened as a Gateway store and is now a Co-op food store. On the grassy slope above the upper part of this car park the town council has erected some picnic tables and seats, making it a pleasant place to rest your legs and watch the world go by.

To catch a glimpse of what Wincanton looked like a century or more ago, go up the steps at the side of the car park and follow the road round to its junction with Flinger’s Lane. The view down the narrow lane to the High Street alongside the thatched Uncle Tom’s Cabin pub is very much of the 19th century, as the town expanded up the hill from the Market Place in the years following its disasters of the early 18th century.

Roger Richards.

Rent-a-desk initiative to go live in Wincanton

A new initiative for people wanting flexible office accommodation in Wincanton is being launched this month by

WINCANTON

South Somerset District Council (SSDC).

Ideally suited to smaller home based businesses or those who have the occasional need for an office but do not wish to be bound by a lease, a hot desk space in the Lime Room at SSDC’s Churchfield offices could be the answer.

If you work from home, the Lime Room provides two desk spaces to enable you to work without the distraction of home life. Bring your laptop, mobile phone and just get going. Printer and Wifi access connection (typical speeds: download 16.08mbps, Upload 11.16mbps) is included within the flexible hourly bookings.

For regional staff of companies that are on the road and are working from their car as they travel around the south-west, this is a convenient ‘pit stop’ situated just off the A303.

Councillor Nick Weeks, Chairman of South Somerset District Council’s Area East Committee commented, ‘We are keen to support businesses locally and we hear that more and more home based businesses are seeking flexible office accommodation, from which to build their business, without being tied into long leases.

‘This initiative is being implemented on an experimental basis; it is a win – win situation; an opportunity to test demand using vacant office space at the Council Offices in Churchfield,

Wincanton and if successful, it may provide the basis from which to develop a work hub locally. I would encourage potential users to contact us to book a free taster session.’

A photocopier and meeting rooms are also available for use although separate charges will be applied.

If you are interested in renting a space in the Lime Room in Wincanton, please call Terena or Jackie in the Area Development Team on 01963 435004.

Mill Street Social Club

Mill Street Social Club is a members' club offering a wide variety of facilities and entertainments. It is housed in a Grade 2 listed former Congregational Church close to the town centre, providing members with a place to enjoy a drink, company and entertainment in a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. The club has, in different incarnations and locations, been in existence since the 1930s.

This family-friendly club is open every night and at lunchtime at weekends - offering a licensed bar, main function room and lounge, dance floor, 2 pool tables, 3 snooker tables, 3 dart boards and a skittle alley.

Competitive games can be played as part of local leagues, as well as just for fun. Other activities include Bingo, Line Dancing, ‘Play Your Cards Right’, table skittles, television, a jukebox and gaming machines.

A member can also use the club premises to host a party or celebration.

Membership costs between £2 and £7 per year – which can easily be recouped with the low bar prices.

Why not pop into the club to see it for yourself and pick up a membership form? You can also visit our facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/481511 16568/, or email any enquiries to msscwincanton@hotmail.com

33 High Street Wincanton Telephone 01963 32356 www.papertrees.co.uk

HALF PRICE BOOKS ... ideal holiday reading

FETE? SHOW? Promote your Event or Business with our BANNERS, POSTERS, A-BOARD SERVICE

Stockists of ...

Juki Sewing Machines

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Sewing Machine Service & Repair

Dress Fabrics — Cottons, Haberdashery & Much More!

3 High Street • WINCANTON 01963 33470

Ladies, Mens & Childrens Footwear

 Back-To-School Bargain Packs – Pens, Files, etc  Lamy Pen Stockists  Cold Drinks  Pocket Money Toys

Open: Mon – Fri 2pm – 5pm, Sat 10am – 1pm

47 HIGH STREET WINCANTON • BA9 9JH

The Wincanton Cobbler Shoe Repairs & Key Cutting - Established 1986 -

Shooting Sticks, Walking Sticks, Hiking Poles, Leather Bags, Travel Goods, Sports Bags, Wallets, Umbrellas LACES - POLISHES - WAXES - SHOE TREES

High Street, WINCANTON. Tel: 01963 34587

Bespoke Curtains, Blinds, Cushions Fabrics from Prestigious Textiles Iliv  Clarke & Clarke Fibre Naturelle and more OPEN: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, 9.30am – 3.00pm Saturday 9.30am – 12.30pm Thursday closed or by appointment

MMS Soft Furnishings, Tythings Commercial Centre (within SJH Carpets) WINCANTON, BA9 9RZ

Mobile: 07883 089333 • Email: salesmmssoftfurnishings@aol.co.uk

THE VISITOR August 2016 29

WINCANTON

BUSINESS UPDATE

The Gardeners Hidden Shed part of Lifestyle Landscapes

from timber doors and windows (including sash) through to staircases, kitchens and garden rooms. Because J C Joinery offers a bespoke service they are often called upon to provide joinery services on older properties and listed buildings.

Projects include work undertaken for the National Trust and Duchy.

They work mainly in accoya wood, this is produced from sustainable sources and is extremely durable, and unlike most wood does not bow, twist or warp and is guaranteed for 50 years against rotting.

Customers are encouraged to visit in person to discuss their personal requirements, meet the team, see the products being made on the premises and to view samples. J C Joinery offer a complete service from concept to completion.

For more information and images visit their website www.jcjoinery.co.uk

The Gardeners Hidden Shed, just off the Bennetts Field Trading Estate, specialise in plants for healing and well being.

They have a good selection of plants and shrubs for sale plus herbs, fruit trees, garden posts and baskets. The shop is filled with all kinds of garden sundries including compost, weed killer, tools, gloves, bird food etc.

Now open Wednesday to Sunday inclusive. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

J C Joinery on the Bennetts Field Trading Estate

J C Joinery Dorset Ltd was established in 2003 by proprietor Jamie Curtis. It has since gone from strength to strength resulting in the need to relocate from Buckhorn Weston to larger premises on the Bennetts Field Trading Estate.

The company offer a wide range of bespoke joinery ranging

Plants – Shrubs – Garden Sundries Part of Lifestyle Landscapes

Plants for healing and wellbeing OPEN: Wednesday — Sunday • CLOSED: Monday & Tuesday

14 Hopkins Court, Wincanton, BA9 9TD •  01963 34343 JUST OFF BENNETTS FIELD TRADING ESTATE

GENTS & BOYS HAIRDRESSING at

The Barber’s Shop

WINCANTON Memorial Hall Mondays 1.00pm – 5.30pm Thursdays 9.00am – 5.30pm Saturdays 8.00am – 12noon

MILBORNE PORT Town Hall: Wednesdays 10.00am – 6.00pm SPARKFORD Village Hall: Fridays 12.45pm – 5.45pm

Lance Wells & Mike Baker − State Registered ★ PHONE for a HOME VISIT ★ 01935 814074 or ... 07767 027798 mobile

30 THE VISITOR August 2016

Jamie Curtis of J C Joinery outside the new premises.

James Wellbeloved

James Wellbeloved makes naturally healthy complete cat, dog and ferret food. Proudly made in their own factory in Castle Cary, Somerset, all their foods are naturally hypo-allergenic and balanced, and contain all the nutrients your pet needs throughout their life. They’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to.

Each of their foods contains a single source of meat protein – turkey, lamb, duck or fish. So, for example in their turkey variant, they use JUST turkey – turkey will be the only animal protein contained in that bag of food, right down to the tasty turkey gravy and tasty turkey fat. By having only one meat protein per variant it makes their food naturally hypo-allergenic, which means it has a reduced risk of any adverse food reactions like flatulence, runny poo and itchy skin and coat. James Wellbeloved is not just for dogs and cats with

Advice on Pet Care

sensitivities though: it is a perfectly balanced healthy food for all dogs and cats. Just try it and see the difference.

Want to find out more? Call their free nutrition advice helpline on 0845 603 9095 or visit www.wellbeloved.com for information and stockist finder to find a store near you.

Dogs die in hot cars; don’t leave your dog alone in a car

Following on from a successful campaign last year, Chard Resident, Judy Gray, has once more enlisted the support of District Councillor Amanda Broom in raising awareness of dogs being left in hot cars.

This year, with the full support of South Somerset District Council, other District Councils have also been asked to support as the message is spread further afield. In total, over 400 posters have been delivered to six councils and two main superstores, as well as stores in Chard.

Residents in Chard will be reminded of the dangers of leaving their dogs inside parked cars by posters in local shops.

There will also be signs present in carparks across the district, as the plea not to leave your dog in a car extends across the whole of South Somerset.

Councillor Broom said, “Any

additional support we can give to the national RSPCA campaign can only be positive - the more people who are aware of the risks, the more people who will leave their dogs at home & look out for dogs trapped in cars. It is traumatising to see any dog suffering in this way, and most people do not realise how quickly heatstroke can take hold”.

