Yeovil Press - Issue 34 - July 2021

YEOVILPRESS

JU 20 LY 21

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

www.yeovilpress.co.uk | Edition Number 34 | FREE

FOOTBALL’S COMING HOME? EXCITEMENT IN THE EUROS AS ENGLAND PROGRESS – HOPEFULLY IT’S NOT ALL OVER BY THE TIME YOU PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE YEOVIL PRESS! – TURN TO PAGE 63 DEATH OF THE HIGH STREET? NOT IN YEOVIL – SAYS CHAMBER OF TRADE AND COMMERCE PRESIDENT DAVE WOAN – TURN TO PAGES 20-21 FOR MORE OF HIS VIEWS

EE

REMEMBERING A YEOVIL TOWN GOAL SCORING LEGEND – FRED “JOHNNY” HAYWARD. – TURN TO PAGES 60-61 A SPECIAL GLOVERS GLORY

YEOVIL HAS A HEART

FR

INSIDE

YOUR FREE YEOVIL PRESS

MUSEUM CAMPAIGN LATEST ‹‹ 18

Turn to Pages 8-9 for more news on Yeovil's defibrillator appeal campaign 40 miles Linear route

Proudly sponsored by:

Sunday 18 July 2021

80 miles Circular epic route

£25 per person

To book your place visit www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk

Starting from Yeovil Hospice Registered charity number: 279473

SENIOR STUDENTS ‹‹ 37

OPEN 9.15AM TO 1PM – MONDAY TO FRIDAY OR PHONE FOR AN APPOINTMENT

NEW ONLINE SHOP - WWW.ATOUCHOFGLASSYEOVIL.CO.UK ONLINE NOW – HAVE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO 1 Church Street, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1HE Phone: 01935-411088 / www.atouchofglassyeovil.co.uk For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

DON'T PANIC - IT'S DAD'S ARMY ‹‹ 39

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

1

FUNERALS f rom £2,497

Stuart Foster Funeral Services

Personal | Caring | Professional

PERSONAL | CARING | PROFESSIONAL Cremations . Direct Cremations . Burials 24 Hour Service . Private Chapel Of Rest . Client Parking Pre-Paid Funeral Plans Available 27 Market Street, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1HZ 01935 508971 | 07789 276767 (24hr) www.stuartfosterfunerals.com

Stuart Foster Company Founder

I N D E P E N D E N T LY R U N C O M PA N Y

2

with Male or Female Funeral Directors Available

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

EDITOR'S NEWS IN BRIEF NOTE WELCOME to the July 2021 edition of the Yeovil Press community newspaper and hopefully later this month we will be given “freedom day” when we are finally clear of the Covid-19 restrictions.

I’m sure that even come July 19 and everything goes according to plan, there might be certain guidelines we might have to stick with – perhaps we will never go back completely to how things were before the first lockdown was introduced on March 23, 2020?

I attended a webinar with the president of the Yeovil Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Dave Woan, on June 29 and it was interesting to hear his positive thoughts on the future of Yeovil town centre.

Many people have commented on social media in recent months with their views on our town centre and a lot of those comments are far from complimentary.

I have to admit that I do share some of those views of disappointment, but I’ve got my fingers-crossed that the Yeovil Refresh regeneration project will – eventually – come up trumps. One thing is for sure – you cannot fault Mr Woan and his enthusiasm for Yeovil! Turn to Pages 20-21.

Good luck to Project Play producer Matthew Rock and his cast of Dad’s Army which should – hopefully – take to the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil for opening night on July 19. They have worked so hard on putting this show together in the most trying of circumstances with the Covid-19 restrictions and they really do deserve our support – so get yourself along to the Octagon.

Turn to Pages 38-39.

And, I so hope, that by the time many of you will have picked-up this edition of Yeovil Press that England are still in the Euros and facing a Semi-Final tie with either Czech Republic or Denmark.

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, August 6, 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, August 6, 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 July 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

YEOVIL Press reader Rachel Hensman, of Yeovil, sent us this fantastic photograph of her dog Beryl Bean at sunset at the Ham Hill Country Park looking out over the amazing Somerset landscape. 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: Happy Birthday - Yeovil Press Pg 06-07: Coffee Break Chat - Julie Turner Pg 08-09: Yeovil Defibrillator Campaign Pg 10-11: Around the Town Pg 14: News from Yeovil District Hospital Pg 16-17: News from St Margaret's Hospice Pg 18: Yeovil Museum Campaign Pg 20-21: Dave Woan on Yeovil town centre Pg 22-23: On Our Doorstep Pg 26-27: News in Photos Pg 28-29: Yeovil Press - Delivery Outlets Pg 30-31: News at a Glance Pg 32-33: Breast Cancer Unit Appeal News Pg 34-35: Family Announcements Pg 36: School Reunion Pg 37: School News Pg 38-39: Dad's Army Pg 40-41: Flashback - July Pg 42-43: What's On Leisure Listings Pg 44: My Top Ten Pg 48-49: Yeovil History Files Pg 50-51: Old Pubs of Yeovil Pg 52-53: Down Memory Lane Pg 55-57: News from Yeovil Golf Club Pg 58-59: News from Yeovil Rugby Club Pg 60-61: Glovers Glory - Johnny Hayward Pg 62: Old Team Photos Pg 63: News from the Euros Pg 65: Yeovil Town Legend - Terry Cotton Pg 66-67: News from Yeovil Town FC Pg 68-70: News from Yeovil Cricket Club 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.

YEOVIL PRESS YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

HAVE THE YEOVIL PRESS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR EACH MONTH Avoid missing out on getting your copy of the monthly Yeovil Press community newspaper by signing-up to our delivery service.

It will cost £25 a year to have the Yeovil Press hand-delivered to your home each month within the Yeovil area. It will cost £40 a year to have the Yeovil Press posted elsewhere in the country.

Email yeovilpress@gmail.com or phone us on 07773-198-081 for further details.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

3

Thank you for your fantastic support IT was back in July 2018 that the first-ever edition of the Yeovil Press community newspaper was published and now – three years on – the paper is going from strength to strength.

Admittedly, the past 16 months have been difficult because of the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic; but we are still here, we’ve been able to publish each month and we are now beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel .... fingers-crossed!

But it only seems like yesterday that Edition Number 1 was being produced and being distributed among various outlets in and around the Yeovil area.

The paper was initially printed every other month, but was then published every month from January 2019 onwards due to its popularity and demand.

Editor and owner, Steve Sowden, said: “I’d already launched a publication down the road at Ilminster a few months previously and it seemed a natural progression to start a Yeovil Press title in my home town.

“Little did I know back then what I

was starting – but I have to say that the past three years have been hard work, but extremely satisfying, a lot of fun and we’ve attended some fantastic events; although admittedly the events have sort of dried up a fair bit during the pandemic.

“But safety comes first and I am sure that once this terrible virus is defeated that life will slowly return to normal and community events in and around Yeovil will start to flourish once again.

“The fact that I have been able to produce the Yeovil Press since July 2018 is testament to the town – the fact that traders and businesses have been able to support me with advertising and I truly thank all of them.”

Steve added: “Even in these unprecedented times I have had the support of local businesses. Although I know it has not been easy for many traders and they have had to take the necessary action, I am proud to have continued to produce the Yeovil Press.”

But Steve admits he could not have achieved any of this without some incredible support.

“A special big thank you to freelance photographer Christine Jones, who some of you might know better as “the lady that takes the photos” – her pictures, hard work, enthusiasm and encouragement have been key to the success of Yeovil Press,” he said.

“I would also like to thank James Healey, of JRH Media, for his superb help with design and layout each month and for putting up with my ditherings!

“Plus I would like to thank the various outlets who have agreed to take copies of Yeovil Press each month; the advertisers once again for their support; and, of course, the readers for your contributions and words of support.

“I know that three years is not very long

in terms of longevity for any business, let alone a newspaper; but in times when the printed press is being diminished in favour of digital – I’m proud that I keep the flag flying for printed newspapers.”

Steve continued: “There was never any doubt in my mind that I would ever find myself with the headache problem of “no good news to put in the paper” because – contrary to what you might see on social media – Yeovil has got plenty going for it and plenty of things for people to be proud about of their town.”

The next edition of Yeovil Press will be out on August 6. So please get in touch with your news, views and photos by emailing Steve at yeovilpress@gmail. com - here’s to the next 12 months!

YEOVIL PRESS YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR READERS, ADVERTISERS AND SUPPORTERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS Email: yeovilpress@gmail.com Phone: 0777-319-8081 4

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

The first edition of Yeovil Press – printed in July 2018.

The July 2019 edition of Yeovil Press.

The July 2019 edition of Yeovil Press.

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

ANCE I NTEN LOW MA

DITED ACCRE PROFESSIONAL

INSTALLATION

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

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

5

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.

This month’s Coffee Break Chat spotlight falls on Julie Turner – senior manager of the Yeovil branch of the Nationwide Building Society in Middle Street which is raising money to fund a public access 24-7 potentially lifesaving defibrillator for the town centre. Turn to Pages 8-9 for more details.

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.

PHOTO: Julie Turner.

Worrying to think that pop group Take That formed in Manchester in 1990 – 31 years ago! Turn to Question 15.

1: Name: Julie Turner.

2: Occupation: Senior branch manager for the only building society in the town!

3: Live: Yeovil.

14: What is your favourite film? I could list so many – basically any chick flick! If forced to name one would have to be Bridget Jones.

4: Places of education: Yeovil Schools and College and Bournemouth University.

15: What is your favourite band or pop group? Take That & Coldplay.

5: Who was/were your best pal/pals at school? Three good friends throughout school – Liz, Mel and Amanda (the now town clerk).

16: Who is your favourite singer? Pink.

6: What was your favourite lesson at school? PE and Maths.

Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1996 fronted by vocalist, rhythm guitarist and pianist Chris Martin. Turn to Question 15.

Alecia Beth Moore is better known as Pink – an American singer and songwriter. Turn to Question 16.

7: Your favourite teacher? Mrs Evans at primary school.

8: What is your proudest moment? Cycling 200 miles in three days and raising over £3.400 for South West Children’s Hospice.

9: What is your favourite meal? I love Italian food.

10: What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without? Mobile phone – very sad I know but it is full of memories and all my photos.

11: What is the one thing you cannot resist? Biscuits – especially chocolate digestives and bourbons.

On September 1, 2001, England beat Germany 5-1 in Munich in a qualifying match for the 2002 World Cup. Michael Owen scored a hat-trick for England. Turn to Question 22.

6

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

colada in summertime and a good old cup of tea in the winter!

12: What is your greatest fear? Drowning.

13: What is your favourite drink? Pina

17: What was the first record you ever bought? Michael Jackson’s Bad – on cassette!

18: What is something you’ve never tried but want to? Hypnotherapy.

19: Tea or Coffee? Always tea.

20: Cinema or Theatre? Theatre – love a good West End musical.

21: What is your favourite sport? All I ever see and hear about in our house is Football so I will say that to keep the peace!!

22: What is your favourite sporting moment? Watching England beat Germany 5-1 in 2001 whilst on the Greek Island of Zante.

23: What is your favourite holiday destination? This is tough – Australia as I would love to return and visit more of the country but Rome is an amazing city and great food!

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

24: Do you collect anything? Ted Baker handbags and shoes.

25: What would you name the autobiography of your life? “Around the World in 80 Falls” – I am so accident prone; or with my shoe collection “Walking in My Shoes.” There will have to be two books about me!

26: If a film was made about you – what actor would you want to play you? Renee Zellweger.

27: If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? David Attenborough.

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

Get the sirens on to get through all the Yeovil traffic!

29: Which TV programme makes you pick-up the remote and switch channel?

Anything with Michael McIntyre – he is not

my cup of tea.

30: Which three traits define you?

Trustworthy, loyal and energetic.

31: What food would you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? Rabbit – they are just too cute!

32: If you had to be on a Reality TV show, which one would you choose? Great British Bake Off. 33: When you were little, what did you want to be? Police Officer or Solicitor.

34: Would you rather go into space or to the bottom of the ocean? Neither – I am scared of being under water and hate heights.

35: Tell us something that might surprise us about you. There is nothing surprising about me!

Bridget Jones is a fictional character created by British writer Helen Fielding and has been adapted into a series of films with actress Renee Zellweger playing the title role. Turn to Questions 14 and 26.

Hypnotherapy is a type of complementary therapy that uses hypnosis – an altered state of consciousness. Turn to Question 18.

Bad was the seventh studio album by American signer and songwriter Michael Jackson and released on August 31, 1987. Turn to Question 17.

Sir David Attenborough is an award-winning English broadcaster and natural historian best known for writing and presenting stunning natural history documentary series.

Turn to Question 27.

DINE IN - SIT OUT - TAKEAWAY FULL MENU AVAILABLE | DELIVERY AVAILABLE Open from 7.30am to 3pm Mondays to Fridays & 8am to 2pm Saturdays We now have online ordering for buffets, parties, wakes and gatherings on our website 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 facebook.com/No5Diner | twitter.com/no5cateringltd Michael McIntyre is a comedian, writer and television presenter – but not one of Julie’s favourites! Turn to Question 29.

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

1 Kingfisher Close, Gazelle Road, Lynx Trading Estate, Yeovil BA20 2PJ YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

7

THE MAYOR'S DIARY WITH CLLR EVIE POTTS-JONES MAYOR OF YEOVIL

WELCOME once again to your monthly greetings from your Mayor.

No doubt many of us watched England beat Germany in the Euros and perhaps we have started to think that football is actually coming home?

I’m writing this the day after that game and, obviously, ahead of the Quarter-Final match with Ukraine – so best of luck England.

Many of you may have also witnessed the horrible scenes earlier in the football competition when Denmark’s Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during a match. Thankfully he is now well on the road to recovery, but it just showed how important a defibrillator machine can be in saving somebody’s life.

Yeovil Town Council plans to install more 24-7 public access defibs at various points in the town and is delighted to support the Nationwide Building Society’s campaign to raise funds to put up a defib on the wall outside its Yeovil branch in Middle Street.

During the past month I joined Sarah Beeny (from UK property shows) to officially open the new NHS key workers accommodation centrally located to support the staff at Yeovil District Hospital - helping to ensure YDH continues to thrive.

And as we find ourselves spending more time in the outdoor space with the warmer brighter days, I encourage you to appreciate the efforts of Lufton Nursery who play a huge part in providing the cocktail of floral displays scattered across our town.

I have the luxury of having regular visits at the Lufton Nursery, where I can recognise the dedication and time the team put in to nurture, plan, plant and maintain the flower beds each year.

Yeovil is also playing its part to boost and protect the biodiversity in and around several green verges in the town by allowing wildflowers to seed. This is part of the larger scaled conservation effort across Britain to help restore populations of declining species, such as the endangered Bilberry bumblebees who, like other insects, play an important role in our ecosystem.

This month the next generation and Yeovil Town Council will be working in partnerships to commemorate 100 years of the war memorial.

The primary schools and my new friends from able2achieve will be involved in the small ceremony which will feature in next month’s edition.

Looking forward - I have the pleasure of visiting the Yeovil College, various schools and the very talented Castaway Theatre Group and its School of Rock show at the Octagon Theatre on the opening night. Look out for me and please say “hi”.

Be yourself and smile!

CLLR EVIE POTTS-JONES Mayor of Yeovil

8

Rugby club chairman urges others to take part in free e-learning course THE chairman of Yeovil Rugby Club has encouraged people to find out how they can help someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest.

Paul McHugh has been asking club members to take part in a free online e-learning course so that more people are aware of how to use a defibrillator.

Mr McHugh, who now into his second year as club chairman, has an extensive background with medical first aid and was the first within the club to take part in the course which only takes around 30 minutes to complete.

Yeovil Rugby Club was donated a defibrillator last year so getting the word out and ensuring the general public know how to properly use one is incredibly important to Mr McHugh and the club itself.

“As we saw from the football game

recently and the Christian Eriksen incident, sudden cardiac arrest could happen to anyone, at any time, with approximately 60,000 SCAs happening within the community every year in the UK,” said Mr McHugh.

“Twelve SCAs which happen each week in the UK involve people under the age of 35 and it’s thought that only one in ten survive. But if effective action is taken within the first minute, this could treble the chances of survival.”

Anyone can take part in the online course which is provided by UK Coaching and will help you plan and respond appropriately to a sudden cardiac arrest.

Go to www.ukcoaching.org or look at this link - https://bit.ly/3hhs8fS .

PHOTO: Paul McHugh – chairman of Yeovil Rugby Club.

Defibrillator machine available at Preston School PRESTON School in Yeovil has reminded the surrounding community that it has a defibrillator machine in its reception area – if it is ever needed during school opening hours.

“What happened to the footballer Christian Eriksen was horrible to watch, but it is an appropriate time to remind everyone in the local community that we have a defibrillator in our reception if it is ever needed, although we hope it never is,” said a Preston School spokesman.

“The defibrillator talks to you and tells you how to use it and can literally be a lifesaver.”

The reception office hours are 8am to 4pm on school days and the reception area is also normally open on week days during school holidays.

The school is also planning to offer a first aid course to all students in Year 11 next year on what to do in the event of someone having a cardiac arrest.

Nationwide branch is in the heart of the town

THE Nationwide Building Society in Middle Street, Yeovil, has agreed to have a lifesaving 24-7 public access defibrillator installed on the outside of its offices. Branch manager Julie Turner (second left) met last month with Yeovil Mayor, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, and Yeovil Town Council clerk Amanda Card (centre) to discuss the project and they are pictured with other Nationwide staff members. You can make a donation by either popping into the Nationwide Building Society in Middle Street or going online to its Go Fund Me page which can be accessed via this link https://bit.ly/3wa2nDo. Photo: Steve Sowden.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

Community is at the heart of working together to help save lives A FUNDRAISING campaign launched by the Yeovil branch of the Nationwide Building Society to support a potentially life-saving defibrillator campaign in the town has already been a big success.

The Yeovil Press has been helping to actively publicise the defib campaign ever since Yeovil Town Council agreed to make money available to fund four 24-7 public access machines for the area.

One of these was planned for the town centre and that is when the Nationwide Building Society in Middle Street got involved.

Branch manager Julie Turner said: “We are working with the town clerk Amanda Card and the Yeovil Mayor, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, to fundraise for defibrillators for the town centre.

“Our first goal is to raise enough to have one installed on our Nationwide external wall as this is a central point for the local community.”

Julie added: “We are then looking to support funding for additional devices across the town. We are so passionate about this cause as this can significantly increase survival rates.

“We would appreciate any support and donations you can please give via this fundraising page or donating at our Nationwide Branch in Middle Street,

Yeovil.”

The online total has so far raised £2,123 – as of 11am on Wednesday, June 30 – and Julie and her team cannot thank people enough for their support.

But the more money raised – the more defibrillators could be funded which could, potentially, save more lives in the future.

Julie will be boosting funds for the campaign by walking up and down Mount Snowdon in Wales on July 27 and is raising money through sponsorship.

You can make a donation by either popping into the Nationwide Building Society in Middle Street or going online to its Go Fund Me page which can be accessed via this link https://bit. ly/3wa2nDo .

Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden said: “This is a fantastic campaign because it could literally save lives – surely the most important thing we can do?

“Congratulations to Julie and everyone at the Nationwide Building Society for its work so far in support of Yeovil Town Council’s aim of making the community a safer place to live, work and play in.”

Yeovil Town Council’s town clerk Amanda Card added: “The town council wish to thank Julie and the team at Nationwide Building Society for its support and all those who have kindly

Football shirts boosting Nationwide defib funds YEOVIL Town Football Club supporters have backed the Nationwide Building Society’s defibrillator appeal.

Just hours after people across the world saw the frightening moment when Denmark international Christian Eriksen suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during a match in the Euros, administrators of the Green Army page on social media Facebook were looking to do something.

The Green Army group – a social media page for Yeovil Town fans – had managed to get their hands on a Glovers shirt worn by striker Rhys Murphy, who recently left the club to join Southend United.

“We thought this was an excellent opportunity to give people the chance of gaining this shirt and at the same time potentially save a life,” said a Green Army spokesman.

“With the recent shocking Christian Eriksen heart scare still fresh in our minds we thought we would donate all funds raised to the Nationwide Building Society’s campaign to buy defibrillators for the town centre.”

People had to bid for the shirt in an online auction and the winning bid of £100 was donated to the appeal.

Julie Turner, branch manager of Nationwide in Yeovil, said: “I just want to say a huge heartfelt thank you to the Green Army group for this wonderful gesture.”

Meanwhile, Yeovil Town player Matt Worthington is donating a signed shirt to the Nationwide which will be raffled off to help boost funds further.

PHOTO: The Rhys Murphy shirt.

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

contributed to the campaign so far.

“We hope this will inspire other businesses within Yeovil to play a part in the health and wellbeing of their community.

“Julie and her team have been a delight to work with and have shown how working in collaboration on such an important and life saving initiative can have real positive results.

“The town council is working in

collaboration with some other businesses in Yeovil to host an awareness day about defibrillators and how they help to significantly increase the likelihood of survival should someone have a sudden cardiac arrest.“

YEOVIL TOWN COUNCIL

Defibrillators in Yeovil Where’s your nearest defibrillator?

To help increase awareness of the locations of publically accessible defribrillators – we need your help! We want a definitive list of those defribillators which are available for public use. If you are aware of a defribillator in Yeovil, please let us know.

“Guardians of the defibrillators” We want to increase the number of defibrillators in Yeovil and investigating installing one in each of the following areas: • • • •

Westfield (near the Co-op) Forest Hill shopping precinct St John’s Road Shops Town Centre (near Boots)

We are “guardians” to the defibrillator at Milford Hall.

Business contributions/sponsorship Do you know a local business that would like to contribute towards the costs?

07773 162369

ytc@yeovil.gov.uk

@YeovilTownCouncil YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

9

AROUND THE TOWN Councillors unhappy with homes plan for The Crescent MEMBERS of Yeovil Town Council have opposed plans for a pair of semidetached homes to be built on land in The Crescent.

Mr and Mrs Witt have applied to South Somerset District Council for planning permission to go-ahead with the twobedroom homes, along with off-road parking, on land within their property in The Crescent which is situated off West Hendford.

But town councillors were not happy with the proposals when they discussed them at their planning committee meeting on June 14.

Councillors said the proposed development would represent an overdevelopment of the site and have a detrimental impact on the street scene, as well as having concerns about access.

Cllr Wes Read said the development would “do the existing property no good whatsoever” and the “site was probably big enough for a double garage” as opposed to two new homes.

And Cllr Rob Stickland said: “There are

three windows on the existing house and they would just look out onto the brick walls of the new houses.”

A spokesman for the applicants, in a report, said: “We are of the view that the proposed homes would present no diminishment to the current levels of enjoyment experienced by neighbouring properties.”

A final decision is to be made by South Somerset District Council.

PHOTO: The proposed site for two homes in The Crescent.

Funding available to students in the Yeovil area

THE Yeovil-based John Nowes Exhibition Foundation is looking to help financially any young people aged between 16-25 to further their education.

John Nowes was a landowner who set up a Trust in the early 1800s to educate 40 boys at Yeovil Free School – a school which dates back to the 16th century.

The school was closed in the 1880s and John Batten set up a new Trust in 1887.

At that time some of the money was used to provide classrooms at Yeovil Girls’ School and the rest was used to award annual scholarships.

The fund now comes under the John Nowes Exhibition Foundation and current chairman Iris Coton told the Yeovil Press that the closing date for applications for the latest round of grants is August 31, 2021.

“We are keen to hear from students – aged between 16-25 – from university and non-university courses,” said Iris.

“Students at Yeovil College and the Gryphon School in Sherborne who come

10

from the Yeovil area may also be eligible.”

Grants are awarded annually and anyone in full-time education whose combined family income is less than £35,000 per annum can apply.

They must have a home address in Yeovil, Yeovil Without, Brympton and most of the surrounding parishes in the Yeovil area such as Mudford, Chilthorne Domer, East Coker, West Coker, Odcombe, Barwick and Limington.

“We only use the income from our investments so the amount available can vary from year to year and grants may vary depending on the number of applicants,” explained Iris.

“We have had students go on to appear in West End shows, get First Class Honours degrees, study at the Sorbonne and become layers, doctors and vets.”

Further details are available from Amanda Goddard. Email her at Amanda. goddard@battens.co.uk or please refer to Battens’ Facebook page for more information and its website to download an application form.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

£30m logistics hub to be built by Leonardo in Yeovil

HELICOPTER manufacturing company Leonardo has announced that it will be starting work on a new £30m logistics facility at its site in Yeovil.

Bosses hope the news will demonstrate the company’s long-standing commitment to the Yeovil and South Somerset area.

The ground-breaking facility, which will be the size of nearly three football pitches, is scheduled to start in August and anticipated to be fully operational in 2023.

The project will see the consolidation of eight existing warehouses into one logistics hub – which will mean a reduction in operating costs by having everything under one roof and maximise the potential of helicopter component logistics.

The new facility, with its high-end technologies, is heavily focussed on sustainability. It will be equipped with rainwater harvesting tanks for brown water services, full LED lighting, a heat recovery system will be used in the main warehouse and will be complemented by a modern office temperature control system.

In addition, there will be a bank of electrical vehicle charging points.

The site will be operated under a

new ten-year commercial contract with global transport and logistics company Kuehne+Nagel which will include an investment in plant and equipment installation and the transition period of moving everything into the new hub.

The logistics hub will service production facilities and provide spares support for the global fleet of rotary aircraft built at Leonardo’s site in Yeovil and support the management of production tooling.

Managing director of Leonardo Helicopters UK, Nick Whitney, said: “The main aim of the single-site logistics facility is to consolidate all of Leonardo’s Yeovil-based warehousing.

“This state-of-the-art facility will streamline the site’s operational capability and customer service by having all logistical support in one place.

“It highlights further Leonardo’s longterm commitment to its Yeovil site through the strategic development of this high-tech logistics hub.

“It also demonstrates the importance of key industry partnerships through our crucial collaboration with Kuehne+Nagel.”

PHOTO: An artist’s impression of the planned new logistics hub at Leonardo’s in Yeovil.

Survivors of Stroke group helps others as it decides to close THE Survivors of Stroke Yeovil group – which was formed in 2011 – has decided to close and has handed over the money it had in the bank to Yeovil District Hospital.

The group, also known as SOS Yeovil, helped individuals and family members come to terms with the effects of having a stroke or looking after someone who had had a stroke.

The ethos of the group was to have fun whilst raising money for Yeovil District Hospital’s Aspire Centre where survivors go for rehabilitation and support.

The group continued through the Covid-19 lockdown by using the WhatsApp social media platform, but the decision to close the formal meetings stopped before this.

Group meals have been enjoyed at various pubs around the area, however, in order to allow people to keep in touch.

Yeovil Hospital’s Stroke Section received a cheque for just over £2,800 from the club’s remaining bank balance with the money to be spent on helping other survivors of stroke gain mobility, friendship and support.

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

Rob is the new chairman at Yeovil Without Councillors oppose The Avenue home plans YEOVIL Without Parish Council has elected Cllr Rob Stickland as its new chairman for the 2021-22 financial year.

Cllr Stickland was unanimously elected to the role, while his vice-chairman will be Cllr Sharon Hackett.

The appointments were made during the council’s annual meeting held on May 28 at the Milford Hall in Yeovil.

Cllr Stickland is also a member of Yeovil Town Council and South Somerset District Council.

PHOTO: Cllr Rob Stickland.

Man left with broken ribs and punctured lung POLICE are investigating an assault in Yeovil and are asking a person who came to the victim’s aid to get in touch.

Officers were called to The Arrow, which is situated at The Forum on the Abbey Manor estate, on Sunday, June 13, after a man in his 20s had been assaulted in the men’s toilets between shortly after 8.50pm.

He has since been released from hospital after sustaining multiple broken ribs and a punctured lung.

PC Jessica Forsey said: “Enquiries into

what happened, including reviewing CCTV footage, are ongoing.

“We’re keen to hear from anyone who witnessed what happened, but especially would ask the young male who helped the victim back on to his feet after the assault to get in touch to let us know if they saw anything that could help our investigation.

“If you can help us, please contact us online or on 101 giving the call-handler reference number 5221134648.”

THE Yeovil Good Fellowship Club is continuing in its search for new members to join the group as it looks to start again following the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Yeovil Press reported last month how the club has been providing afternoons of social and recreational activity for the older generation to help improve the quality of their life since the 1960s.

But the club has been pretty quiet of late due to the obvious problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

Beryl Garton, of the Yeovil Good Fellowship Club, said she had a number

of calls from people interested in joining after reading about the group in last month’s Yeovil Press.

“I would like more people to get in touch,” she said. “We are hoping to start the club again in September, but we’re not 100 per cent sure yet.”

Throughout the pandemic the club has been keeping in touch with members by phone and visits and feel there may be many other people locally, who live alone or with a poorly partner, who might be interested in joining.

Transport is provided and if anyone would like to know more – please give Beryl a call on 01935-475541.

COUNCILLORS have opposed plans to develop a property in The Avenue in Yeovil to provide assisted living for five residents.

The planning application submitted to South Somerset District Council by Cherelle Dovey includes a proposal to demolish a rear extension and build three new self-contained one-bedroom units and staff office in its place, while the main house would be reconfigured to provide two flats and a staff area over three storeys.

But members of Yeovil Town Council’s planning committee were not convinced when they discussed the application at their meeting on June 14.

