Yeovil Press - Issue 28 - January 2021

YEOVILPRESS

JAN U 20 ARY 21

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www.yeovilpress.co.uk | Edition Number 28 | FREE

THE CASTAWAY THEATRE GROUP MAKES A WELCOME RETURN TO THE STAGE IN YEOVIL  PHOTO SPECIAL  TURN TO PAGES 32-33

COFFEE BREAK CHAT WITH OCTAGON THEATRE AND WESTLANDS YEOVIL ENTERTAINMENT VENUE MANAGER ADAM BURGAN  WHO WANTS TO DO A SKYDIVE! TURN TO PAGES 67 FIFTY YEARS ON FROM WHEN CHILDREN WERE GIVEN A DAY OFF SCHOOL TO GO AND WATCH YEOVIL TOWN PLAY ARSENAL IN THE FA CUP  TURN TO PAGE 63

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INSIDE

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YEOVIL HISTORY FILES ‹‹ 54-55

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

While Yeovil town centre falls quiet in new national lockdown ... things can only get better, surely?

OLD PUBS OF YEOVIL ‹‹ 58-59

Pg 14-15: Coronavirus vaccination programme being rolled out Pg 8-9: £23million revamp plans for Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre Pg 13: £10million boost for Yeovil town centre Pg 18-19: More details about the Yeovil Refresh project Pg 68-69: And .... importantly .... Yeovil Town beat old rivals Weymouth!

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A YEOVIL TOWN TRAGEDY ‹‹ 64-65

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EDITOR'S NEWS IN BRIEF NOTE HAPPY New Year and I hope that everyone had a good – albeit different – Christmas season.

But with the start of 2021 has come the introduction of the national Lockdown Three as the threat of coronavirus continues with the number of positive cases escalating, hospitals being overrun with patients and, sadly, the death toll increasing.

The vaccinations are being rolled out which is great news and very positive, but it is going to take several months for the millions of jabs to be administered.

So we still need to think “hands, face, space” and do our little bit in the battle against Covid-19. The light can be seen at the end of the tunnel, although we do not actually know how long the tunnel is.

But like I’ve said on the front page of this month’s paper – there are reasons to be positive here in Yeovil.

The town centre has suffered a downturn in fortunes in recent years, but hopefully the plans in the pipeline will turn that around. I know we will all agree and disagree on certain elements of the Yeovil Refresh project – but one thing is for sure, in my opinion, that “doing nothing” would be a disaster for the town and we should embrace the plans, although I’m sure we’d all want to do a bit of tinkering with them if given the chance.

And surely it has got to be good news if a proposed £23m revamp of the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil gets the go-ahead?

Thank you to those that have advertised in this edition – your support is very much appreciated during these difficult times.

Many thanks to James Healey, of JRH Media, for his help with design and layout, and photographer Christine Jones for her support.

The next edition of Yeovil Press will be out on Friday, February 5, 2021. If you would like to get in touch – please email yeovilpress@gmail.com .

Take care, keep well and please keep safe.

Best wishes - STEVE SOWDEN - Editor

Photo of the month

NEWS IN BRIEF >> IF any business would like to advertise in the next edition of Yeovil Press – out on Friday, February 5, 2021 - please get in touch by emailing yeovilpress@gmail.com or by phoning 0777-319-8081. >> KEEP up-to-date with the latest news from Yeovil and surrounding area by logging onto the Yeovil Press website at www.yeovilpress.co.uk >> SOME of the photos printed in the January 2021 edition of Yeovil Press may be available to be purchased.

Anyone wanting to buy photos included in this edition – please drop us a line at 0777-319-8081 or email yeovilpress@gmail.com >> GET IN TOUCH: If you have a story or an event coming up you would like to possibly see covered in the next edition of the Yeovil Press get in touch by emailing yeovilpress@gmail.com .

THIS fantastic sunset photo was sent to us by Yeovil Press reader Carole Britton. It was taken just outside of East Chinnock as the sun was setting. “My husband and I have only recently moved to South Somerset from North Wiltshire and so far we absolutely love it,” said Carole. If you take a photo which you think could be included in our Photo of the Month feature – please email us at yeovilpress@gmail.com . We look forward to receiving your photos.

What's in your new local newspaper Pg 04: Dancing success for James Pg 06-07: Coffee Break Chat with Adam Burgan Pg 08-09: Octagon Theatre £23m revamp plans Pg 10-11: Around the Town Pg 14-15: Coronavirus Pg 18-19: Yeovil Refresh Pg 20-21: News in Photos Pg 24-25: News at a Glance Pg 26-28: School News Pg 29: School Reunion Pg 31-42: Christmas 2020 Pg 32-22: Photo Special - Castaway Theatre Group Pg 35-38: Review of 2020 Pg 40-41: Photo Special - Tintinhull Lights Pg 43: My Top Ten Pg 44-45: Family Announcements Pg 46-47: Breast Cancer Unit Appeal Pg 48-49: Oh! What a Carry On! Pg 51: Photo Special - Helen Laxton School of Dance Pg 52-53: Flashback - January Pg 54-55: Yeovil History Files Pg 56-57: Down Memory Lane Pg 58-59: Old Pubs of Yeovil Pg 63: 50 Years On! Yeovil Town v Arsenal Pg 64-65: Glovers Glory - Ernest Hyman Pg 66-70: News from Yeovil Town FC For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

>> YEOVIL Press is published by Steve Sowden, of Yeovil Press, and printed by Newsquest at Fleet House in Hampshire Road, Weymouth, Dorset, or at Newspaper House in Osney Mead, Oxford, Oxfordshire.

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James is a fantastic role model for aspiring dancers TALENTED Yeovil student James Bamford has been accepted into the English National Ballet’s youth Seventeen-year-old James, who is at Strode College, is one of only 20 students to have been accepted into the company following a highly competitive and challenging audition process.

One of the UK’s leading youth dance companies, ENBYouthCo provides opportunities to exceptionally talented young dancers aged 14-18.

The company receives hundreds of applications from aspiring dancers, with only a select few making it through the auditions.

Young dancers accepted to ENBYouthCo have a fabulous opportunity to work with a huge range of professional dancers, choreographers and musicians, as well as benefiting from the association with the globally renowned English National Ballet.

And James, an aspiring performer, is looking forward to this unique

opportunity.

“I’m passionate about dance and the opportunity to be a small part of a world renowned dance organisation was something that I couldn’t miss,” he said. “I’m so excited be training and dancing with ENBYouthCo.” James works with ENBYouthCo each Friday along with some Sundays and every school holiday – when Covid-19 restrictions allow.

And all this is done alongside his A-Level studies at Strode College and dance training at TLW Dance in Shaftesbury and the Swindon Dance Centre for Advanced Training in Contemporary Dance.

Strode College subject leader for drama and theatre studies, Lydia Williams, said: “James is a real asset to the drama and theatre studies A-Level course and brings with him a wealth of energy, experience and enthusiasm.

“He works incredibly hard both inside and out of college and for a young performer he has already achieved

a huge amount for young people in dance and community theatre.

“He is an inspiration to his peers here at Strode and a fantastic role model for all young boys wanting to pursue an interest and career in the performing arts.”

Annual literary competition launched THE Yeovil Community Arts Association has launched its 2021 international Literary Prize - an annual writing competition with cash prizes in four categories.

All money raised supports talented, local youngsters training for careers in the performing and creative arts.

Now in its 18th year, the Yeovil Literary Prize has matured into a highly regarded writing competition, attracting submissions from across the globe.

The 2020 event saw record numbers of entries as writers made full use of the first coronavirus lockdowns.

The competition’s continued popularity means that this year’s cash prizes are bigger than ever and the YCAA can keep supporting promising local youngsters with bursaries.

The Yeovil Literary Prize has four categories - Novel, Short Stories, Poetry and Writing Without Restriction; a recent addition which has proved popular with writers who like the challenge of thinking outside the box.

Although the 2021 panel has yet to be announced, previous judges have included literary agents and publishers, as well as accomplished authors and poets.

YCAA chairman Liz Pike said: “The increasing success of the Yeovil Literary Prize shows how a locally organised but international competition can mature and provide opportunities for writers everywhere.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer bigger prizes this year, but it’s important to remember that winning competitions like ours also brings greater recognition for writers.

“Agents and publishers regularly use competitions to find new and promising voices, so who knows where a win could lead!”

For details of entry requirements, past winners and rules, see www.yeovilprize. co.uk. The competition runs until April 30, 2021, and winners are announced in the autumn.

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ADVERTISMENT FEATURE

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“When shopping around check the length of your warranty – this is a good sign of whether it’s a worthwhile investment or not. Our fence panels are guaranteed for 25 years and will not warp, crack, shrink, rot, peel or fade.”

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Can I install my new fence during lockdown?

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Feel free to stay inside or take a walk during our visit. When visiting homes, we’re being extra careful to clean everything down before we leave and are following all government recommendations, to keep our staff and you safe and well.

For a free no obligation quotation call Shelley or Andy on 01935 481013 www.colourfencesouthsomerset.co.uk For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

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COFFEE BREAK CHAT

35 questions in 60 seconds WELCOME to the Coffee Break Chat feature to the Yeovil Press – YOUR monthly community newspaper – in which we ask somebody from the local community a set of random questions.

Each month we will pose 35 questions to a member of the local community and they will give their truthful and honest answers about their likes and dislikes, hopes and aspirations and childhood memories.

It is all a bit of fun, but might provide some interesting and discussionprovoking questions along the way for Yeovil Press readers.

And to kick-off 2021 the Coffee Break Chat spotlight falls on ADAM BURGAN of the Octagon Theatre and the Westlands Yeovil entertainment venue.

Exciting plans are in the pipeline for the Octagon (turn to Pages 8-9 for more information) and we know Adam has everything crossed that the proposals become reality.

Coffee Break Chat has been kindly sponsored by the No5 Café Diner which can be found at Kingfisher Close in Gazelle Road on the Lynx Trading Estate.

The No5 Cafe Diner has an extensive

breakfast and lunch menu and is now also offering Evening Meals on a takeaway basis. Depending on what the latest Covid-19 rules are – depends on whether No5 is open for just takeaway or whether people can sit inside the diner for meals.

PHOTO: Adam Burgan.

Phone: 077 Email: yeovilpr

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San Francisco in California is the 16th most populous city in the United States with just over 880,000 residents. The city is a popular tourist destination for its magnificent Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, the crazy Lombard Street, and famous Alcatraz Island. Turn to Question 31.

1: Name: Adam Burgan

Westlands.

2: Occupation: Theatre Manager for The Octagon Theatre and Venue Manager of Westlands Entertainment Venue

11: What is your favourite film? Singin’ In the Rain – never fails to cheer me up.

3: Live: Wyndham Park, Yeovil 4: Places of education: The Priory School Shrewsbury, New College Telford, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) 5: What is your proudest moment? I was invited back by my university (LIPA) to give the graduate speech at one of the graduations.

I had to give the speech at Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool in front of 2,500 people that included Paul McCartney and John Hurt and sit in the box with the Mayor and Mayoress of Liverpool.

6: What is your favourite meal? Can’t beat my mum’s Sunday lunch.

7: What was your favourite TV programme as a child? I loved Super Ted, Banana Man and Mr Ben! 8: What is the one thing you cannot resist?

Crisps – if they are in the house they don’t last long.

Sir Paul McCartney gained worldwide fame as co-lead vocalist and bassist for The Beatles. His song-writing partnership with John Lennon remains the most successful in history. Turn to Question 5.

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Mr Benn was created by David McKee and appeared in several children’s books and an animated television series of the same name originally shown by the BBC in 1971 and 1972. Turn to Question 7.

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9: What is your greatest fear? Being trapped – there is a scene in a horror film ‘The Descent’ where whilst cave diving they get trapped between rocks and are unable to move that would be my nightmare, or being buried alive.

10: What is your favourite drink? Gin – so we just had to have a Gin Festival at

12: What is your favourite band or pop group? Clean Bandit 13: Who is your favourite singer? Ella Fitzgerald – one of the most beautiful voices.

14: What was the first record you ever bought? When Love and Hate Collide – Def Leopard 15: What is something you’ve never tried but want to? Skydiving – one day!

16: Cinema or Theatre? Cinema…only joking! Theatre obviously, you just can’t beat live entertainment but I do love going to the cinema too.

17: Going out or staying in? Mainly staying in… but if my pals Rich and Speck are out you’ll find the three of us on the dancefloor at Chicago Rocks.

18: What is your favourite sport? I am actually a Fitness Instructor and teach classes at Nuffield Health in Yeovil. I really teaching and it is a bit like my therapy. I teach Body Pump, Sh’Bam and Body Combat. But I do enjoy lifting weights on the gym floor and my favourite day would be chest day.

19: What is your favourite sporting moment? I think the whole of the 2012 London Olympic Games was such a period of pride from the opening ceremony to our achievements in the medals table.

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20: What is your favourite holiday destination? Walt Disney World in Florida – I love going to the theme parks and my aim is to visit them all. I’ve been to Orlando, California and Disneyland Paris so I still have Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai to go.

21: If you won the National Lottery, what is the first thing you would do? I’d take my close friends and family on a luxury holiday to the Caribbean to help me plan what to do next.

22: If a film was made about you – what actor would you want to play you? Jake Gyllenhaal – brilliant actor and I once got told I looked a bit like him.

30: If you had to be on a Reality TV show, which one would you choose? The Apprentice – I’d love to put my skills to the test and see if I could impress Lord Sugar.

31: If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? San Francisco 32: How many bones have you broken?

Only one but I did it well and shattered my elbow in secondary school running and slipping on concrete in by football boots. I had two pins in my elbow.

33: When you were little, what did you want to be? A Primary School Teacher like my mum.

23: If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Walt Disney – what an amazing story teller and legacy.

34: What’s the best (clean) joke you’ve ever heard? I didn’t think orthopaedic shoes would work… I stand corrected.

24: If you were a police officer for a day what would you do with the authority?

Littering really bugs me – I cannot understand why people can’t put their rubbish in a bin.

35: Tell us something that might surprise us about you. I also teach a choir! The Octagon Choir was setup around 10 years ago (mainly because I loved the programme ‘Glee’ and wanted to sing in a choir). Somehow I ended up as Musical Director and I love it.

The choir is full of amazing people and I am so proud of ‘the sound’ and music we make together.

25: What TV programme can you not miss? Graham Norton – top Friday night entertainment.

26: Which TV programme makes you pickup the remote and switch channel? I don’t understand the reality shows like TOWIE etc. and I have no interest in the Kardashians.

27: Have you ever ridden in a police car?

Never and not even a detention in school!

Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer – sometimes referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz and Lady Ella. She died in 1996 at the age of 79. Turn to Question 13.

Singin’ in the Rain is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen starring Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds . Turn to Question 11.

Clean Bandit is a British electronic music group formed in Cambridge and is known for blending elements of both classical and dance music and featuring guest vocalists. Turn to Question 12.

Skydiving – this could well be on the cards for Adam Burgan in the future. Turn to Question 15.

28: What is the best book you have ever read? It would be impossible to choose – there are so many but I did love the Harry Potter series and my favourite would be ‘The Goblet of Fire’.

29: If you could do anything for the rest of your life what would that be? I feel very lucky to have a job I love at the theatre, amazing partner, friends and family so life feels pretty good. If all of that could continue I’d be pretty happy.

Walt Disney – the pioneer of the American animation industry. As a film producer he holds the record for most Academy Award nominations earned by an individual having won 22 Oscars from 59 nominations. He died in 1966 aged 65. Turn to Question 23.

WE ARE STAYING OPEN DURING THE LATEST LOCKDOWN FOR DELIVERY AND TAKEAWAY BOTH DAYTIME AND EVENING ORDERS FULL MENU IS AVAILABE FOR TAKEAWAY AND DELIVERY YOU CAN ORDER ONLINE, BUY PHONE OR MESSAGE US ON FACEBOOK Three ways to pre-order your food for collection or delivery: 1: Phone 01935-433665 2: Email orders@number5catering.co.uk 3: Direct message on No5 Catering’s Facebook page.

Or you can come to the diner and place your order over the counter.

Number5Catering.co.uk | 01935 433665 Jake Gyllenhaal is an American actor and film producer. His films include The Day After Tomorrow, Brokeback Mountain and Zodiac, while in 2019 he played Marvel Comics character Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Turn to Question 22.

facebook.com/No5Diner | twitter.com/no5cateringltd Harry Potter and the Goblet of the Fire is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series written by JK Rowling. It was published in July 2000. Turn to Question 28.

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Questions and answers over £23m Octagon Theatre revamp PROPOSALS for a possible £23million revamp of the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil will lead to people having numerous questions about the scheme – but here South Somerset District Council tries to pre-empt those queries with a series of answers.

Councillors were meeting on Thursday (January 7) – as the Yeovil Press went to press - to discuss the proposals and to decide whether they support the scheme “in principle.”

More details can be found on the Yeovil Press website at www.yeovilpress.co.uk Why are councillors only looking to agree the project in principle at present?

The council is currently seeking detailed advice on VAT implications with this project and await a full response from HMRC. Currently it has a strong financial forecast for the scale of the proposals and a sound business case for how it could be delivered and paid back.

However, the council cannot finalise the financial commitments for the project to the authority just yet without more detailed VAT advice. When it is available a financial decision can be taken by the council.

However, if an agreement in principle was received on Thursday (January 7) to the concepts and proposals developed to date, this will enable further time and resource to be invested in moving ing the project forward.

How is the project set to be funded?

A large capital development like this proposal is an expensive undertaking and there are, of course, risks involved that will need to be carefully managed.

The total cost, including architects and consultants’ fees/charges and a contingency fund is £23million. “We know this is no small sum to be found and this would mark a major investment for the area,” said a spokesman for South Somerset District Council.

“The council will look to secure around £5million from national funding bodies like Arts Council England.

“It would be great to see national funding coming into our district rather than being spent elsewhere and we are confident that our commitment to the project will attract this level of funding to support our bid.”

Through local funding the council is aiming to raise £250,000 and this has already begun with the Octagon’s Name a Seat campaign and successful fundraising from The Foyer Club charity which has been fundraising to support the ongoing development of the theatre.

The council will secure funding from other grant making bodies, including recovery grants, Section 106, Community Investment Levy and other sources.

The council could loan itself a significant portion or all of the funds that would be repaid (plus interest). Payments from the ticket levy (paid by users of the theatre) would mean that over time the theatre will pay for itself and the project will not have cost the tax payer anything.

The council does also have a capital grants scheme so a portion could also be

The existing Octagon Theatre auditorium.

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made as a capital grant that would not be repayable.

What are capacity rates now for the venue?

The Octagon Theatre currently plays to 83 per cent capacity throughout the year with an average of 250 performances staged annually - well above the national averages for theatres.

The theatre is popular with artists and producers who appreciate the friendly welcome from its technicians and warm and responsive audiences.

Over the last ten years the Octagon audiences have increased dramatically from 78,546 in 2009-10 to 125,331 in 2019-20 and, put simply, the current facility has been outgrown and the record usage is taking its toll on the near 50-year-old building.

For example, while the front of house areas were extended and seating refurbished in 2003, there is no disabled access backstage for visitors, staff, artists or those with mobility needs and the theatre currently only has one accessible toilet situated front of house.

The front of house areas have begun to look tired, dated and often feel cramped.

The popular and profitable café bar is hampered by being wrapped around the auditorium with diners’ meals interrupted by the arrival of audience members.

Why make the investment now?

This project has been in development for some time now, pre-Covid, and although the pandemic has affected the way it operates, it has not slowed down

the ambitious plans to invest for the future.

A council spokesman said: “Whilst it is important to be prudent it is also important to have hope and optimism for the future.

“We know our audiences are keen to return when it is safe to do so and the uncertainty we currently all face is temporary. When it is over we will need music, theatre and arts to bring us all back together. Those places that bring friends and families together to feel joy will be more important than ever and we will appreciate them even more.”

What about South Somerset District Council’s other venue in Yeovil - the Westlands Entertainment Venue?

A council spokesman said: “We are very fortunate in Yeovil to have two great entertainment venues. The team who manage the Octagon Theatre took on the management of the Westlands Entertainment Venue following its refurbishment in 2016.

“Westlands is home to a beautiful ballroom which is a flexible space that can be used for banqueting, parties, conferencing, trade fairs, standing gigs and live performances with seating for 870.

“During the construction phase that would close the Octagon Theatre we are lucky that we will be able to move many shows and activities to Westlands Entertainment Venue allowing us to retain our audiences and continue providing excellent entertainment in South Somerset.”

The current outside of the Octagon Theatre.

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Fantastic £23m project to transform Octagon Theatre AN AMAZING £23million-plus project to transform the award-winning Octagon Theatre in Yeovil was being discussed by councillors as the Yeovil Press went to press.

Members of South Somerset District Council were meeting on Thursday (January 7, 2021) to debate whether to agree in principle to progress the development that will give a major facelift to the Octagon and see facilities improved.

The project, set to cost in the region of £23million excluding VAT, would see the theatre add a fly tower and circle that would take the seating from 622 people to 900 - this would mean big advances in productions that could attend the venue including touring plays and musicals.

A circle – in theatrical terms – means an upper tier of seating above the auditorium, so in essence the Octagon Theatre would be adding another floor to its current two-storey premises.

A fly tower – in theatrical terms – is a large volume of space above the stage into which line Work would also see the venue become fully accessible throughout, add two additional boutique spaces which could potentially be a cinema/studio plus and additional cinema. The venue would also see purpose-built studios created with an improved community Café Hub and separate restaurants areas.

A report on the project was being presented to the council’s District Executive committee whereby councillors were expected to agree in principle to progress the development of the project and the underwriting of the total net

An artist’s impression of how the Octagon Theatre could look from the outside following the revamp with the main entrance being accessed via the current first-floor with a walkway from the path which runs parallel between the theatre and Maltravers House.

project costs, up to £23.01m.

If councillors decided to agree in principle to progressing the development, subject to a further report being bought to the District Executive committee once the full financial implications including VAT were confirmed, it would enable Octagon Theatre staff to apply to funders that would reduce the amount required

An artist’s impression of how the Octagon Theatre auditorium could look with the circle added.

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from the council.

The Octagon Theatre has been entertaining audiences since 1974 and attracts many visitors from far and wide with a diverse range of artists and events from big name comedians, classical music and opera to rock and folk music, the very best in variety alongside superb plays and ballet, and not forgetting the blockbuster pantomime.

The theatre is also the home to many local community groups where local talent is regularly celebrated.

Last year 125,000 people bought a ticket for an event at the Octagon Theatre whilst thousands more took part in one of the weekly classes as part of our Octagon Academy participatory programme.

The council’s health and well-being spokesman, Cllr Mike Best, said: “Potentially, this could be a massive investment within South Somerset, making this premier venue even more attractive to visitors and also performers; so we really could open up the market for attracting bigger and better performances here in the South West.

“This is a key decision for my fellow councillors to make because of the large investment, but a project plan and the finances involved have been scrutinised by everyone so far involved in the project.

The project has the potential to pay for itself over time and not cost the taxpayer a penny. This really could mark a major investment for the local area, with wide reaching benefits for our communities across the region.”

The council’s finance spokesman, Cllr Peter Seib, added: “The Octagon is a fantastic draw, bringing visitors in from across the region whilst delivering huge social value by supporting many local performance groups. However, the theatre urgently needs a significant amount of money spending on repairs just to stay open and it is reliant on council taxpayer subsidy.

“What is proposed is a step-change investment to transform the offer, bringing national touring shows and competing with major centres like Bristol whilst still keeping its local arts scene focus. An enlarged Octagon would be highly sustainable and would operate free of council subsidy even at pricing appropriate to local residents and user groups.

“We are fighting town centre decline across the district caused by the collapse of shop-based retail, and the long-term effects of Covid-19.

“A new, distinctive and defining cultural offer would counter that, bringing more visitors in, and enhancing the area’s attractiveness to inward investors looking to re-locate their business, and their family, to South Somerset.

“In many ways, this type of investment defines the place-making role of a District Council, responding creatively to local economic needs.”

The report that went to the council’s District Executive committee on January 7 can be seen via the authority’s website at www.southsomerset.gov.uk .

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AROUND THE TOWN

Team Yeovil needs more litter-picking volunteers

THE fantastic Team Yeovil litterpicking group is on the lookout for new members who want to help in the ongoing battle of trying to keep our community tidy.

Jude Parsons said: “I am sure the more pickers we have out and visible the more anti-social littering will become!”

The group recently announced that during the last six months of 2020 they picked-up enough rubbish from our streets and neighbourhoods to fill a whopping 1,630 bin bags.

And that total does not include an endless amount of toilets, washing machines, cookers, bikes, beds, tyres and mattresses which have been dumped.

What is worrying is that there does not seem to be any end to the problem.

“It is getting a lot worse lately,” said Jude. “People seem to have lost focus

on the environmental aspect of their littering.”

Some of the most frequently pickedup items in recent months have been discarded face masks.

“We’ve lost count now how many we’ve picked-up of the pavements,” said Jude.

“Only recently we went out along Preston Road and picked-up 69, while other volunteers went along Lyde Road and Sherborne Road and picked-up another 67.”

Jude added: “We are always looking for new volunteers.”

And she joked: “The hours are to suit, the pay is rubbish, but the team is fabulous!”

Look out for more details on the Florence’s Street Clean Mission – Yeovil social media page on Facebook.

Murder victim's family are "utterly lost without Louis"

THE family of 40-year-old Yeovil murder victim Louis Bednall made an emotional tribute in his memory following his death.

Louis Bednall, of the Teignbridge area of Devon, died in hospital on Saturday, December 12, as a result of stab wounds he sustained in an incident in a flat in Hendford Hill.

Mr Bednall’s family released a statement via Avon and Somerset Police.

“Louis was a father, grandfather, son, partner, brother, friend and everything in between and he filled these roles so whole-heartedly,” read the statement.

“It doesn’t matter who you were, if you were in Louis’s life you were family and if you needed him, he would be there unequivocally.

“He was courageous and fearless and lived the fastest life, surrounded by, and giving so much love, into every crack of everyone’s being. He had a soul that was always too beautiful for the world in which we live.

“Louis was the family lion, the family wolf and everybody’s protector. He was who everyone wanted at every gathering; making every moment filled with fun and happiness. He saved people; he saved them in so many ways and he did

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that unconditionally, never needing or wanting anything in return.

“Louis’s friends call him the most articulate person they know, they do that with a wry and knowing smile. Louis became a brother to so many people he picked people up and always stayed strong. He always told other people how strong they were, but that strength came from him.

“We are all utterly lost without Louis and the feeling of loss is resounding, but the feeling of love is equally so and felt from everyone he knew, from every corner of the world.”