Leaving your dog in a car can cause stress and injury to your dog, even if it’s for a short period of time. Each year, thousands of beloved companions succumb to heatstroke and suffocation when left in parked cars. It happens most often when people make quick stops - the dry cleaners, the

Brunel Pet Centre in the Brunel Precinct, Somerton - everything for your pet including a welcoming bowl of water for passing pets and a warm welcome from Karen the proprietor!

Brunel Pet Centre 5a Brunel Shopping Precinct — SOMERTON — Tel: 01458 274980 Email: info@brunel-pets.com Website: www.brunel-pets.com

Many Brands of Dog & Cat Food Stocked Dog & Cat Treats, Toys & Beds Small Animal Foods, Treats Hay and Straw Wide Selection of Wild Bird Food & Feeders ORDERS WELCOME

If there is something you require which we don’t stock, we will endeavour to order it for you

THE VISITOR August 2016 31

bank or the local shop.

Judy Gray said “The RSPCA website has more information, but even when it doesn't feel warm, cars heat up as hot as ovens. 22 degrees outside can get as high as 47 degrees inside a car, in less than an hour. Having contacted District, Borough and Unitary Councils I am delighted at the heart-warming responses I have received - this has spurred me on to continue raising awareness across the country”.

Councillor Carol Goodall, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health added, “Leaving your dog on its own in a car to suffer in hot weather is an act of cruelty. Our Enforcement Officers will not hesitate to act and will call the police if an animal is seen in distress. The advice is simple dogs die in hot cars; don’t leave your dog on its own in a car”.

South Somerset District Council does not have

Advice on Pet Care

If you see a distressed dog in a car on a warm day, call the Police on 999. If the police are unable to attend, please call the RSPCA 24hour cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.

Delaware Veterinary Group

Pet Place on the Fosse Trading Estate Shepton Mallet, have just had a refurbishment so you can shop with ease from the wide range of animal feeds and accessories. Open 7 days a week with free parking outside the door.

responsibility for animal welfare, this responsibility falls to the RSPCA, but our Enforcement Officers still look out for

distressed dogs and will report any incidents such as dogs being left in cars to the Police and RSPCA.

Delaware Veterinary Group will be at this year’s Mid Somerset Show on Sunday 21st August in Shepton Mallet. Their stand (R8) which can be found in the Upper Showfield will represent all the areas of expertise that the practice provides, from small furries to cattle and horses. With their own staff on hand to answer your questions and refreshments and games too, find them, meet the team and have some fun. They look forward to seeing you there!

Isle Valley Vets Ltd

Five welfare needs of pet rabbits: 1. Company - Rabbits are social and like to be together in neutered pairs or small groups.

If you have a single bunny, it’s important to spend time with them every day or they will become lonely and depressed.

2. Diet - Diet should be made up of 80% grass/hay, 15% greens and 5% nuggets.

3. Health - Bunny must be kept clean to prevent fly strike. Check teeth daily. Yearly vaccinations help prevent Myxomatosis and VHD. 4. Environment - A wild rabbit’s territory is 30 tennis courts.

Minimum hutch requirement should allow your rabbit to hop 4 times and stand up on their back legs. Rabbits must have a large exercise pen/area on the grass during the day to explore and graze.

5. Behaviour - Create enrichment ideas, such as tunnels, apple wood to gnaw, Digging boxes, suitable toys, platforms and hiding places.

THE PET PLACE A family run business for over 18 years From Hamsters to Horses!

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Dedicated to excellence in animal care for over 100 years

Small Animal, Farm & Equine

★ 24 Hour Emergency Service provided by our own staff ★ and Healthy Pet and Equine Zone Schemes available CASTLE CARY  01963 350307 YEOVIL  01935 474690 info@delawarevets.co.uk • www.delawarevets.co.uk

32 THE VISITOR August 2016

Stockist of ... Burns, Natures Way, Canagan James Wellbeloved, etc Pets Beds – Toys – Hutches – Bedding – Animal Feeds (small or bulk purchases) Horses  Sheep  Pigs  Poultry  Dogs  Cats  Rabbits  Birds Extensive range of Wild Bird Food at sensible prices

FREE PARKING OUTSIDE THE DOOR

Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 2pm

Unit 6, Fosse Lane Industrial Estate, Fosse Lane SHEPTON MALLET • BA4 4PN Tel: 01749 345863 / 343450

Pet Care

Crossroads Pet Supplies

Have you discovered Crossroads Pet Supplies? Situated on the Yeovil to Sherborne road this shop is packed from floor to ceiling hutches and cages, toys and leads, beds and bowls, seeds and shampoos! All can be found here.

Whether you like to feed the wild birds, have a pet hamster or own a pony you can get all your animal feeds from Crossroads.

Why not call in? There is ample free parking right outside the door - ideal if you are purchasing food in bulk.

House& Home

Home Decorating Tips from Mylands Paint

When it comes to decorating your home neutral colours are enduringly popular because they are stylish, versatile and easy to live with. On the other hand a bold colour really packs a punch!

Grey has overtaken beige to become the neutral colour of choice in recent years, with the Scandinavian and industrial look pioneering its popularity. Clean

and versatile, grey can be contemporary with white, edgy with bright accents or classic with a layered tonal scheme.

Choose a lighter grey colour for a crisp and airy feel or a darker shade for a sultry cosy scheme.

Deep charcoal greys are wonderfully dramatic and ideal to transform a cloakroom or dining room with drama and delight while smoky greys have a soothing quality; use in a bedroom full of

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

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@bgp-oiltanks.co.uk • www.bgp-oiltanks.co.uk

Tortoises, pythons, dragons and more - learn all about them and get to handle them when you hold a birthday party with a difference!

Call or visit Repxotics of Shepton Mallet.

Unit 11, Brickfields Business Park, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4JX

Tel: 01747 826714

www.townandcountryaerials.co.uk

As your Local Sky Expert we can offer you exclusive savings on your first year’s subscription to Sky TV – don’t go online, come and speak to us first!

Dog tired of high prices?

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Tel: 01935 411859 .

Kids parties with a difference!

REPTILE PARTIES Meet Gil the Burmese Python and Herbie the Tortoise plus Spiders, Scorpions and more

Learn about these interesting reptiles complete with a handling session!

Also available for school visits, social groups, residential homes, scouts etc.

To book your parTy Tel: 01749 938082 Repxotics, 17 Town Street, SHEPTON MALLET, BA4 5BE ... or visit website www.repxotics.co.uk

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THE VISITOR August 2016 33

House& Home Summer Home Improvements

natural light for a relaxing retreat.

Casual, smart, sophisticated or pretty, grey gives an effortless look with endless opportunities. Lighter, softer shades have a more feminine feel while darker, heavier shades have a stronger, more masculine effect. Pair several shades of grey together to achieve a more complex, decorated effect or team grey with purple for a sumptuous luxe look.

Grey can be used as an elegant neutral or a backdrop to almost any colour, adding richness and depth to subtle hues and making bold, bright tones pop. Use grey virtually anywhere in the home – in bathrooms, grey looks fabulous with white sanitary ware and chrome accessories or in the kitchen, it’s the perfect partner to stainless steel appliances.

Walls in Empire Grey No. 171 Marble Matt Emulsion, woodwork in Pure White No.1 Wood & Metal Eggshell, cornice and ceiling in Pure White No.1 Marble Matt Emulsion.

Bold colours have real presence, transforming a room and making a statement wherever they’re used. From rich velvety reds to deep marine blues and forest greens there are a host of shades to choose from, whether using on one wall as an accent or in a whole room.

Strong colours create drama and intimacy; they can be welcoming, cosy and comfortable too. Deep silvery-toned or jewellike shades work wonderfully in dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms or small rooms creating a magical cocooning effect. White accentuates dark walls, so contrast deep colours with bright white woodwork and accessories for a crisp finish that intensifies the impact of the colour.

TURNER WINDOWS

If you’re looking to use dark colours sparingly, try painting window or door frames in a strong shade contrasted by lighter walls.

Bold colours will frame the view, especially effective in garden rooms or kitchens where you can bring the outdoors in.

Strong colours advance towards you and can be used to great effect to change the shape of a room.

Paint the end wall of a long thin room in a dark colour to square the room, or paint an oddly shaped wall in an attic room in a beautiful bold shade to make it into something really special. A deep dark shade with pops of bright colour looks modern and edgy while a strong wall colour dressed with dark wood furniture gives a traditional finish.

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“I just wanted to thank you and the team for the excellent service I have experienced whilst having my doors and windows replaced.

Firstly your product is excellent the solid construction and the positive locking mechanism have really solved a soundproofing problem and as a bonus I am looking forward to reduced heating bills this winter.