Cllr Andy Kendall said the situation for parking in The Avenue was already “a nightmare up there” and he thought there would be extra off-street parking included in the plans.

But Cllr Tony Lock said: “This site is classed as a town centre location so the parking issue is not that real an issue.”

Cllr Lock highlighted the conversion of the old Western Gazette building in Sherborne Road into flats with regards parking and said that that was a town centre location as well.

But Cllr Graham Oakes said there was a big difference between the two sites and

that you would have to cross the busy Reckleford dual-carriageway to get to the town centre from The Avenue.

“There seems to be a lot of concern about this application and I think it would be appropriate to refuse it,” said Cllr Oakes.

“This proposed development would not be in keeping with the area and would have a detrimental impact on the street scene.”

It was pointed out that people wanting to park could use a public car park in Goldcroft – a couple of roads down from The Avenue.

But Cllr Oakes said: “People wouldn’t use the car park – they will find a hole in on-street parking.”

Councillors voted in favour of objecting to the application.

A spokesman for the applicants, in a report, said: “The redevelopment would provide modern independent assisted living for five residents along with carers’ accommodation.”

The report said there would be an enlarged parking area for six cars which would include one electric vehicle charging point.

South Somerset District Council has yet to make a final decision on the application.

New members needed

by Good Fellowship Club Yeovil Pride group will be on

Loud bang in roof prompts call to emergency services FIREFIGHTERS were mobilised after a “bang” was heard coming from the roof area of a house in Yeovil.

The alarm was raised at just after 9am on Monday, June 28, to the incident at a property in Combe Close.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service received “multiple calls” from the occupant, neighbours and passing motorists about smoke coming from the roof.

Two fire engines and an aerial ladder platform from Yeovil were initially sent out, but as the incident escalated further crews from Sherborne, Martock, Crewkerne and Street were mobilised.

The incident was brought under control

at 11.25am and firefighters worked well to bring the fire under control and prevent it from rapidly spreading to a neighbouring property.

A Fire Service spokesman said: “The cause was accidental and the loud bang heard at the time of the call was confirmed to come from a gas boiler in the loft space.

“Eight firefighters in breathing apparatus worked to extinguish the fire and used thermal imaging equipment in the roof spaces of both properties to check for fire spread and hotspots.”

The spokesman reported there were no casualties.

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

the march again this summer THE Yeovil Pride group has announced plans to bring the annual LGBT+ Pride march and celebration back to the town later this summer.

It comes after last year’s event had to be held mostly online as the UK was in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On top of a day of virtual celebrations, Yeovil Pride also collaborated with the Westlands Yeovil entertainment venue to hose a cinema screening of an LGBT+ documentary.

Now organisers are hoping that a weekend of LGBT+ Pride celebrations will take place on Saturday, August 21, and Sunday, August 22.

Plans to be able to march through the town centre and culminate at a street party are continuing to be finalised and Yeovil Pride will continue to keep any plans under review over the next few months to ensure that the event is safe in light of Covid-19 and the Government’s latest advice.

As ever, Yeovil Pride is a volunteerrun organisation and relies on members of the LGBT+ community and its allies working together in order to put the annual event on, and new volunteers are always welcome.

Yeovil Pride chairman JK Doran said: “It’s really exciting to announce our plans to bring Pride back to Yeovil, especially as we celebrate Pride Month throughout June.

“We’re working hard to build an event that will remind people that the fight for equality has a long way to go, whilst allowing those who identify as LGBT+ to come back together after a very difficult year.

“In April, we saw a report by ITV West Country into the waiting times at Yeovil’s nearest Gender Identity Clinic, The Laurels in Exeter, now reaching over five years for some. This is unacceptable and we will continue to put pressure on politicians to take urgent action.

“And only recently, we had the sad news that a woman in her 20s was beaten unconscious after receiving homophobic abuse whilst walking along Vale Road in Yeovil.

“So this year, whilst we come back together as a community after so long apart, we want to encourage people to remember that Pride is still a protest and we will continue our fight for LGBT+ equality.”

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

11

Olivia launches AeroWomen21 to spark exciting careers in engineering WHEN a female engineer working at Yeovil aerospace company Leonardo could not find a dynamic network to propel her professional career forward, she decided to start one herself.

Olivia Gribler, who works at Leonardo’s Yeovil site at Lysander Road, is the creator behind AeroWomen21, a new network celebrating, educating and uniting women in the aerospace industry, supported by Leonardo and the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Olivia (pictured) wanted to do something to address the shortfall of female engineers in the UK and increase the diversity of candidates who apply for apprenticeships, graduate schemes and STEM - science, technology, engineering, maths - courses.

Its inaugural event was held using virtual technology to bring together

participants across the UK, assembling everyone from Year 12 students from Yeovil, Luton, Edinburgh, Lincoln just starting to consider their future careers, to some of the leading lights of the aerospace industry.

These included Angela Owen OBE, founder of Women in Defence, Anna Keeling, managing director of Boeing Defence UK, and Grazia Vittadini, chief technology officer at Airbus who participated in discussions, workshops and presentations.

Dr Cristina Garcia Duffy, head of technology at the Aerospace Technology institute, and Paula Clarke, engineering and projects director at Leonardo (UK), also hosted a panel discussion on women’s professional experiences in the aerospace industry. The workshops focused around networking, building skills to create

SPROUTS STINK

elevator pitches, which they practiced delivering to each other and exploring the best ways to present themselves professionally online, whether they were a student or a woman in industry.

Amongst the participating schools in the Yeovil region were Beaminster School, Holyrood Academy, Huish Episcopi Academy, Kings College, Richard Huish College, Sherborne School for Girls, The Gryphon School, The Sir John Colfox, Wadham School, and Yeovil College.

Feedback from participants has already confirmed that they felt energised by the first event and want to join the network for year round inspiration.

Olivia now feels inspired to continue to develop the network, built with help from her Leonardo colleagues Holly Ward, Jessica Chamberlain, Holly Phimister, Bethany Elwell, Samantha Hubbard, Kealey Judd, Karolina Piatek and Holly Marner.

Olivia said: “The speakers were really honest and real about their experiences and gave practical advice on how to develop your knowledge of yourself, so you can go on create a career you can be proud of. They also encouraged

participants not to second-guess themselves.

“Many women won’t apply for a job, or follow a particular path, if they think they don’t satisfy every requirement.

These women were there to tell you to put yourself forward, despite any doubts you might have, as the outcome may be beyond what they could have hoped for.”

Nick Whitney, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters (UK), shared words of encouragement with attendees.

“I would like to share a quote from the pioneering aviator and engineer Amy Johnson who was the first woman to fly solo from the UK to Australia in 1930 : ‘Believe nothing to be impossible.’ I want everyone participating in today’s event to be left with a sense that your future is limitless and engineering might be the ideal career to give you the most exciting adventure you could hope to experience,” he said.

Faye's on the run for the Samaritans

YOUR BRANDING SHOULDN’T SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT | VIDEO EDITING | PHOTO EDITING DESIGN | TRANSCRIPTION | WEBSITE DESIGN LOGO DESIGN | BRANDING

james@jrhmedia.co.uk 07881 237868 | www.jrhmedia.co.uk 12

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

A VOLUNTEER and trustee of the Yeovil branch of the Samaritans is looking to run a marathon over the course of July to help raise money for the charity.

Faye Dimdore has pledged to run 26 miles during July and is hoping that she will get lots of sponsorship through her online fundraising page which can be found here - https://bit.ly/2Uis5bv .

“I am taking on the Samarathon again in support of the Samaritans and I have persuaded a team of fellow volunteers to join in,” said Faye.

“I got through the 26 miles last year with the help of the Couch to 5k app, but have somehow now got stuck on Week Six, but I am determined to get back to longer runs.”

Faye said that £5 covered the Samaritans’ costs to support a caller on one call and it could be a life saving one.

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

Electric car and bike sharing scheme moving up through the gears SOUTH Somerset District Council is committed to be carbon neutral by 2030 and during the last financial year the authority delivered over 40 green projects.

These included the roll out of three rapid chargers in three of its car parks closest to the A303 and the introduction of e-scooter trials in Yeovil, Crewkerne and Chard.

To complement these projects, a survey was undertaken to find out the potential for an electric car and bike sharing scheme.

Existing electric car and bike sharing initiatives across the UK are already proving successful, and we wanted to find out if this could benefit our communities as another great way to provide cleaner air, reduce carbon emissions and increase the share-economy.

Shared electric car and bike schemes are proving to save drivers money, reduce congestion and pollution. They are also helping to reduce car ownership, as many electric car/e-bike-share scheme

members are finding the ease of hiring an electric vehicle is much more cost efficient and better for the environment than owning one they rarely need to use.

A council spokesman said: “We wanted to find out how South Somerset residents felt about an electric car and e-bike sharing scheme and recently conducted a survey with Co-Cars to measure interest and what demand might be.”

A total of 192 people responded of which 172 were residents, 17 were businesses and the remainder were a resident with a business. Of these, 88 per cent owned petrol or diesel cars with 8.3 per cent owning an electric car or hybrid.

The survey results showed the following views: On a scale of one to ten - one being not interested, 10 being extremely interested - the average score was 7.7 where respondents said they would be interested in joining such a scheme, with a score of 6.6 agreeing with the vision that the electric car club should be locally owned and community-supported.

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

Overall, 60 per cent said they would use the scheme for shopping, running errands and day trips. Over 20 per cent said they could see themselves using the service several times a week and almost 30 per cent thought they would book an electric-car or electric-bike at least once a week.

Eighty-one people said they thought this scheme could enable them to not buy or own a car and 70 people were interested in an electric-bike scheme with another 48 saying they might be.

Based on these results, there may be viability for an electric car and bike share scheme trial to happen in South Somerset which may be dependent on on-street charging coming in to the residential areas.

Some electric-car share schemes include the charging infrastructure, and hopefully the next step of the County EV Charging Strategy will start to identify suitable on street charging installations to support community access to EVs. If you missed taking part in the survey but are interested in an electric car and bike share scheme please email ssdcenvironment@ southsomerset.gov.uk .

The council’s environment spokesman, Cllr Sarah Dyke, said: “The results of the electric vehicle sharing survey are very encouraging, and will be invaluable for opportunities to create local electric vehicle sharing schemes. We are committed to be carbon neutral by 2030, and finding solutions to accessible, sustainable transport will play a big part in achieving this.”

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

13

TV property expert Sarah Beeny opens new accommodation for hospital staff TELEVISION presenter and property expert Sarah Beeny joined Yeovil Hospital staff and others for the opening of the hospital’s new apartment complex which has been designed and built to provide homes to frontline workers.

The star of Channel 4’s New Life in the Country cut the ribbon to officially open the complex alongside hospital chief executive Jonathan Higman, the Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, and representatives of partner organisations Prime PLC and Speller Metcalfe.

The apartments were purpose-built for staff at Yeovil Hospital and have been designed to create a community environment with communal areas where residents can socialise and study. A total of 176 bedrooms across 66 apartments are available for staff and students to rent. The apartments are all light and spacious and can cater for families as well as individuals and couples.

The building work has been funded and delivered through Yeovil Hospital’s strategic estates partnership with Prime, who have developed the project. The apartments were funded by Canada Life and built by Speller Metcalfe. The joint venture between the Yeovil Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Prime has delivered several key projects within the hospital including the multi-storey car park and link road, an emergency assessment unit, main entrance refurbishment and an extension to the special care baby unit.

Hospital chief executive Mr Higman said: “We are so proud to be able to

offer our staff and students modern, comfortable accommodation, which has the added benefit of being just a five minute walk from the hospital.

“Many of these staff have worked on the frontline of our hospital’s pandemic response during the last year so it is important they are able to enjoy a secure and relaxing environment away from the hospital.

“These apartments will also help us to recruit and retain new clinical staff, including some of those joining our team from overseas.

“We are very proud of this achievement and pleased to have already welcomed many staff into their new homes and will continue to welcome future staff members.”

Leighton Chumbley, chief executive of Prime, said: “We’re delighted to see residents moving into this incredibly important key worker accommodation complex. This is a much-needed scheme, which will not only improve the lives of the hardworking and dedicated NHS staff and students who work at the hospital, but it will also breathe new life into Yeovil town centre. We are honoured to share this occasion with Yeovil Hospital NHS Trust and Speller Metcalfe who have been integral in the successful completion of the project.”

Mark Hudgeon, regional director for Speller Metcalfe, said: “This scheme has been a significant milestone for the project team who have worked extremely hard to ensure continuity in the delivery of the construction phase for the NHS

during the pandemic.

“We are delighted to see the apartments open, which will know will help to create flexibility, respite and easy access for Yeovil’s frontline workers who continue to work tirelessly to support the Somerset community.”

TV presenter Sarah Beeny said: “It was a pleasure to join some of the Yeovil Hospital team today to celebrate the opening of their impressive apartment complex for staff.

“This is a really forward thinking move on the hospital’s part, investing such

energy into the wellbeing of colleagues.

It’s clear it will play a significant role in helping the hospital recruit and retain staff, after what has been such a trying and challenging time for the NHS.” PHOTO: TV presenter Sarah Beeny (second left) is pictured at the opening of the new accommodation block with (from left) Yeovil Hospital chairman Paul von der Heyde, Prime associate director Kim Barnes, Yeovil Hospital chief executive Jonathan Higman and Yeovil Mayor, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones.

New MRI scanner arrives at Yeovil Hospital YEOVIL District Hospital has gained a new MRI scanner – although it was not a straightforward delivery.

This large piece of equipment will allow the hospital to provide a fantastic level of MRI diagnostics, but due to the size of the machine it meant there had to be some significant work carried out in the front entrance/reception area of the

14

hospital to allow the scanner to get into the radiology department.

The first step in the preparations involved removing the doors in the front entrance. “We took the opportunity to fully replace these with doors that can open to full height and provide a more flexible entrance,” said a hospital spokesman.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

10% OFF

CONVEYANCING FO R EM ERG EN CY S ERV I C ES & A R M ED FO RC ES PER SO N N EL

We of fer this discount as a token of appreciation to our NHS, Fire Ser vices, Police, RNLI, HM Coastguard and Mountain Rescue and Armed Forces employees.

To receive this discount, the home owner must

Moving house is said to be one of the top 5

receive the discount.

be an emergency services employee (in joint applications just one person must be employed to be eligible).

Please contact Joanna Shortland in our Yeovil office on 01935 426047 to discuss further and to instruct her directly to

most stressful life events (according to Google) but for qualifying emergency service personnel, hopefully this offer makes the journey ahead a

NB: Evidence of employment will be required upon instruction.

little brighter!

MAGNOLIA HOUSE | 54-58 PRINCES STREET | YEOVIL | SOMERSET | BA20 1EQ B R I D G W AT E R | TA U N T O N | M I N E H E A D | Y E O V I L | M A R T O C K | E X E T E R

A M I C U S L AW.C O.U K | 0 19 3 5 42 6 0 47 For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

15

Volunteers urgently needed by St Margaret's for fundraising events THE St Margaret’s Hospice charity is urgently appealing for volunteers to help with their fundraising events this year.

The hospice is looking for people with great interpersonal skills, lots of enthusiasm, who are reliable and responsible, and ready to help out with fundraising activities and events.

St Margaret’s Hospice is a local charity and every year it relies on the support of the local community to raise fund to provide care and support for more than 5,000 people throughout Somerset.

One in three local people will be touched by St Margaret’s in their lifetime and the care and support it provides makes a huge difference to people’s lives.

There are lots of roles to choose from at the hospice events, including: Serving teas and coffees; stewarding or marshalling; sourcing prizes for raffles and auctions; setting up or packing down before and after an event; selling merchandise or raffle tickets at events; promoting fundraising events in your

local area by delivering posters, leaflets and newsletters to local shops, community notice boards, libraries, village halls or GP surgeries; and providing admin support, from stuffing envelopes to making follow up phone calls.

There was a strong anti-feeling towards St Margaret’s when it decided to close its inpatient unit at its Yeovil hospice in late 2019, but the charity still does a lot of work in and around the local community with those seeking end-of-life care at home.

Kerry Baillie, community partnerships fundraiser for St Margaret’s, said: “Volunteers are an essential part of fundraising here at St Margaret’s, helping us raise vital funds to allow the hospice services to be freely available to the community of Somerset.

“We are grateful for your help and there are lots of opportunities to get involved in; whether it be manning a stall at one of our hospice led events, representing the hospice out and about at community events or at a supermarket

bucket collection, or even if you just have a few hours a month to spare displaying posters in your local area – your support really does help. There is never a dull moment and at St Margaret’s Hospice Care we do our best to put the fun into fundraising.”

All volunteers will be provided with a full induction from St Margaret’s and will receive regular updates from the team

to keep them motivated and inspired.

Training will also be provided for all volunteers to help them deliver their role.

If you have got some time to spare, whether that is a few hours every now and again or something more regular, please get in touch with Kara Frampton at kara.frampton@st-margarets-hospice. org.uk to find out more.

Fete to be held at St Margaret's in Yeovil THE St Margaret’s Hospice charity is inviting everyone to join in the fun at its Yeovil fete later this month which is being proudly sponsored by Amicus Law. This year’s event on Saturday, July 31, will be jam-packed with fun activities for the whole family to enjoy including face painting, a barbecue and a variety of stalls selling food, plants, homemade crafts and much more. There will also be a children’s play area and a vintage tearoom.

As with so many events last year’s fete was unable to take place so this year the hospice hopes that there will be a real community feel as people celebrate coming back together whilst raising funds to care and support patients and their families who are facing a lifelimiting illness in the Yeovil and South Somerset area.

Kerry Baillie, community partnerships fundraiser for St Margaret’s Hospice, said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming people to this year’s fete and hope the event will bring the community together after months of lockdown due to Covid-19.

“We want everyone to have fun and see what brilliant work the hospice does to help people across Somerset. We had a great time at our 2019 fete and hope to welcome back people to this year’s fete.”

Claire Lovett, managing partner at Amicus Law, said: “We are thrilled to be sponsoring this wonderful local event again and it will be great to see clients, colleagues and members of our community able to return to the Summer

16

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

Fete after the disappointments of last year. We have long established roots in Yeovil and so we are particularly proud to be involved with the incredible work that St Margaret’s does for the people of our town and we wish everyone involved all the best for the smooth running of the day.”

Relevant Covid-19 restrictions will be in place to ensure everyone’s safety.

The fete is taking place at St Margaret’s Hospice in Little Tarrat Lane, Yeovil, BA20 2HU, from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, July 31. Entry is £2 for adults and free for children under 14. Parking is available at Aldon Fields.

Although the inpatient unit at the Yeovil hospice was controversially closed

by St Margaret’s Hospice bosses in late 2019, the charity still offers end-of-life care services to people in the Yeovil and South Somerset area.

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

Get on your bike for St Margaret's Hospice and pedal up the £s KEEN cyclists can help raise funds to care for people in Somerset by signing up for a popular hospice to hospice cycle ride this summer.

St Margaret’s Hospice Care’s Charity Cycle Ride is being held on Saturday, July 18, with a choice of routes starting at the Yeovil hospice.

The popular fundraising event will see participants tackle a leisurely 40-mile route from Yeovil to Taunton or an epic 80-mile circular route from Yeovil to Taunton and then back to Yeovil.

Entries are now open for the pedalpowered challenge, with places costing £25 for any distance. Participants are encouraged to raise sponsorship for St Margaret’s Hospice Care, which last year supported more than 5,000 people affected by life-limiting illnesses across Somerset.

By raising £100 in sponsorship each cyclist could pay for a Specialist Community Nurse to visit a patient at home.

This year’s event is proudly sponsored by the Bicycle Chain and Clarke Wilmott solicitors. The event is open to riders aged 12 and over but anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an

adult.

Chris Thorne, head of Clarke Willmott’s Taunton office, said: “We are delighted to be able to support a cause as worthwhile as St Margaret’s, a charity that provides inspirational support to members of our local community.

“We’ve taken part in a number of initiatives to support the hospice, from sponsoring and entering a team in the previous cycle rides to helping out at the warehouse sorting donations so they could be delivered to stores and sold. The whole team really appreciate the work of St Margaret’s across the county and are always pleased to make a difference to patients and their families.”

Paul Kenchington, owner of The Bicycle Chain added: “As a local familyrun business our aim is to support and grow cycling in Somerset no matter what level of riding from a child’s first bike to professional athletes. The role of St Margaret’s Hospice Care in our community is one we are very proud to support.

“The work St Margaret’s carry out helps so many families and we are very fortunate to have this facility on our doorsteps. Cycling through the beautiful

Somerset countryside, supporting a great cause and riding with other likeminded cyclists will all add up to a truly memorable day.”

Cyclists will set off from the Yeovil hospice and most of the route is on quiet B-roads which will be marshalled for safety, and there will be on course mechanical support to help riders in case

of punctures.

Refreshments will also be available before and after the ride, with a water station at the halfway points. The event will be Covid compliant and held in line with Government guidance.

For route details and to book your place visit www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk .

For Caroline, every minute with her kids is precious Show Caroline how much you care Search online for St Margaret’s Hospice to find out more and donate, or call us on 01935 709485 Registered charity number: 279473

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

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

17

Creative community inspires Yeovil for summer holidays FRONT Yard Fest is coming to the Yeovil community in August – following the success of the first-ever Yeovil Window Wanderland in February where more than 200 window displays lit up the night across the town and surrounding villages.

Taking place between August 8-29 Front Yard Fest Yeovil is a brand new community art event to celebrate our homes – spaces that have become vitally important to us during the pandemic.

Presented by Yeovil Art Space with funding support from Somerset Community Foundation, residents of Yeovil are invited to decorate the front of their homes, including window, car, balcony, porch and garden with a variety of ideas flowers, sculptures, recycled art, bunting, banners, yarn bombing. It seems as long as it’s family friendly, anything

goes.

Participants will be inspired to ‘Re-Use, Reclaim, Re-imagine’ and to help create a walking art trail around Yeovil, a Covidsafe summer celebration for 3 weeks of colour and sunshine.

Front Yard Fest coordinator Kara Bignell-Bird said: “This idea grew from the phenomenal success of Yeovil Window Wanderland. I thought, let’s have a summer celebration of our town, let’s bring the holiday season to our homes and communities. We’ve had over a year of uncertainty. Let’s put something on the calendar that Covid can’t cancel!”

There will be community art workshops for all ages from July 28-31 from 2pm at the Yeovil Art Space in the Quedam Shopping Centre. There will also be toolkits and online videos provided to share activities and ideas from artists, to

make unique displays for friends, family and neighbours to enjoy together.

For those that may not have the time for a home project, you could also be part of a town effort to ‘bunting bomb’ the Quedam by creating your own bunting out of any suitable materials.

Groups, schools, organisations and families are being invited to incorporate their name/logo onto the bunting for a representational display.

Kara said: “There will be many of us who can’t go away this summer, so let’s bring the holiday vibe to our streets.”

Find out more about signing up for the event at http://www.yeovilartspace/ frontyardfest Join the Facebook group www.facebook. com/groups/frontyardfestyeovil/ and if you would like to share your ideas on social media you can tag #FrontYardFest

@YeovilArtSpace .

Bunting collection points for 31st July will be: Yeovil Art Space, Unit 23, The Quedam; EPS, Unit 29, The Quedam; Coop, Mudford Road, Yeovil; Co-op Stiby Road Yeovil; Co-op St. Michaels Road Yeovil; Co-op Garage Sherborne Road; and Ninesprings Cafe, Yeovil Country Park.

Town centre museum plan discussions have started DISCUSSIONS are underway about whether a museum-style facility could be opened in Yeovil town centre.

An independent Heritage and Arts Working Group has been set-up to investigate whether some sort of museum – to show off Yeovil’s rich and vibrant history – could be situated in the town.

The Yeovil Museum Campaign – which was launched in the February edition of the Yeovil Press community newspaper – has continued to receive tremendous support.

An online petition, started by local historian Bob Osborn, who curates the hugely popular A to Z of Yeovil’s History website, has amassed over 1,000

supporters and there continues to be a call among local people for Yeovil to have a museum reinstated back into the town centre.

And now a couple of meetings have been held to look at the possible project involving local interested parties.

Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden, who has attended the meetings, said: “It has been very encouraging and I think there is a definite enthusiasm for the project – although it is far too early to get carried away with things.”

The online petition is still available for people to sign and they can go to www. change.org/Yeovil-Museum for further details.

Panto society looks to fill important positions for next show THE Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Society is looking for people to take up key positions for its plans for its 2022 show.

YAPS will hopefully be returning to the stage soon following the Covid-19 pandemic, but it needs directors, musical directors and choreographers for the next panto which should – fingers-crossed – take place at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil from January 23-29, 2022.

Although it has been stressed that a final decision on whether to go-ahead with a panto has yet to be taken depending on any Covid-19 updates.

18

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

But if anyone is interested in getting involved with the group then please email yeovilamateurpantosociety@ gmail.com with your CV outlining your experience and which role you would like to undertake.

“We are a fun, family orientated society with a cast of about 50 each year,” said a YAPS spokesman. “You would be required to work within a tight knit production team and closely alongside the committee to produce another fantastic show for YAPS at the Octagon Theatre.”

Deadline for applications is Saturday, July 31.

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

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

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

19

Days of people going into town to do their shopping are over TO think that people now go to town just to do their shopping is an oldfashioned outlook on modern-day society, says Yeovil Chamber of Trade president Dave Woan.

“The old retail model is over,” he said. “The idea that we go into town to do shopping is over. If people become fixated on the idea that the town is there for shopping they will be disappointed.

“Going into town is now all about giving people an experience and making it a safe environment with plenty to do.”

Some people might raise their eyebrows at that as there would seem to be a lot of hard work ahead to make Yeovil town centre a pleasant experience for visitors.

But Mr Woan remains confident. “The high street is coming out of the pandemic and it will be leaner and fitter and we’ll be ramping things up and trying to make people to turn their heads towards Yeovil,” he said.

“People keep asking me why all these coffee shops and hairdressers are opening up in town,” he said. “They are here

because there is a clear demand for them and it gives a clear indication to where retail is going for the town centre.

“You can’t get coffee shops or hairdressers online. The internet is becoming a way of life for a lot of businesses and if the internet fell over tomorrow a lot of businesses would fail.”

He said the Chamber of Trade was working closely with South Somerset District Council and other interested parties to try and improve Yeovil.

“The Chamber is joining the dots,” he said. “We will get through this. I don’t want this to sound like the end of the world, but I know it has been really difficult for some people.

“We are trying to look forward in Yeovil and SSDC remains ambitious and is putting a lot of money into and pushing ahead with projects.

“The Chamber has got a good working relationship with SSDC and I am concerned that that might falter if something goes to centralise things under a planned new unitary authority.”

Yeovil town centre isn't falling apart says Chamber president THE president of the Yeovil Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Dave Woan, remains “positive and upbeat” that the future of the town centre looks good.

Mr Woan, always very enthusiastic about the town, was speaking during an online presentation as part of a virtual Yeovil Business Fair on June 29.

Around a dozen people tuned-in via the Zoom conferencing technology to listen to Mr Woan talk about his hopes and aspirations for the town centre.

And while local social media is often full of doom and gloom from people who have been less than impressed with the appearance of the town centre and commented on the amount of empty shops, Mr Woan is optimistic about the future.

“The town isn’t falling apart,” he said.

“For every business in the town that has closed since 2015, 1.8 new businesses have come in.

“We are not unique, but we are bucking the trend. I am positive and upbeat.”

Mr Woan admitted that the full extent of the problems caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic would not really be known until later in the year when the Government’s Furlough pay scheme

20

came to an end.

But he has been hugely impressed by the “resilience, pragmatism and cooperation” of the business community in Yeovil during the pandemic.

“There will be winners and losers in this,” he said. “There will be casualties and there will be changes.”

Mr Woan, keeping up the positive vibe, said on a recent trip to the Quedam Shopping Centre in Yeovil he counted up just seven empty units out of a total of 42.

He said the Quedam was offering good rental deals for new people coming in and making “the environment right for people to set-up in the town.”

PHOTO: Chamber of Trade president David Woan.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

Mr Woan said that “success isn’t guaranteed” but added that Yeovil had a unique selling point with the Yeovil Country Park and that the Yeovil

Refresh project would be looking to take advantage of that.

But even Mr Woan admitted that some parts of the town centre looked “shabby.”

COMMENT: Something explosive needs to happen to turn around Yeovil's town centre THERE is no doubting that Dave Woan’s enthusiasm for Yeovil is infectious. He is very much a “halfpint full rather than half-pint empty” kind of chap.

I have always applauded Dave’s drive and vision to improve the future of Yeovil’s businesses and his unwavering desire to put a smile back on the face of the town centre really is second-tonone.

He is definitely a fine asset to the town and an ambassador for the town and the Yeovil Chamber of Trade and Commerce could not have anyone more befitting the role of president.

But even I – a proud and true Yeovilian – find it increasingly difficult to cling onto every word of Dave’s irresistible appetite to paint a positive picture of the town as if they were written in tablets of stone.

No doubt many people have taken a walk through the town centre lately and walked away again with disappointment.

It is depressing. Empty shops aplenty, tired looking facades, ugly concrete flower troughs, drug dealing going on in full view, street drinkers and vagrants loitering on every corner – Yeovil town centre is not a happy place at the moment.

