Yeovil Press - Issue 50

Photo of the month

WELCOME to the November 2022 edition of the Yeovil Press community newspaper and another bumper edition.

We have a Countdown to Christmas eight-page pull-out on Pages 35-38 and 43-46 as we can’t escape the fact that we are now very much heading towards the festive season.

There is also a 12-page feature looking back at this year’s Remembrance commemorations –something we believe is one of the most important events of the year, if not the most important event, every year.

We are also on the eve of the men’s World Cup Finals kicking-off in Qatar on November 20. Admittedly, the venue choice for the finals has been somewhat controversial, but good luck to England boss Gareth Southgate and his players. Turn to Pages 39-42 for our special World Cup sweep stake.

This month’s edition has photo specials from the recent Diva Lunch held at Haselbury Mill (turn to Pages 28-29) and the Trafalgar Night celebrations held at Yeovil Rugby Club hosted by the TS Mantle sea cadets based at RNAS Yeovilton (turn to Pages 52-53).

And congratulations to all those involved in Yeovil’s recent Britain in Bloom success – turn to Pages 10-11 for more details.

Thank you to those that have advertised in this edition – your support is very much appreciated as always.

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

The December edition of Yeovil Press will be out on Thursday and Friday, December 8-9 – our final one of 2022. If you would like to get in touch –please email yeovilpress@gmail.com.

Take care, keep well and please keep safe.

STEVE SOWDEN - Editor

Pg 48-49:

Pg

Pg 54-55:

Pg 56:

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Pg 59: Peter Andre

Pg 60-61: Flashback - November

Pg 62: Photo Special: Hallowe'en

Pg 63-69: Sport

Pg 70-78: News from Yeovil Town FC

NEWS IN BRIEF

>> IF any business would like to advertise in the December edition of Yeovil Press – out on Thursday, December 8, and Friday, December 9, 2022, 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 November 2022 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 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 reader Helen Stonier sent

this wonderful autumnal photo she took while

Can you beat Quiz Man Dan and be Top of the Class?

ROUND ONE: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

QUESTION TIME WITH OUR QUIZ MAN DAN

WELCOME to this month’s Question Time quiz – so get your thinking caps on!

We are delighted to welcome Dan Harding – our very own Quiz Man Dan –to the Yeovil Press who will be posing the questions each month.

Dan is well-known in the Yeovil area and a keen quizzer and is thrilled to have been given the task of posing the questions each month.

There are a whopping 28 points up for grabs in Quiz Man Dan’s Question Time this month – good luck and the answers can be found on Page 25 of this edition of the Yeovil Press. We think some of you

quiz fans might do well this month.

If you score less than Five Points – Oh dear, you need to go and stand in the corner!

If you score between Five Points and 10 Points – Hmmm, you need to start reading more encyclopaedias!

If you score between 11 Points and 15 Points: Not bad, but nothing to shout about!

If you score between 16 Points and 23 Points: Well done, but still room for improvement!

If you score between 24 Points and 28 Points: Excellent performance – Top of the Class!

1: Italy swore in its first female prime minister on October but what is her name? A - Giorgia Meloni; B - Maria Montessori; or C - Anna Magnami.

2: Which former British colony was given back to China in 1997? 3: Pyrophobia is the fear of what? 4: What is a young Giraffe called? 5: Caledonia is the Roman name of what modern day country?

ROUND TWO: WHO AM I?

1: I am a funny man but I wasn’t laughing when I got caught up in a tax avoidance scheme in 2012.

2: In 2022 I was named as the richest talk show host in the world. 3: I once annoyed Michael Jackson by joining him on Stage at the Brit Awards.

I am famous for my theory on evolution. 5: I am a British actress who fell in love with Jack on a doomed sailing trip.

ROUND THREE: GEOGRAPHY

1: What is the capital city of Norway? 2: What American city is the Golden Gate Bridge located in? 3: What is the largest Ocean in the world? 4: I am in the city of Abuja but what Country am I in? 5: The South African flag has 6 colours on it! How many colours can you name? 1 point available for each.

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COFFEE BREAK CHAT

35 questions in 60 seconds

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

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

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

Yeovil has recently been celebrating after gaining a Gold Medal in the 2022 Royal Horticultural Society South West in Bloom awards.

The brains behind Yeovil’s floral success has been South Somerset District Council’s specialist horticultural officer Steve Fox and he has kindly agreed to take part in this month’s Coffee Break

Chat feature.

For more news about Yeovil’s entry into the Britain in Bloom competition – turn to Pages 10-11.

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.

Steve Fox.

1: Name: Steve Fox.

2: Occupation or associated with: South Somerset District Council’s specialist horticultural officer and Yeovil in Bloom.

Live: Yeovil.

Places of education: Westfield Infants, Parcroft School, Westfield Comprehensive School, Yeovil College and Cannington College. 5: What was your favourite lesson at school? Biology and geography. 6: What is your proudest moment? Getting Yeovil to the national finals for Britain in Bloom in 2019.

What is your favourite meal? Sausages with anything!

What was your favourite TV programme as a child? Chorlton and The Wheelies.

What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without? Music.

What is the one thing you cannot

resist? A record shop. 11: What is your greatest fear? Deep water. 12: What is your favourite drink? A good glass of port.

13: What is your favourite film? Any terrible sci-fi or horror B-movie.

14: What is your favourite band or pop group? Varies from day to day, but then I do have a vast record collection.

15: Who is your favourite singer? The 1970s era - Ian Gillan.

16: What was the first record you ever bought? The Ramones.

17: What is something you’ve never tried but want to? Sky Diving.

18: Cinema or Theatre? Theatre.

19: What is your favourite sport? Rugby - at a push.

20: What is your favourite holiday destination? Anywhere in the UK.

PHOTO:

The Ramones – an American punk rock band that formed in New York in 1974. Turn to Question 16.

Chorlton and The Wheelies was an animated children’s series that ran from 1976 to 1978 on British TV. The show followed the adventures of Chorlton, a factional happiness dragon, in Wheelie World.

What is your favourite board game? Monopoly.

What would you name the autobiography of your life? Its Dark Over Will’s Mother’s and Other Tales.

If you won the National Lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Take all my family away on a holiday.

If a film was made about you –what actor would you want to play you? Sean Bean. 27: If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? I would love to see my Dad again. 28: If you were a police officer for a day what would you do with the authority? Arrest anyone who litters.

29: Which TV programme makes you pick-up the remote and switch channel? Any soap opera! 30: Which three traits define you? Loyal, easy going and keen. 31: If you could do anything for the rest of your life what would that be? Visit record shops and buy records. 32: How many bones have you broken? Six - both wrists, little finger, thumb and some knuckles! 33: When you were little, what did you want to be? Biochemist – yes really! 34: Would you rather go into space or to the bottom of the ocean? Into space 35: Tell us something that might surprise us about you. I don’t like gardening programmes!

What is your favourite soap opera? Turn to Question 29.

Here’s an interesting fact: One million Earths could fit inside the Sun – and the Sun is considered an average-size star!

Yeovil has done well in the annual Britain in Bloom competition down the years.

Ian Gillan – an English singer best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple. Turn to Question 15.

Actor Sean Bean – best known for playing the lead role in the TV drama series Sharpe about a fictional British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. Turn to Question 26.

You would imagine any TV show involving gardening presenters Alan Titchmarsh and Monty Don would be top of Steve Fox’s viewing favourites considering his status as Yeovil’s Britain in Bloom guru. Turn to Question 35.

Hospital trust merger moves a step closer to becoming reality

THE board of directors at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have approved the business case to support the planned merger between the two NHS trusts at its public board meeting.

The new NHS trust will provide acute care and treatment from Yeovil District Hospital and Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, community-based services, including the county’s 13 community hospitals, and mental health and learning disabilities across Somerset.

In addition, it will run 16 GP practices through the Symphony Healthcare Services subsidiary.

The business case describes a series of plans that set out the benefits of the merger for patients and what it will mean

in practice. Following this approval, it will be reviewed by the regulatory body, NHS England.

If the business case is given the goahead by NHS England, then it is intended that the two trusts will merge, subject to feedback, on April 1, 2023.

The new organisation will be called Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The decision to keep the name of one of the trusts was made following extensive engagement of NHS colleagues at both trusts, as well as people and organisations with an interest in the local NHS, and members of the public.

Peter Lewis, chief executive of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said the approval by the trusts’ respective boards was a key milestone for in the process to

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 defibrillat ors 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?

merge.

“I’m pleased that our trust boards have given our planned merger a seal of approval,” he said. “By joining together as one NHS trust, we will be able provide better mental and physical health services for people, wherever they live in Somerset and the surrounding areas, through improved access to the specialist care and treatment they need, when they need it.

“In Somerset we already have an older population compared with many other parts of the country, and this is set to increase - in some parts of the county, more than half of all residents will be aged over 65 by 2033. This means there’ll be more people living with multiple, complex conditions and requiring care, treatment and support from many

different services.

“The number of people attending our hospitals for emergency or urgent care is increasing every year too and it’s becoming more challenging to meet this demand. We also know that we rely more upon inpatient care compared with other health systems and this is not always best for patients.

“By working as one NHS trust, and with our social care and voluntary sector partners, we will improve access to preventative care that helps people stay well and out of hospital, leading to better outcomes for this population.

“We will also develop stronger links between mental health and physical health services so people get the care and support they need, from the right service, at the right time.”

Gas pipe upgrade work could take six months in Larkhill Road

WALES and West Utilities have announced that they will shortly begin work to upgrade gas pipes in the Larkhill Road area of Yeovil.

The work, which is essential to keep the gas flowing safely to heat and power local homes and businesses, is set to start on November 21.

Barring any engineering difficulties, it will be complete in April next year.

Wales and West Utilities have liaised with Somerset County Council, Yeovil Town Council and Brympton Parish Council to plan the work and it has been agreed that rolling traffic lights will be used during the work.

Jake Sami, who is managing the gas pipe upgrade work, said: “While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across Yeovil. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable

and there when you need it.

“We know that working in areas like this is not ideal, but it really is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future. We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum.

“This work is essential to keep the gas flowing to local homes and businesses today, and to make sure the gas network is ready to transport hydrogen and biomethane, so we can all play our part in a green future.”

Wales and West Utilities’ customer service team is ready to take your call if you have any questions about the work.

You can contact them on freephone 0800 912 2999. Alternatively, you can contact them on Twitter @WWUtilities or Facebook.com/WWUtilities.

Gin and More Night is a big success at the Quicksilver Mail

FUNDS for the School in a Bag charity and Yeovil District Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal were boosted –thanks to a Gin and More Night at the Quicksilver Mail pub.

The event was hosted by former Yeovil Mayor, Darren Shutler, and his wife Anna and along with a team of helpers they managed to raise £1,100 which will be shared between the two charities.

Entertainment on the night was provided by Elvis tribute act Stuart Horne and Paul Lewis, who is better known as

the Guitarist on Wheels.

Darren and Anna said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Pete Lambden and staff at the Quicksilver Mail for letting us host this event again in their function room.

“Also many thanks to Stuart and Paul for the music and our wonderful team of helpers, plus everyone who came along and enjoyed the night.”

PHOTOS: Steve Sowden and Submitted.

Pathways homeless centre set to close early next year

SOUTH Somerset District Council has confirmed that a facility in Yeovil which provides supported accommodation for those facing homelessness and rough sleepers will close at the end of March next year.

The Pathways facility in Newton Road, which is operated by BCHA and provides accommodation for up to 30 people, was deemed to be no longer suitable for the service.

The council is already working on a plan of support and alternative accommodation for all those affected to ensure they have somewhere suitable to stay when the facility closes.

As previously reported, BCHA had been exploring an option with grant support from the district council to create a new facility with on-site support at Acacia Lodge at the top of Hendford Hill, but planning permission for this proposal was refused earlier this year.

Council leader, Cllr Val Keitch, said: “This news will understandably be very unsettling for Pathways residents and staff and we want to reassure them and our communities that we are committed

to ensuring that everyone has a safe and warm roof over their head.

“Our priority at this time remains on searching for alternative premises, with a focus on exploring and securing smaller units of accommodation as the preferred option, while we continue to assist people into suitable accommodation as appropriate. This is a difficult process but we will keep all those affected informed at all stages.”

BCHA was awarded a contract in 2020 with South Somerset District Council to run the Pathways facility.

Caroline Moylan, chief operating officer at BCHA, said: “We will be working closely with SSDC to look at alternative models and homes for existing and new customers within the Yeovil community.

“While we were disappointed not to secure planning approval earlier this year, BCHA remains committed to providing properties that enhance our customers’ quality of life and we remain dedicated to helping residents who have previously experienced homelessness to move towards permanent housing and independent living.”

based in West Camel. Ongoing and regular work available and a CSCS card is not required. The ideal candidate must:

Be able to drive and have own transport.

Be hard working, practically minded, reliable, happy working in all weathers and comfortable working at heights. Full training can be given to the right applicant and salary will be dependant on experience. This is a self-employed position.

Community eff ort is bloomin' marvellous for Britain in Bloom competition

GREEN-FINGERED enthusiasts have been congratulated for playing their part in helping Yeovil gain a coveted Gold Award in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom competition for the South West.

People gathered at the Milford Community Hall on October 26 for the presentation of awards in Yeovil Town Council’s allotments competition and the Yeovil in Bloom contest.

South Somerset District Council’s specialist horticultural officer Steve Fox, who was awarded a Community

Best Kept Allotment Presentations

2022: Best produce and winner of the David Kay Cup – Mrs J. Wall, of Milford Dip; runner-up – Mrs L. Shaw, of Sunningdale.

Best individual crop and winner of the Dollard Trophy – Mrs E. Nioda, of Newtown; runner-up – Mr A. Gitta, of Sunngindale.

Best allotment garden design and winner of the David Mills Cup – Mrs R. Morton, of Newtown; runner-up – Mr P. Donovan, of Goar Knap.

Best flowers and winner of the Jennifer Vickers Rosebowl – Mr Partridge and Ms Concannon, of Sunningdale; runner-up –

Champion Award by RHS Britain in Bloom South West for his services to the competition, told people that they were very much a reason for the success.

“You are all amazing for your fantastic efforts,” he told the audience. “Without the community’s involvement we wouldn’t have got the marks we did.

“The effort that went into getting that gold award certificate for Yeovil was absolutely amazing. We should all be really proud of what we have achieved.”

It was back in July when Yeovil was judged by the South West in Bloom

Mr P. Billing, of Rustywell.

Best new allotment holder and winner of the Mayor’s Cup – Mrs D. Perkins, of St Georges; runner-up – Mr M. Lominski, of Elizabeth Flats.

Best kept allotment site and winner of the Charles Shortland Trophy –Sunningdale Allotment Site.

Best kept allotment and winner of the Stanton Cup – Mrs B. David and Mr J. David, of Goar Knap; runner-up – Mr A. Ford, of Milford Dip.

Yeovil Gardening Competition Awards 2022: All year back garden best

chiefs and Mr Fox said that 30 per cent of the overall mark was for “community participation.

“Year after year people come back and support us,” he said. “The joy of meeting people and seeing what they have done in their gardens is amazing.

Awards were also presented to keen allotment-plot holders who were congratulated on their successes over the past year.

Chairman of Yeovil Town Council’s promotions and activities committee, Cllr Sarah Lowery, said: “This has been a

overall – Katrina Crate; gold awards – Pat White, Andrew Haylock, Lorna Clark.

All year front garden best overall – Mrs Reid; gold award – Lorna Clark; silver gilt – Andrew Haylock, Anne O’Donnell.

Community garden and allotment best overall – The Brookie Bridge Community Project; gold award – Wyndham Park Community Association.

Eco/sustainable garden best overall –J. Bird and K. Bignell Bird; gold award – Andrew Haylock.

Hanging baskets best overall – Kenneth Bowden; gold award – Pat White; silver gilt – Vyvyenne Burt, Sylvie Allen, Alan

celebration of hard work and dedication. I’m not very green-fingered myself, but I do love looking at some of the fabulous allotments.”

Yeovil Town Council manages 11 allotment sites in the town – Elizabeth Flats, Goar Knap, Hillcrest, Larkhill, Milford Dip, Monks Dale, Newtown, Rustywell, St George’s, Sunningdale, and Turner’s Barn Lane.

The Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie PottsJones, helped to present the prizes and she congratulated everyone on their superb efforts.

Wynn.

Retail/business garden best overall –The Emporium.

School garden best overall – Reckleford Community School and Children’s Centre.

Seasonal back garden best overall – Pat White; gold award – Kenneth Bowden.

Seasonal front garden best overall – Tricia Cunningham; gold award –Vuvyenne Burt; silver gilt – Pat White.

Shop window display best overall – The Emporium; gold awards – The Winking Frog, Café 50, Young Lives v Cancer, Cecile Hair and Beauty, Dahlia Florists.

Mrs J. Wall (second right) is pictured being presented with the David Kay Cup by Yeovil Mayor, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones (right), for the best produce in the Best Kept Allotments Competition organised by Yeovil Town Council for 2022. Also pictured are Cllr Sarah Lowery, chairman of the town council’s promotions and activities committee, Cllr Royston Spinner, who is chairman of the council’s grounds and general maintenance committee. Mrs Wall has her allotment plot at the Milford Dip allotments. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Mrs E. Nioda (second right) receives the Dollard Trophy for best individual crop in the Best Kept Allotments competition. Mrs Nioda has her allotment plot at the Newtown allotments. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Mrs R. Morton (second right) receives the David Mills Cup for best allotment garden design in the Best Kept Allotments competition. Mrs Morton has her allotment plot at the Newtown allotments. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Mr A. Partridge and Ms F. Concannon (pictured centre and second right) are pictured receiving the Jennifer Vickers Rosebowl for best flowers in the Best Kept Allotments competition. They have their allotment plot at the Rustywell allotments. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Mrs D. Perkins (second right) is pictured receiving the Mayor’s Cup from the Mayor, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones (right), for the best new allotment holder in the Best Kept Allotments competition. Mrs Perkins has her allotment plot at the St George’s allotments. Photo: Steve Sowden.

A representative of the Sunningdale Allotments in Yeovil (second right) is pictured receiving the Charles Shortland Trophy for best kept allotment site in the Best Kept Allotments competition. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Mrs B. David (second right) is pictured receiving the Stanton Cup for best kept allotment in the 2022 Best Kept Alltoments competition organised by Yeovil Town Council. Mrs David and her husband, Mr J. David, have their allotment plot at the Goar Knap allotments. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Katrina Crate (centre) is pictured receiving the shield for best overall back garden in the Yeovil Gardening Competition. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Kenneth Bowden (second left) receives the shield for best hanging baskets in the Yeovil Gardening Competition awards for 2022. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Mrs Reid (second left) is pictured receiving the shield for best overall front garden in the Yeovil Gardening Competition. Also pictured (from left) are the Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, Yeovil in Bloom steering group chairman Manny Roper and South Somerset District Council’s specialist operational management horticulture officer Steve Fox. Photo: Steve Sowden.

A representative of Reckleford Community School and Children’s Centre (second left) receives the shield for best school garden in the Yeovil Gardening Competition awards for 2022. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Tricia Cunningham (second left) receives the shield for best overall seasonal front garden in the Yeovil Gardening Competition awards for 2022. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Yeovil celebrates at it strikes gold at South West in Bloom competition

THERE was a golden feeling for Yeovil when the town scooped a coveted gold award at the 2022 Royal Horticultural Society South West in Bloom awards.

The awards were announced at a ceremony held at the fabulous Tithe Barn at Haselbury Mill which sits between Yeovil and Crewkerne.

And delighted representatives of the Yeovil in Bloom team were there to collect the gold award on behalf of the town. Yeovil won a gold award alongside Barnstaple, Exmouth and Newquay with Exmouth being declared the overall winner of the St Bridget Cup in the large town category.

The Yeovil in Bloom group was delighted to welcome judges to the town back in July to look at its efforts.

The initiative is funded by Yeovil Town Council with the floral displays being designed and maintained by South Somerset District Council’s environmental services in association with the Yeovil in Bloom Steering Group.

The town’s annual entry into the Britain in Bloom South West Region competition involves contributions from local businesses, schools, residents, Yeovil Country Park and a number of It’s Your Neighbourhood community and friends groups.

A wide range of work is carried out throughout the year including horticultural displays that turn Yeovil into a blooming beautiful display of colour, as well as roundabout displays, spring and summer bedding plants and even street cleaning.

The local and natural environment are also key features and influence the projects being undertaken such as rewilding to increase biodiversity, seed bomb giveaways, and working with communities to enhance local nature, wildlife and heritage.

The team also support local community groups such as Yeovil Rivers Community Trust, Reckleford School, Able 2 Achieve and Kenmore Gardeners.

Manny Roper, the chairman of Yeovil in Bloom steering group, said: “Yeovil in Bloom says it with flowers and brings a fresh floral breeze into Yeovil and the local community.

“It’s great to see the horticultural team support so many community groups and projects such as Able 2 Achieve.

“The team work tirelessly to create such wonderful displays such as the floral display celebrating the Queen’s platinum jubilee at St John’s Church.

“Whilst we must not forget the hard work of our street cleaners, residents, community groups and businesses who work so hard to make Yeovil a great place to live, work and visit.”

The Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie PottsJones, who was among those at the award ceremony, said: “Winning the gold award has been absolutely well-deserved. The floral displays were breathtaking this year – thank you to everyone involved with making Yeovil beautiful.”

There were “outstanding” awards in the It’s Your Neighbourhood section for the Brookie Bridge Community Project, Able 2 Achieve, Kenmore Gardeners, Yeovil Rivers Community Trust, Wyndham Park Association and Yeovil District Hospital, plus a “thriving” award for the Sidney Gardens Friends Group.

Also winning awards were Haselbury Plucknett with gold in the Champion of Champions category and the Severalls Memorial Garden in Crewkerne was runner-up in the Best It’s Your Neighbourhood section, while Warner Leisure Hotels won a gold award in the business section for its complex at Cricket St Thomas near Chard.

Steve Fox is pictured with the Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, and Yeovil in Bloom steering group chairman Manny Roper at the awards ceremony at Haselbury Mill.

We cannot aff ord to forget those who paid the ultimate sacrifice

THE town centre stood still on Remembrance Sunday (November 13) as the people of Yeovil paid their silent tribute to the fallen.

A parade converged on The Borough led by the HMS Heron Volunteer Band where it was greeted by hundreds of people who had assembled to pay their respects to those who had paid the

ultimate sacrifice in a time of war and conflict.

The traditional open-air service was led by Rev James Dudley-Smith, of St John’s Church, while proceedings were expertly controlled by Simon Woodrow, of the Yeovil branch of the Royal British Legion.

A two-minute silence was heralded by a lone bugler sounding Last Post before

a number of wreaths were laid at the foot of the War Memorial with the first being placed by the Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, who was joined by a member of 1032 (Yeovil) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets.

Old and young came together and remembered and long may that continue in the years ahead on Remembrance

Sunday.

Also among those to lay wreaths were Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh and South Somerset District Council chairman Cllr Paul Maxwell.

The photos on Pages 12-14 and Page 17 are from the Remembrance Sunday event in Yeovil on November 13. PHOTOS: Christine Jones.

Brookie Bridge display is perfect tribute for Remembrance

CONGRATULATIONS go to the Brookie Bridge Community Project team in Yeovil once again for producing another lovely Remembrance garden display.

The project is organised by the residents of the Seaton Road area in Yeovil. The aim of the project is to transform, improve and enhance the area around Brookie Bridge at Dodham Brook in West Street, off Huish, for the enjoyment of people who use the footpaths and, in doing so, create a haven for wildlife.

The project’s Remembrance display has again been beautifully created and not

only includes the cut-out of First World War soldier Harry, but also includes Patch a service dog and a military messenger pigeon.

The area was well-known as having eight adjoining Air Raid shelters built during the Second World War which could have accommodated just under 100 people. They remained there at the Brookie for many years after the war, but have since been removed.

PHOTOS: The poignant Remembrance display at the Brookie Bridge Community Gardening Project in Yeovil. Photos: Courtesy of Facebook.

Westfield Academy remembers the fallen

A YEAR Seven student at Buckler’s Mead Academy in Yeovil is pictured as he plays the Last Post at 11am on November 11 – Armistice Day - to pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War and subsequent wars and conflicts.

WESTFIELD Academy students and staff in Yeovil took part in a twominute silence on November 11 to commemorate the ending of the First World War in 1918.