Your fitters on site were brilliant, they kept the place clean and tidy and were very careful when working around existing tiles which as you know I was concerned about.

It’s a major consideration and worry to hand over your keys when you cannot be around for the fitting but I need not have had any concerns as from start to finish everything was carried out with the upmost professional manner.”

Kelv Gibbs – October 2014

34 THE VISITOR August 2016

as endorsed by Celebrity World Snooker Champion Steve Davis ... AND PERSONAL SERVICE Craig Turner (proprietor) will be happy to discuss your requirements, or alternatively call in to our Site Showroom in Somerton.

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ACF WINDOWS

ANDY FELTHAM

UPVC RePLACeMenT winDowS, DooRS, ConSeRVAToRieS, wooDen FRAMeD winDowS, FASCiA BoARDS, CLADDinG, GUTTeRinG, ALUMiniUM winDowS & DooRS eTC.

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

House& Home Summer Home Improvements Sanderson Specialist Status gives them the latest Sanderson books, as soon as they're published and Needful Things can confirm, that the Woodland Walk Collection is proving to be a very big hit! Why not pop in to this wonderful store to view them for yourself? Whilst there you can also consider a brand new supplier to Needful Things: Holly Lasseter, whose exquisite designs include beautiful striking florals.

Little Greene paints and wallpapers offer you the confidence of knowing, that your paint will complement your wallpaper choice perfectly; especially with the friendly advice

offered by Ally and Angie when you visit.

Whether you need advice on a tiny roller blind or a full house redecoration, you'll find all you need at Needful Things of Castle Cary. For free measures and estimates call: 01963 351352.

Pure Morris at Dodge Interiors

The collection of nine exquisite fabrics, mostly inspired by monochromatic wallpapers from the archive, and perfect for creating dreamy ‘escape from it all’ rooms. A variety of print, weave and embroidery techniques, these fabrics are

interiors

Made-to-Measure Curtains and Soft Furnishings

wonderful choice of contemporary fabrics from Harlequin and prestigious Sanderson SPECIALIST

 NEW IN ... Holly Lasseter 

7 High Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7AN 01963 351352 • www.needfulthings.uk.com Pure Morris ‘Strawberry Thief’ bedroom curtain detail.

Available from Dodge Interiors of Sherborne.

Don’t be hasty to throw it away.

Furniture reupholstery allows you to keep an old item that is of high quality, while at the same time you are renewing its look.

It works just like repainting your walls, and that is its beauty. You can keep a valuable high quality item looking good and new, for an indefinite amount of time.

Using a furniture reupholstery specialist is exactly what you need. They will be able to make your cherished item look like new again.

Maybe the greatest benefit of reupholstery is its cost efficiency.

Reupholstering a sofa, for example, will save you a lot of money. This way you can

preserve your old furniture indefinitely, or you could refresh the look of your home, at a resonable price.

If you are planning on changing your dining room style, and you want to keep your favourite chairs, you can simply reupholster them, and adapt them to the new look.

There are hundreds of beautiful fabrics to choose from.

Finally, reupholstery is a great way for you to help support environmental preservation.

Needful Things Interiors

Needful Things Interiors of Castle Cary has experienced a surge in enquiries about their many new fabric books this season!

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

VISIT OUR EXTENSIVE TILE SHOWROOMS

 Quality Floor & Wall Tiles

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE

 Distributors of Porcelanosa and other leading brands  Professional fitting service

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PUBLIC & TRADE WELCOME

Open: 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm Saturday Free parking outside the shop

J2 Tiles, Unit 16, Venture 20 (Opposite Wicks)

Lynx West Trading Estate YEOVIL, BA20 2HP

 01935 472088 · www.j2tiles.co.uk

THE VISITOR August 2016 35

House& Home Summer Home Improvements

enchantingly beautiful and are equally at home in a modern conceptual space, or a classical setting. Pure Morris presents iconic designs in a pared back, neutral palette, whilst maintaining the intricacies and integrity of the originals.

The Pure Morris wallpaper collection consists of eight designs. Three of the papers were designed using hand-block methods, whilst the others have

been repainted in intricate detail to capture the nature of the original designs. This beautiful wallpaper collection recreates some of William Morris’ finest originals dating back to the 1800’s, including Pure Strawberry Thief, Pure Poppy and Pure Bachelor’s Button.

Both fabric and wallpapers can be seen at Dodge Interiors of Sherborne. (See advert inside front cover).

Lighting for Effect

Whilst most of us try to find that essential piece of furniture or room altering shade of beige, the use of aesthetic and natural lighting can actually make all the difference and will transform a home from a cold sterile shell in to a warm and inviting space. Leading home technology installation specialist Finite Solutions, which has a dedicated service for lighting, talks through the options.

Lighting technologies have come a long way in residential design.

From simple eco-friendly LED replacement lamps to integrated LED strips and plastered in wall and floor washers all the way to intelligent whole house lighting control systems that set preprogrammed lighting levels and moods throughout your home and garden. The capability of lighting to transform your home has never been greater.

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Contact us for a free estimate

(01935) 823346

www.countrybuild.co.uk • info@countrybuild.co.uk

36 THE VISITOR August 2016

Lighting is an important feature, in any room.

House& Home

Whilst effective lighting can radically affect aesthetics and our mood, it has a functional role too.

Finding the right solution to illuminate kitchen work areas or the home study will enhance productivity, reduce eye strain and manage stress extremely effectively.

Choosing the right lighting can also save you money. Lighting accounts for around 15 per cent of a typical household’s electricity bill but you can cut your energy use and lighting bill by utilising the latest LED technology.

Whilst all LED lamps are not equal, selection of a good quality fitting will not only use less than 20% of the electrical of a standard light bulb it will also last 50 times longer, so changing just ten lamps in your home to LED could save nearly £250 a year … switching to LED could prove to be your savviest home investment yet.

Incorporating good energy saving technologies such as an all LED lighting design and a lighting control system into an overall home automation system, can also significantly increase the

appeal of your property too. For example, Lutron lighting control systems further reduce the energy used by your LED lighting whilst also providing security functions, holiday modes, automated switch off when the house is unoccupied and remote control via your iPhone and iPad. But getting it right is not just as simple as changing a few light bulbs. To deliver an outstanding lighting design in your property the design and associated cabling must be considered at the earliest stages of any refurbishment, extension or new build property and this can be a daunting task for many home owners. Working with a good lighting designer will deliver flexible and functional lighting that fulfils usage requirements whilst emphasising architectural and interior design features. Working with an experienced lighting design team allows the design process to be very simple for home owners and detailed plans, cabling schedules and specifications for all light fittings ensures collaboration between your various, building,

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FITTING A KITCHEN YOURSELF ?

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Study / Home Office Furniture

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KITCHENS & HOUSE RENOVATIONS

The Old Bakery, Half Moon Street SHERBORNE, DT9 3LN Through the archway next to the Half Moon Hotel

Tel: 01935 817111

Email: sales@sherbornekitchens.com See our new website: www.sherbornekitchens.com THE VISITOR August 2016 37

H&H

design and electrical contractors to ensure a straightforward installation and stunning end result.

Finite Solutions www.finitesolutions.co.uk

A Pop of Colour for Summer with the new Prestige Range

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The Visitor can be read online: www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk

38 THE VISITOR August 2016

Transform your cooking with colour this summer with the launch of POP, Prestige’s colourful new cookware, tools and gadgets collection. Designed to brighten up your kitchen, this unique and on-trend range is accented with a vibrant pop of colour for easy identification.

POP’s colour coding is the key to great cooking for busy cooks and family life and is designed to bring out the best in each dish. From easy eggs to perfect poultry and fabulous fish to great grilling, it’s easy to identify which pan will do the job for easy and healthy cooking.

Bringing the latest colour trends to the kitchen, POP also features Prestige’s product benefits. With quality aluminium for durability and even heat distribution, the range is suitable for all cooker types excluding induction and is also dishwasher proof.

The POP range also comes with heat resistant handles with colour accents for easy product identification. Featuring a different textured non-stick base for each pan, POP provides the ideal cooking surface for specific food types. The oval fry pan is perfect for whole fish or fillets, the poultry pan has a cushioned interior for quick cooking and even browning and the round grill pan features a ribbed surface to create succulent seared meats.

The veggie, sauce and egg pans all feature smooth interiors for ease of use and non-stick.

There are 25 practical items in the POP tools and gadgets range including a duo zester and garlic press which perform to the highest standard thanks to long lasting nylon heads. Contrasting with the stainless steel and black, the comfortable, coloured grip handles also feature a handy hanging loop for tidy storage. Head design is key, offering a stylish and multifunctional addition to the Prestige POP collection.

Prices start at £12 for a Milk Pan and £4.50 for a Turner and the whole range carries an impressive 12-month Quality Assurance Guarantee for added peace of mind.