Matthew Sheridan, 29, of South Petherton, was due to have appeared via video link at Exeter Crown Court on December 17 charged with Mr Bednall’s murder, but the case was delayed because the defendant had Covid-19.

Sheridan was remanded in custody, while the hearing was adjourned by Judge Peter Johnson until February 24.

PHOTO: Murder victim Louis Bednall.

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Fun science for Cool Aeronautics BUDDING scientists at Preston Primary School in Yeovil have been taking part in the Cool Aeronautics programme.

Each year, the school’s oldest students have the opportunity to attend the Fleet Air Museum at RNAS Yeovilton, joining other schools from around Somerset, to participate in scientific engineering challenges.

Due to Covid-19 the trip to the museum was not possible, but Yeovilbased Leonardo Helicopters hosted the event live online meaning that this year’s students would not miss out on this amazing experience.

A school spokesman said: “We were presented with scenarios requiring teams

to solve puzzles, using their knowledge and skills in maths and science. All teams completed the challenge - to varying degrees of success - and had a thoroughly enjoyable day.”

Tania's virtual date with royalty A YEOVIL woman was a surprise guest at an emotional virtual event to celebrate 30 years of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Tania Shepheard gave a moving speech in front of the charity’s honorary patrons, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their mother, Sarah, Duchess of York.

Tania was one of the first people supported by the charity after being diagnosed with a rare bone cancer in 1990, at the age of 17. She began her treatment on an adult ward at University College London Hospital surrounded by much older patients, leaving her feeling isolated and alone, before being told about a new Teenage Cancer Trust unit opening at Middlesex Hospital.

Since the opening of their first unit at Middlesex Hospital, the Teenage Cancer Trust has gone onto fund 28 specialist units in NHS hospitals across the UK, which bring young people together in a space designed just for them. The charity has pioneered teenage and young adult cancer care, and now fund more than 100 dedicated nurse and youth support coordinator posts.

In her surprise speech Tania honoured Teenage Cancer Trust founders – Dr Adrian and Myrna Whiteson – for their work revolutionising cancer care for teenagers and young people.

“The ward absolutely paid a major part in my recovery,” said Tania, now aged 48. “The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming and it didn’t feel like a hospital ward at all. The nurses became friends who would share a joke and a Big Mac with me.

“The main importance the Teenage

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Cancer unit for me was being with other young people all going through the same journey. You have a common bond and you find it very comforting just sitting there and chatting to each other but giving each other support. Even though we were all going through grueling treatments, we still managed to laugh together.

“I owe the Teenage Cancer Trust so much for creating a creating a ward especially for young people. It made my treatment so much more bearable and made sure that I got through to the end.”

Tania finished her treatment aged 19 and on a night out to celebrate the milestone ended up meeting her future husband. Dr Adrian and Myrna Whiteson, and the Middlesex ward sisters Dee and Nicola attended their wedding.

PHOTO: Tania Shepheard.

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Martin's on the run for mental health charity Mind YEOVIL man Martin Hacker has set himself the challenge of running the 874-mile distance from Lands End to John O’Groats over the course of 12 months to raise money for mental health charity Mind.

But with the Covid-19 restrictions in place and the country currently in lockdown Martin is doing it the “virtual” way by covering the distance by running on the streets of Yeovil.

Martin started the task on November 23 and is only into the opening couple of months of his long-haul task.

But he is hoping to raise as much money as possible for Mind which helps to provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.

Martin has laced up his running shoes and is gradually getting back into running having completed just 30 miles by the beginning of January.

“I saw the Lands End to John O’Groats virtual challenge on Facebook in late November and noticed it had already started,” he said.

“I’ve always been a keen runner, but with the first national lockdown, I almost

stopped running longer distances and then in June 2020 completely stopped altogether, so this has become a real challenge to not only raise money for a really good cause, but to get myself fit again.”

And there is no doubt that along the way he will wear some fancy-dress costumes on his running – just as he did over the festive period dressed as The Grinch (pictured).

Martin is hoping to virtually run up through the heart of the South West and make it up to the Somerset area by the end of February.

“The aim is to now up the miles a fair bit in January and start to push my body and get closer and closer to Yeovil,” he said. “Then I’ll up the distance I run more in February – I thought I would ease my body back into running so I don’t injure myself early on in the challenge.”

But the ultimate aim for Martin is to raise money for Mind. With England now in its third national lockdown, the support of charities such as Mind has never been more important with people struggling with their own mental health, waiting for that all important Covid-19

Anna needs YOUR support A FORMER Yeovil Mayoress has thanked everyone for their support in a project she has been involved in making washable and reusable sanitary towel pads for women in developing countries around the world.

Anna Shutler, who acted as the Mayoress when her husband Darren was Mayor from 2016-18, said she was first introduced to the idea when speaking with members of the Inner Wheel Club of Yeovil.

“It is hard to imagine in this day and age that there are girls and women in the world that do not have access to basic hygiene products which we take for granted,” she said.

“My mum passed away in 2019 and when I was dealing with her house I looked at the curtains she had and her sewing box and sewing machine and I thought I could put them to good use.

“So I’ve been making cloth bags which contain a holder and four towel pads which can be washed and reused.”

But obviously for Anna to continue the work she needs the materials to make the bags and pads. Items on the wanted list are clean towels, duvet covers and pillowcases, sewing cotton, curtains or cotton material, 5mm cord and elastic for the bags and shower curtains to make them waterproof.

Anna has already distributed 55 sets of sanitary pads that have been included in the Water Survival Boxes provided by the Rotary Club.

She would like to thank Julie Legg and Jeanette Card for their help in the project so far, but would obviously welcome more support.

“If anyone has any items they would like to donate to this project or lend a helping hand by sewing or even cutting out material please contact me,” she said.

Anna can be contacted via email at anna.shutler123@gmail.com.

PHOTOS: Anna Shutler and the cloth bags and sanitary towel pads she is making for women in developing countries.

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vaccination so hopefully life can start to return to some kind of normal.

“I really struggled with my own mental health during the first lockdown after some personal problems and being thrown into a space where I was on my own without the support of friends because of the whole ‘stay at home’ instruction,” he said.

“I ended up unfortunately being off work for a month, but during that time off I learnt to say I’m not okay and I sought help to overcome my problems but I also learnt to talk to people about my problems.

“Fortunately now I’m personally in a good space, but I feel like I want to be an advocate for mental health support and this running challenge gives me the opportunity to raise funds for Mind, talk about my experiences and offer advice and support to those who need it.”

Every year, one in four people will experience a mental health problem. But hundreds of thousands of people are still struggling. Mind believe no one should have to face a mental health problem alone and will listen, give advice and support and help fight your corner. You

can access Mind services online at www. mind.org.uk or call 0300 123 3393.

If you wish to support Mind and support Martin’s charity run, you can donate via Just Giving at www.justgiving. com/fundraising/m-hacker. Martin aims to raise £1,000 before the end of the run in November 2021 and will keep his Facebook page updated with progress each month.

PHOTO: Martin Hacker as The Grinch.

Get ready for Yeovil's Window Wanderland PEOPLE are being invited to take part next month in Yeovil’s very own Window Wanderland for the very first time – an event which will bring a new lease of life and colour to homes and streets in the town.

The event involves householders decorating a window in their home, car, business or community space and leaving a light on behind it to light up our streets in the depths of winter.

Yeovil Window Wanderland project coordinator Kara Bignell-Bird said: “Yeovil town has excelled itself with its Christmas lights display and we wanted to explore the idea of a colourful celebration of our amazing town at another point in the winter to lift people’s spirits.”

Yeovil Art Space is supporting the event and has been working with volunteers, artists, creative groups, neighbourhoods, organisations and local businesses.

Free toolkits to create your window art on the themes of Sky, Land and Sea will be available from three main Co-op stores during the first week in February at Mudford Road, St Michael’s Avenue and Stiby Road.

Kara added: “You can get involved as a window-maker and of course a ‘wanderer’ ready to follow the trail around the town as an interactive map is provided on the website.

“People will be able to visit the Covidsafe art trail as part of their daily exercises and actively support their wellbeing and positive mental health.”

Jess Egan, of Yeovil Art Space, said: “This is a real community project at a time when we most need it and being entirely Covid safe is perfect for making connections while staying socially distanced. Anyone can get involved and the whole family can be inspired.”

The event runs from February 1528. This is a free event and to take part please visit https://yeovilartspace.uk/ windowwanderland/ or find Yeovil Window Wanderland on Facebook.

More news on the Yeovil Window Wanderland in next month’s Yeovil Press.

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Town to receive nearly £10m in Government funding

YEOVIL has been named as one of the new Future High Streets Fund and to get winners of Government funding to help Yeovil’s town centre regeneration scheme regenerate the high street and is set to to be part of it. receive over £9.7million.

“It is superb that almost all of the In a major boost for local high streets, application amount has been awarded up to £830million from the Future High at nearly £10million. We knew we were Streets Fund will be invested in 72 areas being considered after making the short across England, Communities Secretary list but this confirmation of more than Robert Jenrick announced on Boxing Day. what some were saying might be possible The funding will help these areas is just the boost the town needs to help transform their high streets into vibrant bring forward projects like the Cattle hubs for future generations and to protect Market and make the town centre more and create thousands of jobs in a range of a destination. of industries, delivering opportunities “We have had such a hard time with and prosperity to communities across Covid-19 and the closure of some key England. retailers there couldn’t be a better Yeovil has been awarded a provisional moment for this backing of the town to funding of £9,756,897.

Local MP Marcus Fysh has been come.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi lobbying for Yeovil to be included in the handouts and has warmly welcomed the Sunak, added: “The Future High Streets Simply news.

Bathrooms & Bedrooms 14x4 v3.qxp_Ad-style 02/05/2018 11:16 1 Fund will help areas bounce backPage through “This was a wonderful Christmas regeneration projects that level up present for Yeovil,” he said. “I pushed opportunities and create jobs right across hard for the creation of the Government’s the country.”

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Care home residents start getting their Covid-19 jabs COOKSONS Court in Yeovil became one of the first care homes where residents began to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

Residents and staff at the home in Cooksons Court - which is off Preston Grove and run by Somerset Care – have been delighted to receive their jabs and proud to be making history as some of the first people in the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

A spokesman for Somerset Care said that the vaccine offered hope for the future although the country had entered

into another national lockdown.

“Hopefully people can take comfort in the fact that our homes are becoming an even safer environment for all involved as we aim to protect residents, staff and all our connected family and friends from the virus,” said the spokesman.

“We are glad that we can continue to welcome visitors to homes via our designated visitor suites under the latest Government guidelines.”

PHOTOS: Residents at Cooksons Court in Yeovil receive their vaccinations.

Covid-19 helpline is providing huge support to thousands of people THE Coronavirus Helpline in Somerset has received well over 10,000 calls since it was launched in April last year - signposting residents to a huge range of vital support such as emergency food parcels, prescription collections and hospital transport.

Set up by Somerset’s local councils working together with partner organisations such as Mindline, Citizens Advice Bureau and the Community Council for Somerset’s village agents, the Coronavirus Helpline has provided a single point of contact for anyone in need of Covid-19 related support over the past eight months and counting.

The Helpline number is 0300 790 6275, and is available seven days a week, from 8am to 6pm including Bank Holidays, offering a range of support from help accessing food and medicines, to emotional and financial support, as well as employment, skills and business advice.

While Somerset’s local authorities recognise it is not a cause for celebration that so many people require help as a result of the pandemic, the fact the Coronavirus Helpline has surpassed 10,000 calls highlights its success in connecting residents with the support that they need.

The Coronavirus Helpline was implemented quickly following the announcement of the first nationwide

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lockdown in March last year.

The first discussions between the local councils on the principle of a single helpline number took place on March 23 and the Coronavirus Helpline went live on April 6, receiving 72 calls on the first day.

A helpline spokesman said: “Nearly everyone who makes up the Coronavirus Helpline team has been working from home throughout the course of the pandemic.

“The contact centre advisors have been required to maintain a firm grasp on the latest information and changing guidance.”

When a resident calls the Coronavirus Helpline, they are given seven options to choose from. These include personal care and support including food and prescriptions delivery, transport, employment and skills, housing, waste and financial support, emotional support, help for providers such as care homes, and all other enquiries.

The helpline has evolved and adapted to feedback over time to include additional help. For example, employment support was not an option when the helpline first started but has been added to meet the changing needs of the community during the pandemic.

It is expected that the helpline will be even greater used now that the country has moved into a third national lockdown.

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Vaccination programme is being rolled out YEOVIL woman Jean Cook became the first person in Somerset to receive the Pfizer vaccine as part of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Eighty-four-year-old Jean received the jab at Yeovil District Hospital on December 9 with the hospital part of an initial wave of 50 hospital hubs around the country to provide the first vaccinations across the country.

“I’m so pleased to be one of the first people in the world to receive this vaccine,” she said. “I hope everyone will take the opportunity to get vaccinated when it is offered to them, so we can start getting back to normal and put this pandemic behind us.”

The massive programme has seen people from the most vulnerable groups getting the vaccination first - including patients aged 80 and above, who are already attending hospital as an outpatient, those who are being discharged home after a hospital stay, and care home staff who look after some of the most vulnerable people in Somerset.

Any appointments not used for the initial groups at the hospital will be used for healthcare workers who are at highest risk of serious illness from Covid-19.

Since the Pfizer vaccine was given the green light from regulators, Somerset health and care organisations have been working around the clock to manage the huge logistical challenge of deploying the vaccine.

Yeovil Hospital’s Chief Nurse, Shelagh Meldrum, said “As one of the country’s designated hospital hubs we are proud to be part of the biggest and most highly anticipated immunisation campaigns in history.

“Thanks to an incredible amount of hard work and planning with staff and all health and care partners across the county, we have been able to start the vaccination programme in Somerset with the priority groups identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.”

Andy Heron, joint senior responsible officer for the mass vaccination programme in Somerset, said: “This is an incredibly important day for us in Somerset as we begin vaccinating the highest priority groups in our county.

“Making the Covid-19 vaccination available is one of the most important health interventions of recent years and the NHS, primary and social care,

the council and the voluntary sector are working together to roll out the programme in Somerset in a phased way, in line with national guidance.”

Further plans for the local NHS vaccination programme are currently being drawn up, to ensure that the wider population across Somerset can access the vaccine in line with national guidance and as vaccine is available.

This includes delivering it in a number of locations to enable easier access for as many people as possible, including large county sites, community sites in locations across the county, hospital hubs, some GP surgeries and via teams of mobile vaccinators for those who cannot leave their homes.

Trudi Grant, Director of Public Health at Somerset County Council, added: “It’s great news that the first Somerset residents and health and care workers are receiving Covid vaccinations. We are working closely with health colleagues to roll out the vaccination programme across Somerset.

“This is a real turning point in our fight against the disease. However, even with the great and very welcome news of the vaccination rollout, we still can’t afford to be complacent. Covid is still here in our communities. Therefore, please remember we must all continue to abide by the ‘hands, face and space’ rules to prevent further spread.”

The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at -70C before being thawed out and can only be moved four times within that cold chain before being used.

As plans progress across Somerset, the public have an important part to play to help - please do not contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, they will contact you; when they do contact you, please attend your booked appointments; and please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives.

From December 14 the Gateway Centre in Yeovil also became a vaccination site, along with the Henhayes Community Centre in Crewkerne.

For further information on the roll out of the NHS vaccination programme in Somerset, visit: https:// www.somersetccg.nhs.uk/covid-19vaccinations-in-somerset/ .

PHOTO: Jean Cook, of Yeovil, is administered the Covid-19 vaccination to become the first person in Somerset to receive it.

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Charity looks for volunteer tutors in Yeovil to help make a big difference THE Rendezvous Learning Project is coming to Yeovil after six successful years in Sherborne, but is looking for volunteer English and maths tutors in the area.

The volunteer tutors would work one-to-one with young people aiming towards a Level 1 or Level 2 Functional Skills Qualification.

It is a free programme for young people who, for whatever reason, have missed out on their maths and English.

The young person, or learner, is paired with a volunteer tutor and they work together one to one at the learner’s pace. They meet weekly either online or in person in an unpressured nonjudgemental atmosphere. When they are ready, they sit their exam which gives them a Functional Skills Qualification needed for college, apprenticeship, or a job. They gain hugely in confidence throughout the process and, with their qualifications in place, can start to move onto the next steps in their lives.

This is a growing area of the work

undertaken by The Rendezvous in Sherborne, whose services include advice and information for 13-25 year olds, mental health and wellbeing support, work with young parents and families, as well as helping young people to think about what they want to do with their lives and gain the qualifications that will help achieve their goals. Now more than ever these services are needed by young people.

Julie Bartle, the learning manager in Sherborne, said: “It’s about giving people a second chance or in some cases just a chance.

“I’ve seen the Learning Project make such a huge difference. In the last year alone 25 young people gained a qualification in maths or English.

“For example, Clara came to us as an extremely shy 15-year-old who couldn’t cope with school due to poor mental health and she struggled socially, with no friends. She progressed through the course and gained hugely in confidence and started to make plans for her life.

She recently got her Level 2 English, is working on her maths, and starting a hairdressing course at college.”

Working with a young person and seeing their reaction when they pass their Level 1 or Level 2 maths qualification having previously failed at school is hugely rewarding for the volunteer tutor.

Helen Devonshire, who has been a volunteer for several years, said: “I get more from volunteering than I give - it feels good to know I’m having a positive effect on a young person’s life.”

Another volunteer said: “Life is a boomerang – what you give you get back!”

You do not have to have a teaching qualification to volunteer as a tutor, but if you have a competent level of English or maths, and a great deal of patience and kindness plus a desire to make a practical difference in someone’s life, this might be for you. It will take up about two-anda-half hours a week. You will be given an induction and training and plenty of support from other tutors including your

own mentor.

If you would like to find out more about applying to volunteer as a tutor for The Rendezvous Yeovil Learning Project, Julie and Faye would welcome your enquiry by email on Learning@therendezvous. org.uk. https://www.therendezvous.org. uk. Interviews will take place online this month.

PHOTO: English tutor Helen Devonshire said: “I get more from volunteering than I give.”

YEOVIL & DISTRICT BRANCH Registered Charity No 203644 www.yeovil.cats.org and on Facebook

The Branch always has many delightful cats and kittens both male and female of various ages and colours all waiting for ‘forever’ loving homes. All are blood tested, vaccinated, micro-chipped and have had a medical check at the vets to ensure they are healthy.

To adopt call 01935 507009; for help with neutering call 01935 507009; to volunteer, report lost or found cats and all other enquiries call 01935 412755 or email yeovilcatsprotection@tiscali.co.uk.

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Plans could make refreshing changes to Yeovil town centre THE Yeovil Refresh enhancement work is looking to make real improvements to the town centre and make it more attractive to residents, visitors and businesses.

There are a total of six areas of the town centre which will see changes including Westminster Street, The Borough, upper Middle Street( including Wine Street), Middle Street (East), Middle Street (West) and The Triangle.

Work is scheduled to start in early February and will be completed in a phased approach over a few years to ensure the town centre can keep running while the construction work is delivered, beginning with Westminster Street.

Throughout the design and consultation stages, businesses and residents have

been consulted on what they would like to see and consideration to impacts have been taken into account – although some people critical of the proposals have claimed that they felt as if there was no consultation.

A Yeovil Refresh spokesman said: “Through the build stages, we plan to work with the businesses within the streets to minimise the impacts on them as much as possible.”

Andrew Clancy, managing Director of Coreus, who has been working with South Somerset District Council on quantity Surveying, project management support and the public realm designs, said: “As a South Somerset resident, I am so pleased to be supporting the council in project and cost management works for

the regeneration of Yeovil.

“The public realm works will regenerate the town and in a post Covid-19 world help attract inward investment and economic development.”

Nationally, the old traditional high street idea that town centres are filled with rows and rows of shops is outdated.

A Yeovil Refresh spokesman said: “We want to create an experience where the high street offers a mix of housing, service industry and shops to help counter the effects of online shopping.

“Multi-stores are starting to decline in town centres and we are increasingly seeing a new norm of bijou style shops, cafes and independent traders.”

And the spokesman added: “Clean

air and reduced pollution in town and city centres is becoming increasingly important.

“As a local authority we have designed a place which strives to improve the air quality in the town centre.

“We will reduce traffic in the centre of the town which helps improve air quality for residents and visitors; and with Yeovil having an air quality action plan, we can make great strides in ensuring we help to meet our environmental targets in our Environment Strategy.”

The Yeovil Refresh project team has come in for criticism from members of the community who say that disabled people are being alienated from the town centre under the plans.

Amphitheatre seating for The Triangle Westminster Street is a gateway into the town centre ONE of the key gateways into Yeovil town centre is from Westminster Street and there are plans to make it a much more pleasant area for shoppers and visitors.

The Yeovil Refresh team has come up with a series of initiatives which it hopes will enhance that part of the town.

Additional pedestrian space: “As part of the design in the Westminster Street area, we have widened the footpaths to provide additional pedestrian space,” said a Yeovil Refresh spokesman.

“This will enable those walking to and from Tesco for example to walk with ease and for footfall traffic to flow better.”

Improved natural stone paving: Improvements to the paving in the area will enhance the look, giving it a much more appealing appearance.

New street planting: “Feedback during consultation on the public realm told us you wanted to see more greenery in the town centre, so we are introducing new street planting in a lot of the public realm areas,” said the Yeovil Refresh spokesman.

“This will help to brighten the area up and also help with taking in CO2 and providing oxygen. Street planting also helps with land drainage and provides a habitat for wildlife.”

Improved street lighting: Improved

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street lighting in this public realm area will help with decreasing anti-social behaviour by ensuring it is well lit.

Bench seating: “We’ve looked at adding street furniture to this area so that visitors can enjoy the surroundings of Westminster Street,” said a Yeovil Refresh spokesman.

“With the new improvement works, we anticipate this area becoming somewhere that people will want to spend time in.”

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THE Yeovil Refresh project team want to improve The Triangle and bandstand area of the town centre to make it more attractive.

Organisers have come up with a series of initiative which – they hope – will accomplish the goal of making more of the open space and improving its appearance for residents, visitors and businesses.

Amphitheatre seating: There are plans to make The Triangle an entertainment area for anyone to enjoy so we will be creating amphitheatre seating around a water feature, raised stage area and large screen.

The seating area provides the perfect opportunity for anyone to take a break from shopping and take in the entertainment provided in this area or stop for a bite to eat.

“We are also going to be providing accessible route access to the area so everyone can enjoy The Triangle,” said a Yeovil Refresh spokesman.

Focal water feature: Imagine Brewery Square in Dorchester – but better! The Triangle will offer a newly installed water feature in the town centre which can be turned on and off depending on the use of the area. “We want this space to feel modern, fresh and fun,” added the Yeovil Refresh spokesman.

Raised stage area: “We are going to be creating a raised stage area so that entertainment can take place at The Triangle,” said the Yeovil Refresh spokesman.

“We see this public realm space a key area for people to gather, socialise and have fun whilst in the town.

“There are shops and restaurants for people to visit and enjoy and adding entertainment will only enhance the experience in Yeovil town.”

Big screen: “During our initial consultation, many people suggested having a big screen for promotion and to use for events,” said the Yeovil Refresh spokesman.

“We will be able to display key information to the public whilst also providing a space for people to congregate and watch events. The Triangle will offer the perfect location for this in the town centre.”

Natural stone paving and ornamental planting: “We can’t just put a fantastic new shiny amphitheatre seating area, water feature and big screen in The Triangle area without making sure that the rest of the public realm area is tidied up as well, so we will be using natural stone paving to fit in with the new facilities provided and also using ornamental planting to bring some greenery to the area,” explained the Yeovil Refresh spokesman.

South Somerset District Council’s Yeovil Refresh executive member, Cllr Peter Gubbins, said: “I’m really excited about the Triangle.

“This is a space that has been underutilised for many years as, but now we are going to be providing an area which can be used for many different things and an area which will be attractive and appealing for people to use.

“We are delivering on what people asked for in this area and can’t wait for it to be finished and fully functioning as a new focal point in the town centre.”

For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

Making Middle Street more flexible for shoppers and events THE Middle Street area of the town centre will undergo big changes as part of the Yeovil Refresh project which is hoped will make it more appealing to shoppers and visitors.

Widened footways: Yeovil Refresh will be widening the footways along Middle Street so that users of the town centre have more space to move safely without having to step into the road. This helps with social distancing in areas such as Middle Street where pavements are narrow.

Raised seating planters, street trees and ornamental planting: Project leaders want to create a pleasant experience for shoppers to enjoy.

Middle Street is one of the main shopping areas of the town centre and to assist with making the street more aesthetically appealing, Yeovil Refresh will be creating raised seating planters and introducing street trees and ornamental planting.

Flexible paving space: The pavement space that will be created in Middle Street will be able to help facilitate markets and other events. This is important to ensure that Yeovil can adapt its high streets

in the town centre to fit and suit the needs of users and visitors. “We want to make Yeovil town centre a place where people can enjoy their shopping,” said a spokesman.

Flexible layby area: With a Traffic Regulation Order in place which allows for Blue Badge Holder parking on one side of Middle Street and access only for deliveries, the flexible layby area also enables the street to be used for other occasional event uses such as food markets which recently took place in the town centre in late 2020.

Improved street lighting and new bench seating: Improved street lighting in this public realm area will help with decreasing anti-social behaviour by ensuring it is well lit. New bench seating will allow town centre users to also take a break during shopping and enjoy the atmosphere or the town centre.

Cllr Peter Gubbins, executive member for Yeovil Refresh, said: “Middle Street is a real pedestrian heavy route through the town centre and we see hundreds, if not thousands of people use this area of the town centre on a daily basis.

“Widening the pavements will assist

with people feeling much safer in this area, not having to worry about stepping out into traffic. There are a lot of opportunities to use and utilise the space here so we have tried to keep the area as flexible as possible.”

Millennium Clock is a key feature of town centre War Memorial is iconic symbol of town centre

THE High Street and clock tower area of the town centre will undergo transformation as part of the planned Yeovil Refresh project.

It is hoped the work will make the space – known as the “public realm” – more attractive to residents, visitors and businesses.

Here are five key changes to the area that you will see once work is completed: Enhanced and decluttered setting of the clock tower: It is recognised that the Millennium Clock outside the NatWest Bank building is a key feature in the town centre so it is planned to make it stand out more by enhancing the area and decluttering items such as benches and bins around the base of it.

Bus gate: A new bus gate will be installed to this area to monitor and restrict traffic movements entering the Borough so this area can be pedestrianised and opened up to allow improved pedestrian access and links to areas such as Middle Street.

Widening footpaths: Pavements will be widened to provide additional pedestrian space in the High Street and improve the area with natural stone paving to match that used in Westminster Street to create a joined up town centre flow.