I remember many moons ago when

there was talk of a regeneration project for Yeovil town centre –known as the Yeovil Vision - and attending a breakfast meeting at the Manor Hotel where consultants from the wonderfullynamed Flying Giraffe firm gave a presentation.

I was left somewhat taken aback, however, when the consultants started off their presentation and declared that the best thing ever to happen to Manchester’s “city centre” transformation was when the IRA bombed it in 1996 as the devastation left behind gave the powers-that-be a clean canvas from which to work with.

I have always remembered that and still think it was wrong for the consultants to say that an IRA bomb was the “best thing ever to happen.”

But I understood what they meant in terms of getting the wheels of transformation moving and although I would not wish anything so horrifically drastic to happen to Yeovil – it might take something pretty metaphorically explosive to turn around the appearance and fortunes of our beleaguered town centre.

I wish everyone involved the very best of luck – they will need it; or am I just being cynical?

STEVE SOWDEN Editor, Yeovil Press

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

Westminster Street work to kick-off Yeovil Refresh project is delayed SOUTH Somerset District Council plans to borrow more money to ensure its regeneration of Yeovil town centre can go-ahead.

The council received just over £9.75m from the Government for its Yeovil Refresh programme which plans to deliver numerous improvements to the appearance of the town centre following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The council has already allocated funding towards the public realm improvements in and around Westminster Street, which was originally due to start on June 28, but has now been pushed back to allow Wessex Water to divert an existing sewer.

A Yeovil Refresh spokesman said: “The start of this work will be briefly delayed as Wessex Water recently advised that a sewer diversion will be required to facilitate the work being undertaken.

“We are working with relevant authorities to secure a new start date as quickly as possible.

“It remains estimated that the work at Westminster Street will be completed this autumn and, by this time, it’s expected that work at The Triangle and Wine Street will have commenced.”

Match funding is now needed to ensure the rest of the programme can proceed – with the council seeking to plug the gap through at least £2.8million of extra borrowing.

The Yeovil Refresh programme comprises a number of different initiatives designed to make the town centre more attractive and easier to access for residents and visitors alike.

These include improvements to the bandstand area and the surrounding streets, making it easier to stage cultural

events and eventually bringing forward regeneration of the former cattle market site.

The council’s current net budget for Yeovil Refresh is £3,855,000 – which includes a recently-improved package of £1.2million to improve cycling and walking routes in the town centre funded through external borrowing.

The government has provided £9,756,897 through its future high streets fund, of which £4,784,377 has been allocated to the approved public realm improvements.

The council needs to provide match funding to the future high streets fund grant in order to allow these projects to move forward quickly – with all projects having to be completed in full by March 2024.

To speed up this process, the council proposed to borrow a further £2,604,168 – bringing its net budget for the scheme to just shy of £6.5million.

This includes a payment to Somerset County Council of up to £800,000 to “help improve town centre roads above standard maintenance.”

The council aims to find additional funding for Yeovil Refresh through business rate retention and income from its numerous commercial investments, budgeting £1million for the latter.

Yeovil Refresh project manager Ian Timms said: “This will enable us to enhance our delivery in Yeovil town centre.

“This funding allows us to draw £5.58million of government funds from the future high streets fund. Without this additional funding, we will forfeit some of the funding.”

The proposals were due to be discussed

Business rates are crippling high street retailers THE president of the Yeovil Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Dave Woan, has said that business rates are the “elephant in the room” when looking towards the future of the town centre.

He said that the business rates were crippling many retailers and making it impossible for them to remain trading successfully.

“The elephant in the room is business rates,” he said. “Retailers are being penalised for being on the high street.

There needs to be some changes made in the respect of business rates.”

Mr Woan said the system was from

a “bygone era” and did not take into consideration modern day life and needed to be reformed.

He also said that online businesses should “pay their way and be more equitable with the high street businesses.”

Manager of the Quedam Shopping Centre in Yeovil, James Tovey, that the business rates were an “ancient” system.

He said that business rates represented a “large chunk” of a company’s outgoings.

“We’ve been talking about the death of the high street and the issue of business rates is a large factor in this,” said Mr Tovey.

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

How Westminster Street should look after the planned improvement works.

by the council’s District Executive committee when it was meeting on Thursday (July 1) morning as the Yeovil Press went to press.

Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh claimed in May

that the council did not have enough money to proceed with Yeovil Refresh as a result of funding a poll on the future of Somerset local government – a claim which the council has staunchly denied.

YEOVIL PRESS YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

CALLING ALL BUSINESSES If you would like to advertise in forthcoming editions of the Yeovil Press community newspaper please get in touch.

We offer competitive rates.

Email: yeovilpress@gmail.com Phone: 0777-319-8081 YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

21

ON OUR DOORSTEP News from around South Somerset

Leaving spaces go wild to allow wildlife to thrive SOUTH Somerset District Council is “going wild” in a bid to help areas of wildlife thrive in the local community.

The authority has already backed the national declaration of a climate and ecological emergency facing the planet and in line with its commitment to creating better habitats for wildlife it is trialling a number of changes to the way some green spaces across the district are managed.

The council is backing Plantlife’s No Mow May project – a no mow trial allowing flowers to bloom and species prosper across certain council-owned spaces.

A council spokesman said: “We’ll be changing our mowing routine at specific areas in Castle Cary, Ansford, Milborne Port, Cucklington and Ilminster to allow wild plants to flower and then set seed, hopefully creating enough nectar for ten times more bees and other pollinators.

“You’re also more likely to spot a greater variety of flowers popping up in your community over the seasons now that these areas are not being cut five times a year.”

This No Mow conservation project has been developed in collaboration with South Somerset communities, parish and town councils and the district council’s grass cutting crews.

The aim is to bring increased biodiversity to our towns and villages.

As part of our Environment Strategy we stated ‘our aspiration is to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it’, and we hope this trial is the beginning of how we see much more of our marginal grassland managed in the future.

Members of the public can join in.

“Anyone with a patch of land, however small, can do this,” added the council spokesman. “Mark out your area and

leave it to thrive through the summer and beyond.

“Join us on this journey to help re-wild and return some of our verges and lesser used pieces of land back to nature. You can find everything you need to know about No Mow May and how to mow your lawn for wildlife here.”

The council’s environment spokesman, Cllr Sarah Dyke, said: “This past year has made us all realise the importance and benefits of nature more than ever. During lockdown we saw how the natural world thrived when not interfered with by humans. The council’s No Mow trials are a way we can reassess how and where we mow council land, it will inspire us to look at marginal spaces in a different way, and break the habitual cycle of mowing for mowing’s sake, by allowing them to become biodiverse havens for wildlife.”

The council’s horticulture specialist, Stephen Fox, added: “Our team is looking

forward to altering the cutting regimes and monitoring how the verges and open spaces respond to this new approach.”

PHOTO: South Somerset District Council’s environment spokesman Cllr Sarah Dyke.

Secret Storyteller trail Home severely damaged launched in Wincanton in fire at Compton Dundon THERE are secret stories in Wincanton!

If you look carefully you can find ten tales all hidden in Wincanton town centre shop windows.

Scan the code on your phone and you can hear a story told by local schoolchildren, with the help of storyteller Sarah LloydWinder.

Sarah and the children of Year 4 at Wincanton Primary School are part of the Secret Storyteller.

“We are very excited and hope many people will find and enjoy the stories,” said Sarah. “No need to listen all at once.

Listen to one and then do some shopping, or have a coffee, and come back to listen to more later.

“They will be there for a while so there is no need to rush. We have had a great time making these stories and we hope you have a great time listening.”

The stories were released in a small, but lively event on June 12 next to Wincanton Library. A socially distanced crowd gathered outside in beautiful sunshine with live music and storytelling.

Cllr Sue Shelbourn-Barrow, Mayor of Wincanton, opened the event and welcomed everyone. “The Secret Storyteller trail is an amazing project that showcases our secret writers who were

22

present and a key part of the launch,” said said. “This is a brilliant project for all to enjoy!”

Sarah received grants from both the Arts Council and The Wincanton Town Centre Regeneration Events and Activity Grant from South Somerset District Council to create the project entitled The Secret Storyteller’s of Wincanton.

PHOTO: The Secret Storyteller, Sarah Lloyd-Winder, at the opening event in Wincanton on June 12.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

FIREFIGHTERS from around the area were called out to deal with a fire at a house in Compton Dundon which is situated between Somerton and Street.

Three fire engines from Street, Somerton and Glastonbury were initially mobilised at just before 9.30pm to the incident on Sunday, June 13, in Compton Street.

As they raced to the scene firefighters could see a large plume of smoke and requested extra support which came from Wells.

Firefighters discovered that the

detached property was on two floors and there was a fire on the first floor and roof space.

As the problems escalated further backup support came from fire crews based in Martock, Yeovil and Wiveliscombe.

The firefighters eventually got the situation under control and put the fire out, but the property had suffered severe damage.

A spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the cause of the fire was “accidental.”

AN ELDERLY man escaped unhurt after a fire broke out at his home in Martock.

The alarm was raised at just before 5.30pm on Saturday, June 19, to the incident at a property in Eastfield Close, Martock, and firefighters from Martock, Yeovil and Somerton were mobilised.

On arrival the firefighters confirmed a fire in the kitchen of the mid-terraced

bungalow and they rescued one elderly man from the home and quickly got to work to deal with the situation.

“The gentleman was not injured and the cause of the fire was accidental,” said a spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. “There was slight smoke damage to the property.”

Firefighters rescue man from bungalow fire

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

Saving our skylarks at Ham Hill Country Park THE beautiful song of the skylark is becoming a rare sound in the countryside these days with the species in decline nationally in the UK - but there are ways that you can help protect them when visiting the Ham Hill Country Park on the outskirts of Yeovil.

When we think of nesting birds it’s generally assumed that birds only nest in trees and hedges, and not raising chicks tucked away down in the grass.

Skylarks are ground nesting birds and a grassy meadow full of insects, grass tussocks and wildflowers is a perfect home for the species.

That makes Ham Hill Country Park near Stoke-sub-Hamdon ideal for them to raise a family and continue to be part of our countryside. Countryside rangers

at the site are working hard to protect and provide the perfect habitat for them.

However, nesting on the ground in meadows means they are vulnerable to disturbance from dogs running off the lead. As skylarks are camouflaged and their nests are well hidden in the long grass, people don’t often realise they are there.

Assistant ranger Izzy Da Silva said: “Sadly, this year we are seeing high numbers of people walking their dogs off leads in our meadows where skylarks nest at Ham Hill.

“With dogs dashing across meadows, our skylark nests are under threat of being trampled and with this disturbance the parent birds are more likely to abandon the nest altogether.”

Dogs running loose in the areas where

Hands up for the Brain Tumour Research charity NEARLY £800 was raised during an event at Ilminster Skatepark in aid of the Brain Tumour Research charity.

The High Five to Ilminster event saw people make a donation and put a colourful mark on the skatepark ramp facade with a hand print.

The event was the idea of Ilminster mother-of-three Katie Galan-Wilkinson who is living with a brain tumour.

The plan was to get at least 100 people to go down to the skatepark to put their brightly coloured handprints on the ramp – as part of the Captain Tom 100 nationwide project.

And Katie, speaking on social media Facebook, said: “I would like to thank everyone that came down to the skatepark and made a donation as well to those who weren’t able to make it on the day but still kindly donated.

“Not only have we created own art masterpiece in town, but together we raised an amazing £794.35 including Gift Aid which is absolutely wow!”

PHOTOS: Taken during the High Five to Ilminster event – courtesy of Daniel Horsington.

Teenager assaulted at play park in Martock POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 15-year-old boy was assaulted while at a play park in Martock.

The victim was at the park, in Bracey Road, at about 7pm on Thursday, June 10, when he was harassed and pushed and kicked by a group of other teenagers.

The offenders then attempted to steal his bike.

He suffered bruised ribs and a broken arm as a result, which required hospital

treatment.

A police spokesman said: “We believe there were four male offenders, aged between 12 and 15 years old, who were riding bikes.

“We’d like to speak to anyone who saw this incident, or has information about who was involved.”

If you can help, please call police on 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5221129346.

the birds nest can lead to their nests being accidently run through, breaking the skylark’s eggs or squashing young

chicks. Parent birds can feel threatened by dogs as they see them as a predator in close proximity leading to abandonment, or nest failure.

At Ham Hill, the plateau fields tend to be the best place to see and hear these birds during the summer months from April to July. It is only during these couple of months in the summer that the rangers ask members of the public walking dogs in these meadows to please put their dog on a lead. The meadows with skylarks nesting have clear signs on the entry points into the meadows. Meanwhile the woodland areas and Northern Spur remain open for dogs to be allowed off the lead but kept under close control.

PICTURE: An information sign at Ham Hill Country Park telling visitors about the nesting skylarks.

Survey to shape the future of the town CHARD people have been having their say on shaping the future of their town centre in a new consultation.

South Somerset District Council is currently carrying out its flagship Chard regeneration scheme which includes a new swimming pool and leisure centre and an annual cultural programme of events to attract visitors.

The council is working with PER Consulting to develop the Future Chard Strategy which will shape how the town will be improved for both residents and visitors over the next 15 years.

As part of this process, residents have been invited to give their views on what projects should be prioritised in a new consultation on the council’s website, which closes on Friday, July 2.

The survey allows those who either live or work in Chard to rank their priorities for the issues which concern them most

about the town, as well as which areas most urgently need improvement.

A council spokesman said: “PER Consulting have been commissioned to develop a 15-year strategy for Chard that focuses on both the people and place.

“In order to shape our strategy, we need to understand what issues are important to people who live or work in Chard.

“The short survey has been capturing people’s comments on what really matters to them. We are seeking to identify barriers and constraints and how they can be improved and to determine what priorities we should focus on to improve the area. ” The survey has spanned a range of topics many of which have been brought into sharp focus during the Covid-19 pandemic including education, health, transport, employment, crime, culture and housing.

Fatal crash on the A303 between Sparkford and Podimore THE A303 between Sparkford and Podimore remains closed for much of June 17 following a serious collision in which a person sadly died.

The collision, between a car and a lorry, happened at about 10.30pm the previous night on Wednesday, June 16.

Emergency crews were called to the location but the driver of the car, a 32-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family were informed and supported by specially trained officers.

A 36-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and investigations have been ongoing.

The road remained closed for some time

while an investigation was carried out at the scene and repair work was carried out due to a fuel spillage. Motorists were advised to avoid the route.

A police spokesman said: “We are appealing for anyone that witnessed the collision to make contact.

“They would also like to hear from anyone who holds dash cam footage from the A303 between Cartgate and Podimore, between 10.15pm and 10.30pm on June 16.”

If you have any information which could help the police investigation, please contact the roads policing unit by calling 101 and giving the call handler the reference number 5221134914.

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM YEOVIL AND SURROUNDING AREAS VISIT WWW.YEOVILPRESS.CO.UK For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

23

Yeovil employees' race to put wellbeing in first place YEOVIL employees working at aerospace engineering company Leonardo have smashed an international target for a challenge that asked them to prioritise their health and wellbeing - an increasingly important theme due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Leonardo, which has a site at Lysander Road in Yeovil employing over 2,800 people, took part in a global ‘Race to Space’ initiative that challenged employees around the world to clock up a joint total of 46,000km, which is roughly the distance from Earth to the Galileo Satellite Constellation and back, by any physical means.

It was a concept that resonated with many of Leonardo’s employees since the company provides technology for the global satellite navigation systems for the Galileo satellite programme, in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).

Employees from Edinburgh, Luton, Lincoln, Basildon, Bristol, Southampton, Yeovil joined colleagues in Italy, Poland,

USA, France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Cyprus, Canada, and South Korea for the challenge. They cycled, ran, climbed and swam their way to almost double the target set, achieving a global total of 88,039.1km.

Tracking employees’ progress on Strava made it possible to assemble statistics that attested to the 1,508 participants’ efforts. Employees completed 4,946 activities over 5,658 hours and 55 minutes, equivalent to a total of eight months. The elevation climbed was 827,005m, equal to climbing Mount Everest 93 times and 2,152,740 calories were burned, equivalent to 10,604 slices of rich indulgent chocolate cake.

Project manager Rebecca Abraham said: “The Yeovil Open Water Swim Team thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Race to Space challenge.

“Our team is a mixture of Leonardo Helicopter employees and individuals from private businesses and the MoD. We swam the mile to the bandstand and back with the view of the six cruise ships in the bay at Weymouth and the huge spider

think that has been an important feature of the challenge, to try and reconnect with friends and colleagues that have become too remote during the Covid-19 restrictions.”

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, employees have made extra efforts to deliver to customers, while volunteering to produce PPE for their local communities and like everyone across the country, they have been adapting to changing times.

crabs beneath. I also met up with friends to cycle through the Somerset countryside to clock up some extra miles.”

Programmes engineer Jeremy Fox, a keen cyclist, added: “As friends and colleagues from different locations on the Yeovil site, we probably hadn’t seen each other for over a year for a chat, so it was a well-paced ride with plenty of time to catch up and enjoy the scenery. I

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.

24

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Mutual passion brings together Somerset businesswoman and aspiring athlete SOUTH Somerset financial adviser Jenny Manders has teamed up with local dressage equestrian Isobel Goodwin to help her fulfil her sporting ambitions through sponsorship.

Both women have a mutual love of horse-riding, owning six horses and three Shetland ponies between them.

And it was through riding and a short setback for Jenny that first drew them together.

“Back in 2017 when I was out of action with a shoulder injury Isobel was recommended to me as a professional rider and local coach to ride my horses Benny and Toby,” said Jenny.

“It was then I first experienced Isobel’s impressive work ethic and the expert knowledge she has in her field.

“I soon learnt she took her first coaching qualification at just 14 years old and has gone on to achieve so much success whilst competing in dressage over the last nine years.

“I was blown away by this young lady’s drive and determination. That’s why I

am delighted to sponsor Isobel to help her reach her sporting dreams at an international level.”

And Jenny added: “Horse riding - and in particular dressage - is an expensive sport. By supporting Isobel’s journey through sponsorship, I can play my part in her success. It means so much to me to bring my love for the equestrian world into my workplace and make it a force for good.”

Anyone who visits Jenny’s Practice, Manders Financial Services, which is based at Horton Cross near Ilminster, will be immediately struck by the setting and her obvious love of horse-riding the offices overlook the paddocks and stables where she cares for her horses.

What’s clear is that by sponsoring an equestrian is the perfect fit for Jenny both professionally and personally.

Isobel said: “I’m thrilled to be offered this opportunity of working with Jenny.

For her to offer me this sponsorship makes me really excited for the future, my athletic career and our friendship.”

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

Jenny is also guiding Isobel with expert financial advice, to make her financial plans robust and flexible enough to adapt as her career develops.

For more information go to www.

MandersFinancialServices.co.uk .

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

25

NEWS IN PHOTOS

Royal Navy works alongside Leonardo to deliver surprise for local Scouts

THE sound of whirring rotor blades grew louder and suddenly a Leonardo AW159 Helicopter emerged from above the tree line to land in Holy Trinity Scouts’ campsite to give the Yeovil-based Scouts an unforgettable experience.

Up to that point, the Scouts had been given no indication that they were about to witness an AW159 Wildcat approach the field, fly several circuits and then land as part of a STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – project.

Commanding Officer of 825 Naval Air Squadron, Scott ‘Stimpy’ Simpson, then emerged from the aircraft to give them a STEM briefing like no other – on the design and technology which powers the helicopter and also how it is operated by the Royal Navy and Army Air Corps.

As his aircraft left, the aircrew waved from the windows, to return to RNAS Yeovilton, after completing a training mission earlier in the evening around the South Coast.

Commander Simpson was joined by

Scout Leader Scott Sullivan, who is also Assistant Chief Project Engineer on the Leonardo AW101 helicopter, as well as fellow Scout Leader, Sam Newton from Leonardo’s site at Lysander Road, Yeovil, and with support from AW101 Project Engineer Joseph Ribbons. Together they spoke to the Scouts about the principles of helicopter flight, the helicopter’s capabilities and its operational deployments around the world.

Scott Sullivan said: “We would like to give our thanks to Commander Simpson and 825 Naval Air Squadron for giving the Scouts a remarkable experience of engineering at close range. We have had wonderful feedback from the Scouts and their families on the lasting impression this has left on them and we very much hope that it marks the beginning of a very rewarding future in engineering.”

Commander Simpson added: “It was a real pleasure to visit Holy Trinity Scouts tonight to give a presentation about 825 Naval Air Squadron and the Wildcat.”

Apprentices receive Peer Support awards FOUR of Yeovil College’s business admin apprentices from Leonardo Helicopters received a Peer Support award.

They received this award for showing outstanding support to those around them throughout their studies despite the difficult year everyone has endured because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here is Chloe Parfoot with her Peer Support award certificate.

26

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

Kate will help to look after families THE Yeovil-based Stuart Foster Funeral Services have welcomed Kate Ridewood to the company.

Kate has taken up a role as a funeral arranger for the business which is situated in Market Street and is one of the Yeovil Press’ most loyal advertisers.

Funeral director Stuart Foster said: “Kate’s responsibility will be assisting me daily in carrying out all the arrangements for people’s loved ones’ funeral.

“Kate will be looking after families to the highest caring standards achievable and we wish her well with her future within the company.”

PHOTO: Kate Ridewood.

Mini-triathlon to raise awareness about mental health A BARBER shop owner descended on the Nuffield Health sports centre in Yeovil to carry out a mini-triathlon to raise money for charity.

Rebecca Essex-Crosby, owner of Krew Barbers in Crewkerne, has been working with the Lions Barber Collective – an international charitable group of barbers who have undergone training to raise awareness and recognise mental health issues and help with suicide prevention.

The mini-triathlon on June 13 involved a swim, cycle and run and Rebecca was joined by one of her clients, Tom King, in memory of his brother Daniel who he sadly lost due to a long battle with mental health in 2015.

The Lions Barber Collective has a mission to create a non-clinical and nonjudgemental safe space within the unique relationship between client and barber.

Research shows that clients feel comfortable to talk about their mental health to barbers and those working in the health and beauty industry and it is important that those in that sector can recognise symptoms and signpost people to the support and information needed.

Rebecca said: “As an experienced barber being in the trade for over 30 years I am very aware that we are in a unique position of spending time with clients who may often find it difficult to

talk about how they are feeling.

“In the relaxed safe environment of a barber shop it is an opportunity to talk, listen and recognise the signs.”

Rebecca was delighted at how the minitriathlon went and her online JustGiving page has so far amassed £1,530.

“It has been an amazing response and I can’t thank people enough for their support,” she told the Yeovil Press.

If anyone would like to add to the total – please go to https://bit.ly/3xUV2Jl .

PHOTO: Rebecca Essex-Crosby with Tom King.

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

Terry backed Freedom Day delay New recycling campaign starts THE chairman of the Yeovil Constituency Labour Party, Terry Ledlie, has said that people need to stick to the Covid-19 restrictions for a few more weeks in “one last push” to beat the virus.

Mr Ledlie (pictured) said he was disappointed as everyone when the Government postponed Freedom Day and the lifting of restrictions on June 21 and delayed it until July 19.

“We are all getting fed up with the extremely long-running Covid restrictions, but we really do need one last push to beat the virus,” he said.

“The Labour Party supported the extension of the current restrictions until July 19 to allow more people to be vaccinated.

“I believe that this was a difficult, but necessary step if we are to avoid the stopstart economy we have suffered during the past year.

“I was therefore very disappointed to see that our local MP, Marcus Fysh, voted against the restrictions. It has been widely reported that Mr Fysh wanted the Government to adopt a regional approach. My view is that it would have been daft to set different rules here for just 28 days, especially as the number

in Yeovil and surrounding area

of confirmed Covid cases has been increasing again since the restrictions were relaxed in May. “While Covid is still fairly rare in South Somerset , the number more than doubled last week. There were 40 new cases in the past week, compared with just 18 the week before. This is a sign that we have not quite won the battle yet.”

“One of the main reasons that we have keep been able to prevent the virus from spreading too far in Yeovil and the surrounding area is that local people have been willing to rise to the challenge and have followed the rules. When I investigate the local shops, gyms, cafes and bars, the vast majority of people by now are well practiced in doing the right thing.”

Anna is looking for your urgent support THE School in a Bag charity will be sending out sanitary kits in the future alongside its famous red schoolbags – thanks to a former Yeovil Mayoress.

Anna Shutler, who acted as the Mayoress when her husband Darren was Mayor from 2016-18, has previously been featured in the Yeovil Press about making washable and reusable sanitary towel pads for women in developing countries around the world.

Each kit contains four towels, a shield to house the towels and a waterproof purse for storage.

More than 400 kits have been supplied to Water Aid boxes run through Shelterbox and both charities will continue to be supported as demands are so high.

But Anna said: “Help is needed in two areas. Firstly I need more materials to make the kits – clean shower curtains, cotton curtains, towels, duvet covers or something similar and cotton thread.

“I’d also like to get some support to help machine the items into finished kits.

“Many thanks for everybody’s support so far, but more help is urgently required as the demand is so huge.”

Items can be dropped off at the School in a Bag charity’s headquarters during normal office hours in Chilthorne Domer or by contacting anna.shutler123@ gmail.com .

The School in a Bag distributes schoolbags packed with everyday school items such as books and pencils to

A NEW era of recycling has started in South Somerset with the first Recycle More collections having just taken place.

Recent issues with some collections have not delayed the arrival of Somerset Waste Partnership’s new service which adds new materials to weekly kerbside recycling.

SWP officials have said that more recycling will mean less rubbish which has led them to take the decision to move the collection of rubbish bins and bags from every two weeks to every three – something which will not be welcomed by many people.

Residents can use the calendar in their “Recycle More is coming soon” leaflet to see their collection days for the next 12 months. Please check because collection days will be changing for around a third of households.

Recycle More has been running in Mendip since October where it has seen 100 tonnes of extra recycling collected every week.

It adds the following items to the weekly collections: Plastic pots, tubs and trays; food and drink cartons; small batteries; small electrical items.

People will need to put different things into different containers. Please check your leaflet and blue bag tag for your simple, colour-coded explanation of what goes where.

The Bright Blue Bags should be used for: Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and

trays - rinsed and squashed/nested; tins and cans - rinsed and, if safe, crushed; aerosols – empty; foil - rinsed.

Green Box: Glass bottles and jars, and cartons, including Tetra Pak. Black Box: Paper and card Brown Food Waste Bin: All food waste Carrier Bags: Small household batteries, small electrical items - crews will return bags.

Anyone with questions or concerns about Recycle More can find more information online somersetwaste.gov. uk/recycle-more or call South Somerset District Council on 01935-462462.

SWP is holding its next out of hours Recycle More Facebook Q&A session on Monday, July 5, from 7pm to 8pm.

Please post your questions as comments @somersetwaste and the team will respond.

For the latest updates on Recycle More follow Somerset Waste Partnership @ somersetwaste #recyclemore on Twitter and Facebook.

Fire Service receives dozens of calls about flooding

under-privileged children around the globe. Sending out Anna’s sanitary kits along with the schoolbags will help other members of the child’s family and those in need.

The first consignment of 100 sets of sanitary pads is due to be sent out this month to a refugee camp in Belgium under the School in a Bag name.

PHOTO: Anna Shutler.

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

FIREFIGHTERS from across South Somerset were called out to support colleagues in the Chard area after severe rainfall in the town led to dozens of calls for help because of flooding.

Two people were rescued from their vehicle after it got stuck in floodwater on the A358 at Tytherleigh and taken by boat to dry land on Monday, June 28.

There were further reports of vehicles stuck in floodwater at Chardstock and Wadeford.

Flooding affecting people’s homes in Chard were reported in Lower Coombses, Mill Lane, Perry Street and Station Road, Tatworth and Forton; Combe St Nicholas, Bryer Close, Furnham Close, Alun Rees Way, Furnham Road, St Mary’s Close, Bewley Court, Wadeford Hill, High Street, Gillingham Court, Coker Way, Court Street, Scrapton Lane, Glynswood, Oak End Way, Lower Touches, Crib Close, Court Mill, Blacklands Lane, Weston Road, and Furzehill.

Chard Town Council opened up the Guildhall in the town centre to offer facilities to people whose homes had been flooded out, while South Somerset District Council initiated its emergency plans to give more support.

Firefighters have reminded people not to drive through floodwater.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

27

Support for Armed Forces Day STAFF at the Tesco Extra store in Yeovil gave out some goodies to say “thank you” to those who are currently serving in the Armed Forces or those who have retired.

It was all part of the annual Armed Forces Day in which we thank those who

risk their lives to defend our safety and freedom.

Tesco Extra in Yeovil is the Yeovil Press’ biggest distribution outlet each month and we would like to thank the store for its support.

YEOVIL YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

Community grants PRESS awarded by Tesco

PLACES WHERE YOU CAN PICK-UP A COPY OF YOUR MONTHLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION

MAIN OUTLETS:

Tesco Extra store in Yeovil Morrisons store in Yeovil Palmers Garden Centre in Yeovil Yeovil Library Iceland store in the Quedam Shopping Centre Westlands Yeovil Entertainment Venue OTHER OUTLETS: The Tesco Express stores in Cavalier Way and on Abbey Manor, Yeovil; the Co-op Garage on Sherborne Road, Yeovil, the Spar Post Office community store on West Coker Road, Yeovil; No5 Cafe Diner on the Lynx Trading Estate in Yeovil; the Co-op store on Stiby Road, Yeovil; Nationwide Building Society, Middle Street, Yeovil; Sonni's Cafe on the Lufton Trading Estate, Yeovil; Montacute Service Station, Montacute; the Co-op store in Stoke-sub-Hamdon opposite Stanchester Academy; and West Coker Garage in West Coker.