For further information, visit www.prestige.co.uk

House& Home

GARDENING

GARDENING MONTHLY

by Richard Cumming Orchard Park

Looking better now!

Colourful new cookware from Prestige.

John HarmanThatching with over 42 years experience

John Harman Thatching has recently re-ridged the George Hotel and applied an ornamental over ridge with a diamond pattern. They used combed wheat straw, triticale variety which is sourced from a local supplier who has grown this in his family for the last 100 years - this means they know the exact provenance and know that it has had 0%

artificial fertilizer applied to it in its growing cycle.

John says ‘Unfortunately over the last decade I have come across a lot of roofs that have had premature degradation (where it has rotted out a lot quicker).

When a property needs rethatching the home owner needs to look at where the material comes from and also the quality.’

For a free no obligation survey on your property give John a call.

IT HAS TAKEN A WHILE, at least in my garden it has, but things are finally looking better.

With a wet cold start it seemed for a while that it was going to be a blank year, but either the plants have got used to the conditions and evolved, or the stabilising effect of a new government has meant that things have improved! But I am not qualified to make any sensible comment on that.

Blossom earlier in the year, although followed closely by the hardest frosts of the winter, did partially survive and the fruit bushes have cropped well. Top fruit, apples and pears, are a bit mixed particularly as the last couple of years have been good and the biennial effect of many top fruit varieties means that this may well be a rest year for some.

Fungal and bacterial diseases have been quite evident largely due to the mild winter and the cold wet spring.

I had high hopes for strawberries that I had growing in grow bags; they seemed to be

doing so well but the fruit never ripened and I picked nothing. I think someone else had reaped the rewards; my suspicions lie with the mice and the voles.

Roses have done well and relatively untroubled by disease apart from the sap sucking aphids which had a massive population explosion a few weeks ago. They appear before you realise it and then the damage is done. Aphids draw a lot of nitrogen from plants and they will be most attracted to roses and other plants of course, that are growing quickly and in a ‘sappy’ state. The argument here is for slow release fertilisers, the granular sort that will let their nutrients go gradually over a few weeks as opposed to a liquid feed that gives the plant a short term boost – fast food for plants. But I still use liquid feeds as often that is the only way to get enough feed into a fast growing plant. Liquid feeds do fall into different categories and it is worth picking those that fit the rights stage of plant growth. Tomorite works well with flowering and fruiting

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THE VISITOR August 2016 39

plants because of the higher levels of Potash and phosphates it contains, Miracle-Gro has higher nitrogen and produces strong green leafy growth as well as flowers. It’s all horses for courses.

GARDENING

Plant of the Month Ornamental Grasses

From dainty Blue Fescue Grass to majestic Miscanthus, ornamental grasses provide texture, character and form unmatched by many other hardy perennials. Their presence develops through the seasons as bright and colourful foliage is joined by graceful swaying flower heads that last well into winter.

In large borders grasses can be planted in bold groups or striking drifts, but many varieties perform well in large patio pots, positioned where their individual shape and arching form can be fully appreciated. Popular grasses for pots include compact Blue Fescue

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15 Cary Court, Bancombe Business Park, SOMERTON Tel: 01458 274261 • www.gardenmachineryrus.co.uk 40 THE VISITOR August 2016

a host of patterned and variegated forms, ornamental grasses come in a wide range of colours, sizes and growing habits.

As well as selecting grasses to

suit your colour scheme always consider their other qualities, positioning grasses close to paths and seating areas so you can run your hands over their feathery foliage and flowers as you pass.

Popular grasses for tactile displays in sensory gardens include the Feathertop Grass (Pennisetum) or annual grasses like Bunny Tails.

Taller grasses also add movement to otherwise static displays, catching a summer breeze to add interest and catch the eye. Growing to around two metres in height, the bold form of Golden Oats (Stipa gigantea) is a real showstopper! Or if space allows, try planting a statuesque clump of Pampas Grass, and enjoy their feathery plumes right into winter.

Ornamental grasses offer great value, and these popular Plants of the Moment produce longlasting displays in any garden.

Large individuals have a real presence, taking pride of place in beds and borders, while colourful planting combinations can be

Utilise the generous grants now available to restock neglected woodland or areas of wasteground

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created with flowering perennials like Black-eyed Susan, Coneflowers and Ice Plants.

Many great grasses are available that have received an Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the Royal Horticultural Society. Here are some of the most popular: Festuca - such as Blue Fescue Grass (Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue').

Pennisetum - such as Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Summer Samba').

Miscanthus - such as Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus').

Stipa - such as Giant Golden Oats (Stipa gigantea).

Ornamental grasses fit into many different planting designs, but few better than the prairie planting style made popular by garden designer and plantsman Piet Oudolf. There is a great range of companion plants that will fit with grasses and no hard and fast rules except making sure that whatever plants you chose will tolerate your soil type.

The list is long but includes Achillea, Asters, Astrantia, Bergamot (Monarda didyma), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm'), Centaurea, Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum', Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Gaura lindheimeri, Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty', Herb Fennel, Ice Plant (Sedum spectabile and other varieties), Liatris spicata, Macedonian Scabious (Knautia macedonica), Perovskia ‘Blue Spire', Turkish Sage (Phlomis russeliana).

A lot of plants have given up by now and are taking a rest, but there are some sensational perennials that fill the August borders with colour. On my wish

GARDENING

list I would have members of the Aster family such as Aster of course, Leucanthemum, and Rudbeckia along with sunflower types such as Echinacea and Helenium, and Iris family members like Crocosmia. All worthy and reliable plants to give colour at this time of year.

Leucanthemum will give showy flowers with white and lemony colours, Rudbeckia and Helenium reflect the summer sun with glorious yellows oranges and fiery reds. There is a whole collection of Crocosmia to be had with colours from pale yellow through gold to orange and fiery reds, which contrast with the strap like green foliage.

Jobs for the Month

August is a holiday month for many people and that can be a challenge to keep plants in house and garden alive while you’re away. A good neighbour is really useful here, but if you are not lucky enough to have a friend at hand then you will try a few other things.

House plants might be safer outdoors or at least moved to a shadier spot in the house and not left on a sunny window sill, and placed on a tray with gravel and water to provide a reservoir that the plant can use while you are away.

Outdoor hanging baskets and planters will fizzle out if left without water. Again move anything you can to a sheltered s ha d y s p ot and give a go o d soaking. If no friendly neighbour available, then an upturned 2litre drink bottled will slowly drip into the compost and add water for a little while. Tomato plants in grow bags are harder to keep going. A larger water container with a

PLANT WORLD For the best plants!

narrow pipe from the bottom would work, allowing water to drip into the bag.

Keeping crops going is essential, pick hard and weed hard before you go, it’s amazing how much everything grows in the short time you are away!

There are always other jobs to be done; in the fruit garden – early and mid-season strawberry plants need to be cut back tidied up and mulched to get the plants to recover after their exertion, and healthy runners can be potted up.

Raspberry canes that have finished should be removed so that the new canes can grow well and be trained for next year’s crop.

Summer fruit tree pruning is every bit as important as winter pruning and is absolutely essential for fan trained peaches, nectarines and cherries, as well as for espalier and cordon apples and pears. Trim back the long side shoots so that they are only 1 leaf over the basal cluster of leaves – sounds tricky but is very obvious once you look at how the trees grow. If you are short of time you can always get the hedge trimmer out to take back the superfluous growth that is draining the plants and deflecting goodness from the

fruit crop. Then trim back properly later in the year. While you have the secateurs handy and if you have a wisteria then apply the same rules to that and follow up with a further pruning in January.

Vegetable gardens – regular picking helps production. If you don’t pick then the plant will assume that no more is needed!

Onions, shallots and garlic should be lifted and left in the sun to dry for better storage as wet bulbs will rot.

Check potatoes and tomatoes for blight – any brown spotted and blotched leaves should be removed and burnt. Finish lifting early and second early potatoes before either the blight or the slugs make them unusable. Caterpillars will strip Brassicas in no time. Check to see if they’re there. Either pick them off, or spray with pyrethrum [plant derived insecticide] or a manufactured product such as Provado Ultimate Bug Killer].

Crops are really best covered with a fine mesh cover.

There is still time to sow salad and leaf crops for harvest this year. Radish, spinach, lettuce, parsley and rocket as well as herbs such as coriander and chervil.