Improved street lighting and bench seating: Improved street lighting in this public realm area will help with decreasing anti-social behaviour by ensuring it is well lit. New bench seating

will allow town centre users to also take a break during shopping and enjoy the atmosphere or the town centre.

New street planting: Feedback during consultation on the public realm told the Yeovil Refresh team that people wanted to see more greenery in the town centre, so they are introducing new street planting in a lot of the public realm areas. This will help to brighten the area up and also help with taking in CO2 and providing oxygen. Street planting also helps with land drainage and provides a habitat for wildlife.

Cllr Peter Gubbins, South Somerset District Council’s executive member for Yeovil Refresh, said: “The High Street is a symbolic and historic area of the town centre of Yeovil and we want to open this space up more and reduce traffic flow so that pedestrians feel safe in this area.

“Currently the paths are narrow, forcing people into the roads and we will be able to reduce this happening with the public realm improvements in this area.”

For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

THE Borough area of the town centre is a key part of the Yeovil Refresh project as it is the central focus for visitors and shoppers and pivotal to this is the War Memorial.

The Yeovil Refresh team know that the War Memorial is highly respected in the town and wants to enhance that aim.

The war memorial: One of the iconic symbol in Yeovil town centre, the Yeovil Refresh team wants to give this memorial the respect it deserves by enhancing its surroundings and making it a more attractive place to visit and congregate.

Enhanced paving scheme: Yeovil Refresh plan to enhance and enlarge the paving scheme in The Borough using natural stone paving – again, which helps with the flow and general look of the town centre. It is also planned to remove vehicle access to Wine Street using the paving scheme to do this.

New and additional seating: The project team want to provide new and additional seating to The Borough to allow more people to enjoy this space.

There is an array of shops to visit in this area and with the increased and enhanced paving, it gives the opportunity for entertainment like street performances to take place here and benches would help facilitate this.

Relocated bus stops: Relocating the bus stops away from the Borough will help more people to congregate in this area and for visitors to enjoy the

wonderful surroundings of St John’s Church. It will also enable more outside activities like dining and cafes to extend their seated areas further into the area of the Borough.

Improved pedestrian crossing point: The Yeovil Refresh team want to improve the pedestrian crossing point between The Borough to Middle Street. This will aid those with disabilities and help them to get around easier if using assisted mobility equipment.

South Somerset District Council’s Cllr Peter Gubbins, executive member for Yeovil Refresh, said: “The Borough is a highly used area of the town centre and we see a lot of people congregate here.

“We want to open this space up more to create a friendlier environment and space; we can only really do that by relocating the bus stops to a different area of the town centre so people can feel a lot safer when in The Borough.”

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Flowers and chocolates for Yeovil hospital staff THE Morrisons store in Yeovil has been thanked for its wonderful donation of flowers and chocolates for hardworking staff at the town’s hospital.

The store’s community champion Liz Templar arranged for the gifts to go to the hospital’s cancer staff as a small thank you for their efforts during the ongoing challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

YEOVIL MP Marcus Fysh (pictured right) ventured into town in the run-up to Christmas to speak with local businesses and to find out more about the challenges that they were facing and the steps they were taking to overcome them during the ongoing uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Fysh went on the walkabout in Yeovil on December 11.

The hospital’s community and events fundraiser, Sarah Cherry, said: “Liz and the team at Morrisons have been so incredibly generous.

“We are so grateful to them for their kind gifts and their continued support of Yeovil Hospital Charity. They have brought a lot of smiles to many members of staff.”

Valentino steals the show at Saville Row Hounds THERE was only one star at the official launch of the new Saville Row Hounds outlet at The Emporium in Yeovil last month – little Pomeranian dog named Valentino.

Saville Row Hounds is a boutique especially for our four-legged friends who are in need of some extra special treats.

Six-month-old Valentino’s owners Darren and Faye Santiago were delighted to take their pooch along to help open the outlet and the little bundle of furry fun stole the show.

Pictured right: Darren and Faye Santiago are pictured with Valentino at Saville Row Hounds along with The Emporium’s Dawn Woodward (left) and Amanda Reed, of Saville Row Hounds.

Photo: Christine Jones.

Far Right: Valentino.

Library is given a welcome lick of paint THE library facilities at Preston Primary School in Yeovil have been given a much-welcomed revamp – thanks to teacher Mark Plumbley.

Environment plays such an important part in motivation and well-being and so everyone was thrilled when Mr Plumbley, a teacher that goes into school to help with art projects, agreed to put his talents

and brushes to the wall to help in giving the school library space a bit of TLC! A school spokesman said: “Children are given a weekly slot to use, enjoy and share the library space with classmates as well as using it for wider curriculum opportunities such as reciting poetry or public speaking.”

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Victorian times at Preston PUPILS in Hornbeam Class at Preston Primary School in Yeovil made a tremendous effort for their recent Victorian Day and came to school dressed in an array of wonderful costumes.

There were chimney sweeps, maids, suffragettes and even some gentry!

“We had great fun participating in lots

of Victorian activities - the children even enjoyed their Victorian lessons!” said a school spokesman.

“They were lucky enough to have a go at writing on slate as the Victorian children would have had to do. We picked our own Victorian names and, after practicing our Victorian handwriting, made our own name tags.”

Charlie's surprise call from evil Pat Phelan CORONATION Street fan Charlie Gingell got a big surprise when a character he loved to hate – nasty Pat Phelan – phoned him up over the Christmas festivities.

Charlie, of Yeovil, who has done some fantastic work in recent years on raising awareness about autism by using his own experiences of having the disorder, was left over-the-moon when actor Connor McIntyre made the surprise call.

He and his family were due to have gone to the Theatre Royal in Plymouth last month to watch the Robinson Crusoe panto starring McIntyre - who away from acting is a very talented artist – who was playing Captain Cockles as Les Dennis’ love interest. Les Dennis was the panto Dame, but in Coronation Street The trip was cancelled, however, because of the latest Covid-19 restrictions and Charlie was left bitterly disappointed.

But Charlie’s mum, Deborah, came to the rescue.

“I spoke to staff at the Theatre Royal and told them that Charlie was a big fan and asked if they could send him a signed photo of Connor McIntyre – evil Pat Phelan from Coronation Street,” she said.

“But instead they arranged for Connor to give Charlie a personal call and after a

20-minute chat he invited Charlie down to his art gallery in Plymouth during the summer.”

And Deborah said: “Connor was such a genuinely lovely man and his call made Charlie’s Christmas.”

Charlie, 24, said: “He was a really cool guy and I couldn’t believe it when he phoned me up!”

McIntyre made 358 episodes in the hit Coronation Street drama as murderer Pat Phelan before he met his own grizzly demise in 2018.

In the panto McIntyre was playing Captain Cockles and was the “love interest” of the panto dame, played by another ex-Coronation Street star Les Dennis. In the TV drama, Dennis’ character of Michael Rodwell was killed off in 2016 after suffering a heart attack and being left for dead by McIntyre’s villainous Phelan.

PHOTO: Charlie Gingell (left) and Connor McIntyre, aka Pat Phelan.

Sadness as centenarian passes away

Beales frontage gets tidied up WORK was carried out last month to tidy up the shop frontages of the vacant Beales building which dominates the High Street scene in Yeovil.

The Yeovil Press ran a front-page story in the October 2020 edition of the paper about how disappointing the building was looking and labelled it a “disgraceful eyesore” as it had been left to fall into a poor state since it closed in March.

But work was undertaken in the build-up to Christmas to improve the appearance of the shop fronts with full window decals - a design prepared on special paper for durable transfer on to another surface such as glass.

The new decals at the Beales store – which is better known to local people

as Denners – replaced unsightly brown paper which had come unstuck, torn and fallen off over recent months.

For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

YEOVIL centenarian John Palmer passed away in December just a few months after his 100th birthday.

Mr Palmer was featured in the October 2020 edition of the Yeovil Press in which we celebrated his milestone birthday on September 16.

A small party was laid on in his honour at his local pub, The Beehive, in Huish, Yeovil, where licensees Ann Ford and Kev Berkley described him as a “real character.”

At the time of John’s 100th birthday Kev said: “He’s bright as a button and can provide many an interesting anecdote about the pub and its history.”

But after suffering a fall Mr Palmer passed away just before Christmas on December 16.

Ann, writing on the Beehive’s social media page, said: “John was a wonderfully stubborn man and it was a great pleasure to have known him, even for a short time and he will always be a

part of the Beehive family.”

PHOTO: The late John Palmer outside the Beehive pub in Yeovil on his 100th birthday in September last year.

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ON OUR DOORSTEP News from around South Somerset

Care home centenarian plays piano for first time in 20 years

THE moment a 103-year-old resident discovered the arrival of a baby band piano at her new care home in South Petherton was something to behold.

The resident called Gwyneth, new to Burnworthy House, got to express herself through her love of music having formally trained as a classical pianist. Despite not having played piano in 20 years, she took to it like she had never stopped playing.

The baby grand piano was kindly donated to the home by two supportive, local, anonymous benefactors, and volunteers willingly helped move the piano into the home for free.

Gwyneth herself is visually impaired and hard of hearing and as a result can find it difficult to communicate. This only made it more incredible to see her take to the piano without hesitation, as she didn’t think she would have the opportunity to play again.

A spokesman for Burnworthy House, which is run by Somerset Care, said:

“There was not a dry eye in the place as staff and residents gathered to listen to her play. Gwyneth shut her eyes and let her fingers do the talking, as it all came flooding back to her.

“It did not take long for her new companions to join in singing and this has undoubtedly helped Gwyneth form new friendships as she settles into her home.

“Many more piano players have since come forward in the home which means there is rarely a moment in Burnworthy House where the piano is not in use and brightening everyone’s day.

“Arguably this is much-needed, after the difficult year it has been for care homes in supporting one of our most vulnerable groups throughout the coronavirus pandemic.”

PHOTO: Burnworthy House resident Gwyneth tickles the ivories of the baby grand piano.

Kitchen hob fire at Chard flat FIREFIGHTERS were called out after receiving reports of a house on fire in Chard.

The alarm was raised by a member of the public at just before 12.30pm to the incident in Henson Park.

Three fire engines from Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne were mobilised and on arrival they found there was smoke coming from a third-floor flat.

“We quickly got to work to gain access

to the flat using a 13.5m ladder,” said a Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman.

“Once inside the property we found that the fire was contained to a hob in the kitchen. After we’d put out the fire we used a ventilation fan to clear smoke from the property.”

The cause of the fire was deemed to have been accidental.

Driver rescued from flood water FIREFIGHTERS had to rescue a man from a car which had got stuck in flood water in Crewkerne.

Fire engines from Crewkerne and Yeovil and the special rescue team from Bridgwater were called to the scene in Pipplepen Lane on December 12 at just

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before 11.30am.

“When we got to the scene we found the driver still within his vehicle in about half-a-metre of flood water,” said a Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman. “We donned wading gear to go out and rescue him.”

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Milk waste tanker fire FIREFIGHTERS were called out to deal with a lorry on fire on the busy Podimore roundabout on the A3030.

Fire engines from Somerton, Yeovil and Martock and the water carrier, also from Yeovil, were immediately called to the scene on December 15 when the alarm was raised at just after 2pm.

On arrival at the scene the firefighters found there to be a small fire within the drivetrain of a milk waste tanker and

they quickly got to work.

“The tanker contents were still safely contained with the tanker,” said a spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

“We quickly put out the fire and continued to monitor the temperature with a thermal imaging camera before leaving the incident in the hands of the police and recovery unit.”

A NUMBER of people from South Somerset were named in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

MBE (Members of the Order of the British Empire) honours were awarded to Katherine Sian Dodd, of Langport, for services to hockey and Caroline Halfhide, of Martock, for services to the community in Martock during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mark Craig Pilkington, of Langport, a combat system engineer for the Ministry of Defence, received a MBE for services to naval operational capability, while Geoffrey Crabb, of Templecombe, was also awarded a MBE for services to the Scouts in Templecombe.

A MBE was also awarded to Simon Ian Hoar for services to the community in Babcary near Somerton.

New Year's Honours

Historic Ferrari arrives at Haynes Motor Museum THE Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford has bought the historic first-ever Ferrari sold in the UK. It was back in 1958 when a Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarnina Coupe, imported

by Formula One world champion Mike Hawthorn, first arrived in this country.

But now the beautiful car has been sold by Rardley Motors in Surrey to the award-winning Haynes Motor Museum which is based not far from Yeovil.

And Chris Haynes, of the museum, has said he plans to drive the car himself and it is not intended just to be a static exhibit.

Mike Wheeler, of Rardley Motors, said: “This was the first ever Ferrari road car sold in the UK and as such is an important part of British and Italian automotive history.

“Its association with Mike Hawthorn also adds importance to its huge interest as he imported it in the same year that he won the Formula One word title. It has now found a most appropriate home with the Haynes International Motor Museum. All of us at Rardley Motors are delighted.”

After Hawthorn won the 1958 Formula One world title he signed a deal with Enzo Ferrari to sell Ferrari road cars in Britain. The deal was made despite Enzo Ferrari refusing to sell Mike the car he had won the World Championship in.

Hawthorn retired from motor racing on winning the world title having been profoundly affected by the death of his teammate and friend Peter Collins two months earlier in the 1958 German Grand Prix.

PHOTO: Chris Haynes, of the Haynes International Motor Museum, takes delivery of the Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarnina Coupe from Mike Wheeler, of Rardley Motors.

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Pupils are planting trees to protect their future CHILDREN at St Margaret’s Primary School in Taunton have been planting 30 new trees to support the local environment and wildlife.

The school has been taking part in the Woodland Trust’s project and pupils recently donned wellies and garden gloves to plant the birches, rowans and cherry trees.

Pupils Madison and Scarlett said: “We want more trees so that can attract more wildlife such as bees. Bees need our support! We want to support our local environment.”

Oliver and Tony added: “We need to plant trees – more trees mean more fresh air!

“Deforestation is happening in lots of places, we need to try and do our bit to look after the ones we have still got and cherish the ones we are planting. Our school grounds are amazing already and these 30 saplings are going to fit right in!”

Headteacher Hayley Robinson said: “We are very excited to be part of this and to encourage the children to understand the positive benefits of being outside and

the important role trees play - providing food, shelter, fighting climate change and making a real difference to our natural environment.”

St Margaret’s is already a Green Tree School and provides Forest School lessons as part of the curriculum.

It is now offering people the chance to adopt one of the trees. The school will maintain it and you will be able to visit your tree once circumstances allow. If you would like a plaque with your name/ company name on next to your tree that can be arranged for a donation. For information please call 01935-822686.

The initiative is also part of the school’s commitment to the government’s national tree planting programme to increase tree planting to 30,000 hectares per year across the UK by 2025.

Guy Horsington, a governor at St Margaret’s, who leads the Government’s environment strategy at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “I’m very proud of our children’s love of trees and plants.

This connection with their natural surroundings is exactly what we need

if we are to recover nature and have a greener future.”

St Margaret’s is also participating in the international Bulbs4Kids project coming out of Holland. It is one of just 350 primary schools chosen from the whole of the UK to receive 600 bulbs to plant.

These include tulips, crocuses, daffodils and grape hyacinths, which will fill the grounds with colour in the spring as the

children spent time last week planting them.

The headteacher added: “We’re thrilled to have been chosen as one of the schools to benefit from Bulbs4Kids and the children have loved the whole project.

We can’t wait to see the bulbs flowering in the spring.”

PHOTO: Pupils at St Margaret’s Primary School in Tintinhull.

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NEWS AT A GLANCE

Flights of Fantasy at Yeovil Hospital HERE are some news stories from the Yeovil and South Somerset area.

If you have any news you would like to feature in a future edition of the Yeovil Press community newspaper – please email us at yeovilpress@gmail.com.

ORGANISERS of the Wessex Truck Show in Yeovil have decided to call it a day following a number of postponements.

The Fosse Way Events company ceased trading last month and it was announced on social media that the Wessex Truck Show, which had been held on the Yeovil Showground from 2013-2018, would not be happening again.

The group took a year off in 2019 and then any hope of it happening last year was wiped out because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

And the group has admitted that due to the ongoing situation with Covid-19 it would not be possible to organise the show for this year either.

“We are very aware that there are a number of vaccines being rolled out, but we will not be able to get to any normal until at least the spring as long as the vaccines are effective,” said a statement.

“This is nowhere near long enough to organise a major event.”

The statement added: “With this decision made and after what would be three years away from the show circuit the Wessex Truck Show has come to an end. Our trading company Fosse Way Events Ltd ceased trading on December 3.

“We would like to thank all of our team for their hard work and dedication over

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co-owner, New club chairman and tempted Scott Priestnall, could not be the to do the traditional “scarf above for this! head” photo, but we’ll settle Photo: Steve Sowden.

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THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN YEOVIL TOWN CENTRE WERE OFFICIALLY SWITCHEDON DURING A FUNFILLED EVENING OF FESTIVITIES! MORE PHOTOS  TURN TO PAGES 30-31

By Steve Sowden yeovilpress@gmail.com

of Yeovil THE new chairman and co-owner Priestnall, has Town Football Club, Scott good times back said he wants to bring the

outside the club. with the club, if “As I’ve got more involved six or seven the completion had been maybe I to the club. maybe I wouldn’t have done. negotiations weeks ago, hoping to The long drawn out ownership I’ve got the bug now, I’m September 20 and think really were finally completed on stripes as a Glover and I’ve over the club earn my me Mr Priestnall, who has taken about games. It’s kind of got first official press got excited to be honest with with Errol Pope, held his interested in football again, conference last week. that it felt a “bit you. over the And Mr Priestnall admitted “It was a really easy decision club’s new owner surreal” to finally be the of weeks to become chairman. club for the past last couple fans.” as he had “been around the Hopefully I’ll do right by the timed his press three months.”

Mr Priestnall could not have Press as to having He was asked by the Yeovil any better with the Glovers club chairman conference the bounce whether he would be the new six consecutive games on won case. the be on victories in succession and he confirmed that would – yes,” which became seven success “I am going to be club chairman (September 28) with a 3-1 to be. It’s a Saturday he said. “I actually want League table-toppers Bromley. my mind on over National position that I’ve kind of changed

engage with the He said that he wants to have been left supporters and get those who in recent years disenchanted with the club back through the turnstiles. overnight, But he knows it will not happen will get on board but hopes that that people with the new look Yeovil Town. just about the Mr Priestnall said it was not about a change change of ownership, but also new, something of “culture, ethos, something different.” make the club He said he wanted to but hasn’t been “something like it once was, in recent years.”

John Fry He confirmed previous owners, now no longer and Norman Hayward, were part of the club. hopes for Yeovil And when asked about his he said: “I would on the pitch this season – but the aim is love us to finish in the play-offs, to get the players playing well.”

Pages 76-78.

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since I started.

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Town council's slice of Council Tax goes up by just £1 a month

By Steve Sowden

yeovilpress@gmail.com PEOPLE are being asked to pay just over £1 a month extra to help Yeovil Town Council deliver a £1million-plus budget in the next financial year.

Members of Yeovil Town Council agreed on Tuesday (February 4) to set a budget of £1,152,589 for 2020-21.

It is only the second time in the council’s history that a budget of more than £1million has been set and follows the £1,033,517 agreed in 2019-20.

But what difference will it make to people’s pockets in order to help finance the extra £119,072 needed by the town council when the annual Council Tax bill falls through letterboxes in April?

Remembering the homeless at Christmas

By Steve Sowden

UKULELE FESTIVAL ‹‹ 30-31

yeovilpress@gmail.com A NEWLY-FORMED organisation in Yeovil is asking people to remember those who will be homeless at Christmas.

The Homeless and Vulnerable Outreach Network was formed earlier this year and volunteers meet at the bandstand area of Yeovil in Lower Middle Street on a Wednesday evening where they provide hot food for the homeless, vulnerable and lonely.

But the group has plans to grow over the

months ahead by expanding its services by providing warm clothes and bedding for the homeless, haircuts as well as assist other agencies in their work.

With Yeovil being on the Dorset/Somerset border, it’s first major milestone is to raise enough funds to purchase a horse box converted into a catering trailer, allowing volunteers to take their service into nearby towns and access the smaller homeless communities.

If anyone wants to help fundraise in order to help achieve this then they should e-mail

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havon.fundraising@gmail.com.

The group was created by Ricky Gleeson who found himself homeless at a young age and spent time living on the streets of North East England.

Thankfully Ricky – despite having problems along the way – has been able to turn his life around by joining the Royal Navy where he serves today at RNAS Yeovilton.

But he has not forgotten his difficult past and wants to help those who find themselves in troubled times.

THE END OF JANUARY 2020

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MAYOR'S CHARITY BALL ‹‹ 20-21

It means that average households in Yeovil – in the Band D bracket – will be paying an extra £13.08 a year which equates to around just 25p a week or £1.09 a month more than in 2019-20.

This is an 11.53 per cent increase, but in real terms works out the price of just one decent packet of biscuits once a month.

The overall slice of the Council Tax going to Yeovil Town Council from individual Band D households in the town will be £126.55 a year – as opposed to £113.47 in 2019-20.

It should be stressed, however, that the town council only takes a small share of the overall Council Tax bill so the final total will be a lot more.

Somerset County Council will take the largest amount with South Somerset District Council, Police and Crime Commissioner for

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Avon and Somerset, and the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service also getting a slice of the Council Tax cake.

The town council agreed to ask South Somerset District Council – the Council Tax billing authority – for a precept of £1,152,589 which will be used to finance the services it provides during the next financial year along with special projects.

Among the initiatives planned by the town council will be a £10,000 contribution to the St John’s Road play area; a £5,000 contribution towards improvements at the Yeovil Recreation Centre; a £12,600 contribution towards the restoration of the fountain at Sydney Gardens; and £35,000 for the planned VE Day 75th Anniversary celebrations.

For more news from Yeovil Town Council – turn to Page 4.

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POLICE are appealing for help to trace witnesses to a single-vehicle crash in Yeovil.

Ambulance paramedics later told police a number of people were at the scene when they first arrived including a woman who spoke to them. Police are keen to hear from those people.

Two men who were in the vehicle at the time were treated for injuries which were not life-threatening or life-changing.

A police spokesman said: “If you were at the scene when the ambulance arrived, or have any information or dashcam footage which could help the investigation into the incident, call 101 quoting reference 5220281365.”

A man arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs, but was later released under investigation and police investigations continue.

FIREFIGHTERS at Yeovil Fire Station attended 1,031 appeals for help and on-call officers were alerted 529 times during the past year.

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: “A big thank goes from everyone at Yeovil Fire Station to all of the families of our firefighters for putting up with either disturbed night’s sleep, missed family events, meal times and the general unplanned and untimely disruption at home.

“Another thank you goes to the employers who let our on-call staff attend these shouts.”

And the spokesman added: “Thank you to everyone for their supportive comments during the past year and we look forward to carrying on serving the community in 2021.”

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the last seven years as without them our show would have not been so special.

“We would also like to thank our sponsors, traders and suppliers for supporting our event so brilliantly.

“And finally and most importantly we would like to thank the haulage industry of the South West and its drivers for taking our show to heights we never thought we would reach. A show is nothing without the drivers.”

And the statement added: “The Wessex Truck Show will live long in the memory but all good things come to an end.”

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THE Somerset Waste Partnership is keeping the county’s 16 recycling sites – including the one in Yeovil - open on standard winter hours for essential use during the latest Covid-19 national lockdown.

Government guidance has clarified that people can visit recycling sites as they are an essential service.

But SWP is asking people to only visit sites

if the trip is really necessary, for example because waste cannot be safely kept home or disposed of through kerbside recycling and rubbish collections.

Recycling sites already have measures in place to protect the public and staff, including: Do not visit if you have COVID symptoms or have been asked to shield; maintain social distance; wear gloves and consider wearing a mask; maximum two people per vehicle from the same household; site staff cannot assist with unloading; and vehicle and trailer permits continue with more details available at www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/apply-for-apermit .

Staff will monitor site user numbers and control vehicle flow if necessary; visitors are asked for their understanding and patience.

SWP is also highlighting government guidance on how to dispose of personal waste if you have coronavirus symptoms or live in a household with someone who does.

Personal waste, such as tissues, facemasks and disposable cleaning cloths, should be double-bagged in black sacks, kept separate from other waste in the home for 72 hours, and then be added to your rubbish bin outside your home for the usual collection.

All residents are asked to maintain a social distance from collection crews. They should wash hands and disinfect container handles before and after putting out recycling boxes and bins.

The standard winter hours to March are 9am to 5pm weekdays and from 9am to 4pm Saturday and Sundays.

A MAN had to be rescued after becoming trapped inside a car which had been involved in an accident on the outskirts of Yeovil on New Year’s Eve. The incident happened at just before 8.30am on Old Road – the road leads from Yeovil to Odcombe - and two fire engines and a heavy rescue unit from Yeovil were mobilised.

“When we got to the scene we found one car on its side with one person medically trapped inside the vehicle,” said a spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

“We were able to rescue the male casualty and he was left in the hands of the ambulance paramedics.”

The Fire Service spokesman added: “Police were informed and attended this incident due to a section of Old Road having to be closed due to very icy conditions.”

POLICE investigating a disturbance in a Yeovil car park are appealing for witnesses to get in touch.

Officers made the appeal on December 29 – a month after the actual incident on

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Sunday, November 29, at the Yeo Leisure Park in Old Station Way. A white woman, in her 30s, sustained an injury to her wrist and later attended hospital. A white man, in his 40s, sustained bruising that did not require medical treatment.

A police spokesman said: “CCTV and house-to-house enquiries have been conducted.

“We’re keen to hear from anyone in the area at the time, in particular two members of the public who may have seen what happened before they approached the man and woman and reportedly tried to calm the situation.”

If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5220269543.

FIREFIGHTERS from Yeovil were mobilised to a house fire on the outskirts of the town.

The alarm was raised at just before 2pm to the incident at Lake Mews in Barwick on Sunday, January 3, and three fire engines from Yeovil were called out.

On arrival firefighters found smoke issuing from the roof and they quickly got to work to deal with the situation.

“The fire was located on the first floor and resulted in 50 per cent smoke damage to the whole property,” said a spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. “The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.”

ONE person had to be rescued after the car they were in got stuck on a garden fence in Yeovil.

The alarm was raised at just before 4pm to the incident on Friday, December 4, 2020, when Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service received reports that a car had crashed into a fence and house in Netherton Road.

Two fire engines and a heavy rescue vehicle from Yeovil attended and crews found that a car had reversed onto a garden fence and was “slightly in the air” with one person still inside.

A Fire Service spokesman said they successfully removed the person from the car and left them in the hands of ambulance paramedics.

THE Yeovil Crime Reduction Team has received a £1,000 donation to help in the battle against town centre crime.

The money has come from Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens’ Community Action Fund.