More outlets will become available once we are out of the Covid-19 lockdown.

If you have an outlet which might like to stock copies of the Yeovil Press - please email yeovilpress@gmail.com 28

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

THE Tesco Extra store in Yeovil has handed out three grants worth nearly £3,000 to local groups for the period April to June 2021.

AEDonate, a small charity working towards placing defibrillators into communities across the UK, has been awarded £1,000.

A further £1,000 has been awarded to Sherborne-based Project Escapeline – a free support service to parents and carer with concerns about vulnerable children who may be at risk of exploitation by County Lines gangs.

The Yeovil Visually Impaired Bowls Club has been awarded £946 for a project supporting people over the age of 16 who are registered blind or partially sighted to play bowls.

Do you run a group or a project which could benefit from a Tesco community grant? For more information and apply go to www.tescocommunitygrants.org .

Tesco Extra in Yeovil is the Yeovil Press’ biggest distribution outlet each month and we would like to thank the store for its support.

Nationwide's a new outlet for the Yeovil Press THE Nationwide Building Society branch in the town centre has become the latest outlet to stock copies of the Yeovil Press community newspaper each.

The branch can be found in Middle Street, Yeovil, and is currently raising money to fund at least one potentially lifesaving 24-7 public access defibrillator for the town which can be used on someone in the event of them having a cardiac arrest.

Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden said:

“I would like to thank branch manager Julie Turner for her support and it’s great to add the Nationwide to our growing list of distribution outlets each month for the paper.”

If any other outlet in the town would like to stock some copies of the free Yeovil Press newspaper publication – please email Steve at yeovilpress@gmail.com .

Turn to Pages 8-9 of this edition of Yeovil Press to find out more information about the local defibrillator campaign.

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

Scarecrow invasion at Morrisons store in Yeovil THE Morrisons supermarket store in Yeovil was invaded by fantastic scarecrows – as part of the company’s Seeds of Hope project which was launched earlier this year.

Morrisons has been working with a number of local schools, care homes and community groups in the Yeovil area on a variety of gardening projects.

Over the weekend of June 26-27 the store in Lysander Road welcomed 15 scarecrows made by groups involved in this project. It was an amazing sight with scarecrows made by children under five years of age to those made by people over 90-years-old.

Liz Templar, the store’s community champion, who organised the event,

said: “We were thrilled by the number of people who showed so much imagination and creativity in making such wonderful scarecrows.”

The project does not end here. A number of the scarecrows are now going on a little holiday.

Scarecrows from some of the care homes will be visiting schools and reporting back on how different school is today, while there are scarecrows made by schools who will be taking a little rest at a care home - they may be in for a bit of a surprise!

Morrisons in Yeovil is one of the Yeovil Press’ biggest distribution outlets each month and we would like to thank the store for its support.

Cruella takes to the screen at Westlands

THE Westlands Yeovil entertainment venue is showing the movie Cruella as the latest in its popular Screenings in the Ballroom features.

Cruella, which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs.

She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets.

One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson.

But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.

Cruella is being screened at Westlands on Friday, July 2and Saturday, July 3, and then again on Monday, July 5, and Tuesday, July 6.

For more information – please go online to www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk .

The Westlands Yeovil entertainment venue is a valued distribution outlet for the Yeovil Press each month.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

29

NEWS AT A GLANCE 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.

POLICE have been reminding visitors to the Yeovil Country Park about car security and beating opportunist thieves.

Officers have been putting leaflets on the windows of parked cars providing crime reduction advice about protecting vehicles from being targeted by thieves.

“Please remember to make sure your vehicle is secure and that valuables are not left on show,” said a spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police.

POLICE are investigating following a suspected arson attack on a parked car in Yeovil.

The alarm was raised at just before 4am on Thursday, June 24, to the incident in Crofton Park when the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service received a number of calls from members of the public about a car being well alight.

One fire engine from Yeovil was mobilised and firefighters reported that the car involved in the incident was parked outside a property and close to other vehicles.

They quickly got to work to deal with the situation and to stop the fire from spreading.

“We requested the attendance of the police as we believed the fire to have been caused deliberately,” said a spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. “The vehicle suffered about 45 per cent fire damage and we left the incident in the hands of the police.”

Anyone with information about the suspected arson attack can contact police on 101.

SOUTH Somerset is on the hunt for a new chief executive after its first choice quit for “personal reasons.”

Alex Parmley announced in midApril that he would be stepping down as chief exec of SSDC to take up a new position in New Zealand.

Clare Pestell, the council’s director of commercial services and income generation, was announced as his interim replacement in early-May. But she will no longer be taking up the new post, with the council having to recruit externally before Mr

30

Parmley’s contract formally ends on July 11.

A council spokesman said: “Due to personal reasons, Clare Pestell will no longer be taking up the interim position of chief executive.

“Alex Parmley will remain as chief executive until such time as the recruitment process for an Interim chief executive has concluded and an appointment made by the council.

“That recruitment process will commence immediately through our appointments committee.”

The council said it hoped to fill the new position before July 11.

The decision to appoint an interim chief executive, rather than a permanent one, is largely informed by the prospect of the council (along with the county council and the three other district councils) being replaced by either one or two new unitary authorities by 2023.

The results of a non-binding poll over the two options – dubbed One Somerset and Stronger Somerset respectively – are expected to be published later on Monday (June 7).

The information will then be sent to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), which will publish its final decision before the parliamentary summer recess begins in late-July.

POLICE issued a 48-hour dispersal order last month for a number of people to stay away from Yeovil town centre.

The order was given on June 9 as a result of persistent anti-social behaviour and disorder.

“A number of people causing disorder were issued notices to disperse and they were found within the defined area within 48 hours they would face arrest,” said a spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police.

The area included the town centre and Newton Road and Wyndham Hill.

STAFF from Somerset’s local council authorities have helped to speed up the county’s vaccination programme by making thousands of calls to organise vaccine appointments.

Throughout the course of the pandemic, the contact centres of Somerset’s five councils have joined forces to support the people of Somerset and the NHS. During that time the contact centre staff and redeployed staff have been supporting Somerset’s NHS Primary

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

Care Networks by booking residents in for vaccination appointments.

In total council staff made approximately 133,693 phone calls and booked in 32,303 appointments across Somerset.

As at June 13, 2021, a total of 687,694 vaccinations have been given in Somerset, and the success of the vaccination roll out has contributed to significant falls in infections, hospitalisations and deaths from the virus.

This work has been an example of successful collaboration between Somerset’s five councils and the NHS and wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment and dedication of staff across these organisations.

The partnership working that made the vaccination bookings support possible was built on the success of the Coronavirus Helpline, which has received more than 14,000 calls to date.

Set up at the start of the pandemic by Somerset’s Local Authorities working together with partner organisations such as Mindline and the Community Council for Somerset, the Coronavirus Helpline has provided a single point of contact for anyone in need of Covid-19 related support over the past year.

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

THE Yeovil-based Bradfords Building Supplies has won the Builders’ Merchant of the Year (21-50 branches) at the Builders’ Merchants Awards 2020 for the second year in a row.

Bradfords’ We’ve Got Your Back campaign was also awarded Marketing Initiative of the Year.

The Builders’ Merchants Awards is now in its 19th year and run in partnership with the Builders Merchants Federation.

The awards are independent and aim to showcase the best and the brightest in the merchant industry, bringing together both merchants and suppliers to celebrate achievement and excellence across the sector.

David Young, chief executive of Bradfords Building Supplies, said: “Thinking back to how challenging the last 12 months have been for the whole

industry, these award wins are more poignant than ever and testament to the hard work and dedication to customer service from our teams across our network of 43 branches.

“We’re hopeful that it won’t be too long until we can all celebrate the incredible work carried out during our 250th anniversary year, together in person.”

Dan Miller, in the company’s Ross on Wye branch, was recognised by the judges for his amazing work to win Branch Manager of the Year.

A HOMELESS facility in Yeovil town centre could become part of ongoing regeneration efforts once its replacement is up and running.

South Somerset District Council currently contracts the Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA) to provide emergency accommodation at the Pathways site on Newton Road in Yeovil to homeless single people from across the district.

The council’s district executive committee agreed in early-June to provide the BCHA with nearly £400,000 towards the purchase of a replacement facility outside of the town centre, with Homes England putting up the remainder of the funding.

The council has now revealed the Pathways site could be redeveloped as part of its Yeovil Refresh programme, with officers currently working on detailed proposals.

The Yeovil Refresh programme contains a number of measures designed to revitalise the town centre, including a number of improvements to the public realm which are being implemented over the course of the summer.

The council said it was exploring the future use of Newton Road, so that any future use of the building – whether residential or commercial – would enhance the work already being undertaken.

A spokesman said: “There is a real opportunity to work closely with BCHA as part of the Yeovil Refresh to redevelop Newton Road in a completely different way, contributing to the regeneration of a vital area in the town centre.

“Any plans for this site will be made public as soon as they are available.”

The council has declined to reveal the precise location of the new facility, since its negotiations with the current owner remain ongoing.

It has also refused to confirm whether

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

the facility was a care home or nursing home – despite it being described in official reports as “a purpose-built and contemporary care-based facility” with 39 self-contained beds.

It has, however, offered assurances that the facility would not lead to a rise in antisocial behaviour or other issues, following criticism of the Canonsgrove facility near Taunton.

A spokesman said: “Feedback from the police about the proposed new site has been very positive.

“Plans are now being discussed with BCHA and the police to put in place measures from the outset to establish a more secure environment.

“The new premises will enable BCHA to provide specialist, tailored support to residents in a safe environment similar to other services they run in Plymouth and Exeter.

“BCHA are currently in negotiations with the current owner over the purchase price. Initial discussions with Homes England are constructive and they will be considering a grant application.

“It is not possible to put a precise time-frame on this at the moment while negotiations continue and grant applications are considered, but we will do all we can to ensure the success of this proposal as quickly as possible.”

“We have agreed a target with the government to reduce rough sleeping in South Somerset to zero by the end of 2021.

“Investing in and securing this new premises will helps us deal with the immediate situation, but will also secure a more positive and effective facility that will contribute to reduced homelessness and rough sleeping in the district, particularly in Yeovil town centre.”

BRYMPTON Parish Council has awarded grants worth £1,300 to two local organisations.

Councillors agreed to award an £800 grant to the Brympton Allotment Association to help fund the increased height of its boundary fence to 6ft and to improved security by planting prickly hedging to deter thieves.

They also agreed at their meeting on June 2 to support the Swan Theatre in Yeovil with a £500 grant towards the cost of a new ventilation system.

A MAN had to be taken to hospital by air ambulance after becoming trapped inside a car on the outskirts of South Petherton.

Emergency services were mobilised just before 10.30pm on Thursday, June 24, to the incident involving a car and a lorry in Harp Road at Watergore.

Fire engines from Martock and Yeovil attended the scene and found one person trapped in the car, while the lorry driver was described as “walking wounded.”

Firefighters used cutting equipment to rescue the trapped man from the car who was then transported to hospital

by air ambulance.

Police also attended the incident.

FIREFIGHTERS in Yeovil were called out to deal with an incident involving a motorbike on fire outside a well-used garage on the outskirts of the town.

The alarm was raised at just after 10.15am on Saturday, June 19, to the incident outside the White Post Garage on West Coker Road.

One fire engine from Yeovil was sent and firefighters quickly set about dealing with the situation although the motorbike was badly damaged by fire.

THE South Somerset Visitor Information Centre has been honoured again - after winning Silver at the recent South West England Tourism Excellence Awards 2020-21.

This adds to the Gold award won at the Bristol Bath and Somerset Tourism awards earlier this spring.

The award is a fitting acknowledgement to the dedication and hard work that the team have put in to promote Somerset and the South West as an exciting and varied visitor destination.

Bev Stapp, team supervisor for the centre said “The tourism team is extremely proud to win this prestigious accolade for South Somerset, up against the entire South West region.

After a particularly difficult year we are really looking forward to promoting this outstanding area and supporting our local businesses. We anticipate a very busy season ahead and look forward to welcoming visitors.

“Our team has been working hard behind the scenes developing free handy guides and itineraries for our visitors that we can’t wait to share.

Our new website will also launch just in time for our busiest season which will really help people make the most of their time here.”

Sponsored by South West Water, the awards programme opened for entry in March 2020 and, with plenty of adaptations and extensions along the way, it concluded on April 22, 2021.

In the same way that hospitality businesses have had to change and innovate during this extraordinary period, so too have the awards, with judging taking account of business entries, digital presence and feedback along with evidence of Covid-secure measures. Winners came from Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath, Devon and Cornwall and include categories for accommodation, food and drink, attractions, events and experiences as well as innovation and outstanding contribution.

South Somerset District Council’s economic development spokesman, Cllr John Clark, said: “Another fantastic award for the South Somerset Visitor Information Centre really goes to show the quality of service provided by the team at the site and we are immensely proud to receive this award.

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

“South Somerset is a gateway into the South West of England and we have plenty of local attractions and things to do in the district which people can enjoy and our Tourist Information Centre gives us that shop window to sell our extraordinary accommodation, food and drink, attractions, events and experiences.”

The South Somerset Visitor Information Centre is located at Cartgate Picnic Site just off the A303 and A3088 roundabout and is open daily at 9am until 3.30pm between April and October.

As well as offering expert advice and information, the centre has a gift shop and can also provide discount vouchers to attractions, advance discount tickets to Haynes International Motor Museum, advance discount tickets to local events and coach tickets for National Express and Berry’s Coaches.

SOMERSET County Council’s road safety team want to help people ensure their vehicle gets them safely to your “staycation” at the restrictions from Covid-19 begin to ease.

The road safety team subscribes to FLOWERS - a simple check that spots minor vehicle problems before they become major.

Fuel – Check you have enough for your journey; Lights – Check the lights are clean and the bulbs are all working; Oil – Check the oil to make sure it’s at the correct level; Water - Check the coolant and windscreen washer levels; Electrics – Check the battery is in good condition; Rubber – Check the tyres for signs of wear, check that tyre pressures are correct and that tread depths are above the legal minimum of 1.6mm (it is advisable to replace a tyre if the tread depth is less than 3mm); Self – Are YOU fit to drive?.

Whilst vehicles need maintenance, it is just as important to make sure the driver is looked after on a long journey.

Staying hydrated and planning breaks of a minimum of 20 minutes for every two hours of driving into your route are some of the best ways to do this.

It is also important to make sure a vehicle is not overloaded - cars have far longer stopping distances when loaded and handling an overloaded vehicle is much more difficult.

The county council’s highways spokesman, Cllr John Woodman, said: “As the road safety team suggests, please carry out a FLOWERS check before you head off on a long journey this summer.

“A vehicle that is running smoothly will ensure that your holiday goes ahead as planned.”

THE Memorial Hall at West Coker has been given a modern renovation after being awarded £5,964 in community grant funding – thanks to South Somerset District Council’s Area South committee.

The grant awarded to West Coker Commemoration Fund (WCCF), who

operate the popular village hall, in June 2020 was provided to contribute towards costs for new double glazed windows, masonry works and new flooring.

The Memorial Hall building and facilities needed to be urgently upgraded and bought up to modern standards, particularly for disabled access and environmental efficiency.

West Coker Parish Council was also supportive of the project and awarded £5,000 towards the project with the remaining costs needed to complete the works coming from the WCCF’s own funds and fundraising.

Improvement works at the village hall have now been completed and the facility is set to welcome new and old users once again to take advantage of the new improvements.

Cllr Peter Gubbins, chairman of the Area South committee, said: “We were delighted to be able to provide a community grant for the works at West Coker’s Memorial Hall and help to bring the facility up to modern standards so they can cater to a wider audience.

“Community grants are there to help make a real difference for the wider community and this particular project is a great example of what can be achieved with funding through the Grants process.”

David Neal, trustee of West Coker Commemoration Fund, said: “We are very pleased with the result of the refurbishment project and it has made a significant difference to the bookings already! It couldn’t have been done without the grant we received from South Somerset District Council, so we would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone involved in making this happen.”

The district council’s community grants programme support community, voluntary and charitable organisation, along with not-for-profit groups that have a signed set of group rules, parish or town council and other organisations including churches and schools.

You can find out more about the council’s community grants programme on its website at www. southsomerset.gov.uk.

FIREFIGHTERS were called out to deal with an outbuilding on fire in a village near Chard.

One fire engine from Chard was mobilised on Sunday, June 13, at just before 6.30pm to the incident in Winsham. A second crew from Ilminster also attended the scene.

The outbuilding contained machinery and logs and firefighters quickly got to work in dealing with the situation, but the shed and its contents were badly damaged in the fire.

A spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had been caused as a result of an accident.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

31

Please help - why Yeovil Hospital needs a Breast Cancer Unit FOR patients who think they may have breast cancer and for those who have already had the diagnosis – a visit to hospital can be a daunting experience.

That is why Yeovil District Hospital wants these patients to receive their care in a unit that is built with privacy and dignity in mind.

Here are 11 reasons why the hospital – with your help – would dearly love to create a new Breast Cancer Unit.

1: More women are surviving breast cancer, but more are being diagnosed than ever before.

2: One in eight women in the UK will face breast cancer in their lifetime.

3: Every 10 minutes, another woman in the UK is diagnosed with the disease.

4: The team in Yeovil treat 2,000 new patients every year and 3,000 follow-up patients.

5: Demand is increasing by 5% every year and our current facilities are being stretched to the limit.

6: There is currently no dedicated unit for breast cancer patients.

7: Patients are having to undress

multiple times in different departments around the hospital.

8: There are no rooms available for difficult conversations.

9: Breast cancer patients wait in shared waiting areas.

10: There is currently no fitting room for prostheses and specialist underwear needed after surgery.

11: Lack of space and the use of multiple locations affect patient privacy and dignity.

The £2m appeal was launched just over two years ago and despite the problems with fundraising over the past 12 months or so the figure raised so far stands at about £1.74m. It means around another £250,000 is needed and with your help that goal will be achieved.

The Yeovil Hospital Charity hopes that by raising the funds needed to build a new and dedicated Breast Cancer Unit, which will become a one-stop-shop for patients with breast cancer and suspected breast cancer, the benefits of an improved environment will be so important.

Axe throwing supports breast cancer unit appeal DAVE Laws works as a pharmacy assistant by day and has an axe throwing business in his spare time!

The Valhalla Axe Throwing team was at the recent Marston Magna Fair and gave half their takings to Yeovil District

Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal.

Yeovil Hospital Charity volunteer Karina Parsons went along and is pictured having a go.

A fantastic £160 was raised for the appeal.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE APPEAL

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 PHONE: 01935 383020 to talk to the fundraising team EMAIL: fundraising@ydh.nhs.uk 32

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

Hair today and gone in July for lockdown locks THREE ladies will be having their “Covid hair” cut in aid of Yeovil Hospital Charity’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal.

Lydia Everitt, Annie Falvey and Elizabeth Ingham, of Gillingham, have not had their hair cut since the “before times” – over 18 months of growth.

When asked why they chose to support the breast bnit appeal, Lydia said: “A cure for cancer is taking a very long time to be found, and we’re not there yet.

“In the meanwhile people die from it, suffering such heartache on the way.

And these include friends of mine.

“Yeovil has nearly always been my goto hospital from Gillingham. There was one particular accident and A&E were excellent.

“My dad spent bits of time in Yeovil Hospital as he got older and frailer. So I looked at Yeovil Hospital first and the breast cancer appeal seemed the obvious choice.”

They will be joined in the charity hair cut by one man who too has grown his locks during lockdown.

If you would like to sponsor them please go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ the-covid-hair-cut

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

Getting on their bikes for charity FOUR intrepid cyclists are cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise money for two fantastic charities.

Jane Baker, Stuart Watson, Sue Fox and Sharon Belben from the Mudford Social Cycling Group are supporting Yeovil District Hospital and myaware, the only UK charity dedicated to supporting people living with the rare neuromuscular condition myasthenia.

Myasthenia is a neurological condition which is characterised by fluctuating, sometimes potentially fatal, muscle weakness.

Sharon said: “In 2019 my husband was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis after six months of several tests and appointments to try and find out what was happening to him.

“This is when we came across myaware who has supported my husband Terry and I since 2019. The support received has helped us come to terms with how much our lives have changed and helped Terry with dealing with his condition.”

The cyclists were given a great send off from Mudford village hall on June 26 as they travelled down to Lands End in Cornwall for the start of their marathon cycle ride the following day. Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, and her consort was there to wish them well along with other supporters including Yeovil Hospital Charity volunteer Karina Parsons.

Cyclist Jane Belben, who is raising money for Yeovil Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal, said: “I was inspired to get out and cycle more by women who became friends some of whom had been

treated at Yeovil Hospital for breast cancer and sadly one of whom lost her life far too soon.

“I too have been seen by the breast team and been reassured, but I have seen the constraints they work within.”

Stuart Watson, who is a Gulf War veteran after serving ten years in the Royal Air Force as a medical assistant and medical administrator, said: “Please support myself and my colleagues in this challenge to raise funds for two worthwhile charities.”

They hope to reach John O Groats in the tip of Scotland by July 11 and complete the 1,000 mile journey.

Their Just Giving Pages can be found on these links: MyAware - Fighting Myasthenia Gravis Together: www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/SharonsLEJOG .

Yeovil District Hospital: www. justgiving.com/fundraising/StuartWatson32 .

Yeovil District Hospital Breast Care Unit Appeal: www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/jane-baker16 .

PHOTOS: Christine Jones.

Caroline and Becky's circumnavigation walk of the Isle of Wight NOVICE trekkers, breast surgeon Caroline Barnes and breast clinical nurse specialist Becky Laney, will be taking on the mammoth challenge of walking the full circumference of the Isle of Wight in just five days.

Originally the duo planned to do a Great Spanish Walk, but had to improvise as that pesky COVID-19 complicated things!

But on July 11 and armed with walking boots and plasters, they will be trading their sterilised hospital environments for the great outdoors by walking around the Isle of Wight to raise money for Yeovil District Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal.

Please support them by visiting w w w. j u s t g i v i n g . c o m / f u n d r a i s i n g / carolineandbecky .

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

SUPPORT OUR NHS STAFF

We need you now more than ever...

Your donation could help us to purchase more equipment and support our staff 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 YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

33

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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SUGG – KEITH: Janice and family would like to say thank you to all the people that sent cards or gave donations in Keith’s memory. We would also like to thank Dr Esther and all the staff on Ward 6B of Yeovil District Hospital for the kind way they treated Keith.

YEOVIL PRESS YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

SEND US YOUR FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS Births, Birthdays, Marriages, Anniversaries, Congratulations

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS (Details are correct at time of receiving information)

CHILD – COLIN: Died peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital on May 28, 2021, aged 76 years. Private service held due to current global circumstances. Family flowers only, but if you wish to make a donation in lieu, please forward a cheque made payable to Prostate Cancer UK directly to funeral director Stuart Foster Funeral Services Ltd, 27 Market Street, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1HZ. Phone 01935-508971 for further details.

MILLER – AILEEN JOAN: Of East Coker and former landlady of the Albion Inn, Forresters Arms and the Helyar Arms. Well-known and respected licensee in the South West. Passed away peacefull at home on June 4, 2021. A verymuch loved wife of Dudley and loving mum to Paul. Due to current restrictions a private funeral service will take place. Donations in memory of Aileen for Cancer Research UK may be sent c/o Clive Wakely, A. J. Wakely & Sons, 33 Sparrow Road, Yeovil BA21 4BT. Phone 01935-479913 for more details.

WHITTLE – LESLIE (Les): Passed away peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital on Tuesday, June 8, aged 90 years. Beloved husband of the late Margaret Mary Whittle and now reunited.

Restricted mourners at funeral service being held at Yeovil Baptist Church due to current

LUKINS – NEIL: We hope you had a lovely 50th Birthday on July 1. Love from all your family and friends.

LUKINS – NEIL: Welcome to the 50 Club!

Many happy returns for your 50th Birthday on July 1. Love and best wishes from Preston School’s Class of 1982-87.

LUKINS – NEIL: Congratulations for your 50th Birthday on July 1. Best wishes from all your friends at Yeovil Town FC. LUKINS – NEIL: Many happy returns for your 50th Birthday on July 1. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

Email - yeovilpress@gmail.com 34

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

CHURCHILL - Reginald (Reg): Passed away peacefully at home after a long illness on June 18, 2021, aged 89 years. Much loved husband to Shirley, adored dad to Karen and Nicola, grandad, great grandad, father-in-law, brother, brother-in-law and uncle. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all his family and friends. Private funeral service. Donations in memory of Reg are invited for Myeloma.org. uk .

REDWARD – ROGER CHARLES (Rog): Formerly of Tintinhull passed away peacefully at home on June 19, 2021, aged 64 years. A very much-loved husband to Veronica, loving dad to Jeremy and Zoe and also treasured grandad.

Due to the current restrictions a private service will take place. Donations in memory of Rog for St Margaret’s Hospice may be sent c/o Clive Wakely, A. J. Wakely & Sons, 33 Sparrow Road, Yeovil BA21 4BT. Phone 01935-479913 for further details.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

LISTINGS ARE FREE ADD A PHOTO FOR £7.50 Phone - 07773-198-081

global circumstances. Family flowers only please, donations if desired in aid of Yeovil Baptist Church. Please make cheque payable directly to the charity and these can be sent to c/o Stuart Foster Funeral Services, 27 Market Street, Yeovil BA20 1HZ. Phone 01935-508971 for further details.

Many happy returns to Neil Lukins who celebrated his Big 50th Birthday on July 1.

CLANCY – JOHN: Hoping you had a wonderful Birthday on July 5. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

CLANCY – JOHN: Best wishes to a Yeovil Town legend for your Birthday on July 5. Best wishes from all supporters of Yeovil Town FC. BEAUMONT – KIRSTY: We hope you have a fantastic Birthday on July 6. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BEAUMONT – KIRSTY: Hoping you have a marvellous Birthday on July 6. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

BEAUMONT – KIRSTY: Congratulations for your Birthday on July 6. We hope you have a wonderful day. Love from all your friends at the Castaway Theatre Group.

FRANCIS – MICHAEL: Congratulations for your Birthday on July 8. Love from all your family and friends.

WESTON – ANDY: Many happy returns for your big 50th Birthday on July 8. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

WESTON – ANDY: Welcome to the 50 Club!

Many happy returns for your 50th Birthday on July 8. Love and best wishes from Westfield School’s Class of 1982-87.

WESTON – ANDY: Wishing you a very happy 50th Birthday on July 8. Best wishes from all your old pals from the Class of ’82 at Huish School!

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

WESTON – ANDY: Have a great 50th Birthday on July 8. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

FREEMAN – VICKY: Many happy returns for your Birthday on July 9. Love from all your family and friends.

SHIRE – ROBERT: Hoping you had a fantastic Birthday on July 9. Best wishes from your pals at the Yeovil Press.

SHIRE – ROBERT: Wishing you a very Happy Birthday on July 9. Love from all your family and friends.

SYMCOX – SARAH: Congratulations for your Birthday on July 10. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

STALLARD – HARRY: Hoping you have a terrific Birthday on July 11: Love from all your family and friends.

NORMAN – KATE: Here’s hoping you have a terrific Birthday on July 15. Love from all your family and friends.

HYDE – CATHERINE: Hoping you have a wonderful Birthday on July 16. Love and hugs from all your family and friends.

MAPLETOFT – NEIL: Congratulations for your Birthday on July 16. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

SMITH – JEREMY: Many happy returns for your Birthday on July 17. Love from all your family and friends.

SMITH – JEREMY: Congratulations for your Birthday on July 17. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press. Up the Gunners!

CROSS – DAVID: Many happy returns for your Birthday on July 18. Have a great day!

Love from all your family and friends.

EDWARDS – GARWYNN: Hope you have a wonderful Birthday on July 18. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

CAPES – LUCY: Hoping you have a fabulous Birthday on July 20. Love from all your family and friends.

HELYAR – JANE: Hoping you have a wonderful Birthday on July 20. Love from all your family and friends.

HELYAR – JANE: HellYeah! Have a great Birthday on July 20. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

GUPPY – KEIRAN: Have a fantastic Birthday on July 24. Love from all your family and friends.

HELYAR – ASHLEY: Congratulations for your Birthday on July 24. Love from all your family and friends.

HELYAR – ASHLEY: Wishing you a great Birthday on July 24. Best wishes from your chums at the Yeovil Press.

SIMON – LUKE: Many happy returns for your Birthday on July 24. Hope you have a great day! Love from all your family and friends.

SIMON – LUKE: Congratulations for your Birthday on July 24. Love and best wishes from all the team and supporters at the School in a Bag charity.

SIMON – LUKE: Many happy returns for your Birthday on July 24. Best wishes from your pals at the Yeovil Press.

KELLY – MARK: Keep the Faith Brother! Have a great Birthday on July 27. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

KELLY – MARK: Wishing you a very Happy Birthday for July 27. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

KELLY – MARK: Hoping you have a great Birthday on July 27. Best wishes from all your friends at Yeovil Town FC. ASHTON – CLAIRE: Congratulations for your Birthday on July 28. Love from all your family and friends.