Full ground preparation and laying service available

The Farmhouse, Somerton Door, SOMERTON, TA11 6JA Tel / Fax: 01458 272091 www.evergreen-turf.co.uk • info@evergreen-turf.co.uk

PODIMORE RECYCLING LTD R. W. PRINCE LTD

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New Asphalt Plant Installed

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

Small Loads Collected or Delivered 7am – 4pm Daily • Monday – Friday

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Do Call In • Open 7 Days a Week • Ample FREE Parking

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✴ Road Sweeper Hire ✴

Please call to enquire if we can help you with anything

PODIMORE RECYCLING LTD. Podimore,Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 8JG Tel: 01935 849250 • Fax: 01935 849099 Mobile: 07973 844145

THE VISITOR August 2016 41

The

Pub Pages

BE ER & SK ITTLE S P. A. BAXTER

WE ALL LOVE politicians and the way they always see eye-to-eye with the electorate in the quest to make sure us mere mortals have our lives enhanced as we toil away at our everyday tasks. Okay; that's the fiction over for this month.

Earlier in the year in this column we touched on the subject of alcohol

consumption and advice given to the masses about what we should and shouldn't be drinking; particularly on what we shouldn't be drinking of course. Dame Sally Davies and her crew had come up with yet another set of statistics that they considered 'proved' how bad drinking even the smallest quantity of alcohol was.

In his lecture to the Institute of Economic Affairs, head of lifestyle economics Christopher Snowden delivered a very interesting and indepth analysis at the 'Spectator' annual health debate this year. It was simply entitled 'Can We Trust Health Advice?' Now, I am surely not the only one who has wondered about all the conflicting advice about how we should be eating this and not eating that, but this column will not go into the rights and wrongs of our food, but if I may I will attempt to précis Mr Snowden’s delivery down to something we can all understand without losing the main message. It is perhaps inevitable that it relies on statistics to start with, and if you'll bear with me, I think they speak for

Home-Made Food Served 7 Days a Week

Real Ales - Garden Skittle Alley

TRADITIONAL COUNTRY PUB Serving Sensibly Priced Food & Drink

Dinnington, Nr. Hinton St. George • Tel 01460 52397

The CATASH INN North Cadbury • BA22 7DH

 CATASH BUMPKINFEST 

LIVE MUSIC with ‘THE MANGLED WURZELS’ Friday 26th August  9pm A great night with Cider flowing and a BBQ in the garden Straw hats welcome  Free entry

Large Beer Gardens

 North Cadbury 01963 441531

The MUDDLED

MAN

Skittle Alley

Your hosts, Mick, Jean and Garry welcome you to

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

Relax in our ATTRACTIVE GARDENS  Rambler groups welcome 

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 • Rambler Groups Welcome

www.themuddledman.co.uk

Tel: 01935 881235

42 THE VISITOR August 2016

themselves. In 1979 the Government advised us chaps that we should drink no more than 56 units per week. Later this was changed to 36 units, and then 28 units and eventually 21. The latest guess is that we should drink no more than 14 units per week. Mr Snowden points out that around the world the recommended maximum varies enormously. Fiji (home of some enormous Rugby players I seem to recall) say 52 is that magic number, whilst in Spain it is 35. Over to Guyana and it is a mere 7. No other country has the same guidelines as the UK. The very next day after our last advice, the United States of America came up with the figure of 25, and that was from the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism!

Meanwhile our Government also think that about 26,000 deaths a year are prevented thanks to reduced risk from heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Therefore, Mr Snowden continues, in order to trust this latest piece of health advice from our Chief Medical Officer, we must believe not only that every previous Chief Medical Officer got it wrong but that every other country in the world has got it wrong.

I would suggest to you all that it is worth reading the entire report

The

as Mr. Snowden demolishes the entire fracas in a most eloquent manner. It is readily available on the internet.

Needless to say, CAMRA - the Campaign for Real Ale, have poohpoohed the report, citing the benefits of visiting the pub due to social interaction, building of a community spirit etc. Recent research from Oxford University shows that people who go to a ‘local’ pub are happier, have more friends and are better connected to that community. Sometimes I wonder if I am preaching to the choir here, as I am sure the vast majority of you good people out there in Visitorland are regulars at your local. Well you are, aren't you?

Speaking of CAMRA and consultations, all 180,000 members were sent a consultation booklet about the future of the organisation entitled 'Shaping the Future', as a precursor to some 50 meetings held around the country, and that was in addition to an on-line survey. So why is this? Well it has been suggested in some quarters that CAMRA has 'had its day', mainly because 'Real Ale' is now available in just about every pub in the land.

A sort of 'Mission Accomplished' I suppose. To my mind at least, to think we should disband and all retire from campaigning is a

Lord Nelson

Rectory Lane, Norton Sub Hamdon Mark, Helen and staff welcome you to ‘The Nelson’

GOOD FOOD - GOOD BEER - GREAT ATMOSPHERE

MARCO’s PIZZA! Stone Baked Every Friday ... from 6pm AND NOW ... Sunday from ... 4pm Eat In or Take Away

Skittle Alley available for Private Parties / Function Friendlies Thursday Evenings PAELLA & SANGRIA £14 per person

Monday to Friday: LUNCHES • 2 Course £8 • 3 Course £12

 LIVE MUSIC 

Saturday 27 th August: DAVE LARGIE

COURTYARD  BEER GARDEN AT REAR AMPLE PARKING OPEN ALL DAY FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Tel: 01935 881473

The CROWN Inn

www.thelordnelson.biz

Greenhill, Sherborne, DT9 4EP Fridays:

FISH ‘n’ CHIPS ... only £5

WEDNESDAY MUSIC 3rd August: Blues 10th August: Trad Jazz 17th August: Traditional Folk 24th August: “Hello Hopefuls” 31st August: Open Mic’ Night

Tel: 01935 816115

nonsense. CAMRA is not the organisation it was 40+ years ago, as it has not only evolved into the most successful consumer pressure group in Europe, but taken on board campaigns to keep pubs open or have them listed as an ACV (Asset of Community Value, which now total in excess of 1,500) helped groups of villagers buy their pubs for their community, campaigned for 'Real Cider' and 'Real Perry'.

The list goes on. Why the topic of revitalizing the organisation should even be mooted I find a little strange, when this form of evolution is happening all the time. Certainly better this than a revolution and the possibility of metaphorical bloodshed.

So are you a lager drinker? Well no, me neither, unless it is one of quality of course. Supermarkets sell the usual stuff but on occasions do stock some of the genuine Czech lagers that are of good quality, tasty, and often considerably cheaper than the imitation lagers that are so heavily promoted. It’s unfortunate that many pubs do not even serve these but go for the ones people think they should be drinking, because that's what the advertisements tell them they should! I was surprised to see a Facebook beer-site recommending a fizzy poor quality American lager as a 'Beer for July 4th'

The

(Independence Day) when there are many excellent beers in the states, some of which we have been fortunate enough to sample and report on within this column. I no longer receive the recommendations from this site and after seeing comments added by others, I expect there are many others that feel the same. Incidentally, lager sales have dropped by 8% in the last 5 years whilst cask and craft ales are slowly increasing.

On the subject of pub closures, they have now apparently dropped gradually from 29 per week 10 years ago to about 21 per week in 2016. I see no reason to trumpet this as a success. If the number of pubs in 2006 was about 67,000 and is now about 51,000 can this be worked out as an on-going percentage of the running total? If anyone out there can do sums better than me (that's just about everyone) perhaps they can let me know.

Perchance you have some strong opinions on any of these topics raised, perhaps even strong enough to warrant sharing them with your scribe and the 'Visitor' community.

If so, do drop me a line at skittlealley@hotmail.com (Names will be kept confidential to protect the guilty).

Meanwhile, how many of us are going to heed the advice of our

Wyndham Arms

KINGSBURY EPISCOPI nr. MARTOCK SOMERSET TA12 6AT

A delightful country pub ...

Grain to Glass SALSA Accreditation for Butcombe Brewery

Lords and masters regarding the amount of alcohol we drink?

Personally I doubt if any will, which makes it all rather pointless, particularly when we look at the statistics for alcohol consumption over the last couple of decades; the quantities per capita show a gradual reduction anyway.

So I'm off to the pub; cheers!

Butcombe Brewery has been announced as the first brewery to be accredited with Grain to Glass quality assurance by Cask Marque.

The Grain to Glass programme was developed by Cask Marque,

DELICIOUS SUMMER MENU Including  Pinto Beans, Courgette & Sweet Pepper Chilli  Maple Roast Salmon Salad  Grilled Pork Loin with Mustard & Stilton Sauce

2 Course LUNCHES £8.95 – NEW MENU Available Tuesday to Saturday

Wednesday & Thursday Special

SURF, TURF, SWINE and WINE NIGHT

2 Rump STEAKS or 2 Beer Battered HADDOCK or 2 Gammon STEAKS or ANY 2 with a ...

CARAFE of WINE £23.50 per couple • BOOKING ADVISED

★ SUNDAY ROASTS ★

ROYAL OAK Over Stratton, South Petherton Chris & Jill look forward to welcoming you at the ...