Armistice Day sees the nation fall silent on November 11 at 11am – the time when the guns fell silent to signal the end of the Great War of 1914-18.

Students who are members of the Army Cadet, Sea Cadets, Air Cadets, Scouts and Guides took part in Remembrance assemblies during the week and wearing their uniforms around the school.

The tri-service instructors and scout leaders joined forces in celebrating those

who serve their communities and to remember our fallen soldiers and civilians of both the First and Second World Wars.

Cadets sold poppies to raise money for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal which will help towards supporting the community, volunteering and charity sections of their training programmes.

A Westfield spokesman said: “We would like to give special thanks to Sergeant H. Johnson and Corporal S. Stanbury, an alumni student, from Yeovil Army Platoon and Flying Officer C. Parkinson from 1032 Yeovil Air Cadets for giving up their mornings to join us.”

YEOVIL man Eddy Wellman is pictured manning the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal stall at the Asda store on Preston Road.

Eddy is well-known in the area and has transformed the front garden of his home on the corner of Gordon Road and Grass Royal to raise awareness of the Remembrance commemorations, the annual Poppy Appeal and, more recently, thanking the efforts of the NHS in the modern-day battle with coronavirus.

The Yeovil branch of the Royal British Legion has thanked Eddy and all of the volunteers who sold poppies on behalf of the Poppy Appeal.

PRESTON School’s head boy and head girl were joined by school principal Gregg Morrison as they laid a wreath on behalf of the school community at the War Memorial on Preston Road in Yeovil on November 11 – Armistice Day.

SENIOR students from Stanchester Academy in Stoke-sub-Hamdon represented the school at the annual Service of Remembrance at the Ham Hill Country Park on November 13. The students read beautifully and clearly and it was moving to hear the roll of honour of those from the area who had been killed in a time of war read out by the young people of Stanchester and those from Castle Primary School.

We will NEVER forget them

THE names published on these two pages are the very reason why we should NEVER forget those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during war and conflict.

Hundreds of names of men, women and children who died during the First World War, Second World War and the Falklands War adorn the War Memorial which has stood proudly in The Borough of Yeovil town centre since July 1921.

While those who served in the First World War are no longer with us and the numbers of those who fought during the Second World War are dwindling, it is still so very important for us and the generations who follow to remember those and those servicemen and women who have taken part in subsequent campaigns.

The names listed on the war memorial at Preston Plucknett on Preston Road, Yeovil, are also listed.

We owe them our freedom and our safety.

We Will Remember Them.

The names on the War Memorial in The Borough of Yeovil, killed during the First World War, are as follows: Walter John Abbott; David Henry Adams; Walter Horace Adams; Edwin Percival Aldworth; Walter William Allen; Richard Ewart Andrew; Douglas Arnold; William James Axe.

Frank Bailey; Lionel John Bailey; Frederick Charles Barnes; Jack Belben; Edward Bertie Bell; George Bell; Edgar George Bennett; John James Bidgood; James Herbert Billen; William John Bindon; Herbert Charles Blake; Sidney Reginald Blake; William George Blake; Colin W. Blandford; Stanley Bowerman; Richard Brown; Robert Hall Brutton; Frederick James Burbage; Harry Henry Burbage; Albert Ernest Burgess; Stanley Burrows; William Bussell.

William John Campbell; Arthur William Channing; Bertie Thomas Chant; Frederick Ernest Chant; William James Chapman; Jesse Chislett; Jack Eustace Chudleigh; Arthur James Clements; Robert Rendell Collins; William Theodore Coombs; George Henry Cooper; Walter Gill Counter; Ernest George Cox; James Henry Crouch; Edwrd Curtis.

Henry George Dade; Reginald Frank Davey; Thomas Charles Davey; John Davis; Charles Mark Deacon; Thomas John Ambrose Denmead; Harold Dicks; Ernest Reginald Diment; Albert George Donovan.

John Charles Earl; Samuel Phillip Eason; Lionel Richard Ewens; Harry Fitkin; James Walter Fone; Ptolemy Henry Fooks; Edward Silke Foot.

William Thomas Gadd; Leonard Alfred George Gale; Reginald Gale; Edmund John Gapp; Frederick George Garrett; Sidney Garrett; Alfred James Gatcombe; Ernest Gatehouse; Norman Carter Godfrey; Harold Gosney; Stanley Reginald Gough; Bert Gould; Edward Bernard Gray; W. Gray; Alfred Thomas Lyndell Gregory.

Conrad Hammett; John Hancock; Albert Edward Hann; Frank Hardement; Edwin Hardy; Fred Hardy; Henry Charles Hardy; Frederick Walter Harrison; Frederick Hawker; Sidney George Hawker; Edwin Hawkins; Bertie John Hayward; S. E. Hayward; Horace Cyril Casley Heard; Albert Helyar; Eli Henwood; S. H. Henwood; Brynford Eaton Higgins; H. Hilborne; Arthur Theophilus Hill; Henry Albert Harry Hockey; Edward Holland; Harry Holland; Percy Lionel Holt; Frederick Thomas Hooper; Victor Hooper; William Stanley Hoskins; Frederick Arthur Hunt; Charles Hutchings; Jenkins Iver; Bert Jennings; Edgar George Jesty; Arthur Douglas Kemp Jones.

Frederick William Langdon; Charles P. Larcombe; Reginald Fred Larcombe; William Crocker Leaver; Walter John Lee; Alfred Lovell; Francis Willoughby Loxton; Ernest John Luffman; Thomas Luxton.

Frederick Major; Samuel March; Douglas D. Marnie; Edward Waters Harbin Marsh; Sidney Charles Masters; Arthur Donald Taylor Matthews; Percy Matthews; Wilfred Vernon Matthews; Rochford George Maunder; T. S. Melhuish; William John Melhuish; Bertram John Membery; John Milton; Thomas Milton; Earle Mitchell; Edmund James Munckton.

Caleb Edney Newis; A. H. Newman; Walter Henry Newman; Daniel Britton

Norman; Frederick James Norris; G. Ostler; George Frank Ostler; Herbert Percival Ostler; Harold John Palmer; Robert Parmiter; Arthur Edward Parsons; Arthur John Parsons; Harrie Parsons; Arthur John Partridge; Frederick John Patten; Wilfred Stanley George Payne; Bertie Pennell; Reginald Pennell; Frederick Henry John Phillips; William Arthur Phillips; Ben Richard Pike; B. Pike; Edward Pinney; Ira Clifford Stanley Pinney; Ralph Leonard Pipe; Imbert Stanley Pippard; James Plympton; Frederick Charles Poole; Maurice Arthur Poole; Percy William Poole; John Pound; Joseph Powney; George William Priddle; Herbert Charles Purchase; W. T. Purchase; Walter John Purchase; Wilfred Stanley Edwin Purchase; Albert Charles Purser. Edgar Rattle; William Redman; Arthur Thomas Rendell; Frederick Harwood Rendell; Giles Rendell; Albert Charles Ricketts; Arthur Ricketts; George Ricketts; William Rodber; Clifford Stanley Rooks; William Rose; William Theophilus Ross; Charles Albert Rowland; Archibald Claud Victor Rowsell; Ernest Rowsell; Horace Baden Rowsell. H. T. Samson; Charles Samways; George Bernard Samways; Ancil Croydon Sansom; Augustus Bertie Sartin; Francis Sidney Sartin; Ernest George Scriven; Clive Rewi Sears; Frederick Sharpe; Frederick G. Silvester; Cecil Smalley; Herbert Victor Smith; William Charles Smith; William Henry Spiller; William Stroud; William Henry Sugg; Stanley John Sumsion; Roland Valentine Sutton; William Frank Sweet; Archibald Vernon Tavender; Thomas Thompkins; T. Thorne; Alfred Charles Tuck; Clarence Endicott Tucker; Ernest Tucker; S. Tucker.

Lionel Francis Vaughan; Henry C. Vowles; Frederick Wall; William James Warren; Evered Bruce Way; Ralph Leonard Weale; John Milton Welch; H. F. Whalley Whatley; Edgar Whitby; Albert Sidney White; Henry White; Henry John White; Robert George White; William Walter Whittington; Henry George Willis; William John Willis; Percy Lionel Winsor; Stanley James Winsor; John Hedley Wright Yerbury; Frank Young; Richard Webber Young.

Fifty-three extra names of those

killed in the First World War were added to the War Memorial in The Borough of Yeovil in 2018. They are as follows: Richard Ewart Andrew; Kenneth Shorland Aplin; John Henry Strode Batten; Lionel Alfred Beare; Gerald Henry Hinuber Blake; William Blake; Albert Bowden; Richard Britton; Walter Henry Brown; Benjamin James Bucknall; Frank George Chester; Robert Selway Collins; Arthur James Cook; Albert Frank Cox; John Percy Dargue; Reginald Richard Davis; Reginald Harold Down; Harwood Walter Gillingham; Harold Glass; Stanley Glover; Herbert Samuel Goodland; Sidney Guppy; William Henry Stanley Guppy; Reginald Hallett; William Henry Hallett; John William Harris; Cecil Ernest Holwill; Ernest Horler; Aubrey Edwin Hyde; Bernard Reginald John Jeans; Albert George W J Jobbins; Leonard Stephen Knapton; Charles Langtry; John William Norris; Ernest William Nutland; Henry Osborne; Charles Stanley Ricketts; George Ricketts; William George Sartin; Albert Richard Shilston; Percy Sims; Horace John Smith; William Henry Sparks; Ernest Spear; Russell Harrison Stonnill; Reginald William Symes; Wilfred Ernest Treasure; Frederick James Turner; Frederick William Varder; Charles William Williams; Arthur Edgar Wills; Alfred Hugh Philip Witcomb; Cecil Harry Wood.

Second World War: Norman Frederick Abbott; Wreford Thomas Bagwell; Robert Sidney Courthope Baker; Arthur Ball; Lionel Arthur Bambury; Hugh William Ward Banfield; Arnold Thomas Barlow; George Ernest Barnes; Louis Harold Barnes; William Victor Bartlett; Mrs Florence Lilian Maud Batstone; Mrs Amelia Bell; John Ritchie Bennie; John William Beswick; Mrs Winifred Annie Bright; Mrs Mary Jane Bugler.

Kenneth Alfred Coombs; Thomas Vincent Cross; Mrs Jessie Emily Culvert; John Charles Dart; Lloyd Terence Rupert Davey; Miss Kathleen Joyce Denmead; Miss Joyce Dodge; Norman Sidney Durrant; Frederick Dyke; Reginald Albert Edgar Eastment; Cecil Beresford Edgerley; Frederick Paul Ewens.

Miss Elsie Farwell; Family Fitkin; Mr Leslie Forsey; Gordon Victor Foyle;

Kenneth Harry Francis; Dennis William Galliott; Mr Norman Charles Gay; Patrol Officer Charles Henry Gillard; Master Dennis Gillingham; Ronald Arthur Green; Miss Minnie Doreen Guy; Donald Evan Haines and Rose Mary Haines; Madeline Emily Hann; William Henry Richard Harris; Myrtle Florence Mary Harrison; Reginald Stanley Hawkins; Agnes May Hayward; William George Hewlett; Albert John Hillard; Mrs Lily Hoyle and Master Trevor Hoyle; Albert Victor Hussey.

Michael Jackson; James Walter Jewell; Mrs Linda Christine Johnson; Leonard George Jukes; William David Keen; Mrs Florence Gertrude Lumber; Jack Major; Douglas William Raymond Masters; Peter George Masters; Robert William

A 12-PAGE REMEMBRANCE SPECIAL

McVeigh; Mr Albert George Mitchell; Mrs Myra Joan Morris; Mrs Hilda Mary Lambert Mulhall; Roy Clayton Alford Mullis; Mr Alfred Edward Gilbert Neville; Lionel James Norris; Bernard Felix Nowell; Charles Mark Old.

Mr Alfred Aubrey Palmer; Mr James Palmer; Albert Victor Parker; George Victor Paul; Dennis Jack Pearcy; Lawrence Pearson; Philip Henry Perry; John Perry; Beaufort Read Kennan Petter; Mrs Violet Ruby Pickard; Eric William Plowman; Harold Plympton; Mr Lawrence Dreyfus Pritchard.

Cyril Henry Rendell; James Alma Rescorla; Frederick Alan Rivers; Mr Frank William Rose; Donald James Sands; John Ernest Saunders; Norma Frank Saunders; Mrs Elizabeth Jane Smith; Eric

George

Frederick Rowland Sutton; Master Lawrence Anthony Sweet; Ronald Swetman; Ronald Seymour Talboys; Douglas William Bulpin Taylor; Persons Known Only to God x Three; John Leonard Till; Ernest William Timbrell; Mr Wendell Jesse Tucker; Bernard Montague Jeffrey Vincent.

Bertram Edmund Wareham; Frank Arthur Watts; Stanley Alfred West; Harry Whittaker; Horace William Brooks Wiley; Colin Eric Willcocks; Lionel Leslie Wimbridge; James D. Wood; George Bramwell Wright; Miss Jean Elsie Young; Sydney Charles Wayman Young.

Other Conflicts - Falklands War 1982: Allan Joseph McAuley.

The names of those on the Preston Plucknett War Memorial on Preston Road in Yeovil, killed in the First World War, are as follows: William George Allen; George Samuel Batten; William Robert Boucher; Alfred James Cavell; Charles Mark Deacon; James Eastment; Charles Fox; Robert Fry; George Gefeall; Alfred John Gundry; Caleb Edney Mutter; Imbert Stanley Pippard; Sidney George Pippard; Herber Charles Purchase; John Thomas Taylor; Frederick Charles Wickestead; Harold Walter Wickstead.

The names of those on the Preston Plucknett War Memorial, killed in the Second World War, are as follows: Charles Mark Old; Thomas Henry Steel.

Spearing; Ronald Ernest Leonard Stevens;

Yeovilton pays tribute on Armistice Day as a nation remembers

PERSONNEL from RNAS Yeovilton took part in a poignant Remembrance service held at the Fleet Air Arm’s Memorial Church on November 11 to mark Armistice Day.

They were joined by local school children and the service commemorated the lives that had been sacrificed during conflict since the First World War.

This year’s Remembrance commemorations have taken on extra significance for RNAS Yeovilton this year with it being the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War in the South Atlantic.

Yeovilton lost a number of personnel during the Falklands.

Photos: Courtesy of RNAS Yeovilton.

Memorial tidied up for Remembrance

A MEMORIAL for the crew and passengers of a Lynx helicopter from 847 NAS, of RNAS Yeovilton, which was lost in action in Iraq in 2006 was cleaned and tidied by a former colleague in preparation for Remembrance Day.

Lieutenant Commander Darren

Chapman, of the Royal Navy, Marine Paul Collins, of the Royal Marines, and Captain David Dobson, of the Army Air Corps, were all killed when the helicopter crashed on May 6, 2006, in Basra.

Also killed were the Royal Air Force’s Wing Commander John Coxen and Flight Lieutenant Sarah Jayne Mulvihill.

Remembering the Falklands War of 40 years ago

THE 40th anniversary of the Falklands War was in the uppermost of thoughts during this year’s Remembrance commemorations.

RNAS Yeovilton played a leading role in the Falklands as the UK assembled a Task Force to regain the islands in the South Atlantic following invasion by Argentine military forces on April 2, 1982.

All the Yeovilton squadrons were brought to immediate readiness and four resident squadrons - the 800 and 801 Sea Harrier and the 845 and 846 Wessex/Sea King were joined by the newly-created 809 Sea Harrier and the 848 Wessex. Lynx helicopters from 815 Squadron were already embarked in many of the surface ships which were despatched almost at once to the South Atlantic.

By the end of May, 1982, 126 aircraft and more than 1,400 men from Yeovilton were deployed in ships in the South Atlantic.

The Falklands could not have been retaken without naval air power. The Sea Harrier defeated the Argentine Air Force and scored more than 20 air combat victories.

Despite Yeovilton playing a pivotal role in reclaiming the Falkland Islands, success was not achieved without casualties for the air base and a number of service personnel were killed.

On Armistice Day (November 11) this year Simon Woodrow, of the Yeovil branch of the Royal British Legion, paid tribute to those who fought in the Falklands War and those who lost their lives and spoke of Chief Petty

Officer Allan “Mac” McAulay whose name is inscribed on the War Memorial in The Borough.

Forty years ago on May 21, 1982, the Type 21 Frigate HMS Ardent came under a ferocious Argentinian air attack in Grantham Sound.

As a result the ship suffered catastrophic damage and was eventually abandoned. Sadly, 22 of her crew lost their lives that day including four members of her Lynx Flight – Petty Officer Peter Brouard, the aforementioned Chief Petty Officer McAulay, Lieutenant Brian Murphy and Lieutenant Commander John Sephton who was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Cross.

Also among those to be killed in the Falklands War of 1982 was Yeovil lad Private Ian Scrivens, of the 3rd Battalion of The Parachue Regiment, a former Westfield School student, and still only aged 17 when he lost his life in the Battle for Mount Longdon on June 11-12, 1982.

A total of 23 British paratroopers lost their lives taking the mountain against overwhelming odds. Private Scrivens, who was born in Weymouth, was one of a small group of 17-year-olds who had been sent to the Falklands because they were too young to be sent to Northern Ireland.

He was the youngest British serviceman to die during the Falklands War and is buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery in Hampshire.

Armistice Day is marked with a two-minute silence in The Borough

A SHORT ceremony and two-minute silence was held at the War Memorial in Yeovil on November 11 to mark Armistice Day.

People gathered in The Borough to commemorate the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – the moment when the Armistice was signed in 1918 to signal the end of the First World War.

Among those at the ceremony was the Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, and the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Andy Kendall, along with clerk to Yeovil Town Council, Amanda Card.

A short service took place led by Simon Woodrow, of the Yeovil branch of the Royal British Legion, and a lone bugler played the Last Post to signify the start of a two-minute silence as standard bearer Alun Smith lowered his flag.

The silence was broken by the bugler with the playing of Reveille and the standard was raised once more.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of Yeovil Town Council and the Royal British Legion.

A wreath was also placed by the plaque in The Borough in commemoration of the American troops who were stationed in and around Yeovil prior to the D-Day Landings on June 6, 1944, which started the beginning of the end of the Second World War.

Steve Sowden.

PHOTOS:

The Deputy Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Andy Kendall, lays a wreath with Yeovil Town Council clerk Amanda Card looking-on behind.

Pictured (from left) are Simon Woodrow, of the Yeovil branch of the Royal British Legion, Yeovil Mayor, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Andy Kendall.

The last post is played by a lone bugler to start a twominute silence.

A wreath is placed by the plaque commemorating the actions of the American servicemen who was stationed in Yeovil before they headed off for the D-Day Landings in June 1944.

Standard bearer Alun Smith lowers his flag.

Lovely to see a floral tribute in St John’s Churchyard in the centre of Yeovil for Remembrance Weekend to remember the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. The floral tribute overlooks a small memorial plaque to those who served and those who lost their lives in the Falklands War of 1982 which can be found within the churchyard by the road as if you were walking to or from the car park in North Lane.

Private Ian Scrivens, 17, who was killed while serving with the Parachute Regiment during the Battle of Mount Longdon.

Chief Petty Officer Allan “Mac” McAulay – who is remembered on the War Memorial in Yeovil.

Shirts being auctioned off to support Poppy Appeal

THE first-team shirts worn by Yeovil Town players during their 3-1 National League victory over Gateshead on November 12 are being auctioned off in aid of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

The special one-off shirts had the symbolic red poppy stitched onto the

front.

The club has done this for a number of years now and has raised a significant amount of money for the Poppy Appeal.

Details of how supporters can make a bid for a shirt will be publicised on the Yeovil Town website at www.ytfc.net and its social media channels.

We will remember them - Glovers players lost in the Great War

THERE were a number of Yeovil Town players who sadly lost their lives during the First World War of 1914-18.

Keen Yeovil Town historian Michael West told the Yeovil Press that one of these was Charles Larcombe who was just 17 when he made his Yeovil debut in the 1907-08 season, although he obviously made an impact as he quickly scored four goals from two games at such a young age.

His parents owned the Larcombe Stores on the corner of Sherborne Road and St Michael’s Avenue, so he did not have far to go for matches, with games being played back in those days at Pen Mill. Playing at inside left, he was described as a fast and skilful player with an eye for goal who played with modesty and a gentleman on and off the pitch.

By the time he had finished in the 1912-13 season Charlie had amassed 70 goals from a 112 appearances!

Illness came upon Charlie though and he decided to emigrate to Canada for the sake of his health at the end of the 1913 season. He later joined the Canadian Army when war was declared.

He was sent to France and he distinguished himself in battle and was described as one of the most likeable men in the platoon!

In April 1917, Charlie was sent out on visual work and whilst inspecting communication lines he was sadly killed by a German shell!

His death was mourned by everyone at Yeovil Town.

For the Larcombe family further tragedy struck as Richard “Dickie” Larcombe, Charlie’s brother, was also killed during the war.

Dicky, like his brother, had also excelled on the Pen Mill stadium pitch and had scored many an important goal for the club.

Reginald “Dickie” Larcombe.

Charles Larcombe.

Grant Smith.

Matt Worthington.

Josh Staunton.

The Glovers show their respects as part of Remembrance

YEOVIL Town Football Club showed its respect to the fallen on November 12 ahead of its National League fixture with Gateshead.

Royal Navy personnel from HMS Somerset were present at Huish Park and formed a guard of honour as the match ball was brought onto the pitch by by a sailor.

The Yeovil Mayor, Cllr Evie PottsJones, joined Yeovil Town director Stuart Robbins in the middle of the pitch as they laid wreaths ahead of a two-minute silence.

A short service was led by Rev Jim Pearce, the club padre, and the twominute silence was excellently observed by supporters at the game.

Army cadets were collecting for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal on November 12 at Huish Park. Photo: Christine Jones.

Yeovil Town commercial manager Mark Robinson (left) with Royal Navy personnel outside Huish Park. Photo: Christine Jones.

Standard bearers lead Royal Navy personnel onto the pitch at Huish Park ahead of Yeovil Town’s National League fixture with Gateshead on November 12. Photo: Christine Jones.

Royal Navy personnel march onto the Huish Park pitch. Photo: Christine Jones.

The match ball is brought onto the pitch by Royal Navy personnel. Photo: Christine Jones.

The match ball with Royal Navy personnel and a Royal British Legion standard bearer. Photo: Christine Jones.

Yeovil Town director Stuart Robins and the Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, walk onto the pitch with their wreaths. Photo: Christine Jones.

A Royal Navy bugler plays the last post. Photo: Christine Jones.

Royal Navy personnel with the Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, and Yeovil Town director Stuart Robbins (centre) at Huish Park. Photo: Christine Jones.

Royal Navy personnel salute in the director’s box at Huish Park. Photo: Christine Jones.

Army cadets observe the minute’s silence at Huish Park. Photo: Christine Jones.

The Yeovil Town players and the Jolly Green Mascot observe the minute’s silence along with the Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie PottsJones, a Royal Navy representative and Yeovil Town director Stuart Robbins. Photo: Christine Jones.

YEOVIL HISTORY FILES

Stories about the town's past, people and places

Soldier's Rest Room in Yeovil did a "lot of good for the boys" away from home

Iron railings removed as part of a propaganda stunt

DURING the Second World War many garden railings – as well as church and park railings – were removed to be melted down in a morale-boosting drive to help the war effort.

This was supposedly for recycling scrap metal for munitions. Railings were usually simply cut off at the base and the stubs may still be seen in many roads in Yeovil and elsewhere, where they have never been replaced.

But it now seems certain that this was largely a propaganda exercise intended to give civilians a feeling of having contributed to the war effort and the opportunity to “hit back” at Germany.

While the removal of the iron is recounted by hundreds of eye witnesses, there are no similar reports of the lorries arriving at the steelworks with large quantities of railings and gates to be loaded into the blast furnaces.

ironwork collected was stockpiled away from public view in depots, quarries, railway sidings. After the war, even when raw materials were still in short supply, the widely held view is that the government did not want to reveal that the sacrifice of so much highly valued ironwork had been in vain, and so it was quietly disposed of, or even buried in landfill or at sea.

Information and photos courtesy of Bob Osborn at the A to Z of Yeovil History website which can be found at www. yeovilhistory.info.

A CAFE in Yeovil town centre became a soldier’s canteen, known as the Soldier’s Rest Room, run by volunteers during the Second World War.