The £1,000 will be used to provide more radios for new members and support extra staff working additional shifts during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The radios are used by retailers to keep in touch and inform of any anti-social behaviour incidents or be wary of any known shoplifters spotted in the town.

THE Cake Box Bakery in Yeovil has been nominated for an award in this year’s Somerset Business Awards.

The popular bakery in Wessex Road is up against five other nominees for the Outstanding Business Covid-19 Response

award.

The other nominees are from Westonzoyland, Cheddar, Wellington, Ilminster and Bridgwater.

The grand final will be broadcast live online from the McMillan Theatre in Bridgwater and hosted by BBC Somerset presenter Claire Carter at 3pm on March 26.

The Cake Box Bakery experienced success at last year’s Yeovil Business Awards.

THE South Somerset Citizens Advice service based in Yeovil is looking for more volunteers to help from their homes.

Like many charities during the coronavirus pandemic, Somerset’s five Citizens Advice services have had to change the way that they help local people.

More and more individuals and families are seeking advice over the telephone and email, on issues related to their finances or employment, through to consumer, relationship or housing problems.

The support that Citizens Advice provides can be life-changing - it can, for example, keep a family in their home, or reduce discrimination in the workplace.

One in every 20 people in Somerset contacts Citizens Advice each year and frequently it is those most at need within our local community that need their support.

To make sure that nobody misses out on the vital advice that they need, the five Citizens Advice services – in the Mendips, South Somerset, Taunton, West Somerset and Sedgemoor – have worked together to launch a free countywide Adviceline telephone and email service.

If you need advice, you can contact the service on 08082 787842 or by visiting www.citizensadvicesomerset.org.uk.

Adviceline is supported by volunteers working from home, but as demand for the service grows the five charities are asking for more people to give up a few hours each week to help provide advice.

Volunteers are needed from all walks of life, and from all corners of Somerset, and they don’t need to have any specialist knowledge.

Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, Citizens Advice Somerset has also launched the Somerset Advice Academy to provide free training to all new volunteers.

Volunteers benefit from flexible times that suit their availability, are loaned all the equipment they need, and have all expenses paid.

Angela Kerr, from Citizens Advice South Somerset, said: “Volunteering as a Telephone Adviser is a hugely rewarding way for someone to help local people.

“We want to carry on delivering support across Somerset long into the future, but to do this we need more volunteers to keep the service going.

“Our volunteers tell us that the longer they volunteer with us the more fulfilling they find their role, and we are hopeful that more people out there want to make a valuable difference.”

If you can listen with an open mind and are looking for a way to help your

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local community from the comfort of your own home – this could be an ideal opportunity for you.

To find out more please visit www. citizensadvicesomerset.org.uk/ volunteer.

THE Goldenstones leisure centre and Westland Sports & Fitness Centre in Yeovil will have new management operators later this year.

Those outlets, along with the Wincanton Community Sports Centre and the newlybuilt Chard Leisure Centre, are expected to have new bosses by the Spring of this year.

The current contract with LED Leisure Limited comes to an end on March 31 meaning South Somerset District Council must enter into a new management arrangement for its leisure facilities from this date.

The council’s District Executive committee recently agreed to delegate authority to a specialist in strategic planning within the authority to appoint a preferred operator following the scoring of final tenders by the council’s evaluation panel.

This decision will be taken in conjunction with the council leader, Cllr Val Keitch,

and the authority’s health and wellbeing spokesman, Cllr Mike Best, while a reserve bidder will also be agreed if appropriate.

The council currently has three leisure centres - Wincanton Community Sports Centre, Goldenstones and Westlands Sport and Fitness Centre in Yeovil. These centres are either owned or leased by the council, but are managed under three separate management contracts with LED Leisure Limited.

Cllr Best said: “As councillors we have discussed the different options on the table in the past and now are getting to the end of a process. By asking that an officer of the council makes a delegated decision in conjunction with myself and the leader, we will ensure the process is completed swiftly and in line with procurement and tendering rules.

“South Somerset has a healthy history or providing leisure facilities to residents and visitors and the addition of the Chard Leisure Centre adds to what we currently provide. We look forward to working with the new providers and ensuring our facilities are well kept after so they are well used.”

Subject to availability

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SCHOOL NEWS

Autumn fun at Huish Lauren has a talent for

poetry - that's official!

YEAR One pupils at Huish Primary School in Yeovil had great fun during the autumn season in classes.

They spent time looking at how the trees changed from summer into autumn.

“There were lots of different coloured leaves and they talked about deciduous trees shedding their leaves annually at this time of year,” said a school

spokesman.

“They talked about the weather and how it is beginning to get colder with less sunshine in the skies.”

The pupils also learnt that earthworms have a “leafy lunch” at this time of year – munching their way through the carpet of leaves that falls to the ground.

The children also had fun collecting leaves and making their own leaf art.

Design and technology awards A LONG list of students at Buckler’s Mead Academy in Yeovil have been named as its design and technology award winners.

The results were as follows: Year Seven – Amber Paull, Alexandra Serban, Tommy Humphrey and Sheya Shortland.

Year Eight – Kasper Kajdana, Georgia Taylor and Dawid Kubasik.

Year Nine – Daisy Holland, Joshua Wilkins and Imogen Laverty.

Year Ten – Samuel Burlinson (engineering), Callum Rice (engineering), Charlotte Bant (textiles),

Sophie Adams (textiles), Tanjina Begum (food preparation and nutrition) and Jessica Pitman (food preparation and nutrition).

Year 11 – Ryan Collins (engineering), Ethan Smalley (engineering), Grace Jackson (design and technology), Maisie Stafford (design and technology), ElsieMay McSevney (food preparation and nutrition) and Sharayia Miles (food preparation and nutrition).

A Buckler’s Mead spokesman said: “Well done to all of this term’s design and technology award winners.”

CONGRATULATIONS have gone to Lauren Mines – a Year 11 student at Westfield Academy in Yeovil - who has won a National Poetry competition with Young Writers.

From the 10,000 entrants, she won her class and her entry has now been published in a new poetry anthology entitled Through Their Eyes.

“Well done Lauren,” said a Westfield spokesman. “We are sure you will all agree that this is a fantastic achievement.”

PHOTO: Lauren Mines.

Celebrating the black community PUPILS at Preston Primary School in Yeovil were recently given the opportunity to learn how to play a set of African Drums – as part of the school’s focus on Black History Month.

They learnt new ways of holding the drum set and playing a variety of different sounds.

As part of their studies the pupils also looked into the history of American civil rights activist Rosa Parks and they used the internet to research her life and they also found out facts about other famous black people in history such as Martin Luther King.

A school spokesman said: “Black History Month was important because it was a time to celebrate the achievements of the black community.”

CHILDREN of Hawthorn Class at Preston Primary School in Yeovil enjoyed taking part in the annual Harvest Festival. The children brought in items of food to donate to The Lord’s Larder. The children discussed the meaning of Harvest Festival and what they were thankful for.

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Caxton, Scott, Newton and Shakespeare HERE are the pupils of Huish Primary School in Yeovil who are the captains and vice-captains of the four longstanding house groups at the school – Shakespeare, Newton, Scott and Caxton.

Thousands of children have gone through Huish School over the years with

each having been in one of those house groups.

Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden, himself a former Huish pupil, was a proud captain, jointly with fellow classmate Sean Day, of Scott House during 198182.

“I am sure the rivalry between the house

The current captains and vice-captains of the four house groups at Huish Primary School in Yeovil.

groups at Huish is just as competitive now as it was back in my day,” said Steve.

“Being in Scott house has led to a lifelong interest in the Antarctic explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott, but I suppose considering I’ve had a 31-year career in the newspaper industry I should have been in Caxton house, named after

William Caxton who was the first person to introduce a printing press into England in 1476.”

The other house groups at Huish School are named after the great playwright William Shakespeare and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton.

Captain Scott.

William Shakespeare.

William Caxton.

Sir Isaac Newton.

Christmas chocolate Young artists have box challenge their work on display YEAR Eight students at Buckler’s Mead Academy in Yeovil received certificates in the run-up to the festive season for having taken part in the Great Buckler’s Christmas Make-Off. Maths students took part in the

Christmas Chocolate Box Challenge where they had to design, make and give mathematical facts on a 3D box.

It proved a very popular challenge.

Pictured here are just two of the students with their certificates.

Science fun at Huish YOUNG scientists at Huish Primary School in Yeovil have been carrying out their own experiments in their classroom laboratory.

The Year Five pupils have been learning about different materials and discovering their various properties.

A school spokesman said: “The

children learnt new vocabulary such as permeable, impermeable, rigid, flexible, opaque, translucent and transparent.

“They also conducted an experiment to see which materials were soluble and which were insoluble in water after they had made their own predictions.”

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CASTLE Primary School pupils in Stoke-sub-Hamdon - part of the Redstart Learning Partnership - were delighted to be invited to take part in an exhibition being displayed at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil to celebrate its reopening following lockdown.

The school’s Corfe, Totnes and Dunster classes all provided artwork which was put on display in the foyer areas. The theme of the children’s artwork is very apt at this time and is entitled’The Show Must Go On. The Octagon’s duty manager and arts engagement assistant, Katherine Hoskins, said: “Thank you to the Castle Primary School pupils for providing us with some artwork to display around the Octagon for our reopening!

“We are absolutely delighted with the

amount and quality of artwork which we received and it has really brightened up our venue!”

A spokesperson from The Redstart Learning Partnership said: “We are absolutely delighted to hear about this great partnership and opportunity for the pupil’s at Castle Primary School.

“We’d like to thank the pupil’s for their fabulous artwork and to the Octagon for allowing our pupil’s to display their artwork for public display.”

Sadly the Octagon Theatre had to close again on Boxing Day when Somerset was placed into the higher Tier Four level of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

PHOTO: Pupils from Castle Primary School at Stoke-sub-Hamdon.

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Foreign language learning THE European Day of Languages was celebrated at Preston Primary School in Yeovil where children became more aware about learning foreign languages

Each class learned different foreign greetings and phrases and some classes were assisted by our newly appointed Language Ambassadors who do an incredible job encouraging linguistic diversity within the school.

Colour mixing art RECEPTION class children at Preston Primary School in Yeovil really enjoyed exploring the art of colour mixing in the playground.

They used powder paints and water and

with a variety of brushes they discovered that new colours could be made when they mixed the primary colours together.

A school spokesman said: “The children found this fascinating and enjoyable.”

All around the world

PUPILS in Year Two at Huish Primary School in Yeovil have been going round the world in a fun-filled project – they have been creating their very own globes.

They carefully used a papier-mache process to coat their balloons with newspaper and then used blue tissue paper to create the oceans and finally stuck on the green continents.

Linguists of the term at Buckler's Mead TALENTED students at Buckler’s Mead Academy in Yeovil have been congratulated on their French and German prowess.

Students Emily Middleton, Tommy Humprey, Riley Dimond, Emma Mees, Louey Critchell, Zachary Wellman, Charlotte Bant, Ola Pstus, Kelsie Penny, Destiny Bowles, Kacey-Leigh Pike, Harvey Wroe, Bradley Tuddenham, Alice Smith,

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Lilian Evans and Daisy Holland have all been named the school’s Linguists of the Term by French subject teachers.

Students who have been shining at German have also been congratulated – Connor Moseley, Patric Nae, Bethany Blake, Holly Ementon, Sydney Edwards, Samuel Philcox, Sophie Adams, Kyle Humphreys and Deane Alvarez.

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School's geography champs THIRTY students at Buckler’s Mead Academy in Yeovil have recently been named as geography award winners.

The geography champions for the past term were as follows: Evie Passmore, Charlie Malcolm, Callum Harris, Kyron O’Malley, Evie Underhill, Sophie Caunce, Ashton-Rhys Wellman, Callum House, Sonny Jenkins, Emily Middleton, Jack Doye, Sienna Bond, Katie Roberts, Lewis Summer, Lily Fry.

Amelia Gradowska, Ellie Lavender, Caitlyn Faulkner, Alisa Annanijazova, Sam Philcox, Sourav Singh, Grace Higginbotham, Connie Barclay, Harvey Wroe, Liam Nardiello, Ruby-Elizabeth Mudd, Naomi Massey, Patric Nae, Olivia Hyde and Rodrigo Laruta.

“Congratulations to this term’s geography champions,” said a school spokesman.

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SCHOOL REUNION

Bringing school memories back to life WELCOME to the latest instalment of our fun feature entitled School Reunion – looking back at old school photos which should help spark memories galore for readers.

But we need YOUR help in making the School Reunion a real success as we would love you to send us your school photos.

They can be official class photos like these here or general pictures of pupils enjoying school trips or sports days, summer fetes or school productions.

Anything that you think would be

perfect for the School Reunion feature – we would love to receive.

Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden said: “They say that the school days are the best days of our lives. That statement might not be completely true for everybody, but I certainly had some great days at school and made some great lifelong friends.

“It would be great to share your memories here in this new School Reunion feature.”

Please send us your photos by email to yeovilpress@gmail.com and if possible include the names of those in the pictures.

A hockey team photo from Preston School in Yeovil taken during the mid-1980s featuring the year group of 1982-87.

Do you recognise any of these students at Westfield Academy’s Year 11 Prom of 2013 at Haselbury Mill?

Simon Rowe very kindly sent us these photos from Huish Primary School in Yeovil taken during the mid-1980s. Do you recognise anyone?

SCHOOL REUNION Send us your old school photos for this monthly feature

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A group of lads from Preston School in Yeovil at the school’s Year 11 Leavers’ Evening of 2012.

Do you recognise these students who were photographed at the official opening of new £800,000 sports centre facilities at Preston School in Yeovil in 2012? This was a joint project between the school, South Somerset District Council and the 1610 leisure trust.

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CHRISTMAS REVIEW 2019 12-PAGE PULL-OUT OF THE FESTIVE SEASON INCLUDING A FOUR-PAGE REVIEW OF THE YEAR

From Jingle Bell Rock to the School of Rock

MEMBERS of the Yeovil-based Castaway Theatre Group were delighted to get back on the stage – for one-day only – in the build-up to Christmas 2020 following a year of frustration and disappointment because of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. The Castaways put on a lovely Christmas Spectacular show at the Westlands Yeovil entertainment venue and they are now looking forward – fingers-crossed – to performing The School of Rock musical at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil from June 3-5. Turn inside for more photos from the Christmas Spectacular. Photo: Christine Jones.

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CHRISTMAS REVIEW 2020

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CHRISTMAS REVIEW 2020

Castaways loved being back on the stage IT has been a long year for members of the Yeovil-based Castaway Theatre Group – just like it has for all musical and theatrical organisations throughout the land – as they have been left frustrated and disappointed by the restrictions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

But the Castaways, celebrating their 15th anniversary, managed to take to the stage of the Westlands Yeovil entertainment venue on December 6 – under strict Covid-19 restrictions – to put on two performances of a show entitled Christmas Spectacular. And the young stage performers loved it!

The two performances produced a succession of festive favourites including It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas; Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire; Frosty the Snowman; Rocking Around the Christmas Tree; When Christmas Comes to Town; Silent Night; A Holly Jolly Christmas and Winter Wonderland.

The Castaways were also delighted to welcome back some of their “old stars” who have moved on to pastures new and it was great to see Jacob Edwards, Ashley MacLauchlan, Jack Osmond, Anastacia Hayward, Izzy MacGregor and Jessamy Bowditch perform.

But now the Castaways are keeping everything crossed that they can go-

ahead later this year at the Octagon Theatre with the musical The School of Rock – which was due to have been performed last summer, but cancelled due to Covid-19 – from June 3-5, 2021.

The matinee show line-up – as per programme: Amelia Thomas, Amelie Rendell Graham, Ben Charter, Elise Williams, Freya Manley, Harry Caddy, Isla Rowswell, Izzy Hall, Jessica French, Leah Timmins, Michael O’Dwyer, Ruby Allonby, Angelique Boxall, Chloe Allonby, Freya Herrity, Grace Stafford, Joshua Beaumont, Lucy Jenkins, Mia French, Scarlett Thomas, Thomas Hodder, Tobias Clifton, Tom Shire and Zachary Wellman.

The evening show line-up as per programme: Ashley Comer, Daisy Osborne, Dakota-Skye Paz, Ewan Cassell, Isobella Sirus, Keeley Sharman, Keira Gaylard, Lauren Salter, Lily Hockey, Lottie McIntyre, Mya Strick, Oakley Eve, Olivia Packer, Rosie Horsey, Charlie Wheeler, Charlotte Caine, Delaney Dolman, Eleanor Dawkins, Eva Martin, Finlay Gudge, George Souster, Harrison Caine, Leo Ito, Molly Beaumont and Owen Williams.

Alumni – who appeared in both performances: Jacob Edwards, Ashley MacLauchlan, Jack Osmond, Anastacia Hayward, Izzy MacGregor and Jessamy Bowditch.

PHOTOS: Christine Jones.

JUNE 3 4 5 2021 Octagon Theatre Box Office 01935-422884 More information www.octagon-theatre.co.uk

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CHRISTMAS REVIEW 2020

Christmas Day bundles of joy are the perfect gift STAFF at Yeovil District Hospital welcomed three beautiful babies into the world on Christmas Day. At 5.08am on Christmas morning, parents Megan and Dan Tatt were given their first present of the day in the form of 8lb 10oz baby girl Darcie.

The second baby of the day arrived at 11.34am – baby Ralph, born to Natasha and Daniel Cooper, weighing in at 7lb.

Yeovil Hospital’s final Christmas Day bundle of joy was born at 12.05pm to parents Kelly and Adam Overy – 6lb 3.5oz baby Lyla.

The hospital’s head of midwifery, Sallyann Batstone, said: “Many congratulations to all of our families who have welcomed their babies during this festive period.”

Mum Megan Tatt with baby Darcie.

Parents Natasha and Daniel Cooper with baby Ralph.

Baby Lyla with parents Kelly and Adam Overy.

The Works comes up Corinthians are a pillar trumps for patients of the community THE Yeovil-based Corinthian Pillar Lodge – based at the Masonic Hall in Hendford - donated a fantastic £1,400 towards the Children’s Ward Christmas Campaign.

The Children’s Ward at Yeovil Hospital was nominated by Grant Lyon during his term as Master of the Lodge.

Although like many, fundraising has been hit hard by Covid-19 restrictions, the Masons have continued to raise funds in unique and different ways.

Yeovil Hospital Charity’s community

THE Works based at Palmers Garden Centre and the Quedam Centre in Yeovil have been supporting Yeovil Hospital Charity by asking their customers to support their fundraising for “boredom busting items” for the patients in hospital.

Their customers went above and beyond donating nine bags of items to be used by patients on the wards including the children’s ward over the festive season.

Tammie Lloyd, clinical nurse specialist at Yeovil District Hospital, said: “These items made a real difference for our patients over the Christmas period and will do so in the future.

“As activities can’t take place on the wards in the traditional way, having these individual items will really help alleviate some boredom and spread some joy during these very challenging times.

“Thank you so much to The Works and their wonderful customers for donating such a variety of wonderful items.”

and events fundraiser, Sarah Cherry, said: “It was so lovely to meet Grant and receive his donation towards our Children’s Ward Christmas Campaign.

“Fundraising has been so different and challenging this year, but meeting individuals and hearing the ways that they’ve been able to continue to raise funds and support us has been lovely.

“Thank you to everyone who supported Grant and the Corinthian Pillar Lodge in their fundraising. We really appreciate your support.”

Hospital's Christmas campaign raised over £2,500 YEOVIL Hospital Charity’s Children’s Ward Christmas Campaign raised a fantastic £2,885 – thanks to the wonderful support of local people.

This money not only enabled staff on the Children’s Ward to buy gifts for their patients, but the remainder of the money will also be used to purchasing TVs for the ward and items for the Magic Carpet, an interactive projector.

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The hospital’s community and events fundraiser, Sarah Cherry, said: “Thank you so much to all of the individuals and companies who donated towards this campaign.

“Not only did it bring some festive cheer to our patients, but also to our staff. They loved the support and kindness shown to them over this very different Christmas.

Thank you so much.”

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REVIEW OF 2020 IN PHOTOS JANUARY 2020

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1. The Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Society’s fantastic magical panto journey production of The Wizard of Oz took place at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil.

2. The Masons Arms at Odcombe played host to a unique Wassail play to ward off evil spirits from the fruit orchards.

3. AUDIENCES at the YESS Club in Yeovil were treated to a pantomime with a difference as naughtiness was the order of the night. The adult-only panto, Twinderella, was penned by well-known Lynn Lee Brown and it went down a storm with people who attended the two performances.

FEBRUARY 2020

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1. A fantastic charity Peaky Blinders night saw the Westlands Yeovil venue step back in time to the 1920s and raise nearly £10,000 for Yeovil District Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal.

2. THE hard-working Yeovil Round Table charitable organisation commemorated its 70th anniversary with a special dinner at the Northover Manor at Ilchester.

Current Round Tablers were joined by former members and those from neighbouring Round Table groups for the night of celebration and commemoration.

3. THE Lynx2Business group celebrated its fourth birthday with a party at Yeovil Golf Club on February 21 and it proved a great success. Proceeds from the event and a raffle raised a fantastic £1,100 for Yeovil District Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal. Pictured are Roger Knight and Rob Smith.

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MARCH 2020

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1. This was the scene in South Street in Yeovil on the morning of Sunday, March 29, which should have been packed with hundreds of runners ahead of the annual Yeovil Half Marathon. Sadly the event had to be cancelled because of Covid-19.

2. Members of the Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society performed the ever-popular musical, The Sound of Music, at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil. But sadly the group’s two-week run was cut short on March 23 with the introduction of the national lockdown due to Covid-19.

3. Members of the Helen Laxton School of Dance and the Somerset School of Performing Arts showed plenty of attitude for their production of the ever-popular musical Grease – the school version – which was staged at the Digby Hall in Sherborne.

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REVIEW OF 2020 IN PHOTOS APRIL 2020

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1. The Beales department store in Yeovil – better known as Denners – closed its doors for good at the onset of the lockdown brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. It brought an end to a story dating back to 1875 when Linsey Tom Marsham Denner arrived in Yeovil and bought the premises in the High Street.

2. Yeovil’s High Street on what should have been a busy Saturday morning – completely deserted with shops closed and people staying at home because of the Covid-19 lockdown.

3. The message read loud and proud outside the Coopers Mill pub in Yeovil as it showed its appreciation to the NHS and all of the key workers who were trying to keep us safe and well during the coronavirus outbreak which saw the country put on lockdown on March 23.

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MAY 2020

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1. Yeovil District Hospital NHS staff and care home workers worked tirelessly around the clock to try and keep us safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

2. People commemorated the 75th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day which signalled the end of the Second World War fighting with Nazi Germany. The commemorations had to be scaled down because of the Covid-19 restrictions.

3. The Yeovil Press featured a montage of local children who showed their support to the NHS and care workers with “thank you” posters.

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JUNE 2020

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1. School in a Bag charity founder and chief executive Luke Simon climbed a flight of stairs at the organisation’s headquarters in Chilthorne Domer a whopping 4,023 times measuring a distance of 8,848 metres – the same as the height of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain. The challenge helped to raise money for the School in a Bag charity which provides children around the globe with a bag full of writing and drawing paper, pens, pencils and eating utensils.

2. STAFF at the Knoll Nursing Home in Yeovil held a special Alice in Wonderland Day recently to help raise a few smiles during these dark days of coronavirus. Staff members dressed up as some of the characters from the much-loved Lewis Carroll novel, while some of the residents also joined in the fun.

3. The Rotary Club of Yeovil handed over a £400 donation to the Yeovil Christian Support Trust to help the much-needed Lord’s Larder food bank.

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REVIEW OF 2020 IN PHOTOS JULY 2020

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1. Tributes were paid in memory of Cllr Phil Chandler, a former Mayor of Yeovil, who died on July 5 at the age of just 64. He had served on the town council for many years and had been Mayor between 2010-12.

2. Commemorative trees were planted at Yeovil District Hospital to remember all those affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the incredible efforts of NHS staff and care workers.

3. Villagers in Odcombe were doing all they could to keep the village looking clean and tidy with weekly litter-picking events by a group of volunteers who called themselves Rubbish Mates.

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AUGUST 2020

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1. THIS was the scene at the Morrisons supermarket car park in Lysander Road, Yeovil, on the afternoon of Saturday, August 8, when a parked car caught on fire. The fire was so intense that it spread to another vehicle.

2. YEOVIL Town Football Club thanked joint club secretary Jean Cotton for all her efforts and dedication after retiring following nearly 30 years of service. Jean had been an integral part of the club for nearly three decades - becoming a popular and well-known figure not just at Huish Park, but also amongst many colleagues at other clubs, the FA, Football League and National League.

3. THE Yeovil branch of the Royal British Legion carried out a small act of remembrance on August 15 to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day – Victory over Japan – which signalled the total end of the Second World War in 1945. Branch vice-chairman Peter Forrester is pictured with the Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr David Recardo.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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1. AN army of volunteer litter-pickers was growing in Yeovil with people looking to keep the area neat and tidy. The face of the fightback against litter in Yeovil was nine-year-old Florence Parsons (pictured) who has recently been featured on the BBC for her litter-picking activities.

2. THE annual Super Saturday event took place in Yeovil with activities and the Eat Somerset food festival – albeit much scaled-down than in previous years due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

3. Yeovil Rugby Club held a couple of outdoor music events at its Dorchester Road headquarters – under strict Covid-19 guidelines – to help raise much-needed funds for the club following the national lockdown.

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REVIEW OF 2020 IN PHOTOS OCTOBER 2020

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1. VOLUNTEER rubbish collectors were left amazed when they discovered this amount of bottles that were found lying about a public bench in Yeovil. This bench is not tucked away hidden – it is sat right on the main Reckleford dualcarriageway in Yeovil and opposite the subway leading up to the Yeovil District Hospital.

2. THE Yeovil-based Pittards presented Yeovil District Hospital with a cheque for £595 which it had raised from the proceeds of the sale of special leather hearts. The hearts were produced when lockdown was brought in following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and they were gifted to families and key workers as a way of saying “thank you” and to let people know they were in our thoughts. Pittards’ chief executive, Reg Hankey, is pictured presenting Yeovil Hospital Charity’s Sarah Cherry with the cheque.

3. A YEOVIL family received a posthumous award on behalf of twin sisters Katy and Emma Davis who died from coronavirus. The Judith Buckle Award was instigated in 2018 and offered to those who the Society feel has made an outstanding contribution to the Bechet’s Syndrom Society and its members. The Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr David Recardo, and Behcet’s UK chairman Tony Thorburn presented the award to the twins’ sister Katy Davis (front centre) and parents Alan (front left) and Julie.