ASHTON – CLAIRE: Hoping you have a terrific Birthday on July 28. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

BRIMBLE – SIMON: Many happy returns for your Birthday on July 29. Love from all your family and friends.

BRIMBLE – SIMON: Wishing you a great Birthday on July 29. Best wishes from all your friends at Yeovil Town FC. BRIMBLE – SIMON: Congratulations for your Birthday on July 29. Best wishes from your pals at the Yeovil Press.

DEXTER – NEIL: Hoping you have a wonderful Birthday on July 29. Love from all your family and friends.

DEXTER – NEIL: Congratulations for your Birthday on July 29. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

MAPLETOFT – LEE: Many happy returns for your Birthday on July 29. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

FULLER – JO: Hoping you have a lovely Birthday on July 31. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

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

Happy 50th Birthday to Andy Weston on July 8.

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

Established 1897

A J Wakely& Sons

– 24 Hour Service 16 Newland, Sherborne DT9 3JQ– Pre-payment plans available 01935 816817

Independent Family Funeral Directors

– 24 Hour Service –

16 Newland, Sherborne DT9 3JQ 01935 816817

Established 1897

Pre-payment plans available

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

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

Please contact Clive Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

35

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.

BUCKLER’S Mead Academy students, staff, parents and the local community in Yeovil celebrated after their latest set of encouraging GCSE exam results capped off a brilliant year in 2015. The fast-improving Academy produced a broad range of success stories across subject areas. The students’ encouraging results were achieved despite schools across the nation having to cope with widespread changes to the way exams were marked and volatile grade boundaries.

FIFTY pupils from Milford Junior School in Yeovil went to Westfield Academy in February 2015 and spent a morning honing their culinary skills. The Year Five pupils had a lesson in making pizzas and enjoyed themselves immensely making the dough, chopping the ingredients and then making their perfect toppings.

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

36

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

ENTERPRISE Day for Year Eight students at Preston School in Yeovil – which also acts as a business and enterprise academy – was another big success in February 2015.

The day was based on the popular television programme Dragons’ Den. Preston’s dragons were from local businesses including Labyrinth Computers Ltd, Social Media, Guest Security, BAE, Old Mill Group, ADPR, Porter Dodson Solicitors and 160.

The pupils worked extremely hard to come up with new products and concepts. They worked in small groups

and presented their business plans to a panel of Dragons – detailing financial information, market research that they had undertaken and how they would advertise.

They also confidently answered any questions that were thrown at them by their business inquisitors.

The winning team was ENLO – made up of Nicole Cordero, Eleanor Bowers-Cook, Olivia Cullen and Lauren Robertson with their design of a shoe with interchangeable heels.

Runners-up were Imogen Freeley, Jess French, Imogen MacDonald, Hubert Sikora, Ellis Trowbridge, Amy Overd, Thomas Snaith and Jess Marles.

SIXTY-FOUR students from Westfield Academy in Yeovil went to see Madame Butterfly at the Royal Opera House in early 2015.

The Opera House put on a schools matinee for each production and schools could apply for tickets which then went into a ballot and Westfield was delighted to win tickets!

A Westfield spokesman said: “The whole day was fantastic

and thoroughly enjoyed by all and many students said what an experience it was to have watched a performance at the Royal Opera House.

“What with Madame Butterfly trip and a Night at the Proms, it has been a very classical year for the Westfield music department.”

Class Photos - School Trips Summer Fetes - School Productions Email us your photos to yeovilpress@gmail.com along with the relevant names - if possible - of those in the pictures It would be great to hear from you and relive those school memories For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

SCHOOL NEWS

Dancing gets the feet tapping at Westfield

THE performing arts team at Westfield Academy in Yeovil has been out on some exciting trips.

In the recent half-term break dance teacher Miss Gubb and the Year Ten dancers went to the Future Movements Dance Platform at the Westlands Yeovil entertainment venue.

This was a platform for aspiring young choreographers to show their work – a lot of whom had attended Westfield as students before going off to do dance training such as Natalie Hyde and James Bamford.

Then on June 17 the Year Ten dance and drama groups went to watch Tavaziva at Westlands. Tavaziiva performs work which is a mixture of contemporary

dance and African dance.

“We have had an amazing time watching former Westfield students perform professional work, joining in with a Gumboot dance and watching passionate professional performance by Tavaziva,” said a Westfield spokesman.

New prefects look to build links with community CONGRATULATIONS go to all those Year Ten students at Westfield Academy in Yeovil who have been made prefect and senior prefects.

The Year Ten Pastoral Team brought the students together to hand out their new ties and talk about the duties as part of the role.

Responsibilities include building links with the community, thinking about ways to include all students in extra-curricular activities and looking after the school.

Hannah and Matthew are head students at Preston

PRESTON School students Hannah Neville and Matthew Harriss will represent the school as Head Girl and Head Boy during 2021-22.

Izzy Short and Emma Stacey have been appointed as Deputy Head Girls, while Lewis Dodge will serve as Deputy Head Boy. “Congratulations to this year’s head

student team,” said a Preston School spokesman. “We look forward to them representing Preston in these roles.

“Well done for all their hard work so far during their time at Preston School.”

Pictured (from left) are students Hannah Neville, Matthew Harriss, Izzy Short, Lewis Dodge and Emma Stacey.

YEOVIL PRESS

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR SCHOOL AND COLLEGE NEWS PUBLISHED IN THE YEOVIL PRESS COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER EACH MONTH? Pupil/Student News - Sport News Academic News - Club News Fun News - Dramatic News Success News - Good News Send us your photos and reports to yeovilpress@gmail.com

CONGRATULATIONS go to all those students at Preston School in Yeovil who will serve as senior prefects in 2021-22.

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

We look forward to hearing from you YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

37

PROJECT PLAY PRESENTS DAD'S ARMY AT THE OCTAGON THEATRE IN YEOVIL - JULY 19-22, 2021

Dad's Army are about to whistle while you work at the Octagon THE cast for the Project Play group’s forthcoming production of Dad’s Army at the Octagon Theatre is busy putting the finishing touches in readiness to bring the Home Guard comedy of Walmington-on-Sea to the stage in Yeovil.

Ian Wickens will take on the lead character of Captain Mainwaring, while

his trusted sidekick Sgt Wilson will be played by Brian Williams.

Derek Bourne plays Lance Corporal Jones, while Colin Francis takes on the role of Private Frazer.

Steve Hentschel plays Private Godfrey, and the spiv Private Walker will be played

by Robin Dibben, while Zack Walfare is to appear as Private “Stupid Boy” Pike

with traditional scarf.

And Dad’s Army fans will know what is in store when you hear that Terry Francis will be playing the U-Boat Captain, while Terry will also double-up as the vicar.

Other cast are as follows: Michael J. Vickery, Private Sponge; Daz Swithenbank, Chief Warden Hodges and Private Cheeseman; Amanda Lowder,

Ian Wickens (right) plays Captain Mainwaring (played by Arthur Lowe in the long-running sitcom).

Brian Williams (left) plays Sgt Wilson (John Le Mesurier).

Derek Bourne (right) plays Lance Corporal Jones (Clive Dunn).

Colin Francis (left) plays Private Frazer (John Laurie).

Mrs Fox; Rosie Pritchard, Miss Yeatman the Verger, Ivy Samways and Waitress; Paula Skinner, Edith Parish; Denise Hobbs, Mrs Gray; Caroline Hopkins, Mrs Ironside & Mrs Prosser; Sarah Smith, Mrs Pike; Sue Bisset, Mrs Hart; Robert Wood, Train Guard & Private Day; U-Boat crew – Michael Wills, Michael J. Vickery and Robert Wood.

Steve Hentschel (left) plays Private Godfrey (Arnold Ridley).

Zack Welfare (left) plays Private Pike (Ian Lavender).

Terry Francis (left) plays the U-Boat Captain (Philip Madoc).

Amanda Lowder (left) plays Mrs Fox (Pamela Cundell).

Daz Swithenbank (left) plays Chief Warden Hodges (Bill Pertwee).

Robin Dibben (left) plays Private Walker (James Beck).

38

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

PROJECT PLAY PRESENTS DAD'S ARMY AT THE OCTAGON THEATRE IN YEOVIL - JULY 19-22, 2021

Don't panic! Dad's Army will go-ahead even if Boris changes his mind again!

THE producer of the forthcoming Dad’s Army production at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil has criticised the Prime Minister for extending the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions further.

The Project Play’s preparations for the run of Dad’s Army were expected to ramp up from June 21 – the envisaged “freedom day” from the restrictions of Covid-19.

It would have meant that “normal rehearsals” would begin and allow the production to move full speed ahead towards opening night on July 19.

But Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, took the decision to delay unlocking restrictions for a further few weeks until July 19 – Project Play’s opening night at the Octagon Theatre.

The announcement was met with disgust by Dad’s Army producer Matthew Rock.

“Enough is enough!” he stormed. “I completely agree that everyone has to keep safe. In one breath the Prime Minister appears on our television screens

telling everyone what they want to hear, attaching logic to the “science” and so on.

“But on the other hand, unlike countries with more common sense - our borders have been open throughout the pandemic, not least when an African strain was uncovered and we continued to allow thousands and thousands of people to “touchdown” and “come on in” from Africa!

“Whilst Covid-19 is therefore the underlying cause to this disruption I now feel it’s more of a case that poor decisions and in many cases quite “select” decisions by the Government have left us where we are now.

“I’m therefore NOT going to reschedule our performances again! They will go on and all casts are ready to think OUTSIDE of the box to make this happen, whatever it takes.”

Matthew’s response presents the brunt of that very challenge to the Yeovil cast of Dad’s Army with the proposed “freedom date” being their opening night!

It has meant that all of the Project

THE much-loved BBC sitcom Dad’s Army about the British Home Guard during the Second World War was broadcast on the BBC from 1968 to 1977.

The sitcom – written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft – ran for nine series and 80 episodes in total, while there was also a radio version based on the television scripts, a feature film and a stage show.

The series regularly gained audiences of 18 million viewers and is still repeated worldwide.

The Home Guard consisted of local volunteers otherwise ineligible for military service either because of age or by being in professions exempt from conscription.

Most of the platoon characters depicted in Dad’s Army were over military age and the series starred several older British actors including Arnold Ridley, John Laurie, Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier. Younger members of the cast included Ian Lavender, Clive Dunn and James Beck.

Now the Project Play team will be

looking to do the legends of Dad’s Army proud when they take to the Octagon Theatre stage from July 19-22 with their version of the classic comedy.

The Project Play group is no stranger to taking on big challenges having previously created stage versions of The Vicar of Dibley and ‘Allo ‘Allo – but perhaps Dad’s Army is its biggest venture to date, even more so considering the restrictions it has had to work under due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

The production needs big support from the local community. Go to www. octagon-theatre.co.uk for more details or phone 01935-422884 about tickets.

Play’s rehearsals for Dad’s Army at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil have had to take place outside which has added to the numerous challenges.

But to coin a phrase from Lance Corporal Jones – Don’t Panic!

Matthew added: “I want to turn this on its head! Come on everyone, get a ticket for July 19 in Yeovil and let’s celebrate this together on our opening night.

“The cast really deserve this and I will travel hell and high water to fill that theatre on July 19!”

The Project Play team takes the Dad’s Army production – with different casts – to Wimborne from August 5-7, Weymouth from September 23-26, Burnham-onSea from September 29 to October 2,

Chippenham from October 14-17 and Frome from October 26-30.

PHOTO: The Home Guard of Walmington-on-Sea prepares for the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil with Ian Wickens (centre) as Captain Mainwaring and his motley, loveable bunch of men.

Project Play will do Dad's Army proud

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

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

39

FLASHBACK

IN this month’s Yeovil Press community newspaper we take a pictorial look back at some of what was featured in the corresponding July editions of 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The July 2018 paper was the first-ever edition and the July 2019 paper was Edition Number 10 and July 2020 paper was Edition Number 22. 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 principal of Stanchester Academy, Amy Joynes, is pictured with Glastonbury Festival legend Michael Eavis. The Glasto guru was the special guest of honour at the first-ever Stanchester Festival held at the school in Stoke-sub-Hamdon.

This photo appeared in the July 2018 edition of Yeovil Press.

Photo: Christine Jones.

A fundraising event was held at the Quicksilver Mail pub in Yeovil in aid of St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice and South Somerset Mind charities. The Snakebyte and Cider event was organised by Jane Helyar, of HellYeah Events, with live music and headlined by popular local group Snakebyte. Pictured are some of the party-goers! This photo appeared in the July 2018 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

Fun and prosecco at the Montacute Carnival – this photo appeared in the July 2018 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

Somerset legend and former England batsman Marcus Trescothick (centre) officially opened the new £345,000 clubhouse and pavilion for Yeovil Cricket Club and Westland Sports Bowls Club at the Westland Yeovil complex off Westbourne Close, Yeovil. This photo appeared in the July 2018 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

Volunteers for the Action Medical Research charity joined forces at The Gateway Centre in Yeovil to distribute around 8,500 boxed cream teas around the country. This photo appeared in the July 2018 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Jules Richards, Luke Simon and Darren Shutler - pictured at the 2018 Home Farm Fest at Chilthorne Domer in aid of the School in a Bag charity and they had the unenviable job of keeping the toilets nice and clean for festival-goers. This photo appeared in the July 2018 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

40

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

The Gin Festival at the Westlands Yeovil venue – this photo appeared in the July 2018 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

The July 2018 edition of Yeovil Press included a story about Yeovil Town Council clerk Amanda Card preparing to do the Three Peaks Challenge – walking up the three tallest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours – to raise money for We Hear You, a charity which provides free counselling to anyone affected by cancer and other life threatening conditions.

Amanda (left), a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy South West Region group, is pictured presenting a £150 cheque to Gemma Wilkes, of We Hear You, which was raised during the CIPFA South West’s annual dinner in Bristol. This photo appeared in the July 2018 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Submitted.

Serving up the liquid refreshments at the Stanchester Festival held at Stanchester Academy in Stoke-sub-Hamdon. This photo appeared in the July 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

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

The ColourRun fun at Westfield Academy in Yeovil in aid of St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice. This photo appeared in the July 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

The Vikings were out at Montacute Carnival. This photo appeared in the July 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

The annual Gin Festival at the Westlands Yeovil entertainment venue was a great success. This photo appeared in the July 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

Jane and John Donnelly at The Gateway centre in Addlewell Lane, Yeovil, where they and a team of supporters distributed a whopping total of 8,646 cream teas for the Action Medical Research charity. This photo appeared in the July 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

A team from the Tesco store in Yeovil gather for a group photo ahead of the Race for Life event – which was held at Yeovil College –to raise funds for the Cancer Research UK charity. This photo appeared in the July 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

Members of the Yeovil Town Road Running Club pictured before the start of the first-ever Minster Milers 10k Mash run at Ilminster. This photo appeared in the July 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

Yeovil Hospital Charity fundraiser Sarah Cherry (centre) featured in the July 2020 edition of Yeovil Press holding a £1,000 cheque donated by the apprentices of Honeywell. Photo: Submitted.

Yeovil Golf Club’s annual Captain’s Day line-up of Junior captain Elliot Maggs, past club captain Steve Pike, club captain Dr John Gower and ladies captain Jo Clements appeared in the July 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Submitted.

Appearing on the front page of the July 2020 edition of Yeovil Press was a photo of commemorative trees being planted at Yeovil District Hospital to remember all those affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the incredible efforts of the medical staff and other front-line key workers. Photo: Submitted.

Yeovil dancer James Bamford featured in the July 2020 edition of Yeovil Press after completing a 24-hour dance marathon and raised a fantastic £2,245 for the Acting for Others group. Photo: Submitted.

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

Yeovil funeral director Stuart Foster, of Stuart Foster Funeral Services, appeared in the July 2020 of Yeovil Press in a small photo feature about hair salon and barber shops reopening after the coronavirus lockdown.

Here’s Stuart at Ed’s Barbers. Photo: Submitted.

Yeovil Rotary Club president Clive Wakely (right) featured in the July 2020 edition of Yeovil Press presenting a £500 cheque to Mind in Somerset fundraising manager Vicky Poole. Photo: Submitted.

Sisters Reagan, Catherine and Natalie Hyde, of Yeovil, featured in the July 2020 Social Life feature in Yeovil Press on a visit to Lytes Cary Manor. Photo: Submitted.

This photo of a class of pupils at Huish Primary School in Yeovil from 1979-80 featured in the July edition of 2020 and kicked-off the start of a new feature entitled School Reunion. Photo: Submitted.

The Babylon team of Yeovil Netball Club – pictured before the coronavirus lockdown – were named runnersup in the Netball South West Regional League Three North. This photo appeared in the July 2020 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Submitted.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

41

LEISURE LISTINGS WELCOME to the Yeovil Press leisure listings and what’s on guide. If you would like to have a listing included in the future – please email us at yeovilpress@ gmail.com.

JULY 2021 Friday, July 2, and Saturday, July 3: Westlands Yeovil – Screenings in the Guildhall: Cruella.

Friday, July 2: Westlands Yeovil – Screenings in the Ballroom: Zoonation – The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

Sunday, July 4: Westlands Yeovil – Screenings in the Ballroom: Michael Ball & Alfie Boe – Back Together.

Monday, July 5, and Tuesday, July 6: Westlands Yeovil – Screenings in the Ballroom: Cruella.

Friday, July 9, and Saturday, July 10: Westlands Yeovil – Screenings in the Ballroom: Romeo and Juliet – The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company.

Saturday, July 10: Somerstock all-day music festival at Somerton Recreation Ground headlined by The Christians. Get your tickets at www.somerstock.com .

Sunday, July 11: Octagon Theatre: Hello Again – A Tribute to Neil Diamond.

Sunday, July 11, and Monday, July 12: Westlands Yeovil – Screenings in the Ballroom: Akram Khan’s Giselle – English National Ballet.

Saturday, July 17: CANCELLED: Octagon Theatre: Razzamataz – Live Your Story.

Sunday, July 18: St Margaret’s Hospice – Charity Cycle Ride. The 2021 Charity Cycle Ride offers riders a choice of

hospice to hospice or the epic route from Yeovil via Taunton hospice to finish back at the Yeovil Hospice Hub. This event is once again proudly sponsored by Clarke Willmott and the Bicycle Chain. Book your place for just £25 for any distance.

For further details phone Kara Frampton 01823-345911 or email kara.frampton@ st-margarets-hospice.org.uk .

Monday, July 19, through to Thursday, July 22: The Project Play team presents the stage version of Dad’s Army at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil nightly at 7.30pm. Go to www.octagon-theatre. co.uk or phone 01935-422884 for ticket details.

Monday, July 19, through Saturday, July 24: The Swan Theatre Company presents Night Must Fall by Emlyn Williams. Go to www.swan-theatre.co.uk for more details.

Thursday, July 22: Westlands Yeovil: Paul Smith – Changed.

Friday, July 23: Octagon Theatre: Jive Talkin’.

Sunday, July 25: Open Gardens in aid of St Margaret’s Hospice at Yeovil Hospice.

As part of the annual Open Gardens St Margaret’s Hospice, Little Tarrat Lane, Yeovil BA20 2HU will be open to the public between 2pm and 5pm. Come and explore the tranquil and beautiful garden featuring mature planting and colourful perennials. Appreciate an afternoon full of greenery, relaxation, and entertainment and sunshine, whilst enjoying refreshments on offer to buy.

Please feel free to bring along a picnic.

For further details phone Kara Frampton

Comedian Rhod Gilbert will be at the Octagon Theatre on July 31 with his stand-up show The Book of John.

42

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

01823-345911 or email kara.frampton@ st-margarets-hospice.org.uk Saturday, July 31: St Margaret’s Hospice Care will be holding a Summer Fete within the grounds of its Yeovil branch in Little Tarrat Lane, Yeovil, from 11am to 4pm. Lots of stalls and activities for all the family to enjoy.

Saturday, July 31: Octagon Theatre: Last few tickets: Rhod Gilbert – The Book of John.

AUGUST 2021 Wednesday, August 4: Westlands Yeovil – Screenings in the Ballroom: Motionhouse – Broken.

Thursday, August 19, through to Saturday, August 21: The Castaway Theatre Group will be performing School of Rock – The Musical at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil nightly at 7pm with a 2pm Saturday matinee on August 21. Go to www.octagon-theatre.co.uk or phone 01935-422884 for ticket details.

Wednesday, August 25, and Thursday, August 26: Octagon Theatre: In the Night Garden Live – Igglepiggle’s Busy Day! Sunday, August 29, and Tuesday, August 31: Westlands Yeovil – Screening in the Ballroom: Andre Rieu – Together Again.

SEPTEMBER 2021 Saturday, September 4: Westlands Yeovil: Queens of Rock – Best of British.

Sunday, September 5: Octagon Theatre: American Four Tops Show Live in Concert.

Tuesday, September 7, and Wednesday, September 8: Octagon Theatre: The Three Musketeers – A Comedy Adventure.

Thursday, September 9: Westlands Yeovil: Taking Care of Elvis – The King is Back.

Thursday, September 9: Octagon Theatre: UK Pink Floyd Experience.

Saturday, September 11: Westlands Yeovil: An Evening with Merrill Osmond.

Saturday, September 11: Octagon Theatre: Go Now- The Music of The Moody Blues.

Sunday, September 12: Octagon Theatre: The Story of Guitar Heroes.

Tuesday, September 14: Octagon Theatre: Simon Amstell – Spirit Hole.

Wednesday, September 15: Octagon Theatre: Crimes in Egypt.

Friday, September 17: Octagon Theatre: A Vision of Elvis.

Saturday, September 18: Super Saturday in Yeovil town centre. A day full of activities and events in Yeovil. More

details to be given nearer the time.

Saturday, September 18: Octagon Theatre: The Best of British Comedy.

Tuesday, September 21: Westlands Yeovil: Jason Donovan – Even More Good Reasons.

Tuesday, September 21: Octagon Theatre: Come What May – A Night at The Moulin Rouge.

Thursday, September 23: Octagon Theatre: Psychic Sally – Ten Years and Counting.

Saturday, September 25, and Sunday, September 26: Octagon Theatre: Stick Man. Wednesday, September 29: Octagon Theatre: Magic of Mowtown.

Thursday, September 30: Westlands Yeovil: John Lydon – I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right.

Thursday, September 30: Octagon Theatre: Steve Steinman’s Anything for Love: The Meat Loaf Story.

Thursday, September 30, through to Saturday, October 2: The Adoption – a musical play written by Lynn Lee Brown with music from Gavin Dale – to be performed at the Swan Theatre in Yeovil.

Tickets available from 01935-414662.

OCTOBER 2021 Friday, October 1: Westlands Yeovil: Levison Wood – The Art of Exploration.

Friday, October 1, and Saturday, October 2: Octagon Theatre: The Best of That’ll Be the Day 2021.

Wednesday, October 6: Octagon Theatre: An Audience with Lesley Garrett.

Friday, October 8: Octagon Theatre: Ian Ashpitel & Jonty Stephens as Eric & Ern. Saturday, October 9: Octagon Theatre: Milkshake! Live – Milkshake’s Monkey’s Musical.

Saturday, October 9: Westlands Yeovil: Dave Peace 90s Dance Anthems Returns.

Sunday, October 10: Westlands Yeovil: Ultimate Pro Wrestling – October 2021.

Tuesday, October 12: Westlands Yeovil: Tony Stockwell – Psychic Medium.

Saturday, October 16: Westlands Yeovil: Last few tickets: Chris Ramsey – 20/20 Autumn Tour.

Sunday, October 17: Yeovil Literary Festival – Octagon Theatre: Dr Richard Shepherd.

Sunday, October 17: Westlands Yeovil: Joe Brown – The Farewell Tour.

Monday, October 18: Westlands Yeovil: Fascinating Aida.

Sunday, October 24: Octagon Theatre: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

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

Singer and songwriter John Lydon – best known as the lead singer of the late-1970s British punk band the Sex Pistols and then later as the lead singer of Public Image Ltd – will be at the Westlands Yeovil venue on September 30 with I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right. Lydon is also better known as his stage name of Johnny Rotten.

Friday, October 29: Octagon Theatre: Justin Live – The Big Tour.

Saturday, October 30: Yeovil Literary Festival – Octagon Theatre: Lucy Worsley – A Very British Murder.

NOVEMBER 2021 Friday, November 5: Octagon Theatre: Sh*t Faced Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet.

Sunday, November 7: Octagon Theatre: Paul Zerdin – Hands Free.

Tuesday, November 9: Octagon Theatre: Russian State Ballet – The Nutcracker.

Wednesday, November 10: Octagon Theatre: Russian State Ballet – Sleeping Beauty.

Thursday, November 11: Octagon Theatre: Talon – The Legacy Tour 2021.

Thursday, November 11: Westlands Yeovil: Ancestors – An Evening with Alice Roberts.

Friday, November 12: Octagon Theatre: Thank Abba for the Music.

Saturday, November 13: Octagon Theatre: BBC Big Band – The Music of James Bond and Beyond.

Saturday, November 13: Westlands Yeovil: Show of Hands – Tyne to Tamar 2020.

Sunday, November 14: Octagon Theatre: Tina Live – A Tribute Show to Tina Turner.

Saturday, November 20, and Sunday, November 21: Westlands Yeovil: John Bishop – Right Here, Right Now. DECEMBER 2021 Thursday, December 2: Westlands Yeovil: The Wurzels.

Friday, December 3, 2021, through to Sunday, January 2, 2022: Octagon Theatre: Mother Goose – The Pantomime with the theatre’s regular pantomime producers Evolution.

JANUARY 2022 Friday, January 14: Westlands Yeovil: Sir Ranulph Fiennes – Living Dangerously.

Sunday, October 17: Westlands Yeovil: Ed Byrne – If I’m Honest.

Thursday, January 20: Octagon Theatre: I’m Still Standing – The Music of Elton John.

Friday, January 21: Westlands Yeovil: Jason Fox – Life at the Limit.

Saturday, January 22: Westlands Yeovil: Carl Hutchinson – Live 2022.

FEBRUARY 2022 Friday, February 4: Octagon Theatre: The Roy Orbison Story.

Friday, February 4, and Saturday, February 5: Westlands Yeovil: Stewart Lee – Snowflake/Tornado.

Friday, February 11: Westlands Yeovil: The Legends of New Jersey – Wrong Jovi and Bootleg Boss.

Saturday, February 12: Westlands Yeovil: Go West.

Wednesday, February 16: Octagon Theatre: The Simon and Garfunkel Story – 50th Anniversary Tour.

Thursday, February 17: Westlands Yeovil: Suggs – What a King Cnut, A Life In The Realm of Madness.

Friday, February 18: Octagon Theatre: Susie Dent – The Secret Lives of Words.

Saturday, February 19: Octagon Theatre: The Amazing Bubble Man. Tuesday, February 22: Octagon Theatre: Ross Noble – Humournoid.

Tuesday, February 22: Westlands Yeovil: Milton Jones in Milton – Impossible.

Wednesday, February 23: Octagon Theatre: The Carpenters – Voice of the Heart.

Thursday, February 24: Octagon Theatre: Legend – The Music of Bob Marley.

Thursday, February 24: Westlands Yeovil: Omid Djalili – The Good Times Tour.

MARCH 2022 Wednesday, March 2: Octagon Theatre: Ansell’s Les Musicals.

Thursday, March 3, and Friday, March 4: Octagon Theatre: An Evening Shared with Jasper Carrott and Alistair McGowan.

Wednesday, March 9, through to Saturday, March 12: Octagon Theatre: Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society present Kinky Boots.

Thursday, March 10: Westlands Yeovil: Jason Manford – Like Me. Friday, March 11: Westlands Yeovil: The Dreamboys.

Saturday, March 12: Westlands Yeovil: Some Guys Have All The Luck.

Sunday, March 13: Westlands Yeovil: Last few tickets: Chris Ramsay – 20/20 Spring Tour.

Monday, March 14, through to Saturday, March 19: Octagon Theatre: Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society present Kinky Boots.

Friday, March 18: Westlands Yeovil: Neil Oliver and Nick Knowles – Does History Repeat Itself? In Search for the Heroes.

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

Saturday, March 19: Westlands Yeovil: Ray Mears – We Are Nature.

Sunday, March 20: Octagon Theatre: Last few tickets: Josh Widdicombe – Bit Much.

Thursday, March 24: Westlands Yeovil: Barbara Dickson in Concert – Time is Going Faster Tour.

Thursday, March 31: Westlands Yeovil: Ed Gamble – Electric.

APRIL 2022 Friday, April 8: Westlands Yeovil: Craig Revel Horwood – The All Balls and Glitter Tour.

Sunday, April 10: Octagon Theatre: Herman’s Hermits.

Tuesday, April 12: Octagon Theatre: Aida.

Wednesday, April 13: Octagon Theatre: Friends! The Musical Parody!

Thursday, April 14: Octagon Theatre: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac. Thursday, April 21: Westlands Yeovil: Russell Kane – Live!

Sunday, April 24: Octagon Theatre: Paul Merton’s Impro Chums.

Friday, April 29: Octagon Theatre: Remembering the Oscars.

MAY 2022 Tuesday, May 10: Westlands Yeovil: Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of The Dubliners.

Thursday, May 12: Westlands Yeovil: Marty Wilde – In Concert.