The Soldier’s Rest Rooms were set up across the country, often by church groups, with the intention of providing food and drinks to servicemen as well as somewhere to relax. They tended to remain open 24 hours a day.

“It did a lot of good for those boys,” said a volunteer. “They were away from home and it was somewhere to go without going in pubs, and a lot of them were very grateful for it.”

The Soldiers Rest Room in Yeovil could be found in Westminster Street and there were sandwiches, one penny on bread, or three halfpence on tea cakes, and rather plain “fancy” cakes. A small number of coupons were sometimes allowed to purchase some chocolate bars for the soldiers to buy, but generally speaking there was no increase in food allocation.

Volunteers sometimes made little foraging parties, going round knocking on doors asking if they had any food to

spare; sometimes a few slices of bread, a piece of cheese, a few biscuits. The local people responded well.

The Soldier’s Rest Room stayed open all night, volunteers turning up to help although it was not their turn on the rota.

Every soldier who came in was fed and given a cup of tea, but never asked for a penny. In the “quiet” room upstairs there were a few tables, and paper and stamped envelopes were provided for soldiers to write home - once again for free.

Information and photo courtesy of Bob Osborn at the A to Z of Yeovil History website which can be found at www. yeovilhistory.info .

PHOTO: A parade during a Wings for Victory week marches down Westminster Street and into Huish. At left is Douglas Seaton’s car showrooms on the corner of Clarence Street with the Heart of Oak pub (most recently known as The Westminster) immediately behind it. At the centre of the photo is the building used as the Soldier’s Rest Room.

Faced with an oversupply, rather than halt the collection, which had turned out to be a unifying effort for the country and of great propaganda value, the government allowed it to continue. The

Railings outside a home in The Park, Yeovil, from a postcard dated 1917. The gate and railings were removed during the Second World War, but were later replaced.

Above: A postcard from the 1920s showing the railings that once ran around the perimeter of St John’s churchyard in the centre of Yeovil. These too were removed for the “war effort” during the Second World War.

Left: Workmen removing decorative iron railings from a garden wall during the Second World War.

They were far too young to face the horror of war

WHEN you scroll through the pages of Yeovil’s First World War dead you quickly realise that many of those who were killed were still really only boys.

Private Gerald Blake, of Yeovil, was just 17 when he was killed at the famous Battle of the Somme in 1916.

He was born in Hendford House – now what is known as the Manor Hotel – in 1899 and records show that by the time he was 12 he and his family was living in Bath.

Gerald joined the 17th (Service) Battalion (Empire) of the Royal Fusiliers and landed in France on November 17, 1915.

Little is known of Gerald’s service history, but records show that he took part and was killed in the horrific Battle of the Somme on the Western Front.

He was killed in action on August 5, 1916. The British Army suffered 57,470 casualties at the Battle of the Somme including 19,240 killed and 2,152 missing.

Private Jack Chudleigh, who was living in Grove Avenue, Yeovil, enlisted into the Yeovil Volunteers at the outbreak of war at the age of 17.

He then joined the 14th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish) in the early part of 1916 and found himself in the thick of the fighting on the Western Front in the latter part of that year in in the British Somme Offensive.

Jack’s unit was involved in the diversionary attack at Gommecourt, the Battle of Ginchy and the Battle of FlersCourcelette.

It was during the Battle of FlersCourcelette, which was launched on September 15, 1916, that Jack, who was acting as an officer’s runner, was wounded only a few days after being awarded the Military Medal for bravery.

It is believed that Jack was then killed on September 19, 1916, as he made his way to a first aid station to receive treatment for his wounds. He was just 19.

Jack’s Commanding Officer, in a letter to his parent on news of his death, said: “On many occasions he carried messages through difficult and dangerous parts and went out on patrols and reconnaissance work often because he was found to be so reliable and showed great courage on all occasions.”

Killed just days after outbreak of war

THREE Yeovil men were all killed within the opening weeks of the First World War in August 1914.

The British Expeditionary Force was soon mobilised following the declaration of war August 4 with high hopes that it would conquer the advancing German forces quickly.

Sadly that did not happen and it was not long before Britain was experiencing significant casualties.

Private Lionel Alfred Beare was the first Yeovil man to be killed in the Great War on August 22 in the Battle of Mons – the first major action of the BEF with the Germans.

Lionel, who was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment, was killed on the first day of fighting – he was aged 27.

Private Ben Pike, 28, who was married with three young children, was also with the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and was among the casualties at the Battle of Mons. He died from his wounds on August 24.

Private Ernest Edward Eason, of Yeovil Marsh, was with the 1st Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry and

was mobilised as part of the British Expeditionary Force soon after war was declared.

The 1st Battalion landed in Le Havre, France, on August 22, 1914, and was sent straight to the Western Front and was quickly involved in the Battle for Le Cateau where the retreating British and French from the Battle of Mons had set up a defensive position against the German advance.

It was on August 26 during the Battle for Le Cateau that Ernest was killed in action. He was just 20-years-old and became the third Yeovil man to perish in the First World War.

PHOTO: The Battle of Mons in August 1914 – painting by William Barnes Wollen.

Liberal Club commandeered as a British Restaurant

THE Government’s Ministry of Food decided in 1940 to set up Community Feeding Centres primarily to help people had been bombed out, had run out of ration coupons or otherwise needed help during the Second World War.

They were also one answer to combat the severity of rationing and at the insistence of Winston Churchill the name was changed to British Restaurants.

They were run by local government or voluntary agencies on a non-profit basis and were to sell basic, wholesome meals at reasonable cost and ‘off the ration’. They were sited so that they were in fairly easy reach of most families.

Meals were sold for a set maximum price of 9d - equivalent to around £1.80 at today’s value - or less. Nobody could be served with a meal of more than one serving of meat, game, poultry, fish, eggs, or cheese.

Ordinary restaurants in the United

Kingdom were not subject to rationing although some restrictions were placed on them, for example no meal could have more than three courses and the maximum price was five shillings (around £12 at today’s value).

British Restaurants were quick and cheap to set up because existing halls were requisitioned for the purpose.

Church halls and working men’s clubs were typical locations because they already had basic cooking facilities and tables and chairs.

In Yeovil the Liberal Club in Middle Street – now known as The 94 Clubwas commandeered. The meals could be provided cheaply because the catering, cooking, washing up, and so forth were all done by unpaid volunteers, this was often older women who regarded their input as a contribution to the war effort. At their height, in 1942, there were more than 2,000 British Restaurants across the UK.

British Restaurants were renamed Civic Restaurants in 1946, but were disbanded in 1947.

Information and photo courtesy of Bob

Osborn at the A to Z of Yeovil History website which can be found at www. yeovilhistory.info .

The Liberal Club – now known as The 94 Club – in Middle Street was commandeered as a British Restaurant during the Second World War.

The iAero innovation centre makes impressive start in Yeovil

IT opened with a spectacular liftoff and now Somerset’s Aerospace Innovation Centre – iAero – is flying high with tenants moving in, significant interest from industry leaders, and new collaborative equipment being installed.

The purpose-built centre, based in Yeovil, is a regional hub for research, design and innovation and was delivered in partnership between Somerset County Council, the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and Leonardo UK, with funding from HM Government and the European Union.

The centre was built to support the competitiveness and growth of the aerospace sector and associated highvalue design and engineering technology supply chains – all vital to the South West’s economy.

Strategic partners met at the centre this month to review progress and to hear about future developments including a new, state-of-the-art 3D printing venture.

The iAero centre opened back in February positioned next to the world leading aerospace company, the Home of British Helicopters, Leonardo in Yeovil. The company soon became an anchor tenant and iAero is now the home to the

company’s research and innovation team. Another industry leader and significant Yeovil employer, Honeywell Aerospace, is also taking up occupancy within the centre.

And a five-year agreement has now been reached with Markedforged Inc to open an additive manufacturing centre at iAero, equipped with state-of-theart 3D printers by Mark 3D. Additive manufacturing involves building objects one layer at a time, simplifying fabrication – basically 3D printing. The investment will enable students from Yeovil College, an investment partner in the project, to work side by side with industry professionals and add to their skills.

Since opening its doors, the centre has had a constant buzz of activity, with events including a West of England Aerospace Forum breakfast networking event; Aerospace Technology Institute Innovator Workshop; Leonardo Graduate development workshops; and a Royal Aeronautical Society Lecture by Vertical Aerospace.

The Director General of the British Chamber of Commerce and Somerset Chamber have visited, while a visit by

a delegation from the Department for International Trade is planned later in November. 3D printing open days are also in the pipeline.

Cllr Val Keitch, the county council’s executive member for Local Government reorganisation and prosperity, said: “The progress at iAero since it opened earlier this year shows the value and strength of our delivery partnerships. Since its inception, a key aim of the iAero project has been to deliver innovation through collaboration.

“The aerospace industry has a proud tradition in Somerset and iAero is providing the space and support to nurture research and innovation and encourage young people to gain the skills and training for successful careers.”

An Aladdin's Cave of haberdashery, fabric and wool can be found at TNA Fabrics

NEW visitors to TNA Fabrics in Yeovil find that their eyes light up when they walk through the door and find an Aladdin’s Cave of fabrics, wool and haberdashery.

Work colleagues and friends Tracey Whatley, Nicky Cooke and Anita Bell decided to take the plunge and set up TNA Fabrics earlier this year and opened in April and their combined talents and boundless energy are already proving dividends.

They are based at the Manor Stables in Hendford – opposite the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil – in what used to be another fabric, haberdashery and yarn store where they used to work.

But when that store closed and they were facing being out of work, the trio decided to set-up in business themselves and after considering their options decided to take on the vacant Manor Stables and TNA Fabrics was born.

And Tracey said: “We are so glad we did it!”

Nicky added: “It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s been so worth it.”

The three entrepreneurs are passionate about what they do and are keen to help customers as much as possible with all their requirements.

They have been helped along the way with some very supportive suppliers and try to help where possible if a customer is looking for a particular item.

“If we haven’t got what they want here we will try and see if we can find it somewhere for them,” they said.

They provide a made-to-measure curtain service, have an abundance of curtain and upholstery fabrics, dressmaking fabrics and patterns, knitting yarn (wool to those who are not familiar with the craft) and patterns, quilting fabrics and batting, haberdashery and lots more besides.

They can cut foam to size, elastic can be cut to the required length and curtain poles are available.

But Tracey, Nicky and Anita are still

trying to spread the word that TNA Fabrics are in existence and open.

“We are still having people come in and say that they didn’t realise we were still here,” said Tracey.

But those that have found TNA Fabrics have been impressed judging by their comments on social media.

“Fantastic shop – so helpful,” wrote one customer. “Prices are very reasonable.”

“I always find the staff helpful, friendly and knowledgeable,” said another. “As a total novice, it’s so lovely to speak to someone without judgement.”

And another wrote: “A huge selection of fabric, wool and accessories. The staff are welcoming and very helpful – they know their stuff. It’s so nice to have a decent fabric shop in the town – would highly recommend this to anyone.”

Making your own clothes is becoming a popular pastime once again not only because of the cost-of-living crisis, but because of the publicity given to the craft thanks to the Sewing Bee competition on

television.

For more information find TNA Fabrics on Facebook or email tnafabrics@gmail. com or phone 01935-671891. Better still – pop in and see Tracey, Nicky and Anita at the shop in Yeovil; you’ll be amazed at what you find in the store!

PHOTO: Tracey Whatley and Nicky Cooke.

Wonderful Diva Lunch raises £13.5k for the Action Medical Research charity

THE East Coker branch of the Action Medical Research charity held its tenth Diva Lunch at The Tithe Barn at Haselbury Mill.

Nearly 250 ladies enjoyed an afternoon of retail therapy, a lunch and cream tea and entertainment by Jordan Williams and Abba’s Angels.

It was also the 70th anniversary of the charity which has funded vital research to help sick and disabled babies, children and young people.

Over the past seven decades the charity has helped beat polio, prevent stillbirths, fight meningitis and develop ultrasound

in pregnancy.

It was also the 40th anniversary of the committee starting in East Coker and it was the target to try and raise £10,000 at this special lunch, but now all the figures have been done the organisers were absolutely delighted to find that they had amassed an amazing £13,500.

Special thanks go to the Diva Lunch main sponsor Yeolets and other sponsors Radio Cabs, Tyler Packaging, Cadbury Business Park and DSD Mobile Tyres Ltd and all those who generously donated prizes for the main draw and the Diva Delights. PHOTOS: Christine Jones.

ON OUR DOORSTEP

News from around South Somerset

Amazing new pavilion is officially opened at West Coker Recreation Ground

A FANTASTIC new pavilion has been officially opened at West Coker Recreation Ground and will become a major facility for the village.

Dreary weather failed to dampen the enthusiasm on November 5 as lots of villagers turned up to watch Cllr Gina Seaton, who has served the community as a parish and district councillor for 40 years, officially open the new pavilion.

The new building has been entitled the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Pavilion and was given a big thumbs-up by visitors.

The new pavilion on the recreation

ground in Halves Lane has replaced three old buildings used by the Scouts, Guides and West Coker & Hardington Cricket Club.

A spokesman for West Coker Parish Council said: “The pavilion was designed to meet the needs of West Coker’s young people for the rest of the century.

“It is fully insulated, has LED lighting throughout and has underfloor heating with air-source heat pumps.”

It was built by P. H. Hardwill and has two large halls, a fully-fitted kitchen, a bar/server, showers and changing rooms,

and toilets.

Cllr David Neal, chairman of West Coker Parish Council, said: “It’s been a long hard journey, but we have finally got there.”

He said that the previous buildings on the recreation ground had been deemed a number of years ago no longer fit for purpose and so the project to replace them began.

Cllr Neal thanked everyone who was involved in the project and particularly praised parish council clerk Kate Fullerton who had “worked tirelessly.”

Cllr Angue McPhee, who had overseen the pavilion project, said a time capsule containing present day items of 2022 had been put under the floor of the pavilion and would probably not be unearthed for a 100 years.

Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden, who attended the opening, said: “Many congratulations to all involved in the new Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Pavilion at West Coker Recreation Ground - what a fantastic facility and it will be a huge asset to the community in the years to come!

“Although I have to admit sad to see the old cricket clubhouse gone – what memories that place must have had!

Happy summer days of the late 1980s and early 1990s for me – especially when myself and Chris Worledge won Clubmen of the Year one season basically for making sure that no sandwiches or cake went to waste and for helping to rack up record bar profits!”

A special presentation also took place during the afternoon when ten-year-old Emily Saville, of the West Coker Scouts, was presented with the prestigious Cornwell Scout Badge and Certificate.

Emily received the award in recognition of her courage and determination during personal health challenges while raising awareness and raising money for the NHS.

She contracted Covid-19 during the pandemic and was so poorly that she lost the ability to walk. But Emily was determined to get better again and –inspired by the late Captain Sir Tom Moore – she pledged to do laps of her garden using her walking frame.

And after 120 laps of her garden she was finally able to get around unaided –a terrific achievement.

People at the opening of the pavilion were told that Emily’s amazing efforts had raised a whopping £10,675 for the NHS Charities Together organisation.

Ten-year-old Emily Saville who was presented with a prestigious Scouting award. Photo: Christine Jones.

The fantastic Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Pavilion at West Coker Recreation Ground. Photo: Christine Jones.

Cllr Gina Seaton (centre), who officially opened the pavilion, is pictured with West Coker Parish Council chairman Cllr David Neal (left) and Cllr Angus McPhee, who managed the pavilion project. Photo: Christine Jones.

More volunteers needed to help with flooding

ILMINSTER Town Council has spent the past year working alongside various agencies to try and get an action plan in place which can be used in the event of future flooding.

The authority has linked-up with the Environment Agency, the Rivers Authority, South Somerset District Council and Somerset County Council with regards to the flooding that occurred last October in the town.

Some local volunteers have been trained as flood wardens and resilience stores have been stocked ahead of the coming months.

Alongside the councillors, these volunteers have also been introduced to the flood-support Chard Action Group to share information and resources.

“More volunteers are needed to help our community should flooding occur again - so please send your name and contact details to the town council to register your interest,” said a council spokesman.

Please contact the town council on 01460-52149 or email town.council@ ilminster.gov.uk to register your interest.

Firefighters were called out to rescue

people who were seeing their homes become flooded during another night of terrible weather in Ilminster back on October 21, 2021.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service started receiving multiple calls from concerned residents of Holway House Park off Station Road where the whole site containing 30 park homes started to quickly flood.

Firefighters rescued ten residents in total with other people having got themselves to safety.

The following day on October 22 firefighters from Ilminster were mobilised to deal with a car on fire at around 6.55pm – with the vehicle having previously been involved in local flooding.

The town centre again suffered flooding damage in the early hours of October 21 with Ditton Street taking the brunt of the problems once again.

Ilminster has often suffered flooding problems down the years and Ditton Street was particularly badly affected back in 2017.

PHOTOS: Flooding which struck in Station Road in Ilminster last year.

Fundraising boost for two Somerset charities

TWO cheques to the value of £1,876.04 each were recently presented to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and St Margaret’s Hospice by John Nicholls, past Master of Prudence and Industry Lodge based in Chard.

In conjunction with his wife Jackie, the money was raised during John’s time as Master. Events included a skittles evening, raffles, a very glamorous ladies’ night, brunches and lunches, coffee mornings, a quiz night, flower arranging

demonstrations, and a bingo night.

John said: “I chose these two very deserving local charities during my tenure as they are incredibly important to us all - we never know when we may need them.”

Appeal for witnesses after Kingsbury Episcopi collision

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a collision between a cyclist and a blue Volkswagen Golf in Kingsbury Episcopi.

The collision happened in Dudmoor at about 7.40am on Tuesday, November 8. A cyclist was taken to hospital by air ambulance and his injuries were described as potentially life-changing at this time.

The driver of the car, a man, was spoken to at the scene, but did not require any

medical attention.

A police spokesman said: “We’re keen to speak to anyone who saw either the car or cyclist prior to the incident, as well as anyone who witnessed the collision. We’d also like to hear from anyone who may have dashcam footage which could aid our investigation.”

If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5222268649.

ABOVE: Kerrie Baillie, of St Margaret’s Hospice, receives a cheque from John Nicholls. Photo: Alan Gitsham.

LEFT: John Nicholls presents a cheque to Debbie Birtwistle from Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. Photo: Alan Gitsham.

Children send letters and drawings to pupils in Djibouti

Councillor calls for clean air in schools this winter

LOCAL councillor Oliver Patrick is no stranger to the classroom having worked as a teacher and has first-hand experience of how easily bugs spread at school.

He was teaching during the first year of the pandemic and now he is on a mission to clean up our classrooms.

“Covid-19 is airborne,” said Cllr Patrick. “And yet for most of the pandemic we’ve been encouraged to do little more than wash our hands and disinfect surfaces.

THE former headteacher of Stanchester Academy, Amy Joynes, has been taking on a new educational challenge this month by visiting a newly-opened school in Africa she helped raise funds for.

Amy, who is Somerset County Council’s head of school improvement, flew out to Djibouti to learn more about the educational needs in developing nations.

Despite a significant improvement in education opportunities in countries around the globe which have suffered from poverty and conflict, there still remains an unbelievable 59 million children around the world who have no access to learning.

Amy is passionate that not only every child has access to education, but also about educating children in developed countries such as the UK so that they are aware of the problems in other nations.

Africa is home to some of the most education deprived areas of the world and so when Amy, also a keen paddle boarder, heard about ex-soldier Jordan Wylie’s valiant attempt to paddle board around Great Britain to raise funds to build a school in a remote area of Djibouti, she immediately set about supporting the cause.

Jordan Wylie - also of Channel 4s Hunted and Celebrity Hunted - had met a young boy, Ibrahim, whilst deployed in Djibouti six years ago. Ibrahim like many children in Djibouti had no access to education and his only wish was to be able to go to school. Fewer than 50 per cent of children of primary school age

are able to attend school in Djibouti and less than 40 per cent receive a secondary education.

Paddling, rowing and running in some of the most dangerous areas of the world, Jordan eventually raised the funds and the school was completed earlier this year.

The school remains incredibly basic and the children continue to live in extremely challenging conditions, made even worse by the worst droughts in history hitting surrounding countries of Somalia and Ethiopia.

This month Jordan and a small team of Front Line Children’s supporters, including Amy, travelled to the school taking supplies and engaging in projects to support the local communities.

Amy also plans to bring learning back from the expedition to raise awareness of the United Nation goal of ‘education for all’ and encourage further funding to provide continued support to Djibouti and beyond.

Children at Oaklands Primary School and Primrose Lane Primary School in Yeovil have been learning about the school and wrote letters, drew pictures and made donations for the children in Djibouti. These letters and drawings were taken by Amy out to Africa along with some recorder musical instruments from Wadham School at Crewkerne.

For more information about the charity visit www.frontlinechildren. org and for teaching resources for UN sustainable development goals visit www. worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org .

“What’s worse, the prevailing view is that Covid is over. It is not over. The Government just stopped testing for it.

“Hospitals up and down the country are under enormous winter pressure and we haven’t seen winter temperatures yet. Part of that is Covid pressures. It’s also flu and a burgeoning backlog of patients needing care.”

Cllr Patrick, who represents the Coker Division at Somerset County Council and the Parrett Ward at South Somerset District Council, said: “As a county councillor with an interest in children’s services, I asked questions of Somerset’s Public Health team.” Oliver is Vice Chair of Children’s Services Scrutiny at County Hall.

“I quickly learned that over 90 per cent of primary school children in Somerset are unvaccinated. What’s more, the Covid vaccine programme for children has been completely withdrawn by the Government.

“We do not know the long-term consequences of subjecting our children to Covid infection and reinfection. My view is that we simply aren’t protecting our children as much as we should. I wanted to do what I could, in my power, to change that.”

There is also a personal motivator to Cllr Patrick’s campaign. In September he met a family that lives near Yeovil and was moved by their experience. Their daughter, ten-year-old Emily, caught Covid and was hospitalised over a year ago. She is now registered disabled and

a POLICE were outside Kingfisher Primary School on the outskirts of Yeovil with a Parking Buddy – aimed at helping to get the message across to people to park sensibly when dropping and picking up children from school.

Only last month the Yeovil Press reported how there were real concerns that a children was going to get knocked down outside Kingfisher School because of traffic problems and parking chaos at the peak times of the day for the school.

has had to learn how to walk again.

“Since meeting Emily I’ve talked with many more families from around the UK - each one with a harrowing experience,” he said. “Children are suffering from Covid and we need to act.”

By chance, Cllr Patrick was contacted by a chemical engineer in Warrington who offered to send him the equipment to make a DIY air filter known as a CorsiRosenthal box. These DIY air filters have gone mainstream in the USA and are endorsed by the White House.

Schools and universities in the US are building them at scale. They are a fraction of the cost of commercial air filters, and studies have shown they are effective at filtering the air.

Cllr Patrick set up a crowdfunder and to date has raised more than £3,000. He has used the money to build 13 air filters and is currently building five more. He has delivered free air filters to six schools in South Somerset.

To his knowledge, the first and only school in Somerset to have his air filters in every single classroom is All Saints Primary in Montacute.

“The parents, teachers, and headteacher at All Saints have been absolutely brilliant,” he said. “They have first-hand experience of the real and life-changing damage Covid causes. They were keen to act.”

PHOTO: Cllr Oliver Patrick delivers air filters to All Saints Primary School at Montacute.

Amy Joynes with pupils at Oaklands Primary School in Yeovil. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Amy Joynes with pupils at Primrose Lane Primary School in Yeovil. Photo: Steve Sowden.

Kingfisher becomes first Somerset school to win award

THE Kingfisher Primary School in Yeovil has become the first Somerset school to receive the nationally recognised bronze Modeshift STARS accreditation for providing safe and sustainable travel environments.

Modeshift STARS celebrates schools which successfully work with businesses and local communities to adopt travel plans which promote sustainable and safe journeys.

Kingfisher Primary School’s award follows the successful Beat the Street campaign held in the town earlier this year with 7,039 total players travelling 94,333 miles across the town.

The Yeovil-based school has seen the benefits of active travel range from better concentration levels from pupils to less traffic on the roads at drop-off and pickup times.

Somerset County Council’s spokesman for transport and digital, Cllr Mike Rigby, said: “Around one in four cars on the road each morning is on the school run and

are responsible for half a million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually in the UK.