NOVEMBER 2020

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1. THE Marks & Spencer store in Yeovil raised £2,000 for mental health charity Mind in Somerset. In June 2019 staff voted to make their local Mind their Charity of the Year and recently they presented it with a cheque at the Middle Street store. Pictured (from left) outside the M&S store in Yeovil are Stacey Anthony-Kendall, Maria Dennett, Ben Pitman and Mind in Somerset’s Alison Baker.

2. The Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr David Recardo, is pictured laying a wreath at the War Memorial as part of a “virtual” Remembrance Sunday video which was commissioned by Yeovil Town Council with the traditional Act of Remembrance having to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 restrictions.

3. AMAZING Max Cobner raised around £800 for the Children in Need Appeal by getting on his bike. Max, who has Down’s syndrome, cycled for 60 miles and his achievement even gained him national television exposure when he was featured on the One Show which has championed the Rickshaw Challenge from Home initiative for Children in Need.

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DECEMBER 2020

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1. THE Yeovil-based family-run business Koller Engineering - specialists in the design and manufacture of wheelchair accessible vehicle products - celebrated a major milestone in the company’s history having reached its 40th anniversary.

Pictured is Koller Engineering director Dean Koller.

2. THE Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr David Recardo, congratulated everyone who entered a virtual lantern parade as part of the streamed video of the switching-on of the Christmas lights. The winning entrants were named as from Harmony Russell, Holly and Jake Curtis and Olivia Beeson. Pictured is Harmoney Russell with her winning lantern. The traditional lights switch-on was cancelled because of Covid-19 restrictions.

3. MEMBERS of the Yeovil Rotary Club collected much-needed food supplies for the local food bank known as the Lord’s Larder. The club’s president Jackie Henderson, past president Clive Wakely and club secretary Barrie Hartley handed over the results of the Rotarians’ efforts to Lord’s Larder operations manager Matt Callaghan at the food bank’s headquarters at The Gateway in Yeovil.

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CHRISTMAS REVIEW 2020

Father and daughter take a dip Busy time for the Inner Wheel ladies in the sea on Christmas Day FUNDS for the School in a Bag charity – which is based at Chilthorne Domer – were boosted on Christmas Day thanks to Nigel Bailey and his daughter Christine Lincoln who decided to go for a SWIM in the sea at Lyme Regis.

Christine said they had set themselves the challenge earlier in the year as they had enjoyed swimming in the sea throughout the summer.

“We thought that a Christmas swim would be something different to do after this unusual year we’ve had as well as raising money for a good cause,” she said. “We continued going to the beach every weekend throughout the winter so that we would be acclimatised to the water temperature.”

The original plan was to swim on Boxing Day, but when the Government announced on December 23 that Somerset would be going into Tier Three on December 26, they had to change their plans.

“So we decided to do the swim on Christmas Day morning instead,” said Christine.

“We arrived at Lyme Regis just before 8am on Christmas morning. It was a beautiful cold, clear morning and there were a few other people around – the

sensible ones out for a walk and some swimming!

“Dad and I went in the sea for about 15 minutes, the tide was out and the water cold, but I don’t think we noticed as it was just an amazing experience. This was made even more special by the most spectacular sunrise.

“When we got out we had some piping hot homemade soup to warm us up, before heading home to cook the turkey and start our Christmas Day.” The swim has raised £640 for School in a Bag which will purchase 32 bags which will be crammed with pens, pencils, exercise books and eating/drinking utensils and be sent off to children in need around the globe. The original target was £400 so Nigel and Christine are delighted.

People can still donate at https:// uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ ChristineLincoln .

Christine added: “Thank you to everyone who has supported and sponsored us over the last few weeks - this was an experience that we thoroughly enjoyed and all to help a good cause.”

PHOTOS: Nigel Bailey and Christine Lincoln at Lyme Regis for their Christmas Day swim in the sea.

Round Table backs the Lord's Larder YEOVIL Round Table presented the Lord’s Larder food bank with a £1,000 donation in the run-up to the Christmas period.

Fundraising has been very difficult for the Round Table group during the past year because of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting restrictions, but it has not stopped the lads from doing their bit to help others.

Round Table chairman Rob Holly said he was delighted that they had been able to support the Lord’s Larder which provides much-needed food supplies to people in need within the local area.

Matt Callaghan, of the Lord’s Larder, said he would like to thank Yeovil Round Table and everybody else for their fantastic support during this time.

PHOTO: Yeovil Round Table chairman Rob Holly (left) with fellow Round Table colleague Mark Watts (right) and Matt Callaghan of the Lord’s Larder which is based at The Gateway in Yeovil. Photo: Christine Jones.

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MEMBERS of the Yeovil branch of the Inner Wheel organisation had a busy build-up to the Christmas festivities.

The charity’s district chairman Maureen Nethaway, president Margaret Cox and Heather Wilson took 24 Christmas shoeboxes – packed with goodies and decorated by club members – to the residents at the West Abbey Care Home in Yeovil. These were presented to the home’s general manager Helen Colaco who then distributed them among the residents.

President Margaret Cox, Barbara Gadd and Carol Price then donated bags of provisions and Christmas gifts to Matt Callaghan, operations manager of the Yeovil-based Lord’s Larder food bank, which has been extremely busy over the Covid-19 pandemic period.

And the Inner Wheel ladies have also been thinking about one another by holding its own Secret Santa and delivering small gifts to members – all part of the “spirit of friendship.”

Donating bags of much-needed food to the Lord’s Larder in Yeovil.

Delivering some festive cheer to the West Abbey Care Home in Yeovil.

The Yeovil Inner Wheel’s very own Secret Santa.

Iceland store thanks firefighters STAFF at the Iceland store in Yeovil showed their appreciation of the local Fire Service over the festive season by giving firefighters some mince pies.

A spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the crews were very grateful for the kind donation.

Hayley Tuffin, of the Iceland store in the Quedam, speaking on social media, said: “It was our pleasure as we’d like to thank everyone at Yeovil Fire Station for all their hard work.”

Wonderful gesture by Symonds and Sampson FIREFIGHTERS at Yeovil Fire Station would like to thank kind-hearted staff at Symonds and Sampson estate agents in the town for their support.

Jeremy Smith, residential partner at Symonds and Sampson, is pictured delivering some mince pies to the fire station in Reckleford on Christmas Day as the firm’s way of thanking the firefighters for their efforts during the year.

“A massive thank you to the Yeovil office of Symonds and Sampson for this wonderful gesture,” said a spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Jeremy and his partner Trudi Gumbrell,

who is a lettings manager at Symonds and Sampson, also decided against buying gifts for each other and instead put the money towards making hampers which they then gave to all of the emergency services in the town along with Yeovil District Hospital.

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CHRISTMAS REVIEW 2020

Magic Kingdom comes to Tintinhull for a Christmas spectacular A FANTASTIC Christmas lights display at a home in Tintinhull has amassed an amazing £7,394.24 for charity.

A wonderful festive scene was created at the home of Dan and Mark Extance which had been painstakingly put together from several months ahead of the build-up to Christmas.

Scaffolding was used to create a magical palace and from around that came a winter wonderland which would not have looked out of place in Disney itself.

The couple have spent more than £20,000 on lights over the past few years and their super decorative displays have raised nearly £50,000 for various charities.

The donations from the 2020 display will be shared between Macmillan Cancer Support, testicular cancer charity It’s In the Bag, the Air Ambulance, NHS and the Donkeys & Shetlands Last Home Rescue.

Thousands of people visited the lights over the festive season and Dan and Mark worked tirelessly to ensure that social distancing was kept in force to adhere with the Covid-19 guidelines.

And they were a victim of their own success at times because they had to turn

the lights off on occasions because they were being overrun with visitors.

The lights gained national media attention and Dan and Mark received an avalanche of compliments on the brilliance of their illuminating creation.

“Thank you so much to everyone who has kindly donated towards our chosen charities,” they said on their social media Facebook page.

“This amount of £7,394.24 has more than doubled the 2019 total. This is incredible – thank you!

“Special thanks go to our 2020 sponsors who made this display possible.”

The couple have also been delighted to receive lots of unwanted Christmas lights and decorations that they could use for their 2021 display.

“We have had lots of snow trees, garlands, baubles and LED lights – all of this will help us to entertain you with an even bigger display and, most importantly, raise much-needed money for charities,” they said.

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Facebook, Caroline Haynes, Claire Hayward, Darren Santiago, Debs Curtis, Victoria White, Louise Reid, Amanda Purchase, Sarah Symcox and Kim Cherry.

Dan and Mark Extance.

The scaffolding goes up around the couple’s bungalow in Tintinhull back in October.

he magical palace begins to take shape.

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The Magic Kingdom of Tintinhull.

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CHRISTMAS REVIEW 2020

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CHRISTMAS REVIEW 2020

The very essence of pantomime was alive and well NURSE Nellie not only saved panto at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil, but also went a little way to saving Christmas as well and giving a bit of hope for 2021.

Having been a seasoned panto-goer at the Octagon for most of my life the memories of pantomimes have been full of festive get-togethers in the bar beforehand, packed audiences, lots of booing and cheering and times when nobody uttered the word “coronavirus.”

But then 2020 arrived and in a year which was ravaged by Covid-19 and brought so much misery to so many people on so many different levels, it was highly unlikely that pantomime would survive the health and safety culling of events and we would be robbed of something which is a key ingredient to Christmas just as much as Roast Turkey and Brussels Sprouts.

Miraculously, however, pantomime was given the go-ahead at the award-winning Octagon Theatre – albeit on a scale nobody had envisaged this time last year.

The plans for the scheduled panto of Dick Whittington were cancelled and all looked rather sad and depressing, but things happened and when there was an outside chance that some sort of show could be put on ..... the Octagon jumped at it with the support of Evolution Pantomimes.

The Octagon’s arts and entertainment

venue manager, Adam Burgan, said: “We were delighted to once again work with Evolution Pantomimes, headed by Paul Hendy and Emily Wood, along with their talented team.

“For almost 50 years the Octagon Theatre has brought friends and families together to share the magic of live theatre at our annual Christmas pantomime.

“The pandemic has robbed us of many things but everyone worked so hard to keep everyone safe and ensure we could all share in the laughter, joy and magic of live theatre.

“We were missing lots of cast, crew and staff this year and we were very pleased that many of them came to watch the show and remained a part of our ‘panto family’. We welcomed a super cast who all worked incredibly hard to put together a truly uplifting show.”

The specially-written Nurse Nellie Saves Panto production featured just five characters – Gordon Cooper returns as Nurse Nellie; Jack Glanville was back at the Octagon for the sixth-year running this time as Billy; Crewkerne lad Thom Ford played the nasty-but-nice Professor Von Badapple; former Yeovil College student and Yeovil Youth Theatre performer Evelyn Hoskins, who has gone on to enjoy a successful career in acting, was on home turf as Jill; and American actress Kathryn Nash, who is married to Crewkerne lad Thom Ford in real life,

Gordon Cooper as Nurse Nellie.

Jack Glanville as Billy.

Kathryn Nash as Fairy Moonshot.

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appeared as Fairy Moonshot.

There was no live band; there were no dancers and there were no junior cast members.

It was just four people along with a bloke in a dress on stage and ...... they made panto work and painted a huge smile right across the face of the theatre.

The panto was full of the usual laughs, corny jokes and amusing remarks about Weymouth and Chard, while there were topical references made to Covid-19, Dominic Cummings and Donald Trump.

Plus the audience enjoyed the traditional “we’ll have to sing it again then won’t we” moment of the ghost and the well-worn bench sketch .... although the bench had been lengthened to keep within social distancing regulations!

And special congratulations to Martin Nurse Nellie’s love interest on the evening performance of Saturday, December 12 - and all the other “victims” of Nellie’s wandering eye and bust! But, to be fair, any other year and the ridicule and the embarrassment would have been far worse - at least Covid-19 saved a string of men from that unnerving, albeit harmless fun, experience.

I was last at the Octagon Theatre for the dress rehearsal of Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society’s production of The Sound of Music in March – a show which had to be cut-short because of the onset of the lockdown brought in due to

Thom Ford as Professor Von Badapple.

coronavirus.

To see the Octagon stage alive again with song and laughter after nine months of being in darkness was a pleasure and, hopefully, the light can be seen at the end of the tunnel where our daily lives will return to some sort of normality.

Watching the show was a breath of fresh air, but the restrictions imposed on the production equally made me reflect on the bad year we have all endured and gave me that all-important nudge in the ribs that there is hope just around the corner.

REPORT: By Steve Sowden.

The panto run of Nurse Nellie came to a premature end when the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil closed its doors again on Boxing Day due to Somerset being moved up to Tier Three in the Government’s Covid-19 restrictions.

It meant that planned performances from December 26 to January 3 had to be cancelled.

There were hopes that the panto might be able to resume from February 13-21, but that now looks unlikely due to the national lockdown, although we understand contingency plans are being discussed.

The Octagon has said it would be in touch with ticket-holders.

PHOTOS: Courtesy of the Octagon Theatre.

Evelyn Hoskins as Jill.

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MY TOP TEN

When The New Seekers, Wings and The Flying Pickets were top of the pops WELCOME to the monthly series called My Top Ten where we go back into the musical history books to see what songs were topping the charts on the day that local people were born.

In this month’s feature we welcome former Yeovil Mayor, Darren Shutler; local funeral director Stuart Foster, of Stuart Foster Funeral Services; and James Healey, of JRH Media, who helps each month with the production of the Yeovil Press.

Best wishes go to Darren, Stuart and James and everyone else celebrating their birthday this month.

The wonder of music is that even though we will delve back decades into

the annals of musical history many of us will still know the songs and instantly recognise the artistes.

If you would like to feature in the My Top Ten feature during your birthday month please get in touch with us at yeovilpress@gmail.com and let us do the rest.

The My Top Ten feature is sponsored by Jody Parks, of ML Property Management, which deals with general building, roofing, commercial and domestic clearance, garden clearance and maintenance, interior/exterior painting and window cleaning. Contact details are on the sponsorship panel at the bottom of this page.

NAME: DARREN SHUTLER DATE OF BIRTH: January 9, 1972 INFORMATION: Former Mayor of Yeovil My Top Ten: 1: The New Seekers, I’d Like To Teach the World To Sing.

2: Neil Reid, Mother of Mine.

3: Benny Hill, Ernie – The Fastest Milkman in the West.

4: Congregation, Softly Whispering I Love You. 5: Middle of the Road, Soley Soley.

6: Cilla Black, Something Tells Me. 7: Elvis Presley, I Just Can’t Help Believing.

8: Melanie, Brand New Key. 9: Johnny Pearson Orchestra, Sleepy Shores.

10: T. Rex, Jeepster.

NAME: STUART FOSTER DATE OF BIRTH: January 14, 1978 INFORMATION: Funeral director of Stuart Foster Funeral Services My Top Ten: 1: Wings, Mull of Kintyre.

2: Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, Floral Dance.

3: Donna Summer, Love’s Unkind.

4: Bonnie Tyler, It’s a Heartache.

5: Crystal Gayle, Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.

6: Chic, Dance Dance Dance.

7: The Bee Gees, How Deep is Your Love.

8: David Soul, Let’s Have a Quiet Night In. 9: Ruby Winters, I Will.

10: Donna Summer, I Love You.

Top: Stuart Foster Above: Wings Right: Donna Summer Left: Bonnie Tyler

NAME: JAMES HEALEY DATE OF BIRTH: January 4, 1984 INFORMATION: Owner of JRH Media Above: Darren Shutler Top Left: The New Seekers Below: Benny Hill Bottom Left: Cilla Black

My Top Ten 1: The Flying Pickets, Only You. 2: Slade, My Oh My. 3: Paul Young, Love of the Common People.

4: Culture Club, Victims.

5: Status Quo, Marguerita Time.

6: Billy Joel, Tell Her About It. 7: Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, Islands in the Stream.

8: The Thompson Twins, Hold Me Now. 9: Paul McCartney, Pipes of Peace.

10: Howard Jones, What is Love?

Top: James Healey Left: The Flying Pickets Right: Paul Young Above: Billy Joel

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FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS Let us know your family news WELCOME to the Family Announcements feature in YOUR monthly Yeovil Press community newspaper.

We will be delighted to publish your announcements – whether it is Births, Birthday Greetings, Congratulations, Marriages, Anniversaries and Good Luck Messages.

We will also hopefully be working closely with local funeral directors on the sad event of death announcements and possible obituary reports.

People can submit their Family Announcements by emailing the Yeovil Press at yeovilpress@gmail.com.

Steve Sowden, editor of the Yeovil Press, said: “Family Announcements are

part and parcel of any local newspaper and I’m delighted to offer this service to the people of Yeovil and surrounding area.

“The Yeovil Press now has a print-run of 5,000 copies a month and these are distributed at various outlets within the Yeovil area where people can pick them up.”

Lineage announcements can be published for free, but if you would like to add a photo to your message there will be a charge of £7.50.

So if you have any Family Announcements that are coming up in 2021 – please let us know.

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SEND US YOUR FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS Births, Birthdays, Marriages, Anniversaries, Congratulations LISTINGS ARE FREE ADD A PHOTO FOR £7.50 Email - yeovilpress@gmail.com Phone - 07773-198-081 44

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DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS PALMER – ALISON (ALICE) of Yeovil: Passed away suddenly at home on December 14, 2020, aged 51 years. A beloved wife of Nigel, much loved mum to Ben and Liam also a loving sister and auntie. A private service will take place. Donations in memory of Alison for the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance may be set c/o Clive Wakely A. J. Wakely & Sons. 33 Sparrow Road. Yeovil BA21 4BT. Tel: 01935479913.

ROBINS - VERA RITA of Yeovil: Passed away peacefully in Elroi Manor, Wincanton, on December 18, 2020, aged 93 years. A beloved wife of the late Jim, much loved mum to Carol and her husband Malcolm, John and his wife Rose, also a loving nan and great nan. A private service will take place.

Donations in memory of Vera for Dementia UK may be sent C/o Clive Wakely A. J. Wakely & Sons. 33 Sparrow Road. Yeovil BA21 4BT. Tel: 01935-479913.

CUMBERBATCH – TONY of Chilthorne Domer: Passed away peacefully at home on December 31, 2020, aged 73 years. He was much loved and will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. Due to current restrictions a private service will take place. Donations in memory of Tony for St Margarets Hospice may be sent c/o Clive Wakely 33 Sparrow Road Yeovil BA21 4BT. Tel: 01935-479913.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: HELYAR – BRYAN: Jenny and the family wish to thank everyone who attended the funeral service and for all the cards and messages of sympathy received.

A special thank you to The Elms Residential Home for all the care and attention given to Bryan and all the family. Donations in memory of Bryan for Dementia UK may still be sent c/o Clive Wakely, A. J. Wakely & Sons, 33 Sparrow Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 4BT. Please make cheques payable to the charity. Tel: 01935479913.

ANDREWS – MARIE BLANCHE of Yeovil: Passed away peacefully in Yeovil District Hospital on December 20, 2020, aged 91 years. A beloved wife of the late Derek, also a much loved mum, nan and great nan.

A private service will take place.

Donations in memory of Marie for the Salvation Army may be sent c/o Clive Wakely, A J Wakely & Sons, 33 Sparrow Road, Yeovil BA21 4BT. Tel: 01935-479913.

PHOTO: Marie Blanche Andrews who passed away on December 20.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS MALCOLM – FIONA: Hoping you had a fantastic Birthday on January 3. Lots of love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

HEALEY – JAMES: Many happy returns for your Birthday on January 4. We hope you had a great day. Lots of love from Mum, Dad and Nan XX HEALEY – JAMES: Lots of love to you on your Birthday on January 4 – hoping you had a fantastic day. Love from Sarah XX HEALEY – JAMES: Happy Birthday James for January 4 – hope you had a terrific day. Love from Barb, Jim and Norma XX HEALEY – JAMES: Many happy returns for

your Birthday on January 4! Lots of love from Alex, Charlotte, Patrick and Owen XX COUSINS – SHAUN: Wishing you a very Happy Birthday on January 4 – hoping you had a great day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BURLINSON – MARK: Hope you had a fabulous Birthday, Burty, on January 4. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BURLINSON – MARK: Many congratulations on your Birthday on January 4! All the best from the Yeovil Press!

KING – YASMIN: Many happy returns for your Birthday on January 5 – we hope you

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had a great day! Love from everyone at the Yeovil Press!

KING – YASMIN: Hoping you had a fantastic Birthday on January 5. Lots of love from all your family and friends.

REEVE – JENN: Hope you had a great Birthday on January 5! Many happy returns!

All the best from the Yeovil Press team!

REEVE – JENN: Wishing you a very Happy Birthday on January 5 – hoping you had a fantastic day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

COBNER – CHRIS: Many happy returns for your Birthday on January 6. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

PULFORD – DAVE: Lots of love and best wishes for your 50th Birthday on January 6 from all your family and friends.

PULFORD – DAVE: Congratulations on your 50th Birthday on January 6. Best wishes from Preston School’s Class of 1982-87!

ANDREWS – NIGEL: Best wishes for your Birthday, Nige, on January 8. All the best from the Yeovil Press!

ANDREWS – NIGEL: Many happy returns for your Birthday on January 8. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

SHUTLER – DARREN: Happy Birthday on January 9. All my love from your loving wife Anna. Xxx SHUTLER – DARREN: Many happy returns for your Birthday on January 9. Lots of love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

SHUTLER – DARREN: Many congratulations

on becoming another year older and, probably, not another year wiser! Hope you had a great day on January 9! Steve and Christine from Yeovil Press.

SMITH - JAMES: Congratulations on your 50th Birthday on January 9. Best wishes from Preston School’s Class of 1982-87!

SMITH - JAMES: Many happy returns for your Big Birthday on January 9. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

PARROTT – ADRIAN: Wishing you a very happy special big Birthday on January 10.

Lots of love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

FOSTER – STUART: Many happy returns for your Birthday on January 14. Lots of love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

FOSTER – STUART: Wishing you a very Happy Birthday on January 14. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

SAMUEL – TERESA: Many happy returns for your Birthday on January 14. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

LOCK – JAMIE: Wishing you a very happy Birthday for January 15. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

SMITH – CHANEL: Wishing you a very Happy Birthday for January 16 – hope you have a wonderful day. Love from all your family and friends.

CHESTNUTT – WENDY: Many congratulations on your Birthday on January 16 – hoping you have a fantastic day. Love from all your family and friends.

CHESNUTT – WENDY: Wishing you a very

Happy Birthday for January 16. Love and best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

JONES – RICHARD: Hope you have a fabulous Birthday on January 16. Hope you’ll be wearing the Pink Helmet! From all your friends.

HUTCHINSON – CLAIRE-LOUISE: Many happy returns for your Birthday on January 18. Best wishes from the Yeovil Press team!

HUTCHINSON – CLAIRE-LOUISE: Hoping you have a wonderful Birthday on January 18. Lots of love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

WORLEDGE – CHRIS: Wishing you a fantastic 50th Birthday on January 21. Lots of love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

WORLEDGE – CHRIS: Here’s to our good friend from Ham Hill Cider and a very tipsy Happy Birthday on January 21. All the best mate – Steve and Christine from Yeovil Press.

WORLEDGE – CHRIS: Congratulations on your 50th Birthday on January 21. Best wishes from Preston School’s Class of 1982-87!

WORLEDGE – CHRIS: Have a fantastic 50th Birthday on January 21. Best wishes from The 48 Boys!

VINCENT – SAM: Many happy returns for your Birthday on January 22. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

VINCENT – SAM: Wishing you a Happy Birthday for January 22. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

BROWN – RUSS: Many happy returns for your Birthday on January 24. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

JONES – CHRISTINE: Many happy returns for your special Birthday on January 27. Love from Steve.

JONES – CHRISTINE: All our love on your Birthday on January 27. Love from Mum and Dad. JONES – CHRISTINE: Hope you have a great Birthday, Mam, on January 27. Love from Kevin and Rachel.

JONES – CHRISTINE: Have a super Birthday on January 27, Mam, and get spoilt rotten.

Love from Mark and Natalie.

JONES – CHRISTINE: Have a lovely Birthday on January 27, Grandma! Love and cuddles from Little Annie.

JONES – CHRISTINE: Hoping you have a super Birthday on January 27, Grandma!

Love from Baby Alfie!

JONES – CHRISTINE: Many happy returns for your big Birthday on January 27 – have a fab day. Love from Ruth.

JONES – CHRISTINE: Congratulations on your Birthday on January 27! I hope dad buys you lots of presents! Love and best wishes from Grace!

JONES – CHRISTINE: Many happy returns for your Big Birthday on January 27. Love and best wishes from James, Ella, Thomas, Emily, Jon, Will, Beverly and Thea.

MARLES – KARL: Many happy returns for your Big Birthday on January 31. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

MARLES – KARL: Congratulations on your 50th Birthday on January 31. Best wishes from Preston School’s Class of 1982-87!

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Choice of Hearses available A J Wakely& Sons including our Land Rover Hearse Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Independent Family AA JJWakely& Wakely& Sons Sons Funeral Directors 1897 IndependentEstablished Family 16 Newland, Sherborne DT9 3JQ Funeral Directors

Independent Family 33 Sparrow Road,01935 Yeovil, 816817 BA21 4BT | 01935 479913 Funeral Directors Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

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– 24 Hour Service 16 Newland, Sherborne DT9 3JQ– Pre-payment plans available 01935 816817

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www.ajwakely.com

Established 1897

– 24 Hour Service – Pre-payment plans available

16 Newland, Sherborne DT9 3JQ www.ajwakely.com www.ajwakely.com

Please contact Clive Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Please contact Clive Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

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Please contact Clive Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

45

Rotarians make donation to breast cancer appeal MEMBERS of the Rotary Club of Yeovil were delighted to continue the recent run of contributions to local worthy causes with a donation made to the Yeovil District Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal.

Following the announcement of Breast Cancer Unit Appeal in 2019, previous club president Clive Wakely selected the campaign as one of his chosen projects and during his year in office raised £3,000 that was generated the running of events, grant applications and other contributions.

Clive handed over a cheque to Yeovil Hospital’s Charity head of fundraising James Kirton, who collected it on behalf of the appeal, just before Christmas.

“We are extremely grateful for all the support from the Rotary Club of Yeovil and other clubs within District 1200 who have contributed to our appeal,” said James.

“I must also say a special thank you to Rotarian Stan Jones for his hard work in accessing matching grants, which has

maximised the funds raised by the clubs and increased the total donated. Great team-work all round!”

So far, £1.64million has been raised for the cancer unit towards a target of £2million.

The planned unit is designed to provide a much-needed dedicated space for patients needing to access the breast cancer service. It will include outpatient clinics and facilities for appointments with the surgeon and specialist nurses, but will not be used for chemotherapy procedures.