Friday, May 13: Westlands Yeovil: Henning Wehn – It’ll All Come Out in the Wash.

Saturday, May 14: Westlands Yeovil: Dave Pearce 90s Dance Anthems Returns.

Thursday, May 26: Westlands Yeovil: Sandi Toksvig – Next Slide Please.

Friday, May 27: Westlands Yeovil: Kate Rusby.

JUNE 2022 Saturday, June 4: Westlands Yeovil: Best of British – Ultimate Coldplay and Mused.

Sunday, June 5: Octagon Theatre: Gyles Brandreth – Break a Leg! Thursday, June 9: Octagon Theatre: Killer Queen – The Premier Tribute to Queen.

JULY 2022 Tuesday, July 19, to Saturday, July 23: Octagon Theatre: Shrek the Musical – Beatnik Theatre Company.

Tuesday, July 26: Octagon Theatre: Rhythm of the Dance.

SEPTEMBER 2022 Thursday, September 8: Octagon Theatre: A Country Night in Nashville.

OCTOBER 2022 Saturday, October 29: Octagon Theatre: Leo Sayer.

For more details about events, ticket information and times at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil – please go to www. octagon-theatre.co.uk or phone the box office on 01935-422884.

For more details about events, ticket information and times at Westlands Yeovil – please go to www.westlandsyeovil. co.uk or phone the box office on 01935422884.

YEOVIL PRESS YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

CALLING ALL CLUBS, SOCIETIES, GROUPS AND CHARITIES IN THE YEOVIL AREA WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR GROUP NEWS INCLUDED IN FUTURE EDITIONS OF THE YEOVIL PRESS? IF YOU WOULD - PLEASE GET IN TOUCH! You can email Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden at yeovilpress@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you!

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

43

MY TOP TEN

When The Byrds, John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John and Paul Young 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 ardent Yeovil Town FC supporter Mark Kelly along with fellow Glovers’ fans Neil Mapletoft and his younger brother Lee, both well-known for their involvement with Pen Mill Football Club in Yeovil based at Johnson Park.

Best wishes go to Mark, Neil and Lee 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, in the main, 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: Mark Kelly DOB: July 27, 1965 INFORMATION: Well-known Yeovil Town fan My Top Ten: 1: The Byrds, Mr Tambourine Man. 2: Yardbirds, Heart Full of Soul.

3: Ivy League, Tossing and Turning.

4: The Hollies, I’m Alive.

5: Peter and Gordon, To Know You Is To Love You. 6: Elvis Presley, Crying in the Chapel.

7: Gene Pitney, Looking Through The Eyes of Love.

8: Lulu, Leave a Little Love.

9: Dusty Springfield, In The Middle of Nowhere.

10: Fortunes, You’ve Got Your Troubles.

NAME: Neil Mapletoft DOB: July 16, 1978 INFORMATION: Local sporting celebrity!

My Top Ten: 1: John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, You’re The One That I Want.

2: Father Abraham and The Smurfs, The Smurf Song.

3: Marshall Hain, Dancin’ in the City.

4: Clout, Substitute.

5: Showaddywaddy, A Little Bit of Soap.

6: The Boomtown Rats, Little Clockwork.

7: Electric Light Orchestra, Wild West Hero.

8: The Motors, Airport.

9: Kate Bush, Man with the Child in His Eyes.

10: A Taste of Honey, Boogie Oogie Oggie.

Top right: Neil Mapletoft Left: Kate Bush Above: Father Abraham & The Smurfs Right: John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

NAME: Lee Mapletoft DOB: July 29, 1983 INFORMATION: Local Firefighter

Above: Mark Kelly Bottom Left: The Byrds Below: Lulu Left: The Hollies

My Top Ten: 1: Paul Young, Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home).

2: Freeez, I.O.U. 3: Eurythmics, Who’s That Girl?

4: Malcolm McLaren, Double Dutch.

5: Heaven 17, Come Live With Me. 6: Gary Byrd and the GB Experience, The Crown.

7: Mike Oldfield, Moonlight Shadow.

8: The Police, Wrapped Around Your Finger.

9: Rod Stewart, Baby Jane.

10: Bananarama, Cruel Summer.

Top right: Lee Mapletoft Far Left: Malcolm McLaren Right: Paul Young Left: Bananarama

THE MY TOP TEN FEATURE IS SPONSORED BY:

ML PROPERTY MANAGEMENT General Building - Roofing - Garden Clearance and Maintenance - Interior/Exterior Painting 07375 889716 - www.mlpropertymanagement.co.uk - Find us on Facebook The Battle of Isandlwana by artist Charles Fripp.

44

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

George launches fundraising appeal to help him follow his theatre dreams AN AWARD-WINNING member of the Yeovil-based Castaway Theatre Group has launched an online fundraising page to help cover his fees while attending a drama college to follow his musical theatre dream.

George Souster, 16, auditioned alongside 3,000 other young people for just 43 places at the Emil Dale Academy School of Performing Arts in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, and has successfully gained a place where he will start a Level Three Extended Diploma Musical Theatre in September.

He has been performing on stage from the age of four and performed with many difference companies along his journey including Castaways in Yeovil and the Broadway Amateur Theatrical Society based near Ilminster.

“Musical theatre is my passion and my dream is to perform on the West End,” he said. “I would love to be Jamie from the amazing show Everybody’s Talking about Jamie.”

A number of his roles to date have

included Oliver Twist from Oliver, Seymour from Little Shop of Horrors and Nic from Fame while performing with BATS, while he won best performance for Under-13 in the annual David Beach Awards as Mole in the Wind in The Willows musical with Castaways and is currently busy rehearsing for his biggest role to date as Dewey Finn in The School of Rock musical which the Castaways will be performing at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil in August.

George is developing into an allround stage performer with singing, dancing and acting all forming part of his repertoire.

“I have weekly dance lessons in Ballet, Modern and Tap, also singing lessons which I have taken my Grade Two through to and including my Grade Seven, all with high distinctions, and in Grade Three I gained 100 per cent,” he said. “I am hoping Grade Eight will follow shortly.”

But following theatrical dreams costs money and George has set up an online

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

fundraising page to “do his bit” towards college finances.

“I decided to set up a fundraising page as my mum and dad work really hard and have been amazing travelling me around for dance, singing lessons, rehearsals, auditions and I would love to be able to help out towards the college fees and my host family fees as I realise it’s going to be really expensive - roughly around £9,000 a year,” he said.

“Recently, myself and my mum were putting together a concert to raise money for my college fund. We had asked friends who I have made along the way to perform alongside me, but due to restrictions not lifting as hoped on June 21 meant we were unable to have an audience and sadly had to cancel.

“If you feel you would be able to help me to follow my dreams I would be so grateful.”

George’s fundraising page can be found online on the Go Fund Me website and a link is here - https://bit.ly/3h7pdaJ with a target of £1,500.

George Souster will be performing as Dewey Finn in the Castaway Theatre Group’s School of Rock production at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil in August.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

45

Cottage Garden will become a wonderful sanctuary of natural beauty THE new Cottage Garden venture of well-known South Somerset florist Angie Blackwell has opened at Jordans Courtyard on the outskirts of Ilminster.

Angie, owner of Ilminster’s awardwinning Cottage Flowers, has worked very hard with her team to turn a piece of land at the Jordans Courtyard complex at Horton Cross just off the Southfields Roundabout on the A358 and A303 into a wonderful walled garden.

Admittedly, the Cottage Garden is very new and the displays of shrubs and plants will take time to flourish, but already it is a peaceful haven and there is no doubting the huge amount of work which has taken place to transform the area.

When the Yeovil Press visited the site in May it was still very much a rough area of ground, but it has miraculously been given the wow factor with grassed areas, a natural willow tunnel and flowering borders, as well as a good supply of plants and shrubs to buy.

There is still work to be done, but it will grow naturally into a wonderful sanctuary of natural beauty.

As well as the garden there is also a shop and The Studio where Angie will be holding workshops and which will be available for hire to small groups.

Angie said she was delighted to see the Cottage Garden open and join the team at Jordans Courtyard.

Photos: Steve Sowden.

The newly-opened Cottage Garden near Ilminster when it opened on June 12.

In time the borders will be blooming with beautiful plants and shrubs as the Cottage Garden develops with nature.

The Cottage Garden at Jordans Courtyard at Horton Cross.

The shop and studio at the Cottage Garden.

The Cottage Garden can be found at: Jordans Courtyard Horton Cross, Ilminster TA19 9PY

Opening Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am to 4pm 46

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

Lots to shout about during year of success for arts and entertainment THE arts and entertainment industry has been hit hard over the past 15 months, but there is still plenty to celebrate in South Somerset with the Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue.

South Somerset District Council’s entertainment venues in Yeovil were forced to close their doors to patrons under Government national and regional lockdown measure restrictions because of Covid-19. Gradual re-opening in the summer and autumn last year lasted a short period of time before the venues were forced to close again, but that has not stopped arts and entertainment thriving in South Somerset.

The council’s arts and entertainment service annual review for 2020-21 has recently been published and it highlights some of the key achievements for a service that has endured a rollercoaster of a year.

In a year where the doors mainly

remained closed and with a total of 9,835 tickets sold for both the Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue, a record number of 363 screenings were shown that brought patrons together to enjoy film and live performance. Patrons enjoyed the comfort of the big sofas at Westlands Entertainment Venue and joined us for the best of Hollywood and mainstream cinema.

After six months of constant closure and no live performances at the venues, staff were delighted that Paul Zerdin brought live performances back to the venues in October with his ‘mini Yeovil residency’ of six performances.

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

Paul kicked off a total of 42 performances across both venues and were also able to present the Yeovil Literary Festival at Westlands Entertainment Venue that offered enlightening, inspiring and entertaining talks from writers such as Lucy Worsley, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Jonathan Coe. For two weeks in December, life almost seemed normal with 3,617 people enjoying a special panto performance of Nurse Nellie Saves Panto. Working with the Octagon’s producing partners at Evolution Productions this specially written ‘bite-sized’ panto was a love letter to live theatre and the magic of panto with all the ‘best bits’ crammed into a 70-minute show performed by a socially distanced cast of five.

A council spokesman said: “Throughout the pandemic and the closure of our venues, staff in the arts and entertainment service have worked to continue delivering activities online with many

Octagon Academy classes, talks with film industry professionals, online tutorials plus much more being streamed to offer residents the chance to get their much needed arts and entertainment buzz.

“Once we were able to return to inperson classes we continued to support access to participation, offering the first class back free to participants, and subsidising the cost of room hire whilst capacity remained limited.”

With income reduced due to closure, the council has sought alternative sources of income to protect and maintain the venues. In total, over £400,000 of external funding has been secured which has helped to protect jobs, maintain buildings and deliver activities online and in person.

The council also agreed earlier this year to invest £23million in an exciting development of the Octagon Theatre – boosted by a £10million Government funding package.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

47

YEOVIL HISTORY FILES Stories about the town's past, people and places

Drunken footballers end up in trouble with the law YEOVIL and Petters United FC – who would go on to become Yeovil Town as we know today – had enjoyed a successful season in 1921-22.

They had won the Western League Division One and the Bristol Charity Cup and the season ended with a friendly – advertised as a benefit match – with Division One runners-up Trowbridge Town at Huish.

Trowbridge won 1-0, but the 1,700 who had turned-up to watch were there to see captain and goal scoring machine Johnny Hayward receive the two trophies Yeovil had fought hard for during the season.

The Western League and Bristol Charity Cup trophies were presented from a table

in the grandstand as a black cat – the club’s mascot sat alongside – bedecked in green and white ribbons.

Hayward accepted the league trophy, but he sportingly sent-up full-back and local lad Bill Day to receive Bristol Charity Cup. Speaking to the crowd, Hayward said how proud he was and congratulated Trowbridge on being runners-up in the league. With the sounds of Auld Lang Syne sang by all, it was the end of the season.

It would seem that plenty of cider was supped in the evening, resulting in embarrassment being brought upon the club.

Devastating plane crash in Yeovil kills three people A TURBO-JET fighter plane crashed on houses in Yeovil killing three people and seriously injuring a fourth a few years after the end of the Second World War. The aircraft was a paraffin-fuelled Westland Wyvern TF.2 prototype Naval strike single-seater plane and it was on Monday, October 31, 1949, when it crashed into two semi-detached homes near the Westland aerodrome.

The pilot, a six-year-old girl out on her bicycle and a woman were killed.

Another woman, who had been trapped in her blazing house, was rushed to hospital after a dramatic rescue.

The 28-year-old pilot was Squadron Leader Michael Graves who was taking the plane on a routine test flight, but it dived down out of control.

The plane struck the ground and plough through perimeter fencing of the aerodrome and over 200 yards of waste ground before hitting the houses.

Six-year-old Anne Wilkins, of Westland Road, was killed while playing with friends on the waste ground. Her pals

had scattered as the aircraft approached and miraculously escaped harm.

Mrs W. G. Brown was buried in the ruins of her home in Westland Road and her body was recovered by rescue workers after an hour’s search.

Her nextdoor neighbour, Mrs J. W. Hockey, was seriously injured, but was amazingly rescued from the ruins of her home and taken to Yeovil Hospital.

At the Cow Inn, Ilchester, a policeman heard strong language coming from the rear of the pub. On investigation he found five extremely drunken men, amongst them Yeovil players, Reg and Percy Nutland.

The five attacked the officer whilst in the line of his duty, at one time all five on top of him raining down punches.

After assistance from the public, Reg and Percy were arrested and found themselves before the magistrates the next day.

They were both given the option of either being fined £5 each or imprisoned for six weeks. Unsurprisingly, they took the fines!

NOTE: Story courtesy of Michael West – a self-confessed history buff of Yeovil Town FC. PHOTO: Yeovil and Petters United footballer Percy Nutland – who was arrested for brawling with a police officer back in April 1922.

Stories of ancient tunnels running under Yeovil are urban myths THERE have often been stories, myths and theories about a series of ancient tunnels running beneath Yeovil’s town centre streets.

The most popular story is of a tunnel between the crypt of St John’s Church and the cellar of the old Royal Oak pub in Wine Street which went on to become the Hole in the Wall pub and is now the popular Green Room restaurant.

But Yeovil historian Bob Osborn, the creator of the fantastic A to Z of Yeovil’s History website, said: “Not only are there are no signs of tunnels whatsoever in either the crypt or the cellar of the pub, there is absolutely no mention at all of underground tunnels in any of Yeovil’s written records with the single exception of a brief mention of “catacombs” for burials under the Baptist Chapel in South

Street, just big enough for four family vaults.

“Most of the tunnel tales probably refer to the Victorian brick-built sewers of the 1850s, tall enough for a man to walk along, which still survive below High Street, the Borough and Middle Street and probably several side streets and, of course, the Victorian sewer builders never found a trace of tunnels in their deep excavations.”

More fascinating stories about Yeovil’s past can be found on Bob Osborn’s website at www.yeovilhistory.info – it really is well worth a visit.

PHOTO: There is a myth suggesting an ancient tunnel running from St John’s Church to the cellar of the Green Room restaurant in Wine Street which was once the Royal Oak pub.

Above left: The Westland Wyvern TF.2 prototype Naval strike aircraft. Above right: Pilot of the plane, Squadron Leader Michael Graves, who was killed in the crash.

48

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

Remembering Yeovil D-Day hero Private Willcocks A YEOVIL man was a member of the 181-strong force which carried out the first successful raids of the Liberation of Europe on June 5-6, 1944.

Private Colin Eric Willcocks, 22, was with the 2nd Airborne Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry which played a leading role in the opening minutes of D-Day. He was with the Coup de Main force that captured the bridges over the Caen canal and the River Orne in Normandy just after midnight on that momentous date which will be forever remembered in history.

The men, led by Major John Howard, took off from RAF Tarrant Rushton in Dorset in six Horsa gliders on the night of June 5, 1944, to capture Pegasus Bridge and also, Horsa Bridge, a few hundred yards to the east over the Orne River.

Private Willcocks was in Glider Number Five which hit an air pocket and forced it to land in a field adjacent to the Orne River bridge – not exactly where planned, but very well positioned for the job that was to be done.

The object of the action was to take

Some of the gliders following the assault on the bridges in the opening exchanges of D-Day.

the bridges and to prevent German armour from crossing and reaching the British 3rd Infantry Division which was due to start landing on Sword Beach at Normandy several hours later.

Horsa Bridge, a road bridge, was over 400 yards east of Pegasus Bridge towards the village of Ranville.

After the Second World War the bridge over the River Orne became known as Horsa Bridge in recognition of the Horsa gliders that had carried the troops – including Yeovil’s Private Willcocks – to

The Ranville War Cemetery in France.

the bridge.

In June 1989, the 45th anniversary of D-Day, the Mayor of Ranville unveiled a plaque to commemorate the capture of the river bridge and it was officially named Horsa Bridge.

The memorial plaque was dedicated to the glider pilots and Lieutenant Dennis Fox’s and Lieutenant Tod Sweeney’s platoons, which had captured the bridge before the Allied invasion of the Normandy beaches began.

Tragically, Private Willcocks was killed in action the following day on June 7, 1944. He was married to Dorothy Lydia Annie Willcocks, of Yeovil, and was the son of Mr and Mrs T. E. Willcocks, of Ashford Grove. He was interred in Ranville War Cemetery and his name is among the many on the War Memorial in the Borough of Yeovil.

The story of the attack on the bridges was portrayed in the 1962 film The Longest Day.

Yeovil's first casualty of the Great War IT was back on August 24, 1914, that Yeovil suffered its first casualty of the First World War. Private Abendago Richard Pike, known as Ben, was a reservist at the outbreak of the war and was called up straight away with the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment, having signed up in Sherborne, and he was deployed to the Western Front.

He and his comrades soon found themselves fighting in the front lines in the Battle of Mons.

The Battle of Mons was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War. At Mons, the British Army attempted to hold the line of the Mons-Conde Canal against the advancing German 1st Army.

Although the British fought well and

inflicted disproportionate casualties on the numerically superior Germans, they were eventually forced to retreat due because of the great strength of the Germans and the sudden retreat of the French Fifth Army, which exposed the British right flank.

Ben lived at Great Western Terrace in Yeovil and left a widow and three young children, the eldest being only six.

His wife had been warned that he was missing in action, but a week later she heard the news that he had died of wounds sustained at Wurns, near Mons, France.

Ben was aged 28 when he died. His name is commemorated at the La FerteSous-Jouarre Memorial in France and also the War Memorial in the Borough of Yeovil.

Woman hanged for witchcraft AN OLD woman was sentenced to death after being found guilty of using witchcraft on a young boy in Yeovil.

A court heard in 1657 that the woman offered a magic apple to the lad, who despite having been warned, took a bite out of the fruit and “rose in the air and flew about 300 yards.”

The woman was found guilty of witchcraft at her trial and was hanged at Chard the following year.

This story sounds as if it would be more akin to a fairytale.

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

British infantry at the Mons-Conde Canal. Inset: Private Ben Pike.

Flying trampoline closes Preston Road THE busy Preston Road in Yeovil was closed for a while on February 14, 2014, after emergency services battled to get a giant trampoline down from trees.

The trampoline was blown up into the trees by the gale force winds which have battered the area today and was left in a precarious position.

Preston Road was closed temporarily between Larkhill and Watercombe Lane while emergency services got the trampoline down amid fears that it might blow off and cause damage and injury.

These photos were submitted to the Yeovil Press by Kelly House.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

49

OLD PUBS OF YEOVIL

Remembering the Three Choughs Hotel in the heart of Yeovil MANY newcomers or younger members of the Yeovil community may have often driven or walked past the large building on the corner of Hendford and South Street in the heart of the town centre and not realised its significance.

Today the building has been divided up into flats and some offices, but back in the day it was a well-used hotel and a main centre of social gatherings.

In this month’s Old Pubs of Yeovil feature we concentrate solely on what was the Three Choughs Hotel.

Once again huge thanks to Bob Osborn, the creator of the fantastic A to Z of Yeovil History website – which can be found at www.yeovilhistory.info/ - for the photos and information. We say it every month, but if you want to delve further into Yeovil’s fascinating and amazing past then please take a look at Bob’s website.

It is not known exactly when the Three Choughs Hotel officially opened. There is a date stone from 1724 on the South Street elevation of the building but this is on a three-storey extension that was clearly added the main building fronting Hendford was built. The records,

however, clearly indicate that the Three Choughs was operating by 1664.

The building, as well as other licensed premises such as the Pall Tavern and the George Inn, was at one time owned by the Woborn Almshouse and the rent of the building provided income for the almshouse.

During the 1850s a daily stagecoach service, the Royal Mail, ran to Dorchester and Taunton from the Three Choughs.

And until the 1960s the Three Choughs had stabling and garaging for customers’ horses and cars on the opposite corner between Hendford and West Hendford.

In the Yeovil Guide of 1962 the Manor Hotel and Mermaid Hotel were the most expensive hotels in Yeovil with bed and breakfast costing at £48 a night in today’s money. The Three Choughs was slightly cheaper.

Its bar and function room became a popular venue for dinners and dances, but it’s fortunes slowly began to decline.

By the mid-2000s the once popular and prestigious Three Choughs Hotel had closed and was boarded up; only for it to be later converted into flats and offices.

The Three Choughs Hotel building with Hendford running off to the left and South Street to the right in 2017.

The Three Choughs Hotel photographed in 1990.

A horse-drawn omnibus, used to transport guests to and from the railway stations, waits outside the Three Choughs Hotel in this sepia-toned photograph of about 1880.

50

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

The Millennium Plaque which was installed on the building of the Three Choughs Hotel in 2000.

The date stone of 1724 at high level on the south elevation of the extension facing South Street.

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

One of the four charity boards on the wall of St John’s Church bell tower – listing all the lands the Woborn Almshouse owned in 1804. The Three Choughs was valued at £20 per annum – around £18,000 at today’s value.

A hand-coloured postcard of the northern end of Hendford dating to about 1905. On the left is the ironmonger’s shop of Henry James Sercombe, while on the right is the Three Choughs Hotel.

A postcard of Hendford dating to about 1908 by which time the Three Choughs Hotel is proudly announcing its ‘motor accommodation’ that was housed in its former stables at the junction of Hendford and West Hendford.

A postcard from at least 1905 with the Three Choughs Hotel’s own horse-drawn carriages used to transport guests to and from the railway stations.

The Three Choughs Hotel’s horse-drawn omnibus waiting for a train to arrive at Yeovil Town railway station. The Mermaid Hotel operated a similar omnibus service for its guests.

By 1937 the Mermaid Hotel and the Three Choughs Hotel had combined their omnibus service to meet trains at each station and because of its livery the vehicle had become known as the Yellow Peril.

The photograph of this postcard was taken in around 1925 with its own motor omnibus being used to meet every train in and out of Yeovil to transport hotel guests.

A multi-shot postcard showing the interior of the Three Choughs Hotel in the 1970s.

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

The Three Choughs closed and shuttered in the mid 2000s.

Clearly dated 1913 this photograph depicts a touring charabanc whose passengers enjoyed a night at the Three Choughs Hotel.

The Three Choughs’ advertisement in the 1992 Yeovil Guide.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

51

DOWN MEMORY LANE

Looking back at the history of Preston Grove in Yeovil FOR this month’s Down Memory Lane feature we are taking a closer look at another of Yeovil’s most well-worn and driven roads – Preston Grove.

It runs south-east from Preston Road, at the junction with Larkhill Road, to the junction of Huish and Grove Avenue.

Preston Grove was originally the name of an area of open fields – Cow Leaze, Second Close, Four Acres and Pookhay Mill – north of the Preston Lower Farm’s mill leat and running from Preston Lower Farm itself in the west to the brook that denoted the parish boundary between Preston Plucknett and Yeovil in the east.

The road known today as Preston Grove was not constructed until the 1920s and an early map shows the road with a just a small terrace of houses towards its northern end. Also at this

time, St Andrew’s Road and Park Avenue had been constructed.

By the time of a 1928 Ordnance Survey map Preston Grove, St Andrew’s Road and Park Avenue (now re-named Westbourne Grove) were fully populated with houses.

The Portreeve’s Almshouse, on the corner of Union Street and South Street in Yeovil, was originally founded by the rector of Tintinhull, John Stone in 1416.

The Portreeve’s Almshouse, later known as the Corporation Almshouse, burnt down in 1910 and a new site was chosen in Preston Grove where Dorcas House was built.

The foundation stone was laid by Henry Stiby on July 27, 1910, and the new building was to contain six self-

The 1849 Tithe Map showing most of the fields which were part of Preston Lower Farm. Much of this area – Cow Leaze, Second Close, Four Acres and Pookhay Mill – formed the area known as Preston Grove.

The first terrace of houses built in Preston Grove and seen on an early 1920s map. Photographed in 2008.

A 1946 aerial survey showing Preston Grove and the surrounding area.

contained flats.

Dorcas House was modernised in the 1980s and converted into seven selfcontained flats.

Preston Grove suffered one of Yeovil’s worst air raid attacks during the Second World War on Tuesday, October 8, 1940.

German bombers dropped 44 highexplosive bombs across western Yeovil centred around Westbourne Grove and Preston Grove.

A direct hit on an air raid shelter in a garden of Preston Grove killed 11 people and three others were injured. Five houses were completely destroyed and over 50 suffered damage.

Among those to be killed were Joyce and Jimmy Fitkin and their three-yearold son Maxwell.

The photos and information about the Preston Grove is courtesy of the amazing A-to-Z of Yeovil’s History website which has been created by Bob Osborn over many years.

Bob’s fantastic work has seen him put together a website of more than 10,000 images looking back at Yeovil’s history over hundreds of 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 super website and delve further into Yeovil’s past.

The monthly Down Memory Lane is supported by the A-to-Z of Yeovil’s History website and the Yeovil Press is extremely grateful to Bob for all his help.

This early 1920s Ordnance Survey map shows that by this time Preston Grove, together with St Andrew’s Road (running vertical in the centre of the photo) to its north and Park Avenue to its south had been constructed or at least laid out. Just a short run of terraced houses can be seen in Preston Grove close to its junction with Preston Road. Park Avenue was later renamed Westbourne Grove.

At the extreme left is Dorcas House and the old Mission Room is just seen at centre, behind the tree, in the wider setting of Preston Grove with Huish Hill in the distance. Photographed in 1987.

THIS FEATURE HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY: AN A-TO-Z OF YEOVIL'S HISTORY www.yeovilhistory.info - Find out more about Yeovil's past 52

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

The “bend” in Preston Grove looking towards Huish. The Preston Grove Medical Centre is off-photo at the left. Photographed in 1987.

The southern end of Preston Grove, at far left, continuing on from Huish at the junction with Grove Avenue running off to the centre right, photographed in the mid-1960s. At centre is the old “wriggly tin” Mission Room. Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden said: “We as a family lived in Grove Avenue and I can remember many a time my gran going down the road to use that phone box as seen on the right of the photo – long before we had our one phone installed at home.”

Henry Stiby, at centre holding trowel, is pictured having just laid the foundation stone of Dorcas House in Preston Grove on July 27, 1910.

Dorcas House probably photographed shortly after being built.

Dorcas House, successor to the Portreeve’s Almshouse, photographed in 2013.

Joyce Fitkin and her husband Jimmy, plus their three-year-old son Maxwell, were all killed when a German bomb landed on their air raid shelter in Preston Grove in October 1940.

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

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

53

SPORT NEWS

Photo Special - hockey action at Yeovil Recreation Centre PHOTOGRAPHER Martin Edwards was at Yeovil Recreation Centre on June 23 to catch some summer league hockey action.

The Yeovil Press would like to thank

Martin, of totallyfocused.co.uk, for these photos involving Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club’s match with Weymouth.

More photos are available on Martin’s Facebook page at totallyfocused.co.uk .

Westland club looks for new members THE Westland Sports Bowls Club in Yeovil is looking for new members to join its ranks at its Westbourne Close home.

The club is situated at the Westlands Yeovil entertainment venue and is a small friendly club which shares modern clubhouse facilities with Yeovil Cricket Club.

Westland Sports Bowls Club is affiliated to Bowls England Somerset County Bowls Club League. Home and away matches and inter-club matches are played over the season from April

54

through to September.

Club secretary Annette Williams said: “We are currently looking for new members – all ages and abilities very welcome to come along.”

Club days are Monday afternoons from 2pm for ladies, Tuesday and Fridays from 6pm for men, and Wednesday afternoon from 2pm for mixed.

If you would like more information please get in touch with Annette via email on annettep29@googlemail.com or mobile 07584-220-706.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

Colin Leach is this year's Senior Champion at Yeovil AFTER 36 holes of scratch golf over Yeovil Golf Club’s Old Course, with each round being played on consecutive Mondays, six-handicapper Colin Leach emerged as this year’s Senior Champion – successfully defending the trophy won last year when due to Covid-19 it was restricted to an 18hole competition.

After the first round Colin was tied on a gross score of 79 with fellow senior Jim Patterson who headed the 90-man field of senior golfers by virtue of a countback.

However, his second round of 77 saw him finish ahead of defending champion Bruce Bailey, who won the championship

when it was last played over 36 holes in 2019 and recovered from a poor first round to finish in second place.

Played alongside the scratch event on both days was a handicapped competition to decide who would be awarded the Nett Championship trophy. This honour fell to 12-handicapper Richard Polson whose nett score of 141 left him two shots ahead of second placed Timothy Gilbert.