“Schemes like Modeshift STARS are crucial initiatives to help reduce these statistics and improve the air quality around school.

“I’d like to congratulate Kingfisher Primary School for its achievement and hope that more schools will be encouraged to take part in the initiative as we aim to get more pupils to travel by foot or bike, or at least walk the last ten minutes to school.”

Dan Glentworth, headteacher at Kingfisher Primary School, said: “We are extremely proud of our pupils and families for their commitment towards active travel. In a relatively short period of time, we have promoted active travel within our school community, and it has been pleasing to see so many families walking, cycling or scooting to school each day.

“I must say a big thank you to our active travel working group, which is made up

of our chairman of governors, Mrs Dunn; parents, Mrs Cobb and Mrs Sturgess, but also our active travel ambassadors, Molly, Mia, Izabel, Rebecca and Josh.

“Our ambassadors have worked hard to promote active travel on the playground

and in classes. Achieving the Bronze Award from Modeshift STARS is a brilliant starting position for us to promote active travel further. I’d like to thank SASP and Public Health Somerset for their support during the accreditation process.”

Moving house is said to be one of the top 5 most stressful life events (according to Google) but for qualifying emergency service personnel, hopefully this offer makes the journey ahead a little brighter!

To receive this discount, the home owner must 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 receive the discount.

NB: Evidence of employment will be required upon instruction.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

HAVE A WONDERFUL, SAFE AND PEACEFUL FESTIVE SEASON

A 12-PAGE FESTIVE PULL-OUT AN EIGHT-PAGE FESTIVE PULL-OUT (PGS 35-38 &

Ho-ho-ho! Festive fun is just around the corner with lights set to be switched-on

EXCITEMENT for the festive season will really get underway on Saturday (November 19) when the Christmas Lights are officially switched-on in Yeovil town centre.

The Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, will be given the honour of illuminating the town at 6.30pm.

All the fun will take place at a new location this year - due to the ongoing Yeovil Refresh project work in the town – from 4pm to 7pm.

The Yeovilton Military Wives Choir will be performing in King George Street while superhero Spiderman will be meeting with fans and Elton John tribute act Almost Elton will also be performing.

Members of the Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Society from their forthcoming production of Aladdin will be in attendance, plus all eyes

will be on the main man himself – Father Christmas – to see if he makes an appearance.

The evening – being hosted by Radio Ninesprings – should be a great family event to get everyone in the mood for the festive season as the Countdown to Christmas officially gets started.

The Yeovil Hospital Charity will be holding its annual Crafty Christmas Gift Shop in the Quedam Shopping Centre in Yeovil Saturday (November 19) through to Thursday, December 22, open daily between 10am 4pm – with all proceeds from the shop going towards the hospital’s ongoing breast cancer unit appeal.

The same appeal will be boosted on Sunday, December 11, when the annual Santa Dash –organised by Yeovil Town Road Running Club – will take place at Ninesprings and hosted by

Goldenstones Leisure Centre.

The annual sponsored 4k fun run will see dozens of people in Santa costumes take part. You can enter individually, as a family or get a group of friends or work colleagues together.

Registration on December 11 is from 9am to 10.30am and the 4k run round Yeovil Country Park will start at 11am. Adults £10, Child £5 and under 5s are free. Bring your own Santa suit or dress up in your best festive outfit! Register here: https://yeovilhospital.co.uk/ santa-dash-11th-december-2022/.

And it will not be long before the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil is laughing non-stop with panto mayhem once again – thanks to the cast of Dick Whittington which runs from December 9 through to January 1.

Take a look at our eight-page Countdown to Carnival feature to see what else is going on.

PHOTO: Cast members of the Octagon Theatre panto – Dick Whittington. Photo courtesy of Len Copland.

Oyez! Oyez! Council is looking for a new town crier for Yeovil during Super Saturday

on the lookout for community groups to have a stall at the event.

Among the attractions on the day will be a traditional Punch and Judy and fun fair games along with buskfest.

Plus people will be able to have a go at being a town crier!

Yeovil Town Council is looking for somebody to fill the town crier shoes following the recent retirement of longstanding crier Bruce Trigger.

THE ever-popular Super Saturday event makes a welcome return to Yeovil town centre just as everyone is getting excited for the Christmas season.

Super Saturday is being held slightly later this year on Saturday, December 10, from 10am to 3.30pm.

There will be all the usual attractions and entertainers and it should be another great success for organisers at Yeovil

Town Council.

Super Saturday is normally held in September, but had to be postponed earlier this year due to the sad death of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

But plans were quickly put into place for Super Saturday to move to December 10 and coincide with when the Eat:Festival team are back in town.

Super Saturday organisers are now

Anyone wanting to give it a go should pop along to King George Street on December 10 from between 10.30am to 1.30pm.

If you are unable to attend on Super Saturday but interested in the town crier role, please email ytc@yeovil.gov.uk for an application form. Applicants must be over 18 years and available to attend events on weekends.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

Food and drink ideas galore for Christmas with Eat:Festival

THE Eat:Festival will be back in Yeovil on Saturday, December 10, between 10am and 4pm and provide lots of festive fun for visitors.

A multitude of food and drink stalls will be found in the Quedam Shopping Centre, The Borough and King George Street.

The Eat:Festival duo of Sarah Milner Simonds and Bev Milner Simonds have

a

had a busy year once again at towns around the West Country and are looking forward to arriving back in Yeovil with the festive season in full swing.

Sarah said: “Every town we work with is unique – offering us fresh opportunities for making local connections, discovering new producers and creating new habits. We find some real gems as we are out and about, and we love sharing our

Festive fun with Castaways and YAPS

THE

to take part in the show.

A cast of 80 will be providing an evening of song and dance – it will be a show not to be missed.

Tickets are priced £12 each and available from 01935-422884.

Many former Castaway members –who have gone on to bigger and better things – will be returning to the group

Members of the Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Society will be performing the ever-popular Aladdin at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil from January 26-28. Why not buy some tickets as Christmas gifts and treat family and friends to some panto magic. Call 01935-422884 or email www.octagon-theatre.co.uk for more details.

discoveries with visitors at our one-day events.”

And Bev added: “The partnership with Yeovil Town Council has given us the opportunity to create a new event for the area - showcasing the bricks and mortar businesses that are here all year round and adding some tasty complimentary producers, makers and entertainment.

“At Eat:Yeovil you can expect to find 50 local food and drink producers including

farmers market favourites like beer, cheese and bakers alongside some ace street food, charcuterie and some awardwinning patisserie. We aim to cater for all dietary needs and all the entertainment is free too.”

The food and drink festival is taking place on the same day as Yeovil’s Super Saturday with lots of activities and music throughout the town.

Castaway Theatre Group will present A Christmas Spectacular at the Westlands Yeovil venue Sunday, December 18, from 7pm.

Festival of football is about to get started in World Cup

THE men’s 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is all set to kick-off on Sunday, November 20, with 32 nations from around the globe hoping to lift the prized Jules Rimet Trophy a month later following a festival of 64 matches. Will France retain the championship they won in 2018? Will five-times winners Brazil take the World Cup crown for the first time in 20 years? Will the Germans produce the World Cup goods again like they so often do? And, dare we say it, could Gareth Southgate’s England boys wipe away 56 years of hurt and follow on from Bobby Moore and Co of 1966; can they do on the world stage what the England Lionesses did at the Euros earlier this year in the women’s game?

To celebrate the men’s 2022 World Cup – the Yeovil Press has team-up with 32 local businesses and groups to hold our own World Cup competition.

A draw was carried out by an independent adjudicator in which each participating organisation was paired with a nation. That organisation will then “represent” that nation for the entirety of the World Cup competition.

And the organisation of the country that eventually wins the World Cup on December 18 will be awarded a free full page advertisement in the January 2023 edition of Yeovil alongside any advertising which has already been booked.

Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden said: “I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in this fun competition and good luck!”

Brazil are the favourites to lift the 2022 World Cup and the potentially lucky business to have been drawn out of the hat with that nation is Rob and Debs Gingell at Cake Box Bakery.

France are also hotly-tipped and flying their colours in our draw are Gareth Jones at Zodiac Security, while Argentina have been paired with Rob Holly and Mark Watts at Watly Engineering.

England’s hopes rest with Not Just Travel, while other big European powerhouses Spain and Germany have been paired with Grinters and Jody Parks at ML Property respectively.

Other nations being tipped as possible World Champions include Netherlands (Doug Bond at A Touch of Glass), Portugal (Charlie and Carol Drake at No5 Café Diner) and Belgium (Yeovil Round Table).

The other UK nation to make it through to the World Cup Finals are Wales and they have been paired with Russell and Louise Lee at Funtasia.

One of the participants in our competition is the Bullet’s Sports Bar which is based on the Lynx Trading Estate and they will be showing lots of the World Cup action on their TVs and Big Screen – take a look at their advert on this page for more information; so why not pop down and watch some of the matches.

The next edition of the Yeovil Press will be out on Thursday, December 8, by which stage we will know what eight nations are left in the World Cup and the line-up for the Quarter-Final matches. An update on the competition will be given in the December edition.

The Semi-Finals will be held on December 13-14 and the Final itself on December 18 with the Third Place PlayOff match taking place the day before.

The opening game of the World Cup takes place on November 20 when hosts Qatar (Ashley Helyar of Simply Bathrooms and Bedrooms) play Ecuador (Gilbie Roberts Chartered Certified Accountants) in a 7pm kick-off.

England’s opening fixture in Group B is on November 21 when they play Iran (Princes Street Dental Practice) in a 4pm kick-off. Next up for England will be a clash with the United States (Stuart Foster of Stuart Foster Funeral Services) in a 7pm kick-off on November 25, followed by a game with Wales on November 29 in another 7pm start.

But maybe one of the lesser fancied nations will pull off a surprise and do well in the World Cup? It could be Cameroon (Lanes Hotel), Morocco (Lynx 2 Business) or Ghana (Peter Lambden at the Quicksilver Mail) for example.

The full list of participating businesses and organisations with their World Cup “country” in brackets is as follows: Watly Engineering, Trimco SW Ltd, Yeovil Round Table, Cake Box Bakery, Lanes Hotel, Emerald First Aid Training, Jones Building Group, Northseam Independent Financial Planning, School in a Bag, Gilbie Roberts Chartered Certified Accountants, Not Just Travel, Zodiac Security, ML Property Services, Quicksilver Mail, Princes Street Dental Practice, Healey Electrical Services, Harper Dolman & West Insurance, Lynx 2 Business, A Touch of Glass, Trade Solutions, No5 Café Diner, Simply Bathrooms and Bedrooms, Radio Cabs, Big Blue Bag, Holloway Insurance Services, Roger Knight The Family Celebrant, Grinters, Quality Bathrooms and Kitchens, Ableson Roofing, Stuart Foster Funeral Services, Bullet’s Sports Bar and Funtasia Entertainment Ltd.

Will England be able to emulate the success of Bobby Moore and Co in 1966?

COSTA RICA JONES BUILDING GROUP

Established in 1979 info @ jonesbuildinggroup.co.uk www.jonesbuildinggroup.co.uk 0800-030-4461

Willow House, Artillery Road, Lufton Trading Estate, Yeovil, Somerset

CROATIA NORTHSEAM INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL PLANNING

Specialist stainless steel welding, fabricating and engineering company sales @ watlyengineering.co.uk www.watlyengineering.co.uk 01935-507077

19 Bartlett Court, Lynx Trading Estate, Yeovil, Somerset

DENMARK SCHOOL IN A BAG

Chartered

CAMEROON

MEXICO

Slimming World can help you avoid the pitfalls of Christmas and New Year

CHRISTMAS can be a huge danger zone for people wanting to lose or control their weigh.

Slimming World has a support package like no other so its consultants understand danger zones, self sabotage or even the less subtle unconscious selfsabotage traps.

All of these come into play especially this time of year-

In the run up to Christmas and the New Year, Slimming World will be supporting its members each week in group with practical help to overcome every possible situation.

Whether it is the Christmas shopping, coffee shops and cakes, to preparing budget friendly winter warming meals that the whole family can enjoy - yes we do eat “normal” food.

And there is advice on how to plan a great party and, of course, the main event itself by surviving Christmas Day

without the guilt of having some treats.

“Nothing is banned with Slimming World - we also enjoy a great Christmas season,” said Slimming World senior consultant Jill Love. “We can then start 2023 feeling good about ourselves because we help our members control their weight or, yes, lose weight in December.

“There is nothing worse than the feeling of guilt people can sometimes feel when January arrives and we are not happy with ourselves and then we start the New Year resolutions looking for the “quick fix” solutions.”

Jill added: “Our members know that we are there for them 52 weeks a year with support and real guidance for sustainable weight loss.

“If you think “I need that support “ pop into one of our groups and start your journey to a healthier, happier New YOU ready to face 2023 with a smile.”

MONDAYS - 5.30pm & 7pm Somerton Sports & Social Club With Shelley - 07786 011728

TUESDAYS - 5.00pm & 6.30pm Martock Christian Fellowship With Emma - 07432 584673

TUESDAYS - 5.30pm & 7.30pm Park House, 45 The Park, Yeovil With Shelley - 07786 011728

WEDNESDAYS - 3.30pm & 5.30pm Park House, 45 The Park, Yeovil With Shelley - 07786 011728

THURSDAYS - 5.30pm & 7.30pm Park House, 45 The Park, Yeovil With Shelley - 07786 011728

FRIDAYS - 8am & 9.30am Park House, 45 The Park, Yeovil With Linz - 07786 011728

SATURDAYS - 8am & 10am Methodist Church Hall, Yeovil With Jill - 01935 824025

IT might just be me, but the older I get the more I find myself purposefully walking into a room in my house to realise that I have forgotten why I went there I the first place!

Sometimes, after a pause, I will remember, but often I have to head off to do something else and I never recall what it was I was going to do!

November is a month of remembrance. In the church calendar, we have All Saints day on November 1 where we remember and celebrate those who have been pioneers and role models in the way they followed Jesus to be light in the darkness.

As an aside, Hallowe’en means Holy Eve and this festival falls the night before All Saints Day. It can be seen as part of the Christian calendar, although it was also traditionally a Celtic festival that marked the move of the seasons into

News from the churches in and around Yeovil

winter. Then on November 2 we have All Souls Day where we remember those who have died.

These events are then followed by Bonfire Night on November 5 where we, as the John Milton poem reminds us: “Remember, Remember, remember, the 5th of November; Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason, Why gunpowder treason, Should ever be forgot.”

Then, of course, we have Armistice Day on November 11 where we pause and remember all who have lost their lives in conflicts across the world and commit ourselves to work for peace. This year, of course, our minds are drawn particularly toward the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

But why is this season of remembrance important?

I’d like to suggest that there is a subtle but significant difference between ‘remembering’ and ‘remembrance.’

Yeovil-based theatre group does national tour

THE Oddments Theatre Company’s current touring show, Amazing Grace, has already been to Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Sheffield and Cardiff, to name a few, and will continue touring until late November.

Amazing Grace follows the life of John Newton, the man who wrote the titled hymn. The production details Newton’s drastic career change from slave trader to minister, after surviving a deadly storm, which turned his focus towards God and opened his eyes to the cruelty of his profession.

Newton dedicated the rest of his life to serving his local communities and aiding William Wilberforce in his parliamentary fight towards the abolition of the slave trade.

The show combines moments of comedy and sincerity to tackle the challenging subject matter, asking their audiences to reflect on this higher power Newton came to dedicate his life to.

The company tours to churches, schools and even into prisons, aiming to spread a message of hope. Oddments takes particular pride in their prison work, believing that their productions help to point inmates towards life outside of incarceration and potentially onto a better path.

They have found their prison audiences to be very receptive, as they are especially appreciative to see new faces and have some variety in their otherwise mundane day to day lives.

Barry Boyton founded the company in the Yeovil area around 41 years ago. What

started as a gathering of friends rehearsing in a back garden, has grown into a charity with a permanent staff and an established internship scheme, ranking them as one of the top three employers in Somerset, by Somerset Education Business Partnership.

To remember is to call something momentarily to mind, for example, to bring a particular detail or fact to our attention, or to recall the reason we entered into a room! Remembrance, however, is an act of both heart and mind.

Christians celebrate Holy Communion and the reason we do so is because in the gospels Jesus says ‘do this in remembrance of me.’ It is interesting that it is not ‘do this to remember me.’

Remembrance is a way that we recall in our minds and recognise in our hearts the sacrifices that others have made on our behalf and in order to honour the actions of those who have gone before us we commit to seeking a different world in the future.

We recall our many freedoms and the battles many undertook to secure them. We are thankful for lives transformed and a world where there is love and peace.

Simply remembering is important, but remembrance transforms us and our world.

Rev Dan Crouch - vicar of Holy Trinity Church and Community Centre, Yeovil, and St Mary Magdalene Church, Barwick

YEOVIL PRESS

YOUR

How to start saving money

IT is difficult to know where to start when thinking about saving money. It might seem like an impossible task or like you will be unable to save enough to make it worth it.

But it is worth saving even just a small amount if you can as this could help you should an unexpected cost arise

How to start budgeting and saving money: Christians Against Poverty has got a guide on how to build a budget to help you get a better understanding of your finances – go to www.capuk.org for more information.

Once you feel more in control, you will be able to see if you have any money spare each month and if so how much.

Open three bank accounts, one for your bills, one for your disposable income and one for your savings. Start small; save a few pounds a month to start with. Then increase if you can. Transfer what you can afford to your savings as soon as you get your income into your bank account. Then you will not be able to spend it during the month.

Be kind to yourself: If you have not saved before, it might take a bit of trial and error to figure out what works for you. The most important thing is to give it a try.

How much should you save a month?

In short, save as much as you can afford. Some experts recommend saving a set amount of your income such as between ten and 20 per cent. If you cannot afford that, even just putting away a couple of pounds a month will help you save over time.

How much should you have in savings: As a rule of thumb it is recommended to have three months’ essentials outgoings in a savings account you can access instantly. This means if you lose your job or become ill and cannot work, you will have a three-month buffer.

However, any amount saved will help you deal with unexpected events better than if you had nothing saved.

Free course in Yeovil to help people budget as energy bills soar

DEBT-HELP charity Christians Against Poverty is offering people in Yeovil access to their Money course in a bid to keep low-income families afloat.

The CAP Money course is the UK’s largest face-to-face financial education provider, delivered entirely by local churches. It gives people a practical system to help them manage their money, by offering tools needed to budget, save and make better spending choices.

Every year in the UK thousands of people go through the course and in September alone, 135 courses were run by local churches, equipping 567 people with vital money management skills.

The course continues to have an incredible impact, empowering individuals to take control of their finances and start the conversation on money. CAP believes that being in control of your finances leads to a wonderful freedom – freedom to save, freedom to make plans with confidence, and freedom to be generous to those around us.

Previous CAP course delegates said: “We’re so thankful for the course. We can’t imagine what kind of mess we’d be in without it. It’s a safe place to talk about money with a sensible approach.”

“Before CAP Money, I was very disorganised with my money. I had wages coming in, bills going out, spends going out, treats on the kids going out, and not knowing where I was at on a regular basis; very disorganised. Since I’ve done the CAP Money Course, everything makes a little bit more sense. I can budget a lot better.”

Steve Hart, the Yeovil Debt Centre manager, said: “The CAP Money Course is free and over three two-hour sessions, it will teach you budgeting skills and a

simple system to successfully manage your money and transform your life.

“In just a few weeks, you will get to grips with your finances so you can budget, save and prevent debt.”

In October, Yeovil Community Church started offering anyone a place on its CAP Money Course in a bid to help those on low incomes learn how to budget and hopefully survive the winter months.

Steve said: “Many local families living on a low income are already in a financial crisis due to widespread rising costs, and it seems to be getting worse and worse.

“The October energy price rise, combined with all the other price increases, I’m sure will result in debt, destitution and desperation for thousands of local people this winter.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re offering CAP’s Money Course in Yeovil. It’s a friendly short course designed to help people create workable budgets, helping you see exactly what you are spending, how you could save money and prioritise your spending to include the things you really need or want to do.

“People are facing unparalleled financial challenges right now. Getting our money under control, preparing a budget and having a clear picture of what’s coming in and going out is the first essential step to navigating our way through the next few months and possibly years.”

To find out more details about the next course running in Yeovil, visit capuk.org and click on ‘get help near you’, where you will find details about the next course.

PHOTO: Debt coaches at Yeovil branch of Christians Against Poverty are here to help you!

It is hugely important that people talk about money, debt and poverty

THERE is currently a lot of talk about money issues with the ongoing cost-ofliving crisis and it needs to continue, according to the Christians Against Poverty group.

CAP believes people should be able to talk openly and frankly about all things financial. From pensions to ISAs, there is a lot of jargon that comes with talking about money – as well as plenty of hesitation. Despite this, there are some good reasons to talk openly about finances.

Stay informed: Having conversations with others helps us learn. Conversations about money are no different.

At a time when news sources are filled with talk about interest rates and inflation, it can all begin to sound like another language. If you do not understand, have a conversation about it. Knowing about money can help put you in control of your own.

Talking with others is the beginning of learning some really useful financial skills and tools – like where your money works best and how to get the most out of your accounts.

At worst, you will have a laugh when you realise your friends don’t fully understand what inflation is either!

Build relationships: It takes trust to open up to someone about your finances. The strongest relationships are built on a solid foundation of trust.

It is so easy to get tangled up in our own heads and forget that we are surrounded by others who are willing to help.

Maybe money is getting tight and you are contemplating a risky financial decision that is, by all accounts, not wise. You will likely find a way to justify it to yourself in your head, but speaking to a loved one will keep you grounded. There might be solutions you have not explored yet. Visit moneysavingexpert. com for some really helpful resources on managing your money.

Lead the way: It is one thing to receive good advice, but talking about money can also put you in the driver’s seat. Particularly with children, giving a transparent look at money can pave the way to financial independence in the future.

A really useful, practical skill to give a child is how to budget. Talk to them and show them how it works. What money comes in? Where does it go? Talking openly will hopefully give them the tools to make wise financial decisions when it is their time.

Put your mind at ease: If talking about money is a problem, CAP knows talking about problems always helps.

Everyone has heard the expression “a problem shared is a problem halved.” Whether you talk to a friend, a loved one or an accredited organisation, you can reduce anxiety and worry by sharing financial difficulties you might have.

Having financial worries can be a driver of loneliness and isolation, negatively impacting mental and physical health. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Steve Hart, the Yeovil CAP Debt Centre manager, said: “If things are proving difficult for you, especially as the costof-living crisis continues to hit more households across the UK, there are places where you can turn.

“We at Christians Against Poverty offer to anyone, free, non-judgemental debt advice. Part of a UK network, the local church offers a Debt Centre for those in unmanageable debt, CAP Money Courses to learn how to budget, and life skills courses to lift the pressure of low-income life.

“You’ll find that talking about your finances really is the start of your journey to financial freedom.”

Why not start the process by calling the CAP helpline 0800 328 0006 or visit capuk.org/help to find out more.

New life skills course set to be held at St John's early in the New Year

THE Christians Against Poverty Centre at St John’s Church in Yeovil has now successfully run two life skills courses and is now already taking bookings for the next course in January 2023.

CAP Life Skills, which runs for eight weeks, covers a wide range of daily living topics and focusses on making your money go further.

It aims to equip people with the confidence, decision-making and practical skills needed to live on a low income. Sessions cover budgeting, money saving, cooking tips, wellbeing skills, and how to relate well to others.

The group very quickly develops a sense of community, making it a relaxed and fun place to meet with others in similar situations, who support and encourage each other along the way. As the course is interactive, everyone has the chance to share their experiences and moneysaving tips.

Running alongside the group, CAP offers one-to-one informal support from its life skills coaches. They spend time helping members to set goals and to identify and tackle any areas they are

struggling with.

Jennifer Matthew, the life skills manager, said: “I love the life skills groups and the thing I love most, other than the fact that it provides practical everyday suggestions and ideas for making our money go further, is that the groups are always such a lovely place to belong.

“I really look forward to meeting each new group member and then going along each week to spend time with them.”

Jennifer added: “We have a large team who run the course and we all try to create a welcoming, friendly and inclusive environment that people want to come to every week, because they enjoy it and feel part of it. Learning how to make our money go further is the aim but the lovely group of people that you meet and become friends with are the icing on the cake!”