On making the donation, Clive expressed his and the Club’s thoughts: “Taking into account all that had happened in 2020, what better way to end the year than to make a donation to a fantastic cause that will benefit the people of Yeovil and South Somerset.

“I was therefore both pleased and proud to hand over a cheque for the money raised on behalf of our club, the Rotary District and everyone who has either contributed or been involved with

our fund-raising efforts.”

Clive added: “I wish James and everyone associated with the appeal the very best of luck with achieving the fundraising target and consequently, establish this important and brand-new facility for our town and the surrounding area.”

PHOTO: James Kirton (left), head

of fundraising for the Yeovil Hospital Charity Breast Cancer Unit Appeal, is pictured receiving the donation from Rotary Club of Yeovil’s past president Clive Wakely, who were joined by the club’s community project lead Paul Rogers and club treasurer Sally Harrison.

Carol concert goes virtual at Hazelgrove

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THE build-up to the festive season was very different for many schools and the annual carol concerts, nativities and Christmas gatherings had to take on a more “virtual” footing.

For Hazlegrove School, the staff and pupils knew that they wanted to continue to share the joy of their Christmas Carol Concert, so they moved it to a virtual platform.

At their traditional carol concerts they usually hold a collection for a nominated charity and during their virtual concert, they held a virtual collection via the online JustGiving website for the Breast Cancer Unit Appeal at Yeovil District Hospital.

And their efforts raised a fantastic £406.25 for the appeal from the support of other students and parents.

“Thank you to everyone who supported Hazlegrove with their fundraising for the Breast Cancer Unit Appeal,” said Yeovil Hospital Charity’s community and events fundraiser Sarah Cherry.

“It has been an incredibly challenging year for all and to be able to still continue with these events, albeit on a virtual platform has really been fantastic.

“This donation has helped us to get a step closer to reaching the £2 million needed to build a dedicated Breast Cancer Unit at Yeovil Hospital. Thank you for your kindness.”

During this CORONAVIRUS emergency, our staff need all the help they can get. You can help by donating:

www.justgiving.com/yeovilhospital or

Email fundraising@ydh.nhs.uk for more info Making a difference for patients 46

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FANTASTIC fundraiser Chesley Colmer has been thanked for raising an incredible £1,500 for Yeovil District Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal – by having her head shaved.

For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

Hospital colleagues prepare for Blisters for Boobs challenge BREAST surgeon Caroline Osborne and breast care nurse Becky Laney are embarking on a huge trek to raise funds for Yeovil District Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal.

They are taking on the 110km section of the Pilgrims Way in Northern Spain to raise funds for the appeal which is something very close to both of their hearts.

“We wanted to do something special that would really challenge us, so we chose this five-day trek in May to really give us something to challenge us,” said Caroline.

“We are both novice trekkers and we will be training throughout winter and spring to get ready for this challenge.”

Becky said: “We have seen all of these incredible people doing something to help us raise funds for our new unit, some of them patients of ours, and it really motivated us to think of something

that was going to be challenging, but also didn’t involve us having to get thrown out of a plane!”

And Becky added: “We are really looking forward to this, but know it won’t be easy. We are fully prepared with the elastoplast for our toes!

“We really hope the community supports our fundraising for this new unit at Yeovil Hospital.”

The Yeovil Hospital Charity is raising £2million to build a dedicated breast cancer unit at Yeovil Hospital. The new unit will ensure that all of the facilities are able to be under one roof, reducing the stress of trying to find different rooms for different appointments.

If you would like to support their fundraising please go to www.justgiving. com/team/CarolineandBecky PHOTO: Caroline Osborne (left) and Becky Laney.

A SUPPORTER of Yeovil District Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal has raised around £1,500 for the campaign by getting things covered – literally!

Wendy Gonzales, with the support of Take No Wrap in the Quedam Shopping Centre in Yeovil, has been busy making face masks to raise funds for the appeal.

The hospital’s community and events

fundraiser, Sarah Cherry, said: “I just wanted to say a personal thank you to Wendy for her continued support.

“She has raised such an incredible amount and has helped us to continue fundraising for the Breast Cancer Unit Appeal.

“We are so grateful to Wendy, Take No Wrap and their customers for their fantastic fundraising.”

Wendy's got the HOW TO SUPPORT THIS APPEAL appeal covered

ONLINE: www.justgiving.com/campaign/breastcancerappeal CHEQUE: Make payable to ‘Yeovil Hospital Charity’ and send to Breast Cancer Unit Appeal, Yeovil Hospital Charity, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, BA21 4AT

A VOLUNTEER on Yeovil District Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal, Karina Parsons, raised an amazing £1,126 for the appeal by holding a Christmas raffle.

Karina said: “Thank you to everyone who donated a raffle prize and bought a ticket in my draw. I know these are challenging times, but your support has been so fantastic and I really appreciate everyone helping me with my fundraising for this appeal that means so much to me.”

For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

PHONE: 01935 383020 to talk to the fundraising team EMAIL: fundraising@ydh.nhs.uk YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

47

OH! WHAT A CARRY ON! THE death of actress Dame Barbara Windsor last month sparked a wave of nostalgic talk and reminisces of the Carry On series of British comedy films.

The Carry On genre produced 31 films from 1958 to 1978 and 1992, four Christmas specials, a television series of 13 episodes and three stage plays.

The films’ humour was in the British comic tradition of music hall and

bawdy seaside postcards and drew on a regular group of actors that included Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Kenneth Connor, Peter Butterworth, Hattie Jacques, Terry Scott, Bernard Bresslaw and Barbara Windsor.

Here we speak with three fans – STEVE HENTSCHEL, JON EASON and Yeovil Press editor STEVE SOWDEN – about their Carry On memories.

The films Carry On making me laugh CARRY On fan Jon Eason, of Yeovil, said that the films never stop making him laugh even though he has seen them all on countless occasions.

“I love the Carry On films,” said Jon Eason, of Yeovil. “Carry On Girls, Carry On Abroad and Carry On at Your Convenience are my three favourites.

“The likes of Kenneth Connor and Bernard Breslaw were fantastic, while I loved Amanda Barrie in Carry On Cleo and Terry Scott was brilliant in Carry On Camping.

“The Carry On films were the very best of British and it was great to see so many of them screened over Christmas.”

Carry On Up the Khyber was a classic YEOVIL Press editor Steve Sowden said the Carry On movies always reminded him of his childhood days and watching his grandfather laughing out loud from the start of a film to the end.

“They were part and parcel of life back in the 1970s and 1980s,” he said. “My grandfather absolutely loved them and I can still picture and hear him in my mind now laughing away at the likes of Sid James, Joan Sims, Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey.

“He also liked seeing Terry Scott pop up in the Carry On films because he was also a big fan of the Terry & June sitcom.”

Steve added: “Obviously my grandfather’s enjoyment of the Carry On films rubbed off on me and my favourite actor was Charles Hawtrey – he was so funny.

“As for my favourite Carry On film it would have to be Carry On Up the Khyber with some fantastic characters such as Sid James as Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond, Kenneth Williams as the Khasi of Kalabar, Charles Hawtrey as Pte James Widdle, Bernard Bresslaw at Bungdit Din and Roy Castle as Capt Keene.

“The scene where the smartly dressed British Army officers and their guests continue to have dinner while Sir Sidney’s residency is being demolished around them by the Khasi’s tribesmen always makes me laugh.”

But Steve added: “It’s a shame, but I just don’t think in today’s world of political correctness that the Carry On films could be repeated and, to be honest, I wouldn’t want them to be.”

Carry On Up the Khyber. INSET: Carry On star Charles Hawtrey.

Carry On fan Steve Sowden.

Carry On Abroad. INSET: Amanda Barrie in Carry On Cleo.

Carry On fan Jon Eason.

Ultimate in British saucy postcard humour

YEOVIL Amateur Pantomime Society’s Steve Hentschel said that he often found himself watching a Carry On film during the wet summer holidays while growing up during the late 1970s and 1980s.

“Despite the homophobic jokes and the relentless cleavages, these films were seen as the ultimate in British saucy postcard humour,” he said.

“They didn’t seem so bad at the time and to be fair they instilled my love of Music Hall and British humour as a whole.

“Many of these films poked fun at institutions or the workplace pecking order. I’m sure I thought that after watching these films my working life would be full of innuendo, drunken bus trips and slapping the tea lady’s bum. I’m afraid not; well, not every day anyway, but it did leave me with a deep love of

48

the genre and those incredible, beloved actors we’ve lost.

“My favourite Carry On films are Carry On Spying, Carry On Cabbie, Carry On Doctor and Carry on at Your Convenience.”

Carry On fan Steve Hentschel.

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Carry On Doctor. INSET: Carry On at Your Convenience.

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Dame Barbara was a real star says the people who met her THE nation was saddened to hear the death last month of Dame Barbara Windsor - much-loved by generations of fans for her appearances in the Carry On films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the long-running BBC One soap opera EastEnders.

She died on December 10 at the age of 83 after a bravely fought battle with the Alzheimer’s disease. Her acting career had spanned 67 years from 1950 until her retirement in 2017.

Dame Barbara appeared in nine Carry On comedy films including Carry On Spying (1964), Carry On Doctor (1967), Carry On Camping (1969), Carry On Henry (1971) and Carry On Abroad (1972) and her other film roles included Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968).

She starred as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders from 1994-2010 and then again from 2013-2016 and appeared in a whopping 1,668 episodes.

Dame Barbara’s death sparked an avalanche of tributes from the world of entertainment as well as from her friends and family, but there were also many special messages from fans who spoke so

warmly about her.

Marcus Bishop, manager of the Waterstones bookstore in Yeovil, said he was delighted to welcome Barbara Windsor to the town in the run-up to Christmas 2000 for a book signing.

“We had a huge queue for her book signing which came at the height of her EastEnders fame,” said Marcus. “She was so lovely and even rang the shop a week later to say thank you for looking after her so well.

“They always say ‘don’t meet your favourites’ but she was every bit what you wanted her to be .... a real star!

“She was completely down to earth and exactly as you would hope always giggling and hugs and kisses for everyone.”

Marcus added: “I’d seen Barbara in panto as well when I was 17. I’d always been a big Carry On fan so actually meeting her was the icing on the cake.”

The chairman of Brympton Parish Council, Cllr Keith Weston, meanwhile, met Barbara Windsor on a number of occasions during the early 1990s.

He was working for Mohamed Al-

A fresh-faced 17-year-old Marcus Bishop, who would go on to become the manager of the Waterstones bookstore in Yeovil, is pictured with Barbara Windsor at panto.

Manager Marcus Bishop is pictured with Barbara Windsor at the Waterstones bookstore in Middle Street, Yeovil, in the runup to Christmas 2000 when the actress visited for a book signing.

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Fayed’s security team at the Harrods department store in London where the actress was a regular visitor.

“She was a beautiful woman,” said Cllr Weston. “She always took time to sign autographs and to stop and speak to people.

“Barbara was in EastEnders at the time and that’s why she appealed to so many people. The older generation remembered her from days growing up with the Carry On films and then she got a whole new lot of fans knowing her as Peggy Mitchell from the Queen Vic!” Cllr Weston said he started working for the Egyptian businessman in 1989 at the age of 20 and was a part of the security team for 17 years – a period which encompassed the controversy over Al-Fayed’s “cash for questions” scandal involving MPs Neil Hamilton and Tim Smith, a Department of Trade and Industry investigation into the takeover of Harrods and the tragedy of 1997 and the death of Al-Fayed’s son Dodi and Princess Diana.

“It was very interesting times,” said Cllr Weston. “But it was always a pleasure to

see Barbara Windsor walk through the doors.”

Dame Barbara Windsor as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders.

| SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT | | VIDEO EDITING| | PHOTO EDITING | DESIGN | | TRANSCRIPTION | | WEBSITE DESIGN | LOGO DESIGN | |BRANDING | PHOTOGRAPHY | james@jrhmedia.co.uk | 07881 237868 | www.jrhmedia.co.uk YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

49

Dynamic duo set to change the face of Slimming World groups SLIMMING World is delighted to announce that two new local groups will be launched in Yeovil and Ilchester by newly-trained consultants – to help people get in shape for the New Year.

Both of them have had great success themselves following the Slimming World food optimising plan and lost weight and changed their lifestyles for the better.

This will enable both Julie Snowden and Laura Williams to help, support and guide Slimming World members to transform themselves and achieve their weight loss dreams.

Julie said she had “never looked back” after walking into a Saturday morning Slimming World group with her husband two years ago.

“After our latest all-inclusive fortnight’s holiday l couldn’t fit into my clothes and had 20lbs to lose, my husband, over time had crept up five stones,” she said.

“But with food optimising l reached my target weight and have stayed here as a diamond target member for 18 months now.

“My husband has lost nearly four stones

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and counting! During lockdown 2020 we started walking which is great exercise and even bought a dog so we were left no excuses not to go walking.

“With the support and friendship we have had in group we stay motivated to continue with a change in lifestyle, planning our meals, hubby still has his beer and l can still have a glass or two of wine, but we know we can enjoy our ‘treats ‘ while still following the Slimming World plan to stay on track for life.

“I want to help people lose weight in my new Tuesday morning group in Yeovil and spread the joy of our food optimising plan.”

Laura is a busy mum of three and lost her weight at a local group and so is equally as experienced to pass her knowledge and support onto her members to enable them to get amazing results.

“I can’t wait to offer bundles of support and understanding along the way to my members,” she said.

“I had tried many times and many different ways to lose weight, but it was Slimming World that clicked for me and

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really worked.

“The food I was cooking was suitable for the whole family so there was no special foods for me, just real food that the whole family would eat and enjoy, and as a busy mum that was very important to me.”

Laura added: “I am so looking forward to passing my Slimming World knowledge on to new members in my Tuesday evening group at illchester when it opens on January 26.”

Both Julie and Laura appreciate that family friendly foods that everyone enjoys is a key part as nobody wants to cook separate meals.

Slimming World’s food optimising plan is suitable for men and women, diabetics,

mums to be and also offers a unique free to go plan for 11 to 15-year-olds to help them make much healthier food choices and generally improve their lifestyle.

No foods are out of bounds so you do not need to miss out on anything and with a huge range of free foods that we do not need to weigh and measure it really is very easy to follow.

To get more details about what Slimming World can do to help you, telephone Laura and Julie on the numbers in the advert on the back page of this edition of Yeovil Press and they can answer any questions and get you booked into their groups.

Laura Williams.

Julie Snowden.

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Helen's so proud of her talented dancers TALENTED pupils from the Helen Laxton School of Dance have managed – against all the odds – to take their Royal Academy of Dance examinations.

The past year has not been easy for the pupils with Covid-19 restrictions ensuring that dance lessons have not been able to take place in the normal way.

But they still managed to let their feet do the talking for the Royal Academy of Dance Grades 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7, Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate Ballet Examinations in December – just three days after the November lockdown ended.

Dance school leader Helen said: “The pupils worked so hard in our online classes throughout the lockdowns and with just a few face to face classes they managed to reach the incredibly high standards that the Royal Academy of Dance requires to take their examinations. We are so proud of them all.”

The new term for the Helen Laxton School of Dance starts on Monday, January 18, and it offers classes in ballet,

toddler and pre-school dance (from 15 months), street dance, award-winning RDC Hip Hop crews and academy, tap dance, lyrical, contemporary, commercial, adult ballet, performance squads and acro dance.

Helen added: “We also offer classes at The Somerset School of Performing Arts for boys and girls from four to seven years in our new Mini division and eight to 18 years in our senior school.

“Our experienced and professional staff offer excellent tuition in acting, singing, stage dance, recording, microphone and audition technique.

“The skills that our pupils learn in their weekly sessions are showcased in full length performances, musicals, concerts and shows.”

There is availability in some of the classes and for more details about any of the classes please email helenlaxtondance@aol.co.uk or find them on Facebook or Instagram.

PHOTOS: Submitted by the Helen Laxton School of Dance.

The Helen Laxton School of Dance

Royal Academy of Dance Ballet, Pre School & Adult Ballet, Street Dance, Hip Hop, Disco, Commercial Dance Classes Lyrical, Contemporary, Acro Elite Beats Performance Squads, Toddler Dance

4 RDC Hip Hop Competition Crews & Training Academy

New Dance –Mix technique class

Classes held in Yeovil, Bradford Abbas, Crewkerne, Norton Sub Hamdon, East Coker, South Petherton, Ilminster

The Somerset School of Performing Arts (for 7 -18 years)

& now also the NEW MINI SSPA (for 4 -6 years)

Classes now held at Stanchester Sports Centre

Acting, Stage Dance, Singing, Voice Production, Microphone, Recording & Audition Technique. Lots of exciting performance opportunities, lots of fun!

For more information on all of our classes please tel 01935 863865 or visit www.helenlaxtonschoolofdancing.com www.thesomersetschoolofperformingarts.com or find us on Facebook For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

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51

FLASHBACK

IN this month’s Yeovil Press community newspaper we take a pictorial look back at some of what was featured in the corresponding January editions of 2019 and 2020.

The January 2019 paper was Edition Number 4 and January 2020 paper was Edition Number 16. If you would ever like a back copy of the Yeovil Press please email us at yeovilpress@gmail.com . Past copies of the Yeovil Press are priced £5 which includes post and packaging.

The January 2019 edition of Yeovil Press ran a photo feature looking back at the 2018-19 pantomime production run of Aladdin at the Octagon Theatre. Photo: Supplied.

There was lots of news and tributes in the January 2019 edition of the Yeovil Press looking back at the life of former Yeovil MP and Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown who had sadly passed away in December 2018. Photo: Submitted.

THE Yeovil Beer Festival committee has presented cheques to five local good causes amounting to more than £14,000 – Yeovil Round Table, Yeovil Lions Club, Yeovil Hospital Charity, Fiveways School, and Yeovil Opportunity Group. The proceeds were raised during the sixth beer festival which was held in April 2018 at the Westlands Entertainment Venue in Yeovil. Photo: Christine Jones.

THE contact centre at Yeovil-based Screwfix did its bit once again to support the annual national Children in Need appeal. Staff members manned the phones to take donations from people in aid of the much-loved BBC appeal headed by Pudsey Bear. This photo appeared in the January 2019 edition following the 2018 Children in Need appeal. Photo: Submitted.

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The Yeovil Press ran a photo feature in its January 2019 looking back at the musical production of Grease performed by students at Westfield Academy in Yeovil. Photos: Christine Jones.

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THE January 2019 edition highlighted the annual Yeovil Round Table charity luncheon held at the Manor Hotel, held in November 2018, which was another big success and raised over £21,000 for various good causes. Earlier in the day members of the Yeovil Round Table handed out cheques to the Apollo Swimming Club for £10,000, Yeovil Opportunity Group for £3,000, the Round Table’s Wishing Well Foundation for £3,000 and £1,000 each to the Lord’s Larder and the Chernobyl Children – money raised from the 2017 luncheon. Photo: Submitted.

THE team at West Country Cars on the outskirts of Yeovil presented a £2,269 cheque to St Margaret’s Hospice. The money was raised from a charity car wash event at West Country Cars which is based on the A30 between Yeovil and Crewkerne near East Chinnock. Photo: Submitted.

For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

THE talented Stage Dance group has presented a cheque for £560 to Yeovil Hospital Charity fundraiser Sarah Cherry (pictured seated). The money was raised for the hospital’s special care baby unit during shows put on by the Yeovil-based dance group at Westfield Academy. Photo: Christine Jones.

THE Castaway Theatre Group in Yeovil presented a £500 cheque to St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice. The youth group raised the money through donations made at its Peter Pan show held in June 2018 and its September 2018 Showcase last year – both held at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil. The cheque was handed over during Castaways’ festive concert held at St James’ Church in December 2018.

A MARATHON 18-hour Big Bag Pack at the main Tesco Extra store in Yeovil raised a whopping £3,662.46 for the School in a Bag charity. The School in a Bag team thanked the army of volunteers who helped with the bag packing over the day on December 22, 2018, and to everyone who donated to the collecting buckets. Pictured are some of the event’s young supporters. Photo: Submitted.

The Yeovil Press kicked-off 2020 by highlighting a fundraising campaign at the Goldenstones leisure centre in Yeovil where a group for people with Parkinson’s were raising money to fund a cardio reaction wall which will help with balance and reaction. Photo: Christine Jones.

Yeovil Golf Club members – Dr John Gower, Jo Clements and Keith Funnell – are pictured presenting a £5,102.28 to the Yeovil Hospital Charity on behalf of the golf club. A total of £2,500 was donated to the hospital’s stroke unit and £2,602.28 to the ongoing Breast Cancer Unit Appeal. This photo appeared in the January 2020 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Submitted.

The Yeovil Press ran a feature in the January 2020 edition about the successful 2019-20 pantomime production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which was held at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil. Photos: Submitted. Photos: Submitted.

Members of the Yeovil Lions Club presented the Yeovil Hospital Charity with a cheque for £2,000 to go towards the ongoing Breast Cancer Unit Appeal. The money had been raised at a charity fashion evening held in March 2019 at the Haynes Motor Museum. This photo appeared in the January 2020 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Submitted.

The fantastic Spirit Gymnastics Academy in Yeovil held two breathtaking Christmas shows at the Westlands Yeovil entertainment venue with audience members describing it as “inspiring”, “spectacular” and “mesmerising.” These photos appeared in the January 2020 edition of Yeovil Press. Photos: Christine Jones.

The Yeovil Press ran a feature in the January 2020 edition of the Castaway Theatre Group’s Christmas Concert which was held at St James’ Church in Yeovil during the run-up to the festive season in December 2019. Photos: Christine Jones.

For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

he January 2020 edition of the Yeovil Press featured photos – taken by Martin Edwards of www.totallyfocused.co.uk – of the annual Young Guns v Legends “friendly” game which took place at Yeovil Rugby Club on December 28, 2019.

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YEOVIL HISTORY FILES

The Armoury pub was a real armoury

Left: This photo, taken about 1970, looking east towards Clarence Street shows The Armoury on the right. All the buildings on the left were demolished for the construction of Queensway. Right: The Armoury in 2012.

THE Armoury pub building in The Park was originally built as – surprise, surprise – an armoury for the 16th Yeovil Rifle Volunteer Corps.

In 1859 the Corps had a captain, lieutenant, ensign and about 60 other

ranks. By 1870 it was occupied by Drill Instructor Symes and his family and in 1908 it was occupied by Sergeant Instructor Thomas Clothier. It is said that powder and ammunition was stored in the cellar.

Wonderful world of Whitby's bookshop EBENEZER Whitby was born in 1815 in Yeovil and went on to open a muchloved bookstore in the town which sadly finally closed for good in the 1960s.

In the early 1840s Ebenezer was in partnership with Benjamin Trenchard and the firm of Trenchard & Whitby traded as “Stationers, Booksellers and Printers” in Princes Street.

Trenchard and his wife lived above the shop premises with an apprentice, William Guppy, and a house servant and in 1844 the firm moved across the road to premises at 8 Princes Street.

Ebenezer married Mary Ann Kirby Beavis in June 1848 and in the 1851 census it reported they were living at 10 Peter Street with their baby son John and a house servant.

The Trenchard & Whitby partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in May 1854 after which Ebenezer traded on his own account.

By the time of the 1861 census Ebenezer had moved his own family into 8 Princes Street – known as Albion House – and was living above his bookshop with Mary and, now, four children John, Lucy, George and Frederick.

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Whitby’s advertisement in his own Yeovil Almanack Advertiser of 1888.

In the 1871 census Ebenezer was now 55 and his 21-year-old son John was assisting him in the business known as E. Whitby & Sons.

Ebenezer Whitby died in the summer of 1889 but his business was carried on as Whitby & Sons by John and Frederick well into the 20th century and became well-known for producing the Yeovil Almanack Advertiser as well as postcard views of Yeovil and illustrated books about the town.

The business survived for more than a century before finally closing in the 1960s.

Information courtesy of the A to Z of Yeovil History at www.yeovilhistory.info .

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The Yeovil Military Band in 1892. At the centre of the photo with the baton is band leader Alfred Beare. Officially this was the band of Yeovil F Company, 2nd Battalion, Prince Albert’s Somerset Light Infantry.

In 1879 the Post Office Directory noted “16th Somerset Rifle Volunteers (Armoury, The Park) - Captain Harbin; Lieutenant Hunt; 2nd Lieutenant Marsh; Chaplin, Rev. R Newman; Acting Surgeon, WF Tomkyns; Sergeant Instructor, W

Symes; Band-master, Alfred Beare.”

The building was converted to licensed premises, known as The Armoury, in the early 1980s.

Information courtesy of the A to Z of Yeovil History at www.yeovilhistory.info

Yeovil's gunsmith Henry Little GUNSMITH Henry Charles Little established his business of making and selling guns and relocated his business to a house in Silver Street, Yeovil, next door to the Pall Tavern pub in 1871.

He was born in Chilthorne Domer in 1835 and was the son of shopkeeper Charles Little and his wife Rebecca.

Henry became an apprentice to blacksmith Isaac Harding, of Church Street, Ilchester, and in 1859 he married Isaac’s daughter Susan.

He established his gunsmith business in 1860 and in the 1861 census he was listed living in Chilthorne Street, Chilthorne Domer, with Susan and their seven-month-old daughter Bessie Augusta with his occupation recorded as “Black and Gun Smith.”

Ten years later and Henry had relocated the business to Silver Street in Yeovil along with his wife Susan, and daughters Bessie, now aged ten, and eight-year-old Alicia Kate.

The 1875 Post Office Directory listed Henry as a “Gunsmith and Ironmonger of Silver Street.”

Whitby’s Yeovil Almanack Advertiser of 1882 listed Henry as a gunsmith and in the same edition Henry also placed the advertisement illustrated here.

He was also listed in Whitby’s editions of 1889 and 1895, but in the 1898 edition of Whitby’s the entry read “HC Little &

Son, 14 Silver Street.”

Henry and his son Ernest, who had been born in 1879, were partners in the business from this point onwards.

Henry died in 1924 aged 89. Clearly Ernest carried on the business on his own and Kelly’s Directory of 1935 was the last listing for the business of “Henry Charles Little & Son, Gunmakers of 14 Silver Street.”

Information courtesy of the A to Z of Yeovil History at www.yeovilhistory.info

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Ronnie's great cinema robbery in Yeovil THE old Odeon Cinema in Yeovil played its part in the 1963 Great Train Robbery – thanks to renowned criminal Ronnie Biggs.

Biggs died in 2013 at the age of 84, half a century after he broke into the old cinema in Court Ash to fund his part in the infamous heist of 1963.

He was part of a gang which escaped with £2.6m from the Glasgow to London mail train in August 1963.

Biggs was given a 30-year jail term, but escaped from prison in 1965 and went on the run abroad to Australia and Brazil.