Tel: 01460 240906

A Charming Country Inn

Church Street, Curry Rivel nr. Langport, TA10 0HE

OPEN ALL DAY EVERY DAY

We welcome NEW SKITTLE TEAMS for the WINTER LEAGUES Excellent skittle food – £2 per head Alley refurbished 2 years ago We now do FOOD on Sundays from 12 noon ‘til 9pm Traditional Sunday Roast choice of 3 meats ... served 12 noon ‘til 6pm Why not enjoy your meal alfresco in our LARGE GARDEN? 

 LIVE MUSIC 

Saturday 30 th July EDDIE ROGERS 9pm start 5pm start Sunday 28 th August MIKE BROWN Guitar / Vocalist Rob & Lin Rigby and Marly the Dog look forward to welcoming you

Tel: 01935 823239

Please visit us on our website: www.wyndhamarms.com to see full menu details

Please present this advert to receive 10% DISCOUNT – offer available Monday to Wednesday in August 2016

THE VISITOR August 2016 43

They Say

That when Yeovil's Syd Smith was heard to say he was a distant relative to the captain of the Titanic, Malcolm Francis commented ‘with the size of you and the captain - no wonder it sunk!’

That Terry Cutler of South Petherton was delighted with the helicopter fly-past he received whilst cutting his birtday cake.

That since her recent success, copper wire and test tubes may well appear in the future floral arrangements of Ilminster’s Carol Hoare.

That whilst holidaying in India, Yarlington’s Roger House found Imodium to be an excellent apéritif.

That John Humphrey is a happy man since discovering a ‘system’ to assist in solving Sudoku puzzles and all without losing any of the pleasure or sense of achievement in completing them.

That the Mayor of Gillingham has officially opened the much loved café based at Gillingham Station, after a refurbishment to make it three times the original size.

That Phillip (Orsaw) Oram of Yeovil now has double glazing spectacles.

That Ansford’s veggie pie eater Mr Gwyn Phillips has been known to clean his hall tiles with a bottle of £24 single malt whiskey.

That Yeovil's Labour Club Lydia was to receive a stick of Weymouth Rock from Mike (big spender) Pollard but he ate it on the way home - or did he even buy one we ask!

That Mr Pie Face of South Petherton gave many party goers a creamy complextion.

That the cleaner of the Camelot Inn, South Cadbury would like to thank all the customers who hide their origami crisp packets for her to find.

That Kingsbury Episcopi's Jolly Boys, Charlie Stone and John Williams, were left feeling a little deflated after their Weymouth acquaintance stood them up for a night at the Rusty Axe. That with four ‘firsts’ under his belt at his recent school sports day, Stalham’s young Thomas Feakins must surely be a contender for the 2028 Olympics.

44 THE VISITOR August 2016

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

“

168 Hendford Hill YEOVIL

There's a man going 'round takin' names An' he decides who to free and who to blame Everybody won't be treated all the same There'll be a golden ladder reaching down When the man comes around

”

THE FIRST PERSON to tell me the above song gets a free drink! Last month a young lady by the name of Esme from Castle Cary was the first to tell me it was “If you could read my mind” by Gordon Lightfoot.

Well what a month that was. Like I said last month about the EU, half wanted in and half wanted out. And judging by what happened we were not far out in this pub. We live in interesting times.

Don’t start me off about the football! Just to say that Sam Allerdyce has not won much as a football manager in the last 20 years, so I don’t hold out much hope for us over the next 5 years. Let’s hope the F.A. see sense, otherwise I won’t live long enough to see us win something.

We had a couple of nice parties here in the last month. A young couple by the name of Mr. & Mrs. Hawkins celebrated 50 years of marriage with a nice afternoon soirée: lots of friends and family, nice bit of food, and a few drinks, all made for a super afternoon.

Congratulations to you both.

Another young couple tied the knot this month: Jason and Rachael became Mr. & Mrs. Suffield. A super gathering of friends, a great band (Bad Edukation) + a nice bit of food and lots of drinks to celebrate. Well done you two!!!

Don’t forget that every Sunday Evening we have a QUIZ here at The Quick’ with some really great prizes to be won, and you even get a prize for coming last, so not bad. Why not come on down and show us how clever you are?  Next month on the 19th of August we have The Flatland Boogie Band making a welcome return playing live in the bar. On the 26th we have The Innocent Bystanders playing live in the bar. And on Bank Holiday Sunday we have STORM playing in the function room: it’s a free gig and with no work on the Monday should be a great party. And a little bit of warning Mr. D’arcy are here on the first Friday of September.

And finally ... a farmer was out walking with his sheep dog when he told his dog to count the sheep. The dog came back, the farmer asked “How many?” and the dog said “40”.

The farmer said “We’ve only got 38”.

Dog said “Yeah, I rounded ‘em up”.  TOOT TOOT !!!

BOOKINGS

 01935 424721

The

Pub Pages

and saw SALSA (Sales and Local Supplier Approval) auditors assess the whole Butcombe beer making process right up to its delivery and being poured into a glass for the final consumer. This has seen Butcombe audited and assessed over a six month period, covering Health & Safety, Legal Compliance and Product Quality within the Butcombe Brewery, and also saw their warehousing gain the Distribution Charter confirming their storage and handling of cask ale is all in perfect order.

Butcombe's pubs are all subject to annual cellar inspections by Cask Marque and star rated via Scores on the Doors and all of the brewers 21 pubs hold the Cask Marque award for beer quality in the glass.

The news was delivered at the

annual Cask Marque AGM in London by Cask Marque Director, Paul Nunny who commented ‘This is a magnificent achievement by Butcombe and a commitment that endorses them as a quality brewer and pub retailer. Many people talk a good story but Butcombe committed itself to an independent inspection to examine their practices. We hope other brewers will follow in their leadership.’

Butcombe Brewery Managing Director, Geraint Williams enthused ‘Everything we do here at Butcombe revolves around our Beer. That's the way it's always been for us. Beer is the hero for us and to have our dedication to our craft recognised by the industry is fantastic. Being the first brewer to be accredited with the Grain to Glass programme just shows how we're leading the way in quality brewing, just as we have done since day one.’

AROUND THE

H O U S E S

IN BARRINGTON ... congratulations go to The Barrington Boar who have been

Nestled in the pretty village of Queen Camel D FOO D E V SER YS 7 DA EK E AW

QUEEN CAMEL • BA22 7NJ RESTAURANT - HOTEL - BAR

We are pleased to announce our delicious ...

NEW MENU freshly prepared by our multi award winning EXECUTIVE CHEF and his team using locally sourced ingredients!  Tripadvisor Excellent for Food & Service 2016 

Why not try one of our Speciality Menus?

Monday – Buy One Steak GET ONE FREE Thursday – Homemade Pizza and a Pint just £9.95 Friday – Fish ‘n’ Chips (fresh cod) just £6.95 to take away

Enjoy our renowned Sunday Roast with a choice of 5 Main Courses followed by LIVE MUSIC on the Patio from 4pm to 8pm Relax in the sun on our Patio / Decking Area – alfresco dining ... everything from a sandwich through to an a la carte meal Newly refurbished ENSUITE ACCOMMODATION

 Over 6 Draught Ciders  Real Ales  Fine Wines  This HISTORIC INN (circa 1640) offers a warm welcome!

Find us just 700 yards off the A303, 6 miles from Yeovil & Sherborne

Tel: 01935 850456

Email: mildmayarms@yahoo.com

awarded 4 stars - silver (inns)

by Visit England ... Jill's pies are much sought after at The Royal Oak, Over Stratton ... and a very nice BBQ and excellent service at The Brewers, South Petherton at the recent birthday party.

Cantering on to Curry Rivel stone-baked pizzas are proving popular in the afternoon at the newly opened Firehouse, where there is a 10% disount Monday to Wednesday when you cut out their advert in this month’s Visitor ... new skittles teams very welcome at The Wyndham Arms, Kingsbury Episcopi for the coming season ... Garry is recouperating this month after a busy July at The Muddled Man, West Chinnock ... private parties welcome in the function room / skittle alley at The Lord Nelson, Norton Sub Hamdon where stone- baked pizzas are now available from 4pm Sunday ... and the Apple, Roquefort & Filo Pie is a tasty dish for vegetarians at The Cat Head Inn, Chiselborough.

Shuffling on to Sherborne Monday 22nd August: Treacle Eater Clog North West Morris dancers & musicians will be performing with their friends Knights of King Ina outside The Cross Keys, at 8pm and again outside The Weavers Club, at 9pm, enjoy the traditional music and dancing. No charge, collection only ... Mary is celebrating five years at The Rose & Crown, Bradford Abbas ... welcome to new hosts John and Becky Gibbons at The Rose & Crown, Longburton ... cream teas a tasty summer treat at The Queens Arms, Corton Denham ... and Aboards a-plenty at The Catash Inn, North Cadbury.