The next course starts on Wednesday, January 25, from 10am to 12 noon, and will be in the St John’s Schoolrooms, Church Path, Yeovil. To book your place on the course please contact jennifermatthew@caplifeskills.org or call/leave a text on 07933-198-130.

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

know

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 2022 – please let us know.

family news

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

RADFORD – LAURA AND GLEN:

Congratulations to you both and thank you for giving us a beautiful grandson Harry on October 22, 2022. Love from Mum and Dad.

RADFORD – LAURA AND GLEN: Congratulations to you both on the birth of Harry on October 22, 2022. Love and best wishes from Chloe and Callum.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

MARGETTS - CLAIRE: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 1. We hope you had a great day! Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

SPRACKMAN – SAM: Hoping you had a terrific Birthday on November 1. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

ANSELL – CLARE: Love and best wishes for your Birthday on November 1. We hope you had a great day. Love from all your family and friends.

GODDARD – MEL: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 2. Hoping you had a wonderful day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

LOCK – PAULINE: Many congratulations for your Birthday on November 2. We hope you had a fantastic day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

WOOTTEN – JAMES: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 2. Lots of love from Ella. XXX

WOOTTEN – JAMES: Hoping you had a great Birthday on November 2. Love from Emily and Thomas. XXX

WOOTTEN – JAMES: Hoping you had a wonderful Birthday on November 2. Lots of love from Mum. XXX

WOOTTEN – JAMES: Another year older brother! Hope you had a good day on November 2. Cheers – Jon!

WOOTTEN – JAMES: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 2. Best wishes from Will, Beverley and Thea.

WOOTTEN – JAMES: Happy 40th (if only!) Birthday for November 2. Hope you had a great day. Best wishes from Steve and Christine.

WOOTTEN – JAMES: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 2. Best wishes from everyone at the Yeovil Press.

WOOTTEN – JAMES: Hoping you had a great Birthday on November 2. Love from Grace. XXX

RUDD – JEAN: Hoping you had a wonderful Birthday on November 11. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

RUDD – JEAN: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 2. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

CLARK – MICK: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 3. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

LOCK – TONY: Congratulations on your Birthday on November 11. Best wishes from all your family and friends.

BARNES – PETE: Many happy returns for your very Birthday on November 5. Love and best

wishes from all your family and friends.

BARNES – PETE: Many happy returns for your big day on November 5 – we hope you had a good one! Love and best wishes from all your old Preston School classmates from the Class of 1982-87.

DAVENPORT – HOWARD: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 5. We hope you had a wonderful day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

TROWBRIDGE – TERRI: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 5. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

GILL – KARL: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 6. We hope you had a great day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

WATTS – ALEX: Many congratulations for your Birthday on November 6 – hoping you had a terrific day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BATTERBURY – CLAIRE: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 6. We hope you had a terrific day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BATTERBURY – CLAIRE: Wishing you a very happy Birthday for November 6. Hope you had a great day. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

BATTERBURY – CLAIRE: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 6. Love and best wishes from all your friends at the Castaway Theatre Group.

COLLINGS – CHRIS: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 7. Hoping you had a wonderful day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

JEFFERSON – LINCOLN: Hoping you had a fantastic Birthday on November 10. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

JEFFERSON – LINCOLN: Another year older, probably not another year wiser. Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 10. Best wishes from the 48 Boys!

SLADE – SARAH: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 11. We hope you had a wonderful day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

OUSEY – VICTORIA: Wishing you a very happy Birthday on November 11 – hoping you had a terrific day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

OUSEY – VICTORIA: Best wishes for your Birthday on November 11 – from all your friends at Yeovil Rugby Club.

OUSEY – VICTORIA: Hoping you had a great

Birthday on November 11.

wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

McQUEEN – RICK: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 12. We hope you had a great day. Love from all your family and friends.

McQUEEN – RICK: Best wishes for your Birthday on November 12. Cheers – all the best from your fellow West Ham United fans!

McQUEEN – RICK: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 12. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

ROBINS – PAUL: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 13. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BOWRING – ALEX: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 14. We hope you have a wonderful day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BOWRING – ALEX: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 14. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

BOWRING – ALEX: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 14 – we hope you had a good one! Love and best wishes from all your old Preston School classmates from the Class of 1982-87.

CANNON – LOUISE: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 15. We hope you had a wonderful day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

CANNON – LOUISE: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 15. Love and best wishes from all your friends at the Castaway Theatre Group.

SPROSTON – ADRIAN: Best wishes for your

Birthday on November 16. Lots of love from all your family and friends.

BOTLEY – AMANDA: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 17. We hope you had a wonderful day. Lots of love from all your family and friends.

BOTLEY – AMANDA: Best wishes for your Birthday on November 17 – hoping you had a terrific day. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

GILLARD – TERRY: Wishing you a wonderful Birthday for November 18. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

GILLARD – TERRY: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 18. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

LONG – TONY: Many happy returns for your Birthday day on November 19 – we hope you have a good one! Love and best wishes from all your old Preston School classmates from the Class of 1982-87.

CAINE – KAREN: Wishing you a very happy Birthday for November 21 – hoping you have a great day. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

CAINE – KAREN: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 21. Have a fantastic day – love from all your friends at the Castaway Theatre Group.

WARLOW – ALI: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 22. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

PARSONS – KARINA: Many congratulations for your Birthday on November 22. Hoping you have a truly lovely day. Lots of love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

PARSONS – KARINA: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 22. Love from all your friends on the Breast Cancer Unit Appeal fundraising committee.

BEST – SARAH: Wishing you a wonderful Birthday on November 25. Lots of love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BEST – SARAH: Hoping you have a fantastic Birthday on November 25. Best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

COOMBES – BARRY: Happy 65th Birthday on November 25. Lots of love from Mum.

COOMBES – BARRY: Many congratulations for your 65th Birthday on November 25, Dad and Grandad! Lots of love from Georgina, Troy and Elloise.

PILBEAM – IAN: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 25. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BAKER – SHANE: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 25. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BAKER - SHANE: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 25 – we hope you had a good one! Love and best wishes from all your old Preston School classmates from the Class of 1982-87.

HENDRIE – COLIN: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 26. Hoping you have a great day. Best wishes from all your family and friends.

REEVE – ADAM: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 26. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

MUNCKTON – SHARON: Hoping you have a wonderful Birthday on November 26. Lots of

love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

SPENCER – MICKEY: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 27. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

SPENCER – MICKEY: Many happy returns to a Yeovil Town FC legend on November 27. Best wishes from all Yeovil Town fans.

O’BRIEN – ROY: Hoping you have a wonderful Birthday on November 27. Love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

O’BRIEN – ROY: Many happy returns to a Yeovil Town FC legend on November 27. Best wishes from all Yeovil Town fans.

LEE – RUSSELL: Wishing you a very happy Birthday for November 28. Lots of love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

LEE – RUSSELL: Congratulations for your Birthday on November 28. Best wishes from all your friends at the Yeovil Round Table.

LEE – RUSSELL: Hoping you have a great Birthday on November 28. Many happy returns – best wishes from your friends at the Yeovil Press.

NEAL – JANE: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 29. Hoping you have a fantastic day. Lots of love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BRUCKEL – ROB: Wishing you a very special Birthday on November 29. Lots of love and best wishes from all your family and friends.

BRUCKEL – ROB: Many happy returns for your Birthday on November 25 – we hope you have a good one! Love and best wishes from all your old Preston School classmates!

MAYOR'S DIARY:

THERE was a welcome autumn warmth in the air in Yeovil as time stood still on the 11th hour to honour and remember the fallen from conflict on Remembrance Sunday on November 13.

The representation of veterans, serving members of the forces, cadets and the wider community was commendable.

I was honoured to have been able to help sell poppies alongside the Royal British Legion as well as lead the civic parade for Remembrance Sunday and be part of the remembrance ceremony at Yeovil Town Football Club the previous day.

I thoroughly enjoyed spending quality time with our French visitors from Herblay who work in partnership with our town to support the twinning proactively. Twinning was a post-war idea that inspired links and exchanges between individual towns and cities to help with harmony and prosperity after conflict.

I was honoured to have been part of a great Trafalgar Night hosted by T S Mantle VC. The Trafalgar Night dinner is part of long-standing Royal Navy traditions and was a very grand affair. I was also made very welcome at an interfaith arts exhibition and the local Diwali celebrations. Diwali is a celebration of the festival of light, which is triumphant over darkness and good over evil.

I would like to say a special thank you to everyone who attended the clergy tea at the Town House and a big thank you to all of you for playing your supportive and inspirational roles within Yeovil. Our religious outlets throughout Yeovil provide Yeovilians with a place of worship, teachings, support and a sense of belonging.

I welcomed some students from St Gilda’s School to the Town House to learn about Yeovil Town Council, the Mayor, the history of the building and the meaning behind our town crest. All the children were impeccably behaved and engaged throughout the visit. Welcoming visitors is one of my favourite things about being the Mayor.

Congratulations to the Yeovil in Bloom team and everyone who played a part in helping the town to regain its gold standard. I personally thought this year’s blooms and community projects were some of the very best I have seen.

I look forward to seeing you all at the Christmas Lights Switch-On event which takes place on Saturday, November 19, and at Super Saturday on Saturday, December 10.

CLLR EVIE POTTS-JONES

Mayor of Yeovil

It's been another busy month

Trafalgar Night held in memory of much-missed sea cadet Matt

YEOVIL Sea Cadets at TS Mantle VC

– based at RNAS Yeovilton – hosted a Trafalgar Night celebration to help raise money in memory of a muchmissed cadet.

The celebration dinner and dance was held at Yeovil Rugby Club and officers, friends, supporters and guests of TS Mantle VC joined together to celebrate Trafalgar Night – a tradition going back to the early 19th Century and toasting Admiral Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805.

A TS Mantle VC spokesman said: “Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the night, the band D-State were fabulous and we raised lots of money for Matt Williams’ Memorial. Thank you for everyone’s support.”

The night was held to remember Leading Cadet Matt Williams who tragically lost his fight for life following an accident a number of years ago while he was on his way to a parade night.

Matt was just 15 when he died and was the heart and soul of TS Mantle VC.

“Always smiling, full of energy and positivity,” said a TS Mantle spokesman. “His fellow cadets and staff at the time will remember, I am sure, how passionate he was about all things Royal Navy and especially the Fleet Air Arm. It was devastating to us all to lose him.

“He is not lost in our hearts and minds though and his memory lives on in Yeovil Sea and Royal Marines cadets past and present.”

Matt’s name is kept alive with the Matt Williams Memorial Hall – Building 89 at HMS Heron at RNAS Yeovilton – the headquarters of TS Mantle VC.

His family were there at the Trafalgar Night and his dad, Chris Williams, thanked everyone for their support. Chris then ditched the dickie bow and joined his fellow band members in D-State who then provided the live music as diners partied the night away.

YEOVIL PRESS

GROUPS AND

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.

All details correct at the time of going to press – but please check venues for upto-date information.

Don’t forget to look at our monthly Gig Guide in the Yeovil Press for local live music gigs.

NOVEMBER 2022

Up until Saturday, November 19: Swan Theatre: The Swan Theatre Company presents Let It Be.

Thursday, November 17: Last Few Tickets: Octagon Theatre: An Evening with Adam Frost.

Friday, November 18: Wells Carnival - Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association. Starting at 7pm.

Friday, November 18: Christmas Festival – better known as Victorian Evening – will take place in Ilminster town centre and include the switchingon of the Christmas Lights.

Saturday, November 19, and Sunday, November 20: The Yeovil Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society will be holding its Late Show at the Holy Trinity Scout Hall off Lysander Road, Yeovil, from 2pm to 4.30pm each day.

Saturday, November 19: Whist Drive at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Lysander Road, Yeovil, from 7.30pm. This is held every Saturday. Phone 01935-862325 for more details.

Saturday, November 19: Switching-on of the Christmas Lights in Yeovil. Turn to Page 35 for more details.

Saturday, November 19: Octagon Theatre: CCS Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Saturday, November 19: Glastonbury Carnival - Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association. Starting at 6.45pm.

Sunday, November 20: Westlands Yeovil: Christmas Arts and Crafts Fayre. Monday, November 21, and Tuesday, November 22: Westlands Yeovil –

Screening in the Ballroom: Emily.

Wednesday, November 23: Last Few Tickets: Octagon Theatre: Rhythm of the Dance Christmas Special.

Thursday, November 24: Westlands Yeovil – National Theatre Live. Much Ado About Nothing.

Thursday, November 24: Octagon Theatre: Skerryvore.

Friday, November 25: Octagon Theatre: The Puppini Sisters.

Friday, November 25: Christmas Bingo Night fun at the West Coker Commemoration Hall from 7pm with “eyes down” at 7.30pm. There will be a bar available and a raffle.

Saturday, November 26: Whist Drive at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Lysander Road, Yeovil, from 7.30pm. This is held every Saturday. Phone 01935-862325 for more details.

Monday, November 28, and Tuesday, November 29: Westlands Yeovil –Screening in the Ballroom: Living.

Wednesday, November 30, through to Saturday, December 3: The Civic Players present Lend Me A Tenor at the Swan Theatre in Yeovil.

Wednesday, November 30: Westlands Yeovil: Ant Middleton.

Wednesday, November 30, through to Saturday, December 3: Swan Theatre: The Civic Players present Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me A Tenor.

DECEMBER 2022

Friday, December 2: Christmas bazaar at Preston Primary School in Yeovil from 3.30pm in the school hall.

Sunday, December 4: Westlands Yeovil: Christmas Carol Concert.

Friday, December 2: Bingo night at St Michaels Academy School in St Michael’s Avenue, Yeovil, from 6.30pm with “eyes down” at 7.15pm with proceeds going towards the Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Society.

Saturday, December 3: Monthly Market at Digby Hall in Sherborne from 9am to 12.30pm with arts, crafts, food,

café and more. Next to Sherborne Library – DT9 3AA.

Thursday, December 8: Swan Theatre: National Theatre Live – The Seagull.

Friday, December 9, through to Sunday, January 1, 2023: Octagon Theatre: The family pantomime Dick Whittington.

Saturday, December 10: Super Saturday in Yeovil town centre during the day with lots of stalls, activities, live music and the Eat Somerset food/drink market.

Saturday, December 10: SOLD OUT! Westlands Yeovil: Christmas Party with DT8.

Thursday, December 15: Westlands Yeovil: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra – Christmas Fanfare.

Friday, December 16: Last Few Tickets: Westlands Yeovil: Christmas Dinner and Dance 2022 – featuring The IOUs.

Saturday, December 17: Westlands Yeovil: Back to the 80s – Big Christmas Party 2022.

Sunday, December 18: Westlands Yeovil: Castaway Theatre Group –Christmas Spectacular.

Tuesday, December 20: The Yeovil and District NHS Retirement Fellowship meet at St James Church Hall, Preston Road, Yeovil BA20 2EZ from 12.30pm to 2.30pm with refreshments, a speaker and a natter. Any retired NHS employee very welcome.

Thursday, December 22: Westlands Yeovil: Christmas Family Disco 2022.

JANUARY 2023

Sunday, January 8, and Monday, January 9: Westlands Yeovil – Screenings in the Ballroom: Andre Rieu in Dublin.

Tuesday, January 17, through to Saturday, January 21: Swan Theatre: The Swan Theatre Company presents Glee and Me.

Wednesday, January 18: SOLD OUT: Octagon Theatre: Rhod Gilbert – The Book of John.

Friday, January 20: Last Few Tickets:

Westlands Yeovil: Paul Smith Joker.

Friday, January 20: Octagon Theatre: Snooker Greats – Jimmy White and John Virgo.

Saturday, January 21: Westlands Yeovil: 30 Years Celebration Show with Peter Andre.

Saturday, January 21: Octagon Theatre: Back to Bacharach 2023.

Thursday, January 26: Swan Theatre, Yeovil: National Theatre Live – The Crucible.

Thursday, January 26, through to Saturday, January 28: Octagon Theatre: Aladdin with Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Society.

Saturday, January 28: Westlands Yeovil: Thank Abba For The Music.

Sunday, January 29: Westlands Yeovil: Gareth Gates in The Best of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

FEBRUARY 2023

Thursday, February 2: Octagon Theatre: The Unravelling Wilburys.

Friday, February 3: Westlands Yeovil: Tap Factory 2023.

Saturday, February 4: Last Few Tickets: Octagon Theatre: Ministry of Science Live.

Sunday, February 5: Octagon Theatre: Forever in Blue Jeans.

Tuesday, February 7: Last Few Tickets: Octagon Theatre: The Classic Rock Show 2023.

Thursday, February 9: Octagon Theatre: Barry Steele and Friends.

Friday, February 10: Octagon Theatre: Rave On – The Ultimate 50s and 60s Experience.

Saturday, February 11: Octagon Theatre: Mister Magnolia.

Saturday, February 11: Westlands Yeovil: Dave Peace – 90s Dance Anthems Returns 2023.

Sunday, February 12: Westlands Yeovil: Milkshake! Live 2023.

Wednesday, February 15: Octagon Theatre: The Illegal Eagles 2023.

Thursday, February 16: Octagon

Theatre: Islands in the Stream 2023.

Friday, February 17: Last Few Tickets: Octagon Theatre: Calling Planet Earth.

Sunday, February 19: Octagon Theatre: The Royal Marines Association Concert Band.

Monday, February 20, through to Saturday, February 25: Octagon Theatre: The Mousetrap.

Thursday, February 23: Westlands Yeovil: CCS Mithras Piano Trio.

Thursday, February 23: Swan Theatre, Yeovil: National Theatre Live – Othello.

Saturday, February 25: Westlands Yeovil: Sara Pascoe – Success Story 2023.

Sunday, February 26: Westlands Yeovil: Ulimate Pro Wrestling

MARCH 2023

Wednesday, March 1: Octagon Theatre: Menopause The Musical 2 –Cruising Through Menopause.

Thursday, March 2: Westlands Yeovil: Tony Blackburn – Sounds of the 60s.

Thursday, March 2: Octagon Theatre: Paul Potts.

Friday, March 3: Westlands Yeovil: How Sweet It Is – Motown’s Greatest Hits 2023.

Friday, March 3: Octagon Theatre: Spirit of the Dance.

Saturday, March 4: Octagon Theatre: Kate Mosse’s Warrior Queens and Quiet Revolutionaries.

Sunday, March 5: SOLD OUT! Westlands Yeovil: Tim Peake – My Journey to Space.

Tuesday, March 7: Octagon Theatre: Prue Leith – Nothing in Moderation.

Wednesday, March 8: Octagon Theatre: Spring Forward 2023.

Thursday, March 9: Octagon Theatre: That’ll Be The Day – March 2023.

Friday, March 10: Octagon Theatre: Legend – The Music of Bob Marley 2023.

Saturday, March 11: Westlands Yeovil: Wrong Jovi & Guns 2 Roses.

Sunday, March 12: Octagon Theatre: The Glenn Miller Big Band Spectacular.

Sunday, March 12: Westlands Yeovil: An Evening with Aggers and Tuffers.

Tuesday, March 14: Westlands Yeovil: Levellers – Acoustic Tour 2023.

Wednesday, March 15: Octagon Theatre: Come What May 2023.

Friday, March 17: Westlands Yeovil: CCS Maja Horvat & Kumi Matsui.

Sunday, March 19: Westlands Yeovil: Come What May 2023.

Thursday, March 23: Octagon Theatre: The Carpenters – Voice of the Heart 2023.

Friday, March 24: Octagon Theatre: The Drifters.

Friday, March 24: Westlands Yeovil: The Dreamboys 2023 – No Strings

Attached.

Saturday, March 25: Westlands Yeovil: Phil Wang – Wang in There, Baby!

Monday, March 27, to Saturday, April 1: Octagon Theatre: Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society – Anything Goes.

Wednesday, March 29: Westlands Yeovil: An Evening with Amanda Owen. Friday, March 31: Westlands Yeovil: Carmen.

APRIL 2023

Saturday, April 1: Westlands Yeovil: Back to the 80s.

Sunday, April 2: Last Few Tickets: Westlands Yeovil: Tom Allen – Completely. Sunday, April 2: Octagon Theatre: The Simon and Garfunkel Story.

Monday, April 3: Limited Availability: Octagon Theatre: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac 2023.

Tuesday, April 4: Octagon Theatre: The Magnets.

Tuesday, April 11: Octagon Theatre: CCS Noriko Ogawa.

Saturday, April 15: Octagon Theatre: Sing-A-Long-A Encanto.

Sunday, April 16: Westlands Yeovil: Omega and Alpha.

Tuesday, April 18, and Wednesday, April 19: Octagon Theatre: Zog.

Thursday, April 20: Westlands Yeovil: Stewart Lee – Basic Lee.

Thursday, April 20: Octagon Theatre: Primary Festival of Dance 2023.

Friday, April 21: Octagon Theatre: Hello Again – A Tribute to Neil Diamond.

Sunday, April 23: Westlands Yeovil: Danny Baker – At Last, The Sausage Sandwich Tour!

Sunday, April 23: Octagon Theatre: Pop Princesses.

Tuesday, April 25: Westlands Yeovil: Schools Concert – Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Tuesday, April 25, through to Thursday, April 27: Octagon Theatre: Wodehouse in Wonderland.

Friday, April 28: Octagon Theatre: Kate Rusby 2023.

Saturday, April 29: Octagon Theatre: Shine 2023.

MAY 2023

Tuesday, May 2: Westlands Yeovil: CCS London Handel Players.

Wednesday, May 3: Westlands Yeovil: Seven Drunken Nights 2023.

Wednesday, May 17: Westlands Yeovil: Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Motiv8 Productions.

Tuesday, May 23: Westlands Yeovil: Dreamcoat Stars.

Thursday, May 25: Westlands Yeovil: Swan Lake – The Ukrainian National Ballet of Odessa.

Friday, May 26: Westlands Yeovil: The Searchers’ Thank You Tour 2023.

Saturday, May 27: Westlands Yeovil: Marti Pellow – Pellow Talk.

Wednesday, May 31, through to Saturday, June 3: Westlands Yeovil: Joseph – Castaway Theatre Group.

JUNE 2023

Saturday, June 24, and Sunday, June 25: Westlands Yeovil: World Senior Darts Tour 2023.

JULY 2023

Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22: Westlands Yeovil: Tim Vine – Breeeep!

SEPTEMBER 2023

Thursday, September 7: Westlands Yeovil: Ben Portsmouth – This is Elvis 2023.

Friday, September 8: Westlands Yeovil: The Magic of Motown 2023.

Saturday, September 23: Westlands Yeovil: Definitely 90s.

OCTOBER 2023

Saturday, October 14: Westlands Yeovil: Beyond the Barricade 2023.

NOVEMBER 2023

Sunday, November 19: Westlands Yeovil: Francis Rossi 2023 – Tunes & Chat.

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 01935-422884.

For more details about events, ticket information and times at the Swan Theatre in Yeovil – please go to www. swan-theatre.co.uk or phone 07500376-031 or email swantheatre@gmail. com or swantheatreboxoffice@gmail. com .

The Helen Laxton School of Dance

Royal Academy of Dance Ballet, Pre School & Adult Ballet, Street Dance, Hip Hop, Commercial Dance Classes Acro, Lyrical, Contemporary Elite Beats Performance Squads, Toddler Dance, 5 RDC Hip Hop Competition Crews & Training Academy NEW Exciting Acrobatic Arts Dance

Classes

Bradford Abbas, Crewkerne,

Coker, South Petherton, Ilminster,

Classes now held at West Coker Village Hall

Coker

For more information on all of our classes please call 01935 863865 or email helenlaxtondance@aol.co.uk or visit www.helenlaxtonschoolofdancing.com www.thesomersetschoolofperformingarts.com or find us on Facebook

GIG GUIDE

Let's get the party startedwelcome to the Gig Guide!

WELCOME to the Yeovil Press Gig Guide which looks to promote live music events in and around the Yeovil area.

If you are a singer or a band or run a pub or local music venue and would like your gigs to feature in future editions of the Yeovil Press community newspaper –please get in touch.

Listings in the Gig Guide are free, but if you would like a more prominent advert to promote your forthcoming event then we would be delighted to hear from you

FORTHCOMING gig dates in and around Yeovil (please check beforehand with venue in case of any changes).

Saturday, November 19: Velvet Thunder will be performing live at The Arrow pub on the Abbey Manor Park estate in Yeovil.

Saturday, November 19: The Ancestors will be playing at The Old Barn Club in Yeovil.