When the Great Train Robbery took place nobody knew the role the Yeovil Odeon Cinema in Court Ash – now a furniture store run by St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice – had played in enabling Biggs to take part.

Before Biggs got involved in the robbery plans, he needed £100 to bankroll the heist. He found that money when he broke into the Yeovil cinema and stole the day’s takings and staff wages – courtesy of the Cliff Richard musical

movie Summer Holiday!

Biggs’ ex-wife Charmaine –depicted in the TV drama Mrs Biggs – said in 2001 that they were holidaying in the area at the time of the cinema robbery.

Detectives had been baffled at the time because there had been no fingerprints and no witnesses to give rise to the theory that it had been a “professional job.”

Although Biggs denied Charmaine’s story he did say: “I know Yeovil quite well and have been there a number of times.”

Biggs returned to the UK in 2001 in need of medical help, but was sent back to prison where he remained until he was released on compassionate grounds in 2009 after contracting pneumonia.

He died on December 18, 2013, at the Carlton Court Care Home in North London. A series of strokes had left him unable to walk and talk and he was last seen in public earlier that year at the funeral of his fellow Great Train Robber, Bruce Reynolds, where he gave a two-fingered salute to awaiting photographers!

Ronnie Biggs, a small-time London criminal, gained notoriety when he was a member of the Great Train Robbery gang in 1963.

The film which was being screened at the Yeovil Odeon Cinema when Biggs carried out his burglary was Summer Holiday, starring Cliff Richard.

The Yeovil Cinema in Court Ash in 1989.

Grove Avenue was originally not even in Yeovil Yeovil's effort to frustrate Hitler's invasion GROVE Avenue is one of Yeovil’s best known residential roads and was initially laid out during the 1890s in open fields at the eastern edge of Preston Lower Farm.

The new road was named Grove Avenue after Grove House – a large 18th century grand house situated in Preston Road almost opposite the northern end of Grove Avenue.

At the bottom of the gardens on the

eastern side of Grove Avenue runs a small stream that eventually joins with Dodham Brook.

In the early days of Grove Avenue the stream was the boundary for the parish of Yeovil Town and so the road was originally part of the Preston Plucknett parish, but soon became part of Yeovil as the town grew outwards.

Information courtesy of the A to Z of Yeovil History at www.yeovilhistory.info

The pillbox on Yeovil’s Summerhouse Hill.

Grove Avenue in a postcard of 1905 looking towards Preston Road.

A postcard of 1910 looking up Grove Avenue – close to the junction with West Park on the right; more commonly known to locals as “switchback.”

When Yeovil had its very own banknotes BACK in the late 1700s a number of private banks were established in Yeovil and they were allowed to issue their own banknotes.

These banknotes were far from being ordinary currency as we would use today.

The £1, £5 and £10 notes issued by these banks were not for use in everyday shopping.

The Yeovil Old Bank was a private bank established by 1774 by Samuel Daniell and had its own banknotes. The £1 banknote of the Yeovil Old Bank issued in 1813 would have a value of about £55 at today’s value while a Yeovil Old Bank £10 note of 1847 would have a value of about £775 today.

Information courtesy of the A to Z of Yeovil History at www.yeovilhistory.info

The Yeovil Old Bank’s £1 banknote of 1813.

The Yeovil Old Bank’s £10 banknote of 1847.

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YEOVIL had its own defence line in place in case Hitler invaded Britain during the Second World War. During the early period of the war it was almost expected that Britain would be invaded by the Germans and in 1940 plans were put in place to defend the country.

Defence strategies were quickly drawn up and became known as Fortress Britain.

These included large scale coastal defences along the south and east coasts of England known as a Coastal Crust; a series of Stop Lines of anti-tank devices and pillbox across the country to hamper the German invasion; as well as central reserve and area mobile units of troops which could be deployed quickly.

Meanwhile, local defence volunteers would deal with local attacks, patrol the countryside and help German forces moving inland.

Plans for a Yeovil Anti-Tank Island were devised in the town in 1941 with a strong point on Summerhouse Hill and

outer road blocks at the top of Hendford Hill and on the railway bridge at Newton Road.

There would also be a series of inner road blocks at Huish, West Street, Westland Road, Beer Street, West Hendford, Hendford, Brunswick Street, Addlewell Lane, Stars Lane, Staiton Road and Newton Road at its junction with Sherborne Road.

It was said that “in the defence of these posts every effort will be made to hold up and delay the passage of all tanks and other vehicles belonging to the enemy.”

Further road blocks were added to the defence line in 1943 at Ilchester Road, Mudford Road, Crewkerne Road, Dorchester Road, Southville, Preston Road, Kingston and Higher Kingston.

The defences also included railway lines as well as road blocks.

Thankfully the expected invasion by Hitler never happened.

Information courtesy of the A to Z of Yeovil History at www.yeovilhistory.info .

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DOWN MEMORY LANE

If the walls of Tabernacle Lane could talk they'd have some tales to tell TABERNACLE Lane was making all the wrong headlines in the December edition of the Yeovil Press with the Mayor warning police that it was being used for late-night unsavoury goingson.

Given the comments the story generated on social media it would appear that those “unsavoury goings-on” have been happening for quite some time for the narrow alley which runs from the Borough to South Street.

And Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden said: “I think if the walls of Tabernacle Lane could talk they would certainly have some tales to tell I’m sure!

“Many Yeovilians will know Tabernacle Lane very well having used it every weekend back in the day to get to the nightclub which sat off the lane - whether it be Carnaby’s, Bensons or Dukes to name but a few.”

But despite Tabernacle Lane having been used for somewhat inappropriate behaviour for many years, it is also one of the most historic parts of Yeovil’s town centre.

In this month’s Down Memory Lane feature we look at Tabernacle Lane and its history.

The earliest mention of what is now called Tabernacle Lane was in a document dated 1386 in the Woborn Almshouses archives and another dated 1400 also mentions properties in the lane.

It has been referred to as Little Lane, while in a 1464 document it was called Narwelane (Narrow Lane).

Until around 1790 there was an inn on the northeast corner of today’s Tabernacle Lane called the Eagle Inn and the lane was, for generations, known as Eagle Alley.

A serious fire broke out in 1802 in which more than a dozen houses were destroyed.

By the middle of the 19th Century it was called Hannam’s Lane because Josiah Hannam had an ironmongery warehouse and a yard there, but Tabernacle Lane has been most often used since the founding of the Tabernacle Meeting House in 1804.

The number of families living in Tabernacle Lane had reduced to just two by the 1901 census with a total of 16 people – factory hand George Courtney, his wife and six daughters, and general labourer George Rendell, his wife and six children.

The Down Memory Lane feature – which has become an extremely popular section in the Yeovil Press - is supported by the fantastic A-to-Z of Yeovil’s History website which has been created by local historian Bob Osborn.

Bob’s fantastic work has seen him put together a website of more than 10,000 images looking back at Yeovil’s history over the years.

He has also compiled more than 20 books on an eclectic range of subjects including many about Yeovil’s past.

Go to www.yeovilhistory.info to have a look at Bob’s fantastic website and delve further into Yeovil’s past.

This map is based on the 1886 Ordnance Survey above, but rotated with the Borough on the left and South Street on the right.

The entrance to Tabernacle Lane seen from the Borough. Photographed in 1985 – many people will remember Carnaby’s nightclub.

The scratches in the soft red Yeovil bricks are at the end of Tabernacle Lane near South Street. They were made by Victorian children sharpening their slate pencils on their way to school in South Street. Photographed in 2013.

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The 1886 Ordnance Survey showing High Street running across the top of the map and South Street at the bottom. Tabernacle Lane is at centre right running between the two.

This aerial photograph dates to 1928 and shows South Street at left, High Street at top right and the newly-built King George Street running between the two at the top of the photo. Note that at this time the post office building along the eastern side of King George Street was yet to be built. At centre left, more or less on the corner of King George Street and South Street, is the thatched Cow Inn and behind it, and running parallel to King George Street are the dwellings in Greyhound Yard. The three-storey building next to the Greyhound Hotel was Henry Phelps’ glove factory and to the right of it in the photo are visible the rooftops of the dwellings in Tabernacle Lane. At centre is seen the dark pitched roof of the Tabernacle itself.

Venturing just a few steps inside from the Borough - the brick arches are original. This photo was taken in 2016.

Approaching the dog-leg from the Borough end, this corner is about all that remains of the tabernacle. Photographed in 2013.

This photograph was taken around 1960 before the demolition of the buildings on the right. The gabled building at the end on the right by the two people is the tabernacle that gave this alley its name.

The wall by the dog-leg - these are the hamstone door jambs of the original tabernacle. Photographed in 2013.

Looking back towards the Borough - photographed in 2016.

Looking down Tabernacle Lane from the South Street end.

THIS FEATURE HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY: AN A-TO-Z OF YEOVIL'S HISTORY www.yeovilhistory.info - Find out more about Yeovil's past For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

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57

OLD PUBS OF YEOVIL

Fives court at the Duke of Clarence Fleur De Lys WELCOME to the latest instalment of this monthly feature looking at the Old Pubs of Yeovil – there have certainly been a few come and go from the town.

Information and photos for this feature has come from the fascinating website of The A-to-Z of Yeovil’s History which can be found at www. yeovilhistory.info and created by local history Bob Osborn.

There is so much history to be had

MYSTERY surrounds the early history of the former Duke of Clarence pub in Stars Lane, Yeovil, although it is believed it was once known as the Fives Court Inn during the 18th century.

It is understood there was a fives court at the rear of the premises – with “fives” being a British sport derived from the same origins as many racquet sports.

In fives a ball is propelled against the walls of a special court using gloved or bare hands as they were a racquet. It is generally accepted that the game was called “fives” because of the five fingers and along the same lines as a “bunch of fives.”

Photographed in 1960 by Charrington & Co Ltd’s surveyors as part of a “stocktaking” exercise of photographing Brutton’s pubs prior to the brewery takeover.

After being known as the Fives Court Inn for many years, by 1790 it was known as the White Hart until the mid1860s when it took on the name of the Duke of Clarence.

The Duke of Clarence closed as a pub in 1965, but reopened in the 1990s as an American theme bar called Stars Lane and has then gone on a number of bar name changes including Harry’s Bar, Bar 45 and Karma Bar. More information about the Duke of Clarence pub can be found on the A-to-Z of Yeovil History website at www. yeovilhistory.info .

from public houses and it is fantastic that Bob has been able to put together a comprehensive record.

In this month’s feature we take a look at the former Duke of Clarence, Nelson Inn, Fleur De Lys and the Picketty Witch.

If you would like further information about these old pubs then we would highly recommended you take a look at The A-to-Z of Yeovil’s History website.

closed in 2014 THE old Fleur De Lys pub in Yeovil was built in 1936 to serve the Mudford Road and St Michael’s Avenue area of Yeovil.

It was very much a typical “estate pub” of the period and similar to the likes of the Green Dragon, Milford Inn, Royal Standard and The Sun Inn.

But the Fleur De Lys closed during the summer of 2014 and following conversion reopened as a Co-op convenience store outlet.

More information about the Fleur De Lys can be found on the A-to-Z of Yeovil History website at www.yeovilhistory. info .

The top of Stars Lane photographed in the 1960s. The Duke of Clarence is the white building on the right, a door or two down from the Gaumont Cinema, successor to the Palace Theatre that, in turn, replaced more original cottages.

The Fleur De Lys photographed in 1989.

Photographed in 2009 Harry’s Bar occupied not just the old Duke of Clarence building, but the adjacent properties as well.

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A magazine advertisement for the Fleur De Lys in 1993.

The Fleur De Lys – photographed in 2017 – having been converted into a Co-op convenience store.

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Boxing ring in the pub's basement THE former Nelson Inn pub was built in the late 1860s on the corner of Eastland Road and Gordon Road in Yeovil.

It was built to serve the Newtown area of Yeovil including the likes of Eastland Road, Gordon Road, Eastville, Southville, Westville, Mount Pleasant and Grass Royal.

An interesting fact was that during the

1950s a boxing ring was set up in the basement of the pub.

The Nelson Inn sadly closed around 2002 and was later converted into residential accommodation.

More information about the Nelson Inn can be found on the A-to-Z of Yeovil History website at www.yeovilhistory. info.

The Nelson photographed in 2008.

The residents of Newton celebrate VJ Day (Victory Over Japan Day) on August 15, 1945, at the Nelson Inn.

This photograph is thought to be regulars of the Nelson Inn during the 1960s.

The Nelson Inn seen from the junction of Eastland Road and Gordon Road in the 1970s.

Picketty Witch had nothing to do with witches THE former Picketty Witch pub on Ilchester Road in Yeovil was built in the 1930s to help serve the rapidly expanding housing estates in that area of the town.

It is understood that the land it was built on was once frequently used as a gypsy camp site.

But, contrary to belief, the Picketty Witch was nothing to do with witches. It got its name from the Old English word of “piccede” meaning a triangular or pointed piece of land and “wice” being a Wych Elm that would have been a noticeable and distinguishing landmark of the area.

The first licensee in 1936, Reginald Spearing, had been licensee of the Oxford Inn in Yeovil for a brief period before arriving at the Picketty Witch with the Spearing family having run the Oxford Inn since the 1890s.

One interesting fact is that the 1960s pop group – Pickettywitch – named themselves after the pub after visiting on the way back from a gig.

But the pub finally closed in late 2012 and was converted into a Tesco Express store.

More information about the Picketty Witch can be found on the A-to-Z of Yeovil History website at www.yeovilhistory.info

Photographed in 1960 by Charrington & Co Ltd’s surveyors as part of a “stocktaking” exercise of photographing Brutton’s pubs prior to the brewery takeover.

A magazine advertisement for the Picketty Witch in August 1996.

The Picketty Witch pub sign – photographed in the late 1960s.

The Picketty Witch restaurant area in 1996.

For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

The Picketty Witch closed in late 2012 and was boarded up in readiness for conversion into a Tesco Express store.

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59

SPORT NEWS

Successful end to 2020 for local martial arts school HUSBAND and wife team, Steve and Sally Runnacles, and their students of Kuk Sool Won of Yeovil - a traditional Korean family martial arts - have celebrated a successful and busy end to 2020 despite Covid-19.

The Asian new year of 2020 was the year of the rat which represented diligence and thriftiness. And school owner, Steve Runnacles, said: “We took advantage of this year’s energy to be resourceful so that we would continue to be successful.”

On a look back of 2020, this resourcefulness proved to be correct. As the UK went into lockdown, Steve and

Sally sprang into action. All the martial arts classes were immediately transferred on to zoom, meaning the students of ages could continue to train. As the lockdown eased, outdoor classes were also introduced. Above all, a lease was signed on a unit on the Lynx Trading Estate so that Covid-19 safe indoor classes could resume when allowed.

Steve said: “Our priority is the physical, mental and wellbeing of all of our students during these unprecedented times. By continuing with martial arts classes, it has helped our students, both children and adults to stay strong and to

cope with all the uncertain changes.”

The past year saw students continuing with their belt gradings and over the year, Kuk Sool Won of Yeovil saw their largest number of students since opening in June 2015 achieving their first dahn black belts, a great achievement to all.

Special mention goes to annual martial arts awards for most improved student to Ieuan Edwards and student of the year to Harrison Jones.

Steve added: “It has been a productive 2020 for our students and school. We are looking forward to 2021 and the opportunities it will bring!”

Left: Student of the year Harrison Jones.

Right:: Most improved student Ieuan Edwards.

Black Belt perseverance sees promotion

EAST Coker Under-Nines line-up for a team photo in a season which has been continuously interrupted by the Covid-19 restrictions over safety grounds.

Pictured are Jacob Cherry, Leo Reed, Freddy Ashton, Finley Branson, Lenny baker, Sam Gidley, Tudor Buzea , Tyler Curtis and Will Smith. Sadly Oz Hardwood was unavailable for the photo.

This photo was sent in to the Yeovil

Press by reader Chris Cherry. “They aren’t just a great team, but more importantly they are all great friends,” he said. “The team is led by Mark Gidley and I’d like to thank all the coaches and parents for their support.”

If you run a youth football group and would like to submit a team photo for use in the Yeovil Press – please email yeovilpress@gmail.com with all the details.

Spirit Gymnastics coach wins national award HEAD coach of the Yeovil-based Spirit Gymnastics Academy, Amy Moulton, has won the UK Young Coach of the Year Award for 2020.

The academy’s coaches and gymnasts celebrated as they gathered round their screens – socially distanced of course – and watched as Moulton took the top prize in the category.

Speaking at the online ceremony on December 3, Moulton was clearly in shock as the award was announced, and she described how the academy had battled

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through lockdown and were looking forward to bouncing back in 2021.

Moulton later said: “I was amazed even to be nominated, but winning is surreal.

The academy is blessed with many great people who come together to make a fantastic team, whether as coaches, assistant coaches, junior helpers, volunteers, gymnasts and directors.

“We are lucky to have such an amazing team and I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the whole Academy.”

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THE second coronavirus lockdown came into force just as students and their supporting families from Kuk Sool Won of Yeovil martial arts were due to be travelling the UK motorways up to Liverpool to take part in their final national Black Belt testings.

SBN Steve Runnacles, 4th Dahn, and school owner, said: “As Black Belts we have a never give up spirit. A lockdown did not stop us or our students. Gradings were done online and in person adhering to government guidelines in force at the time.”

As a result, Kuk Sool Won of Yeovil also saw their largest group of students promoting to Black Belt since opening their doors in 2015. Achieving their first dahn, Jyo Kyo Nym title were: Andy Cockwell, Ashanti Edwards, Alex Kleszczewski, Arthur Nation, Adam Pittman, Ella Reid, Bethany Walters and Charlotte Walters.

Parent Gareth Nation said: “My son Arthur has been attending Kuk Sool Won if Yeovil for four years now, he has just graded for his Black Belt and he couldn’t be happier.

“SBN Steve and KSN Sally Runnacles have given their time, dedication and commitment to him and the other students who attend their classes to challenge and support them to grow as individuals.

“Over the past months, their true commitment to their students has shone through. As a parent, I’m grateful of their devotion to Arthur and his younger brother Auden who is soon to follow in his brother’s footsteps).

“Kuk Sool Won of Yeovil not only teaches children martial arts, but also lessons for life.”

Kuk Sool Won of Yeovil martial arts offer free martial arts taster classes to both children and adults. Find out more details at www.martialartsyeovil.co.uk .

Pictured (back row from left) are Andy Cockwell, Adam Pittman, Charlotte Walter and Ella Reid, (middle row) SBN Steve Runnacles, JKNs Bethany Walters and Alex Kleszczeweski, KSN Sally Runnacles and (front row) JKNs Arthur Nation and Ashanti Edwards. Photo: Jenn Gledhill.

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McVeigh steals the headline as competitive golf returns to Yeovil for a second time ON the first Saturday following Lockdown II the Old and Newton Courses at Yeovil Golf Club saw many members and green fee visitors take advantage of the opportunity to play golf, exercise and socialise whilst maintaining the updated social distancing requirements.

Whilst many others played social rounds of golf, 55 members entered the Old Course Stableford competition with Steve Gibbons, Richard Polson, Marc Harris and Duane Rendell showing no signs of rustiness as they returned “better than par” scores of over 36 stableford points.

Steve Gibbons returned the best score of the day and his 41 points saw him take the Division One prize; whilst Marc Harris’ score of 38 made him runner-up in that division. Richard Poulson won Division Two with 40 points and Duane Rendell’s 37 points saw him top Division Three.

The highlight of the day was however claimed by Ian McVeigh who eagled the par four 9th hole when his short wedge second shot caught the right side of the cup and nestled gently behind the pin in the hole.

Ian, who plays off a handicap of two has had a number of eagles over his playing career - particularly on par five holes but has experienced very few of them on the par 4s. Achieving one on his return to competitive golf on a tricky dog-leg par four certainly added to his pleasure of being allowed out on the course once again.

The following Monday 83 seniors took part in their own stableford competition over the 18-hole Old Course.

Terry Higley returned the best score of the day and claimed the prize as Division Three Winner when he scored 42 points.

Phil Osmond won Division One with 36 points and Martin Thomas Division Two with 40 points.

December competition results from Yeovil Golf Club

From left to tight: Keith Bradley - winner of the Senior Stableford Competition. Tries Rideout, Kim McKinley and Erica Howard - winners of the Ladies Pink Ball Competition. Craig Girling - winner of the Newton Course Stableford Competition. Mark Barber and John Docherty - winners of the Xmas Pairs Competition.

THERE were 86 entrants into the December Senior Stableford Competition which was played over the Old Course at Yeovil Golf Club in three handicap divisions.

Nineteen-handicapper Keith Bradley posted the best score of the day and his 42 stableford points saw him take the prize for winning Division Two three points ahead of second placed Barry Forrester.

Chairman of the Senior Section, Steve Pike, was one of five Division One players tied on 35 points. Countback rules saw him take the top spot ahead of Eddie Galjaard, Terry Southin, Russell Mead and Colin Leach, beating them into second, third, fourth and fifth place, respectively.

There was also a tie for the top place in Division Three with Peter Gubbins once again benefiting from the countback procedure which saw Peter Radbourne drop into second place when both players returned the same score of 42 points.

The following day saw Tries Rideout, Kim McKinley and Erica Howard win the ladies pink ball competition with a team score of 68 stableford points.

Craig Girling won the Newton Course stableford competition on a count back from Nigel Budden when both were tied on 36 points. This left Danny Hollex in third place with a score of 35 points.

Only a handful of members braced the damp conditions on December 17 to compete in the monthly men’s stableford competition over the Old Course. Five handicap golfer Zaidoon Zakaria’s 34 points was the best score of the day and saw him win division one. James Hedin won Division Two with a score of 30 points.

There was a larger field the following Sunday when 104 members took part in the Xmas Pairs Competition, which once again was played over the Old Course. Mark Barber and John Docherty got their festive celebration off to an early start when their score of 45 points left them one point ahead of the second placed pairing of Gary Hinchley and Joe Patmore.

These competitions were played within the England Golf guidelines that were pertaining at that time and before the present government lockdown.

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Ian McVeigh holding the club he used when scoring his eagle on the par four ninth hole.

Top: Steve Gibbons who returned the best score of the day in the Old Course Stableford Competition.

Bottom: Terry Higley who returned the best score of the day in the Seniors Stableford Competition.

Rugby ladies crack on with challenge despite lock down measures AS the national lockdown takes hold the women at Yeovil Rugby Club are continuing to improve moral with a host of challenges this January.

Since the first national lockdown the women have stayed strong together, building a new bonded virtual life embracing restrictions and supporting each other as ever before.

This team has grown incredibly during the past nine months and continuing to support each other at every opportunity.

As the first national lockdown took hold, the women rallied together to hold online quizzes and bingo, taking it in turn to host or organise. Getting together weekly gave a sense of team morale which has helped knit the women together as friends and team mates.

Along the way the women have had to adapt and conform to restrictions, training within RFU and government guidelines, which have been plentiful and changing during the year. But this has not stopped the women from training or from encouraging each other to stay fit and strong, not only for the team but for themselves.

The women have also organised their

own challenges and recently took part in a team and supporters Rugby Bake Off during the November lockdown.

Now the women are taking on a new January Challenge and are inviting all the Yeovil women players and supporters to get involved and push themselves during this time.

Excitingly they have also adapted the senior women’s challenge to offer a similar feat for the girls within the age grade teams at the club.

This new lockdown may have only just started, but Yeovil Rugby Club’s women are hitting it face on, inevitably keeping all those involved busy with some fitness along the way, and when games finally return these ladies should hit the ground running.

A Yeovil Rugby Club spokesman, speaking to the Yeovil Press on January 7, said: “Our women and girls are on to day seven of their 30-day challenge and it’s not too late to join us if you would like to.

For more details head over to Facebook and follow @YeovilRugbyWomen or contact the club’s women and girls contact Bea Chubb at bernadettek79@ hotmail.co.uk.”

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Fifty years on from when Arsenal came to town FOR those Yeovil Town supporters that were there for when Arsenal came to the old sloping pitch of Huish in January 1971 it probably does not seem possible that it was 50 years ago this month.

But football memories burn brightly although the decades pass all too quickly and it was indeed half a century ago when the North London giants played the Glovers in the FA Cup Third Round.

The original date for the tie was January 2, 1971, but the game was postponed because of snow and so the game was rescheduled for a few days later on Wednesday, January 6, and it has become something of Glovers folklore how children and adults were given permission to take time off school and work to attend the match.

The national media descended on the town and Huish was packed for the match with the majority hoping for another famous Yeovil Town giant-killing.

But it was not to be.

Yeovil, with Mike Hughes as playermanager, held their more illustrious visitors for the opening 36 minutes but the deadlock was finally broken when John Radford rose to head home to put the Gunners 1-0 up.

It was quickly 2-0 to Arsenal when Radford’s strike partner Ray Kennedy pounced. Arsenal made it 3-0 in the second-half when Radford netted his second of the afternoon with a looping header.

Yeovil club officials had been left disappointed that the ground limit for

the match was set at 14,000 with them having been confident of Huish holding 17,000.

Nevertheless, the game brought in receipts of £12,500 – much-needed revenue for the Glovers.

The Arsenal team that took to the field included Gunners legends such as goalkeeper Bob Wilson, who would go on to become a popular presenter of TV’s Football Focus, defenders Pat Rice and Frank McLintock, winger George Armstrong and attacking playmaker George Graham, plus the striking duo of Radford and Kennedy.

Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden, who was still just over two months away from being born when Arsenal came to town in 1971, said: “I can remember as a young lad watching Bob Wilson on Football Focus every Saturday lunchtime and my grandfather saying ‘he played at Yeovil you know.’ In fact, he would say it every Saturday during Football Focus and it became his trademark comment every time Bob Wilson appeared on TV!” Following on from Arsenal’s win at Huish they went on to clinch the “double” of the old Division One championship and the FA Cup at the end of 1970-71 season.

Yeovil, meanwhile, also had a good season. As well as pitting their wits against Arsenal at the FA Cup Third Round stage, they also reached the SemiFinals of the FA Trophy and won the Southern Premier League by two points from runners-up Cambridge City.

Yeovil Town striker Brian Grey fails to beat Arsenal keeper Bob Wilson.

Yeovil Town defender Paul Smith and keeper Tony Clark cannot prevent John Radford (out of picture) seeing his looping header go into the net to make it 3-0. Arsenal’s Ray Kennedy is looking to pounce.

The teamsheet in the middle pages of the matchday programme.

Yeovil Town’s experienced goalkeeper Tony Clark smothers the ball from Arsenal forward John Radford. INSET: Arsenal striker Ray Kennedy makes it 2-0 to the Gunners. Spot the three daring spectators sat on top of the roof watching the game!

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The matchday programme and ticket for Yeovil Town’s FA Cup Third Round match with Arsenal in January 1971.