Yomping on to Yarlington check out the Evergreen Special menu at The Stags Head, receive a free drink when you cut out this month’s advert ... a taste o f Sp a i n i n on the me nu at Truffles Brasserie, Bruton this month ... enjoy alfresco dining on the terrace at The Montague Inn, Shepton Montague ... exciting new menu and new chef at The Mildmay Arms, Queen Camel ... lots going on at The Horsepond Inn, Castle Cary, see the blackboards outside ... draught local cider now available at The Natterjack Inn, Evercreech Junction ... all change at The Alhampton Inn, Alhampton ... and finally congratulations go to Butcombe Brewery - the first brewery to be accredited with the Grain to Glass quality assurance Cask Marque.

DELICIOUS FOOD Available 7 Days a Week

Locally Sourced Home Cooked Food Choose from our Main Menu or our ever-changing Specials Board  Vegetarian Options 

Tuesday Night STEAK NIGHT Two 8oz Rump Steaks – £25

 NEW Holiday Cottages TO LET 

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

Sunday ROAST

£10.50 – Early Booking Advised

 Well Kept Real Ales   Local Farmhouse Cider on Draught  Enjoy our beautiful gardens!

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

Say you saw it in The Visitor

THE VISITOR August 2016 45

Wine & Dine

August Wines - use your Village Shop

NU ME W E N Ng rti sta iNg of i NN bEg UgUst a

sunday 14 th august JaZZ in the gardEN Every Monday stEak Night ribeye, Pork Loin, or salmon with salad and fries for only £10 per head

Every tuesday siMPLE sUPPEr delicious 2 Course set Menu for only £10 per head

Every Thursday sUrf & tUrf Night Monday – friday 2 CoUrsE sPECiaLs £10 per head

46 THE VISITOR August 2016

MANY OF US now choose to buy our wines when loading up the trolley while doing the weekly supermarket shop. Apart from the convenience this is often done under the misconception that the selection is greater and prices are cheaper, which is not necessarily so.

It is not until we find guests turning up unexpectedly at the last minute that we think of turning to our local village shops for a bottle or two. Certainly one of the reasons that people choose to live in villages such as Combe St. Nicholas and Winsham is that they benefit from having a village shop.

The wine tasting held at the community shop in Seavington Villages Store, during Ilminster’s Literary Festival, gave me the chance to see what is on offer there, and this then spurred me on to do some local exploration.

It is time that we took a fresh look at what is available on our doorsteps, if for no other reason than as with all things, if we don’t use them we will lose them.

Price is often a consideration,

and on more than one occasion I have found that the same wines are offered at prices lower than on those found in supermarkets.

Do also remember to take into account the time and petrol it takes to drive to larger out of town stores.

One of the key advantages of using local shops is their ability to respond to local demand. This enables them to take advantage of any discounted prices and special offer bin ends offered by their suppliers, which large companies are unable to do as they need to buy in bulk.

However, because stocks are kept low, turnover is usually swift, so aside from the generic big brand favourites your new find may not always be available next time around.

Seavington Village Stores Gabbia D’Oro, Verdicchio del Castellie di Jesi Classico, Marche, Italy, 12%, NV, £6.49

This elegant crisp dry white has an inviting floral aroma.

Unoaked, it has plenty of ripe fruit flavours of peaches and pears, offset by a refreshing acidity.

Farm Shops & Local Produce

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

Enjoy freshly harvested ...

SEASONAL VEGETABLES BBQ time ... Local Sausages, Burgers, etc.

HOME GROWN STRAWBERRIES

Ham Hill and Perry’s Ciders  Yeovil Ales  Marsh Farm Ice Cream COFFEE SHOP ... come and enjoy tea, coffee (from Read’s Coffee of Sherborne) and a slice of locally made cake

FOLLOW OUR PAGE ON FACEBOOK

 01935 827743 • www.bowerhintonfarmshop.co.uk

W&D

Calvet, Minervois, Languedoc Roussillon, France, 2012, 13%, £6.59

Made from a typical South of France blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, the dense dark fruit flavours of this fruity wine are characterised by blackberries and rich damsons, giving it power and weight.

Vallone Vereto, Salice Salentino, Puglia, Italy, 2012, 13%, £9.99

Made from the Negroamaro grape, Puglia’s native grape, this hearty red is redolent with rich spicy fruit, brambles, liqourice and chocolate. Tannins are ripe and velvety giving a softness to the palate. Its complex long finish makes it ideal with rustic stews.

Combe St. Nicholas Village Shop The Chattering Bird, Sauvignon Blanc, Mud House Wines, Marlborough New Zealand, 2014, 12.5%, £8.99

Ripe tropical aromas lead to fresh flavours of citrus and passion fruit with a burst of refreshing acidity.

Bodegas Latue, Clearly Organic, Tempranillo, Castilla, Spain, 2015, 13%, £10

I was delighted to discover this award winning Biodynamic wine on offer locally, which is also suitable for vegans, although the producers recommend it with game or sharp cheese. It is bright and fruity with cherry and forest fruit aromas and smooth tannins.

Winsham Village Shop Sol Y Sombra, Tempranillo / Syrah, Cooperativa Nuestra Senora de la Paz, Tierra de Castilla, Spain, 2014, 13.5%, £7.28

A deeply coloured modern-style Spanish blend brimming with rich mulberry and dark chocolate.

Softly oaked with a warming, spicy finish makes it an ideal partner for cured meats.

Parrotfish, Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa, 2014, 12%, £5.99

Pale gold in colour this wine displays intense aromas of tropical fruit, complemented by hints of gooseberries and green apples. Crisp and medium-bodied with a refreshing finish, it will go well with chicken, Caesar salad or grilled salmon.

LP-V.

the end bit ...

Paperchase

WHEN Gavin Thompson took up his role as the Western Daily Press’s new editor in early June I wonder whether he knew that one of his first jobs would be to announce a price rise. The price of the Saturday issue was increased from £1.30 to £1.50 (a rise of more than 15%) with effect from the 9th July issue. You might recall that the price rose from 80p to £1 at the beginning of December 2012, to £1.20 in September 2013, to £1.30 from the beginning of April 2015 and now to £1.50, which is a 70p (a 87.5%) increase in 43 months.

Put another way, the price has almost doubled in less than four years. With the annual rate of inflation as measured by the Retail Price Index being around 2% this rise looks somewhat excessive, to say the least. If any other business imposed such an increase it would make ‘horrified’ front-page news rather than being tucked away inside the paper without so much as a headline.

The Western Gazette’s ‘brand new 24-page leisure pull-out’ entitled ‘What’s On’, about which I wrote in last month’s column, is turning out to be anything but ‘brand new’ if you’re a reader of the Western Daily Press. You will have already seen the

ANSWERS TO POP MUSIC QUIZ

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two pages of film reviews and the page of book reviews in the previous Friday’s issue of the daily paper. The words, pictures and page layouts are all a direct lift. Such sharing of copy works the other way round too – I noted that the two pages of ‘Property Talk’ in the Gazette’s property supplement on 16th June were reproduced unchanged in the Western Daily’s magazine supplement on the 18th June. I’m beginning to wonder why I buy both titles.

For the crosswords, perhaps.

Momentarily stumped by a cryptic clue in the 7th July issue of the Western Gazette, my eye strayed to the adjacent column which carried Claire Petulengro’s astrological predictions. ‘Try to take a little more care with the way you look this week as first impressions will be counting for more than you may imagine,’ she advised me, adding that ‘Neptune brings out the artistic side in your work which makes for a more funfilled business life than usual’. Which came as bad news because I had been taking more care of my appearance, clearly to no avail, since seeing her advice in the previous week’s issue.

And I hadn’t noticed a more fun-filled business life since reading her same prediction in the 30th June issue.

Yes, for all twelve star signs the predictions were word-for-word the same in both week’s issues. Does anyone take them seriously, I wonder.

For several weeks the pages of the Gazette and the Western Daily have been plastered with large adverts

promoting a new SomersetLive.co.uk website. Launched in mid-June, it ‘brings together eight web offerings from the Trinity Mirror portfolio in one exciting one-stop destination for everything you need to know and love about this beautiful county’, according to a report in the Western Gazette on 16th June. Editor Emma Slee explains that ‘we’ll no longer be competing against ourselves. Instead, we’ll be bringing the biggest possible audience to all our stories using the massive search and social strength of a single supersite.’ In other words, ‘we hope we’ll be more attractive to potential advertisers’. It’s common knowledge that printed titles are suffering a decline in advertising revenue and the battle is on to recoup it through online advertisements, even if this means becoming much less local, much less communitybased. Significantly the Blackmore Vale Magazine’s website has escaped the amalgamation, perhaps because the larger part of the BVM’s circulation area is Dorset, not Somerset. I’ll return to this subject in a future issue when I look at Sturminster Newton’s revamped community magazine and website.