Saturday, November 19: The Disciples will be playing at The Bell (Hungry Horse) pub in Preston Road, Yeovil.

Saturday, November 26: Duane Conn will be performing live at The Arrow pub on the Abbey Manor Park estate in Yeovil.

Saturday, November 26: Caliber8 will be playing live at The Bell (Hungry Horse) pub on Preston Road, Yeovil.

Saturday, December 3: Road Star will be performing live at The Arrow pub on the Abbey Manor Park estate in Yeovil.

Saturday, December 3: Rock It Fuel will be playing live at The Beehive pub in Huish, Yeovil, from 9pm.

Saturday, December 3: The ultimate Slade tribute band – Sladest – will be performing at the Quicksilver Mail. Tickets priced £10. Contact the Quicksilver Mail on 01935-424721.

Friday, December 9: Storm will be performing at The Bell (Hungry Horse) on Preston Road in Yeovil.

Saturday, December 10: Unknown Indentity will be performing at The Bell (Hungry Horse) on Preston Road, Yeovil.

Saturday, December 10: Greg Agar –The Piano Man - will be performing live at The Arrow pub on the Abbey Manor Park estate in Yeovil.

and provide extra editorial coverage.

Other live music events taking place at larger venues such as the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil and the Westlands Yeovil venue are featured in our What’s On Guide on Pages 54-55.

We look forward to hearing from you –drop us an email at yeovilpress@gmail. com . The next edition of the Yeovil Press is out on December 8-9 – so please get in touch and your gig details will appear in the monthly guide until the date has passed.

Friday, December 16: Utter Chaos will be playing at The Bell (Hungry Horse) on Preston Road, Yeovil.

Friday, December 16: Jorden Lindsay will be performing at the Old Barn Club in Yeovil.

Saturday, December 17: Electric Peach will be performing at The Bell (Hungry Horse) on Preston Road, Yeovil.

Saturday, December 17: John Springett will be performing live at The Arrow pub on the Abbey Manor Park estate in Yeovil.

Saturday, December 17: Stress will be performing at The Beehive pub in Huish, Yeovil, from 9pm.

Friday, December 23: Greg Agar - the Piano Man – will be playing at the Old Barn Club in Yeovil from 2pm.

Saturday, December 24 (Christmas Eve): Karaoke with Marcus at The Arrow pub on the Abbey Manor Park estate in Yeovil.

Saturday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve): D-State will be performing live at The Arrow pub on the Abbey Manor Park estate in Yeovil.

December 31, 2022: The Roadstars will be performing at The Old Barn Club in Yeovil.

Saturday, March 4, 2023: George Michael Tribute Night will be at the Quicksilver Mail pub in Yeovil. Phone 01935424721 for more details.

Friday, June 23, 2023: Barry Paull as Elvis will be at the Quicksilver Mail pub in Yeovil. Phone 01935-424721 for more details.

To add gig dates to the monthly Gig Guide – please email yeovilpress@ gmail.com

Just Somerset Introductions could open up new friendships

AS the seasons change and we move into autumn, if you have been thinking of getting out more and meeting new people why not consider Just Somerset Introductions.

It is never too late to find love, so if you are newly single for whatever reason why not give Just Somerset Introductions a call to find out more.

Just Somerset Introductions cover all ages, offer one to ones and regular socials. It all starts with an interview and ID check in your own home in a Covid-19 safe way.

Once you have joined, you then have the opportunity to start meeting members and join us on the socials! The “Just Introductions” group are also in Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and going into Devon so you can meet members across the group and attend socials.

Every member gets a monthly newsletter with details of members and what’s on! Just Introductions do anything from coffee meets, to walks, lunches out, theatre trips, dinner dances, crazy golf, Alpaca walks to name a few. Please see our website for details and give me a call!

When Archies, Chuck Berry and Billy Joel 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 three local people who are celebrating their birthdays in November – office secretary Carol Moore; well-known Russell Lee of Funtasia Entertainment and factory worker Chris Pope We congratulate them on their birthdays and everyone else who is celebrating their special day in November 2022!

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: Russell Lee

DOB: November 28, 1972 INFORMATION: Funtasia Entertainment Ltd My Top Ten:

Chuck Berry, My Ding-a-Ling

The Osmonds, Crazy Horses

Donny Osmond, Why

Slade, Gudbuy T’Jane

Elton John, Crocodile Rock

Rod Stewart, Angel/What Made Milwaukee Famous

Gilbert O’Sullivan, Claire

Shangri-Las, Leader of the Pack

The Jackson 5,

Castaways shine with the production of Disney's Moana adventure

THE talented Castaway Theatre Group performed Disney’s Moana Jr production at The Digby Hall in Sherborne on October 28-29.

The 60-minute adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film is a thrilling and heart-warming coming-of-age story following the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage.

Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of selfdiscovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies within.

The young members of the Yeovilbased Castaways put on three wonderful performances which were enjoyed by family and friends.

Next up for the Castaways will be

their Christmas Concert at the Westlands Yeovil venue on December 18 and then Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Westlands from May 31 to June 3 next year.

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Babs Smith.

Peter Andre can't wait to perform his unique show in Yeovil

SINGER and TV personality Peter Andre will be launching his new touring show at the Westlands Entertainment Venue in Yeovil early in the New Year.

And Peter is promising fans something different as he looks to celebrate three decades in show business.

Peter is no stranger to Yeovil having made a number of previous visits to the town and he is looking forward to returning on Saturday, January 21.

Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden recently caught up with Peter to find out more about what the show will have to offer fans.

“There is going to be song, dance and acting – it’s going to be unique,” he said. “I’m only doing five shows – starting with Yeovil – to test it out and see what happens, it hasn’t been done before.

Peter and his management team, The Can Group, have joined forces with Renovi Studios to create a series of reallife and digital events to celebrate his 30 years in show business.

The show will offer one-of-a-kind experiences including meet and greets, music, competitions, memorabilia and plenty more.

Peter told the Yeovil Press that it does

not seem like he has been in show business for 30 years – although he remembers telling his dad and brother while living in Australia when he was just 13 that one day he was going to go back to England and perform at Wembley Arena.

“I always thought I could make it, but I’ve been very lucky to be doing what I wanted to do,” he admitted. “And now I’m hoping that people will come to the show and enjoy it – it will be an experience.”

Peter, who married Somerset girl Emily MacDonagh in 2015, will be reaching his 50th birthday on February 27 next year, although he said he feels a “young 50.”

“I’m looking forward to coming to Somerset again,” he said. “I have tried everything that Somerset has to offer – all the weird and the wonderful. I can also remember one visit to the county where somebody came up to me and asked me if I would sign a cabbage – yes, she asked me to sign a cabbage! It would be great if the Cabbage Lady came to my show in Yeovil.”

He is also holding a Mysterious Girl competition as part of the Peter Andre 30 celebration in which winners can win five exclusive one-to-one video calls with himself. Visit peterandre30.com for more

information.

For more details about the Yeovil event on January 21 – please phone the Westland box office on 01935-422884 or go online to www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk .

Peter Andre was at the Waterstones book store in Middle Street, Yeovil, back

in the summer of 2010 for a book signing. We wonder how many fans who queued to meet him 12 years ago will be back at Westlands in January?

PHOTOS: Peter Andre and his fans in Yeovil back in 2010. Photos by Christine Jones.

FLASHBACK

IN this month’s Yeovil Press community newspaper we take a pictorial look back at some of what was featured in the corresponding editions of 2018-2021. The November 2018 paper was Edition Number Three and the November 2019 paper was Edition Number 14, the November 2020 publication was Edition Number 26, and November 2021 was Edition Number 38. 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 super-talented members of the Yeovil Youth Theatre put on a show to remember at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil. The young stage performers wowed the audiences with the musical Legally Blonde. These photos appeared in the November 2018 edition of Yeovil Press. Photos: Christine Jones.

THE highly-talented Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society wowed the crowds at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil with its fantastic production of Sweeney Todd. The blood-thirsty tale about the Demon Barber of Fleet Street gained rave reviews from audience members. This photo appeared in the November 2018 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

A CHARITY Italian Night held at the Nuova Italia restaurant in Ilchester proved a big success for two local charities. The event was organised by the former Mayor of Yeovil, Darren Shutler, and his wife Anna on behalf of the School in a Bag charity and St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice. Pictured in the November 2018 edition of the Yeovil Press are some of the diners who enjoyed the event. Photo: Christine Jones.

THE Yeovil in Bloom group scooped a Gold award once again in the annual 2018 South West in Bloom competition. This photo appeared in the November 2018 edition of Yeovil Press.

MILFORD Infants’ School was very pleased to welcome the Mayor and Mayoress of Yeovil to the opening of its new pre-school. The children were very excited to meet Cllr David Recardo and his wife Yvonne and show them how much they were enjoying their new facilities. This photo appeared in the November 2018 edition of Yeovil Press.

THE Yeovil Beer Festival committee presented cheques to five local good causes amounting to more than £14,000. Groups to receive a donation were Yeovil Lions Club, Yeovil Round Table, St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice, Yeovil District Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal and the Yeovil Opportunity Group. Kim Duller, of Yeovil Opportunity Group, is pictured receiving a cheque for £1,067 – the photo appeared in the November 2019 edition of Yeovil Press.

Photo: Christine Jones.

THE amazing Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society wowed the audiences at the Octagon Theatre with a superb run of the ever-popular Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This photo appeared in the November 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

THE headteacher of Preston Primary School in Yeovil, Claire Hodgson, thanked everyone for their support on the completion of a much-needed large extension to the school’s existing assembly hall. Former headteacher Bernie Green was pictured (front right) with two pupils about to cut the ribbon to declare the new-look hall open in the November 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

THERE was some fang-tastic fun at Yeovil Country Park during the school half-term holiday as it played host to its annual spook-tacular Halowe’en trail. This appeared in the November 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photos: Christine Jones.

THE Westfield community had a day of celebration as people came together for the official opening of the new £940,000 St Peter’s Community Centre. Hundreds of people converged on the new centre in Coronation Avenue for the opening and you could almost tell that Rev David Keen, chairman of the project team, was pinching himself that the moment had finally arrived. This photo appeared in the November 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

MEMBERS of the Castaway Theatre Group were hitting the right note as they prepared for their next stage show – the youth production of the School of Rock musical. But the young stars had been getting some expert tips on how to strum their guitars correctly – thanks to local musician Simon Kearvell. This photo appeared in the November 2019 edition of Yeovil Press. Photo: Christine Jones.

WELL-KNOWN Yeovil Town fan Max Cobner did his bit for the annual BBC Children in Need charity by riding his spinning bike for 60 miles and raising around £800 - all part of the Rickshaw Challenge from Home initiative for Children in Need. Max, who has Down’s syndrome, has not allowed the challenges he has faced to get in the way of enjoying life. This photo appeared in the November 2020 edition of the Yeovil Press.

THE Yeovil-based Leonardo Helicopters Apprentice & Graduate Association Committee raised a fantastic £20,300-plus for Yeovil District Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit Appeal. This photo appeared in the November 2020 edition of Yeovil Press.

THE Rotary Club of Yeovil donated £3,000 to The Hub - a Yeovil-based charity that provides support and training to people with learning disabilities and autism. During the Rotary year that ran from July 2019 to June 2020, club president for that period Clive Wakely nominated The Hub as one of his chosen charities. This photo appeared in the November 2020 edition of Yeovil Press.

NINE-YEAR-OLD Jake Curtis was all smiles as he made his way to Preston Primary School in Yeovil dressed in yellow as part of the school’s campaign to highlight awareness of the Young Minds mental health charity. This photo appeared in the November 2020 edition of Yeovil Press.

THERE was some pretty spook-tacular goings-on in and around Yeovil once again as people really enjoyed the festivities of Hallowe’en. The Yeovil Country Park was particularly busy where hundreds of people took part in a fun-filled Hallowe’en Trail among the woods where brave trail-goers met with ghosts, ghouls and creepy creatures. These photos appeared in the November 2021 edition of Yeovil Press. Photos: Christine Jones.

IT was fantastic to see the talented members of the Yeovil Youth Theatre back on stage when they presented an Autumn Cabaret at East Coker village hall. The young stage performers put on a great afternoon of entertainment including music, song, drama and dance. These photos appeared in the November 2021 edition of Yeovil Press. Photos: Christine Jones.

STUDENTS and staff at Stanchester Academy in Stoke-sub-Hamdon supported the #HelloYellow campaign for World Mental Health Day. Throughout the day students across all year groups learned about various aspects of metal health. Students dressed in the traditional yellow of the #HelloYellow campaign. This photo appeared in the November 2020 edition of Yeovil Press.

THE Yeo Vale and Yeovil Rotary Clubs combined for a curry night at the Memsaab Indian restaurant in Yeovil to raise funds for the Children’s Hospice South West. A fun and delicious evening was enjoyed by all and £240 was raised for District Governor Michael Fernando’s chosen charity. This photo appeared in the November 2021 edition of Yeovil Press.

THE Cow and Apple restaurant in Yeovil officially unveiled its new public access 24-7 defibrillator machine which can be used by people on somebody who is having a cardiac arrest. The Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, went along to the restaurant which is situated opposite the St John’s Church in the centre of town to give the team at the Cow and Apple her civic seal of support. This photo appeared in the November 2021 edition of Yeovil Press.

EVERYONE at Huish Primary School in Yeovil was thanked for the wonderful donations they made in the school’s recent collection for the Lord’s Larder. The charity supports local families who are struggling to make ends meet by giving them shopping supplies. This photo appeared in the November 2020 edition of Yeovil Press.

Panto society raises funds for Aladdin show with Hallowe'en party

YEOVIL Amateur Pantomime Society raised a fantastic £565 when it held a spooky Hallowe’en Party at St Michael’s Academy.

There were plenty of fabulous costumes on show and lots of ghoulish games – it

really was a spooktacular success!

The funds raised will go towards the costs of its pantomime production of Aladdin which will be performed at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil from January 26-28, 2023.

THE Yeovil Country Park held its annual Ninesprings Hallowe’en Trail and once again it attracts lots of families all wanting some spooky fun. People had to follow a trail around Ninesprings and along the way they came face-to-face with some pretty scary individuals! Photos courtesy of Yeovil Country Park.

THE Bullet’s Sports Bar on the Lynx Trading Estate in Yeovil had a fabulous Hallowe’en Party where party-goers got into the spirit of the event by dressing up.

WOMEN'S SPORT

Future looks bright for women's rugby at Yeovil Rugby Club

THERE was an historic moment for Yeovil Rugby Club on October 16 when it hosted two women’s matches in the same afternoon.

The Yeovil women’s first XV and newlyformed development team took to the pitches at Yeovil on the same day.

An amazing 44 women represented Yeovil in their respective matches.

In response to growing numbers, Yeovil Barbarians, named in keeping with the men’s second team and a nod to the club’s proud history, was launched for this season and will play in the Inner Warrior league.

This development league and the Barbarians team will be a fantastic place for new players to join and learn the game, for players that may have retired to keep playing or those have already left to return to the game. It will also allow more game time for the club’s developing players to keep improving.

Club chairman Paul McHugh said: “Woman’s rugby is one of the biggest growing sports in the world and that is certainly the case at Yeovil Rugby Club.

“By creating a welcoming and inclusive and fun environment our woman’s team have seen their numbers double in the

last 12 months, we are now at a point where we can build on that success by introducing a woman’s development team, as a club we are incredibly proud and excited about the future of woman’s grassroots rugby within Yeovil.”

It is noteworthy in particular that Yeovil, as a town rather than city and with no universities locally, have a much smaller player pool to recruit one team from, let alone two!

They put their success in doing so to the positive, welcoming and supportive team culture than the club provide all of

their players.

And, for the record, the Yeovil women’s first team defeated Plymstock Albion Oaks by 22pts-nil on October 16, while the Yeovil Barbarians went down 5pts-14 against Cullompton Development XV. But the future looks bright for women’s rugby at Yeovil Rugby Club.

PHOTOS: Pictured on Page 65 are the Yeovil women’s firsts in their match with Plymstock, while on Page 64 for the Yeovil Barbarians in their game with Cullompton – both played on October 16.

Photos by Christine Jones.

Neil and Connor pick-up coaching awards from Somerset Cricket Foundation

EXPERIENCED coach Neil Davis has been recognised for his outstanding 25-year contribution to the youth setup at Yeovil Cricket Club.

Davis was presented with the Maurice Young Award at the Somerset Cricket Foundation’s annual presentation after being declared winner of the Coach of the Year competition.

Scott Ewens, of Yeovil Cricket Club, said: “Neil has an incredible passion and knowledge of cricket and has a special skill of being able to coach both youngsters and senior players, developing and getting the best out of them.

“He has worked with district and county level youngsters in the past for the County Board, as it was then, and in our humble opinion is one of the best coaches on the County Club circuit.

“I think it is also important to note that Neil has put all this service in at the club

on a voluntary basis and has never been paid a single penny or asked for anything, unlike many other clubs at this level.

“He does it because of his natural love of both the game and coaching itself and we know we are lucky to have him at Yeovil Cricket Club.

“We can’t think of a more deserving candidate than Neil for this award and it would be just reward for many years of energetic and enjoyable coaching that he has given to both Yeovil and cricket in the county.”

Meanwhile, Yeovil lad Connor Hyde of the South Somerset Bears Super 1s won the first award of the evening – Young Coach of the Year.

“Connor joined Super 1s a few years ago and his volunteering has gone from strength to strength,” said a spokesman for the Somerset Cricket Foundation.

Connor Hyde receives the Young Coach of the Year award from Somerset CCCi’s Ken Davey.

Neil Davis receives his Coach of the Year award from Somerset CCC’s Jason Kerr.

ECB Somerset Coach of the Year Award recipient Neil Davis (centre) is pictured with Scott Ewens (left) and Rob Fox.

Yeovil third team skipper Joe Kember (left) with (from left) Ramanan Jayapalu and his son, Dan Tailby and Will Redwood who was receiving the All-Rounder of the Year Award on behalf of recipient Aidan Vincent who was unable to attend the awards night.

Yeovil first team captain Dan Ewens (far right) with (from left) Sam Fuller, Will Chesterman, Calum Gundry and Max Dicker. Scott Ewens (left) with Yeovil Cricket Club centurions.

The Young Player of the Year Award was awarded to Dan Kenyon. Dan could not be present for the awards ceremony so his dad, Richard (left), was on hand to receive the award on behalf of his son by Scott Ewens.

Siby Chacko (right) receives the Best Newcomer of the Year Award from club chairman Rob Fox.

Clubman of the Year award recipient Paul Martin (centre) is pictured with Scott Ewens (left) and Rob Fox.

Ruby Carter has become the official scorer for the Yeovil Cricket Club’s 2nds team.

Members of Yeovil Cricket Club present Yeovil Hospital Charity representatives Barbie McAulay (left) and Donna Evans.

Yeovil has team spirit and club togetherness in abundance

YEOVIL Cricket Club looked back on a successful season during the annual end-of-season awards night.

Club chairman Rob Fox said it had been a good season although they had not actually won anything.

The highlights were, undoubtedly, the Yeovil first team being involved in an exciting title race in the West of England Premier League Somerset Division which saw them miss out on the championship in a final day defeat to eventual champions Bridgwater, while the 2nds lost out in the final of the Minor Knockout Cup at the County Ground in Taunton to Cranmore.

“We won a lot of friends over the course of the season by the way we play our cricket,” said Mr Fox. “We showed we can compete with the big clubs and we are definitely a force to be reckoned with.

“We’ve got a great togetherness in our club and a great club spirit – you can’t buy that.”

The club chairman thanked everyone for their support during the course of the season – including young Ruby Carter who had taken on the scoring responsibilities for the 2nds team, while Helen Harvey was standing down from her role as club secretary as was Colin Grant from running the pavilion.

Mr Fox also thanked club groundsman Mark Loveridge for all his excellent work during the summer on keeping the pitch in great condition.

Team captains Dan Ewens for the 1sts, Sam Watts for the 2nds, Joe Kember for the 3rds and Steve Redwood for the Sunday XI gave short presentations and announced their players-of-the-season awards.

There were also short presentations from Calum Gundry about the Under-19s team and Paul Martin about the club’s important youth section.

Club coach Neil Davis was also congratulated on his recent Somerset Coach of the Year award from the English Cricket Board.

The club’s divisional representative, Scott Ewens, said: “Neil has an invaluable knowledge of cricket and is able to

work supremely well with the youngest members of the club and the more senior players.

“He is unquestionably one of the best coaches on the county club circuit. He’s never been paid a single penny for what he does for this club – he just has a natural love of cricket.”

Dan Kenyon was awarded the Young Player of the Year Award although he could not attend the presentation night because he was away on a school trip, while Paul Martin was presented with the Clubman of the Year Award for all his work with the club’s youth set-up.

During the evening the club presented representatives of the Yeovil Hospital Charity with a £1,000 cheque towards the hospital’s ongoing Breast Cancer Unit Appeal.

Awards were as follows: Yeovil Sunday Team: Batsman of the Year –Matthew Shorto; Bowler of the Year –Harry Holland; All-Rounder of the Year – Olly Bicknell.

Yeovil 3rds: Bowler of the Year –Ramanan Jayapalu ; Batsman of the Year – Dan Tailby; All-Rounder of the Year –Aidan Vincent.

Yeovil 2nds: Bowler of the Year –Lewis Holland; All-Rounder of the Year –Mike Harvey; Batsman of the Year – Sam Watts.

Yeovil 1sts: Batsman of the Year –Calum Gundry; Bowler of the Year – Sam Fuller; All-Rounder of the Year – Max Dicker and Will Chesterman.

Centurion Tankards (players received a tankard in recognition of them hitting a century during the season): Liam Plympton (from the 2021 season); Calum Gundry; Steve Redwood; Josh Staunton; Sonny Dennett; Sam Watts; Max Dicker; and Will Chesterman.

Young Player of the Year and recipient of the Ray Gilham Trophy: Dan Kenyon – received on his behalf by his dad Richard.

Best Newcomer of the Year: Siby Chacko.

Clubman of the Year: Paul Martin.

PHOTOS: Christine Jones.

Ben Carter (second left) organised a fundraising Fantasy Cricket League competition for members and supporters of Yeovil Cricket Club. Here he is pictured with prize-winners (from left) Ben Ford, Mark Cawley and Matthew Shorto.

Sunday XI skipper Steve Redwood with (from left) Harry Holland, Olly Bicknell and Matthew Shorto.

Yeovil second team skipper Sam Watts (left) with Mike Harvey (centre) and Lewis Holland.

Disappointment for Marlie in final agony, but she can hold her head high

THERE was to be no fairytale World Cup ending for Yeovil’s very own Marlie Packer as England agonisingly lost out in the final to hosts New Zealand on November 12.

Fans gathered at Yeovil Rugby Club –where it all began for Marlie as youngster – in readiness for the 6.30am kick-off. And despite England making a good start they were reduced to 14 players after a sending off and that gave New Zealand the impetus to sneak the title by 34pts-31 in a pulsating final.

Despite the disappointment, Marlie could hold her head high having had a good tournament – although nothing will diminish the pain of missing out on being

World Champions.

Marlie is rated one of the world’s top women rugby players having made her international career for England in 2008 and being part of the team which did win the World Cup in 2014.

Among those at Yeovil Rugby Club for the final was the Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, who said that Marlie had done Yeovil proud once again albeit against the huge disappointment of missing out on the final prize.

PHOTOS: Fans watch the Women’s World Cup Final on the big screen at Yeovil Rugby Club on November 12.

Photos: Christine Jones.

Change of Captains at Yeovil Golf Club

AS the golfing season draws to a close, so does the captain’s year in office at Yeovil Golf Club.

The club’s 2022 Captains Paul Kitto, Isabelle Mace and Chloe Northover handed over the baton at the club’s annual meeting to Gary Wilshaw (Club Captain), Paula Skinner (Lady Captain) and Archie Tolman (Junior Captain). This was followed the next day with the Captains Drive In competition. A full field of 148 players playing in teams of four enjoyed a fun Texas Scramble event where each player plays from the same position, chooses the best shot and repeats the process until the ball is holed out.

As part of the event, competitors also had the opportunity to guess how far the new Captain’s Drive In shots would go from the first tee with all guesses donating £1 to the Captain’s Charity for the year which is Fairmead School in Yeovil.

This raised over £100 which was added

to other donations and started the year off with over £600 for the charity.