Colin and Richard can both look forward to being presented with their trophies later in the year when the club’s Senior Section hold their annual presentation lunch.

The 2021 Senior Champion – Colin Leach.

YEOVIL PRESS YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

CALLING ALL BUSINESSES The 2021 Senior Nett Champion – Richard Polson.

If you would like to advertise in forthcoming editions of the Yeovil Press community newspaper please get in touch.

We offer competitive rates.

Email: yeovilpress@gmail.com Phone: 0777-319-8081

The 18th hole on the Old Course at Yeovil Golf Club – looking in fantastic condition.

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

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

55

Golfers come from far and wide for seniors competition A TOTAL of 113 golfers from 35 different golf clubs joined a further 43 Yeovil Golf Club members of the first of their bi-annual Seniors Open competitions.

Some travelled 200 miles from as far afield as Peterborough in the north, whilst others arrived from all directions including Southampton in the east and Exeter in the West.

The winning visitors’ team came from the Fingle Glen Golf Club near Exeter with Steven Taylor and Malcolm Buckland posting the best score of the day. Their 46 stableford points in this open fourball better ball competition was two points clear of the next placed

visiting pair of Ian Lake and Andrew Penney of Farrington Park Golf Club near Midsomer Norton.

When reflecting on their splendid win Stephen Taylor said: “We received such a warm welcome from the open organiser Roger Bateman and his team; and thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Yeovil Golf Club.

“The course was fantastic, in excellent condition, and the Yeovil Members we played with couldn’t have been more friendly or welcoming; and the cakes at the half-way house were amazing.”

As the visiting players lacked the Yeovil members’ local knowledge, there were separate prizes for the first six best

visiting pairs and the five best home pairings.

There were also spot prizes for being nearest the pin with the tee shot on the four par three holes. These went to Yeovil’s Rob Bennett (second hole), John Parsons (Weymouth – tenth hole), Andrew Fulton (Ashley Wood – 13th hole) and Steve Cann (Oake Manor – 15th hole). Each received a bottle of spirits whilst their playing partners took home a bottle of wine.

Eighteen players received a sleeve of golf balls for recording a two on one of the 18 holes that make up the Yeovil Old Course. They also had the opportunity to

Yeovil members Jim Paterson and Anthony Elliot-Square – the best placed of the home teams.

Two of the visiting pairs on the first tee.

win prizes from the tombola that raised £665 for The Alzheimer’s Society; this year’s Captains’ charity at Yeovil Golf Club.

Jim Paterson and Anthony ElliotSquare recorded the second-best score of the day to claim the first of the five prizes for the home pairings; as their 45 points edged them in front of Dave Mattravers and Colin Burton who finished with 44 points.

Open organiser Roger Bateman said: “It was a really long but enjoyable day; and it was such a delight to see so many visitors driving away having pledged to play in our next open event in September.”

The array of cakes at the halfway Bower House.

Yeovil member Dave Marshall driving off on the first tee.

Thomas Lawless and John Parsons, of Weymouth Golf Club, with Roger Bateman.

Ilona Davidson is the 2021 Lady Champion on the Newton Course THE Ladies Section at Yeovil Golf Club held a separate championship competition over the club’s nine-hole Newton Course in addition to having a Championship Day over the 18-hole Old Course.

This Newton Course competition is played as an 18-hole contest with the ladies starting from different tees on each nine.

The gross and nett trophies for the Newton Championship reflect the variety of birdlife that can be spotted over both parkland courses with the gross champion having her name engraved on the fossil wood plinth of a walnut wagtail. Likewise, the nett champion has her name added to the fossil wood plinth of a walnut wren.

Seven-handicap Ilona Davidson emerged as the 2021 Newton Course Lady Champion with a gross score of 86 and will be presented with the trophy

56

later this year during the annual Ladies Section prize-giving event. Ros Williams, who plays off a handicap of 16, claimed the nett championship with a score of 74.

Also on the winning track was Rosemary Pimbley, who won the Gardner Cup medal competition held over the Old Course. She finished two clear shots ahead of Isabelle Mace and Ingrid Birch who both scored a nett 78, leaving them in second and third place respectively by virtue of a countback.

Sanchia Coombes won the ladies Saturday medal competition which was held to provide working ladies who are unable to play midweek golf an opportunity to play competitive golf.

Meanwhile, Cathy Sheldon and Amanda Wright both won one of the regular Tuesday stableford competitions thus sharing the winning feeling across a number of the lady’s section.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

Left: Ilon Davidson – 2021 Newton Course Lady Champion. Centre: Ros Williams – 2021 Newton Court Nett Champion.

Right: Rosemary Pimbley – 2021 Gardner Cup winner.

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

Harold Bradford's captaincy remembered after 70 years HAROLD Bradford was captain of Yeovil Golf Club in 1951 and 70 years later members continue to remember his captaincy by playing for the Bradford Cup he presented to promote competitive golf at the club he was a member of when it was first formed in 1907.

During those 70 years the club has sought to maintain the balance between remembering its founding members and former captains whilst seeking to move with the times by encouraging the next generation of golfers, and providing flexible membership options to meet the demands of evolving lifestyles.

This year’s Bradford Cup competition was won by Dave Hill and Steve Wilkins whose nett score of 66 saw them head a field of 88 players by a clear four shots from the second placed pairing of Simon Coates and David Turner. They are looking forward to being presented with the trophy later this year by Giles Bradford, communications and engagements manager at Bradfords Building Supplies, where Harold Bradford worked in the family company.

Giles said the family were delighted to learn that the club honoured the memory

of its former captain by playing for his cup over the last 70 years, particularly as their company shared the values expressed by Yeovil Golf Club in honouring the past whilst promoting the future.

Another founder member remembered during a recent competition was Dr C. J. Marsh who contributed to the initial expense fund when the club was being established and who was the first ever club captain. This year’s Marsh Cup was won by 16-year-old Sam Jacob, who claimed his first ever golf competition with a nett score of 68 on a countback from Adrian Elliott. For a 16-year-old to win a competition against 144 other entrants underlines the club’s wishes to promote the future of golf whilst remembering its traditions.

Bill Moulding was yet another past member honoured during recent weeks when 86 seniors competed for the Bill Moulding Statuette.

The statuette was purchased by the Senior Section to commemorate his years of hard work in running the regular biweekly Monday competitions. It was won this year by Andy Sinclair with a nett score of 69.

Steve Wilkins and Dave Hill – 2021 winners of the Bradford Cup.

Sam Jacob, 16, winner of the Marsh Cup.

Harold Bradford, a future captain of Yeovil Golf Club, is pictured as a young lad (seated right, on the floor) with other members of his family (from left) Garth, sister Annie Margaret, little Glynne (in front), his father Jabez seated at centre leant on by Harold’s sister Dorothy, mother Annie, Alfred at the back, sister Helen and Gordon. Harold’s father helped to set up the business empire of what has become known as Bradford’s Building Supplies. Photo: Courtesy of the Bradford family.

Andy Sinclair – 2021 winner of the Bill Moulding Statuette.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR SPORTS NEWS PUBLISHED IN THE YEOVIL PRESS COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER EACH MONTH? Youth Sport - Senior Sport - Club News - Team Sport - Individual Sport Send us your photos and reports to yeovilpress@gmail.com For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

57

Summer Camp from Offload Rugby YEOVIL Rugby Club is this month hosting an Offload Rugby Camp - a two-day camp open to all children within the local community aged six to 15.

Offload Rugby camps coach through themes that support the current RFU principles of play via an array of conditioned, adaptive, and small-sided games. These are supported by skill zone activities to ensure children of all ability are stretched, challenged, and supported to reach their potential.

“We also place a high emphasis on developing all the children as people and actively promote rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship, as set by the RFU,” said a spokesman.

“In addition to being a fun and exciting rugby camp, developing talent is one of the primary goals. Offload Rugby aims to provide all players the opportunity to develop their technical and tactical skills and game understanding, through an engaging coaching programme.

“All coaches hold a minimum RFU Level 2 coaching accreditation and have expertise from coaching in Premiership rugby programmes and academies,

as teachers, directors of rugby, and sports coaches within educational settings, or having coached at regional and/or county level.”

On one of the days at camp there will be a visit from professional player Tom Dunn who is an English professional rugby union footballer. He plays at hooker for Bath.

In August 2017 Dunn was invited to a training camp with the senior England squad by Eddie Jones and in January 2018 he was named in England’s squad for the 2018 Six Nations Championship.

He was called up again for the 2020 Six Nations Championship.

Children on camp will get the unique chance to receive skills coaching, hear about the pro player’s rugby journey and have the chance to ask questions, have a photo and get their kit signed, if they wish to do so.

Offload Rugby Camp takes place at Yeovil Rugby Club on Monday, August 16, and Tuesday, August 17, from 9am to 3pm. If you would like to book a place on the camp please check out the link - www. offloadrugbycamps.com/book-now/ .

PHOTO: Tom Dunn.

* Fully designed, planned & supplied kitchens and bathrooms * We can also supply bespoke kitchens designed and built to order & your specification * Dedicated plumbing, maintenance, plastering and decoration team * Full design & build service for extensions, loft conversions, garage conversions and more If you require any essential maintenance to be carried out during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak you can still rely on Grinters.

Office staff are set-up at home and will be more than happy to assist you in this time of need – just call 01460-258949 or email matt@grinters.co.uk

58

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

Yeovil bring home the cups from mixed ability rugby tournament BOTH Yeovil Rugby Club’s men’s and women’s mixed ability teams brought home silverware after competing in a first-ever tournament at Walcot.

Starting their journey back in December 2019 the teams have come a long way in the 18 months since and considering a pandemic has disrupted training those involved really should be feeling immense pride at what has been achieved.

Both teams were eager to get involved with the cup competition, held at Walcot RFC, which proved an impressive and successful day for all those involved.

The tournament, organised by the Bath Rugby Foundation was the first time teams from the southwest have been able to gather together for such an event. With eight teams on the day, separated into round with men’s game and women’s games, Yeovil are now the proud winners of the tournament and took home both cups to their home clubhouse.

The day itself provided a unique opportunity to enjoy the sport bringing together players from within the clubs Under-16, Colts, women’s and men’s teams playing alongside each other with parents and children, and partners being able to play rugby together as one team.

Unlike a usual game of rugby the rules are adapted for individuals, with both contact and non-contact players on the field together, making the game as inclusive as ever with these adaptions.

Being part of these teams is proving to be a highlight for all.

Yeovil Mixed Ability Men, made up of some 20 players enjoyed the spirit of the day playing contact games against Walcot Blacks, Walcot Whites and Berkshire Men. The games, with players playing noncontact marked in red bibs or scrum hats, and no contesting at the lineouts were hard fought for Yeovil men, playing each

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

team before finding out they would be in the final. Team spirit on the day was tremendous, and cemented the true value of the adapted game.

Yeovil Mixed Ability Women played various games against Bath Ladies Trojans, Berkshire Mixed and Walcot Mixed teams. Rounds for the women were made up of only one contact game against the BLT and with the two other games being mixed touch games. This provided a huge confidence boost for the newer members of the team. The ladies final, against Walcot, was an adapted contact game with all players enjoying a well matched final game.

Yeovil Rugby Club’s Mixed Ability Team is thriving and as word spreads at the inclusiveness provided by the game the future looks bright for these diverse teams.

A club spokesman said: “Mixed

ability provides training sessions for the everyone within the local community, with a mix of players with a variety of emotional, physical and mental health conditions playing alongside facilitators from the club’s men’s and women’s team.

“The game gives anyone from 16-plus the chance to join and play alongside each other as one, adapting conditions appropriately.”

Training sessions are held every other Friday evening from 7pm to 8.30pm and is open to everyone no matter you rugby experience. The next session will be on Friday, July 2. To find out more about either of our teams, or to join in with training you can find out more information over on the club’s Facebook page or email yeovilrugbyclub@ outlookcom.

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Yeovil Rugby Club and Gary Bide.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

59

Legendary Johnny Hayward and his achievements must never be forgotten

THERE is an old saying that records are there to be broken. However there are some that are so mind-blowing and so incredible that you know it would be futile even trying.

In today’s modern game, Fred ‘Johnny’ Hayward’s English goalscoring record will stand forever more and the likelihood is that it will never even come close to being beaten.

A total of 548 goals for one club – Yeovil Town. A phenomenal achievement.

Here MICHAEL WEST, a local historian of everything Yeovil Town FC, looks back at the life of Fred Hayward with support from the Hayward family and Bob Osborn, of The A to Z of Yeovil History website at www.yeovilhistory.info .

Michael said: “Johnny Hayward’s importance in the annals of Yeovil Town FC history should never be underestimated.

“His brilliance on a football pitch was the difference between the Glovers and the many other local clubs such as Frome, Taunton and Bridgwater.

“With him the club was able to propel itself forward league by league and without him it would have been less able to.

“Without him the club was stagnant, plying its football in the county game, but with him Western League football and later Southern league football became the norm.

“Single-handedly on the hallowed turf of Pen Mill and later Huish he took the club to a level it could only dream of being years before.”

In his 20 years with the club he achieved feats that will never remotely be beaten. His 548 goals for Yeovil included a whopping 27 stand alone three-goal hat-tricks and there were 14 games where he scored four goals. In two games he scored five goals apiece, three games where he score six goals in each and on one occasion he scored seven goals in a game. That all adds up to 172 goals in just 47 games alone – an average of 3.5 goals per game.

His goals for one club record in world football sits second only to the great German striker Gerd Muller who scored 573 for Bayern Munich.

Michael said: “Fred “Johnny” Hayward was truly a great player, his quantity of goals are a testament to that. Without doubt he could have played at a much higher level, possibly the highest.

“Which leaves the question - why didn’t he? Maybe the question should be - why would he? He was a Yeovil boy, who obviously loved the team he played for and loved the town of his birth and the club and town that loved and adored him in return.

“At a time long before money poured into the game, it seems inconceivable why he would leave the town and the adulation and move his wife and children, Fred and Mabel had nine in total, to a city that he had nothing in common with. Maybe to Fred, Yeovil was his town, Yeovil football club was his club, and he loved it just that way.”

60

Fred “Johnny” Hayward – Yeovil Town legend.

When Fred Hayward was born in 1887 his early childhood home could not have been more apt. Wellington Street, a row of terraced houses, was a minute’s walk from what would later become the iconic home of the Glovers. It was also a short walk to West Hendford the original setting for early Yeovil matches.

It is safe to say that a young Fred would have watched matches there. William and Ann Hayward, Fred’s parents, had already been blessed with six children before he came along; four older sisters and two older brothers, Fred being the last of their seven children.

By the age of four, the family had upped sticks just down the road to Huish, again just a stone’s throw away from the ground that he would later gain legendary and hero status.

It is not recorded which school Johnny, as he affectionately was referred by, attended however by the time he was 14 he had left education and was employed as a solicitor’s clerk, suggesting he had achieved a moderate to good level of education.

At that age he was already playing in the local football league for the Boys Brigade Baptist FC although reports show that Fred’s earliest sporting prowess was in cricket. He was a promising all-rounder and turned out for various cricket clubs.

But it was football that was Fred’s first love. In 1906 he was performing for the YMCA, playing a match against the Baptist which was described as “a poor match, however F. Hayward for the YMCA had a rattling good game.”

Ironically, in so much that his goal scoring record was to become his fame, in the local league matches one could not label him prolific. However come Christmas 1906 he was selected to play for the Pick of the League team to play Yeovil Casuals at Pen Mill, making his mark by scoring in a 2-2 draw. A few months later, also on the Pen Mill pitch, Johnny was displaying another sporting string to his bow, at an athletics meeting and by jumping over 17 feet and

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

coming second in the long jump.

Johnny was given another chance to shine on the football field when in April 1907 he was again selected for the league team to take on the champions, Petters United, and scored in a 3-1 victory for his side. His performance had not gone unnoticed at Pen Mill, the home of Yeovil Casuals. A week later he was called up to play for the premier club in the town.

One could only guess at the feelings of the then 19-year-old Johnny Hayward would have had when he turned up at Pen Mill on that late April Saturday in 1907.

Firstly, one can guess a sense of pride, his debut for a team that he had undoubtedly would have watched as a child. Maybe a few nerves, the Wiltshire League was a big step up from the Yeovil and District league.

However, Johnny seemed to have immense believe in his own ability.

Warminster were the visitors and the match a dead rubber. Playing in the middle of the attack, Johnny described as ‘the YM star’ took his maiden opportunity well, scoring his first goal in senior football, it being described as a ‘ first rate shot’ following it up with another that rattled the bar.

Losing 2-1, one can be sure the talk of the fans leaving the Pen Mill stadium that day would have been of the impressive young Hayward.

At the start of the 1907-08 season Hayward went straight into the first team and the opening game of the season was a friendly against Upton Park from London.

He drew a blank in a 4-3 defeat, but in the next 26 matches he would play he would score in 21 of them.

The affect of his introduction into the side was immediate. Goals came from all over, close range, long range headers, penalties, rebounds, he was simply

Fred Hayward with the Dorset Cup in 1909.

unstoppable. Standing around 5ft 10ins he was not overly tall, but he was blessed with immense speed and his shots were sent goal wise with total power. In the 26 games he played during his first season, Hayward had scored four goals in a match on four occasions and added two hat-tricks in other matches.

By the end of his first debut season ‘Johnny’ had 41 goals to his name and he was just warming up!

If Yeovil supporters were worried that Hayward would be a one season wonder, that fear was quickly dispelled - scoring an incredible 18 goals by the end of December in just 15 games. At Home Park, Plymouth, in November 1908, he also scored both goals in a famous victory for Somerset over a very strong Devon Countyside. For Glovers fans, if he was not a hero already, scoring five goals in a 9-1 victory over traditional rivals Weymouth in January 1909, would have certainly given him Godlike status!

The 1908-09 season ended up with Yeovil capturing the prestigious Dorset championship, after a 3-0 win over Branksome Gas at Dorchester, Hayward scoring his 33rd goal of the season.

Fred Hayward was still only 22 but in such a short time he had been catapulted into fame throughout the town, if not the county. At the Yeovil FC annual general meeting in the Victoria Hall in 1909 he was elected as captain of the team. He accepted and spoke to those gathered: “I would like to thank you for this unexpected honour, that you have given me, I will do my best for you and hope to pull all the players together.”

But something did not fit right with Hayward though and a day after the meeting he decided against being captain, stating work commitments in the glove factory where he was now working would not permit it.

The following season 1909-10 and word was circulating that Fred’s displays were being closely monitored by Exeter City; he had played and scored against them in a number of friendly matches. But although scoring regularly, his scoring feats were not matching that of his previous two seasons.

Something mysterious was happening surrounding Fred in February 1910, he had failed to turn out in the 2-1 home win against Frome , the first win of the season in the Somerset league. It had been known for some time Exeter had been keeping further tabs on the young talented striker. A few days later, the Exeter press, excitedly announced that Hayward had signed Southern League forms at St James Park and was making his debut for The Grecians a couple of days later against St Luke’s College.

A few days later the Exeter press again confirmed Hayward’s signature explaining his absence from games being due to illhealth; which may have had an element of truth, as most of February he also was not

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

Yeovil & Petters United in 1919-20 – captain Fred Hayward is pictured in the centre of the front row with the ball at his feet.

in the Yeovil side. But a few weeks later against the Royal Garrison, those gathered were delighted to see Johnny running out in a Yeovil shirt, Exeter and ill-health seemingly forgotten, he marked his return by scoring twice!

Goals and success followed for Fred, in the next couple of seasons, scoring a further 54 goals from 53 matches, adding the Somerset Senior league to his evergrowing medal collection and now being the first name on the team sheet for the Somerset County side.

At the start of the 1912-13 season, Fred was absent, with very good reason. He was in Weston-super-Mare on honeymoon with his new bride Mabel Harbour, sister of his Glovers’ team mate, Harry Harbour.

On returning they set up home in Everton Road, again a couple of minutes walk to Huish.

Now in his mid-20s, a new bride and now captain of the Glovers, and probably the most famous inhabitant in the town, one can deduce that Fred was a very contented young man. It certainly showed in his performances with his 36 goals in the season bringing more silverware to the club with the Somerset senior league and Charity cup captured.

However, Fred’s greatest feat of the season, and arguably his career was his goals for the county. Somerset in reaching the Southern Counties final for the first time in its history, were rewarded with a final against Middlesex at Pen Mill, Yeovil.

A wet and windy day didn’t stop nearly 3,000 turning out for the final and to see “Our Johnny.” Hayward again did not disappoint and was unstoppable scoring two in a 4-1 win, a result celebrated in all of Somerset.

During 1914, the two senior teams in the town, Yeovil and Petters United had come to the conclusion that an amalgamation would be the best move forward to widen the appeal of football in the town and to expand into the wider world of the ever growing sport. It was something that Johnny voiced his disapproval off, although promising to do his best for his home town regardless of whatever happened.

Senior league football came to an abrupt halt because of the First World War and Johnny, along with the vast majority of his team-mates, joined up to do their bit for King and Country. Thankfully, Johnny survived the horrors of the Great War and returned home to Mabel, lovingly waiting for him at Everton Road. Four of his team mates were not so lucky and did not return, including his friend and team mate Charlie Larcombe, who supplied him with

so many of his goals.

When Johnny eventually returned to football he was approaching 32. With the club amalgamation now complete, he found himself in the new style and unfamiliar strip of white shirts and navy blue shorts for the highly ambitious Yeovil & Petters United. He also found himself technically in a higher standard of football as Yeovil had entered, for the first time, into the Western League Division Two. He was soon finding the back of the net with regularity – his 52 goals from just 33 matches being his best return yet.

A year later, Yeovil applied to and were accepted in the higher Western League One. Far from the provincial towns of Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire, matches further afield would be undertaken, mostly in Wales against the professional reserve sides of clubs such as Cardiff City, Swansea Town, Barry along with Bristol City and Bristol Rovers. It did not daunt him as he finished the season averaging over a goal a game.

By December 1920, Fred’s goal scoring exploits had resulted in 277 goals in just 288 matches, for the county side he’d produced a return of 24 goals in 22 matches.

Fred continued to score at will and helped to bring more silverware to Yeovil.

The club was now playing at Huish, the famous sloping ground of Yeovil Town which was to be their home before moving to Huish Park in 1990.

Another step up in football was made in the 1922-23 season when the club entered the Southern League, again resulting in matches even further away from home.

The club had now become a professional outfit, under their first player-manager Jack Gregory, who knew a good striker when he saw one. Fred, now 35, welcomed the professional wage of his club and continued his trade in the gloving industry with an ever-growing family the two wages would have been most welcome.

Wellington Street photographed in 1957. Huish Infants School in Huish – right next to the football ground – is pictured at the end. Fred Hayward was born in Wellington Street in 1887, he died in 1958 a year after this photo was taken.

Hardly a match went by in the 1923-24 season where the name Hayward was not printed on the score sheet, clinching the Southern League Western section, at the time the highest achievement at that time, in the club’s history, assisted with his 37 goals.

Although Fred was still the Glovers’ main striker, age was starting to tell. With the signing of 16-year-old Harry Scott from Torquay in 1924, the Yeovil management astutely were looking for goals elsewhere, knowing Hayward could not continue carrying the club’s striking fortunes for much longer. Harry eventually took over from Fred Hayward in the top scoring list

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

in the 1925-26 season.

Nobody knows, if Fred decided that the 1926-27 was to be his last, however the last it was to be. Signing strikers Tommy Lowes from Newport County and Harry Pidgeon from Southend, of course along with Harry Scott, the writing was on the wall. The club were now looking nationwide for players.

However, even at 39-years-old, Fred, when playing took his chances; scoring two hat-tricks in a week in September against Exeter in the Southern league and Street in a 10-1 FA Cup win. But the chances for the first team became less, and by March he found himself mostly in the reserves.

It was on May 7, 1927, and a visit to Newport in Wales to play Lovells Athletic when he made his final appearance for the Glovers in the reserves. And he finished on a high – he scored seven goals in the match, the first time he had ever done that, in a 12-1 victory.

Fred had one more day in a Glovers’ shirt, playing in a benefit match, Past v Present at Huish on the April 23, 1935. He was 48.

He sadly passed away in October 1958 at Yeovil Hospital aged 71. The whole of the Yeovil football community mourned his passing. The hero of Pen Mill and Huish and hero to the thousands of Yeovil fans who had witnessed the great man’s skills

and goals. He would never be forgotten.

Historian Michael West said: “Fred ‘Johnny’ Hayward was simply a Yeovil man born and bred who became a legend, and long may that legend continue, he and his achievements must never be forgotten.”

Fred “Johnny” Hayward scored 548 goals for Yeovil. The only player to have scored more goals for a single club was German striker Gerd Muller with 573 for Bayern Munich.

YEOVIL PRESS YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR SPORTS NEWS PUBLISHED IN THE YEOVIL PRESS COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER EACH MONTH? Youth Sport - Senior Sport Club News Team Sport - Individual Sport Send us your photos and reports to yeovilpress@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

61

What a team that was! Send us your old sporting team photos If you have any old sporting team photos from when you played local football, rugby, cricket, netball, hockey, skittles, darts etc – please send them via email to yeovilpress@gmail.com

along with details about the team in the photograph. Any sporting line-up would be great so we can publish them in future editions of the Yeovil Press and allow people to reminisce.

THIS photo is of Yeovil Town FC from the 1981-82 season - pictured (back row from left) are Maurice O’Donnell, Tony Cottle, Clive Westlake, Clive Green, Jess Payne, Len Bond, Kim Book, Andy Bell, Glyn Broom, Steve Ritchie and Jimmy Giles and (front row from left) are Malcolm Gold, Jamie Ward, Dave Platt, Roy Ireland, Peter Hawkins, Brian Ashton and Jeremy Brown.

MANAGER Gerry Gow (pictured front centre) is seen with his Yeovil Town team of 1985-86 with (back row from left) assistant manager Paul Hillard, David Craig, Wayne Hughes, Forbes Phillipson-Masters, Tim Bintley, Paul Thorpe, Tom Ritchie, Phil James, physio Doug Hunt and (front row from left) Chris Lillygreen, Paul Muir, Andy Dymond, Martin Tooze, Gerry Gow, Malcolm Gold, John McGinlay, Dave Linney and Jon Economou.

YEOVIL-BASED Westland Sports FC first team are pictured in the 1979-80 season when they were playing in the Western League. Pictured (back row from left) are Geoff McCreadie, Andy Ashton, Paul Smith, Nicky Williams, Mike Hodges, Jason Osborne and manager Pete Smith, while (front row from left) are Neil Cochran, Graham Gold, Teddy Masters, Martin Middleditch, Ian McKay and Stuart Ridout.

Many thanks to Alan Lamont for sending the Yeovil Press this photo.

THE men’s football team at Yeovil College won a silver medal at the Association of Colleges championships following triumph in the regional league in 2015.

The national Association of Colleges (AOC) championships represented the highlight of the sporting calendar for many colleges and sixth forms.

The event brought together 1,800 elite student sportsmen and women from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, who took part in a range of events in a three-day, 14-sport competition at the University of Bath’s Sports Training Village. Yeovil College students regularly competed at this level.

Coached by lecturers Andrew Mitchell and Matt Hann, Yeovil’s football team took silver in the five-a-side competition.

Captained by Louis Irwin, 17, the squad comprised of Liam Norris, 19,

62

Aaron White, 17, Connor Williams, 16, Scott Morgan, 18, Dom Szalas, 19, Steve Flynn, 17, Duncan McCabe, 19, Harry Richards, 17, Matt Buse, 17, all of Yeovil, and 18-year-old Brett Cotterill, of Radstock.

The Yeovil football team finished the tournament with six wins, two draws and one defeat, leading to the silver medal.

PHOTO: The Yeovil College team with, back row from left, Brett Cotterill, Duncan McCabe, captain Louis Irwin, Liam Norris, Matt Buse, Dom Szalas, Aaron White and, front from left, Connor Williams, Steve Flynn, Harry Richards, and Scott Morgan. Matt Buse, incidentally, suffered the heartbreak of missing the decisive spot-kick for Torquay United in their recent 2021 National League PlayOff final defeat against Hartlepool United which had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

IVEL Barbarians, now Yeovil Rugby Club, are pictured in October 1996 after making an excellent start to their first season in the Berkshire, Dorset and Wiltshire League. Pictured, back row from left, are Aitor Martinez, Dick Young, Marcus Ryall, Martin Jacques, Steve Shaw; middle row from left, are Dave Hodges, Colin Hendrie, Elwyn White, Martin Weston, Mark Davidge, Andy Jarvis and Dick Reeves; front row from left, are Matt Watkins, Gareth Grimes, skipper Adrian Radford, Steve Green and Derek Smith.

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

Nobody can now knock Moore for what he has achieved WHEN Kieffer Moore headed home for Wales to equalise in his country’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their opening game of this summer’s Euro championships Yeovil Town fans would have united in a wry smile.

The tall striker, who got something of a rough ride from supporters when he was at Huish Park over six years ago, had just introduced himself onto the international scene.

The majority of Yeovil fans may have raised their eyebrows when they heard that the then Glovers’ boss Gary Johnson had signed an inexperienced youngster from Dorchester Town in the summer of 2013 just as the club was preparing for its adventure in The Chamionship, the second tier of English football.

And, to be fair, Kieffer Moore hardly set the world on fire when he was at Huish Park.

There were little glimpses of possible potential every now and again and Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden can remember thinking that “you never know what Kieffer’s going to do next.”