Finally, whoever wrote the headline (pictured below) that appeared in the 16th June issue of the Western Gazette needs shooting. Despite what it claims, the brothers had not been shooting in court – they were in court accused of shooting on a caravan site.

Which is not the same thing at all.

Chronicler.

on page 20

Phil and Don 'M People' Neil Sedaka 'Travis' Clare Grogan 'Revolver' Phil Lynott 'Blondie' 'Killers' 'Doobie Brothers'

This Month’s Bonus Question 2008

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.

Question Impossible It first appeared on the flip of 'Rag Doll' by The Four Seasons and was co-written by one of the band members.

Solution to July

Sudoku

THE VISITOR August 2016 47

PHONE - a - FIRM • PHONE - a - FIRM

Computer Help

Painting & Decorating

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

Communications

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

Framing

SCENES

Artist Materials & Gallery

 Picture Framing  Restoration  Large Selection of Prints and Paintings  Greeting Card Blanks High St. Gillingham Tel: 01747 824050 www.scenes-online.co.uk

Clock Repairs

CLOCK REPAIRS Antique and Modern Clock Repairs.

Free pick up and delivery 40 years experience

Tel (01935) 477582

Graphic Design & Illustration

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: taylorsdomesticappliances@gmail.com Covering the areas between Wincanton Castle Cary, Sparkford, Sherborne and Yeovil

Mister Oven Independent Oven Cleaning Specialist Ovens - Hobs - Agas etc

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

48 THE VISITOR August 2016

Call: 01935 509362 or ... 07890 301041 Yeovil and surrounding area

Call 01963 351256 TO ADVERTISE

HERE

Electrical Contractors

Oven Cleaning

The Visitor can be read online: www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk

for that Washing Machine Dish Washer Tumble Dryer problem

Your advert reaching 60,000 readers

Shouldn’t you be advertising here?

Clean Ovens Domestic Ltd Independent Oven Cleaners Covering Somerset and Dorset

AGAS • RANGES • OVENS HOBS • EXTRACTORS Eco-Friendly Materials Used Experienced + Fully Insured Friendly Staff

Tel: 0800 7076629 Mobile: 07563 693145 www.cleanovendomestics.co.uk

September Deadline FRIDAY 12th AUGUST 01963 351256

PHONE - a - FIRM • PHONE - a - FIRM

Transport & Storage

The key to all your storage needs!

Plumbing & Heating

Fully insured Storage at Highly Competitive Rates Call us today for a quote!

01963 440045 www.sparkfordstorage.com

• Open 7 Days a Week • 20 Years Established Family Business

• Modern Burglar-Alarmed Warehouses • Professional & Reliable Service • Removals To and From Storage • Self Store with Easy Access • Cubicle and Crate Storage • Friendly, Helpful Staff

High Street, Sparkford, nr. Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7QJ Tel: 01963 440045 / 440526 / 440692

Roofing

Tel: 01747 861479 Mob: 07561 120828 34 White Road, MERE, Nr. Warminster Wiltshire, BA12 6EX

Email: mead208@btinternet.com

For all your roofing requirements

Flat Roofing • Tiling Slating • GRP Roofing

Fires / Chimneys / Stoves

SANDPITS

All New Work Fully Guaranteed

HEATING & HOME STORE

Multifuel Stoves ... over 200 on display Chimneys Relined ★ Full Installation Service

For further information & estimates contact Allan Carey

01963 33528 / 07885 723915

HETAS • OFTEC • GAS SAFE

✴ Chimney Sweeping Service ✴

Email: allancarey541@hotmail.com

Bourton Roofing Co. Slate  Tiling  Flat Roofing.

UPVC Fascias  Guttering F R EE EST IMAT ES

 01747 840064

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

Services

GOOD POTATOES

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

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

Anchor Hill Service Station winCAnTon 01963 32609

Fire & Security Alarms

07921 074602 • 01749 677440 • Solidfuel3@aol.com

Logs

Barn Stored Seasoned Hardwood Logs

Summer Saver 5% DISCouNT

... on orders placed during July, August & September

 Seasoned Hard & Softwood Logs  Kindling – Briquettes – Coal  Various Load / Log Sizes ... Free DeLIvery

Tel: 01458 251529 • Mobile: 07789 204232

Full details on our website: www.msmfirewood.co.uk

THE VISITOR August 2016 49

Classified Ads

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.

Prize Crossword No. 358 Set by Frank Butler

SEND COMPLETED ENTRIES TO: The Visitor Crossword, P.O. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset BA7 7BG – to arrive by Friday 12th August.

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.

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2

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ADDRESS .............................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................. ..................................................................................................................................................................................

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

Passport Photographs

PASSPoRTS - passports - passports also studio sittings, and golden weddings.

Any time to suit you. easy parking opposite The Quarry inn. Tel: Graham Cox, Photographer, 01458 223769.

Personal

www.country-link.org.uk CoUnTRY LinK SoCiAL GRoUP. Fresh air, fun, food and friendship. Tel: Andy 01225 834834 or Val 01749 342918.

ReTiReD LADY early 70’s, looking for a tall, smart, non-smoker male. interests include: national Trust places, wildlife, antiques. Photo appreciated. Box no 12.

SoMeRSeT MALe, retired, medium build, GSoH, caring, considerate, many interests. Seeks lady 70 - 75 for friendship, maybe more. Tel: 01458 445403.

JUST SoMeRSeT inTRoDUCTionS. Bringing people together. Call Alison Tel: 07584 250285, www.justintro ductionsgroup.co.uk

ReTiReD MALe, medium build, nonsmoker. interests: countryside holidays, national Trust, wildlife, seeks lady for friendship, maybe more. Box no. 16.

Services

HoUSeHoLD & GARDen RUBBiSH CLeAReD, old sheds / oubuildings demolished, etc. Tel: 01460 77844.

For Sale

STone SLABS for SALe. 12” x 12” x 1”.

Grey, £1 each. Buyer collects. Keinton Mandeville. Tel: 01458 224169.

50 THE VISITOR August 2016

Wanted

DAVe BUYS ALL TYPeS oF TooLS, salvage, bygones and collectables.

Daves Tools - Tel: 01935 428975

PoSTCARDS, pop memorabilia, coins, badges, old toys, games, and anything military. Tel: Clive 01749 675456.

ALL SPoRTS PRoGRAMMeS and books, memorabilia and ephemera – especially football. Large collections welcome. Cash paid. Tel: Clive 01749 675456.

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.

1960s / 70s PLASTiC ToY soldiers, knights, cowboys, castles, garden. Timpo trains, tractors. ww1 helmets, posters.

Tel: 07823 443474.

Catering / Mobile Bars

BeRe FARM CATeRinG, quality catering for all occasions. Beef/Hog Roast a speciality. Tel: 01458 250234 for individual quotes.

HARRY’S MoBiLe BARS, all occasions, weddings, parties, etc. Tel: 01747 825553 harry@bars4u.plus.com www.harrysmobilebars.co.uk

Storage

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

The Visitor

CAN BE READ ONLINE: www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk

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Loud and unprincipled place of amusement. [7] Sort out rawness: That’s what you seek. [7] Elevator not connected? Up, up and away! [4-3] Sea monster not easy in place of apples. [7] Guru Al in a muddle at the opening. [9] E.g. he’d arranged to replace a fence. [5] Visitor guessed we hear. [5] Gent, hidden in a stronghold, told secrets. [9] Trial goal ordered for big mouth! [9] Initially not always blue of blood, but an important person.

[5] Sailor not at home but on the go. [5] Sly about leaning in a pretentious way. [9] Odd wine mix to behave like an untended fire. [3,4] Grandma enthusiastic for buff cloth. [7] Sterne’s rewritten a description of birds in spring. [7] Crest OK sorted for geologist’s collection. [4,3]

5.

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A passage-fee to find coral island with lagoon. [5] Arc chains adrift? That would be sweet! [9] Antelope found in eastern country. [5] Sets badly around a theologian (most unhappy!). [9] Eight letters about port uprising told of dangerous crossing. [9] Alien to rule with foreparts about. [9] Leave behind a group working.

[7] Less about ion! Dangerous mammal? [7] B-grades for wild animals. [7] Bight (one t) for a weapon. [7] And, on board or at the beach.

[5] 2240 pounds in charge is good for you! [5]

Solution to Crossword 357

Down: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Cascading river with heather. [7] Foam confused with Len when matchless. [2,5] n short, metal on guard is farther on! [5] Firestorm resulting from seeker after change. [9]

THE WINNER OF OUR JULY CROSSWORD was Innes Macleod of Crewkerne, who chose to spend the £10 voucher at The Wyndham Arms, at Kingsbury Episcopi.