The winning team for the Texas Scramble competition was none other than the new club captain Gary Wilsahw, lady captain Paula Skinner and their playing partners Simon Coates and James Malcolm with a nett score of 52 with a further five teams recording nett scores of 54.

Pictured (from left) are 2023 captains Archie Tolman, Paula Skinner and Gary Wilshaw.

Inter-club competition raises money for Parkinsons charity

Infinity's Super Six return from Turkey in triumph

SIX students from Yeovil-based Infinity Martial Arts have returned from the prestigious International Sports Kickboxing Association World Championships that were held in Turkey.

The club students Joe Pitman, August Masionis, Ollie Bees, Jessie-Lee Jessopp, Jayden Freeley and Henry Pollock all earned their place on the Team England squad earlier this year and were ready to take on the rest of the World.

The competition started on Wednesday, November 2, and by the end of the day both Joe Pitman and August Masionis had become World Champions taking on tough opposition from Ukraine and Jamaica, plus the team also earned four Silver Medals and three Bronze Medals.

On day two of the competition they increased their medal tally adding an additional two Silver Medals to the already impressive haul.

On the final day of competition 11-year-old Ollie Bees became their third World Champion of the tournament with his Musical Nunchaku routine.

Their final total was an incredible three gold medals, eight silver medals and three bronze medals, after going toe to toe with opponents from Ukraine, Germany, India, Jamaica and Portugal. Their instructor, Sensei Joe Hallett, said:

“This year’s fighting standard at the World Championships was the highest and toughest I have ever seen.

“Anyone who earned a medal truly deserved it. I am so proud of my small team from Yeovil who seriously proved that it is quality over quantity on this occasion.”

On top of the students awards, Sensei Joe Hallett was presented with a thank you plaque by the ISKA World President Cory Schafer, Europe President Paul Hennesey and Europe Vice President Davut Sidal.

“It was a great honour to receive such an accolade by my peers,” he said.

Now the team have one week to recover before they are back at it for the British Championships later this month in Birmingham. They would like to take this opportunity to thank all their sponsors and the kind donations. Thanks go out to Wessex Internet, Motofix Repair Centres, Leonardo Ltd, Bentham Ltd, DNA Scaffolding, RSC, FGP Group, Knights Deliveries, Riders Motorcycles, Rocket Ron Productions, Neil Massey Roofing Specialist, GMAN Boxing Ring Services, Allied Scaffolding, J&P Property and Gardening Services and Sis & Bro Clothing, and Verve Martial Arts and Ki Martial Arts.

Eight team of three played four games of five ends each with a welcomed short break in between the games.

The club thanked new member Peter Panaccia for stepping in to play the last game for a team who lost a player who succumbed to the heat and had to stand down.

This team was doing well over the first three games and managed to hang on and clinched the top spot on the fourth game.

The winning team was Gary Saunders, Geoff Smith and Annette Williams with substitute

A big thank you goes out to all who supported the event and to Hec Ramsey for the organisation. A very successful raffle was run by Sandra Ramsey.

A club spokesman said: “Thank you to all who donated and also for the donations gratefully received from both Freedom Leisure Gym and Westlands Entertainment Venue.”

Overall £520 was raised for the very worthwhile Parkinsons charity.

A cheque presentation was held at the club on October 19 in the presence of the Yeovil Mayor, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, and Melissa Rankin, from the Parkinsons charity.

THE Basil Mead Charity Bowls Inter-Club Competition at Westland Bowls Club was played on August 13 in extreme heat – the hottest day of the year!

Peter Panaccia. The runners-up were Mike Ramsey, Pete Tucker and Carol Tither.

August Masionis (left) with Ollie Bees (centre) and Joe Pitman.

Team Infinity!

Sensei Joe Hallett.

Jessie-Lee Jessopp (centre) with Henry Pollock (left) and Jayden Freeley.

IN THIS MONTH IN HISTORY

100 YEARS AGO

November 4, 1922

Coventry City Reserves 0, Yeovil & Petters United 2 Southern League English Section

TWO goals from legendary Yeovil striker Johnny Hayward secured a 2-0 success away at Coventry City Reserves in the Southern League.

It represented the club’s first win of the league season – at the eighth game – and could not come soon enough.

The trip to Coventry had also been the club’s longest and most expensive away day out. The players left Yeovil at 7am by train and reached London at 10.30am where they travelled across to Euston Station for the 11.30am train which got to Coventry at 1.45pm! The trip cost more than £40!

75 YEARS AGO

November 15, 1947

Street 2, Yeovil Town 1 FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round

IT was one of the biggest upsets Yeovil Town has ever suffered in the FA Cup – a defeat at near-neighbours Street.

The Street side contained a young striker by the name of Miles – a player who

Yeovil had not retained the previous year.

The tie drew a record 4,300 crowd at Street and included many Yeovil fans who had made the short distance up the road for the match.

Les Gore’s opener for Yeovil was cancelled out by Miles and then the same player netted the winner which stunned the Glovers.

It was a really big shock for Yeovil and a team managed by player-manager Alec Stock who, of course, would cancel out that embarrassment in the following 1948-49 season with that epic FA Cup run all the way to the Fifth Round.

50 YEARS AGO

November 4, 1972

Yeovil Town 4, Taunton Town 1 FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round

THERE was a highly-charged afternoon at Huish with a fiercely-fought battle between local rivals Yeovil Town and Taunton Town in the FA Cup.

There was violence inside and outside the ground involving hooligans not connected to either club, while there was a crowd of 5,000 inside Huish and on the pitch there were six bookings in a feisty contest.

Yeovil went into the game having won their previous four matches, while Taunton were on a run of 17 games unbeaten.

But early goals steadied any Yeovil nerves and a place in the First Round against Brentford was assured with a 4-1 success – thanks to goals from Chris Weller, John Brown, Cliff Myers and Terry Bertram.

40 YEARS AGO

November 27, 1982

Yeovil Town 2, Stafford Rangers 0 Alliance Premier –Match Abandoned

YEOVIL Town’s Alliance Premier League match with Stafford Rangers at Huish was abandoned 13 minutes from the end because of fog.

The referee’s decision came with Yeovil leading 2-0 including what would have been Malcolm Gold’s first-ever goal for the Glovers in 111 outings.

The game had to be played again despite an appeal from the Glovers saying

that the result should stand given it was so close to the end.

But Alliance League secretary Peter Hunter said: “If the match had been played late in the season and had little bearing on league positions we might have allowed the result to stand. But that is the only circumstance where such a decision would be possible.”

The game was finally replayed on May 2, 1983, and finished in a 0-0 draw.

30 YEARS AGO

November 14, 1992

Torquay United 2, Yeovil Town 5 FA

Cup First Round

YEOVIL Town produced a stirring performance to pull-off another FA Cup giant-killing feat – this time at Torquay

United.

The Glovers were inspired by a Paul Batty hat-trick with the other goals coming from Paul Wilson and Mickey Spencer in a glorious afternoon for Yeovil.

The Torquay line-up included the ultimately tragic Justin Fashanu, who had played for the Norwich City team which defeated Yeovil in the FA Cup Third Round at Huish back in 1980, who’s promising young career had nosedived amidst a blaze of negative publicity.

20 YEARS AGO

November 2, 2002

Chester City 2, Yeovil Town 2 Nationwide Conference

YEOVIL Town gained a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw at title rivals Chester City in the Nationwide Conference.

The Glovers were disappointing in the first-half which saw Chester go into the interval one goal to the good thanks to a 23rd minute strike from new signing Daryl Clare who was making his debut for Mark Wright’s title hopefuls.

But whatever Yeovil boss Gary Johnson said to his troops during the break seemed to do the trick as they came out for the second period in a totally different mood. They surged into a 2-1 lead with goals from Nick Crittenden and Howard Forinton and looked on course for a vital win.

But tragedy struck the Glovers’ and their superb travelling army of 1,000 fans when Clare netted an equaliser for the home side with little more than seconds remaining.

It was the second time this season that Yeovil had seen victory snatched away from them at the death - just as it had done in the 1-1 draw at Burton Albion on October 8.

The Street v Yeovil programme from their FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round match on November 15, 1947.

Malcolm Gold thought he had scored his first-ever goal for Yeovil Town on November 27, 1982, against Stafford Rangers – but the game was abandoned 13 minutes from the end and his “goal” counted for nothing.

Yeovil Town goalscorers (from left) Paul Wilson, Mickey Spencer and Paul Batty celebrate the Glovers’ 5-2 FA Cup First Round victory at Torquay United on November 14, 1992.

100 HUISH HEROES

100 Huish Heroes - in tribute to John Lukins

THE late John Lukins had written thousands of words about Yeovil Town during his career reporting on the happenings of the Glovers at Huish and Huish Park for around 50 or so years.

John was so highly-thought of that the press box at Huish Park was named after him.

In the mid-1990s when Graham Roberts was manager he wrote 100 Huish Heroes. The book highlights –as the title suggests – 100 heroes from Yeovil Town’s history at Huish and Huish Park.

John passed away on March 9, 2022, at the age of 81.

In a tribute to John, we are picking out two of his 100 heroes each month to keep the name of John Lukins in the local press.

In this edition of Yeovil Press we have randomly selected players for Numbers 11 and 12 from John’s 100 Huish Heroes book –

No 12 - 100 Huish Heroes: Andy Bell's attitude was terrific said Big Mal!

IT was Malcolm Allison who paid the greatest tribute to the South Pethertonborn Andy Bell.

The charismatic former Manchester City coach, in a brief advisory spell at Yeovil, said: “I’m not sure if I’d play him up front, but his attitude is terrific. I would always find a place for him somewhere.”

Bell was 13 when people first noticed him. He went to Wembley for a “penalty prize” shootout before a League Cup Final.

Soon they were noticing him at Haselbury Plucknett. He helped them win the Somerset Junior Cup three times in four years and in 1978 clocked up 111 goals in the Perry Street League – easily a record.

He played on the left wing and was not a bit greedy, often refusing scoring chances to lay the ball on for his colleagues.

Exeter City snapped him up, but did not give him much Football League experience and he gravitated to Yeovil Town where he made 145 appearances and scored 46 goals from 1980 to 1983 before being sold to Weymouth for £2,500.

He returned to Chard Town later on where he had local players flocking to watch not only how he took penalties, but how he won them.

One said: “It involves some very intricate footwork, but I still haven’t fathomed how he does it.”

No 11 - 100 Huish Heroes: Palace got bargain of the century when they signed Alan Pardew

YEOVIL Town player-manager Gerry Gow, who knew a midfielder when he saw one, soon snapped up Alan Pardew from Vauxhall-Opel League rivals Dulwich Hamlet for £5,000 in February 1986.

“When we played Dulwich I spent all night trying to catch him,” he said.

He was a “Gow Player” but Gow’s successor Brian Hall could never come to terms with off-the-cuff men.

“When the London-based glazier slept to and from Yeovil in Hall’s car and appeared to lack the professionalism Hall wanted, the parting was inevitable,” wrote John Lukins in 100 Huish Heroes.

And so Pardew’s departure came after 61 games and 15 goals and Crystal Palace must have had the bargain of the century when they picked him up for £7,500 in 1987.

He went on to appear in the 1990 FA Cup Final for Crystal Palace having scored the goal that beat Liverpool in the semi-final and stayed in the Football League for several more years.

NOTE: Alan Pardew went on to play for Charlton Athletic and Barnet before going into management with Reading, West Ham United, Charlton Athletic, Southampton, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion, ADO Den Haag and CSKA Sofia. He is currently – at the time of writing – manager of Greek Super League club Aris Thessaloniki.

Alan Pardew and Andy Bell.

Alan Pardew in action for Yeovil Town.

Andy Bell lets fly with a shot under pressure from a Farnborough Town player during a FA Cup First Round match at Huish in November 1980.

Andy “Dinger” Bell.

MacFarlane's tenure at Huish lasted just three months before he'd gone

1984: FORMER Carlisle United boss and Leicester City interim manager, Ian MacFarlane, was appointed as Yeovil Town’s newest manager.

He is pictured here with club chairman Gerry Lock on the day of his appointment on May 21, 1984.

MacFarlane was known better locally for previously making over 400 appearances for Yeovil rivals Bath City.

The straight-talking no-nonsense Scotsman was the club’s fourth manager in less than two years and it was not long before MacFarlane was upsetting the more senior players at Huish.

Talented forward Jeremy Brown failed to turn up for training and demanded to be put on the transfer list.

Former player-manager Trevor Finnigan moved to Bath City, while defender Billy Elliott also refused to attend training at the club.

MacFarlane did, however, give 17-yearold Tony Pounder his first senior outing, away to Boston on the opening day of the 1984-85 season.

Travelling to Yeovil from his home in Leicester did not make MacFarlane’s job any easier. A disastrous start to the season saw Yeovil lose their opening four matches and on August 31, 1984, charmain Gerry Lock announced that MacFarlane had called him and resigned,

citing aspects of the club he did not like.

However, just four days later MacFarlane was at Burnley where he had been been offered the job of chief scout. Gerry Lock, accusing MacFarlane of leaving Yeovil in the lurch. However, one week after he had gone, Gerry Gow was appointed. Gow had previously been interviewed for the job and been turned down in favour of MacFarlane.

MacFarlane went on later to work for Coventry City and Leeds United in scouting positions.

Aged 86, MacFarlane passed away in June 2019 in Leicester.

PHOTO: Ian MacFarlane (right) with the then Yeovil Town chairman Gerry Lock.

Yeovil Town players sizzled in championship-winning season

1971: YEOVIL Town had one of its most successful periods in the early 1970s with Mike Hughes at the helm as player-manager.

The 1970-71 season saw the Glovers win the Southern League championship and reached the FA Trophy Semi-Final as well as a Third Round encounter with Arsenal in the FA Cup.

And as well as sizzling on the pitch,

they also knew how to party off it – just as this photo shows dressed in chefs hats at a sizzling steak house in Yeovil.

Players included are pictured right (standing from left) trainer Maurice O’Donnell, Alan Herritty, Cliff Myers, Ken Thompson and Len Harris and (front) Mike Hughes, Stuart Housley, Brian Grey, John Clancy and Ron Bayliss.

Willo always gave 100 per cent when on the pitch

1993: YEOVIL Town striker Paul Wilson is pictured having a flutter before the Glovers’ big FA Cup Third Round clash with London giants Arsenal.

In the summer of 1989, Wilson became Yeovil’s joint record buy from Boston United with the then Glovers boss Brian Hall paying £13,000 for his services.

Wilson was struck by injury in his first season with the Glovers and – according to Yeovil Town historian Michael West –some fans turned against him.

When team-mate and then playermanager Steve Rutter had his wedding reception in a marquee on the Huish Park pitch, Wilson was the best man.

Wilson – who was popularly known as Willo - quipped in his best man speech that it was the first time he had ever appeared on the pitch without someone shouting “Get Off, Wilson!”

But he never gave anything less than 100 per cent in matches and for a smallish player, he was excellent in the air.

When Rutter resigned as manager, Wilson became joint caretaker boss with Tim Lowe and later coached the Yeovil youth team.

Finally after 215 appearances and 60 goals, Wilson left for Scunthorpe United to work with their youth set-up.

In 1997, he made his Football League

debut by coming on as a substitute against Cardiff City. At the time he was nearly 37-years-old which made him the oldest player to make his league debut for 68 years.

PS: Paul Wilson did not win anything on his bet as Yeovil Town lost 3-1 to Arsenal at Huish Park in January 1993.

FAN ZONE A-TO-Z 1-TO-11

O is for Graham OAKES! Welcome to the 15th instalment of the Fan Zone A-to-Z 1-to-11 feature.

Each month we will spotlight a Yeovil Town fan in surname alphabetical order and ask them 11 questions relating to their support of the Glovers.

If you want to be included in a future edition of the Fan Zone please get in touch by emailing Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden at yeovilpress@gmail.com. We could well be interested in hearing from any Yeovil fan with a surname beginning with the letter Z!

01: How many years have you been supporting Yeovil Town FC? Thanks to Yeovil Town historian Michael West publishing a match report on social media from my first match – it appears to be 57 years.

02: What was the first game you can remember watching Yeovil Town FC? I have brief memories of Portland United away in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round on October 16, 1965, which resulted in a 1-1 draw.

03: Who have been your all-time favourite Yeovil Town player and your favourite manager? That’s a tough one about my favourite player. Howard Forinton is my favourite striker, Johnny Clancy is my favourite winger and Gavin Williams our best-ever central midfielder. So many great players – and Graham Kemp!

As for favourite manager, that’s a lot easier – Gary Johnson!

04: What is the best Yeovil Town game you have watched? Wembley when we won the League One Play-Off in 2013 was incredible; winning the FA Trophy at Villa Park and being in the Holte End in 2002 was amazing; but beating Weymouth away at their “new” ground in the FA Cup back in 1987 was probably the best! Weymouth were unbeaten at home and we were a league lower than them.

05: What has been the biggest disappointment for you as a Yeovil Town fan? Looking back it has to be when Jon Goddard-Watts sold the club.

06: What has been your favourite goal scored by Yeovil Town? So many great goals down the years. I’m thinking of Dani Rodrigues’ overhead kick against Bury in the 2003-2004 season in the Football League Division Three (now known as League Two), Cliff Myers scoring in the FA Cup at Bournemouth in the 1970-71 season, Howie Forinton scored some great ones, but Warren Patmore scoring with his backside at Bedford in the FA Trophy in 2000 was hilarious!

07: If you could name any one footballer – alive or dead – from the world of football who you would have liked to have seen play for Yeovil Town, who it would be and why? Duncan Edwards – my dad was lucky enough to see him play for Manchester United. Such a tragic loss when Edwards was one of those who died as a result of injuries he sustained in the Munich Air Disaster in 1958.

08: Favourite away ground and why? My memories of away grounds are always better when we win, so anywhere we won – apart from Bristol Rovers’ Me-

morial Ground!

09: If you won the National Lottery jackpot and bought Yeovil Town FC –what is the first thing you would do (within reason!)? Escort owner Scott Priestnall from the ground. Privately give manager Chris Hargreaves three months to turn things around. Cut ticket prices and sign a proven striker.

10: What are your hopes and aspirations for Yeovil Town’s future and the 2022-23 season? I hope the team will get into the habit of winning games and climb the National League table into the play-off positions. And we should also be looking at winning the Somerset Premier

Cup!

11: Name your all-time Yeovil Town XI from your time as being a Yeovil Town fan. 1 Marek Stech; 2 Mickey Engwell; 3 Geoff Battams; 4 Mark Shail; 5 Shane Duffy; 6 Liam Walsh; 7 Nicky Crittenden; 8 Gavin Williams; 9 Howie Forinton; 10 Dick Plumb; 11 Johnny Clancy. I realise this will raise some eyebrows – leaving out Tony Clark, Lee Johnson, Darren Way, Terry Cotton and “The Scottish Player” who I cannot bring myself to say his actual name, but we have been blessed with some great players over the years.

Photo: Yeovil Town fan Graham Oakes.

The hugely talented Duncan Edwards who was one of Manchester United’s Busby Babes who died as a result of injuries sustained in the Munich Air Disaster of 1958 aged just 21. Turn to Question 7.

Former Yeovil Town striker Howard Forinton – Turn to Questions 3, 6 and 11.

Yeovil Town players (from left) Neil Cordice, John McGinlay, Gerry Pearson, Paul Thorpe and Paul Randall celebrate the Glovers’ 3-1 victory at old rivals Weymouth in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round on October 24, 1987. Turn to Question 4.

HUISH PARK DIARY

A Look back at the past month of the goings-on at Yeovil Town FC - Up the Glovers!

Friday, October 14, 2022

YEOVIL Town chairman Scott Priestnall confirmed that the club’s former chief executive, Martyn Starnes, had been helping him and the club for the past few months.

“Martyn will be shortly appointed as a director of Yeovil Football & Athletic (Club) Limited and once again take up the role of chief executive,” said Mr Priestnall.

“Martyn has vast experience and expertise in football and I look forward to Martyn leading the club off the field and working closely with manager Chris Hargreaves to improve on the field.”

Friday, October 14, 2022

TALKS about a development plan for Yeovil Town’s Huish Park site have been ongoing, said club chairman Scott Priestnall.

“Following the conclusion of the transaction with South Somerset District Council in May, we have been working with consultancy firms, architects and investment partners to assemble a plan for the development of Huish Park,” he said.

“We have held various discussions with potential partners and have had a planning meeting with the council.

“Over the coming months we will be looking to finalise our plans for both the land and re-development of the stadium.

“I hope to get those plans and our next steps out to you all later this year.”

Friday, October 14, 2022

YEOVIL Town chairman Scott Priestnall said that discussions were continuing with potential club investors.

“We are continuing our discussions with potential investors to become part of the football club and the door is open for anyone to approach the club with interest in being involved in the ownership of the club,” said Mr Priestnall.

“I will of course take any approach seriously and communicate this to supporters I’m hoping that we will have one or two additional board directors before the end of the year.”

Mr Priestnall added: “In the meantime, I continue to work towards supporting manager Chris Hargreaves and building a team that can compete and I certainly believe we are improving in that department.

“I don’t think anyone can dispute the quality of our performances this season, and of course we need to turn those performances into wins.

“Chris has been given additional resources to improve the squad as we look to capitalise on a good win Saturday against a very strong Solihull side.

“Whilst I appreciate, I won’t ever win some of you over, I hope that you continue to put your support behind Chris and the team, in the meantime we will be setting up a meeting next month for supporters to have their voice heard and raise questions.”

Saturday, October 15, 2022

YEOVIL Town Under-18s gained a convincing

6-0 win at home to BRS Coaching Youth with goals from Jacob Shore, Charlie Bateson, Josh Sutton, Mason Hunter (two) and an own goal in the South West Counties Youth League. The victory kept the Glovers in third place in the table with five games played.

Saturday, October 15, 2022

FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round

Yeovil Town 0, Taunton Town 0

YEOVIL Town were fortunate to have lived to fight another day as Taunton Town came to Huish Park looking to cause a FA Cup upset.

Taunton, of the National League South, were certainly more than a match for Yeovil, who play one division higher, and dominated the opening 45 minutes.

The Glovers came into the game more in the second period, but were unable to break down their resilient opponents.

The 3,093 crowd was the highest of the season at Huish Park, but it was the 964 from Taunton who went home happier.

Yeovil Town line-up: Grant Smith, Owen Bevan, Josh Staunton, Ben Richards-Everton, Morgan Williams, Chiori Johnson, Sam Pearson, Sam Perry, Matt Worthington, Charlie Wakefield and Malachi Linton. Subs used: Jake Scrimshaw and Alex Fisher. Subs not used: Will Buse, Max Hunt, Callum Rowe, Ollie Haste and Will Dawes.

Saturday, October 15, 2022

YEOVIL Town manager Chris Hargreaves stated the proverbial “blinkin’ obvious” when he said his players were not good enough to beat visiting Taunton Town in the FA Cup.

National League South outfit Taunton held Yeovil to a 0-0 draw in the Fourth Qualifying Round and earned a replay at their Wordsworth Drive ground on Tuesday (October 18).

And Hargreaves, speaking to the BBC, said: “We weren’t good enough – no excuses for that. We were nowhere near good enough for the standards we’ve set.

“I thought the fans stayed with us as long as they could, but it’s always a difficult challenge.”

He said that there was “no divine right” that just because you played in a higher league than your opponents that you would win.

Monday, October 17, 2022

YEOVIL Town Under-18s striker Benjani Jnr –the son of former Portsmouth and Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari - signed his first professional contract with the Glovers.

He has been the Under-18s main attacking threat in recent times and is the third “young gun” to sign professional terms in the past three years following on from Toby Stephens and Ollie Haste.

Monday, October 17, 2022

THE winners of the Yeovil Town and Taunton Town FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie were given a First Round tie away at League One outfit MK

Dons.

Tuesday, October 18, 2022 FA Cup

Fourth Qualifying Round Replay

Taunton Town 1, Yeovil Town 0

A HUGELY disappointing night saw Yeovil Town exit the FA Cup at the Fourth Qualifying Round when they deservedly lost their replay at Taunton Town.

The only goal of the game came in the first period when Lloyd James converted a penalty kick on 26 minutes after Yeovil’s Chiori Johnson handled inside the box.

Taunton had opportunities to have extended their lead.

Yeovil offered little for their travelling band of supporters to cheer about and the Glovers fell out of the cup with a whimper with a succession of crosses into the box confidently claimed by Taunton keeper Jack Bycroft.