“But I also remember that in press conferences when asked about Kieffer, Gary Johnson would sing his praises very much,” said Steve. “It was to the

point where you began wonder whether Gary had misheard the question and was talking about a different player!”

Steve added: “I can remember speaking with Kieffer in a pre-season training session just after he had signed and he did seem a bit shell-shocked by everything. A few days before he was a Dorchester Town player and now he was in The Championship – a huge leap up the football pyramid.

“And I think that is what we as fans have got to realise about Kieffer. When he was with Yeovil Town from 2013-15 he was still a very raw and inexperienced talent who needed more games under his belt to gradually improve.”

The statistics do not lie and Moore’s rise to international status has been marked since he left Yeovil at the end of the 2014-15 season when the Glovers were relegated to League Two. He initially moved to Norwegian club Viking on a one-year contract, but returned home and featured for Forest Green Rovers who were then still in the National League and included his time there with a spell on loan at Torquay United.

He moved to Ipswich Town in January 2017 in The Championship and then

YEOVIL PRESS

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

OLD COPIES OF THE YEOVIL PRESS ARE AVAILABLE Did you miss out on seeing a certain photo or feature?

Would you like to buy a back-copy of the paper?

We have copies available dating back to the 1st edition published in July 2018.

It will cost £5 per copy to include post and packaging.

Email yeovilpress@gmail.com or phone us on 07773-198-081 for further details.

YEOVILPRESS

YEOVILPRESS YEOVILPRESS

OC 20 T 19

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

www.yeovilpress.co.uk | Edition

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.

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

E

EE

FR

INSIDE

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

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 on the bounce whether he would be the new won six consecutive games case. the be on would victories in succession and he confirmed that – 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 club. part of the 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.

More Yeovil Town news on

CUTTING AT A FABULOUS PRICE

KEY Trophies – Personalised Gifts – Sports Metal Engraving – Glass Engraving BA20 1HE 1 Church Street, Yeovil, Somerset co.uk Phone: 01935-411088 | www.atouchofglassyeovil.

EE

FR

‹‹ 1317

INSIDE

YOUR FREE YEOVIL PRESS

YOUR FREE YEOVIL PRESS

second goal in his team’s 2-0 win against Turkey.

A third former Yeovil player to be in the Wales squad for the Euros was goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, but he did not feature in any games. He made 12 appearances for the Glovers on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2013 during Yeovil’s one season in The Championship.

Good luck to England in their QuarterFinal match with Ukraine on Saturday, July 3, and hopefully a Semi-Final showdown with Denmark or Czech Republic. Can football really come home this year?

PHOTO: Kieffer Moore during his Yeovil Town days.

Join the Glovers Trust if you feel strongly about what happens at your football club Our Club – Our Passion Standing together to make a difference

NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME www.glovers-trust.co.uk facebook.com/gloverstrust Twitter: @gloverstrust

GIN AND MORE ‹‹ 16-17

ROUND TABLE CHARITY LUNCH ‹‹ 10-11

his stripes as a Glover

since I started.

I didn’t think “When I first started out actually looking about being chairman. I was it, both inside and at potential people to do

TWINDERELLA PANTOMIME HAD A BUCKET FULL OF NAUGHTY LAUGHS  OH NO IT DIDN’T, OH YES IT MOST CERTAINLY DID! PHOTO SPECIAL ‹‹ 50-51

PLUS  FIND OUT THE LATEST NEWS AND FUNDRAISING EVENTS FOR YEOVIL DISTRICT HOSPITAL’S BREAST CANCER UNIT APPEAL

YEOVIL AMATEUR PANTOMIME SOCIETY PUT ON A FANTASTIC SHOW AS IT TOOK AUDIENCES OFF ON A MAGICAL PANTO JOURNEY TO SEE THE WIZARD OF OZ. FOURPAGE PHOTO SPECIAL ON THE CENTRE PAGES ‹‹ 35-38

INSIDE

YOUR FREE YEOVIL PRESS

HOSPICE LATEST ‹‹ 18-19

New chairman wants to earn

MA 20 RCH 20

www.yeovilpress.co.uk | Edition Number 18 | FREE

THREEPAGE PHOTO SPECIAL OF YEOVIL YOUTH THEATRE GROUP’S FANTASTIC MUSICAL PRODUCTON OF CHICAGO ‹‹ 45-47

PLUS  COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS 12PAGE PULLOUT SPECIAL  CENTRE PAGES ‹‹ 2738

FR E

PULL OUT PREVIEW ‹‹ 37-44 PLUS - EIGHT-PAGE LITERARY FESTIVAL FABULOUS YEOVIL

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

www.yeovilpress.co.uk | Edition Number 14 | FREE

Number 13 | FREE

FROM THE SUPER THREE PAGES OF PHOTOS TOWN CENTRE ‹‹ 12-14 SATURDAY EVENT IN YEOVIL OF THIS YEAR’S

DE 20 C 19

went on loan to Rotherham United in July 2017 until the end of the season in League One where things began to click for him and he scored 13 goals in 22 appearances.

A move to Barnsley in The Championship followed and he went on to score 21 goals in 51 appearances and that prompted another move – this time to Wigan Athletic also in The Championship. Despite Moore’s efforts, Wigan were relegated due to a points deduction.

Moore signed for Championship club Cardiff City and has now so far scored 20 goals in 42 games for the Welsh outfit.

He made his international debut for Wales in 2019 and has scored six goals in 21 appearances - not a bad record for someone who was not overly popular or rated when at Huish Park.

But nobody can now knock Moore for what he has achieved. It just goes to show that some players definitely get better with age.

Congratulations also go to Connor Roberts who made 45 appearances for Yeovil during the 2015-16 season while on loan with the Glovers from Swansea City. He too featured for Wales in the Euro championships and he scored the

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

CHIPPED CAR KEYS FOR JUST £40 AT A TOUCH OF GLASS UNTIL

SEASIDE CHUCKLES ‹‹ 60-61

YOUR new local newspaper

that covers YOUR local area

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

1 Church Street, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1HE Phone: 01935-411088 / www.atouchofglassyeovil.co.uk 1

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

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

VW SKODA AUDI KEYS CUT AND CHIPPED FOR JUST £45 ALSO ULTION SECURITY KEYS CUT

MARY POPPINS ‹‹ 40-41

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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.

1 Church Street, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1HE Phone: 01935-411088 / www.atouchofglassyeovil.co.uk 1

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

HOSPICE NEWS ‹‹ 22-23

LEGENDS ARE RETURNING ‹‹ 68-69

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

1

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

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

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

63

POSTPONED UNTIL THE SUMMER OF 2022

YEOVIL PRESS YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

64

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN KINDLY SPONSORED BY:

YEOVIL PRESS

yeovilpress@gmail.com | www.yeovilpress.co.uk

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

YEOVIL PRESS YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

Moving to Yeovil in 1971 was the best decision we've ever made THERE is a very small elite club of just three players who are in Yeovil Town’s Top Ten records for post-war appearances and goals.

One of those is Terry Cotton and it is 50 years ago this summer that he first arrived at the old sloping pitch of Huish to join the Glovers.

Cotton made 415 appearances for Yeovil in two spells from 1971-77 and 1978-80 and is sixth in the all-time appearance chart, while he scored 84 goals during those matches and is seventh in the goal scoring chart.

Only Dave Taylor (436 games and 284 goals) and John Clancy (483 games and 79 goals) stand with Cotton in the Top Ten for both appearances and goals in post-war times.

On Pages 60-61 in the Glovers Glory feature we look back at Fred “Johnny” Hayward who scored a mammoth 548 goals for Yeovil before and after the First World War and is a true club legend.

But the likes of Taylor, Clancy and Cotton are also legends of the modern era.

While Terry Cotton is remembered by many for his playing days, he is also very much known for his work at the club in recent years as an assistant manager to Graham Roberts, Colin Lippiatt and Steve Thompson in the late 1990s and early 2000s, while he then helped with hospitality on match days at Huish Park.

And his wife Jean worked at the club for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2020 and was the engine room of the office team as assistant secretary and then secretary and made the day-to-day

Terry Cotton.

running of the club tick.

But it was back in the summer of 1971 when they first moved to Yeovil following a chance meeting between Terry and former team-mate Brian Grey in a pub in Swansea.

“Brian was playing for Yeovil at the time and tried to persuade me to move down to Somerset,” said Terry in a conversation with well-known supporter Mark Kelly for a feature on his online Green Army page on social media Facebook.

“I had just been released by Swansea City and was mulling over whether to sign for Durban City in South Africa. Jean and I were more than a little concerned about going to South Africa as apartheid was a big worry at the time – and our

Terry Cotton and Yeovil Town team-mates a few days before losing 2-0 at Huish to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup Second Round on December 9, 1972. They are pictured weighing-in during a visit to the brine baths at Weston-super-Mare. On the scales is Ken Thompson, while Terry is pictured (third from right) partly obscured by Stuart Housley.

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

Front cover of the Elect Yeovil Town to the Football League brochure of 1973. Terry Cotton is pictured second from right with the late and much-missed Maurice O’Donnell at extreme right.

minds were probably made up when we were told the goalkeeper carried a gun in his bag during matches.”

Terry continued: “We took Brian’s advice and phoned Yeovil’s playermanager Mike Hughes who immediately invited us down to discuss terms. After a long journey into the unknown, we arrived at Yeovil and a few hours later were on our way back to Swansea with an offer of a rent-free house and a job at Normalair alongside the football.

“It was a choice between sunny but chaotic Durban or the quiet market town of Yeovil. We obviously chose Yeovil – and what a great decision that was.

“I played in the Southern League days on the old sloping pitch at Huish from 1971 to 1977, then returned in 1978 under Barry Lloyd after one season at Salisbury.

“My first season was at centre forward and I thought I did quite well, scoring 29 goals, including a hat-trick against Gravesend & Northfleet. But the following season, I was moved back to centre-half due to injuries, and ended up staying there for most of my Yeovil career apart from for the occasional foray up front.

“When Barry brought me back to the club, it was initially to play up front as I knew the slope so well – although I again ended up back in defence.

“I scored some memorable goals – including one in the wrong end, when I tried to hit it back to keeper Brian Parker from 40 yards at the bottom of the slope and it ended up flying into the top corner.

“That was in Stan Harland’s first game as manager – and he wasn’t best pleased!

I did score one in the right end from long range, too. The Barnet goalkeeper kicked it out of his hands, and, as it bounced in the centre circle, I launched it up-field and it went over his head and into the net.

“It was not too long after Pele had nearly scored from the halfway line at the World Cup, and I was asked by a reporter after the game if I had meant it. I said: “The difference between me and Pele is

that he tried it and missed, and I wasn’t trying to score but did.”

Cotton was very proud to make 415 appearances and score 83 goals for Yeovil with, he emphasises, “no red cards – despite what some people might tell you about my style of play.”

He left Yeovil Town in 1980 to play for and manage locally at clubs such as Bridport and Sherborne, before returning to run the youth team at Huish Park in the early-1990s, and then being appointed assistant manager to Graham Roberts.

“I held the same role under Colin Lippiatt and Steve Thompson, leaving the club again when Dave Webb took over

Terry Cotton, now in his mid-70s, in later years – still playing for the veterans.

and Yeovil went full-time,” said Terry.

“Who would have known that the decision not to go to South Africa would mean Jean and I would have had so many good times at Yeovil and make so many great friends in players, staff and supporters alike. We’ve also had the two trips to Wembley and a season in The Championship but also the lows of going down to the Isthmian League and having to climb back up.

“We’ve shared so many great times with so many wonderful people, several of whom are sadly no longer with us, that it would be unfair to single out individuals from five decades in the town. But it’s safe to say moving here in 1971 was the best decision we’ve ever made.”

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

65

Pre-season friendly fixtures Skivo gains top coaching lined-up for Yeovil Town qualification from UEFA YEOVIL Town has confirmed its full pre-season schedule ahead of the upcoming 2021-22 National League season.

Kicking-off with a repeat of last season’s trip to Stratford Town, the Glovers head to Knights Lane on the 24th of July.

One week later, football will return to Huish Park as League Two play-off semifinalists Forest Green Rovers visit Huish Park on the 31st of July.

There will then be a double header of local away trips as the Glovers travel to Taunton Town on August 3 and then Weston-super-Mare on August 7.

Closing the pre-season campaign is a double header against South-Coast

sides - Southampton FC B will visit Huish Park on August 10 followed by an AFC Bournemouth XI on August 14.

Ticket information for the home fixtures will be issued in due course, but keep up to date by going to the club’s website at www.ytfc.net .

Full schedule of Yeovil Town’s preseason friendly fixtures: Saturday, July 24: Stratford Town (Away) 3pm; Saturday, July 31: Forest Green Rovers (Home) 3pm; Tuesday, August 3: Taunton Town (Away) 7.30pm; Saturday, August 7: Weston-super-Mare (Away) 3pm; Tuesday, August 10: Southampton B (Home) 7pm; Saturday, August 14: AFC Bournemouth XI (Home) 3pm.

Charlie can't wait to show the fans what he can do MIDFIELDER Charlie Wakefield has signed for Yeovil Town on a one-year deal.

The 23-year-old joins after a season competing at National League level, spending the first half of the season at Wealdstone and then later joining playoff bound Bromley.

A Chelsea academy graduate, the quick midfielder spent eight years within the Blues academy, before moving onto pastures new with Coventry City, spending one and a half with the Sky Blues, before venturing to Wealdstone last summer.

Speaking to Yeovil’s official website at ytfc.net after signing for the Glovers, Wakefield said: “I’m very pleased to get the deal done. I’ve had a little tour; the facilities are really good.

“I’m just excited to show them (the fans), what I’m capable of doing, what I can offer the team.

“I’m a unique player because I’ve been blessed with pace, and I want to be direct which will excite people. So, I’m looking forward to seeing the fans and them seeing me play.

“There will be a good atmosphere in the big games here, first game of the season, hopefully with fans there, I’m ready to go!”

A club spokesman said: “All at Yeovil

Town would like to wish Charlie a warm welcome to Huish Park.”

PHOTO: Charlie Wakefield.

Murphy joins relegated Southend STRIKER Rhys Murphy has left Yeovil Town after deciding against renewing his contract at Huish Park.

After two successful seasons with the Glovers in which he scored 29 goals in the National League, Murphy has now joined newly-relegated Southend United

66

who are facing up to life in the nonleague game after dropping out of the Football League.

“All at Yeovil Town would like to wish Rhys all the best for the future,” said a spokesman for the Glovers.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

YEOVIL Town has congratulated assistant manager Terry Skiverton on achieving his UEFA Pro License Level 5 qualification.

The UEFA Pro License is the highest qualification a coach can attain with the coaching sector and is a testament to the former skippers’ hard-work and dedication that he has achieved such a feat.

Skiverton is widely regarded as a legend amongst Yeovil Town supports for his long-term service to the football club in a variety of roles.

Speaking to the club’s official website ytfc.net, Glovers manager Darren Sarll heaped praise on his assistant manager.

“Terry once again has showcased the elite level that he works to on a daily basis, his commitment to bettering himself for the benefit of others to develop and win is testament to him as a person and as coach,” said Sarll.

“I very much enjoy working with Terry and his input and contribution to this

club goes beyond the call of duty.

“Terry has remained very loyal, determined and a constant of the clubs most successful periods. I hope he continues to support myself and our football club for years to come. Well done.”

PHOTO: Terry Skiverton (left) with Yeovil Town boss Darren Sarll.

Defender makes a return to Huish Park for a third time

YEOVIL Town have confirmed the signing of defender Morgan Williams on a two-year-deal.

A familiar face to most Glovers’ fans, Williams enjoyed two short term loan spells with the club from Coventry City.

Making an instant impact in his first spell, Williams helped the side to keep a clean sheet on his debut against FC Halifax Town after just one training session with the club.

Prior to joining the Glovers on loan first time round, Williams had already made his first team bow for Coventry, lining up in the Checkatrade Trophy against Arsenal and later started in League One against Fleetwood Town.

Despite being just 21-years old, Williams already has pedigree within the non-league circuit, being named in

the 2017-18 Northern Premier League Team of the Season during his time with Mickleover Town.

The second of his loan spells with Yeovil came in late 2020, as the defender starred in Yeovil Town’s FA Cup victory over Bromley in November.

Speaking to the club’s official website at ytfc.net after signing, the defender said: “I’m really excited, obviously I’ve been here twice before, and I’ve loved it so I’m happy to be back.

“Knowing the club is the main reason I wanted to come here. Knowing the gaffer (Darren Sarll) from the previous times I’ve been here, and the lads have helped me in both instances.

“It’s a fresh start for me, I really want to put my mark on the club now.”

PHOTO: Defender Morgan Williams.

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

Defender adds plenty of experience to Yeovil's backline

EXPERIENCED defender Mark Little has signed for Yeovil Town and believes the club is in a “false position.”

Adding a wealth of experience to the Yeovil backline, Little has signed for the Glovers after a 15-season spell in the Football League, playing in all three divisions.

A Wolverhampton Wanderers academy graduate, Little made 32 appearances for the Midlands outfit before venturing to Peterborough United after a successful loan spell in Cambridgeshire.

It was with the Posh where the defender made his mark as an established Football League defender, winning promotion to the Championship via the League One play-offs in his first full season with the club.

A spell at Bristol City followed where he also won promotion to the

Championship, this time as champions alongside a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win.

Little enjoyed spells with Bolton Wanderers and Bristol Rovers in the years following and now signs for Yeovil where he wants to add another promotion to his record.

Speaking to Yeovil’s official website ytfc.net, the defender said: “I feel the club is in a bit of a false position. From playing against the club previously, it’s always been in the Championship or League One, to find the club out of the Football League, it’s not right so I’m here to correct that.

“It’s no secret that I’m coming to the end of my career, but I feel like I’ve got another promotion in me and coming here gives me the opportunity to do that.”

PHOTO: Mark Little.

Left-back Barnett joins the Glovers YEOVIL Town are delighted to have confirmed the signing of Jordan Barnett for the 2021-22 season in the National League.

The 21-year-old left-back joins to boost manager Darren Sarll’s options on the left-hand side of his team.

A Barnsley academy graduate, Barnett moved on for his first taste of first team football, joining Oldham Athletic in 2020 where he made 18 appearances in EFL League Two. After departing the Lancashire outfit, the full-back joined Notts County for the latter part of last season, even finding the back of the net against Town with a thunderous strike from 25-yards out.

Speaking to the club’s official website at ytfc.net after confirming his signature, Barnett said; “I’m delighted to get the deal over the line. I’ve been talking with the club for about a week now, so I’m just delighted to get down here and see the facilities which are really nice.

“As soon as Darren saw I was available, he rang my agent. The goal I scored against Yeovil last season has helped me a lot, and he really likes me as a player.

“I’m more of an attacking left-back than a defensive left-back, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to get my foot in as well, I love a tackle!”

PHOTO: Jordan Barnett.

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

Shot-stopper Smith signs for the Glovers GOALKEEPER Grant Smith has joined Yeovil Town having signed a one-yeardeal.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper boasts a wealth of experience in the National League, having plied his trade in the division for Boreham Wood, Chesterfield, Maidstone & Wealdstone, reaching the play-off final with the Wood during the 2017/18 season.

After a fine season with Chesterfield, keeping ten clean sheets in 18 appearances, Smith now ventures to Somerset with the hope of continued form Speaking to the club’s official website at ytfc.net, the shot-stopper said: “It feels really good to be here. I’m really happy to get it over the line and looking forward to getting started.

“I’m coming into here with a positive mindset. I’m really excited to actually meet the lads and show them what I can do.

“It’s a great club, hopefully the fans will be back in. I hope they can come and support the team. It’s been a tough 18 months for everybody, but hopefully we’re at the end of things and brighter times are to come.”

PHOTO: Goalkeeper Grant Smith.

Staunton will be like a new player for Yeovil Town YEOVIL Town manager Darren Sarll has claimed Josh Staunton will be like a new signing as he steps up his return from injury.

Staunton has not been seen in a Yeovil Town shirt since he limped off against Eastleigh in December 2020, but has continued to train at Huish Park during the summer break.

The summer signing of 2020 came in to be a versatile option for Sarll to bolster both the defence and midfield and the boss is now hoping Staunton can make his presence felt in the upcoming National League season.

“He absolutely feels like a new player,” insisted Sarll. “We had Josh and Luke Wilkinson for a combined 24 games last year, which is a quarter of the overall game time.

“Having Josh back out there, and the way we can use him this year, he brings such an honour to the team. Everything he does is with integrity and for the best of someone else.

“He’s a very selfless individual, he got injections to play and really put himself in harm’s way for the team. Having those qualities as the nucleus of your squad is really important.”

Despite being able to fill in many roles, the boss believes Staunton will take up a midfield role in the upcoming campaign.

“I’m looking forward to using squad, I see him as a midfield player right now,

but we know he’s got all of the Charlie Lee type qualities to go wherever he needs to play,” added the manager.

“Josh has the discipline in his mind to really change and adapt, he’s absolutely a new player, we haven’t seen anything from what I know he’s capable of doing.

“Having him fit for the upcoming year, he’ll be a big player for us. When we signed him, I thought he was as good a player as there was in the division and I still think he has that quality now.”

PHOTO: Josh Staunton.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

67

Somerset Cricket League (Tables as at July 1, 2021) Premier Division

YEOVIL CRICKET CLUB 1ST XI FIXTURES/RESULTS SOMERSET CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED) May 1, 2021 Wimborne 200-7, Yeovil 143-6 Match Drawn May 8, 2021 Yeovil v Shapwick and Polden Cancelled May 15, 2021 Uphill Castle 188-3, Yeovil 187 Uphill Castle won by seven wickets May 22, 2021 Yeovil 181, Butleigh 178-7 Yeovil won by four wickets May 29, 2021 Long Sutton 191, Yeovil 235-7 Yeovil won by 44 runs June 5, 2021 Yeovil 304-3, Temple Cloud 160 all out Yeovil won by 144 runs June 12, 2021 Trull 234-6, Yeovil 236-3 Yeovil won by seven wickets June 19, 2021 Wells 283-8, Yeovil 328-5 Yeovil won by 45 runs June 26, 2021 Yeovil 257-6, North Petherton 231 ao Yeovil won by 26 runs July 3, 2021 Yeovil v Winscombe

P Yeovil 9 North Petherton 9 Winscombe 9 Uphill Castle 9 Temple Cloud 9 Long Sutton 9 Trull 9 Butleigh 9 Shapwick & Polden 9 Wells 9

Pts 251 246 240 217 201 187 172 166 130 123

Division Four Yeovil 2nds 9 Wedmore 9 Ilton 8 Huish & Langport 9 Taunton Deane 3rds 9 Kilmington & Stourton 9 Chard 2nds 9 Uphill Castle 2nds 9 South Petherton 8 Trull 2nds 9

223 220 206 197 192 188 174 168 156 103

Division Seven Green Yeovil 3rds 8 Wincanton 8 Castle Cary 2nds 8 Lydford Sports 2nds 8 Crewkerne 2nds 8 Queen Camel 8 North Perrott 3rds 8 Sparkford 2nds 8 Ilminster 4ths 8

231 221 205 185 142 135 114 85 83

Jack's man-of-the-match in victory over Petherton PHOTOGRAPHER Martin Edwards was out at South Petherton on June 5 to see Yeovil 2nds enjoy a 51-run win Division Four of the Somerset Cricket League.

Martin, of totallyfocused.co.uk, saw Yeovil open the batting and put on 1577 from their 40 overs with number three Jack Fuller top scoring with 40.

Petherton were then dismissed for 106

in the 32nd over with Fuller earning his man-of-the-match tag by taking 4-16.

Matt Dyer also produced some good bowling and finished with 3-29.

The Yeovil Press would like to thank Martin for the use of his photos.

The Yeovil 2nds enjoyed a 67-run win over Trull 2nds on June 12, a narrow nine-run success over Kilmington &

Stourton on June 19, but fell to a narrow and dramatic one-wicket defeat at Taunton Deane 3rds on June 26.

For all the results and forthcoming fixtures for all of Yeovil Cricket Club’s teams log onto the club’s website at https://yeovil.play-cricket/com.

July 10, 2021 Shapwick and Polden v Yeovil July 17, 2021 Yeovil v Uphill Castle July 24, 2021 Butleigh v Yeovil July 31, 2021 Yeovil v Long Sutton August 7, 2021 Temple Cloud v Yeovil August 14, 2021 Yeovil v Trull August 21, 2021 Yeovil v Wells August 28, 2021 North Petherton v Yeovil

68

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

Yeovil are looking good at the top of the Premier Division IN-FORM Yeovil Cricket Club’s first team will be looking to continue an impressive run of results which has propelled them to the top of the Premier Division in the Somerset Cricket League.

Four wins in June took their winning run to six matches and they top the table by just five points from second-placed North Petherton.

They play host to third-placed Winscombe on Saturday, July 3, before travelling to face struggling Shapwick and Polden seven days later on July 10.

The 1sts are back at home to fourthplaced Uphill Castle on July 17 and then away at Butleigh on July 24.

Yeovil close the month with a home game against mid-table Long Sutton.

Calum Gundry fell six runs short of a deserved century when he was run out

on 94, while skipper Dan Ewens added 74 and wicket-keeper Will Hanrahan 61 as Yeovil posted a score of 257-6 from their 45 overs on June 26 in their match with North Petherton.

Yeovil chalked-up a 26-run win when they dismissed North Petherton for 231 in the 42nd over with Steve Redwood, Mark Cawley and Max Dicker all taking two wickets apiece.

Ben Ford was in fine form with the bat on June 19 when he hit a masterclass innings of 140 not out in Yeovil’s total of 328-5 in their 45 overs against Wells.

Opener Calum Gundry hit 74, while number seven Sam Fuller closed with an undefeated 52.

Yeovil wrapped up a 45-run win when Wells were restricted to 283-8 from their 45 overs with Max Dicker taking 3-55 and Sonny Dennett and Steve Redwood

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

snaring two wickets apiece.

Yeovil enjoyed a seven-wicket success over Trull on June 12. Sam Fuller and Ben Ford took two wickets apiece as Trull closed on 234-6 from their 45 overs.

But Yeovil reached the winning line in the 39th over with just three wickets down. Ben Ford closed on an undefeated 93, while openers Calum Gundry and Tom Laney had earlier put on knocks of 35 and 69 respectively.

Yeovil started the month with an emphatic 144-run victory over Temple Cloud on June 5 as they smashed their way to an impressive score of 304-3 from their 45 overs.

Opener Calum Gundry hit a fabulous 102, while his fellow opener Tom Laney chipped in with an impressive 77. Ben Ford was undefeated on 57.

Temple Cloud were then dismissed for

160 inside 44 overs with Ben Ford taking 3-16 and Mark Cawley taking 3-22.

Yeovil are having a great season with the 2nds topping the Division Four table and the 3rds leading the Division Seven Green table.

With a flourishing youth set-up and the club having set-up a new sponsorship link with Yeovil Round Table – the future is looking bright for Yeovil Cricket Club.

Photos were taken by James Healey, of JRH Media, on June 5 during the first team’s impressive 144-run win over Temple Cloud in the Premier Division of the Somerset Cricket Club. The game coincided with the club welcoming representatives of the Yeovil Round Table – the charitable organisation which is Yeovil Cricket Club’s main sponsors this season.

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

69

Yeovil's young guns gain 30-run win at Ilminster in T20 clash AN IMPRESSIVE performance by Yeovil Cricket Club’s Under-19s team saw them gain a 30-run win away at their Ilminster counterparts in a T20 contest.

Yeovil won the toss and elected to bat and made 147-5 from their 20 overs during the game that was played on the evening of June 25 under good conditions

and in front of a decent-sized crowd at the Ilminster Recreation Ground.

Although opener James Farr went cheaply, Yeovil steadied the ship with fellow opener Jack Veale joined in the middle by William Chesterman.

Veale was the second wicket to fall with the score on 59 with him having knocked 26.

That total became 81-3 when Chesterman departed for 43 which came off 34 balls and included seven boundaries.

Christopher Keen and Max Dicker pushed the score along until Keen went for 16 with the total standing at 120-4.

They eventually closed on 147-5 with Dicker undefeated on 47 coming off

35 balls and his innings included four boundaries and one big six.

Ilminster closed on 117-4 from their 20 overs – 30 runs short of the target. Aidan Vincent took 2-20, while there was one run out and Will Chesterman gained the other wicket.

PHOTOS: Christine Jones.

| 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 70

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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

A

EEK W

24 HO U

S R

– 7 Y DAY A D A S

Friendly & Helpful Service Local & Long Distance Immediate and Advanced Bookings Taken Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles 4,6,7 & 8 Seaters Available 16 Seat Minibus We charge less than the meter, so you can travel cheaper

01935 426666 www.yeovilradiocabs.co.uk For more news check out www.yeovilpress.co.uk

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

71

A fast, reliable, local ultrafast broadband to your front door.

Bringing our fibre all the way to your home (FTTP) and rocking speeds of up to 950Mbps, Jurassic Fibre’s ultrafast full-fibre broadband is available with the freedom of a 30 day rolling contract for as low as £25 per month for 30Mbps.

Register now at jurassic-fibre.com or call 01392 345595

We’ve been voted Best New Internet Service Provider 2020!

72

YOUR new local newspaper that covers YOUR local area

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