Arsenal striker John Radford heads home to give the Gunners the lead with Yeovil players Paul Smith (left) and Alan Herritty looking on.

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GLOVERS GLORY

The player who gave his life to Yeovil Town YEOVIL Town fan and a keen historian of all things about the Glovers, MICHAEL WEST, brings us this tragic story of Boxing Day 1926 where player Ernest Hyman received a nasty injury in a game against Taunton which led to his death a few days later at the age of just 22.

NORTH Somerset miners at the beginning of the 1900s were a rugged and a hard grafting lot who took their work and sport seriously - none more so than the Hyman family from Writhlington near Radstock.

Josiah and his wife Mary had four sons and two daughters; raising them in cramped conditions in a small miner’s cottage - the type that only the poor and hard working lived in a hundred years ago.

Their third son Ernest was born at home in December 1904. Like all the children of miners, education would have been very limited for young Ernest and the only career path available after school would have been to follow his Father and Uncle Bill with a primitive lamp, a canary bird.

Playing for his local team, Radstock, at the tender age of 17, it was not long before young Ernest was attracting the attention of bigger clubs with Yeovil & Petters United being among them.

With the promise of a career at Petters Ltd and to earn a professional wage on the football field, young Ernest was soon packing his bags and heading to South Somerset.

Ernest, it would seem, was bedded in slowly to the Glovers first team and the first few seasons was given the chance to learn his football trade in the Reserves playing at places such as Minehead and Boscombe.

He eventually earned himself a first team place in the 1926-27 campaign.

Christmas 1926 must have been a joyous one for the now 22-year-old Ernest; he found himself away from the pits and in a steady job with a good income.

He had finally broken into the Glovers’ first team squad and with it a professional contract with extra money.

Money he would obviously need as he had announced his engagement to Miss Laura Singleton, a Yeovil girl, he had met since coming to the town. His life and career were on the up!

On Boxing Day 1926, an unusually

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Ernest Hyman’s grave at St Nicholas’ Church in Radstock. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Ernest Hyman who died aged 22 on January 7, 1927.

warm one for the time of year, more than 2,000 spectators descended on Huish for the visit of Taunton United in a local derby in the Southern League. Some people sat in the old wooden grandstand, the others dotted around the ground standing on old railway sleepers imbedded into the soil and cinder banks.

Ernest lined up for Yeovil at half back, while his opposite number for Taunton was Fred Lee who had pushed up from his normal full back position into midfield.

Twenty minutes had expired in the second half with Yeovil leading 1-0 when a long ball was launched high towards the area close to the halfway line six yards from the touch line in front of the grandstand.

Ernest Hyman and Fred Lee both went to contest the ball with the Yeovil player just getting there a split second before Lee ran into him. Both players fell to the sloping muddied pitch because of their efforts.

Lee got to his feet, but Ernest remained on the ground motionless yet moaning in agonising pain. Lee, thinking his opponent was winded, went behind him and put his hands under Ernest’s armpits to haul him to his feet.

Ernest though collapsed again and in obvious major discomfort. He was assisted to the touchline and placed into the hands of the St John Ambulance team under the shadow of the old grandstand.

His pain worsened though and the noise of his screams of agony and discomfort

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echoed around the ground. Dr Palmer, the club doctor, who was at the game, was immediately called upon. The doctor could see that Ernest was going into shock and administered morphine to kill the horrendous pain that the player was suffering.

Ernest was transferred to Yeovil Hospital.

The morphine was obviously working when Ernest arrived at the hospital, however as it wore off, the pain returned

The club immediately called for donations to fund a suitable memorial and gravestone for their fallen player whose body was laid to rest in the parish cemetery. Within days enough money was given to pay for it and also to donate a sum to his impoverished parents.

The gravestone was erected soon after. The inscription read “affectionate memory of Ernest Joseph Hyman who died January 7th 1927 from injuries received in a football match. Yeovil v

St Nicholas’ Church in Radstock – the final resting place of Ernest Hyman. Photo: Steve Sowden.

with more intensity.

An operation was immediately performed discovering that Ernest had ruptured his bowel, with the swelling so bad it was impossible to stitch up. The operation was declared unsuccessful.

After a week of pain and despite all the best efforts of the medical staff, Ernest Hyman passed away ten days after the incident at Huish, surrounded by his beloved parents and his adoring Laura.

His death was met with absolute shock and sadness all over Somerset none more so than in the North and South of the county. The following Saturday at home to Bristol City Reserves both teams circled the referee as the Petters works band played Abide With Me.

Taunton on Boxing Day 1926.”

A solitary laced stone football was laid at the bottom of the grave.

An inquest exonerated the Taunton player of any blame. In fact, a nurse that attended Ernest in his last days voiced that Ernest when awake saw it only as an accident and did not want any blame placed on his opponent.

Ernest’s grave in Radstock lays mostly unattended now and is probably just looked upon by visitors to the churchyard with puzzled expressions at why the grave has a football placed upon it.

It is a sad thought that a player who gave his life for Yeovil Town Football Club is now just a forgotten name in the history of the club.

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A true Yeovil Town hero - he always played the game THE lettering on the headstone had faded over the past 93 years and the inscription was barely visible, but the memory of Ernest Joseph Hyman should burn brightly in the history of Yeovil Town Football Club (writes Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden).

I visited the grave of little-known Ernest Hyman last month - tucked away in the churchyard of St Nicholas’ Church in Radstock, about 30 miles away from Yeovil.

It was a murky grey day with a bit of rain in the air and the churchyard was a typical oldy-worldly place where some graves had clearly not been touched in generations and headstones had tumbled over and some had sunk or crumbled.

The churchyard itself would not look out of place in a Charles Dickens novel.

The final resting spot of Ernest Hyman was easy to find – the solitary laced stone football at the bottom of the grave was a unique feature in comparison to the others dotted about the churchyard.

But other than that his grave was fairly unremarkable and did not reflect the remarkably tragic way in which he died as a result of an injury he sustained in a game while playing for Yeovil and Petters United against Taunton United at Huish on Boxing Day 1926.

Yeovil won that game against Taunton 1-0 with Thomas Lowes getting the goal, but the remainder of their season in the Southern League collapsed following Ernest’s death with the club in mourning.

I had to look closely to read the inscription on the headstone and at the bottom it said “he always played the game.”

It seems so sad that this 22-year-old lad should see his life cut short as a result of “playing the game” of football.

An opponent’s knee caught Ernest in the abdomen and being unable to carry on in the game against Taunton he was carried off and transferred to hospital.

It was quickly realised that his injury was more serious than at first thought and on December 28 he underwent an operation. The following day he was in a critical condition with internal injuries and despite rallying over the New Year period he sadly passed away on the morning of January 7, 1927, with his parents and fiancé at his bedside.

The Church of St Nicholas in Radstock is a 15th Century listed building which was significantly enlarged in 1879 by the then vicar, Rev Nelson-Ward, the eldest grandson of Lord Horatio Nelson – the famous seafaring naval officer of HMS Victory and the Battle of Trafalgar fame.

Two of Nelson’s grandsons, including Rev Nelson-Ward, are buried in the churchyard along with Ernest.

The churchyard is on a sharp slope, more steeper than the famous sloping pitch of Yeovil Town’s old Huish ground; but it was the first thing that went through my mind when I walked through the gates in search of Ernest Joseph Hyman.

While Nelson might very well still be held in high regard as a national hero for his actions at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and given such honour in death; Ernest Hyman should be recognised as a true Yeovil Town FC hero even if his passing may have been forgotten over the annals of time.

Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden at the grave of Ernest Hyman. Photo: Christine Jones.

Ernest Hyman’s name appears on the team-sheet for the final time as Yeovil & Petters United face Taunton United in the Southern League.

The inscription on the headstone is barely visible now. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Yeovil & Petters United taken around 1926 with Ernest Hyman pictured second from left in the front row.

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Ernest Hyman’s grave in the churchyard of St Nicholas’ Church in Radstock is marked by a stone football. Photo: Steve Sowden.

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Glovers Trust looks in more detail at Huish Park future THE Board of the Glovers Trust supporters group has decided to activate the Asset of Community Value that it holds on Yeovil Town Football Club’s Huish Park site – meaning that South Somerset District Council’s proposal to buy the ground has to put on hold for the time being.

The Board recognises that the proposed sale of Huish Park and the surrounding land to South Somerset District Council is a pivotal moment in the history of Yeovil Town Football Club.

With the ACV, the Board has the ability

to enable a pause on the deal with the council and consider putting together its own bid.

A Glovers Trust spokesman said: “As it stands, the board doesn’t feel there is enough information available to make an informed decision.

“It has triggered the moratorium period to gather more information and further consult with the membership.

“Following this, a vote will be put to members to decide on whether to remove the ACV, allowing a sale to proceed, or for it to remain in place.”

The Glovers Trust held an election in the latter part of 2020 for a new board.

The 12 board members for 2020-21 are as follows: Brendon Owen, Adam Skinner, Ian Perkins, Ross McKendrick, John Oakes, Mike Vallis, Terri Burt, Barrie David, Vernon Edmunds, Roger Pipe, Mark Spalding and Steve Seaby.

If you would like to become a member of the Glovers Trust and have your voice as a Yeovil Town fan heard as part of a democratic process, head to GloversTrust.co.uk.

Questions and answers about the Asset of Community Value THE Glovers Trust has provided a list of Questions and Answers fans might well have about its decision to activate the Asset of Community Value over the future of Yeovil Town Football Club’s Huish Park stadium.

What does this really mean?

The Trust Board has voted to provide an expression of interest to South Somerset District Council (SSDC) in buying Huish Park. This has triggered a ‘moratorium’ period that lasts until May 26, 2021.

During this period, the owner of Huish Park is unable to sell the property to anyone other than a relevant community interest group.

Why has the Board taken this decision?

The Board recognises that the proposed sale of the Huish Park land to SSDC is a pivotal moment in the history of our football club. With the Asset of Community Value, the Board has the ability to effectively pause this sale and consider its own options for putting together a bid. At the present time, the Board do not feel there is enough information available to allow an informed decision to be made, and so has triggered the moratorium period in order to gather more information, consider its options and further consult with membership (which could result in a bid being put together).

Does the Board now intend to allow the Glovers Trust membership to vote on the issue?

Yes. The Board is working hard behind the scenes to gather information, consult a variety of sources and collate all of the details on all the possible options, which includes making our own bid for the land and giving Yeovil Town fans an opportunity to own part of the club we all love. The final decision will be taken by our members, with the time and information available to make an informed choice. Not only will we share information via email and social media, but it is our intention to hold an open

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meeting with Glovers Trust members to discuss, clarify and challenge the information shared. More information on the timings and practicalities of this will be shared as soon as possible.

Was this a unanimous Board decision?

Eleven members of the Board voted in favour of taking this course of action; 1 member abstained.

Does this mean the members themselves will now have to raise the funds to buy the land?

Not necessarily. Triggering the ACV gives the Trust time to consider its option to bid, but does not commit it to making that bid. During this moratorium period, our aim is to explore all options, which include raising funds via the membership or partnering with other investors.

Conversations are ongoing, and as soon as more information can be shared with our members, it will be.

Can the Trust decide to exit the moratorium period early?

Yes. The Trust can withdraw its expression of interest at any time, at which point the sale of Huish Park to SSDC could immediately recommence.

If another offer is indeed put forward to buy Huish Park, would YTFC be bound to accept this?

No. YTFC is entitled to reject any other offer and continue the sale of the land to SSDC. However, this cannot be done until after the moratorium period has ended.

Is the decision permanent?

No. Now that the ACV has been invoked, the Trust has until 26 May 2021 to submit that bid. However, should it decide before this date that it does not wish to bid, it may withdraw - in theory allowing the sale to SSDC to resume.

Scott Priestnall has publicly stated in the past that triggering the moratorium period will lead to SSDC withdrawing

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their offer and the club being left on the brink of insolvency. Does this decision not risk the club’s future?

This is a subjective question, and not one that can be answered with absolute certainty. However, it is worth noting that, to date, no evidence of either an SSDC withdrawal or the club immediately becoming insolvent has been provided to the Trust, despite having been requested.

could enter financial hardship in the short term, should the SSDC deal not proceed. The Trust have requested to see evidence of this in the form of the club’s finances, and this request was declined

by SP who advised that it is not standard procedure for a business to release such information. SP also advised that should the SSDC deal not go ahead, that he does have contingency plans.

Are YTFC and SSDC aware of the decision?

Yes, this decision has already been communicated to them. YTFC and SSDC have acknowledged receipt.

If the trust activates the ACV, where would the money be coming from?

The Glovers Trust Board intends to open talks with potential investors. Even during these challenging times, we are aware of interest.

What happens next?

The Trust Board will now hold further conversations and seek potential investors in the Club and/or land itself.

We will meet again on Thursday, January 7, to discuss this further, and to agree on specific actions and next steps. As always, minutes of this meeting will be published. We will continue to regularly communicate with our members and the wider fanbase, so please keep an eye out for further updates.

Can I share my views on this?

Absolutely. We would like to thank the many members who took their time to share feedback with us directly over email, as well as those who used the various forums to express their views.

We would like to reassure everyone that every member of the Board reads and takes these into account, and that the feedback has played a key role in our decision making. We wish to continue to encourage this; if you wish to contact us, please do so by emailing communications@glovers-trust.co.uk.

There have been indications that the club will run out of money within the next couple of months if the SSDC deal does not go through? Is this true?

Scott Priestnall has indicated to both SSDC and the GT that the club

How can the Trust contemplate to discuss or even vote on activating the ACV when they have not been given answers to a number of questions and other factors will remain secret until information of the purchase is in the public domain?

Without answers to key questions, it is very difficult to form a valid opinion on whether this is a good deal for YTFC or not. Our decision to invoke the ACV, allows us more time to come up with the answers to many questions, which will in turn allow our members to vote on whether to remove the ACV and allow any potential deal to proceed.

More importantly, It also gives us the opportunity to form a bid of our own with any potential investor(s).

Does the ACV apply to the football club and the land?

No – The ACV is only associated with the land at Huish Park. The football club itself as a business is not currently part of the deal.

Can the ACV be removed?

Yes – The Glovers Trust can remove the ACV at any point, and thus allow any potential deal of Huish Park to proceed, should it wish to do so.

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We're still there to help Yeovil Town FC SOUTH Somerset District Council has said it will “continue to try and help” Yeovil Town Football Club while its bid to buy the club’s stadium and land has been put on hold.

The club’s Huish Park property is on the register of Assets of Community Value which provides a level of legal protection under the Localism Act. A council spokesman said: “Glovers Trust has decided to give notice of its intention to bid. This triggers a six-month period when the owner of the property cannot sell except to a community interest group.

“The importance of the football club to the area and its community was the reason we decided to try and help by buying the property. We recognised from the outset that the Right to Bid provisions might be used.

“We will maintain close contact with the club’s owners and Glovers Trust and will continue to try and help.”

This comes just a month after the council voted in favour of agreeing a deal to buy the Huish Park stadium and surrounding land.

The Glovers have struggled financially since the first national lockdown in March, with falling attendances, sponsorship deals ending and the cost of bringing players out of furlough for last season’s play-offs all contributing to the situation.

The council has voted to buy the club’s stadium and surrounding land to protect Yeovil’s beloved team from short-term insolvency and give it a platform to rebuild in the years ahead.

The council will have no involvement in the day-to-day running of the club, and the club will be able to reacquire the stadium if it so wishes in the future.

Scott Priestnall, the club’s current chairman, addressed the council’s District Executive committee when it met virtually on December 3.

“Running any business in this current climate has extreme difficulties,” he said.

“It’s disappointing that a pandemic has brought a football club to a position like this. Difficult decisions have to be made.

“It would be easier to start selling assets of the greatest value to recoup losses, but I think the option that has been brought by the council is one I’m very grateful for and is in the best interests of the football club.

“It’s a case of giving the football club key resources, not just to survive in the pandemic that we’ve had, but to thrive in our long-term goals.”

The club currently owns the freehold to most of the 25-acre site currently occupied by the stadium and surrounding facilities, save for four-and-a-half acres along Western Avenue which are owned by the council and leased to the club on a

999-year lease.

The new proposals would see the council own the entire freehold, with a new 30-year lease being created.

The council would see a financial return on the site but would not change any rent for the first 12 months to give the club a chance to recover from the pandemic.

Cllr John Clark, the council’s spokesman for economic development, said the deal had “received the same rigorous treatment” as the council’s other commercial investments, which have included Yeovil’s Wilko and Marks & Spencer stores.

“The council has been asked by the football club to help them financially to survive the crisis. This deal is of mutual advantage,” he said.

“In the event of the club’s insolvency, the land and buildings will all revert to the council. The land and buildings that we retain would protect the value of our investment.”

The council’s chief executive Alex Parmley said the deal was part of the council’s efforts to ensure as many businesses as possible could be supported during the pandemic.

“We pledged to do all that we could to support our communities during the crisis,” he said. “We recognise we can’t protect all our businesses or every job, but we can protect some of them.

“We’re not spending money on a football club or giving them taxpayers’ money – we’re investing in the land. We’ll have a significant land asset with a value at the end of it.

“We need to recognise that this is an unusual investment, and is not without risk. But we are not going to be involved in the business of running the football club.”

Several councillors raised concerns about the amount of financial risk the deal would involve, with Cllr Tony Lock questioning how much of a legitimate future the Glovers could have in the league.

“I have concerns on the viability of the club going forward,” he said. “I’m a football fan, many years ago I was a season ticket holder – but at the end of the day, I cannot get this risk out of my head. It’s a tremendous risk to the people of south Somerset.

“Let’s not blame everything on Covid-19. This football club is only just keeping its head above water – it made a loss before covid.”

Cllr Peter Gubbins added: “I find a great difficulty with the risk. On paper, in areas, it is a good deal – but there are areas of risk.”

However, deputy leader Peter Seib – whose Brympton ward includes Huish Park – said the club should be supported and buying the land was a financially

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sound option.

After more than two hours’ debate – including a significant discussion of the

financial details in confidential session – the committee voted unanimously to approve the purchase of the land.

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Yeovil's late rally against Torquay YEOVIL Town completed a late turnaround against Torquay United to get 2021 off to a flyer with a 2-1 victory.

And even Torquay boss Gary Johnson – who has had such great success with Yeovil Town during the years – might have admitted a few days later that it was, to coin one of his favourite words, a “cosmic” comeback by the Glovers at Huish Park on January 2.

Following a tight first-half, the league leaders took the lead through Aaron Nemane early on in the second.

However, the Glovers never say die attitude shone through as goals from Josh Neufville and Luke Wilkinson in the last ten minutes saw the Glovers heroically claim all three points against the Gulls.

It was a perfect response to the 6-1 drubbing Yeovil had suffered at Torquay on Boxing Day. Yeovil had recovered well two days later when they enjoyed a 3-0 success

over Aldershot Town at Huish Park on December 28, but victory over Torquay on January provided a perfect late Christmas gift for manager Darren Sarll.

PHOTOS: Taken during Yeovil’s 2-1 win over Torquay United on January 2.

Photos courtesy of Martin Edwards and www.totallyfocused.co.uk .

Yeovil are the in-form team football's a funny old game FOUR wins from the last five games have certainly turned Yeovil Town’s fortunes around and things do not appear quite so bad when looking at the National League table.

A month ago and Yeovil looked in all sorts of trouble at the National League basement, but a first win of the season success at Bromely on December 8 has sparked a mini-revival with home wins over Aldershot Town (December 28) and Torquay United (January 2) and away at Weymouth (January 5). And those wins might even paper over the fact that they suffered a horrible 6-1 defeat at Torquay on Boxing Day. But there is still a lot of work to be done to see Yeovil crawl away from the wrong end of table, although they now find themselves just six points off the National League play-off zone.

Up next for the in-form Glovers will be a trip to Barnet on January 12 and then a visit to Maidenhead United on January

16.

Notts County travel to visit Huish Park on January 19 and then that is followed up with a home fixture against Solihull Moors on January 23.

Yeovil close the month with Dover Athletic visiting Huish Park on January 30.

On the player front Yeovil have recently welcome striker Reuben Reid on a deal until the end of the season, centre-half Max Hunt is here on loan from Carlisle United until the end of January, while striker Josh Neufville has also impressed while being at Yeovil on loan from Torquay United.

Unfortunately Yeovil Town’s involvement in this season’s FA Trophy is over after they were unable to fulfil their fixture with Boreham Wood and were removed from the competition. The game was cancelled after two Yeovil players showed Covid-19 symptoms – although the results later came back as negative.

Reuben rejoins the Glovers YEOVIL Town were delighted to confirm the signing of Reuben Reid until the end of the season.

Signing for his second stint in Green & White, Reid was at Yeovil during the early stages of the 2012-13 League One playoff season before going out on loan to Plymouth Argyle in January 2013 before joining the Pilgrims on a permanent basis in the summer of 2014.

He has spent the majority of his career

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in the South West with other stints at Forest Green Rovers, Torquay United, Exeter and, most recently, Cheltenham Town.

Now stepping into the National League for the second time in his career, Reid will be hoping for more success in the South-West.

The 32-year-old rejoined the Glovers in time to play in Yeovil’s excellent 3-0 victory at Weymouth on January 3.

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Victory over old rivals is welcome tonic

YEOVIL Town manager Darren Sarll was left delighted that his side were the winners of the first competitive derby between the Glovers and Weymouth since 1999.

First-half goals from Josh Neufville, Albi Skendi and a late penalty from Joe Quigley ensured Town took three points from their trip to the seaside on January 5.

It was just a huge shame that due to the Covid-19 restrictions none of Yeovil’s army of Green and White supporters could be there to watch it in person – but nevertheless a victory over the old enemy after 22 years still tasted sweet.

“I thought the first 35 minutes was as good as I’ve seen us, we had great intensity, a good attitude, and a very competitive edge,” said the Yeovil boss.

“I thought we were very good, very dominant, that’s two games in a row for keeper Adam Smith where he’s not had a shot to save. It was nice to name the same back four again, and you can see the benefit of that consistency with a rare clean sheet.

“We started very quick and we were very focused.”

Sarll admitted that some of the players might not have known too much about the historic rivalry between Yeovil and Weymouth. Some of the players were probably not even born when the two clubs last locked horns in a competitive fixture.

“Some players didn’t really know about the Weymouth v Yeovil rivalry which is why Terry Skiverton did the team talk,” he said. “He obviously has that history - he did a great job at making sure the players knew they were responsible for a hell of a lot tonight.”

Sarll continued to note the importance of earning the supporters backing – who have been critical this season for a poor start to the campaign.

“We know we’ve got to earn their credit back and we’re prepared and willing to do that by fighting and digging deep,” he said. “It’s always been part of my character to role my sleeves up and we’re showing that at the moment.

“It’s nice to say for the first time

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this season, we’re in a strong vein of form, we’ve picked up some good wins across the last five games apart from the disappointed away to Torquay, but we’re getting there, and we were terrific tonight.”

The manager had special words for players Matt Worthington and Josh Neufville.

“I thought Matt was incredible, absolutely incredible,” he said. “Him and Neufville in the first half were sensational.

“It wasn’t just their possession game, but out of possession too, I thought ‘Worthy’ was just scintillating, his reading of the game, his intercepting passes, the way he got us on the attack, with really good and difficult passes after winning it.

“I just thought he was really good, it’s lovely to have him back in that kind of form.”

PHOTO: Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarrll. Photo courtesy of Martin Edwards of www.totallyfocused.co.uk.

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FIXTURES 2020-21 Saturday, October 3, 2020 National League Kings Lynn 2, Yeovil Town 2

Monday, December 28, 2020 National League Aldershot 0, Yeovil Town 3

Tuesday, October 6, 2020 National League Yeovil Town 2, Wealdstone 2

Saturday, January 2, 2021 Yeovil Town 2, Torquay United 1

Saturday, October 10, 2020 National League Yeovil Town 0, Wrexham 1 Tuesday, October 13, 2020 National League Halifax 1, Yeovil Town 1 Saturday, October 17, 2020 National League Dagenham & Redbridge 0, Yeovil Town 0 Tuesday, October 27, 2020 National League Yeovil Town 1, Sutton United 2 Saturday, October 31, 2020 National League Yeovil Town 0, Chesterfield 1 Saturday, November 7, 2020 Bromley 0, Yeovil Town 1 Saturday, November 14, 2020 National League Woking 1, Yeovil Town 1 Saturday, November 21, 2020 National League Yeovil Town 1, Hartlepool United 3 Saturday, November 28, 2020 FA Cup Stockport County 3, Yeovil Town 2 Tuesday, December 1, 2020 National League Yeovil Town 1, Eastleigh 3 Tuesday, December 8, 2020 National League Bromley 1, Yeovil Town 2 Saturday, December 26, 2020 National League Torquay United 6, Yeovil Town 1

Tuesday, January 5, 2020 National League Weymouth0, Yeovil Town 3 Tuesday, January 12, 2021 National League Barnet v Yeovil Town 7:45pm Kick-Off Saturtday, January 16, 2021 National League Maidenhead United v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off Tuesday, December 19, 2020 National League Yeovil Town v Notts County 7:45pm Kick-Off Saturday, January 23, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Solihull Moors 3pm Kick-Off Saturday, January 30, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Dover Athletic 3pm Kick-Off Saturday, February 6, 2021 National League Stockport County v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off Tuesday, February 9, 2021 National League Eastleigh v Yeovil Town 7.45pm Kick-Off

Saturday, February 20, 2021 National League Hartlepool v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Tuesday, April 13, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Maidenhead United 7.45pm Kick-Off

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Weymouth 7.45pm Kick-Off

Saturday, April 17, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Boreham Wood 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, February 27, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Dagenham & Redbridge 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, April 24, 2021 National League Solihull Moors v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, March 6, 2021 National League Chesterfield v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, May 1, 2021 National League Wealdstone v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Tuesday, March 9, 2021 National League Sutton United v Yeovil Town 7.45pm Kick-Off

Monday, May 3, 2021 Bank Holiday Monday National League Yeovil Town v Halifax 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, March 13, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Woking 3pm Kick-Off Tuesday, March 16, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Bromley 7.45pm Kick-Off Saturday, March 20, 2021 National League Notts County v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off Saturday, March 27, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Barnet 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, February 13, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Altrincham 3pm Kick-Off

Friday, April 2, 2021 Good Friday National League Altrincham v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, February 16, 2021 National League Boreham Wood v Yeovil Town 7:45pm Kick-Off

Saturday, April 10, 2021 National League Aldershot v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, May 8, 2021 National League Wrexham v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off Saturday, May 15, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Kings Lynn 3pm Kick-Off Saturday, May 22, 2021 National League Dover Athletic v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off Saturday, May 29, 2021 National League Yeovil Town v Stockport County 3pm Kick-Off

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