Taunton held out a late spell of pressure to take their place in the First Round and a trip to Football League outfit MK Dons.

Yeovil Town’s players could hold the heads in shame.

The game ended with defender Ben Richards-Everton and midfielder Matt Worthington arguing on the pitch – it summed up the night.

Yeovil Town line-up: Grant Smith, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Ben Richards-Everton, Chiori Johnson, Jamie Reckord, Sam Pearson, Callum Rowe, Matty Worthington, Gime Toure and Alex Fisher. Subs used: Will Dawes, Jake Scrimshaw and Malachi Linton. Subs not used: Will Buse, Morgan Williams, Sam Perry and Ollie Hulbert.

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

YEOVIL Town manager Chris Hargreaves said the team’s performance in the FA Cup exit at the hands of National League South outfit Taunton Town was unacceptable.

Speaking to the BBC following the disastrous defeat Hargreaves said he “could not accept that kind of performance” from his players.

“I picked a team I believe could win the game comfortably,” he said. “It’s a group of lads that has been good enough to get results against good sides in the National League.

“So against a very resilient team, albeit one from a lower league, we did not deliver, so apologies to anyone who turned up tonight to watch that.”

The 300 or so Yeovil fans in the crowd at Taunton’s Wordsworth Drive group booed the players off the field at the end of the game.

“The fans have to see something from the team which they can hold on to and get behind,” said Hargreaves. “I have no problem with the reaction of the supporters.”

Thursday, October 20, 2022

THE Glovers Trust supporters’ group issued a statement as to its apparent lack of communication in recent months.

The group had been backing Simul Sports in its bid to buy the club earlier this year and was opposed to the sale of Huish Park to South Somerset District Council.

But it fell silent when the Simul Sports bid collapsed and the sale of the Huish Park to the council went ahead and its long-standing chairman, Brendon Owen, stood down.

“It’s understandable that our lack of communication has led to more frustration and anxiety among Trust members – as a board we are more determined than ever to change, improve and secure the future of Yeovil Town FC for future generations,” said a statement issued by the Glovers Trust board.

“As the largest independent supporters’ group, we still believe the Glovers Trust remains our best hope of doing so.”

It confirmed the group’s annual meeting would take place on Tuesday, November 22, at The Arrow pub on Abbey Manor Park, Yeovil, starting at 7pm.

The Trust has invited club chairman Scott Priestnall and fellow director Stuart Robins to “speak at the event and encourage all of our members to attend, either in person or online.”

The statement added: “We are looking to expand and diversify our board, to better represent supporters and affect positive change. We’re particularly keen to hear from women, young people and under-represented voices from the Yeovil Town family.

“Above all we’d love to hear from you if you’re motivated to help keep the club alive – we are now accepting applications at communications@glovers-trust.co.uk. Please send a short introduction about yourself and your history following Yeovil and we’ll be in touch soon.

“Please be in touch by email or social media with your questions or comments. Your input will help shape the Trust and ultimately the future of the club. In the all-too-familiar words of YTFC on social media – we go again.”

Friday, October 21, 2022

IT was confirmed that Yeovil Town youngster Ollie Haste had rejoined Truro City on loan for the rest of the season.

He had a successful loan spell initially with Truro, but has now gone back there for the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign.

Saturday, October 22, 2022

National League

Oldham Athletic 2, Yeovil Town 0

YEOVIL Town’s dismal season continued with a 2-0 defeat at former Football League opponents Oldham Athletic.

The Latics opened the scoring in the fifth minute courtesy of Bradford City loanee Oscar Threlkeld who finished inside the area from Zaine Francis-Angol’s cross.

Oldham extended their advantage on 73 minutes when Mike Fondop tapped into an empty net.

Yeovil searched for a route back into the game almost had one with 84 minutes on the clock as Sam Pearson crossed in for Jamie Reckord who headed

onto the post.

Yeovil Town line-up: Grant Smith, Morgan Williams, Chiori Johnson, Jamie Reckord, Owen Bevan, Josh Staunton, Ben Richards-Everton, Lawson D’Ath, Gime Toure, Malachi Linton, Sam Pearson.

Subs used: Alex Fisher, Jake Scrimshaw, Ollie Hulbert. Subs not used: Max Hunt, Alex Fisher, Sam Perry.

Saturday, October 22, 2022

YEOVIL Town manager Chris Hargreaves told the BBC that he still believed he was the right man for the job despite seeing the Glovers move closer to the drop zone in the National League.

The Glovers dropped to 20th place in the table following their 2-0 defeat at Oldham Athletic.

“I believe I am the man for this job otherwise I would not have taken it,” he told the BBC. “We are in a situation where we have to show some serious amounts of resilience, I get that and there are players in the dressing room who have not been in that situation before.”

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD midfielder Ewan Clark joined Yeovil Town on loan from Championship outfit Bristol City.

He arrived in time to take his place in the squad to face Aldershot Town that night in the National League at Huish Park.

Clark had joined Bristol City from National League South outfit Oxford City in the summer, but arrived at Huish Park with team-mate Sam Pearson making a temporary return to Ashton Gate suffering with “fatigue.”

“Ewan is a young player who arrives with experience at a good level within the non-league ranks,” said Yeovil boss Chris Hargreaves. “He is an exciting attacking player who we believe is ready to hit the ground running. We would like to thank Bristol City for their co-operation on the deal.”

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

National League

Yeovil Town 0, Aldershot Town 2

BOOS rang out around Huish Park after two late goals saw Yeovil Town lose once again on another sorry night for the Glovers.

Giles Phillips fired the visitors into the lead in the 85th minute and then they sealed the three points in the 90th minute when Tommy Willard slotted home.

Yeovil supporters showed their dissatisfaction in vocal fashion to leave the Huish Park management in no doubt that they were unhappy.

The result saw Yeovil slip into the relegation zone of the National League table.

Yeovil Town line-up: Grant Smith, Owen Bevan, Josh Staunton, Matty Worthington, Jamie Reckord, Ben Richards-Everton, Callum Rowe, Sam Perry, Ollie Hulbert, Alex Fisher, Ewan Clark. Subs used: Gime Toure, Will Dawes, Chiori Johnson. Subs not used: Max Hunt, Malachi Linton.

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

YEOVIL Town’s under-pressure manager Chris Hargreaves said he could understand the frustrations of supporters following the side’s 2-0 defeat at home to Aldershot Town in the National League.

“I completely understand the annoyance,” he told the BBC. “I understand the frustrations and I understand we need to get bodies in the building.”

He pointed out that playmaker Lawson D’Ath was not in the squad, while Sam Pearson had seen his loan spell at Huish Park come to an end and he had “temporarily returned” to Bristol City to “recover from fatigue.”

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

BUSINESSMAN Martin Hellier said he was “exploring available options” amid speculation that he was looking to take a role at Yeovil Town.

The managing director of the Hellier Group, the sponsor of the Main Stand at Huish Park, posted on his personal Twitter account to say he had “set about my approach.”

He added: “As a truly local businessman intent on reviving the fortunes of Yeovil, I will give updates as and when there is something of tangible interest.

“Despite being tagged in various tweets today I can confirm I am not interested in consortium bids and believe I could not give everything the club needs with only a part ownership / voice. Updates will follow when it’s appropriate to do so.”

The Hellier Group owns the Yeovil Court Hotel, the Fitness Yeovil gym on the Lynx Trading Estate and a has been involved in developing a number of properties in to Air BnB lets in the town.

Thursday,

The statement read: Yeovil Town have today parted company with Manager Chris Hargreaves.

Chairman Scott Priestnall said: “I would firstly like to thank Chris for his effort & professionalism during his time at Huish Park.

“After internal discussions this week, it has been decided that it’s best we go our separate ways. We wish Chris every success in the future.

“There will be a further update on the management situation before Saturday’s trip to Maidstone United.”

Hargreaves took over the Huish Park hot seat in the summer and was in charge for 15 National League fixtures which had left the Glovers in the bottom-four relegation zone.

They had won just two of those 15 matches and scored just 12 goals. Yeovil had also suffered an embarrassing FA Cup exit to Taunton Town at the Fourth Qualifying Round stage.

But a 2-0 home defeat to Aldershot on October 25 in the National League was the final straw with boos ringing out from the Huish Park crowd.

The writing was on the wall for Chris Hargreaves and within two days he was gone.

Thursday, October 27, 2022

YEOVIL Town director Stuart Robins told the BBC that Chris Hargreaves lost his job as manager because of the disappointing record of just two wins in 17 matches in charge.

Hargreaves managed just two three-point hauls from matches in the National League, while failed to beat Taunton Town in two FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round games.

“The only way that the fans will get really behind the team is if we produce a winning team,” said Mr Robins. “We have got to win football matches.

“That is the disappointment of Hargreaves’ tenure because in some games we played some really good football, but didn’t come away with the results.

“Chris often used to say to me ‘I do understand this is a results business and it is - we have got to win football matches.

“Even if we win ugly that’s fine because at the moment we just have to climb up that league and if that happens the fans will get behind us.”

One early name to be mooted as a possible successor for Hargreaves is the former Forest Green Rovers and Swindon Town boss Mark Cooper who has been out of work since leaving League Two side Barrow in March 2022 as manager by mutual consent.

And Mr Robins said the club was looking to “bring someone in with experience at National League level and above.”

Friday, October 28, 2022

YEOVIL Town were delighted to announce that Mark Cooper had been appointed as first team manager – just 24 hours after previous boss Chris Hargreaves had been shown the Huish Park exit door.

Signing a two-and-a-half-year deal, Cooper arrived with a wealth of experience and promotion pedigree in management, both within the Football League and National League.

After a successful playing career with the likes of Birmingham City, Exeter City and Fulham, Cooper began his management career with Tamworth in 2004 whilst they competed in the National League (then Conference National). His second management role was with Kettering Town, where he tasted promotion for the first time, as his side won the Conference North title by 17 points.

manager. In his first season at the helm, he finished in eighth place and a year later led the Robins to the League One play-off final.

Most notably, Cooper spent five years at Forest Green Rovers, leading the Gloucestershire outfit to the Football League for the first time in their history. In total, he won 101 games during his stint with the club.

After spending last season with Barrow AFC in League Two, Cooper has now arrived in Somerset to take the reins at Huish Park.

Cooper, speaking after his appointment at Yeovil had been confirmed, said; “It’s good to be here. I already know a few of the players and staff so I’m excited and really looking forward to it.

“If you look historically, this can be a big club. We need to unite - the players, the supporters. Everybody needs to come together and that can play such a big part.”

Chairman Scott Priestnall added: “I’m delighted to welcome Mark to the club. He is a manager I have admired for a long time.

“Mark has the promotion credentials we are looking for, with a strong background at this level and above.

“I’m pleased to get the deal done swiftly so Mark can get straight to work.”

Friday, October 28, 2022

THE new Yeovil Town manager, Mark Cooper, stressed the importance of bringing the supporters and players back together.

He told the club’s official website that it was important that everyone within the club was united in the challenges ahead.

“You can’t have a successful club if the players and supporters are apart, especially if you want to win things,” said Cooper. “Everyone has to be on board.

“We can’t play well all the time, but if the supporters can see there’s a plan and the players are giving everything, then you can get that unity.

“I think you’ve seen recently, that every time they misplace a pass, they get stick; it affects their performances so we need to make sure we’re together.”

Cooper said he was looking to rebuild confidence among the players – something which has been so noticeably low in recent weeks.

“I think it’s important that when you’re coming in, you know the level and you know the players,” he said. “I think at the moment it’s just about simplifying things for the players and trying to give them a platform to regain some confidence.

“You do that by getting results, but I do think we need to simplify it. We need to get the fans on board with some good performances, on the front foot. Putting a smile on people’s faces is what’s needed at the minute.”

Cooper added that assistant manager Chris Todd and development coach Marcus Stewart would be taking charge of team affairs for Yeovil’s National League game at Maidstone United on October 9.

“Obviously I’ll have an input, but I’ll use their judgement as we won’t get too much time on the training pitch,” said Cooper.

Saturday, October 29, 2022

National League Maidstone United 1, Yeovil Town 1

YEOVIL Town suffered a huge disappointment when they were thwarted from gaining a vital three-point haul by a penalty which was converted in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the game.

October 27, 2022

YEOVIL Town issued a 73-word statement to announce that Chris Hargreaves’ tenure as manager of the Glovers had come to an end.

After a short spell with Peterborough United in the Championship, Cooper joined Darlington where he won the 2010-11 FA Trophy.

In July 2013, Cooper became Swindon Town

The Glovers – under new manager Mark Cooper – were looking to start his reign with a much-needed victory.

And it looked as if that was going to be the case.

Chris Hargreaves was sacked as Yeovil Town manager on October 27, 2022.

Alex Fisher gave Yeovil the lead on 13 minutes and the Glovers held firm up until the 96h minute when Regan Booty netted the penalty for Maidstone.

It had looked for much of the game as if Fisher’s goal was going to be enough to give Yeovil the win and with it the points needed to get out of the relegation zone.

But Booty’s equaliser saw Yeovil remain in the drop zone in 21st place.

Yeovil Town line-up: Grant Smith, Morgan Williams, Owen Bevan, Ben Richards-Everton, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Matt Worthington, Malachi Linton, Sam Perry, Ewan Clark, Alex Fisher. Subs used: Chiori Johnson, Charlie Wakefield and Ollie Hulbert. Subs not used: Gime Toure and Will Dawes.

Saturday, October 29, 2022

NEW Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper said he was impressed with the team’s commitment and defensive strength.

“I think you saw the commitment,” he told the BBC. “We defended really well, we cleared lots of balls, headed lots of balls. All you can ask for is commitment – 100 per cent - and they gave us that and a little bit of quality.”

But said the team needed to the “balance right between playing too much football and being effective.”

Monday, October 31, 2022

YEOVIL Town announced the signing of midfielder Jamie Andrews on a short-term loan from Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion.

The 20-year-old became the first signing made by Yeovil boss Mark Cooper.

“It feels great to be here,” said Andrews. “I wanted to come and experience playing in front of the fans grafting to these those three points – I just can’t wait to get started.”

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

National League

Woking 1, Yeovil Town 0

YEOVIL Town’s disappointing run of results con-

tinued with a 1-0 defeat at Woking in the National League.

Padraig Amond’s late goal – after missing a penalty earlier in the game – won the three points for Woking who are managed by former Yeovil boss Darren Sarll.

Yeovil Town line-up: Grant Smith, Owen Beavan, Ben Richards-Everton, Max Hunt, Chiori Johnson, Jamie Reckord, Josh Staunton, Jamie Andrews, Malachi Linton, Ewan Clark, Alex Fisher. Subs used: Will Dawes, Gime Toure. Subs not used: Will Buse, Ollie Hulbert.

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

YEOVIL Town manager Mark Cooper was disappointed that his players failed to produce the goods in a 1-0 defeat at Woking.

“The players in the team to create did not produce tonight,” he told the BBC. “We tried to change the system and the personnel to try and gain more territory, but the aim has to be to create more in front of goal.

”We have to try and develop more patterns of play that help create chances.”

Friday, November 4, 2022

IT was announced that Callum Rowe had left Yeovil Town following the expiry of his short-term deal at Huish Park.

Rowe, who signed on a free transfer in August, made just four appearances during his time with the Glovers.

Monday, November 7, 2022

YEOVIL Town completed the loan signing of Anthony Georgiou from Leyton Orient on a short-term deal.

The winger started his career with the Tottenham Hotspur academy where he even made one appearance in the UEFA Champions League.

He has made eight appearances for the national Cyprus team.

“I’m happy to be here and excited to get going,” he said. “The club got in contact and the gaffer (Mark Cooper) was really positive. That’s really important for a player – to feel like you are wanted.”

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

YEOVIL Town announced the loan signing of Andrew Oluwabori from Football League outfit Peterborough United.

Winger Oluwabori, 21, signed on a temporary basis until January 7, 2023, in order to gain more experience following previous loan spells with Kettering Town and Boreham Wood.

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

THE following statement from Oporto Sports client Chris Hargreaves - via The League Managers’ Association – was made following his departure from Yeovil Town Football Club.

“I would like to start by thanking the staff and players for their efforts and support during my time at Yeovil Town,” said Hargreaves.

“I was extremely proud to be given the opportunity to manage the club and naturally I am hugely disappointed to have left. In my short tenure, I believe that many of the team’s performances this season should have contributed to a higher points total and that this would have improved as the season progressed. We were competitive against some of the teams with the highest budgets in the league and on many occasions, showed huge potential.

“The experience, while disappointing, is something I will learn from. I am keen to get back on the grass and will be doing everything I can to ensure that my next job is the right one for me to achieve success for a club.

“I wish the board, supporters and everyone at Yeovil Town FC the very best for this season and beyond. I sincerely hope that they can achieve their objectives in the near future.”

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

National League

Yeovil Town 0, Maidenhead United 0

NOT a lot to say about this match apart from the fact that substitute – new signing Andrew Oluwabori – gave the Yeovil Town fans a little bit of hope when he came off the bench during the second-half.

Yeovil Town line-up: Grant Smith, Jamie Reckord, Ben Richards-Everton, Max Hunt, Owen Bevan, Josh Staunton, Matty Worthington, Jamie Andrews, Ewan Clark, Anthony Georgiou, Alex Fisher. Subs used: Andrew Oluwabori, Gime Toure. Subs not used: Ollie Hulbert, Malachi Linton, Chiori Johnson.

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

YEOVIL Town manager Mark Cooper took positives from the second-half showing his side had put in against Maidenhead United.

And he was pleased to see that the Yeovil fans got behind his players when they started to show some attacking intention.

“You saw the power of Huish Park in the second-half - that is not going to happen by us just turning up,” he told the BBC. “I said to the boys they have to give the fans something.

“In the second-half, we gave them something and they got really behind the boys and they appreciated that and they enjoyed the second half. I think Andrew Oluwabori can be a crowd favourite.

“If we can play like we did in the second-half for 70 minutes, the fans will be right behind us.”

Friday, November 11, 2022

YEOVIL Town announced the signing of striker Louis Britton on a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season.

The 21-year-old forward arrived at Huish Park on a free transfer following his departure from Irish League Division One champions Cork City.

Britton comes from Bristol and played for a number of non-league sides in the area before getting a move to Bristol City.

The 6ft 4ins striker spent a lot of time out on loan before moving to the Irish League, but is now relishing the prospect of the new challenge at Yeovil Town.

“I’m delighted to have finally got the move all done,” he said. “It’s been in the works for a while now and I can’t wait to get going.

“The lads have made me feel welcome – they’ve been great. I know a couple of them from Bristol City and playing in this league before.”

Saturday, November 12, 2022

YEOVIL Town Under-18s began their Gary Else Memorial Cup campaign with a 2-2 draw against BRS Coaching Youth Under-18s with Mason Hunter and Jake Graziano on target for the Glovers.

Saturday, November 12, 2022

National League

Yeovil Town 3, Gateshead 1

YEOVIL Town got a much-needed three-point haul with a 3-1 success at Huish Park over National League bottom side Gateshead.

The Glovers started slowly, however, and found themselves 1-0 down on 25 minutes when Will Harris netted for the visitors.

But Yeovil hit back and equalised when Alex Fisher flicked the ball home after meeting Anthony Georgiou’s free-kick.

Fisher put Yeovil in front on 51 minutes and he could have completed a hat-trick a quarter-of-anhour later but he missed a penalty.

Yeovil made sure of the points deep into the game when Malachi Linton scored – much to the relief of the Huish Park faithful.

Yeovil Town line-up: Grant Smith, Jamie Reckord, Max Hunt, Chiori Johnson, Jamie Andrews, Matt Worthington, Andrew Oluwabori, Anthony Georgiou, Alex Fisher. Subs used: Malachi Linton, Ewan Clark, Louis Britton. Subs not used: Gime Toure, Ollie Hulbert.

Saturday, November 12, 2022

YEOVIL Town manager Mark Cooper was pleased to get his first win under his belt as manager of the Glovers.

“You can sense tension around the stadium when we play here and the players feel that as well, so it was just a case of getting three points no matter how we did it,” he told the BBC.

“When you are near the bottom and you have been beaten down a bit, everyone tells you you’re not very good, you lose a bit of enthusiasm and my job in the last few weeks has been to rebuild that enthusiasm just for the game itself.”

Cooper added: “Getting them to play on the front foot and attacking the goal because we know we are sound defensively, it is just unlocking that little bit of belief that they are decent players and they can go and score goals.”

Monday, November 14, 2022

FOUR groups of Yeovil Town supporters issued a set of questions to Yeovil Town owner and chairman Scott Priestnall.

The Glovers’ Trust was joined by the administrators of social media sites – Ciderspace, The Green Army and Gloverscast – in asking Mr Priestnall for clarification on the future development of Huish Park and called for open fan forum to be held.

Yeovil Town FC responded to the letter and said “the club will confirm an open meeting in due course and will communicate to supporters directly.”

Mark Cooper was announced as the new manager of Yeovil Town on October 28, 2022.

YEOVIL TOWN FC FIXTURES 2022-23

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Scunthorpe Utd 2, Yeovil Town 1

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Yeovil Town 1, Wrexham 1

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Yeovil Town 1, Barnet 2

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Altrincham 2, Yeovil Town 2

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Yeovil Town 1, Dagenham & Redbridge 0

Monday, August 29, 2022

Wealdstone 0, Yeovil Town 0

Saturday, September 3, 2022

Yeovil Town 0, York City 1

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Eastleigh 1, Yeovil Town 1

Saturday, September 17, 2022

Yeovil Town 2, Chesterfield 2

Saturday, September 24, 2022

Yeovil Town 1, Boreham Wood 1

Saturday, October 1, 2022

Southend United 1, Yeovil Town 0

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Dorking 1, Yeovil Town 1

Saturday, October 8, 2022

Yeovil Town 1, Solihull Moors 0

Saturday, October 15, 2002

Yeovil Town 0, Taunton Town 0

Tuesday, October 18, 2002

Taunton Town 1, Yeovil Town 0

Saturday, October 22, 2022

Oldham Athletic 2, Yeovil Town 0

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Yeovil Town 0, Aldershot 2

Saturday, October 29, 2022

Maidstone 1, Yeovil Town 1

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Woking 1, Yeovil Town 0

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Yeovil Town 0, Maidenhead 0

Saturday, November 12, 2022

Yeovil Town 3, Gateshead 1

Saturday, November 19, 2022

Notts County v Yeovil Town

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Yeovil Town v Halifax 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, December 3, 2022

Bromley v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, December 10, 2022

Yeovil Town v Scunthorpe Utd 3pm Kick-Off

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Barnet v Yeovil Town 7.45pm Kick-Off

Monday, December 26, 2022

Torquay Utd v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Yeovil Town v Torquay Utd 3pm Kick-Off Saturday, January 7, 2023

Wrexham v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Yeovil Town v Altrincham 3pm Kick-Off

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Yeovil Town v Wealdstone 7.45pm Kick-Off

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Yeovil Town v Dagenham & Redbridge 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Yeovil Town v Maidstone Utd 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Gateshead v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, February 18, 2023

Yeovil Town v Notts County 3pm Kick-Off

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Maidenhead v Yeovil Town 7.45pm Kick-Off

Saturday, February 26, 2023

York City v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, March 4, 2023

Yeovil Town v Woking 3pm Kick-Off

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Yeovil Town v Eastleigh 7.45pm Kick-Off

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Chesterfield v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Halifax v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off Saturday, March 25, 2023

Yeovil Town v Bromley 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Yeovil Town v Southend Utd 3pm Kick-Off

Friday, April 7, 2023

Aldershot v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Monday, April 10, 2023

Yeovil Town v Dorking 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, April 15, 2023

Solihull Moors v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Oldham Athletic v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Boreham Wood v Yeovil Town 3pm Kick-Off

CAN DO. WILL DO.

EVE , TRADE COUNTER DEMAND PLANNER

We are Screwfix.

One of the largest employers in the South West and a leading retailer in the UK & Ireland with over 800 stores. We employ over 1500 people across our Head Office and Business Centre in Yeovil and have opportunities for you to join our expanding team!

We’re recruiting for various roles across our Head Office teams and Business Centre. We also have retail roles in our Shepton Mallet and Wincanton stores.

We offer a competitive salary, flexibility on hours to accommodate a better work-life balance and one of the best pension schemes in the UK.

Check out jobs.screwfix.com to find your new role today!